Mix up: What happens when two very busy people send two clueless people to pick up their babies from daycare? Bella Swan and Edward Cullen are in for a rough day but it may just have some nice repercussions.
Character pairings: Edward and Bella the whole way
Rating: M for fun times
Disclaimer: While I love Twilight I do not own it, however the little cuties that star as the babies are all figments of my imagination.
Edward
Walking into work the next day I felt really... happy? Elated? Over joyed?
I don't know how to phrase it but anything that was positive was me.
I did however have Lily in my arms and she was also a key route to my happiness, the fact that my mother had to abruptly cancel ticked me off a bit, but nothing was gonna bring me down today. I was determined of it.
"Good Morning Mr. Cullen." Ben said as I walked into the office "And who's this little cutie?" he asked as I picked up my mail. Lily smiled over at him brightly.
"Ben this is Lily. My Mom cancelled babysitting today so I thought I would bring her in with me." I said.
"I don't know if that will go over too well with the bosses." Ben said.
"I know for a fact Bella Swan has her son upstairs and Phil Dwyer thinks I'm great, so we're good." I said going into my office and setting Lily down on my desk. Which was rather bare looking; actually the whole office looked a bit bare.
"Don't get too comfy; we're moving upstairs today, all your essentials are up there it's just the last of my stuff and some files left."
"So I can just head on upstairs?" I asked and he nodded. "Are you coming?"
"Not just yet, I have to get some stuff organised. Our phone is joint with Bella's so Angela will take care of answering the phones upstairs."
"Who?" I asked.
"Bella's secretary" Ben explained. "Angela"
"Oh, Ms. Weber?" I asked and he nodded, biting the inside of his lip. "What's wrong with you? You look like a cat's got your tongue." I asked, picking Lily up off my desk, looks like I was moving earlier than I thought.
"Nothing." Ben said shaking his head before picking something off the table. "Those are this morning's messages; I'll bring your coffee up to you in a couple of minutes. Oh, and Ms. Swan wants to see you when you're ready."
"What?" I asked, almost dropping the baby. "Ben, new rule, anything regarding Ms. Swan is immediate and I get told straight away." I told him.
"Sure thing." He said, sounding a bit weirded out.
"Um... did she say what it was about?"
"No"
"So... you don't know if it's a business thing or a personal thing?" I asked.
"Why would it be a personal thing?" he asked before looking at me shocked "Are you dating Bella Swan?"
"Shhh" I said, not sure if anybody could hear us and how Bella would feel about it if they could. "We have a date this weekend." I whispered.
"No way! Well, she didn't say what it was about but you can't leave her waiting. It's a bad sign." He said and I nodded before getting into the elevator. Lily decided at this moment to stick her hands in my hair.
"Come on Sweetie, Daddy has to try and impress the pretty lady and you messing up my do, is only making more work." I teased, taking her hands out of my hair. It didn't do much good because then and there she decided to do her best from the exorcist. "Not today Kiddo." I said, stopping the elevator to give me a couple of minutes to calm her down. Once I finally had I realised she had just left me a good ripe gift, and the diaper bag was still in the car.
Starting the elevator again I arrived up on my floor and got out of the elevator. I walked towards my office. On the way I tried to peep back into Bella's. I could hear her talking so she was obviously on the phone, and I was safe for a minute. I called Ben downstairs and asked him to get the diaper bag and stat.
For such a pretty little girl Lily could omit some nasty stenches.
"Here you go." Ben said returning with the bag fifteen minutes later.
"Are you heading back downstairs?" I asked him.
"Yeah, just some more filing I have to do down there, your old office is going to be Ms. Swan's and your new filing cabinet so I'm organising it while Angela holds the fort down up here." He explained.
"When did you come up with that?" I asked.
"Last night."
"How do you know Angela?" I asked him.
"I'm married to her, Genius." He said.
"Oh... did I know that?" I asked.
"Now you do." He stated.
