Disclaimer: True Twilight fans will know what and who belongs to Stephenie Meyer!
~EPOV~
I looked down at Anna. Her face was blank of any emotions. I wondered if she was dreaming at all as she rolled over onto her side to face me. I raised my hand slowly, and gently moved a piece of light brown hair from her face. I ran my finger down her smooth cheek, and a small smile took over my face as her nose and small, pink lips twitched.
My beautiful little girl.
I leaned toward her and kissed her forehead. I was as gentle and quiet as I could be as I stood up, but her eyelids still fluttered, and her dark green eyes soon looked up into mine in confusion. She raised her hands, made them into tiny fists, and rubbed at her tired eyes.
I sat back down beside her with a defeated sigh.
"I don't want you to go, Daddy. Stay with me," she whispered as she sat up and grabbed onto my arms. She pulled herself into my lap and rested her cheek against my chest. My arms automatically wrapped around her and held her close to me. For a five-year old, she gave off incredible body heat.
Out of four children, Anna was the only girl. In her mind, that made her think she should get the most attention. I rested my cheek on the top of her head and chuckled softly. It was impossible not to think she was the cutest thing when she got clingy. It was also impossible for my heart not to swell three sizes when she clung onto me and didn't want me to go.
But her brothers' needed me to tuck them in and give them attention as well. I knew Carlisle and Esme were with them, but I also knew that they wouldn't go to sleep until I tucked them in.
"I love you, honey, but I have to go tuck your brothers' in." I set her back down beside me and kissed the top of her head. She gripped onto the front of my shirt and shook her head vigorously. I rubbed her back soothingly before I pushed on her shoulders with little force. She lowered her head onto her pillow with a huff and a pout. I grabbed her black teddy bear and placed it into the crook of her arm.
"Woody will keep you company. I'll come back when I'm done with the boys', and if you're still awake, then I'll stay with you. How does that sound?" She looked up at me with a toothy grin. She pulled Woody to her chest and sighed contently.
"Good. You promise?" She stuck out her hand and hooked her little pinky. I hooked mine with her's and nodded my head.
"I promise."
"Goodnight, Daddy. Love you," she mumbled. She was already falling asleep.
"I love you, too. Goodnight."
"That took forever! Anna is such a hog!" Christian crossed his arms. Esme sat beside him in his bed and smiled up at me in amusement.
"Christian, don't call your sister names," I chastised as I walked toward him and sat on his other side. He lunged at me and wrapped his arms around my neck. Issac and Sebastian jumped down from their beds and jumped up on me. I laughed and held onto them the best I could.
"I don't wanna go to sleep anymore," Christian and Issac said together. Carlisle chuckled from Issac's bed. Christian looked down at his brother, and they burst into laughter. Sebastian just clutched onto me tighter.
"They really are twins," Esme teased.
She got that right.
Anna, Sebastian, Isaac, and Christian. All had my dark, emerald eyes. They had Angela's full lips. Anna, Isaac, and Christian had her light brown hair. Sebastian had my bronze hair. They all had their mother's slightly dark skin, but they all had my strong jaw.
A perfect mix if you ask me.
Perfect quadruples.
"Come on, you three," I said louder as I looked down at my watch. "It's already 9:25," I announced. Sebastian was the first to let me go and climb back into his bed with some help from Carlisle.
"Not tired," Isaac and Christian chimed.
Well I am, I thought as I stood up and picked up Issac. Esme stood up as well, and she took Issac from me and set him back into his bed.
"In the morning, I'll make us all pancakes," I declared as I bent down and tucked Christian into his duvet. He snuggled farther into his mattress with a laugh. I ruffled his light hair and kissed the top of his head.
"Can you get Beary?" He looked up at me with his pleading green eyes. I looked down by my feet, and his dark brown teddy bear looked back up at me with shiny black eyes. Anna and Christian were the only two with teddy bears. Isaac somehow lost his, and Sebastian just didn't want one. For a five year old, Sebastian was quite mature.
A little strange, most people would say.
He's unique.
Christian put Beary under his head, and his lips took the shape of a smile as he closed his eyes. He shifted around a little more before settling down.
"We'll be downstairs, Edward." I looked over my shoulder at Carlisle and Esme as I walked over to Isaac. Carlisle and Esme weren't really my Aunt and Uncle any more. They were more my parents now. I've seen them almost everyday now for the last four years.
I'd be a mess without them. Truly.
"All right. I'll walk you guys out when I'm done here," I said as I bent down and kissed the top of Isaac's head. He yawned as I tucked him in, and shifted around as well to get more comfortable. Esme and Carlisle were quiet as they walked down the stairs, not wanting to disturb Anna.
She was so sleeping.
I walked to the open door after getting Sebastian tucked into bed. I looked back at them, and they opened their eyes momentarily to watch me turn off the light.
"Goodnight, boys," I said softly.
