This was my contribution to this years Fandom4LLS compilation! I hope you all enjoy it!

Summary: Well, that handsome stranger did indeed help Bella forget, and he's still the "swooniest" Barward going; except now, instead of just serving up drinks at Jake's, he's serving up bottles at home. A Maybe Next Time He'll Think futuretake for LLS.

Special thanks to the folks that put this together every year. Also mad love going out to my pre-readers Kni Nut (Annie Butts), and CullensTwiMistress (Missy) and my beta Midnight Cougar.

Seattle, Washington

Friday May 15, 2015

6:00 a.m.

"Babe," she whispers, kissing my cheek and running her fingers through my hair.

I groan and wrap my arms around her, squeezing her tight. She laughs and ruffles my hair again. "Edward, I've gotta go, babe."

I open one eye, grunt, and close it again. She leans over and kisses me soft and sweet. "I know you were at the bar late and you don't have to get up just yet. I just wanted to say goodbye."

My arms tighten around her. "Don't go," I mumble against her stomach.

"I have to go. You know I don't want to, but I have a signing this weekend and I promised."

I pout.

"Oh, you big baby!" She kisses me again; on the lips this time. "I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you too. Love you."

"I love you too."

She attempts to stand, so I grip her tighter in my arms. If I had my way, she'd never leave. She giggles, and I can't help but laugh myself. "Edward, I'm going to miss my flight."

I loosen my grip and sit up so I can kiss her properly. "Be safe."

Her hand smooths against my jaw, rough with stubble. "You know I will. Go back to sleep. You've got some time."

"Okay." I lie back down, grabbing her pillow—it isn't her but it will have to do. "Love you."

I don't even hear her say it back, I pass out that quickly.

Seattle, Washington

Friday May 15, 2015

8:00 a.m.

"Mum-Mum-Mum, Mum-Mum-Mum."

Groaning, I open my eyes and glance blearily at the clock. I feel like I just fell asleep, and truth be told I've only had four hours. I didn't get home from the bar until four. I promised Seth I'd close the last three nights in exchange for him taking this weekend. The happy noises coming over the monitor give me the impression I can fall asleep again. If I'm needed I'll surely know it.

It feels like seconds later when I hear a more impatient, "Mum-Mum-Mum, Mum-Mum-Mum."

Cracking an eye, I jump about a mile off the bed. "Jesus, Ryder."

Standing by the bed, my three-year-old is staring me right in the face. When I look at him he giggles.

"You scared the shi- poop out of Daddy, buddy."

"Jack's up."

"I can hear that."

"She wants, Mom."

"Mommy had to go away, remember?"

He shrugs, giving me a smile. "Can I have breakfast now?"

I laugh; he is so easygoing. He'll miss his mom, but won't show it the way I know Jack will. Bella and Jack have been attached at the hip for the last six months. I only hope I will be forgiven at bedtime. Bottles are not Jack's favorite thing.

"Let Daddy get up and we'll go get Jack and head down for breakfast."

He raises his arms for me to pick him up, and I do, even though we both know he can walk on his own. "Just until we get Jack, okay?"

He puts his thumb in his mouth and his head on my shoulder. "Okay, Daddy," he mumbles around his thumb.

I carry him out of my and Bella's bedroom, down the hall, past his room and into Jack's. The minute she sees me her whole face lights up and her chant for "Mum" changes to, "Da-Da-Da." Then she sticks out her tongue and blows a raspberry at me. I can't help but laugh, which makes her do it again, spit covering her little chin.

"Gross, Jack," Ryder exclaims, lifting his head off my shoulder and giggling. From around his thumb it sounds like he says "gwoth, ack." Prompting me to tell him not to talk with his thumb in his mouth. It's a habit Bella and I have been trying, and failing, to break.

"Ry-Ry-Ry," is the response he gets.

"All right, Ryder, let me get your sister and then we'll go down for breakfast, okay?"

I put him down and reach for Jack, getting a good whiff of her for the first time since coming into the room. "Ohhhhhh girl, you are stinky." I fan my hand in front of my nose. She giggles at me and leans in to give me an open-mouthed baby kiss on my chin.

I kiss her temple and place her down on the change table. I get everything ready I'll need to change her and have Ryder pass me the stuff. He didn't really know what to think of the baby when we first brought her home from the hospital. Bella and I worked hard to keep him involved with as much as he could do at two and a half, and he still loves to help out.

Once she's clean, I dress her in a onesie. Picking her up, I turn around to see Ryder standing in front of me with his arms out. Not being able to deny him anything, I bend over and pick him up in my other arm. If Bella were here, she'd chide me for spoiling him, but she's not here and there's no harm in spoiling my boy.

"What do you want for breakfast?" I ask.

"Pancakes!" Ryder yells, pumping his fist in the air. Jack says, "Yay," and pumps her little fist too.

"Pancakes it is, little man."

Seattle, Washington

Friday May 15, 2015

9:30 a.m.

"Oops, Daddy. I made a big mess."

Turning from feeding Jack another bite of pancake, I see Ryder has attempted to pour himself some more juice. In the process, it's spilled all over the last bit of pancake on his plate, all over the table, himself and the floor.

"It's okay, buddy. Daddy will clean it after we're done here."

He grins at me.

I turn back to Jack; despite the fact I'm feeding her, she's still managed to get syrup all over her face and in her hair. "You're a mess, little girl," I tell her, chuckling. She gives me the same grin her big brother just gave me.

"Hey, Ryder, why don't you take your PJs off and we'll all have a shower and get dressed for the day."

He hops off the chair, stripping out of his pajamas and leaving them in a wet heap beside the table. I tell him to head upstairs and use the potty while I hoist Jack out of her high chair. I don't even bother wiping her down. I follow Ryder up the stairs and head into Jack's room for a towel and new diaper. I learned the hard way you have to diaper the child immediately after getting her out of the shower. Let's just say it led to another shower for me and a ton of jokes at my expense courtesy of Bella.

Ryder is already waiting for us in the bathroom, attempting to put all of his bath toys in the tub. "Not all of them, little man; we're only having a shower and there has to be room in there for all of us. Pick three and that's it, 'kay?"