"Okay, I better get this stinky baby changed. If you could get all my photocopying done and have all the change of name and incorporation letters sent out to my old clients that would be great." I said, laying Lily down on the desk.
"Where's that mailing list?" he asked.
"Should be on my blue memory stick in that bag over there." I said pointing to my laptop bag.
"I probably won't get that done, what with all the filing." Ben said.
"It needs to get done by the end of today, so delegate." I told him.
"Fair enough." He said, writing it down "Is that everything?"
"Should be," I said "Now unless you want to get this stench first hand I would leave if I were you." I told him, bracing myself for a really bad diaper.
"I'm off." He said walking out the door. I slowly openedup the diaper, deciding half-way through to take off my jacket and roll up my sleeves, from the smell I was getting we were in for a big mess.
"Oh my God, Lily, that is the last time I am feeding you that green goo. That is sick." I said, referring to the unsightly colour of the mountain of shit I found myself dealing with.
"Hey, you..." I heard Bella say before stopping short "Oh my God." She said, covering her mouth. Connor, who was on her hip, turned his tiny face into his mother's chest looking to get away from the smell. "That is vile." She said.
"You're not the one changing her." I said, wiping Lily clean and throwing it all in a bag. I double bagged it and then tied a knot before dropping it in my trash can. I would empty it later. I then put a new diaper on Lily and redressed her before running into the bathroom to wash my hands. "So, how are you?" I asked Bella while pulling my sleeves down and buttoning the cuffs.
"I'm great, a little tired though. Yesterday was such a long day; I just came in to see your new office." She said.
"Just to see the office?" I asked.
"No" She said, bouncing Connor on her lap. Lily was crawling around on the floor. God help me when she started walking. "Angela said your assistant called up to warn you had Lily with you. I missed my little visitor."
"I am so hurt" I said clenching over my heart. "You're going to have to make it up to me." I told her.
"I'll think of something." She said with a smirk.
Thinking of all the ways she could make it up to me was fun, but we were at work and our children were here so it probably wouldn't be best to actually go any further with my thinking. Just because I was sorta dating the boss didn't mean I could get away with practically molesting her at work.
Yet.
Who knows? The rules might change if everything goes well.
"That's fine by me."
"So, I wanted to talk to you about the office daycare thing Phil and I were talking about last night." She said as Connor began to fall asleep in her lap. "Because as much as I love my little guy I'm getting no work done and I can no longer trust nannies or day care facilities." She added.
"I think it's a great idea, if it means we can have our kids at work and keep a closer eye on things then I'm all for it." I told her as I picked Lily up to move her away from the door.
"Great, then I'll start putting the plans together. We have a woman downstairs who specialises in children's rooms I'll get her to design it." She explained.
"Sounds great, how many people do you think will use it?" I asked her.
"I had Angela send out a mass email this morning about it and we're waiting on replies. By law it's a ratio of one caregiver to five children and then we'll just have to get the room assessed by the fire department." She explained.
"Is it going to cost to use it?" I asked.
"It's going to cost fifty dollars a week but at the end of the year that's half of what you pay for private childcare." She explained.
"Yeah, Riverside was one hundred and fifty for a one year old." I said remembering how I was a bit shocked at the cost, but due to the fact that I needed to get Lily into a daycare quickly I just decided to pay the amount.
"It was two hundred for a kid under one." She added.
"Childcare is subtle robbery at its finest."
"Well, I should get going, leave you to your first official day on the job." She said standing up, laying Connor down on her chest.
"Are you free for lunch?" I asked her.
"Sorry, while Phil and Mom are in town I'm booked up. My presence has been requested to have lunch with my mother." She stated.
"Some other time?" I asked her.
"Most definitely." She said before walking out of the room. She waved at Lily as she did, causing the little girl to smile.
I wasn't sure if it was just a case of circumstance or if she did it on purpose, but the way Bella's ass moved in that skirt as she walked out of the room...
Well, let's just say my previously loose slacks were feeling a lot tighter and I don't think it was because of my diet.
