It just felt like I had just closed my eyes, but the clock read 4:00am when Elizabeth's soft cries woke me up.

Confused for only a moment before I remembered that Bella was in my arms and we had a daughter together who, at the moment, was demanding attention.

Not knowing what to do, I tried to sneak out of Bella's arms to see if I could get Elizabeth to calm down.

"Hey, baby girl. What's the matter?" I asked her picking her up and cradling her to my chest.

She cuddled into me, but didn't settle down enough to sleep. I tried switching positions so that her head was against my shoulder which only made her crying pick up again.

I was starting to freak out a bit until I felt Bella stirring next to me.

"She's hungry." She announced half asleep.

"Sorry, little one," I chuckled down at her. "But that's something daddy can't give you." I joked handing her to Bella who had moved so she was leaning against the headboard.

I repositioned myself to sit like I had earlier or yesterday as Bella lifted up her shirt exposing her extra plump breast.

Damn, it was bigger since I had seen it after Elizabeth's last feeding.

"Close your mouth, Edward. This milk is for Elizabeth not you." Bella said giving me a mocking glare.

"I just…I..." I stammered not really coherent.

"It's ok, Edward, I was waking up before she started fussing. My breasts and her are on a similar time schedule."

"How long can you feed her like this?" I asked.

Bella switched Elizabeth around to her other breast before answering. "The doctor said I can provide for as long as she needs it. She's nine months now and I'm trying to wean her off before her first birthday. Although, without a job I'm not so sure; formula is pretty pricy you know."

I made a mental note about the job thing for later; the middle of the night is definitely not the time for that conversation. Instead, I asked a simple question.

"When is her birthday?" I whispered.

Bella smiled down at our daughter who was starting to doze off a little. Her stomach must have been full because Bella pulled Elizabeth away from her breast to burp her. I caught her before she did and burped my little girl myself.

Bella smiled wider before answering. "June 20th."

I froze in mid pat, but Elizabeth still burped without my help.

"My birthday?" I asked.

Bella picked up Elizabeth from me and laid her down in between our bodies rubbing her stomach softly.

"She was about a week late and weighed eight pounds three ounces at twenty in a half inches long. The nurse said it was the perfect size for a healthy newborn."

"Well, she is perfect." I lay down beside my girls and gently mirrored Bella's hand, our fingers brushing against one another's.

Bella nodded her head in agreement with a small smile tugging at her lips.

I watched her eyes hoping against hope that she wouldn't disappear in the night until her eyes closed with sleep. It was only when I heard her breathing even out, and saw that Elizabeth was tucked away in dreamland that I allowed myself to be taken under as well.

I knew I was dreaming. I was dreaming of Bella—always of Bella—she and I were laying in our meadow back in Forks. We looked younger and happier with not a fucking care in the world.

That place was our haven where no bad thought or person was allowed…our protective bubble.

The sun was out sending down rays that made the red in Bella's hair more visible to the naked eye. Her eyes were closed, but I knew she wasn't asleep. She loved to lie out in the sun to feel the warmth not caring if she tanned.

I was about to reach out to touch her face, to feel her soft, milky skin when something touched my face. I looked in the direction to see what it was and instead heard a giggle. It sounded so familiar, but it wasn't Bella's.

I looked back at Bella and her eyes were open with amusement dancing in them.

"Don't wake up daddy." She said.

I cocked my head in confusion and felt the hand on my face again. Again it wasn't Bella because her hands were lying on the warm grass beside her.

"Don't wake up daddy." She repeated, but it sounded tired like she had just woken up.

Only, in my dream, she hadn't been asleep.

Another tap on my face and my eyes shot open to see a tired looking Bella holding onto Elizabeth's hands which were flailing around in my direction.

I smiled up at her and was rewarded by her mischievous smile I loved.

"Well, good morning to you too." I picked her up and held her above my head.

Her smile grew and she erupted into giggles.

Bringing her back down to me, I kissed her head and laid her on my chest. Like earlier, she snuggled into me.

Note to self, Elizabeth likes to snuggle into the chest not the shoulder.

Turning my attention back to Bella, her eyes were closed again, but I knew she wasn't fully asleep. Unlike me—and apparently Elizabeth—Bella is not an early riser whereas I can sleep for only a few hours at night and still be bright-eyed for a full day.

"Shhh," I stage whispered. "Mommy's still sleepy, let's go down stairs and fix breakfast." Again, Elizabeth giggled at me.

"I need to feed her." Bella said without opening her eyes. "My boobs will leak if she doesn't suck on them soon."