"Okay, Daddy." He smiles, leaving his scuba man, duck and shark, then hands Jack her bath doll. She squeals, grabbing it from him and shoving it in her mouth.

I turn the water on and check the temperature. While I would normally have it much hotter, I can't do that with the kids in here. Once Jack and I are ready, I help Ryder into the tub and climb in after him; Jack in my arms. She squeals when the water hits her and gums her bath doll some more. She must be getting more teeth or something.

Ryder waits patiently, making his shark eat the scuba diver and the duck eat the shark, while I clean the syrup out of Jack's hair and off the rest of her body. Once she's clean, I sit her in her bath chair and concentrate on trying to clean the syrup and juice off Ryder. He only wants minimal help and I allow him to wash himself as best he can before taking over. Once both kids are squeaky clean, I turn Ryder loose back on his toys, while I clean up myself.

When I'm done, I leave the water on for Ryder as I get Jack dried and diapered. Then I put her on the floor and get Ryder out of the tub, drying him off too. I ask him if he needs help picking out clothes and when he tells me no, I send him in his room to get dressed, taking Jack to her room to pick out clothes.

I dress Jack in one of the outfits Bella left out; a black top with a pink skull and crossbones on it, pink leggings and a black tutu. I add her little pink Docs and attempt to do her hair in a ponytail. There isn't much hair and it kind of sticks out the top of her head, making her look like one of those Who things from that Christmas movie Ryder likes to watch over and over.

Walking back out in the hall with her to check on Ryder's progress, I run straight into him. I manage to pull my body back in time to avoid the head-butt to the nuts I received the last time we ran into each other. He's dressed himself in a pair of camo pants and a black shirt with white cats on it that form the shape of a skull. I laugh, realizing Bella must have left out his outfit for him too. He also has his Docs on.

"Daddy, can you do my hair like Uncle Seth today?" he asks.

"Sure, little man. Let's go to the living room so I can find something to entertain your sister."

Seattle, Washington

Friday May 15, 2015

10:45 a.m.

The phone rings just as I am finishing Ryder's mohawk.

"Hey, baby, how was your flight?" I answer.

I can hear her sigh. "It was long. How are my kids? I miss them already."

Chuckling, I tell her they're fine. "We had breakfast, a shower and we're just getting ready to go out for a bit. Want to talk to Ryder?"

"Please."

I pass Ryder the phone. When I tell him it's his mother, he jumps up and down clapping.

"Hi, hi Mommy! Uh-huh, yup, we had pancakes. I spilled my juice." He laughs at something she says to him. "We all had a shower. Now I look like Uncle Seth. Uh-huh, the hawk. I'm wearing my boots like Dad's. So's Jack. Okay, bye Mommy. Love you!"

He shoves the phone back into my hand, running out of the room and up the stairs.

"Be careful on the stairs, Ryder," I call out to him. Bella is laughing in my ear. "What did you tell him?"

"You'll see," she says in a soft but conspiratorial voice. "Now put Jack on the phone."

I put the phone up to Jack's ear. She listens for a minute before her eyes grow wide. "Mum-Mum-Mum." Bella is saying something and her little hands start clapping. "Da, Mum-Mum." She blows a raspberry and I can hear Bella laugh. "Love-love Mum."

I kiss her cheek before pulling the phone away from her ear. "How's the hotel room? Did they hook you up or what?"

She laughs. "It's fine. Not the same without you here, though."

I chuckle darkly, remembering the last time we were in a hotel. Ryder was with Bella's dad and Jack wasn't born yet. "Oh yeah, what would you do to me if I were there?"

She growls. "Don't even start, Mr. Masen. I have a long, lonely day ahead of me. What are you and the kids going to do today?"

"I have to stop by and see Seth. Then I figured I'd take the kids over to see Billy for a bit."

"Sounds good, babe. Skype tonight?"

"It's a date. Oh, and Bella?"

"Yes?"

"I packed something for you to wear for our date; it's in your suitcase."

Seattle, Washington

Friday May 15, 2015

1:00 p.m.

"So then, then, Daddy did my hair in a hawk like yours! And I gots a tattoo like him—see!" Ryder shoves his arm practically into Seth's face, showing him the stick-on wolf tatt; the one he ran upstairs to find and put on after he got off the phone with Bella this morning.

"That's so cool, little dude!" Seth exclaims. "Are you being good for your dad?"

"Uh-huh! I'm helping take care of Jack. Dad lets her get too dirty. She had to have a shower even."

"That deserves a high five and a pop too. Want a Coke?" He asks before I can tell him no. Fucker.

Ryder, of course, is bouncing around already. I glare at Seth while he pours the Coke into a glass, handing it to my son. "If you weren't working, I'd be making you come home with me so you can deal with the sugar high."

Seth laughs. "It'll be out of his system in a while; relax, Pops."

I grab him in a headlock, causing Jack—who's strapped to my chest in a baby carrier—to squeal and grab his hair. She tries to put it in her mouth, so I pull back laughing. "You just wait until Claire pops, man. I'm going to feed your kid full of chocolate, spin it around, then stand back and watch while it barfs all over you."

"I'll tell her you said that!" He says it as if it's supposed to be a threat, but his wife's a doll, and we both know it.

"Go ahead, I'm not scared. You forget I've done the hormonal woman thing twice now; I can handle her."

"Handle who?" Claire asks, coming from the back room, her stomach leading the way.

I lean over, kissing her on the cheek. "You." I laugh. "Seth's afraid of your hormones."

She turns and, noticing Ryder isn't looking, flips him off. Seth shoots me a glare. "How's it going without Bella?" She turns back to me.

"So far, so good. The only problem I anticipate so far is bedtime. Jack still won't take a bottle."

Claire grimaces and Seth just shakes his head. "What can be hard about giving a kid a bottle? It's a piece of cake."

"Oh yeah, hotshot?" Claire says, looking at him pointedly. "Then I nominate you to go over at bedtime and help Edward put the kids to bed."

With that, she kisses my cheek, kisses Jack's and Ryder's cheeks, and returns to the back room.

