Chapter 9

I know a few people weren't happy with my last chapter and I'm sorry but I just kinda went with it. The Edward that I'm writing is scared of his feelings but he's drawn to Bella and he just can't seem to help himself, even when he knows he's being an idiot. Bella is insecure and needs reassurance constantly because of her past relationships with men; they all abandon her. I hope you guys stick with this fic, it means a lot to me :)

Bella's POV;

I sat on the edge of the bed watching Oliver kick his legs. What the hell was I doing? Fuck I needed to call my sister, Alice would definitely be panicking. I wouldn't be surprised if she had called the police and demanded a SWAT team by now.

I reached into the back pocket of my jeans and fished out my phone, balking at the number of missed calls and texts I had from my sister. Oops. I dialled her number and she picked up before it had even finished the first ring.

"Bella, where the hell are you?! I've been worried sick. You're usually home by the time I get home from work but that was two and a half hours ago, it's almost 8! What the fuck?!" I heard the anguish in Alice's voice and groaned in response as a wave of guilt crashed over me for making my sister feel that way. She was the only person in my life that loved me and Oliver and I had selfishly made her worry.

"I'm so sorry Ali! I ended up going over to a friend's house with Oliver and I fell asleep. You know I haven't been sleeping well recently. I've only just woken up."

"A friend? Which friend is this Bella?" Oh shit. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath before telling her everything about my friendship with Edward in a quiet hushed tone just in case. I didn't want him to overhear. When I finished Alice squealed, causing me to roll my eyes. She was my twin but we were definitely polar opposites.

"How are you getting home Bella? A taxi?"

I clenched my jaw before I forced myself to relax and adopt a casual, calm tone. The moment of truth. "Actually, Edward has said that Oliver and I can stay in one of his spare rooms. I thought about getting a taxi when I woke up and it was dark but Alice we're barely making ends meet as it is and it just seemed like a waste of money. I would walk if it was just me but I have Oliver with me." I studied Oliver and held my breath, waiting for her to object and shout that we'd be fine if I took a taxi, even though I knew we wouldn't.

"Okay Bella, I trust you. You wouldn't stay somewhere if you thought that Oliver would be in danger. Text me the address so that I know where you are! And I want you to ring me when Oliver wakes up for his feed in the morning. If I don't hear from you before I set off for work then I'll call you."

"Thank you Alice. I love you."

"I love you too Bella. Night." When the phone clicked off I texted Alice the address before letting my hand fall to my lap and flopping onto the bed next to Oliver and turning so I was facing him.

"Well that was unexpectedly easy, wasn't it little man? I wonder why Auntie Alice let it go so easily." He reached out and patted my face with his little hands, giggling when I turned my face and kissed his palm. I tickled his belly and laughed with him until I was startled out of the little bubble that had encased Oliver and me by a loud thud followed by a string of expletives that would have made a sailor blush.

What the hell?

I got up from the bed and made sure Oliver was in the middle and surrounded by pillows before I went to see what had happened. Edward was in a collapsed heap on the floor, his long limbs tangled with a white sheet and the bassinet beneath him. Clutched in one hand was a grey t-shirt which was probably for me. I covered my mouth with my hand and tried to suppress my laughter, a few giggles escaping past my hand.

Edward looked up at me sheepishly and I bent to help him disentangle his legs from the sheet, snorting with laughter every so often. I offered him my hand and helped him to his feet. I noticed that Edward had changed into black sleep pants and a matching t-shirt that clung to his broad shoulders and his defined arms and stomach. The sleeves were a little tight on his biceps and my mouth watered when he bent and lifted the bassinet, causing them to flex.

My eyes caught something dark on his inner left bicep and before I could stop myself my fingers had wrapped around his arm and turned it towards me. I ignored the tingling I could feel at my fingertips and his little gasp as I lifted the short sleeve of the shirt a little more so I could see the entire tattoo. Along the inside of his bicep read;

Evelyn Grace Cullen.

27th March 2013

I traced the words with my fingers, overwhelmed with the love that he clearly had for his daughter. I heard him groan and looked up at his face, snatching my hand away from him in fear that I had hurt him. His eyes were closed, his mouth was slightly open and his breathing was ragged, his chest moving rapidly before my eyes. I placed my hand on his chest and felt his heart racing.

"Edward! Edward are you okay?" He opened his eyes and the intensity of his gaze was enough to make me step back, taking my hand with me. His tongue darted out to lick his lips and my eyes followed the movement. The temperature in the hall increased, and I suddenly felt like I couldn't breathe. He stepped towards me and I stepped back, trying to maintain the distance between us. He took another step forward and I stepped backwards again but found my back against the wall.

Oh shit.

