Sorry for the delay in posting. Real life is busy busy. :):)

Chapter Thirteen
crazy for you

Bella

Will you come with me to Seattle tomorrow?

I thought I was watching Maximoose.

We'll all go. You can hang out with the kids while I'm in my meeting. If it gets too late we'll get a hotel.

What about Thor and Loki?

Emmett will check on them.

Can we take the kids to the zoo? Bubby's never been.

Sure, Bella. We'll go.

Okay, I'm in! :)

See you later babe.

It's two days after Christmas, and Edward has an appointment with one of the best divorce lawyers in Washington tomorrow.

Tanya never showed her face after that text before Edward's birthday. She didn't bother coming home for Christmas. Edward acted like it didn't bother him because I guess it seriously didn't.

Edward says he wants his divorce done and over with so him and Max can move on without her. He is going to go for all rights on Max, and I can only pray he gets Max all to himself. Well, he will have to share him with me of course.

"Mama, where Edwud?"

"He's at work, bubby."

"I want him," Leo says, trying to pull himself up onto my bed where I'm folding clothes.

He grabs my arm to climb up and unfolds half of my laundry on his way.

"You'll see him later," I tell him pulling him onto my lap. "Why don't you play with Low and Max?"

He shakes his head, snuggling close, and I relish in his closeness while I have the chance. Edward will come for Max and then Leo will leave me for Edward too.

It's adorable how Edward treats all of the kids, but watching him give kisses and hugs to Leo absolutely melts me into a puddle of goo.

Harlow and Leo adore Edward, and sometimes I can't believe how lucky we were to have moved into Rosalie's house and met the best man in the world.

I was so young when I fell in love with Jacob, and I didn't have near enough time with him. Harlow can just barely remember him, and Leo never had the chance to meet him. That's why I think he's so attached to Edward.

Edward lost his mom and dad so young so he knows what it's like for my kiddos, and he hates that they have to grow up without their father. He always tells me how lucky they are to have the best mom, and I'll be honest, it really chokes me up. He always laughs and pulls me into his warm body and kisses my head when this happens.

I secretly love it.

My best friend is doing an awesome job of filling that void for my Harlow and Leo, and it warms my heart to witness him doing it unknowingly and so willingly.

My Maximoose shares his daddy, but Low and Leo share their mommy. That boy has me wrapped around his finger. His mom has no idea what she's missing out on, and at this point, I don't want her to ever find out.

"Mommy! We're hungry." Harlow yells from a few doors down.

"Yeah, Bella, I'm so starving," Max groans.

I check the clock, and it's been two hours since they ate breakfast.

Grabbing Leo, I walk to Harlow's room with him in my arms. He's almost too big for me to carry.

Max and Harlow are making a mess with Legos when we walk into her room.

"You munchkins just had breakfast," I say and they both look up with their too cute grins.

"Just a snack, Bella. Please, Bella. My stomach is growling!"

"Oh yeah," Harlow butts in. "Mine too, mommy."

I don't believe a word they say, but I walk downstairs and make all three of them peanut butter and jelly anyway. While they eat I tell them about our trip to Seattle and the zoo, and they are so excited they can't help but talk with their mouths full.

"Bears, mama," Leo says, his brown eyes wide.

"Yeah, bubby, you'll see big bears."

He looks a little scared, but continues eating his sandwich.

Once they all finish up, I pick up the kitchen, sneaking in my own sandwich. I just shove my last bite in my mouth when my phone pings.

Let's leave tonight so we don't have to get up so early.

Edward.

Okay, I agree immediately. I have to pack though.

Pack up, and then go pack me up.

Eww, no. I won't touch your underwear, Edward, I tease.

Funny, babe. I'll grab a shower and a bag as soon as I get home, and then we'll go.

Cool, we'll be waiting. I'll pack for Max. Half his wardrobe is here anyway.

I know. He never wants to leave your house.

I'm sorry that I'm so lovable.

I'm not.

Oh Edward.

He kills me with his love.

Edward

"Are we there yet?"

"How much longer?

"Edward, answer me!"

"Babe, we left only an hour ago."

The kids knocked out almost immediately, and Bella is anxiously bouncing in her seat.

"I know, babe," she mocks, "but I don't like long car rides."

"Why?"

"I get cramps," she shrugs. "And I have bladder issues. What if I have to pee and we are on a long stretch of road with no bathroom. What will I do?"

I grin out the windshield. "It's only a little over two hours to Seattle. I'm sure you can hold it."

"But what if I can't? When I was pregnant with Low, I had to pee so bad, we had to stop on the side of the road. I almost didn't get my pants down in time."

I bust up laughing, and she punches me in the arm like her little fists can actually hurt me. She's fucking adorable.

"I'll pull over if you have to go bad enough."

"Oh fine."

"Did you tell the kids about the zoo," I ask, looking over at her. She's smiling so big, and it makes me return her smile.