"You heard the lady; I'll see you at 7:30—on the dot. Come on, Ryder. Let's go see Grandpa Billy."

"Yeah!" he squeals, climbing down from his chair.

"But I'm closing the bar!" Seth shouts after me.

"Garrett will be here," I shout back.

Seattle, Washington

Friday May 15, 2015

3:00 p.m.

"So, when is Bella back?" Billy asks as he attempts to give Jack the bottle she was refusing from me earlier. She's still having nothing to do with it.

"Sunday night."

Billy laughs. "Well, good luck with that, son. Ryder and Jack are busy kiddos."

I wave him off. "We'll be fine. You know me. I can handle anything."

Jack wiggles and squirms in his lap; he puts her gently on the ground and she immediately crawls over to Ryder, pulling on the toy in his hand. "No, Jack, no." He passes her one of her toys. "This one is for you." She grins at him before shoving it in her mouth.

I laugh at them, turning my gaze back to Billy. He's staring at me. "What?"

"I don't think I tell you enough how proud I am of you, Edward."

"I—"

"No, please." He cuts me off. "Let me finish, son. When Jake begged me to take you in, I have to admit I was hesitant. You'd just lost your parents, and raising an angry teenager was not something I was looking forward to. But you… you proved me wrong. Time and again. Then we lost Jake; I thought I would lose you then too. But, once again, you proved you are stronger than I ever gave you credit for. I don't say it enough, but when I see you, I don't see a kid I raised who wasn't mine. I see one of my sons, and I'm proud of you, and the family you've created."

I can feel the lump in my throat and swallow around it a couple of times. "Thanks, Billy. That really means a lot to me."

"You're welcome, Edward. I know I don't say it enough, and Jake… he'd have been proud of you too. Now, enough with this sappy shit. Let's take my grandkids to the park."

"Grampa Billy, you said a bad word," Ryder announces, getting up and walking over to Billy with his hand out. "You gotta give me two dollars."

"Two dollars? For what?"

I laugh, 'cause that kid is smart. "The swear jar—a dollar per swear per kid." It was Bella's idea because she thought I would swear too much around the kids."

He raises his eyebrow at me, and I smugly state, "She's put in more than I have."

He digs the dollar bills out of his pocket, handing them to Ryder, who smiles big, looking at his windfall. "Thanks, Grampa."

With the money passing hands, we clean up the kids' toys and head over to the park for a bit.

Billy takes Ryder to the slide, while I sit on a bench with Jack and attempt to give her the bottle again. She's squirming in my arms, pushing at the bottle, whining, "No-no, Da, no."

"She's adorable." I hear from beside me. I turn and notice the red-head for the first time. "How old is she?"

"Six months," I respond, trying to get the bottle back in her mouth. She isn't having any of it, though, so I put it back in the diaper bag and stand Jack up on my legs. She starts bouncing up and down chanting, "Da-Da, Mum-Mum."

"I absolutely love her outfit; it's so cute."

"Thanks."

"Do you only have the one?"

"No, my son is over there with his grandfather." I point out Ryder on the slide.

"Oh, my goodness. Where did you get their outfits?"

"Oh, uh, I don't know, their mom bought them."

At that, Jack starts her "Mum-Mum" chant again. The lady laughs. "I'm Tori." She holds out her hand. I shake it as best I can while still holding Jack upright. "Edward."

"It must be hard for you," she says, but it's got a... tone.

"I'm sorry? What?"

"You know, only getting them on the weekend."

It takes me about a minute to realize she's insinuating I'm not with their mother, and I laugh really loud, startling both Jack and Tori. "I don't only 'get them on the weekend'," I tell her. "Their mother had to go away this weekend, so we brought Gramps to the park with us."

Tori looks disappointed before standing up and yelling for her kid. "It was nice meeting you, Edward."

"Yeah, you too. Maybe my wife and I will see you here next week."

I hear her mumble, "I doubt it," before she walks away.

I can hear Billy laughing from across the park. "I can't take you anywhere—can I, stud muffin?"

I just snort and shake my head.

Seattle, Washington

Friday May 15, 2015

7:30 p.m.

True to Claire's word she sends Seth over to help at bedtime. He's like the baby whisperer; he somehow manages to get Jack to finally take a bottle and she's passed out in no time.

While he's giving Jack her bottle, I give Ryder a bath. He's filthy after his time at the park and it looks like he's brought half the sand in the park home with him.

Once he's cleaned, he wants Uncle Seth to read him a bedtime story. So I take a passed out Jack from him and carry her to her room to put her in bed.

After Jack's all tucked in, I walk back down the hall and ask Seth if he wants to stay for dinner. I'd made the kids grilled cheese when we got back from dropping off Billy, but I want something more substantial. Seth tells me he can't stay long; he doesn't like to leave Claire for long so close to her due date, but agrees to stay for pizza. To be honest, I'm kind of glad he'll be here for a bit. I'm not used to being alone at night with only the kids sleeping for company. I feel bad for Bella, doing it all the time when I have to close the bar. But she kind of likes the solitude; it gives her writing time. I'm more used to the busyness of the bar, or being home with Bella and the kids.

We drink a few beers with dinner, so I send Seth home in a cab. Then I jump in for a quick shower before Bella Skypes; dressing myself in nothing but a pair of sweats.

I'm in the bed, with the laptop open, all ready to go when Bella pings through. She looks exhausted, but happy.

"Hey, babe. How's the signing going?" I ask, smiling wide; happy to see my wife.

She smiles in return. "It's going great. Busy but great. How are my babies?"

"They're perfect. Jack actually took a bottle for Seth."

The smile on her face fades slightly, and I feel like an ass for reminding her of one of the things she's had to give up in order to be away this weekend. "I'm sorry, Bell. I probably shouldn't have said that."

She shrugs. "No, I, well…" She sighs. "I'm sorry, Edward. I shouldn't let it upset me, but—"

"I get it, Bell. You don't have to explain it. I knew how hard this weekend was going to be for both you and Jack."

"I'll bet Ryder doesn't even miss me." She laughs.

I laugh along with her. "He does in his own way. He's an easygoing kid. We went to the park with Grandpa Billy today. He had to give Ryder five bucks by the end of the day."

