Hey Guys.

Just a quick note before you read this chapter. There is mature content involved in this chapter and if you don't feel confident about reading it, I will understand and please wait until the next chapter comes out. It's not filthy, but it does involve sex.

Thanks

Chapter Ten – Fallen Soldier

EPOV

I had told Bella I would pick the kids up today, allowing Bella to work an extra shift at the library. So after my visit with my parents, I decided to spend some time with the kids. Anthony and Billie had school until three and the twins needed to be picked up from daycare at four. I took them to get ice cream after I had all the kids in the car. After that I took them to the playground, just across the street.

I took the time to just watch my kids. Something that I was ashamed to say, I hadn't done in some time. Anthony was a little man in a boys body. I watched as he steadied the twins as they made their way across the tan bark layering the park grounds. He pushed Billie on the swing and soothed the boys when their unsteady legs made them tumble to the ground. He kissed and soothed them until their tears dried and they were off again. Every time they fell he would pick them back up, kiss it better and smile at them. I envied the boys. Anthony rarely smiled anymore and those smiles weren't directed at me. Anthony was kind and loving, yet strong and protective. His mint green eyes showed a boy, older than his years.

Billie ran around the park like her feet were on fire. She jumped from one piece of the play equipment to the next, not even bothering to breath between each one. Billie was my princess. My only daughter. She could be girly and want to play with dolls and dress up with her Aunty Alice, but she would prefer to be outside with the boys. She liked sport and didn't mind getting dirty. Bella had mentioned before that Billie had started to have attitude with her. Bella had said that she would only listen to me. Billie came at life full speed and she was basically fearless. Something I worried about when she got older. It scared me, thinking about all the trouble she would get into. But it wouldn't change anything. She would always be my little girl. Better buy that shot gun now!

The twins were the complete opposite of each other, despite the fact that they looked so much alike. If it wasn't for the small tell tale signs of Bella in one and me in the other, you couldn't tell them apart. William was like me. He was loud, energetic and loved getting his way. He had my smirk down pat and we both used it to our advantage whenever we got the chance. William was not afraid to talk, in fact he could talk your leg off once he started. Matthew was more like Bella. He was shy and quiet. William didn't like attention and tended to step back into the background. Where William loved sports and being outside, Matthew liked to read or play quietly on the floor with his blocks.

It brought tears to my eyes that my children had changed so much. Getting bigger and developing individual personalities and so much of it I had missed. It was in that moment, that I decided, that if Bella and I managed to fix our problems and have more kids. I would be there from the very beginning. I wouldn't miss a thing.

I spent the next few hours, playing with them, helping them with their homework and cooking them dinner. By the time I had washed up, bathed them and put them to bed, it was already 9.30pm. I collapsed on the couch in a heap. I was tired and I felt like my bones were jelly. I found it funny that I could spend the whole day standing on my feet in Afghanistan and not feel tired, but spending a couple of hours taking care of my four children had me worn out. I had new found respect for my wife. I honestly didn't know how Bella did this 24/7, worked full time and manged the house all by herself. I finally understood where she was coming from now. I needed a break now, after a couple of hours. She hadn't much, if any help from me in eight years. I am a terrible husband!

As much as I wanted to crawl up in bed and fall into oblivion, Bella and I really needed to talk. So I went into the kitchen, made myself a coffee and sat down at the kitchen table to wait for her. It was 10.30pm by the time she got home. I heard her car pull into the drive and the car door slam. Her keys jiggled in the door as she entered our home. I tracked her movements through the house and could hear her hesitate before entering into the kitchen.

I looked up from my now cold coffee and settled my gaze on her. My mind went blank in that moment. Not sure where to even begin. But we needed to have this talk or we'd end up in divorce court and I knew I couldn't handle that. I couldn't lose Bella.

"Hey" Bella said with a nervous smile, that faded as soon as it appeared.

"Hi," I replied. I gestured with my hand for her to sit down.

