Thanks a lot you guys for the prayers and concerns for my family and most of all for giving me your thoughts on the story so far.

No matter what is going on in my life don't fear that the story won't continue because I have pre-written up to Chapter 23 and I am writing a little bit more every day. I hope to pick my writing back up soon but I haven't written a single word since the tragedy struck my family but I am hopeful that I will get my creative spirit back soon enough.

I hope you all enjoy this chapter as well.

Chapter 7

"There is no place like home."

-The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

Saturday, April 14, 2012

EPOV

I couldn't believe the turn of events from last night. Bella had gone from just being the daycare owner where my kids attended, to being a friend, to being a woman I was insanely attracted to. I had to be honest. She was never just the daycare owner or just a friend. But what was she now, just a friend that I had kissed? Possibly a girlfriend? I needed to see her again, I knew that much, but I didn't know how to go about doing that without seeming like I was being needy or clingy.

I was dragged out of my thoughts by the whining of my daughter. She had overcome her not talking because her throat hurt hiatus. She had been complaining since her eyes popped open this morning. First the bed was too hard. Then it was about the food being nasty. Then it was about not taking a bath before bed. Then it was about her IV itching. Now it was about having surgery today. "Papa, I no want to." She said as she sat in the bed with her little arms crossed in frustration.

I was trying to explain to her what was happening to her today in as kid friendly way as possible. That she was going to have surgery on her ear so that the aches would go away. "Vannah, baby girl, you have to. Papa will be right here waiting on you when you get out, okay?" I pleaded yet again.

She shook her head. "I no like you no more, Papa. I want Izzy B!" She said giving up on me and my pleas.

I groaned and hung my head. "Izzy B cannot come running every time you don't get your way. And it's not nice to say you don't like someone anymore just because you didn't get your way, Savannah Grace." I scolded her.

"Sorry, Papa, I love you." She said holding her arms up to me.

I scooped her up and cuddled her to my chest when a knock on the door startled me. I turned towards the door and smiled when I saw my mom and dad standing there. "Vannah, look who came to wish you luck on your surgery." I told my daughter who was currently snuggled into my neck giving me a death grip hug.

She looked towards the door with a hopeful look in her eyes. "No Izzy B?" She asked quietly.

"Savannah Grace Cullen, where are your manners young lady?" I scolded her yet again. I was fed up with her lack of manners since we had been in the hospital. I understand she wanted Bella, but she had never been so blatantly rude before last night.

"Sorry, Papa." She apologized yet again.

I shook my head at her. "No ma'am. Sorry won't cut it this time. I understand that you want Izzy B, but she is not here right now so you need to get over it and find your manners again." I told her softly but sternly.

She nodded and gave me a kiss on the cheek. "Found 'em Papa. Pwomise." She said smiling at me.

I nodded. She turned toward my mom and dad who stood there watching us with bemused looks on their faces. "Nana! Grampy!" Savannah said excitedly and stretched her arms out for them.

"Vannah bear, how are you doing sweet girl?" My mom asked her as she peppered kisses all over her face causing her to giggle loudly.

"Good, nana. Papa says I haf to have…haf to have…" She trailed off when she couldn't think of the word.

"Surgery. You have to have surgery, Savannah." I filled in for her.

She nodded. "I no wanna." She said sadly as she lunged for my dad.

I just rolled my eyes and sat down on the side of the bed offering the chair to my mom. "How's your arm, mom?" I asked her when she sat down.

She had on a pale pink cast that everybody had signed in the few days since her accident. "Oh, it's fine, Edward. It was just a hairline stress fracture that could have been stabilized in a splint but your father insisted on the hard cast anyways." She said as she rolled her eyes at my father who just smiled at her comment.

"Better safe than sorry, mom." I told her softly.

"I know but I miss the kiddos during the day. Your father is a poor substitute for my grandbabies." She complained.

I just laughed. "I'm sure he is, mom. There is only one of him and six of them." I told her gently. "They are having a great time at daycare though. They have really bonded with the young woman in charge." I told her to make her feel a little better about not being able to watch them anymore.

"That's great, Edward. It's good for them to socialize with somebody other than family. I am going to have to find me something to do during the day though. I'm bored out of my mind with so much free time on my hands." She said as she gazed lovingly at my dad and daughter.

"Speaking of free time, who is watching my other monkeys?" I asked her curiously. I knew she would never leave them with anybody who I wouldn't approve of.

"Alice and Jasper." She said with a cheeky smile.

"Ah, Mom, really?" I complained playfully. I was really happy for my sister and cousin but it was a little weird at times to know that they were sort of kind of family.

"Yes, Edward, really." She said matter of factly just as the door opened to reveal the doctor.

"Good morning, Dr. Clearwater. How are you today?" My dad greeted her with a friendly handshake.

"Great, Dr. Cullen. I thought this was your granddaughter yesterday when I saw her." The doctor commented.

"Yes Leah. One of several, actually. Can you tell Dr. Leah 'hi' Savannah?"

Savannah shook her head and buried her head in my dad's shoulder. I groaned and cleared my throat which gained the attention of my daughter. She quickly jerked her head up and stuck her hand out toward the doctor. "Hi, Doc Leah." She said quietly.

