Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight Stephanie Meyers has that right.

Thanks to my Beta NeeNee246

Chapter 10

Edward and I were back to the content loving couple we always had been. It only took a few weeks after our meeting with Demetri for me to bounce back. Alex was my past in every sense of the word. He was gone and would never be coming back.

"Maybe we should hire a gardener," Edward's voice was strained as he used all his force to pull the over grown rose bush from the ground.

"You'll want a cook and cleaner next." I called trying to lift a bag of compost.

"Bella, I'll do that." Edward shouted. "It's too heavy for you."

"It's okay," I used all my strength to pull the bag over. "Anyway I thought you wanted our cottage to be a normal life. Normal people don't have gardeners, cooks and cleaners."

"Okay, you have a point, love." Edward huffed wiping the sweat from his forehead. Was it wrong that Edward covered in mud and sweat turned me on?

We had a few homes dotted all over the world but our cottage was our family home. We wanted the children to grow up as balanced as possible, without all the splendor money can bring. If I had had the chance to grow up that way I was sure I would have seen what was in front of me the moment I saw Edward in Twilight. It wasn't that I was angry with my parents for my upbringing. They gave me everything but I didn't really understand what life was all about until I finally realised I would get to keep Edward forever. My husband had changed me so completely in the years we had been married. Life wasn't about money and power. It was about love, intrusting yourself to one person. One person you knew you couldn't breathe without. Edward was my air and every day he made me feel like the richest woman alive. Not because he was a rock God who earned millions a year.

Edward had given me three things money could never buy. - Three beautiful angels who made my life worthwhile.

I helped Edward pull the white rose bush from the ground laughing a little as he cursed at it. He really hated gardening.

"You better not be laughing at me." Edward frowned giving up on the bush. "I think I need to saw the roots a little."

"Would I laugh at you?" I giggled.

"Just pass me the saw." Edward rolled his eyes at me. "This fucking rose bush is not getting the better of me." I wasn't sure if he was talking to himself or me. Edward cheered triumphant as the bush finally came free.

"I can't believe how easily you are pleased. You call yourself a rock God. If only your fans could see you now."

"That's it." Edward dropped the bush and I screamed as playful Edward chased me round the garden.

I darted around the children's climbing frame trying to escape my punishment.

"We have to pick the children up in an hour." I panted racing round the climbing frame as Edward almost caught me.

"You are mocking my gardening skills." Edward smirked. "You should know better than to bruise my ego Mrs Cullen."

"I love you gardening skills." I chuckled as I moved to fall straight into his arms.

"And still you mock me." Edward whispered as I felt his fingers crept down my back. "What am I going to do with you?"

"I'm sure you can think of something." I smiled wrapping my arms around his neck. Edward chuckled removing some leaves from my hair.

"I wish we could stay like this forever." Edward muttered pulling me closer to him. I knew why he was saying this. His month off was almost over. From next week he was back to full band duties.

"We can." I pressed my lips against his, running my hands into his wild hair. "Distance is nothing. I told you we will always be here waiting when you get back."

"I love you so much Bella."

"I know." I sighed stroking his face. "I love you just as much."

"Six weeks promoting is going to kill me." His eyes were weak as his hands flittered through my hair.

"It's your job. You love it remember."

"I do but I love my family more."

"Just think how Jazz is feeling. Now Alice is finally pregnant it will hit him too being away from her."

"But Alice can visit whenever she wants. We have the children to think about." God, did he have an answer for everything. I was trying to make him feel better.

"We can have lots of phone sex." That got an almost smile from him. "You can live chat with the kids every day." Finally, a small smile. "At the weekends I could take the private jet and we could all visit if you're not too far away."

"Every weekend?" Edward beamed. "It's only Europe after all."

"I will try."

"That might make it a little easier." Edward sighed kissing my forehead. "I'm a pussy I know."

"You're not. I understand, totally. I don't want you to go but it's your duty Edward."

"God, you are an amazing woman. Have I told you that?"

"Not today," I teased. Edward responded with a fierce kiss that made me go weak at the knees before I knew it I was in his arms being carried into the house.

oxoxoxoxo

"So how are you dear?" Esme asked offering me one of her homemade cookies. "I haven't had a chance to catch up with you. Is Edward all ready for his trip?"

"Almost." I muttered taking a bite of the cookie I had picked.

"It gets harder each time he has to leave doesn't it?" Esme knew her son well. "It must be difficult. They are all growing up so fast."

"He wants to take a year out of the band. He has been battling with Paul and Seth for weeks."

"I thought as much." Esme mused. "I thought he seemed a little distracted when you came over for lunch last week."

"I'm worried he will do something stupid, like quit the band, if he doesn't get his way. I can't let him do that. Eclipse is a big part of his life, even if he seems to have forgotten that for the time being. If he gives it all up he will soon realise."

"I don't think he would make any rash decisions without talking to you first." I hoped she was right.

"Did he tell you he wants me to write his biography?"

"Yes," Esme sipped her coffee studying my face. Oh my God, she actually thinks I should write it. I could tell by her face.

"You think I should write it don't you?" I asked amazed.

"Well, you are the only person who knows him inside out."

"How would I find the time? The children need me." Why was I always trying to find an excuse?

"You know Carlisle and I would have them Bella. It's not as if it would be a permanent arrangement. But if you needed to join him at any point while he was away to work on the book we would look after the children."

"I know that but I really don't think I am the best person for the job. I mean I'm kind of a little . . . biased when it comes to Edward."

"Aren't we all?" Esme smirked.

"I have had another proposition from an amazing author." God, why was I telling Edward's mother this. "David Armstrong wants me to co-write his family's biography with him."