Bella
"Angela?" I called from my office. When she didn't come running in straight away I tried again. "Angela?"
Still nothing.
Where the hell was she?
I walked over to the door and looked out at her desk to see she wasn't there.
Looking down at my watch I saw it wasn't lunch time just yet and Angela knew better than to go early without asking, that is if she wanted to keep her job.
Angela came running out of the elevator two minutes later but it two minutes too late now. My good mood gone.
"Where were you?" I asked her.
"Mr..."
"That's not what I asked. Where were you?"
"I was photocopying and finishing a mail shoot for Mr. Cullen."
I quirked my eyebrow at her "Mr. Cullen has his own assistant, Angela."
"Yes I know, but Ben..."
"Who's Ben?" I asked.
"Mr. Cullen's assistant." She began "Ben is taking care of the move in offices and I said I would cover Mr. Cullen today."
"Oh really?" I asked her. She nodded "Well, Angela I'm just wondering where you got all this free time from. Because I'm looking at the pile of files I left for you to organise still in the same place I left them this morning, but you can do Mr. Cullen's mail shoot?" I asked her.
"Sorry, Ms. Swan" She said.
"Just don't let it happen again Angela. Mr. Dwyer is in town this week and I can't be left to look stupid in front of him. I need you at the top of your game today."
"It's just..." She began.
"Yes?"
"Ben, Mr. Cullen's assistant, is my husband and he's working really hard with the filing system downstairs and Mr. Cullen needed to have this work done today." She said.
"Well, then you come to me and ask can you step out for a couple of minutes. I was shouting your name for five trying to get some of my own work."
"Again I apologise, Ms. Swan."
"Get these filed. And you can choose to work through lunch or stay back an hour tonight." I told her.
"I'll work through lunch." She said.
"And I'll talk to Mr. Cullen about delegating." I added.
"Oh, Ms. Swan please don't. I don't want Ben to get in trouble." She pleaded.
I crossed my arms and leaned to my side, before sighing.
"Fine, I won't talk to Mr. Cullen. But only because you're the only candidate out of eighty who could handle this job. Don't let it happen again." I warned her before walking back into my own office where Connor was sitting up in his play pen.
"What do you think, Bud?" I asked him, kneeling down in front of the play pen. "Can't find good staff these days can ya?" I teased before standing back up and walking over to my desk.
I worked for another hour before I pulled the stroller out from the coat closet.
"Angela, Connor and I are going for lunch with my Mom. I left a list of phone calls that need to be made on my desk so if you could get those out of the way that would be great." I told her.
"Of course Ms. Swan, but before you go Mr. Cullen was looking for you." She said. I looked at my watch; I was early enough I suppose. I quickly turned the stroller down the hall to Edward's office and knocked on the door.
"Yeah, okay, that's great. Love you too Mom. Bye." He said before I walked in the door.
"Your Mom checking up on you?" I asked and he nodded.
"I managed to survive college on the other side of the country by myself and I have a kid of my own but she still feels like she needs to call and check if I'm wearing clean underwear." He stated.
"What are Moms for if not to check if your undies are clean?" I shrugged. "I was told you wanted to see me."
"I was wondering could you do me a favour."
"Sure, what?" I asked.
"Well, Ben doesn't do kids."
"I should really hope not." I said.
"You know what I mean." He said and I nodded "And you've got Angela working through lunch."
"Your fault by the way."
"Yeah, sorry about that, Ben told me and I overheard some of it."
"I'm gonna have to remember I share this floor now. Go on with the favour you need, although part of me is thinking I get a person on my lunch date." I said, looking at Lily.
"Would you mind? I'm swamped and I've got a meeting with Phil and some guy from marketing in five minutes."
"Oh yeah, no problem. Lily and I are cool and well, Connor's asleep." I said, lifting him up out of the stroller and pulling up the middle part to make it a double stroller.
"That's a nifty little gadget." Edward said.