We both laugh hard at that, before catching each other's gaze, seriousness slipping in.

"Can you take me to see them? I know they're sleeping; I just want to see them."

Never being able to deny her anything, I pick up the laptop and take her first into Jack's room, then Ryder's. I can hear her soft sigh and my heart breaks a little bit for her; for the fact she can't be here, where she wants to be.

I take the laptop back into the bedroom and lie back down on the bed. Propping myself up on my elbow.

"You doing okay, Bell?" I ask, tracing her face on the screen with my finger. It's not as good as her being here, but just being able to see her is nice and comforting.

"Yeah, I just can't wait for Sunday."

"I can't wait either, baby," I tell her.

"Oh yeah? What are you going to do on Sunday?" She asks me while toying with the tie on the robe I've suddenly noticed she's wearing.

I swallow thickly before looking her straight in the eyes. "My wife comes home on Sunday, and I plan to rock her world."

"Yeah?" she breathes out.

"Oh yeah," I respond in a low, meaningful voice. "Bella?"

"Hmm?"

"Take off your robe."

She sits up and undoes the tie around her waist; shrugging both her shoulders, the robe falls down her arms, pooling behind her. At the sight of her in her red corset and panties, I moan and my dick springs to life.

"Fuck, Bell… you look"—I swallow—"fuck me you look fantastic."

"Oh, this old thing?" She traces the top of her breasts with her fingertips. I groan and palm myself over my sweats.

She runs her hands over her corset-covered breasts, down her stomach and cups herself over her panties. My moan turns into a groan and I palm myself harder.

"Touch yourself for me, Bella. Show me what you would want me to do to you if I were there."

She slides her panties to the side, revealing the pink flesh underneath that I want to put my mouth on. I slide my hand into my sweats, wrapping my fingers around my cock and sliding my hand slowly up the shaft and back down. There is no sense in having this end before it even begins.

Teasingly slow, she circles her clit with one finger, still holding her panties to the side. "Take your panties off, Bella. I want you to play with your tits while you finger yourself for me."

"Edward..." She moans, stopping her ministrations to pull her panties off.

She slides the cups of her corset down under her tits, revealing her nipples, hardening in the chilled air of the hotel room. Opening her legs wide, she places one hand on her right breast and her left back at her pussy.

Her back arches as she circles her clit again, lowering her finger and dipping it inside. Fuck, what I wouldn't give to be with her right now. I divest myself of my sweatpants, making sure to keep my eyes glued to the laptop screen so I don't miss anything. She's switched breasts now and is circling the nipple of her left tit, pinching the nipple and rolling it between her fingers.

I grab the lotion off the side table, thankful I put it there before getting the laptop. Squirting a bit into my hand, I wrap my fingers around my cock, squeezing on the upstroke, twisting my wrist and bringing my hand back down.

"What would you do to me if you were here, Bell? What would you do to my cock?"

She's breathless, fingering herself hard, eyes glued to my hand as I move it up and down my shaft. "I'd take you in my mouth; suck you down deep so I could feel you in the back of my throat."

I groan again, my hips shifting to meet the rhythm of my hand. "I'd lick up to the tip, circle my tongue around and take you back in."

"Shit, Bell." I moan, stroking harder.

Her back arches more as she readjusts her position; her fingers working furiously. "If I were there, fuck baby, I'd put my tongue on that pretty, pink pussy of yours. I'd lick and suck. I can't wait until you're home; I can't wait to have your taste on my tongue, to feel you flutter around my fingers and my cock."

"Oh, God... Edward, I..." She moans louder, pumping her fingers even faster, pinching her nipple harder. "I'm gonna come, babe."

"Come for me, Bella. Come on." My hand is working my cock fast. I can feel the telltale tightening in my balls.

Bella spreads her legs farther, gasping and moaning. I can tell by the way they are shaking that she's right about to come, so I say, "After you come on your fingers, I want you to lick them clean, just like I would."

Her mouth opens in a silent scream as her legs fly together, trapping her still moving hand. The sight of her coming alone is enough to finish me off and I come all over my stomach.

We both lie there, panting, trying to collect our breath, staring at each other through the computer. It's only now, since we're finished, that I miss her the most. Usually, after some lovin' like that, she'd be snuggled in my arms, tracing the tattoos on my chest. I sigh. "I miss you, Bell."

"I miss you too, Edward."

I look into her beautiful, brown eyes. "I don't want to let you go, but the kids will be up early and I want to take them to the zoo tomorrow."

"You don't have to let me go, we can leave the Skype on all night. It will be like we're still sleeping together."

I flash a smile at her. "I like that idea. Let me go get cleaned up and then we'll sleep."

I run to the bathroom to wipe off my stomach and brush my teeth, then return to our bed.

Crawling back under the covers, I position the laptop on her side of the bed. "Night Bell, love you."

She yawns out, "Love you too, Edward."

Seattle, Washington

Saturday May 18, 2015

7:30 a.m.

I wake up to the sound of thunder, rain on the windows and Jack babbling over the baby monitor. Ryder is spread out on Bella's side of the bed, his foot digging into the middle of my back. How is it that someone so small requires so much room to sleep?

Getting up as carefully as I can, I gingerly remove the computer that's still there but pushed over to the side, with the top now closed, and try not to wake Ryder. He didn't sleep very well last night, with the huge thunderstorms we had.

I turn off the baby monitor and go into Jack's room. When she sees me she squeals and starts her "Da-Da-Da" chant.

"How you doing, Jack?" I ask, picking her up.

She grabs my nose and leans in to give me a kiss. I take her over to the change table, change her diaper and fix her onesie. I decide to make scrambled eggs for breakfast, so I put Jack in her high chair and give her a small piece of banana to tide her over. While the bacon cooks, I find my phone and send a text to Jasper. We were supposed to take the kids to the zoo today, but I don't know if that is going to be possible with the weather.

The phone rings a couple of minutes after I send the text.

"Jasper, hey man, how's it going?"

"It would be better if it hadn't decided to rain. Tucker was really looking forward to going to the zoo."

