Chapter 6: One Step Closer

Edward and I had been on a few dates since Rosalie had told me that she would give us the freedom to do so with out being watched. Most of our dates was just the three of us, yes three. Mason was Edwards world, he was Edward's first priority and rightfully so. So, I had told Edward that as much as I wanted to spend time alone with him, I wanted Mason to know I wasn't taking his dad away. I tried to include him as much as possible in what we did. On the nights that we would have together we would always end up at my house. It had become a routine for us. We would either go out to eat or I would make something for us. After dinner we would have some type desert and watch a movie or play a game. Once Mason was a sleep Edward and I would have alone time. We hadn't taken our relationship to that level yet but we did fool around, a lot. I loved the nights Edward slept over. I always slept best when Edward was there. Mason loved staying over now. Edward said I was spoiling him. Every time they slept over I would make them pancakes in the morning. After a few weeks I decided that I would surprise Mason and changed the room he used around. Since my mom only came over once a year or less, she didn't really need a room for herself. I put the bed away in my garage and bought an air mattress she could use when she came over. Then I went and bought a toddler bed for Mason. Edward told me I didn't have to go through all the trouble but I told him that they were part of my life and they spent three nights a week here so they both deserved to have it feel like home. They both had made themselves very much at home. One evening on one of my alone days I was cleaning the house when I noticed little things here and there that said two guys lived here. Most of the laundry I did that day was theirs. All the snacks in my kitchen were the ones they liked best. They had their tooth brushes in my bathroom. I laughed to myself. I barely noticed how they have slowly became such a central part of my life and I loved every minute of it.

It was in this state of mind that I woke up on Monday morning. Although I hated waking up alone anymore I knew that I would soon see my guys. They were coming over that evening to sleep over. I had promised Mason that I would make his favorite home made pizza. I got myself ready for my day and made it to the coffee shop early. Neither Alice nor Edward were at the shop when I got there. I sat there with my coffee and waited Alice and Edward came in with in thirty seconds of each other. I caught Edwards eye as he was getting his coffee. Alice notice the looks and began encouraging me to talk to him but like always I refused to. I soon left the coffee shop with Alice to start the work day. Upon entering my office I found a vase full of the most beautiful orchids. I found a note seated neatly beside the vase that read:

To my beautiful beloved Bella,

Words can not describe the gratitude I have for what you have
done for Mason and myself. We are indebted to you.
Please accept our invitation to join us at our house for dinner.

With all my love and devotion
Edward A. Cullen

The smile would not leave my face all morning. At lunch I made my way down to the fifth floor only to find Edward standing at the elevator with a basket of food. When I asked what was going on he told me that the they were starting to move in to the fifth floor and that we would no longer be able to use it for lunch. That brought my spirits down but Edward was able to salvage the afternoon by taking me back to his office for us to eat. We parted ways with plans of meeting that evening to a dinner for three at casa de Cullen. I felt like a teenaged girl on my drive to their house. I had yet to be in their house and I had a bad case of butterflies fluttering in my stomach. I was welcomed with open arms. Edward informed me that we were still making pizza but that he would do all the hard work this time.

"Okay Mason what do you want on you special pizza?" I asked as I pulled him a little closer to the table so he could choose his toppings.

"I want cheese and that red stuff that goes under and some pep-a-roni" I pulled the things close to him.

"That sounds really good buddy, why don't you make mine too." Edward said and Mason beamed at his dad.

"Okay daddy I'll make yours just like mine." he said proudly. After preparing the pizzas Edward put them in the oven and we sat in the living room playing go fish. Mason and Edward were on one team and they played against me.

"Do you have a 7?" I asked Edward whispered in to Mason's ear before Mason shouted.

"Go fish." I picked up a card and waited for Masons request. Edward whispered once again in his ear before Mason asked.

"Do you have a queen?" I looked at my cards and found I did have one and handed it to Mason. Mason beamed at his dad. He looked at me and said:

"Dad is so cool he always knows what cards to ask for." he then turned to Edward "Daddy I always wanna be be on your team your like a super hero or something." I giggled and Edward shot me a look. But before any of us could say anything the timer for the pizza went off.

"I think it's time for pizza" I said as I got up off the floor. They followed me in to the kitchen and we took our pizzas in to the dinning room. I was helping Mason get his drink while Edward cut up the pizza in to small pieces so Mason wouldn't choke if he took a big bite. I love how worried and caring he could be about his son. We ate dinner quietly than after cleaning up we played another hand of go fish before it was time for bed. After a quick shower Edward dressed Mason and took him to his room. Although I had seen them do this a million times, I never got board with it. Edward would tuck Mason in to bed so he looked like a little burrito. Then sit beside him to read him a story that had been chosen just before his shower. I usually stood by the door and watched but that night everything changed.