"Yeah my Mom bought it for me, when she read double stroller she thought it meant the width of it like a double bed, so that he would have more room to stretch while he's sleeping. I think though the separator might be used a bit more now though." I said picking putting Connor in the front part because he was smaller and then Lily in the back part. "I'll be back by two."
"Just out of curiosity, can I have your cell phone number?" Edward asked, leaning on his hand. "Just... you know... usually in this stage of the process I would have your number by now."
"I suppose." I said, taking a pen out of his holder and picking up a sticky pad. I scribbled my number down and handed it to him.
"Thanks" He said before leaning over and placing a gentle kiss on my lips.
"Edward," I said in what was supposed to be a warning but came out like a whine "Not at work."
"No one can see." He said.
"It doesn't matter, there are certain rules you have to follow in the work place." I warned him.
"I've always been a rule breaker." He said kissing me again.
"When I say rules I don't mean accidentally dropping a Swingline into your bag. I mean stuff that can get you fired." I told him.
"Your stepdad owns the company." He said as if to remind me.
"Okay fine, you don't agree with me about this but maybe just indulge me a bit?" I asked. "Please?"
"Okay, seeing as you asked so nicely." He said.
"I better be going. I don't want to be late for my Mom." I told him.
"Right then, bye guys." He said waving to the kids in the stroller. "See you later."
"See you later." I said walking out of his office.
I walked towards the elevator and pressed the button calling it. Once inside I decided I would walk to the restaurant. One I didn't have an extra car seat for Lily and two the hassle of loading the two kids in and out of the stroller, especially the way parking was in the city. That was just one stressor in my life I didn't need.
By the time I got to the restaurant I was five minutes late. I told the maitre d' the name the reservation was under and she led me over to a table where my mother already sat.
"You're late." She said standing up and hugging me.
"I know, sorry, Edward held me up before I left the office."
"So you stole his baby again? I presume this is little Lily." She said as she peered into the stroller.
"Well no, this time he gave me the baby to watch, and if you recall I didn't take her last time. Edward's brother took Connor and my idiot Nanny grabbed Lily by accident." I said as Mom lifted Connor out of the stroller.
"Hello Handsome, how is my favourite Grandson in the whole wide world?" she asked.
"Mom he's your only Grandson." I said, taking Lily out of the stroller too so she could stretch her legs. The waiters brought over two highchairs and I thanked them.
"Well, if you keep collecting kids, at this rate he mightn't be for long." She said, kissing his check.
"Mom, I am not collecting kids. Edward was just really swamped at the office. For all I know this could be a terrible idea because this relationship may not work out." I said shrugging as I strapped Lily into the highchair before doing the same with Connor.
"Well, isn't that a cheery outlook to go into a relationship with?" Mom asked sarcastically.
"Mom, it's a practical one." I told her and she rolled her eyes.
"You keep using that word practical. I don't like it." Mom said.
"It's called being a mother." I told her.
"Watch your mouth Isabella." She warned "I was a single mother and I don't remember ever being so practical. And look where I am now. You're just trying to dodge something great."
"I'm preparing myself for the instance where this whole thing doesn't work." I told her.
"Bella, I get that when you had Connor you had made your mind up that you were going to be alone, but you're only twenty five, it's not a very healthy outlook on life." She said.
"Jeesh Mom, if I didn't know any better I would say you sound like Charlie." I said, opening my menu in order to not have to look at her.
"Bella, I would never tell you that Connor was a mistake. I love this little boy with every part of me just as you do but just because you made the decision to be alone doesn't mean you necessarily have to stick with it." She said.
"And what if I get hurt, Mom?" I asked her. "What if Edward turns out to be like every other guy, another Jacob?"
"Well, then you've made a mistake and it will make you stronger. But you have to remember I never liked Jacob in the first place. I like Edward. That has to be something."
"Yeah because you hate everybody." I said rolling my eyes.
"Just shut up and order." She said jokingly and I laughed.
This is why I love my Mom, I can talk to her about anything and usually she has an excellent answer for me.
I could only hope that this time she's right.
Review Please
Love The Irish Cullen.