"Ryder too," I tell him with a sigh. "There isn't much we can do with Jack in tow."

When Jack hears her name she starts clapping her hands and mashing her banana in her hair.

"Well, that's why I called," Jasper says. "Maria suggested taking Tucker and Ryder to see a movie. She said to drop Jack off with her for the afternoon."

"Is she feeling up to it?" I ask. Maria just recently suffered a miscarriage; she and Jasper were devastated. Bella and I had no clue how to help them; it was awful. We took their son, Tucker, who was born two months after Ryder, for them for a few days so they could mourn the loss without having to look after him.

"Yeah, man, she's been doing a lot better lately. She went to the doctor the other day. He said if we want to try again we can start any time."

"That's great, man," I respond, smiling to myself. I'll have to let Bella know; if Maria hasn't already talked to her about it. "Okay, Ryder is still sleeping." I flip the bacon. "We'll hang out here for the morning and come over to get you guys after lunch."

"Sounds good, see you then."

No sooner do I hang up the phone than Ryder comes into the kitchen looking for food. I take the bacon off the stove and start the eggs.

"Are we still going to the zoo?"

"I'm afraid not, little man."

"That sucks!" he exclaims with a dramatic pout.

"Where did you hear that expression?" I ask him, shocked.

"Uncle Seth."

It figures. "Ryder, remember what I told you about repeating stuff Uncle Seth says?"

"Don't."

"That's right." I ruffle his hair. "We're going to go to a movie instead. Just us boys."

"What about Jack, Daddy?"

"She's going to stay with Aunt Maria."

"Cool."

"We'll go after lunch, okay? So eat your breakfast."

Seattle, Washington

Saturday May 16, 2015

11:00 a.m.

After I've given Jack a bath and washed the banana out of her hair, I dress her in a pair of yoga pants and a T-shirt. Then I put her on the bathroom floor with the door closed while I give Ryder a shower. I send him into his room to get dressed. Once he's dressed, I take them both downstairs and set up Netflix to play Sesame Street for them.

Placing Jack in her playpen, I tell Ryder to keep an eye on her while I jump in for my own shower. I take the quickest shower known to man, because while my kids are good they are still kids.

When I get downstairs, I see Ryder has taken out his coloring books, crayons and some paper.

"You drawing a picture for Mommy?" I ask him.

He nods, his little tongue poking out the side of his mouth while he concentrates on his drawing. I peek over at Jack and she seems content to sit in her playpen and watch Grover while she chews on a giraffe toy, so I leave her be. Bella and I both think it's very important for kids to be able to play independently.

After a while I make us all lunch and then pack up a bag for Jack for while she's at Maria and Jasper's. When I look outside after lunch it's still pouring rain, and I'm thankful there's an entrance to the garage from the house so we don't get soaked going to the car.

I put Jack in her rear-facing car seat and strap Ryder into his forward-facing one, then we hit the road to pick up Jasper and Tucker.

There isn't much traffic on the road, so we make it to Jasper and Maria's house quite quickly. I turn off the car and try to figure out how to get both kids out of the car and into the house, without getting soaked. That's when I spot Jasper coming out the front door, an umbrella covering his head, holding another one. He comes to my door and opens it, handing me the umbrella.

"Uncle Jasper, Uncle Jasper!" Ryder shouts from the backseat. "We're gonna see a movie, just the boys."

Jasper laughs. "That's right, Ryder. We're just going to let Jack get settled with Aunt Maria before we go, okay?"

He nods, and Jasper goes around to his side of the car to get him out. I open Jack's door and balancing the umbrella under my chin, pull her out of the car and into my arms. She smiles at me and grabs my nose again; I don't know what her fascination is with it today, but she seems to like it as she lets it go, squeals and claps, then grabs it again.

Ryder allows Jasper to carry him into the house, much to my surprise. We're in the door less than two seconds before Tucker's planted himself against my legs. "Uncle Ed, Uncle Ed, we're going to the movies. We're going to the movies."

I don't normally like being called Ed, but Ed was better than Edverd, which is how Tucker pronounced my name. "We are, buddy! Are you excited?"

"So essited," he replies, smiling wide, and I chuckle at his enthusiasm.

"Tucker." I hear Maria call out as she comes down the hall. "Let Uncle Edward get in so you guys can get on the road."

He lets go of my legs, and I walk over to meet her. Leaning over to give her a kiss on the cheek, I ask her quietly, "Are you sure you're up for this? We can find something else to do where we can take Jack."

She puts her hand on the side of my cheek and gives me a small smile. "You're a sweetheart, Edward. I don't know what Jasper and I would have done without you and Bella, but I promise you, if I didn't feel up to it I wouldn't have offered. Okay?"

"Okay."

"Now, give me my Jacklyn!" She reaches out her arms to Jack, who claps before extending her arms toward Maria. "How's my pretty princess?" She coos at her. "Pretty princess Jacklyn Daniella."

Ryder walks over to Maria, hands on his hips. "Her name's not Jacklyn, it's Jack."

Maria crouches down in front of him, kissing his cheek. "That's what everyone calls her; it's a nickname. Like Tucker calls you Ry instead of Ryder and you call him Tuck."

"Oh!" he says while smiling at her and she smiles back, adding to me, "One of these days your mom and dad are going to tell us where they came up with her name."

I smirk at her—I don't think Bella and I will ever reveal that we named our daughter after the booze we'd drunk, before fucking on the bar the night she was conceived.

There are just some things you never tell anyone.

Seattle, Washington

Saturday May 16, 2015

7:00 p.m.

"It was so cool, Momma! The man got green and big, and he went like this... grrr." Tucker makes his face scrunch up while he growls.

"Then he punched the other man right in the face!" Ryder adds, swinging his fist out, imitating the action.

Maria looks at Jasper and me, eyebrow raised. "You took the boys to see the new Avengers movie?"

I shrug and smirk at her. "The choices weren't very good. Everything else looked boring."

"Really, Edward? What about that one that's out for kids—the one about the bullying and feelings."

"Have you seen the previews for that, Maria? It looks depressing as shit."

"Daddy, you owe me a dollar. Tucker too."