I had to hold in my laugh because Bella never did have a verbal filter in the early mornings.

"I could help you know." I joked.

Lazily, she tried to slap my shoulder which only felt like a soft tap making my laughter break loose.

"Shut up and give her to me." She mumbled then proceeded to sit against the headboard.

I sat up too and handed Elizabeth over to her mother who just ripped her shirt right off.

I gulped at the sight of a nearly naked Bella and my morning wood just went to full mast in the blink of an eye.

"Don't look at me like that, Edward." Bella scolded giving me an evil glare.

"Sorry." I said seriously. "I'm gonna go take a shower while you two finish up."

Her face softened a bit while I got up and walked into the bathroom.

I leaned against the sink for a minute trying to compose myself.

Yeah, fuck that shit.

Bella's body always turned me on and she didn't even have to try anything for me to end up with a hard-on. The only thing that could help at the moment was a cold shower. And holy fucking shit, it did.

I only turned the cold tap after I stepped in and had to bite my lip to keep from yelping at the sudden temperature change. Still, it got the job done.

Knowing that it would be a bad idea if I turned the hot water on, I quickly washed up in the freezing only turning on the hot knob a little to rinse off so I didn't get sick. I couldn't let my baby girl catch anything from me or anyone else. Overprotective has always been in my nature especially when it came to Bella, and now I had to think of my daughter's health.

Oh fucking hell, I'm going to have a busy job for the rest of my life. Fuck no, if you think I'm complaining though.

After getting out and wrapping a towel around my waist there was a knock at the door.

I opened it to reveal a blushing Bella.

"What? It's not like you haven't seen it all before." I gestured towards my body with her favorite lopsided grin.

The blushed stayed, but she giggled all the same.

"Your dad came up to get Elizabeth; he's taking her downstairs to start breakfast." She explained turning to the sink.

"Hmm…" I thought out loud. "So we have some alone time?"

She paused lifting up her toothbrush dabbed in the paste and looked up at me in shock.

"Joking, love." I said chuckling at her.

"Yeah, well," She cleared her throat when she composed herself. "Sorry, there won't be any of that for a while."

As a guy, that made my ego and dick deflate.

I reached for my shaving supplies in an attempt to brush off what she said.

We were quiet for a few minutes until she after she spit and rinsed. Then she turned to me and explained.

"Edward, I'm sorry. I know you're expecting something…"

"I'm not expecting anything, Bella." I put down my razor and pulled her into an embrace. "I was only joking. Yes, I'm a man and we have had sex in the past which was fucking fantastic by the way." I grinned at her. She returned it shyly.

"But with Elizabeth that reminds me that we have to commit to her now and less about our needs. Plus, we just found each other again. Sex will not make up for the hurt and pain we've been through. I still love you though, with all my fucking heart."

"Thank you." She squeezed me tighter. "But we will have sex again, I promise you."

"Only when you're ready, love. I can see how everything has taken its toll on you."

Really looking at her in the light has made me see that she was skinner than she was in high school. Just a few features had changed, but that was due to being pregnant.

"Yeah, and you know me and stress." She said, and I did remember.

When we were in high school, I sometimes had to force feed her especially when things got rough at home.

"When was the last time you went to the doctor?" I asked.

"Which one?" She replied.

"Huh?" I was confused.

"A regular doctor I haven't seen since I found out I was pregnant. A gynecologist, I saw one regularly until I gave birth and then had a few checkups after Elizabeth just to make sure there weren't any complications. After that none, but Elizabeth has been well looked after. In fact, she has an appointment on Monday." She explained and I felt her shiver.

Bella never liked going to the doctor and the hospital was even worst for her. I couldn't imagine her mother dropping her off when she went into labor and was there all by herself.

"Do you want me to come with you two?" I asked.

"You want to?" She asked in disbelief.

I rolled my eyes at her attitude. "Bella, do you really need to doubt me?" I asked her seriously. "You've been carrying too much for too damn long. Elizabeth is my daughter as well as yours; I'm not running away from you two, ever."

She hesitated, but it was her way of processing everything. Still, I held my breath until she finally smiled with acceptance.

"Thank you." Her tears started glistening with unshed tears. "I wasn't exactly sure how you would react to all of this. I mean you went from a single, college guy to a father in a matter of hours."

"And I don't regret it. My only regret is when you were taken from me and I didn't know you were pregnant with my child, our child." I reassured her with a kiss, but she leaned away from me.