"Armstrong?" Fuck, here we go. "As in Marcus Armstrong?"

"Sort of. It's his son David." Esme was thoughtful for a while so I finished my cookie and coffee while she gathered her thoughts.

"That is a massive opportunity. His family have quite a history." I knew that and up until a few weeks ago I had thought it was impossible to even consider working with him but situations had changed dramatically in the last few weeks.

"I know. I'm having lunch with David in Seattle next week to talk about it."

"Does Edward know?"

"Not yet. I have nothing to really tell him until my meeting with David."

"How does it feel to be in demand? You are an amazing writer yourself Bella."

"I'm not sure about that Esme." I smiled as I heard her front door open and the sound of my family.

"Did you see the size of the fish dad?" I heard Jack called excited. "I thought granddad had hooked a shark."

"It was a whopper." Carlisle laughed.

"It was so slimy." Grace came into my view with Carlisle. She rushed to put her arms around me and then Esme. Jack soon followed. Finally my eyes met with Edward and Hope who was asleep in his arms.

"She has had a busy day." Edward chuckled at Esme and me.

"Edward dear, put Hope upstairs. The bed is still made." Esme smiled. "Come on kids, who wants brownies?" Jack and Grace both called in unison and giggled as Edward yelled too before taking Hope up stairs.

"Why is dad such a big kid nanny Esme?" Grace asked munching on a chocolate brownie.

"Because he has never grown up." Carlisle answered.

"Like Peter Pan?" Jack asked.

"Who are his lost boys then?" Grace asked.

"Uncle Emmet and Uncle Jasper of course." I teased. "They are all big kids." Jack and Grace were still laughing when Edward came into the room.

"What's all this giggling about?" He asked coming to my side wrapping his arms around my waist while I was still sat on the kitchen stool.

"Your Peter Pan dad." Jack laughed.

"And Uncle Emmet and Uncle Jasper are your lost boys." Grace added.

Edward just looked at me. "It's their way of saying you're all big kids." I muttered.

"I can't argue with that." Edward laughed.

"I'm glad you agree," I muttered as I felt his lips on my hair.

oxoxoxo

"Stop thinking about tomorrow." I ran my hands over his chest as he sat up in bed. Not wanting to watch his troubled eyes for another second.

"It's easy for you. You're not the one leaving in the morning." Edward sighed wrapping his arms around me so he could nestle into my chest.

"It's six weeks." I replied. "Plus the children and I should be able to visit as least two of the weekends."

"That still means I have four weekends without out you all. Not to mention the week days."

"Where has your inner rock God gone Edward?" I teased hitting his chest. I knew he hated to leave us but I had never seen him this glum before. "We're safe now." I all but whispered. We hadn't spoken about Alex since Demetri, there was no need but I could sense Edward's protectiveness as he held me. "It's all behind us Edward."

"I can't change a habit of a life time Bella." Edward looked up at me. Fuck me, his green eyes were burning with love. "I know he's gone, but the memories haven't." I knew what Edward meant. I had those memories too. Three years Alex and my selfishness had kept us apart.

"I never did apologise for how I treated you." I whispered. "I know no other man would have put up with what I did to you."

"Bella," Edward winced but I put my fingers to his soft lips to silence him.

"Let me finish, please." I pleaded. Edward nodded giving in. "I never deserved your love back then. I put you through hell. I was so wrapped up in what I believed was my destiny. Money and power was all I knew. I never realised just what you meant to me until it was too late. I wasted all those years by not seeing what was in front of me. Even as my sexy barman you were everything. The rest is just a bonus." Edward's lips began to move up my neck clearly my words were affecting him. "I don't want you to fear you are going to lose me Edward. For the last ten years I haven't left your side. Surly by now you must realise you are never going to be rid of me." I let out a small moan feeling his hands moved under my nightdress to cup my breasts. "Eclipse is a big part of your life to. Don't think I don't know what is going on in that head of yours."

"I have no idea what you are talking about." Edward muttered against my neck as his hands slowly manipulated my breasts. God, it was difficult to try and get my point across. Edward knew exactly what he was doing.

"Fuck, please let me finish what I am trying to say. "I moaned as he finger tips made contact with my nipples.

"I don't think I need to hear the rest." Edward chuckled pulling me across his lap so I was straddling him.

It took a great amount of effort to remove his expert hands from my chest but somehow I did. Edward pouted as I pushed his hands back against the headboard. I was still straddling him and could help but notice his desire.

"You need to listen to me Edward." I replied firmly. "If you left the band what would you have?"

"You and our family." Edward smiled trying to attack my neck again but I moved away, shocked that I was right. Edward was thinking about quitting.

"You have that anyway." I scowled.

"Don't you want me around all the time?"

"Only when you have really thought about what that means." I smiled kissing his lips.

"You don't want to write my biography either do you?" I had no idea where that question came from. I hit his chest annoyed.

"Why on earth would you think that?"

"I thought you would jump at the chance of working with me." God, his pout was really getting to me. If he did it one more time I was going to pounce and kiss that pout away.

"You have no idea how tempted I am." I confessed.

"Say yes then." Edward pleaded. Fuck, I was really losing it as he hands griped my hips.

"I need time." I touched his bare chest beginning to pant. This was our last night together for a while and I was kind of wasting it.

"So you are going to consider it?"

"Yes," I chuckled at his eagerness. "Maybe we should stop talking." I smouldered inching further down his body.

"What did you have in mind instead?" Edward all but snarled as I rubbed against him.

"I think you should make love to your wife Edward," I whispered. He gave in with a groan.

I had to savour this night it would be weeks until I got another like it.

Are we ready to see what Rock God daddy gets up to with the band?

EPOV in next chapter