"Sorry, little man. Seriously though, the girl is treated like crap, loses her happiness; how depressing would that be?"

Maria huffs and shakes her head. "Bella is going to have your 'a double s' when she finds out you took him to see that kind of movie."

"Nah, she'll be fine. She loves those movies as much as I do."

Jasper hasn't said a word, and I'm hoping she doesn't give him too much trouble. But when I see him glance at her from under his eyelashes and her coy grin and blush back, I know they'll be fine... and that I want to leave before they start making out or something.

"Come on, little man, let's go and collect your sister so we can go home. Say goodbye to Tucker."

Ryder says his goodbyes to Jasper, Maria and Tucker, while I gather Jack and her things. I return to the hallway to say my own goodbyes. Thanking Maria for keeping Jack for the afternoon and kissing her cheek, giving Tucker a high five and a back slap for Jasper.

It's still raining, so he helps me bring both kids out to the car and strap them in. Pulling into the garage, I turn off the car and help Ryder out before getting Jack and going inside.

Bella calls right before I'm about to give Jack her bath. She talks to Jack for a few seconds before Ryder grabs the phone and starts telling her about the movie. When he's finished, he hands the phone to me.

"The new Avengers movie, Edward? Really?"

I laugh. "Did you talk to Maria before you called or something? She said the same thing."

Bella giggles. "Did they have fun?"

"They had a great time, babe; you should have seen their faces. They thought it was so cool."

"I'll bet! All that violence. I'm almost sad you went without me, though."

"We can go to the movies when you get back. How did it go today?"

She sighs. "It was okay, but next time I'm not going for so long. I miss you guys too much, plus I hate pumping. Has Jack been okay taking the bottle?"

"Maria said she was fine this afternoon."

"I—" she says, but then stops.

"What, Bell?"

"I'm just worried she won't want me when I get home; that she'll have forgotten me, or won't want to nurse anymore. I knew I shouldn't have left her."

"Babe, it will be fine, you'll see. She's not gonna reject you. She'll still want you—you're her mum-mum."

She sniffs a few times before blowing out a breath. "I know you're probably right, but this is so hard. I miss you guys. After you give the kids a bath, can we Skype?"

"Anything you need, baby."

I decide that getting the kids online with Bella is more important tonight than a long bath, so I strip them both, put Jack in her bath chair and pull down the shower head and shower them instead. Then I dry them off and send Ryder into his room to get his pajamas on, while I get Jack dressed.

I grab the laptop and climb into the bed with both Ryder and Jack. I pull up Skype and call Bella. The minute Jack sees her on the computer she starts clapping and squealing, "Mum-Mum."

Bella laughs through her tears. "Are you sad, Mommy?" Ryder asks.

"I'm just missing you, little man."

"We miss you too, Mommy. But I'm being a good boy. Jack's being good too, I guess."

That makes Bella laugh too, and I'm relieved she seems okay now. Maybe next time I'll arrange for me and the kids to go with her so she doesn't have to be alone without us. I can't deny I miss the hell out of her too.

The kids and I settle into the bed and Bella tells them a story. Pretty soon Jack is out and Ryder is on his way. Jack is snuggled into my chest and Ryder is pressed up against my side, thumb in his mouth, eyes blinking, while he fights sleep—and on her end, Bella looks like she's about to pass out too.

"You should get some sleep, babe. One more sleep and then you'll be on your way back."

"I can't wait, Edward. I love you."

"Love you too, babe."

Seattle, Washington

Sunday May 17, 2015

7:00 a.m.

It is only seven o'clock and already this day is going to shit. Jack has clearly woken up on the wrong side of the bed, her mood does nothing for Ryder's, and already I am thinking of just going back to bed. But I can't do that. As much as I wish I could. To top it all off, it is raining... again.

I make the kids breakfast, and then make the mistake of accidentally leaving Jack's bowl of oatmeal on her high chair tray while I run to the bathroom. I come back to find oatmeal all over the wall, the floor and her. Ryder has decided he, once again, is going to pour his own juice and has spilled it all over himself, the table and into his oatmeal—which he now can't eat because, "it's yucky, Daddy," so I have to make them both something different.

The kitchen is still a mess from Friday and Jack won't let me put her down for a single minute so I can clean up. I have no clue what to do with two cranky kids; it gives me a better appreciation for what Bella must go through every day. I suppose the kids aren't like this every day, but even once a week is enough.

Neither kid cooperates in the clean-up-from-breakfast-disaster bath this morning—the floor and walls are soaked by the time they're finished. All of us are just... done. We need Bella back, it is evident we all miss her.

Once the kids are dressed, I figure we need a nice, quiet activity to concentrate on for a while. I put the TV on low and bring out the crayons for Ryder; I place Jack on the floor beside us and start to color with him.

My phone rings and I check the table for it. Realizing I left it in the kitchen, I go in to pick it up; on my way out I ask Ryder to keep an eye on Jack for a second. That is my second mistake of the day. It's Seth and I know it probably won't take long, so instead of going back in living room I answer it in the kitchen.

"Hey, what's up? I don't have long; both kids are in the other room."

"We've got a problem with one of the suppliers. They didn't deliver on time, and because they didn't, I didn't have time to properly check the order they left. They shorted us two cases; I've got a lunch rush, Mike called in sick and Claire can't help because she's having some pains."

"Shit, okay. I'll see what I can do about the supplier. I'll grab the kids and come over to help out."

"Are you sure, man?"

"There's no choice—is there? Where's Claire right now?"

"She's in the back. I didn't want to leave her at home in case she's in actual labor."

"Okay, I'll be there as soon as I can. I'll leave the kids with Claire in the back until we can find someone to cover for Mike. Maybe Rachel will want some overtime, but I don't have her phone numbers here."

Just then, Jack lets out a cry. "Shit, I gotta go get Jack. I'll be there as soon as I can."

I run to the living room and my heart jumps into my throat. Jack's got two crayons in her hands and she's crying while chewing on a blue one and Ryder is coloring on the wall.

I run over to Jack, pulling the crayons from her hands, then shove my fingers in her mouth to pull out any crayon that may be in there, while yelling out, "RYDER!" He jumps and starts to cry, his wails adding to the level of noise that Jack is making.

