This is the last chapter of the story! I hope you all have enjoyed it <3 I would absolutely love to hear what you guys thought of the ending or the story as a whole, so leave that in the comments!

The wind blew softly against Rosalie as she stood in the cemetery, her dark dress blowing around her legs delicately. She slowly knelt down until she was on her knees, her eyes in line with the head stone of the grave she was on. The dark stones inscription simply read, ‘Benjamin Harley, Forever in our Hearts.’  

The words were short and simple yet held more truth than anything else that could have been written in their place. It had been ten years since the day that Rosalie had lost Benjamin, well, since everyone had lost Benjamin.

Rosalie still felt a twinge in her heart when she thought of him, when she imagined his bright smile and selfless nature, when she remembered the times he made her laugh and when she drew strength from his memory. Rosalie had come to terms long ago with the fact that she would always love Benjamin, even though she had moved on, he would always hold a place in her heart, so she smiled when she read the inscription on his tombstone.

Unsurprisingly, Rosalie hadn’t changed much physically in those ten years. Her brunette waves were long, her stature was still small. Inside however, she was stronger than she had ever been, and she was finally at peace with what happened all those years ago.

She tucked a stray strand of brunette hair behind her ear as she touched the soft grass below her with her hand.

‘I know, it’s been a long time since I have come to visit you. I came every day for weeks after it happened, but it’s been ten years. My life’s so different now. I still think of you, I used to think of you every day, I used to think of you every time I turned over in bed and didn't see you, and when I would watch tv and no one was telling me to change it to football. I sill think of you, but now I think of you when I see Mackenzie's old story books and I smile when anyone orders a strawberry milkshake at a fancy restaurant because it takes me back to our first date and it doesn't make me sad to think of you, not anymore.'

Rosalie looked up and imagined that he was standing there, next to her, listening and smiling.

‘Sometimes I do wonder what would have happened if you lived, if you came stumbling out of the forest all those years ago like Sadie did. You used to tell me that one day we would leave this town, take Mackenzie and live on a beach somewhere. It seemed perfect at the time, but, looking around, I don’t think I can ever leave Jacksonville, I don’t want to.

‘A lot has changed since I was here last, I don’t even know where to begin. I got married.' Rosalie smiled. 'I know right, I said it was a lot. I didn’t tell you I was dating someone last time I was here, because, well, it hurt too much, felt like a betrayal I guess, for a little while. I started dating Jack a few years ago, I don’t even know how it happened.’

Rosalie smiled to herself remembering how close Jack and her had become during the years after the deaths, yet they were so oblivious to their growing relationship that Sadie was the one who told them that they were dating. Rosalie hadn’t even realised it, but she had fallen in love again, slowly but surely. “You basically live with him, you have dinner together every night. You two are dating, honey.” Sadie had told her.

‘We got married last spring, I-I think you would have liked it. Sadie and her husband were there, with their little girl and Parker was there too. Y-Your parents actually came, which was a nice surprise. I still see them every now and then, they are doing well. Their house is filled with photos of you.’

Rosalie blinked back tears.

‘We miss you Ben, every day. You know Mack still talks about you, still remembers her ‘Benny’. You would be so proud of her, in high school, getting good grades. Jacks had to chase boys away from her these last few years, she looks just like our mother, so beautiful.’

Rosalie smiled.

‘It’s taken me this long just to forgive myself for your death. I used to obsess over it, convince myself that I could have saved you somehow. I am sorry that you are gone Ben, more than you will ever know, but I know now that it wasn’t my fault, and it wasn’t yours either.’

Rosalie took a moment, wiping tears from her eyes.

‘I hope that you are at peace, somewhere.’

Rosalie stood up slowly, straightening her dress. There was another headstone a few rows over, and as Rosalie looked up she could see Parker and Sadie standing by it. The two turned and walked towards her.

Sadie looked nothing like that girl all those years ago, gone was the blonde hair which was replaced by shiny black strands. That blonde hair was still in her genes though, which is why her daughter, Rachel, had inherited the golden hair. Sadie and her husband, Luke, had met a few years ago at college, getting married and moving back to Jacksonville.

Parker had lost that boyish charm, a fact which he was quite contented with. Stubble covered his jawline and chin, his hair longer than usual, creating a rugged charm on the man. Parker had recovered fully from what happened, the only remnant of the day being the long, thick scar which ran across his bicep, partially covered by his black t-shirt. The man lived with his partner, Peter, in New York, but regularly came down to Arkansas to visit family and friends.

