Devil Incarnate Epilogue

Turning a full circle, his gaze washed over the muted green walls of Bella’s childhood bedroom. The passing years hadn't been very kind to the Swan house, as evidenced by the peeling paint and sagging floorboards. 

"It doesn't bring me any nostalgia."

Facing his wife as she studied the dusty fairy lights strung around the ceiling gave Edward a pang in the chest. "This is where we shared our first time." 

Since saving the president's life, there had been intimacy in the way of forehead kisses and holding hands, sharing a bed once more and dining together. But they hadn't exposed themselves to the ultimate form of vulnerable trust. 

When Bella didn't comment, he stepped closer and rested his chin on top of her head. "Wanna give it another go for old time's sake?"

"Not in this house."

Bella’s voice held the melancholy notes of an old blues song. A place where she had previously found comfort now offered only sorrow. Time thought to be spent mending her relationship with her mother wound up being another ruse. It must have dredged up the feelings of inadequacy her parents had long fostered within their only child.

"How about a strawberry milkshake, then? Nobody makes them taste as good as the diner."

Relief rushed through him as she turned, pressing her face into his chest. Automatically, his arms went around her slender frame to offer succor as she wept. "I've got you now, baby."

"Don't ever leave me."

"As if I could." Not much brought him to his knees faster than a strong woman fracturing. His strong woman, to be exact. "Let's get out of this house so you can breathe, angel."

Without really waiting for her to respond, he picked her up and carried her down the stairs. Once upon a time, Edward had carried Bella up those stairs to begin a new life. In more ways than one, that was precisely what they'd accomplished. 

Garrett had volunteered to drive them to Forks so they could settle the Swan estate. There was nothing but the house; Bella would most likely put it on the market and, hopefully, never think of it again. They'd already donated the money Zion gave them for the bogus list of names, and she also wanted to donate any money earned from her deceased parents. 

Opening the back door of the Mercedes, Garrett waited for Edward to settle inside with Bella before circling to the driver's seat. "Where to?"

"Forks Diner."

She stared out the window the whole way, and Edward felt the fissures in his heart widening. Something had to be done, but their therapist said Bella needed time. How much was anyone's guess, but he hated seeing her depressed. Especially over the actions of two heinous individuals and the Russian terrorist cell they'd joined. 

True to his word, Holden retired after signing the paperwork, giving them full immunity from any crimes committed in the past. Wryly, he'd told Edward it didn't include any future crimes against humanity and warned him to watch himself. Edward had zero plans to get back into that life. He'd seen enough, felt enough, to know it wasn't worth it. 

Garrett pulled up outside the doors of the quaint little restaurant so popular in the tiny town. Thankfully, they weren't very busy mid-afternoon, so Edward nudged Bella into getting out. 

"Maybe all you need is some sugar to lift your spirits."

Her answering smile was watery but genuine. 

With intention, he chose the booth they'd sat in when he finally confessed his love for her. When he was finally smart enough to drop the mask and let her inside his heart. Of course, knowing she had the power to break him made letting his guard down incredibly difficult. No one had ever been as close to him as she had, and it took him a long time to realize that was a good thing. Through it all, she'd had the strength to stay. To ride out the storm by his side, as his equal partner in every endeavor upon which they’d embarked. 

So why was he terrified she'd just discovered it was more than she could handle? 

After placing their orders, Edward watched Bella’s profile as she gazed out the window. Nothing significant changed in Forks; not the Formica tables, not the evergreens, and not the rain. 

"Tell me what you're thinking, please?" he asked. 

Without facing him, she said, "I worry we'll never make it back from the place we took our marriage. The arguments will eventually find basis in reality, and we'll be stuck." Pausing while a waitress in a tired uniform placed their pink milkshakes on the table, Bella continued, "What if we're unable to work through the harsh feelings? Convincing myself I hated you was difficult at first, but it became easier."

Whiskey eyes as familiar to him as his own showed a world of pain when she finally looked at him. "Pretending I no longer loved you was harder than anything—except pulling that trigger. Putting you in those crosshairs was the hardest thing I've ever done." He caught a drop of condensation with his finger as it ran down the side of his glass.

"You had to kill me, but it killed you just the same." As she wiggled her straw around, her eyes brimmed with tears. "It was my idea, my actions that forced you into it. Maybe I worry you can't forgive me for what I put you through."

Reaching out, he stilled her fidgeting hands. "We've been together for decades, lived through the worst, and come out the other side stronger. I've held onto the hope this would turn out the same. Am I wrong?"

Bella shifted her hands away from his touch, apparently unable to hold his gaze. "Let's not forget about the other part. Seeing you with that woman broke something inside me." She swallowed thickly, dashing away a torrent of tears. "Knowing I had to play the game, wondering what lengths you had gone to, and not being able to strangle her right then and there put so much strain on my heart. Not to mention, I threw you at her and insisted you do whatever it took. If you'd followed through, I would bear sole responsibility for making you endure something so outside your nature. If I broke you, I don't expect forgiveness."