Leah just laughed quietly. "Hi, Ms. Savannah. Are you ready to make your ears all better?"

Savannah shook her head no. "I no wanna…no wanna…" She looked to me for clarification.

"Surgery." I filled in for her.

"Yeah, I no want that." Savannah said firmly.

It was too cute but I barely managed to keep my laughter in as did my mom.

"What about if I let your grandpa sit by your side the entire time to make sure I do it right?" Leah bribed.

Savannah looked between my dad and Dr. Leah. When my dad smiled and nodded at her, I could see it in her eyes that she was bought with that idea. "Okay, I gwess that be okay." She said before laying her head on my dad's shoulder.

An hour later I was pacing the waiting room of the surgical floor when I felt a warm hand on my arm.

BPOV

I groaned as a loud pounding coming from my front door dragged me from my wonderful dream with a sexy co-star. "Coming!" I called out as I untangled my legs from my comforter and tangled sheet.

I yanked open the door and groaned again when I saw that it was not just one visitor but two, Angela and Rosalie. "Good morning to you too, sissy." Rose said as she walked right past me and into my apartment handing me a bag as she passed me.

"Good morning, my ass." I mumbled under my breath but waved Angela inside and snatched up the large Chocolate Chip Frappe that she held out in a peace offering. "Morning, Bella." Angela said quietly as she walked into the living room.

I shut the door and turned to face my early morning visitors. "To what do I owe the pleasure this morning?" I asked them as I went to sit on my lonely bar stool and dug around in the bag that Rosalie had handed me.

"Just checking to see how last night went!" Angela said and almost immediately a blush covered my cheeks causing Angela to laugh.

"Oh, it must have been good, Angie." Rosalie said as she sat back and waited for the details.

I shook my head and made the motioning of zipping my lips and tossing away the key. "Nope, no details today ladies. Sorry to disappoint." I told them as I sipped my frappe.

"Aw, come on B. This is the first guy you've been interested in since that idiot, Jake Black." Rose stated the obvious.

I nodded because obviously that was now public knowledge. I swear you would think that Angie and Rosalie were neighbors and best friends instead of me and Angie. Those two gossip worse than a house full of older women with nothing else to do.

"So at least you aren't denying that you are attracted to him. Good for you, Bella. You take it however slow you need to take it." Rosalie said softly as she looked at me.

"Thanks, Rosie." I told her quietly.

"So, little Savannah is having surgery in about an hour; are you going to keep Dad Company in the waiting room?" Angie asked cheekily.

I groaned and shook my head. "No, his entire family will probably be there."

"So, you've already met all of them when they came and picked the kids up." Angie said, stating the obvious.

"Yeah, but then I was just the daycare owner nothing more." I denied.

Angie just laughed. "Yeah, right. You have never been 'just the daycare owner' with that man. It's like you two have been dancing circles around each other all week."

I groaned. "I know, Angie." I told her quietly.

"So, go see him." Angela and Rose both said at the same time.

I nodded and stood up to go get ready. "Wear something beside the color black." Rose said as I headed back for my bedroom.

I just laughed and shook my head.

Almost an hour later I was pulling into the parking lot at Lenox Hill Hospital.

I got out, grabbed my purse, the stuffed animal that I had bought Savannah and the bag of food that I had brought for Edward before making my way up to the pediatric surgery waiting area.

I smiled as I saw Edward pacing back and forth, tugging on his hair in irritation. I also noticed his mom and dad sitting there. I recognized them because they had come by on Thursday and 'borrowed' the kids for a quick lunch before bringing them back. I just thought that Edward in a suit and tie was sexy as hell; that was out ruled last night when I saw him in his pajama pants and t-shirt. But, I think today he topped the sexy list. He had yet another Cambridge t-shirt on and a pair of jeans that hugged his ass amazingly well. I have never seen such a beautiful sight.

I pushed open the door and smiled at Esme and Carlisle as I made my way to Edward who was pacing away from me. I just reached out and laid a hand on his arm mid pace.

He jerked his gaze around to me and a huge smile spread across his face. "Hey, what are you doing here?" He asked quietly.

"I can leave if you want me to." I told him quickly.

He immediately shook his head. "No. Please stay." He back peddled. "I was just wandering what brought you to the hospital."

I smiled and looked down at all the packages in my arms. "Food, gift, and to check on you." I told him softly.

He smiled and nodded. "I'm glad you're here, beautiful." He said quietly as he reached up and tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear.

I was wearing it down for the first time in front of him. It almost reached my waist so I usually wore it up when I was working because it tended to get in the way. "I didn't want to encroach on personal time, but I was worried about how you might be handling the waiting game."

He smiled and nodded. "Horribly. Just ask my mother. I think I like this look." He told me gently as he twirled a strand of my long hair around his finger.

"Thanks. I'm nervous to meet your parents. I have met them before, but just as the daycare owner, never as…" I trailed off not sure what to call this situation.