I gave her a questioning look, but she giggled and pointed to my face. I forgot that I still had half of my face was covered in shaving cream.

"Sorry." I chuckled then turned around to pick up my razor.

Bella beat me to it though then jumped up on the counter and beaconed for me to come closer to her. I moved so that I was in between her legs and allowed her to get to work.

It didn't take long before she was done and did a fucking nice job too. I kissed her lips in thanks then washed off my face while she went back into the bedroom.

"I'm gonna join your dad and Elizabeth while you finish up." She said before leaving.

"Wait." I suddenly remembered something that made me fucking blush.

Bella walked back into the bathroom with her hands of her hips. She was intrigued because she knew that I didn't blush unless it was something I was guilty of. Very few things embarrassed me to the point that I blushed.

"What did you do?" She tried to keep a straight face, but as always, her eyes betrayed her.

Opening the drawer in front of her, I picked up the hairbrush that Bella left at my old home in Forks. I didn't realize it was there until I was packing up my bathroom shit last year.

"You might need this." I told her sheepishly.

She was shocked, and I couldn't blame her, but recovered quickly with a bright smile.

"Thank you." She hugged me then stole the brush from my hand.

"Hey." I protested. She cocked an eyebrow. "I didn't steal it if that's what you're wondering. You left it at my house." I explained.

She was about to turn around and go back into the bedroom when I pulled her back to me and reclaimed the brush.

"I think I need to return the favor, beautiful." I whispered in her ear causing her body to shiver in what I knew was delight.

Brushing Bella's hair was a favorite pastime of mine, but I would never admit that to anyone and let them live. I could even braid it which is what I did. Bella looked shocked that I still remembered…it was like riding a fucking bike; I'd never forget.

After I pulled on some clean clothes, Bella and I walked down stairs hand-in-hand. We followed the smells coming from the kitchen.

Dad was at the stove flipping some pancakes and whistling pop goes the weasel most likely for Elizabeth who was sitting in an old high chair. Suddenly, I was thankful that my dad was a packrat.

Bella let go of my hand to run over to our daughter who was happily playing with her cheerios.

"Well, good morning, sweetie." Bella gushed over our smiling baby girl.

I walked over next to Bella and kissed my little girl on the head. She squealed in delight.

"Hey, you, are you teaching grandpa how to cook?" I cooed at her.

"You know, I kind of like being called grandpa. I think I'll keep it." Dad joked horribly while flipping the last hot cake on the plate. "How did everyone sleep?" He asked.

"Really good thanks." Bella said politely. "Did Elizabeth wake you up last night?"

"No, my dear, in fact, my wife often complained that I didn't do my part by helping out for those middle of the night feedings. I can't help it if I'm a heavy sleeper." He countered.

Back in Forks, I was grateful that my dad was a heavy sleeper or else I wouldn't have been able to sneak out in the middle of the night to go see Bella without getting caught.

"So, what are everyone's plans for the day?" My dad asked filling up his plate.

Bella shrugged her shoulders and busied herself by cutting up some pancake for Elizabeth to try. Although, I could see that she wanted to ask something, but being her stubborn self, she wouldn't say it.

Thankfully, dad saw it too.

"Well, I need to go grocery shopping, we'll need to move Bella's and Elizabeth's things in, and…"

"Oh no, Ed," Bella interrupted, but I interrupted her.

"Bella, you already said last night that you were being forced out of the women's shelter. Where else could you go?" I asked.

She looked down at her plate in defeat.

"Bella sweetie," Dad waited until she looked up at him to finish. "There is plenty of space for you all, and I don't want to lose my granddaughter."

"If you're sure, I could always…"

"No, Isabella, we're family and we will be honored to help you. You and Elizabeth are not obligations. Do you understand me?" Dad asked firmly.

"Yes," She replied nodding her head. "Thank you." She smiled shyly.

"You're welcome. Now, tell me where you've been staying these past few weeks. Your trail has gone cold since you came to Seattle." He said absentmindedly.

"What?" Bella asked confused.

I dragged my hand through my face and hair. Dad and I didn't mention that we were tracking her for months.

"Oops." He mumbled.

I rolled my eyes, but answered for him. "Don't be freaked out, Bella, but we've been trying to track you and your family since you left Washington."

She pondered this for a minute before she asked.

"If you've been tracking me, how is it that you didn't find out about Elizabeth then?"

"We noticed that you were going into clinic for a few months and then later to the hospital, but we didn't put the puzzle together. That was a rookie mistake that I should have seen. I went to each and every doctor's appointment with your mother, Edward. You'd think I would have figured it out sooner." Dad ranted clearly annoyed with himself.