“No, not you. Zion. It haunts me in the middle of the night that you still believe I did more than what I admitted. That I was sparing your feelings by saying I hadn't—I’m not, by the way. One thing you can’t accuse me of is being a liar.” He shook his head, wondering to that day if she believed him deep down. “But I never blamed you. Just because your idea was better than mine doesn't make this shitshow your responsibility."

A few more tears escaped and plopped onto her knuckles. "Zion has owned all my emotions for months. I couldn't even grieve properly for my mother because I knew it was the perfect opportunity to use it to our advantage. To truly fool them once and for all into believing they'd shattered our marriage into a million little unfixable pieces."

He felt his face heat, felt indignity rise to nearly choke him. The grip on his glass tightened painfully. "They believed it because they never knew us. Maybe they thought they did, but they were incredibly clueless. They underestimated our power as a couple. A unit, Bella." 

Voice dropping, Bella whispered in a strangled voice, "I hate that I made you the enemy. I hate that your heart was the casualty. Everything has changed."

But Edward shook his head vehemently. He would not allow her to give up now, especially if she thought it was for his sake. "Not everything. Never everything." Long fingers lifted her chin to force her to look him in the eyes. "I love you and always will. No matter what we endure, we endure it together. That was the deal."

"I know you're right." She wrapped her arms around herself. "It's been harder than I thought it would be to come back from this."

"That's okay." Dropping his hand, he got up to sit beside her. "Don't shut me out, Bella. That’s all I ask."

Her head lowered as she snuggled into him. "Thank you for everything. From the very beginning, even if we fucked up along the way, just thank you for all of it."

"Are you ready to go home?"

Her nod was all the answer he needed. 

Sitting close on the way home, Edward and Bella held hands. It was the furthest they'd taken things, really, but he was fine with that. If she needed time, they had it in spades. After all, they no longer braced themselves for the end of the world. 

oOo

Bella needed him, plain and simple. Her husband was the only thing she could cling to when she felt herself going over the edge, her buoy in stormy seas. Her island; her rock. His words back at the diner loosened the knot in her heart, finally enabling her to breathe fully.

They made their way up the stairs to their bedroom, hand in hand. As they’d accomplished everything: a united front. Coming to a stop at the foot of their bed, Bella turned to face Edward.

“Even though I had to play my part, I wondered if I could take you down if we went against each other hand-to-hand. I’m disappointed that you won.” More than once, Quinn had apologized for knocking her out, but it was the only way to make it look realistic in a building teeming with cameras.

The crooked smile she so loved tugged at one corner of Edward’s mouth. “Why don't you try it now?”

Biting her lip, Bella contemplated the best way to start. “But there’s no catalyst.”

“Isn’t beating me catalyst enough?” he retorted.

The challenging glint in his eyes was a good place to begin, she supposed. Though they weren't an equal match in physical strength, he’d taught her enough moves over the years that she thought she could best him if she was canny. Backing away a few paces, she sized him up. If she went for predictable, he’d expect it. If she went too unpredictable, he’d probably expect that, too. So she circled, waiting for her moment.

In the meantime, Edward pushed his suit jacket off his shoulders, loosening and removing his tie. 

“If your aim is to distract me with a striptease, it won’t work,” she taunted.

His answering chuckle warmed her insides. “Just ensuring it’s a fair fight, since I’m trussed up in more clothing than you.”

“I’ll truss you up for real if that’s what you want.”

Shoulders shaking in mirth, Edward tilted his head. “You’re welcome to try.”

Maybe this was all she’d needed to get her blood flowing. A tussle for dominance with her hot as fuck partner. Even as the thought floated through her head, he began to unbutton his shirt. Goddamn.

“You’re not fighting fairly.” But she used his busy hands to her advantage, landing a quick blow to his shoulder before he could stop her.

“That stung,” he complained.

An innocent expression on her face, her brows went up. “Was I supposed to pull my punches?”

Bouncing on his toes, he shook out his hands. “Nope.”

When he caught her in the ribcage, she hissed. “Ow, fuck.”

“You just have to be faster than me.”

Dodging his next blow, she brought her knee up and grazed his groin. “Like that?”

“Fuck, baby, don’t render me completely useless.”

She laughed as he backed up, her spirits lifted and her heart pumping. “You’re right, I can’t use that glorious cock for my pleasure if I injure it, now can I?”

He dropped his hands. “You can't say things like—oof!”

While he was talking, she'd plowed her fist into his stomach. "Things like what?"

"I see how it's gonna be." Twisting his head, Edward popped his neck and sniffed. "Bring it, baby."

Her best move was a high kick, usually catching her opponent off guard. Since Edward knew all her moves, she feigned the kick and clipped him in the jaw when he ducked.

