And Renesmee …

"Oh, Daddy," she cries, and she throws herself into my arms, her white dress wrinkling with her actions. She doesn't seem to notice, or care. "Oh Daddy," she whispers softly, and I can feel her tears against my neck. "I love you."

Those three words, those three simple words, are all it takes. Everything inside of me snaps, and I wrap my arms so … so tightly around my little girl.

"I love you, too, Nessie," I breathe, and she smiles then, hiccuping as she chokes on a sob. "Forever."

And when I look up, Nessie and I are alone. Completely alone. Even Bella's gone. And I realize that, because Bella's gone, there's an emptiness in my heart that I never considered could be in anyone else's.

"Does it hurt?" I murmur. "Being away from him, I mean."

Renesmee nods slowly, and lays her head on my chest again, not caring about dresses or make-up, or anything else besides this moment. "I love him, Daddy. I love him a lot. Oh, I'm so happy!"

"Does he make you happy?" I ask, and I decide that, if her answer is yes, then I'll let it all go. Or, at least, as much as I'm capable of letting go. I'll let my anger go, and my pain. I'll let my baby girl go, too. I'll let her go into the arms of the man who, over the past seven years, I've tried to hard to accept.

"Yes," she breathes, and I close my eyes and breathe in deeply.

Because I'm letting it all go.

But it still hurts. A lot. But as I feel another pair of arms wrap around me as Nessie leaves my embrace, I smile, and bury my anguished expression in Bella's soft … soft hair.

"Our baby girl," she whispers, and I nod, but I can't speak, because I know that, if I do, everyone in the room will hear the pain that I'm trying so hard to keep inside.

And she leaned over …
Gave me butterfly kisses with her Mama there
Sticking little white flowers all up in her hair.
Walk me down the aisle Daddy, it's just about time.
Does my wedding gown look pretty Daddy?
Daddy, don't cry.