Edward stepped closer and pressed himself against me and I resisted the urge to melt into him. My body literally had a mind of its own! I was fighting a losing battle and was about to give in when I heard Oliver start to fuss in the next room. It seemed to snap us both out of whatever was going on between us because Edward took a big step back, a blush covering his cheeks and I darted into the spare bedroom and lifted Oliver into my arms and onto my shoulder.

"Hey, what's wrong baby boy?" I checked his nappy but it was dry so I cradled him into my arms. He turned his head and started nuzzling my chest and I felt my milk start to let down. I heard Edward clear his throat and looked up to see him in the doorway, holding the bassinet in one hand and the t-shirt in the other.

"Can I come in?" He looked at me nervously and I smiled and nodded at him before turning my back on him. I lifted my top and unclasped my bra, guiding Oliver to my nipple and encouraging him to latch on. He greedily sucked and I rocked him gently, humming a little tune to him while I traced his nose with my finger.

"Bella? I've set up the bassinet for you and I've left the t-shirt in it okay? I'm going to give you some privacy; if you need me, call for me." I looked at him over my shoulder, chewing my lip as I let myself gaze at his retreating back. Looking that good in a t-shirt should be illegal. I could see every muscle along his shoulders and back flex as he walked out of the door and towards the one across from it.

I swallowed and started daydreaming about the hard body that I had felt against me earlier, pretending that I wasn't broken for a few moments. I was pulled from my daydream by Oliver detaching from my breast. I cooed at him as I burped him, before praising him and kissing his cheek for giving me a big burp.

Oliver wasn't even a little tired. I tried rocking him, singing to him but he wasn't having any of it. I groaned in frustration and flopped onto the bed with Oliver lying on my chest.

"Please just go to sleep little man? For Mummy?" I heard a chuckle from the doorway and tilted my head back to see Edward leaning against the doorframe looking absolutely mouth-watering.

"He's not tired?" I shook my head ruefully, looking down at my son who was raising his head and giggling at me.

"Can I hold him for a little while?" He walked forward with his arms outstretched and I lifted Oliver so that Edward could grab him. He immediately brought Oliver's cheek to his lips and blew a raspberry on it. Oliver giggled at him and kicked his little legs as Edward played with him, 'zooming' him around the room and making airplane noises. I chuckled at the sight and watched them play, smiling even though my heart was aching.

I was watching a man that I barely knew with my son. I never thought I'd see the day that I would allow anyone that wasn't family. If I let Edward in maybe he could be just what Oliver needed. He was a great father to Evie and he treated Oliver well. Well he had for as long as I had known him, which was admittedly not long. Maybe I could try to be friends with Edward?

I watched him tuck Oliver into his bassinet and go across to Evie's room before coming back with a soft cream coloured teddy. He offered it to Oliver, who snuggled into it and put a thumb into his mouth.

"Wait, I'm going to strip him down to his vest and get his blanket before he sleeps."

"You strip him and I'll get his blanket from downstairs. It's in his pram right?"

I nodded and lifted Oliver out of the bassinet, quickly but gently pulling his t-shirt over his head and taking his little jeans off his legs. I checked his nappy again and realised that he needed changing. Badly.

"Edward, will you bring up the baby bag too? He needs a change." I called while smiling at Oliver and playing with his feet. I pulled his socks off and folded them together, placing them on top of the rest of his folded clothes.

Edward walked in with the blanket and baby bag which I took gratefully from him before unsnapping Olivers vest and changing his smelly nappy. I put it in a scented bag so it wouldn't stink up the place and clipped the vest back together before cradling him in my arms. Edward placed the blanket on the bed and I laid Oliver down onto it before wrapping him in it loosely and placing him in the bassinet again. I chuckled softly when he rolled and wiggled his little arm out to pull the teddy to him.

Edward sat next to me on the bed and we watched Oliver together silently until he fell asleep. As soon as his little brown eyes closed the tension in the room increased. The temperature in the room increased and my chest constricted. My breathing was short and loud and I felt like I couldn't take a deep breath in.

His green eyes were full of intensity and I gasped at the way he was looking at me. I tried to look away from them but I couldn't. We started moving towards each other slowly and I couldn't stop, I couldn't pull away from him. It was only the thought of Jacob that pulled me out of it. I leaned back and lowered my eyes before grasping the t-shirt.

"Thanks for letting us stay Edward. I'm really tired though so… I'll see you in the morning?" He sighed and nodded before standing up and leaving the room after whispering a goodnight.

I quickly changed into Edwards t-shirt, that's seams brushed my mid-thighs and slipped between the cool sheets. I closed my eyes and focused on regulating my breathing while I tried to forget how searing Edward's green gaze was.

Here's another chapter.