petrichor [rosalie hale] ✔

epilogue

Thank you all. Truly.

The morning sun painted the horizon in gentle hues of pink and gold, a new day breaking over the quiet forest. Kiara stood on the balcony, a cup of coffee warming her hands, watching as the first rays of light spilled over the treetops. 

It felt surreal, this sense of calm, as if the storms that had once consumed their families were merely echoes of a distant past. She could finally breathe.

Kiara closed her eyes, listening to the faint whispers of the wilderness stirring to life. In a few hours, she would be surrounded by those who had been there through it all, faces familiar and comforting. They were a part of her now, woven into the fabric of her life; past, present and future. A very long, and hopefully joyous, future.

"Considering how long you've been standing here, staring into nothing, I'm surprised at how peaceful your thoughts are," Edward spoke softly, the balcony door latching shut behind him as he walked towards his friend.

Kiara snorted a little, turning to face him slightly with a gentle smile on her face.

"How many times do I have to ask you to stay out of my thoughts?"

Edward rolled his eyes at that, refusing to humour her with an answer. He rested his forearms against the balcony railing as he leaned beside her, allowing his golden eyes to skim across the tree line just like her. He and Bella had just came back from a hunt, some of the family still out there and others helping with the final touches of the day ahead.

"You know," Kiara mused, taking a sip of her coffee, "there was a time I thought I'd never see you standing next to me without wanting to rip your throat out."

Edward chuckled, a low, melodious sound. 

"The feeling was mutual, I assure you."

"Dick."

They shared a knowing glance, years of animosity melting away in the warm morning light. Both of them laughed, their voices echoing across the trees.

"When is Jacob picking you up?" Edward asked, already knowing the answer but trying to subtlety hint to Kiara that she was looking rather unprepared for her brother's arrival. "I didn't see your dress ready..."

"Alice already dropped it off," Kiara reassured him, yawning as she stretched her limbs out. "Apparently she envisioned Jacob turning up on his bike, going through mud and causing the dress to be covered. Not sure why it wouldn't be in a bag but who would I be to argue with the mighty clairvoyant?"

The sound of laughter drifted up from below, breaking the moment of contemplation. Alice's small shout of protest mixed with Emmett's booming guffaw drifted up from downstairs, having obviously been listening in on Kiara's sarcastic response. 

"We should probably head down," Edward said, straightening up. "Alice will have our heads if we're the reason the entire day falls behind even one second."

Kiara grinned, downing the last of her coffee. "Can't have that, can we? I've faced enough angry vampires to last a lifetime."

With a shared smirk, Kiara and Edward made their way back inside, descending the winding staircase that led to the Cullen's spacious living room. Kiara's eyes paused as they glossed over the graduation cap wall, smiling gently at the newest cap that had been added - one from her own graduation with Edward, Bella and Alice.

As they reached the bottom, a whirlwind of activity greeted them, centred around a frantic Alice who was simultaneously curling Esme's caramel locks and barking orders at Emmett.