"It's alright, Ed, but couldn't you get into my medical records since you're a lawyer?" Bella tried to comfort him.

"Sweetheart, you should know that I couldn't for two reasons; one, I would have needed a warrant or your permission to access those records. Two, your father has been watching some key areas including your medical and bank records trying to pinpoint where you are." He explained.

"Would that include my application to the university?" She asked. Like me, Bella also had an interest in the law. We had always planned on going to school together, work at my dad's then run it when he retired.

"That I'm not sure of, but we can't be too careful." Dad thought. "Have you put in your application yet, dear?"

"I did, I'm trying to get in for the summer at the earliest. I need to play catch up since I'm a year behind, but the best I can do right now is part time because of Elizabeth."

"Bella, with all of us helping it wouldn't take much for you to catch up. I'm even ahead of the game because I tested out of some of the required classes thanks to those AP courses from high school. You were in the same classes; those could work in your favor." I pointed out.

"Another thing to consider is that your school does offer daycare services if you need it. That does cost money though." Bella started mentally calculating that which made dad backtrack. "However, my office does offer daycare services for the employees. I can drop Elizabeth off there and pick her up when I get off for the day."

"Ed, really, I appreciate the thought, but you just found out about Elizabeth, how could you get her in the daycare?" Bella cut him off.

"I'll have to prove that I am her grandfather." He said proudly. "And there are special circumstances such as if the parents of the child are in school or if a close relative works in the office."

"And how would you know all of this, dad?" I eyed him suspiciously.

"Remember when I told you I had some work to do last night?" He smiled smugly. "Do you have Elizabeth's birth certificate with you?"

"Um, back at the shelter I do." She replied suspiciously then got the idea. "Oh yeah, she would be safe since I had them put down Masen as her surname to throw my parents off the track. They also don't know her middle name either."

"Yes, that is vital to have, but it would be even better if the two of you were married." Ok, dad went too far.

When Bella and I were together in Forks, the topic of marriage only came up once during our relationship and it freaked the shit right out of her. Looking over at Bella now, she looked like she saw a fucking ghost.

"Dad, there is no need to go that far." I seethed while wrapping my arms protectively around Bella.

"Alright, alright," He relented. "But as you know a successful lawyer has to look at all the options when making a strong case."

"Yes, Ed, but we're not ready for marriage. Although we have a baby already…I just can't…we…it's…"

"Ok, ok, I get it. I'll talk to human resources and figure out what we can do. Just for today let's get you two moved in. Wow, this is starting to sound backwards."

I had to laugh with him because he was right. First a baby then moving in together then—it will happen someday—marriage.

"This is going by so fast." Bella had the same idea I did. "I'm grateful for everything you've done, but it's…this is all going so fast."

"As long as it makes you happy, baby," I stroked her back.

She looked at me with her killer smile on her face. "More than you know." Then kissed me on the cheek, "But, I do want to come down and see this center." She told dad firmly.

"Understandable, just know that these people have had background checks when they were first hired for the firm. They're all certified teachers for children. I should know since I was on the board to interview each staff member."

"Wow, you've been busy since coming to Seattle." Bella commented.

Dad chuckled. "Well, my son is in college and I'm a terminal bachelor, so I have quite a bit of time on my hands." He shrugged.

I rolled my eyes knowing that he was only giving her the abridge version of his life. Watching Bella, she knew he was holding more back, but left it alone.

"Son, would you like to come in on Monday to see the center or are you busy with classes all day?" Dad asked me.

Fucking hell, I forgot about that. Thankfully, I then remembered I would only have two morning classes instead of the third later that day.

"I can come, but can we make it after noon, my later class is cancelled since my professor is attending a conference this weekend in Washington D.C." I answered.

Bella nodded her head before turning to dad for his opinion. Dad thought for a few seconds then spoke.

"Sounds alright, but we can't meet for long, I have a board meeting for the children's hospital at three o'clock."

"Which reminds me, I have to take Elizabeth in for her appointment at twelve thirty," Bella pointed out. "You still want to go?" She asked me.

I raised my eye brow silently asking her if she was fucking serious.

"Just checking," She sighed then reached for Elizabeth.

"Where are you taking my daughter?" I glared playfully.

"She needs to get cleaned up for the day." She answered with a playful smirk.

"I'll help." I kissed her nose then got up with Elizabeth on my hip despite Bella's protest.