He smiled at me brightly before shocking the life out me by leaning down and sealing his lips to mine gently. I moaned and leaned towards him the best I could with my arms full of stuff. The kiss didn't last long but it was long enough to prove a point. "I thought we had discussed this last night when I walked you to your car." He said quietly. "We're dating."

I smiled and nodded as I remembered last night.

We walked hand in hand towards the elevator without saying anything.

Once we got in the elevator, he tugged me towards him and placed his hands on my hips as I placed mine on his shoulders. He looked me dead in the eyes, smiled, and asked "So, Isabella Swan will you go on a date with me?" with a goofy smile on his face.

I groaned and let my head fall forward to his hard chest. "Absolutely. When?" I asked quietly without looking up.

He just laughed. "Well, I need to spend this weekend with my kids. So maybe next Friday since you close at six instead of seven?" He suggested.

I nodded without looking up. "Yes." I whispered quietly, not believing that this was happening to me. "There are some things that we need to talk about before things go too far, so someplace quiet and private where we can talk?" I asked him.

"Absolutely, I know just the place." He said and put a finger underneath my chin to bring my face up to his so he could seal his lips to mine.

When the elevator hit the ground floor we headed towards the parking garage hand in hand. "So what are we going to do? Date in secret or what?" I asked quietly as I stopped in front of my car.

"I'm not going to hide my relationship with you from anybody but my kids right now. I don't want them hurt if this doesn't work out." He said firmly.

I smiled and nodded in agreement. "Sounds great, but you should know that I suck at public displays and at relationships in general." I told him honestly.

"That can't be true; I don't think you could suck at anything, Bella." He told me as he pushed me up against my car and framed my face in his hands.

I just laughed and groaned. "Trust me; I have been told enough that I suck at relationships. It's got to be true." I said quietly.

He shook his head and sealed his lips to mine again shutting off any further conversation.

"Okay, I have to tell you that I am extremely nervous to see your parents like this." I told him quietly.

"Nonsense, they have been trying to push me out into the dating world for the past two years, but I have resisted. They just quit trying to set me up on blind dates six months ago." He explained before pecking me again lightly on the lips.

"Edward, stop it. Your parents are watching." I said playfully pushing against his chest.

"So?" He asked playfully but pulled back.

I just rolled my eyes at him and shoved the bag that contained lunch at him. "I told you I suck at public displays. Here are some sandwiches for lunch." I told him as I turned and headed towards where Esme and Carlisle were sitting watching us with wide smiles on their faces.

I sat down beside them quietly. "Have you heard anything about Savannah?" I asked them quietly.

Carlisle leaned forward. "Not yet, Bella, but she was asking for you all morning long. The doctor should be coming out soon. She's been back about thirty minutes now." Carlisle explained.

"Great. I had to have this same surgery when I was a little kid. I can't wait to see her and giver her, her good job present that I promised her last night." I told them just as Edward sat down beside me.

Edward groaned. "That child doesn't need any more stuffed animals and she was being a brat this morning." He said as he handed out the sandwiches from the deli down the street from my condo.

"Edward, she's just scared." I scolded him before his mother had the chance.

"You are a keeper, Bella." She said patting me on the knee. "No sandwich for you dear?" She asked as she unwrapped hers.

"Oh no. I just ate with my sister and neighbor before I came here. They woke me up early and bribed me with coffee and breakfast to keep me in a good mood." I told them quickly cuddling the small bear in my arms.

She just laughed. "Edward wasn't a morning person either until he had kids."

I looked at Edward who smiled sheepishly but nodded. "It's true, and now it takes several cups of hot coffee for me to function properly in the morning. I wake up well before the kids are supposed to get up."

I nodded. "Yeah, I'm the same way. The daycare is like my baby and I have to get up way before I am needed there. I never depend on somebody else to open or greet people; I like to do that myself." I explained conversationally.

"How long have you had B's Little Feet, Bella?" Esme asked.

"A little over a year, it will be two years in October." I told them proudly.

"That's great! It is so hard to keep a business running these days, but my grandbabies love coming to your daycare. You are all they talk about anymore." Esme said.

"Ain't that the truth." Edward mumbled under his breath.

I just laughed. "That is actually a common complaint I get from a lot of my parents. I think it's because I personally interact with them during the day. And in your situation, it's the fact that I am a woman and not family that is paying attention to them day in and day out." I explained.

"Do you have a degree in psychology or something?" Edward asked playfully.

I grinned and nodded. "I do actually. I was an English major and child psychology minor in college."

"Wow! No wander you are so good with the kiddos, Bella." Esme exclaimed.

"Thanks, I am sure my child psychology classes come in handy when dealing with the kids, but not the English degree so much." I told them and wrinkled my nose a little bit.

"Why didn't you go into the English field then?" Edward asked curiously.

I hung my head. "Oh, I did, I just don't advertise it to anybody." I told him quietly, looking at him from beneath the shield of my hair.

He tucked my hair behind my ear again. "Why's that, beautiful?" He asked quietly.

My tell-tale blush graced my cheeks. "It's embarrassing, Edward."

"How so?" He persisted.

Before I could respond the doctor called out "Cullen family!" from the doorway and Edward was instantly on his feet motioning for the doctor.