I pick her up and try to soothe her a little, turning to Ryder, I say sternly, "We do NOT color on the walls. You know this. What are you doing?"

"I was drawing like the man on the TV." He points out that the program has switched to some art show. Sure enough they are doing a feature on graffiti and showcasing building murals.

"But you know better, Ryder. Daddy is very upset with you right now. Please put your crayons away."

I sit Jack on my lap and open her mouth. She doesn't appear to have any more crayon in there, thank God. I gather up some stuff for Jack and some toys to occupy Ryder for an hour while I help out Seth. I figure I can just use the baby carrier and keep Jack with me. If Claire is in labor, the last thing she needs is two cranky kids to deal with.

On the way to the bar I call the doctor's after-hours line to make sure I don't have to bring Jack in. After laughing at me for a full solid minute he tells me she'll be fine, but to expect colored stool for the next couple of diaper changes. Great.

After I disconnect the Bluetooth, Ryder says in a soft voice, "Daddy?"

"What's up, little man?"

"I'm really sorry I put a picture on the wall."

"Thank you for saying sorry, Ryder. I'm sorry I yelled at you."

"It's okay, Daddy. I love you still."

I smile at him in the rearview mirror. "I'll always love you, little man."

Seattle, Washington

Sunday May 17, 2015

1:00 p.m.

"I'm really sorry about the mix-up, Edward."

"No worries, honestly, accidents happen," I tell the flustered driver.

I turn and go back into the bar. It's unusually busy today, for a Sunday. I swear Mike had better have a good excuse for not showing up today—like being good and damn sick, as he told Seth—or he's going to be fired.

Rachel comes hustling into the bar, out of breath. "Sorry it took me so long, boss."

"Really, Rachel. It's okay. Thanks for coming in on such short notice. I'd stay myself but..." I motion to a sleeping Jack in the front carrier.

Rachel laughs. "When does Bella get back?"

"Tonight, thank God."

Rachel laughs louder. "I'm sure you've done fine."

"Fine..." I snort. "Yeah, I've done fine... if you discount the fact my kid has blue poop right now."

"Crayon?"

I nod at her. "You know it."

"Jared did that once. I left the room for two seconds, I swear, and the crayon was half gone by the time I came back."

"The doctor, after laughing at me, said she'd be fine. I don't know how Bella's going to take it, though."

"She'll be all right."

"Yeah, after she kills him." Seth throws in his two cents.

"All right, I'm going to get out of here. Seth, I already have Garrett on standby. If Claire's pains start getting worse, or closer together, call him right away and he'll cover the bar tonight."

"I can stay extra too, guys," Rachel offers. "I don't have any plans tonight."

"You are a lifesaver, Rach. Remind me to give you a raise."

"You've got it, boss. Now go, get those cute kids of yours home and make sure you clean it before Bella gets home."

Seattle, Washington

Sunday May 17, 2015

6:00 p.m.

By the time dinner rolls around, I kind of feel like I want to cry myself. Though we had fun this afternoon, building a fort out of pillows and blankets, neither of the kids had a nap today and you can tell. Ryder is practically sleeping in his dinner and Jack keeps pushing the food away saying, "No-no," then rubbing her food sticky hands all over her face.

We eat as quickly as possible and then I take the kids upstairs for a shower. We all get in our pajamas and climb into my and Bella's bed. It's my intention to just lie here until the kids fall asleep then go clean like a maniac. Jack is the first to go, her breathing evening out, becoming dead weight on my chest.

I'm stroking her back and Ryder's, who is curled into my side, much like he was last night. I figure there's no harm in closing my eyes for just a minute.

Seattle, Washington

Sunday May 17, 2015

9:30 p.m.

BPOV

I put my key in the lock and try to open the door, but it seems to be stuck on something. I give it an extra hard push and the door finally gives, knocking something over with a crash.

"Shit!" I exclaim, hoping the noise doesn't wake the kids. I'm waiting to hear Edward ask me what the hell happened, but I'm met with nothing but silence.

I walk in the door to find that I've managed to knock over the stroller. I wonder briefly why it was right behind the door, when I notice the diaper bag is caught under the door; it's no wonder I couldn't get it open.

Glancing around, I can see the hallway is a complete disaster. There are toys, shoes and clothes everywhere. It kind of looks like a bomb went off in here.

Looking for Edward, I walk down the hall to the living room. What the hell? The first thing I notice is the large pillow fort in front of the couch. Knowing that sometimes Edward and the kids sleep in their tents, I go over and open it up, but find nothing but a pile of blankets and extra pillows. I survey the rest of the living room and it's just as messy as the front hall. I also see we have a new piece of artwork on the wall, probably courtesy of Ryder.

Thinking Edward may be in the kitchen, I walk in there. I am going to kill that man! It doesn't look like the dishes have been done at all since I've been away, and the walls are coated in oatmeal and orange juice. There's a pair of Ryder's pajamas on the floor, covered in a couple days' worth of spilled juice, and Jack's high chair is a mess of dried, sticky food.

I go upstairs, looking first in Jack's room, then Ryder's. Both are empty of kids, but a complete disaster. Clothes and toys scattered all over. It's going to take days to clean this place.

Sighing, I walk down the hall to my and Edward's room. I open the door, and the sight in front of me both melts my heart and makes up for the mess of the house.

Edward is fast asleep, Jack on his chest, Ryder curled up against his side. I can feel the smile forming on my face. I pull out my phone and snap a picture of them. I make it my phone background before walking over to the bed. Carefully, I lift Jack from Edward's chest, hoping not to wake him, but failing.

"Hey, babe," he whispers. "Welcome home."

"It's great to be home," I tell him quietly, "and such a clean home it is." I raise my eyebrow at him.

"I'm sorry, Bell. Shit, I don't know how you do it every day."

I laugh. "I have it just as hard sometimes." I stroke Jack's hair. "But they are so worth it."

He stands up from the bed, reaching over to pick up Ryder. Once he's in his arms, he turns to me and hugs me, the kids between us, my family is complete again.