‘Ten years, aye?’ Parker muttered as he and Sadie came to stand next to Rosalie.

‘Yen Years.’ Rosalie confirmed.

‘It doesn’t feel like ten years.’ Sadie told them, playing with the wedding ring on her finger.

Rosalie turned to Parker. ‘I’m glad that you came down for the anniversary, it means a lot.’

Sadie and Rosalie’s families were as close as possible, the girls now being sister-in-laws didn’t hurt. The two had settled into suburban life easily and Rosalie relished the slow weekends spent with family. Rosalie had lost a lot of people in her life, but when she married Jack she had gained the family that she had never let herself dream of. She was now an aunt to Rachel, had parents-in-law and even though they would never replace those she had lost, she was content with how her life had turned out.

The two girls weren’t as close to Parker as they had been as teenagers, but every time he came to visit it was like he had never left.

Parker smiled, ‘I’m glad I came too. Sometimes I think about moving back here, being so close to you guys and watching the girls grow up.’

Sadie was fond of this idea. ‘You should move down here, I’m sure that Rachel would love to spend more time with her uncle Parker.’

‘I’ll consider it.’ Parker smiled.

‘We should probably get back.’ Rosalie turned to see the group of people standing at the edge of the cemetery.

Jack, Luke and Peter were talking, smiles on their faces. Next to them was Mackenzie and Rachel, the fifteen year old was tickling the two year old, making her laugh and smile.

The three of them walked back to the group.

Sadie pulled Rachel into her arms, cooing at the young girl as Parker went to join in in the guy’s conversation.

Mackenzie crossed the distance between her and Rosalie, pressing her face into her sister’s chest and wrapping her thin arms around her for a few seconds before pulling away.

Rosalie smiled, ‘What was that for?’

Mackenzie shrugged, ‘I know that todays a hard day for you.’

Mackenzie had grown from that little smiley brunette girl into a lovely young lady. Rosalie and Mackenzie would always be sisters, but they both knew that their bond went further than that.

Helping to raise a teenager wasn’t easy, Rosalie could sure vouch for that, but her aunt and Jack helped out with everything and together they were a very nonconventional, yet extremely happy family.

The wind was still soft against them, Mackenzie’s long brunette hair blowing in her face before she swiped at it with her hand. The teenager then smiled brightly at her sister, a little too brightly if you ask Rosalie.

‘What?’ Rosalie asked, quirking an eyebrow.

‘I also know your secret.’ The teenager smiled radiantly.

‘What secret?’ Rosalie asked, feigning ignorance.

Mackenzie pointed to Rosalie’s stomach, smiling cheekily.

Rosalie gasped, ‘How do you know? I haven’t even told Jack yet?’

That made Mackenzie laugh, ‘Maybe you should delete your browser history, searching for obstetricians doesn’t leave much to the imagination.’

Rosalie blushed but a smile covered her face.

‘I’m so happy for you!’ Mackenzie gently hugged her sister again.

‘I love you Mack, you cheeky girl.’ Rosalie smiled into her sister’s hair.

‘Love you too Rose.’

The girls broke apart and walked the short distance between them and the rest of the group. Rosalie instantly went to stand beside her husband. She looked at his blonde hair and bright eyes and wondered what their child would look like. She imagined a little boy with his fathers bright blonde hair and his mothers blue eyes.

Images of her future came to Rosalie's mind, images of Mackenzie playing with her little nephew, images of Mackenzie finishing high school, images of family dinners full of laughter and love. Images of her telling Jack that they were going to be parents, she imagined the look in his eyes and the joy that would overcome him, and it made Rosalie's heart swell.

‘Why so smiley?’ Jack asked, wrapping an arm around his wife. Rosalie hadn’t even noticed the grin which covered her face, she was too happy.

‘I’ll tell you later,’ Rosalie brought her lips to his for a moment before turning back to see Mackenzie wink at her sister, a proud smile on her lips.  

Thank-you so much for reading my story! I truly hope that you have enjoyed Rosalie’s journey. If you’re saying to yourself, ‘Oh no! I have nothing to read now!’, then fear not! I have many other stories for you to read. Just go to my profile and you’ll be able to find my other works! Remember to Follow/Fan to get updates when I start new stories you might be interested in!