"That one might leave a mark."

She smirked. "I'll be sure to kiss it and make it better."

Seeing the glint in his eyes a half second too late, she found herself spun and pinned against him. Letting her muscles relax and her lids slip closed, Bella’s breathing picked up its pace when he latched his mouth to her throat. 

"Now who's not playing fair?" she muttered, gripping his hair. 

Indeed, he shoved her shirt off over her head, plucking her nipples with his expert fingers until she was left gasping. Sucking on her neck until she sagged against him, Edward clearly thought he'd taken the advantage.

So the only thing she could do was push him down to his back and straddle him, delighted to watch his emerald eyes burning up at her. "Who wins?"

He struggled futilely, his voice at a dangerously low octave. "If it wasn't for the wetness I can feel soaking through your panties, I would say you win."

Undulating her hips to see what would happen only brought them both pleasure. She kept his wrists locked by his head and shifted again, gasping when his hard cock came into contact with her covered pussy. 

"Killing me slowly, woman."

"Just be happy it's not a knee in the crotch."

"That would simply be cruel." He lifted his pelvis. "But maybe you could kiss that and make it better."

Laughter nearly bubbled out of her. Instead, she dropped her head until she could touch her lips to his jaw. His day-old scruff prickled her sensitive skin as she lavished the spot with attention, his breathy moan enough to kick her pulse into high gear, and his restrained hands flexing under her grip the cherry on top. 

Bella wasn't entirely surprised when he planted his feet, bucked his hips, and had her on her back before she could blink. After all, she wanted him to command her body. "Cheater," she murmured. "Now come here and kiss me."

And he did. Dipping his head, he met her open mouth, slipping his tongue inside. She released the plush carpet from her fists to find better purchase on his ass. His cock nudged her, and she moaned in true triumph. 

"Too many clothes in the way." With that statement, Edward began methodically tugging and ripping, discarding her skirt and his pants with impressive speed. 

When her husband pressed his naked flesh to hers, she could have wept. "The last time we had sex, it went against everything we'd so carefully planned."

Edward's tongue swirled over her pulse, his seeking hands finding her wet and ready. "Can you blame me for faltering? For needing to bury this cock deep inside your dripping pussy?"

"No." Her back arched when he circled her clit and plunged two fingers inside her. "God, no I can't."

"Should I spank you like I did then?" The growl of his question was almost lost in her flesh.

How was she expected to answer when he'd stolen her oxygen? His mouth on her breasts and his heart beating against her ribs were everything she'd ever fought for. Having her man next to her, inside her, was a pinnacle she was more than ready to achieve. 

"Edward!" she cried out as she came, clutching his shoulders and opening her mouth for his sweet assault. Nipping and biting, they fought for new dominance, until she rose above him and impaled herself on his cock. 

"Fuck, fuck!" Without prompting, he kneaded her heavy tits in his hands as she set up a pace meant to make him lose his mind. 

It was overwhelming; the sensations had become too hard to handle. Her softness and his rigid muscles, their sweat covered bodies writhing together over the bedroom floor. Edward rolled her again, lifting her legs up and over his shoulders as he reached a place inside her soul.

“I know you have another one in you.” The way he stared down at her had her biting her lip. “Come on my cock this time, baby. It missed you desperately.”

With a scream, she did exactly as he said. Her entire body flushed with desire, she met each of his thrusts with equal fervor. Shaking beneath him, she realized he’d been right again. They would come out the other side better than ever.

“Fuck, Edward, come inside me, please!”

Dropping heavily on top of her, he gripped her hips tightly as he exploded. His breathing labored in her ear, and she wrapped every bit of herself around him.

“I'm declaring a tie.”

Edward only chuckled.

After a quick shower, they descended the stairs to find their expanding family gathered in the dining room. It was eerily similar to a scene from months before, with Maeve, Caitriona, and Quinn waiting for them. One difference was stark, though; no one waited to hear sour news.

“I need baby cuddles,” Bella said to her daughter-in-law with a grin.

Layla handed the baby over. “We held off dinner. Did everything go okay?”

Burrowing her face in the sweet scent of the baby, Bella’s grin morphed, and she snickered. “Oh yeah.”

“Ew, Mom.” Quinn stood next to her, tickling the baby’s foot in exchange for gurgles. "Keep it to yourself."

Bella looked up at Edward as he came to stand on her other side. “This is the reason we fought and sacrificed, and nearly lost ourselves. So the future generation has a chance at happiness.”

“Aerinn will be strong, just as her name suggests.” Edward kissed Bella on the temple, then the baby. “And because she takes after her gran.”

It was everything Bella had ever wanted as a child; a family to love and value her. To cherish them and watch them flourish.

Looking around the room, she thought, In our darkest hours, we face our past. Whether we’re forgiven for our sins remains to be seen, but ours is not to ask. Ours is to live well.