Hello and happy Wednesday! The review is up on TLS if you want to take a look... I was quite chuffed and I hope I sent a PM to the right person to thank them. If not please PM me so I can say think you properly.

So many different opinions on the last chapter- she cries too much, she should have been angrier, she should have not been upset at all - I enjoy hearing all your thoughts and how each person reads or feels something different. So Awesome.

I rarely address this issue, but if you have something you feel so strongly about you feel the need to curse or tell me how awful the story is, at least sign your name so I can address it with you. Otherwise I will delete it and move on. And if you hate it that much, you can stop reading. I am okay with that.

Now, let us not forget she is rather rusty herself, just been through a divorce and is trying to make sure, above all things, her son is okay. She is emotional... but I would be as well so that is how I write her. Be patient - they are both finding their way... to each other it would seem. :)

And here we go.

Consciousness came slowly and I stayed curled up under the blanket, listening to the stillness of the morning around me. My eyes remained closed as I breathed in deeply, stretching and enjoying the peaceful few moments after waking up. I rolled over, grabbing the pillow beside me and inhaled deeply, the scent on the pillowcase making me smile. Fresh grass, sunshine and warmth. So Edward.

My eyes flew open and I sat up, still clutching the pillow. Warily, I inhaled again. Why did this pillow smell so strongly of Edward? I looked around the room, expecting to see him there but I was alone. I racked my brains trying to remember what had happened after I told Edward I wanted us to be together. We had sat talking on the couch, kissing, sharing bits of ourselves and telling amusing stories of the boys. I remembered yawning and closing my eyes as Edward was telling me a story of Emmett learning to skate … and after that I could remember nothing. Had Edward carried me to bed? He must have. I swallowed. Had he slept here? Is that why I could smell him so strongly? My arms tightened around the pillow.

Was he still here?

I looked over at the clock, my eyes widening. It was ten a.m. Why was the house so quiet? Where were the boys? How had I slept so late? Jumping out of bed I opened my door, knowing without a doubt from the silence I was alone. In the kitchen I found a note propped up against the coffee maker.

B - Taken the boys out for breakfast and some guy stuff. Thought you would enjoy the chance to sleep in a little. Call when you wake up and we will bring back your breakfast. – E

PS- you are adorable when you drool in your sleep.

PPS – Jake showed me where the extra key was. I will return it.

Even standing alone I felt my cheeks flood with color. He had stayed. Nervously, I chewed on my lip. Where had he slept? What had the boys seen? I looked at the note again. Guy stuff. I was pretty sure that was code for talking. I sighed as I went to grab my phone. I wondered how exactly Edward was bringing up the subject of last night, what he was saying about us, how the boys, were taking it and the most important thing, how I was going to find out.

*()*

I stepped out of the shower, smiling at the now present sounds of the boys in the house. The TV was on, I could hear the sounds of Jake's laughter and Edward's warm voice as he moved around in the other room. I quickly dressed and made my way down the hall, stopping in the doorway at the sight that greeted me. All three of them were now on the couch, Edward's long legs propped up on the coffee table, a cup of coffee in his hand. Emmett was beside him, his head on Edward's shoulder as he laughed at something on the TV. Edward's hand was ruffling the hair on Emmett's head absently as he too chuckled at the screen. Jake was lying on the other end of the sofa, his feet draped across both Emmett and Edward, clutching his stomach as he joined in their shared amusement. They all looked so comfortable together, a complete unit and the sight of their camaraderie made my eyes sting. They just looked so right. I let out a sigh without realizing it and Edward's head snapped around, his face breaking into a warm smile.

"Hey."

I smiled back shyly. "Hi."

"Mom!" Jake jumped up and came over, wrapping his arms around me. His enthusiastic greeting was a surprise, and I enjoyed the sweetness of his spontaneous warmth before he drew back. "We let you sleep in!"

I grinned at him. "I know. What's the occasion?"

"Coach E said you were whacked from all the costume making stuff. So he took us to breakfast and let you sleep."

I looked over at Edward who was still smiling. Leaning down, I kissed Jake's cheek. "Thanks. It was a wonderful treat."

His face was beaming as he looked at me. "We brought lunch too!"

"Lunch?"