"Yes. But I think bubby might be afraid of seeing the bears."

"I'll protect bubby, Bella," I say.

Her smile turns soft, and it's getting real hard to not want to feel how fucking soft it is on my own lips. Bella is all I fucking think about. Her and our families. Our family. I've got it bad just like Max. I want his Bella to be my Bella.

That's why this divorce needs to be done. I can't hold out much longer, but at the same time, I need to take things slow with Bella. She's not a fucking rebound, and I don't want her to even get that idea in her head.

Tanya better not give me any fucking shit with this divorce. She's proved the type of person she is, and I don't want any part of her. She can't have any part of Max either.

I didn't tell Bella this, but Christmas morning Max cried for the first time in months over Tanya not being home. While I held him in my arms, I've never been more fucking angry in my life. No one makes Max cry especially not his mother.

I blocked Tanya's number, and she never showed up at the house. I don't know whether that's very good or very fucking bad.

"Edward, you're such a good guy," Bella says, squeezing my arm.

"I know, babe, I'm the best," I joke, and she rolls her eyes.

"I think I'm going to rest my eyes for a bit. Don't fall asleep driving though. Maybe I should just stay up. Are you tired?

"I'm not tired, Bella. Just relax."

It only takes her 10 minutes to fall asleep, and I drive the rest of the way in silence. Silence is nice, but I like the craziness of Bella's laughter better, and listening to Harlow and Max argue about everything, and the sound of Leo calling me Edwud over and over.

But silence is okay for now.

Bella

It's past one o'clock in the morning, and we've been checked into the hotel for a few hours. Edward got us a room with two king size beds, but only Harlow and Max share one since Leo insisted he get to sleep with me and Edward.

Edward agreed immediately, never one to disappoint his little bubby. I thought it might be awkward me and Edward sleeping in the same bed, and it is, but only because Leo is in between us.

He's all cuddled up to Edward's bare chest, and Edward's arm is wrapped protectively around him. I've never seen anything more beautiful in my life. I've been staring at this perfect picture forever. I even took a picture of this perfect picture. My camera roll is so filled up with pictures of all of us, it's nuts.

I am so nervous about tomorrow. What if Edward meets with this lawyer tomorrow, and she says it's going to take so long or what if she says there is no way Edward can get full custody of Max. Even though, how can he not? Max's mother is a neglectful bitch. If a judge can't see that then something is wrong with him.

Or her.

"Babe," Edward says, his voice raspy with sleep and his eyes closed.

"Hmm," I say, scooting closer to Leo's back.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing," I lie. "That nap from earlier just isn't letting me sleep."

"Come closer, Bella."

I listen to him because I wouldn't mind snuggling up to Leo, too. I absolutely do not want to snuggle a still married man even if he is getting a divorce. Technically we shouldn't even be in the same bed even with bubby between us.

His hand lands on my hip, and I feel my body spasm at the contact. He squeezes me and pulls me closer so that my front is closer to Leo's back. "Sleep, Bella."

How can I sleep with his warm hand gripping my hip?

He rubs me side up and down, and I am fucking panicking because I like it. He never opens his eyes, but I watch him the entire time, until my eyes feel droopy, and I can't even remember falling asleep.

…

…

…

The next morning, Edward is gone when I wake up. He left a note on the nightstand.

Babe, I'll be back after the meeting. Your snores are adorable.

The scribbly heart at the end totally made up for the lie about snoring.

The front desk told me about a café around the corner so I drag the kids around the block so we can eat a late breakfast.

All three kids choose pancakes, and I eat a bagel with jelly.

"Are we going to the zoo, Bella?" Max asks, licking syrup off his fingers.

"We are. Are you excited?"

"I am," Harlow says. "I want to see zebras and monkeys."

"I don't like bears," Leo puts in. "They scary."

"We can skip the bears, bubby."

He nods his head real fast.

"My favorite animal is the lions with their big manes."

"Oooh Maximoose, mine too," Harlow says, excitedly.

"Well, we'll see everything but the bears, okay. Unless Edward watches bubby then I'll take you to see them."

"Okay." Max says. "My daddy will take bubby. He loves bubby almost as much as he loves me."

I smile at his proud little smile.

"Finish eating, kiddos so we can go wait for Edward."

They continue eating, and Harlow makes a scene when Leo gets syrup in her hair.

"We'll wash it, Low."

"Fine, mommy," she says, glaring at poor little Leo. He doesn't care though, just continues making a mess with his pancakes.

Once I pay the bill, we all grab hands and head out. I walk closest to the street because even though my kids are good, you can never be too safe. We turn the corner to head back to our hotel, and my stomach drops at the sight of the person standing in front of us.

"Bella, what are you doing here?" She asks, a sneer on her pretty face. "Where's Edward?"

Oh fuck.

Tanya.