With his free hand he cups my cheek, leaning in and kissing me. Then he whispers against my lips, "I missed you."

"I missed you too."

Seattle, Washington

Sunday May 18, 2015

10:15 p.m.

With the kids in their beds, Edward tells me to hop in the shower while he goes down to start cleaning the kitchen. It doesn't take me long to wash the airplane stench from my body. I put on a T-shirt of Edward's—and nothing else—and go to join him.

He's standing, bare-chested, at the sink, rinsing off the dishes before placing them in the dishwasher. I walk up behind him and wrap my arms around his waist, placing a kiss to the middle of his back.

He sighs in contentment, placing one of his hands on mine and rubbing it gently. God, I missed him so much. Surely it's unhealthy to love someone as much as I love him. I kiss his back again and close my eyes, placing my head to the side and squeezing him to me.

Having him this close and seeing the kids again, stirs up memories of my time away. How my chest ached, as if I wasn't whole. I can't contain the sob as it slips from my lips.

Edward stops rinsing the dish in his hand and turns off the water. "Bell?" he questions; his voice full of concern.

Overcome with emotion, I'm unable to answer him verbally. I shake my head against his back and cry out again; biting down on my lower lip, it comes out as a whimper.

Edward turns and hugs me to him, one hand going to the back of my head to hold me to him. He rocks us gently back and forth for a few minutes while the tears stream down my face. After a couple minutes of him stroking my hair and holding me, he grips my hips and carefully hoists me onto the counter.

He parts my knees and steps between them, tugging my ass so I'm at the edge of the counter. He lifts his hands to my face, gently brushing the tears from under my eyes.

"What are you crying for, baby?"

"I… I can't do that again, Edward. I can't be without you guys. It's too hard. I missed you, so much. I can't do it again. I won't."

He chuckles lowly, leaning in to kiss my lips. "You won't have to, baby. I promise."

"Yeah?"

He nods, kissing me again. This time he traces the seam of my lips with his tongue, giving me a peck and pulling back. "I missed you too much too. I can't do it again either."

I smile and kiss all over his face. He laughs at me, moving back a bit, and brings his arms from around me, placing his hands on my thighs. While I tell him all about my trip, he's driving me crazy; running his hands up and down my thighs, going higher with each pass.

When his hands finally reach the top of my thighs, he stops. Pulling his hands back a little, he cocks his head to one side. "Bell, what are you wearing under this shirt?"

I smirk at him. "Nothing."

"Nothing?"

I shake my head. "Nope, nothing."

He groans, lifting me off the counter and carrying me to the table. He sets me down at the edge of the table and sits down in a chair in front of me. He pulls the chair in as far as he can before he looks up at me from beneath his eyelashes. "I'm going to fuck you, Bell. First with my tongue and fingers, then with my cock. I hope you're okay with that."

I've barely nodded my approval of his plan when he shifts the shirt up over my waist and spreads me open in front of him.

"Fuck," he growls out, staring at my pussy. "I missed this too."

He smirks up at me before placing his gaze back down at my center. He traces my lips and my entrance with his tongue, leaning over and covering my clit with his lips. He flattens his tongue against it and wiggles it. My head falls back, legs parting wider. "Unf, shit, that feels incredible."

He moves away slightly from my clit, gently blowing air across it; the contrast of hot and cold causing me to shiver. He places his mouth back over me, alternating between gentle sucking and light little laps that make me ache with need, hips grinding, trying to get him to give me more friction.

Chuckling, he pulls back again, causing me to cry out in frustration. "Shh, Bell. Don't want to wake the kids, do we?"

"No, God, no, Edward. I… I need…"

"What do you need, baby?"

"I need to come, please make me come."

"Oh, I plan to," he tells me, leaning forward and redoubling his efforts.

He fucks me first with his tongue, then with his fingers, then with his tongue again. I'm a panting, writhing mess above him. My hips speed up with the motion of the thrusts of his fingers inside me. Flicking my clit with a pulse that would seem impossible. My abdomen clenches and my legs shake as I ride out my orgasm.

Edward stands abruptly, accidentally knocking over the chair he was sitting on. It falls to the floor with a crash.

"Shit," he hisses as we both hear Jack's cry from upstairs.

"One of us should—" I motion upstairs. "Before she wakes Ryder."

He leans over and kisses me. "You go, baby, she'll be so excited to see you. I'll finish cleaning up the kitchen and be right up."

I kiss him again, wincing as Jack's cry become a bit shriller. "When you're finished, come and find me and we'll continue where we left off."

I jump off the table and hurry upstairs to get my baby.

Seattle, Washington

Monday May 19, 2015

12:15 a.m.

We had both underestimated how excited Jack would be to have me back. She keeps giving me kisses and chanting, "Mum-Mum." It takes forever for me to calm her down enough to nurse, and contrary to what I'd thought when I left, she doesn't reject me at all.

Finally, she nods off and I get up to place her back in her crib. I'm exhausted, but I still have plans for Edward. So I hurry off to do my business and then head into our room.

I'm slightly disappointed to find he's fallen asleep. But there will be other times for us to continue from where we'd been interrupted.

I pull back the covers on my side of the bed and climb in. I roll myself so I'm snuggled right up against Edward's side, and I'm not disappointed when he lifts his arm enough that I can place my head on his chest.

"Love you, Edward," I whisper, kissing his chest.

"Love you too, Bell," he mumbles, squeezing his arm around me.

It doesn't take long before I'm sound asleep.

Seattle, Washington

Monday May 18, 2015

7:30 a.m.

"Mum-Mum." I hear over the monitor.

Smiling, since I missed this so much, I get up gladly. I walk down the hall to Jack's room. She's lying in her crib, but when she sees me she starts clapping her hands wildly and starts up her, "Mum-Mum," chant again.

"Hi, pretty girl. How's my baby?" I lift her out of her crib, planting kisses all over her face.

She squeaks and shakes her head. "No-no."

"Oh, you are a stinky girl this morning. What did Daddy give you?" I wonder.

I place her on the change table and open her diaper. What I see has me astounded... and thinking I'll never go away for so long again.

"Edward," I call out. "Why is our daughter's poop blue?"