"Daddy can Mama Bella sit with us." Mason said. Although he was half asleep his words made my heart swell. This had always been his time with his daddy. I had always just stood back and observed, an outsider intruding on personal space. The fact that he wanted me to be with them made me the happiest person in the world. Then add on that he called me Mama Bella and I was flying. I wasn't sure if Edward was okay with that but we would talk about it latter. I moved closer and sat on the floor beside them and listen to Edward read. Once Mason was asleep Edward helped me up off the floor and we went in to the room to get ready for bed. Neither of us brought up what Mason has called me. As soon as I was done with my shower I walked out to find Edward pacing the room. When he heard me he stopped pacing and looked at me. He took a deep breath before he started talking.

"Bella about what Mason said earlier. I had asked him not to say that but I guess..." my heart broke he didn't want Mason to call me that. I knew I wasn't his mother but I thought that I was a hell of a lot better to him than she ever was. I tried to fight the tears that were threatening to come out. I turned a way so he couldn't see my face.

"It's okay, I get it, I know that I'm not..."

"No no no no baby that's not what I meant" I felt his arms wrap around me. "I only meant that I wasn't sure if you would be comfortable with that. I know that we've only been together for a few months I just..." I turned to face him.

"Edward Anthony Cullen, I came into this relationship with my eyes wide open. I knew that with you came Mason and that he will always be number one in your book and that's how it should be. I just want to be part of your life and I am fully aware that that means Mason will be in my life as well." He gently held my face in his hands. He placed a kiss on my lips.

"Baby, I love you so much. I just didn't want to that to scare you off."

"Edward, there is no scaring me off your stuck with me. I'm not planing on going anywhere. If this ends its because you want it to not me." He didn't say anything he just kissed me that night we took are relationship to the next level. We made love that night and it was one of the best nights of my life. We feel asleep in each others arms like we always did but there was something different. I knew that night that there was no other man in the world I could ever love more than him. I was awoken the next morning to a bouncing bed. I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes and looked around. I saw Mason jumping on his knees next to me on the bed.

"Daddy, she's awake, she's awake."

"Mason I told you not to wake her." Edward scolded Mason as he came in the room with a try full of food.

"But I didn't" Edward gave him a pointed look. "Sorry for waking you." He said to me. I grabbed him and gave him a hug and a kiss on the top of his head.

"It's okay I don't mind, much." I smiled at him. Edward placed the try on my lap and placed a kiss on my forehead.

"Would you like some coffee, milk, or some juice?" he asked.

"Some orange would be nice. Thank you." he just smiled and left the room. Mason cuddled up next to me and picked at some of the food with me.

"Bella?" Mason called softly.

"Yes, sweety, what is it?"

"Well I just wanted to know if..." he looked down to the bed. "Could you be my mommy?" I pulled him in to a hug and kissed his forehead. I felt the tears running down my face. They were a mix of happy and sad tears. I was happy that he wanted me to be his mom. That he loved and trusted me enough to even think, it let alone ask me. Yet, I was sad that he had to ask. He shouldn't have to ask someone to be his mother. He should have one that loved him and cared for him unconditionally. In that moment I hated the woman that gave birth to him because she was never a mother to him and the poor child had to suffer for her stupidities. I pulled away from him slightly and cupped his little face in my palms.

"Mason , if you want me to be than I will be." he smiled at me widely as his whole face lit up. Just then Edward came in with my drink.

"Daddy, Daddy, guess what Bella said she would be my mommy."

"That's great Mason, now let Bella eat and go get dressed. I put your close on your bed." Mason nodded and gave me a kiss before dashing of to his room. Edward sat beside me on the bed.

"Sorry I didn't talk to you first before giving him an answer. I just couldn't say no."

"What did he say?"

"He asked if I could be his mommy. Edward the look on his face when he asked, the way he asked, it broke my heart and made it swell with joy at the same time. I couldn't say no, I couldn't make him wait for an answer. I couldn't break his little heart." Edward kissed me then smiled at me.

"Thank you, Thank you for caring about him, us. For loving us and wanting to be apart of our lives. I didn't know how much we were missing until you came into our lives." I kissed him one more time and than finished eating my food. Once I was done I got ready and the three of us made our way to the Zoo. We spent the day learning about animals and each other. We had fun and we were happy. Like a happy family because that's what we were becoming.

A/N I know that this chapter was kind of short but the next will be good it will bring us closer to the first chapter. Please tell me what you think.

R&R