Epilogue

11 Months Later

Bella

"She's asleep. Put her in the crib, Edward." Leaning against the door jamb of our daughter's nursery, I scold my husband. He's been rocking Lucy for the last two hours. My two peas in a pod.

"She finished her bottle, and she's dry," Edward says as he rises and places her gently inside her crib.

Smiling, I gaze around the room in wonder. Dwayne had really outdone himself with the nursery. He'd painted the Hundred Acre Wood with Christopher Robin, Winnie the Pooh, and all of their friends. Neutral furniture and natural textiles rounded out the primary colors, making an absolute wonderland for our baby girl.

At just four months, Lucy Rose has a ton of love and support in the form of grandparents, aunts and uncles, and of course, Mommy and Daddy.

Edward and I stand over her, watching her tiny chest rise and fall with each breath. "Today felt like such a long day," I tell him as I lay my head on his chest.

"Was she fussy?" he asks while stroking my hair.

"No, but I don't think she likes bananas." We chuckle lightly before quietly leaving the room.

"Come sit with me before bed." It's not a request, but knowing Edward, he'll ask anything of me just to have some alone time. His hand stretches for mine, and I lock my fingers with his as he guides me downstairs.

In the kitchen, he pours a single glass of wine for us to share as we head into the den and curl up on the couch together. "I was thinking …" he begins but falls quiet.

"What's up? You've been, I don't know, not distant but distracted for the last couple of weeks." I shift closer to him. "Is something wrong?"

"No, nothing's wrong. In fact, everything feels sort of perfect." He smiles, and it's the most genuine I've seen in the last year.

"Then tell me what's on your mind."

He turns to look at me, pulling my legs over his thighs. "I loved our elopement. No question about it."

"But?"

"But … What do you think about having a party? You dad and Sue came, my parents came, Dwayne and Austin, Rose and Emmett but that was it. We haven't really celebrated our marriage or Lucy. You didn't even have a baby shower!" Edward rolls his eyes, and I can't help but giggle.

It's true. We eloped in the backyard with the people closest to us and a justice of the peace. It was on New Year's Day because I was feeling conflicted about being pregnant and not married. No one had said anything, and I never cared before, but it was bothering me.

Apparently, it was bothering Edward too because he jumped right on it and everything was planned in three hours.

I didn't have a baby shower because, honestly, it's always just been me and Rose. Lauren and I have stayed friendly, but she's been so busy taking over Eleazar's role at his, I mean, her magazine that I haven't really seen her since we were in New York.

None of this really bothers me. We've settled in really well together; first as just man and wife, and now as a family of three. But because I'm a genius and I know my mate so well, I already have plans.

"I don't need a reception, and we have Lucy's first birthday to go wild for her." I reach for the wine glass and take a small sip before passing it to him. "I do have another idea though. I know you'll like it."

He perks up. "What are you thinking?"

"Dwayne and I came up with a theme for Halloween," I say as he nods for me to go on. "Wonderland. I was thinking that you and I could go as the King and Queen of Hearts, and Lucy could either be Alice or the Cheshire Cat."

Edward grins. "Isn't the king in that movie a whiny little man who does whatever the queen wants?"

"Aside from the whiny part, what's so different?" I deadpan before Edward starts tickling me.

"I'll get you a costume that makes you a flamingo, and I'll use you to play croquet!" I let out a squeal as he pins me to the couch.

Instead of continuing to tickle me, he brushes my hair from my face and dips down to kiss the tip of my nose. "Did you ever imagine this would be our life a year ago?"

Pausing, I choose my words carefully. I never anticipated any of this. A drunken night with my best friend and the next thing I know, I'd signed up for a bunch of dating apps, and one of them happened to be for sugar daddies. Edward was the most normal guy that I spoke to even if he had a niche interest for his personal life. It's been a whirlwind, literally, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. The person I am now is the person I want to be; she suits me. I'm happy with myself, with Edward, with our family.

"I never saw you coming, but I'm so glad you did," I tell him honestly.

He nuzzles into my neck, breathing deeply. "Nothing about us is conventional, but you are everything I didn't realize I wanted or needed," Edward whispers, sending tingles up and down my spine. "I'm so lucky that you got drunk and—ouch!"

I pinch him in the side to shut him up. "Watch it, mister. You'll quit while you're ahead if you know what's good for you."

"I love you, dear." He presses a kiss to my lips as I giggle at the moniker. "Seriously, I love you so much. I can't imagine doing any of this without you by my side."

"There's nowhere else I'd rather be." Wrapping my arms around his neck, I pull him down for a kiss. "Except maybe our bed so we can practice making another one of those cute babies."

"Just practice?" Edward says as he begins to sit up and pulls me with him.

"I'd like Lucy to be a little older before we add any more to the brood," I stand up, stretching. "But not before you get too old." I wink before I take off for the stairs, laughing like a lunatic with Edward hot on my heels.

The End