Lightning || NS/TW (Fin: 30/12/13)

Epilogue

Epilogue

Elsie’s POV

As predicted, contacting Tilda’s family was difficult, and one of her aunts came to the court hearing last week. As she was still quite young, she left Louisa to us—“in good hands,” she believed, and it gave me quite the ego boost. Nathan and I signed and sorted out papers, and we finally got to take Louisa home with us. For a four year old, she could talk until the sun came up…though none of us had a problem with staying up all night for obvious reasons.

Upon entering the house back in Yorkshire, Louisa ran in, taking in her surroundings. The terrible thing is that she still thinks Tilda is coming back even though she doesn’t know where she’s “gone off” to. Nathan and I promised that we’d tell her once she’s older and able to understand the cause of her mother’s sudden death.

Emma was the first to touch Louisa. Never had I seen a brighter smile on Emma’s face up until that point.

“Aw, look at you! I’m Emma,” she introduced herself and Louisa ran a hand down her cheek sweetly. It was the sweetest moment I’ve ever seen.

I walked up from behind Louisa and patted her back whilst Rosalie, Alice and Bella emerged from the hunting grounds across the house. Kelsey and Nareesha practically skipped down the stone steps of the house and ran up to see Louisa. Everything that day was perfect. Everyone treated Louisa like she’s been with us for so long.

Three days after we brought Louisa home, the Harrisons left to go home after around a month living with Emma and Sam, though I knew we’d see them again. I’m yet to meet Edward and Bella’s Renesmee.

Over the next couple of years I watched our Louisa grow up into such a beauty. Her blonde curls seemed to straighten out as it got longer and as she got older, her eyelashes curled at the tips gracefully…she was simply beautiful.

If only Tilda could see her now.

Nathan and I told her stories that involved vampires. Though it may sound morbid, we twisted them into typical romantic tales. Nathan especially thought it would ease off the shock when we officially tell her. And on Louisa’s 14th birthday, we told her all there is to know about the family she’s living with as we felt she was mature enough. She sat there, a half-eaten piece of her birthday cake in front of her. The entire family was there with Nathan and me, and as Nath and I did all the talking, everyone else stood behind us, waiting for a reaction from Louisa.

But we got nothing.

As soon as we were done explaining every single detail, Louisa smiled at us and casually ate a piece of her cake.

When she finished chewing she said, “Will I ever become like you?”

“That’s up to you, Lou. It’d be sad to watch you gray and grow old, but it’d also be sad to see you endure sleepless nights and be a constant roamer of this planet…” Nathan trailed off and I took his hand in mine. I smiled slightly at the nickname he’s given Louisa.

“So…my mother, Matilda, has been dead for 10 years?” She asked softly and if I were still able to cry, I would’ve been crying just then.

“Yes. We’re sorry we couldn’t tell you sooner. I hope this doesn’t change how you feel about us,” I looked deeply into her eyes and all I saw was love.

“No. I understand. You may not like what I’m about to say, but I think I have a really…cool family,” she nodded to herself and looked back up at us. I dropped Nathan’s hand and hugged my adopted daughter. Emma soon followed, beating Nathan to it. I laughed at his expression.

Everyone took turns and Louisa went back to finishing off her cake while we sat around her. That day couldn’t have gone any smoother. We talked and laughed, and when Tom and the rest of the boys, including Sam, left to go hunting, Louisa stood up from her seat and wrapped her arms around me.

“I don’t remember my biological mother…but you’re my real mother now. And you being a vampire, along with Dad, Aunt Kelsey and Aunt Emma and Aunt Nareesha… It doesn’t change that—it doesn’t change anything. You've taught me so much,” I heard her voice crack and my arms wound around her even tighter. Nathan joined in and placed his arms around the both of us…it reminded me of what my dad did.

I smiled brightly and Emma, Nareesha and Kelsey beamed at the three of us.

***

That was already six years ago.

Last year, when Louisa turned 19, she declined Kelsey and Nareesha’s plans for a grand party. Instead she requested that we just invite our closest family friends and have a simple, happy get together. That night she asked if I turn her into one of us. I was reluctant at first, and felt every single emotion a mother would feel when being asked for something that is life changing for her child. Since I didn’t want to bite her, I had Carlisle put my venom into a syringe. I clearly remember taking hold of the cold syringe and hovering it over Louisa’s heart as she was laid down on a surgical table. Nathan held her hand while everyone else stood and watched.

I counted to three and struck the needle on the spot. Fifteen seconds after that she screamed as the fiery feeling took over her body.

We waited for two days, and on the second day her heart just stopped beating. In those two days we heard groans of pain and I felt horrible. Being vampires with a natural gift of sensitive senses, we couldn’t ignore her pain. But on the second day, we all knew it was about a day too early for someone to fully transform, and I began to wail.

We scattered Louisa’s ashes by the large rock where Nathan’s favored mountain lions sit in the dimmed sunlight. Carlisle Harrison, being the oldest amongst all of us, insisted that her body be dismembered and burned, or she’ll come back as something rogue. I hated myself for giving in to her request, because now Louisa’s gone—she’s dead.

She wanted to be undead like the rest of us, and I gave her eternal bliss.

The next morning, I asked Nathan to just hold me the whole day and that we do nothing, but we ended up making love the whole day, just trying to forget what had just happened. We didn’t come out of our room for three days. Though most of the time we were feeding off of each other, we also laid next to each other, chatting and comforted by large pockets of silence.

The rest of that year was melancholy for everyone, but now here we are, as if nothing happened at all. We’ll never forget our Louisa, but it was good to move on how we all did.

***

Nathan’s birthday just passed and we were both sitting by the rock where we placed Louisa’s ashes.

“She’s in a good place, El,” Nathan nodded, almost to himself, and I kissed his cheek.

“She’s with Tilda now. We did good for 15 years, though,” I hummed and he beamed at me, sealing it with a kiss on my lips.

“Yes, ma’am, we did,” he stared off into space for a moment before speaking again. “I’m really glad to have you as my mate, Elsie. I hope you know that,” he looked me in the eyes and I brought myself closer to him.

“I do, Nath, I do. I love you, too. Forever.” I told him and he cupped my face.

“Forever.” He replied and he kissed me deeply. I heard the others coming and I especially heard Tom and Max groan, telling us to get a room. I began to pull away but Nathan had a grip on me and I giggled as we kissed.

As miserable as we all seem to be, we all live a joyous life.

A/N: That's it, lovelies! I made sure it was extra long to make up for the 2 months I didn't update this story that you all seem to like so much. I'm sorry to just throw the ending in your face after 2 months, but I've run out of scenarios to prolong the story, and I hope that this ending was a good one. PS, I'm sorry about Louisa.... I needed to make it interesting somehow. Thank you for commenting and voting for this story! I'm so glad to see it at 4k reads and 222 votes :3   Perhaps you'd like to vote and comment some more to solidify the end of "Lightning"? Love you all (lol, I'm talking like I'm a damn celebrity. I'll just go now. Byeeee) :D xxx

Edited December 30, 2013