Bella took the seat across from me. After she had settled herself into her chair, the silence overtook the room. I opened my mouth and than closed it. Bella opened her mouth and than closed it. We used to be so good with the talking thing. We were so good at it, we didn't even need words to communicate with each other. It seemed we didn't have that anymore.

"We need to talk," we both announced at the same time.

Bella laughed and I couldn't help, but join in. It felt stupid really. Bella and I had been married to each other for eight years. We had seen every nook and cranny of each other. Shared all our secrets. The fact that we felt so nervous with each other, so off balance, was a testimate to how far we'd let our marriage get off track.

"I think I should be the one to go first. I know I have a lot to apologise for"

I reached across the table and took both her hands in mine, bring them to rest in the middle of the table, between us. Bella just nodded her head for me to continue.

"Bella, after what you admitted to me a couple of days ago, I have been going around and around in my head to try and figure out how we got here. It took the advice of both my parents to get me to see things a little bit clearer."

I nervously let out a breath and rubbed my thumb along the side of hand in a attempt of affection and a chance to seek her comfort.

"I know I have failed both you and the kids and that knowledge hurts my heart. Eight years ago, all I wanted to do was be a good soldier and make you happy. I have succeeded at one of those goals, but let you down so much, too often." I confessed, with all my emotions laid out for her to see.

"You haven't failed Edward. I still love you and the kids do too, but as much as the army needs you, we need you too. I need you," Bella admitted and I watched a tear trace down her face. I released one of my hands from where they were joined in the middle of the table and wiped away her tear with my thumb.

"I know, Sweetheart. I know I don't show it as often as I should, but I need you and the kids too. That's why I called my commander today and requested an extra two weeks of leave, so we can start fixing this and be happy with each other again."

I watched Bella's eyes widen in surprise. I had never requested to stay home longer than was required and she knew that. Bella shook her head as if she couldn't quite believe it.

I watched the myriad of emotions cross her face as she digested my news.

" It's only temporary for now. I still have to return and complete the last couple of months of my duty. I have no choice in that matter, but after I get back, we can talk about making a few more changes. I just wanted you to know right now, that I don't want to lose you and that I might have been blind to our problems before, but I see them clearly now" I stopped my confession there and got up and came around the table.

I bent down in front of her and joined our hands again in her lap. I looked up at her and put every ounce of emotion into my voice.

"I love you, Isabella Marie Cullen and from now on I am going to try my hardest to be the husband you deserve"

"I love you too, Edward Anthony Cullen," she answered and brought her hand up to run along my jaw.

I kissed her than, both in love and relief. I had been so scared that she wouldn't give me a chance to fix my mistakes. But she had welcomed me back into both her arms and her heart. I was a lucky man. Our kiss that had started out as sweet and loving, turned heated and desperate. I pulled Bella up out of her chair and crushed her body to mine. Molding myself around her. Bella's fingers tightened in my hair and she held my face to hers with force. It was like the emotions that we had been holding in the last couple of days, just exploded out of us.

I walked us backwards, until Bella's smaller body was pinned between mine and the wall. We continued to kiss and grope at each other and the heat continued to build between us. My lips started to trace down her jaw to her neck and Bella arched off the wall. Her hips trusting against mine. Her hands slid from my shoulders and pressed against my chest. Her nimble fingers frantically released the buttons on my shirt from their holes. Once she had reached the bottom, I moved away from her and withdrew my arms from my shirt sleeves. I dropped my shirt to the floor and pressed my body back to hers.

I slid my tongue over her lips, asking for entrance again and she did not deny me. Our tongues battled for dominance, while I practically ripped her shirt from her body. I pushed the material from her shoulders and exposed her lace covered breasts to my view. I traveled downwards and covered one pert breast with my mouth. Soaking the material through until I could see the darkened circles underneath. Bella moaned and withered against me, quiet, breathless pleas of more came from her soft parted lips.