Edward stood up. "We had breakfast hours ago. The boys were hungry so I grabbed us some lunch. But I brought you a bagel if you prefer. Jake said you love the cinnamon raisin ones."

I smiled at him. "I do."

"I, ah, made coffee. Hope that's okay."

"Perfect." I walked into the kitchen, hearing Edward tell the boys he would get the lunch and call them when it was ready. I was pouring my coffee when his mug appeared beside mine and I felt him behind me, his warmth close, but at the same time, not close enough.

"Hello."

His arms came around my waist, pulling me against him, and I sighed as I felt his lips nuzzle my damp hair. "Hello," he whispered.

"You stayed."

"I did."

"What did you tell the boys?"

"That you had called me about a noise with the furnace. By the time I fixed the problem, it was too late to go home since I was coming back for breakfast and you kindly let me sleep on the couch." His voice was soft in my ear, his lips so close I could feel his warm breath ghosting over my skin.

"Did you sleep on the couch?"

"Mostly."

I turned in his arms, wrapping mine around his waist. "Mostly?"

He chuckled quietly. "You fell asleep. I didn't want you to get a crick in your neck so I carried you to bed and tucked you in." He smiled, lifting a hand to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. "You asked me to stay."

"I did?"

He grinned sheepishly. "You may have mumbled it and you may have just been talking in your sleep, but I definitely heard the word 'stay' again. I couldn't refuse when you begged me so shamelessly."

I rolled my eyes at him and he smirked down at me. Then his voice became serious. "Are you okay with that?"

"How long did you stay with me?"

"I set my watch alarm for five. So about four hours. I made sure I was on the couch long before either of the boys got up."

"I liked waking up and smelling you on my pillow," I whispered.

He leaned down. "I liked waking up with you in my arms. I hated going to the couch." His voice dropped. "It was so cold there without you."

We stared at each other; the room suddenly warm as the heat began to pulsate around us. Edward's eyes dropped to my mouth, his tongue flicking out to moisten his bottom lip and I drew in a ragged breath. Slowly he lowered his head, and I stood up on my tiptoes to meet him eagerly, wanting nothing more than to feel his mouth on mine. Intense sensations ran through me as our mouths fused together, every part of my body feeling the effect of his closeness. I had never been kissed the way Edward kissed me. Deep and carnal, he consumed me, overtaking all my senses so that all I could feel and taste was him. All sound and thought faded away so there was only him. Us. Locked together in a world of sensual feelings and warmth. Gradually, he softened his mouth to light, fleeting kisses, drawing back briefly, only to lean back to press his lips against mine again, gently nuzzling this time.

"I like that," he whispered.

"What?"

"You sigh every time I kiss you."

"I sigh?"

"Yeah, this breathy, little sexy sigh. Every. Single. Time." He growled lowly before claiming my lips again, once again drawing me into the vortex he seemed to create around us.

"Dad?" Emmett's voice pulled us apart. "Oh … ah … ewww."

I peeked over Edward's shoulder at both Em and Jake, my cheeks flushed by both the heat of Edward's kiss and getting caught by the boys. Edward turned his head, not even remotely embarrassed at being caught kissing me. "What did we talk about his morning, Em?"

"Respect."

"And?"

"Um, excuse me?"

"Better. What's up?"

"Lunch? We're starving, Dad."

Edward chuckled and leaning down, dropped another quick kiss on my lips. "They're starving. 'Cause it's been three and a half hours since breakfast." He turned around and reached into the oven, pulling out a large pizza box. "It's coming."

I shared a smile with Jake as he went past me to the table. He grinned back, not seemingly upset at what he had just seen. I sighed quietly as I turned and poured coffee for Edward and me. I still had to talk to Jake. His thoughts and feelings mattered here greatly, maybe even more than mine.

Turning around, I stopped and took in the moment in front of me. I had to talk to him, yes. But for now I could enjoy the sight of the three of them, laughing and fighting over the largest slice of pizza. Edward caught my eye and winked as he held up the prize, having used his long fingers and arms to their advantage. Winking, he silently offered his piece to me, and I went over to sit and join in the fun.

A Sunday morning, just me … and my boys.

I liked that.

A lot.

Short, but there will be another update Sunday. And he stayed ... how could he resist with all that shameless begging? LOL