"Night, Dad," they said together. I smiled as their voices mixed together. I left the door slightly ajar. The nightlight in their room cast out into the hallway as I turned off the hallway light. Anna's nightlight led me to her room, and I poked my head in with a knowing smile.
She was sleeping peacefully.
Looked so much like her mother...
I stepped away and leaned against the wall beside her door. I clenched my jaw as the tears stung my eyes. My stomach and heart started to hurt as I slid down the wall.
I brought my knees up and rested my forehead on them. I closed my eyes tightly, not allowing the tears to fall. I couldn't go downstairs and let Carlisle and Esme see my red eyes. I couldn't let them see the dried tear stains on my cheeks and shirt.
I took a deep breath and let my head fall back against the wall with a quiet thump. I looked to my left and down the hallway to my room.
The room that I used to share with my wife. My gentle, loving, and caring wife.
Angela...not my wife any more.
I looked down at my left hand, and I touched the silver wedding band on my ring finger. Jasper, my colleague and good friend, always tells me to just take it off and put it somewhere safe so I don't have to look at it and be reminded of her.
That wouldn't help. I look at our children, and her name is always floating around in my head like an annoying bee. I know I need to forget, but I just...can't.
Jasper's sister, Rosalie, completely agreed with him. She also worked at the station with Jasper and I. Carlisle and Esme just told me to do whatever made me feel better. Whatever made me not breakdown and lose myself for a bit.
I shook my head slowly and swallowed thickly. I picked myself up from the floor and ran my fingers through my hair quickly. One more deep breath, and I descended down the stairs quietly.
Esme and Carlisle were sitting on one of the leather couches. Esme had her legs curled up with her head resting on his chest. They both had their eyes closed. They looked so peaceful as well, I didn't want to disturb them.
"Carlisle?...Esme?" They opened their eyes and sat up a little straighter. Carlisle got up, and grasped Esme's hands in his, helping her up. 11 years of marriage, and they looked at each other the same way they did on their wedding day.
Nowadays, that's rare. Divorce is everywhere. Left and right.
"Oh, honey, you look so tired. Go get some sleep, dear. Carlisle and I will be here by 7:00." Esme trapped my face in her hands and looked me over. I'm sure my eyes were bloodshot from staring at a computer basically the entire day.
"I'll be heading up to bed soon," I assured her. "You and Carlisle can sleep in tomorrow. Go do something tomorrow afternoon. I don't have to work, and I want to stay home with the kids," I breathed. It sounded weird coming out of my mouth. Usually when I didn't have to work, I still went.
I needed to find him. It's been a little over a year, and my determination was leaving me slowly. Seeping from my very pores, sadly.
Carlisle's eyebrows raised in surprise. Esme's lips parted and her hazel eyes got slightly wider.
"A-are you sure?" She stuttered. She removed her hands from my face as I reached into my back pocket and whipped out my wallet. I pulled out $120 and stuffed it into Carlisle's hands. I even curled his fingers around the money so he wouldn't give it back.
"Four years, you guys have come over here almost everyday to take care of my kids. You don't have to, but you do," I said to them. I pointed down to the money as I continued on. "Go out to dinner tomorrow. Use this money. I don't want you to give it back...please tell me you'll spend it tomorrow?" I raised an eyebrow at them. Esme had glassy eyes while Carlisle opened his mouth a couple of times. He sighed and rested a hand on my shoulder.
"Thank you, Edward. We'll spend it. You know we're here whenever you need us," he said. Esme pulled me into her arms, and I rubbed her back as she fought back her tears.
"Esme, we have to go. Edward needs sleep. Badly." Esme reluctantly let me go and took Carlisle's hand. She looked up at me and kissed my cheek.
"You don't have to walk us out. Go to bed, sweetie," she said gently. I walked them to the door and locked it behind them. I watched them from the window as they got into Carlisle's Mercedes and left.
I knew they had enough money to pay for their own dinner, but it was the least I could do since they took care of my kids more then I do.
I just stared out the window for a good three minutes before turning off all the lights downstairs and headed upstairs. I checked on the four of them one more time before I disappeared into my room. Showered, brushed my teeth, and stripped to my boxers. I got into bed, and prepared myself for that feeling to come as I laid down.
I wanted to wrap my arms around someone as I slept. Angela, to be exact. That was the feeling. The feeling I always got.
I rolled over so my back faced Angela's side. Her side.
I pulled the duvet closer to me and closed my eyes, begging for sleep in my mind. I was so tired, but I also didn't want the dreams to come.
Those wretched dreams.
Edward Masen: 24
Carlisle Masen: 33
Esme Masen: 36
Christian Masen: 5
Isaac Masen: 5
Sebastian Masen:5
Anna Masen: 5
Thank you to the people who read. If you have questions, which I'm sure you will, you can ask them in the review box. Most questions will be answered in the chapters to come, I'm sure. I'm thinking of writing Edward's POV and Carlisle's. If you would like that, let me know in a review.
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