I turned my head to the other breast and bestowed the same attention I had previously on its twin. Bella's hands slid behind her back and she released the clasp of her bra and I watched as it fell down off her body. Bella's body began to shake as I used my mouth to suck, lick and gently bite her, freshly exposed skin. Her body reacting to the sensations of having no barrier between my mouth and her sensitive skin.

As I slid my mouth down her stomach, swirling my tongue in her navel as I went. I undid the buttons on her jeans and slid them down with her underwear. As Bella kicked her shoes off, she kicked her jeans and underwear with them. I nipped at her hip bones, sliding my nose along the her skin, from one side of her pelvis to the other. Running my hands along her thighs, I brought one leg up to rest over my shoulder. Her sweet smell reached my nose and I took lungfuls in of the intoxicating scent.

My arousal heightened at the sight of her. Bare and exposed before me. Bella's gasps of air and her heaving chest drew my attention to her face. Her face was flushed and a light sheen of sweat coated her forehead. She looked down at me with desire filled, hooded eyes. With my eyes still holding hers, I pressed my face to the beautiful triangle between her legs. I slid my tongue back and forth between the skin there. Lapping at her like a dying man for water. Pressing my tongue in and out of her, as deep as I could go at the angle we were at. Bella's hands held my head to her and her body trembled underneath my hands. My fingers soon joined my lips and tongue, exploring her until she shook and trembled in a wave of pleasure.

I moved up her body, her hands instantly going to the belt of my pants, undoing the buckle as she caught her breath. I returned my mouth to hers, kissing her as she pushed my jeans and boxers off my hips. I didn't have shoes on, so I just scrambled my feet out of the holes and kicked them away. Bella's fingers traced the length of me, but I was already so aroused, that I didn't need any foreplay. Her beautiful face, her flushed body and the urgency of our coupling had me aroused to the point of painful.

Not using all my strength, so not to hurt her, I pushed her back against the wall and slid my hands along the back of her thighs. I hoisted her up and her legs wrapped around my waist. Holding her eyes with mine, I entered her in one quick thrust. Resting my forehead against hers, I held myself inside her, so Bella could adjust to me and I could feel the pleasure of her heat surrounding me. I kissed her gently, holding my lips on hers as I slowly retracted my hips and returned. After repeating the rhythm a few times, I began to lose control. My tempo picked up and the strength behind my trusts got harder. Soon my hips were rocketing into hers, my eager thrusts pushing me deeper inside of her, until I could feel the tip of myself hitting the wall of her cervix.

I worried that I was hurting her, my force to powerful, but Bella's hips seemed to be matching mine, trust for thrust. The friction of the push and pull, eventually sent Bella tumbling over the edge. Her teeth biting into my shoulder to keep herself from crying out in pleasure and waking the kids. The build up, the vibrations of her climax and the pleasuring pain of her teeth on my shoulder, caused my own orgasm to hit and I groaned and shuddered into the soft skin of her shoulder. I released into her until I was empty and spent.

Our bodies rested against each other, my body still held within hers. Our chests heaved and our hearts beat rapidly as we tried to catch our breaths.

"I love you" I whispered.

"I love you, too," she whispered back just as quietly.

After cleaning up the kitchen and participating in a second round of love making after heading off to bed, I laid awake with Bella sleeping in my arms. My body spooning hers and our fingers clasped together. Our love making wasn't like before, where we used sex in exchange for talking. It was a chance to reconnect to each other and in eight years I haven't felt as this connected to my wife as I did right now. I only hoped that we can sustain it.

Hey guys

I know I promised last time that I would update sooner than I have. But I live out in the middle of freakin' nowhere and sometimes I can't connect to the internet. So I haven't been able to sustain a connection long enough to update and the computers at my work has restrictions, so I couldn't do it there either.

So my sincere apologies.

I hope you guys like the chapter. This one is a little more mature, but I hope I did it tactfully and it didn't come out too dirty. I wanted them to connect, not just get smutty.

Let me know if that came across to you guys or if it was too dirty.

Please give some reviews and if my computer plays along with me I'll have the next chapter up by the end of the week. :-)

Next Chapter: Family Bonding