TO

The rain continued falling around them. Cherry stood just inside the doorway, staring at Edward as though looking away might make him disappear. He looked older than the Edward she remembered—not physically, because neither of them had truly aged, but in the way centuries had changed the person behind his familiar face. Yet his eyes were the same. Cherry swallowed. “You're really here.” Edward gave a small nod. “I am.” She studied him carefully. “Why?” Edward's expression softened. “Because I've been looking for you.” Those words struck harder than Cherry expected. “For how long?” He hesitated. “Long enough.” Cherry looked away, overwhelmed by everything she had spent centuries trying not to feel. “You should have stopped.” “I couldn't.” She looked back at him. Edward stepped inside, giving her enough space to decide whether she wanted him there. “I didn't know if you were alive,” he admitted. “But Carlisle never stopped believing we'd find you.” Cherry's expression changed at the mention of her father. “Carlisle…” “He's still there.” Her breath caught. “He's alive?” “Yes.” For centuries, Cherry had imagined countless versions of that answer. None of them prepared her for hearing it. Edward watched her carefully. “He misses you.” Cherry lowered her eyes. “I missed him too.” “You can go home.” The word echoed through her mind. Home. A place she had spent centuries believing she had lost forever. Cherry looked around the quiet house she had built for herself. Then she looked at Edward. “I don't know if I remember how.” Edward smiled faintly. “You don't have to remember.” He held out his hand. “Just come with me.” Cherry stared at his hand. For centuries, she had dreamed of finding her family again. Now the impossible was standing in front of her. Slowly, Cherry reached for him. Their fingers touched. And for the first time in hundreds of years, Cherry knew she wasn't alone anymore.