Happy Wednesday! The next update is not til Sunday... maybe late late Saturday night depending how long I am at work, but Sunday for sure.

Thank you for your support of this story. The way you love the characters, simply astonishes me.

Many thanks to Liz for prereading and Mid-Night for her beta work and constant encouragement.

I woke up Sunday morning to soft whispers and kisses from both my girls. Neither Bella nor I wanted to be away from the other and we both ended up in Emma's bed, her snuggled between us like the night before, our hands clasped together. We were both still exhausted from the emotions of the past couple days and needed both rest and time together the next day. Sunday was spent baking cookies, watching cartoons and just being together. Bella made everything feel like…more. Her loving ways with Emma, how she fussed over me, packing me a lunch to take, all of her caring gestures filled my heart. Emma fell asleep at one point watching cartoons and I made out with Bella, like the teenager she made me feel like, in the kitchen, pressed up against the counter. It was only the buzzing of the timer that broke us apart, my lips not wanting to leave hers as she pulled away to change the cookie tray. "Seriously woman…something about you," I mumbled against her head before she giggled and turned around, offering me a warm cookie.

"Maybe this will keep your mouth busy for a while."

I growled and lowered my head, intent on showing her busy, but she slipped under my arm. "Give it up Dr. C, we need to go soon," she teased playfully. "Eat your cookie."

I smiled sadly as I watched her move around the kitchen, loving how right she looked in my house. How complete it felt when she was there with us. It was the best day I'd had in a long time, and I didn't want it to be over.

Together, we took Emma to my parents and then I drove Bella home. I walked her up to her apartment and escorted her inside, quickly checking everything was okay. She watched me quietly, her expression one of patient amusement. "Everything good? Did you want to look under the bed or in the closet?"

I pulled her tightly against me. "Enough sass from you." I kissed her tenderly. "It's my job to look after you now."

Her eyes shone as she looked up at me, her voice quavering. "I like that. Nobody has looked after me in a long time."

I kissed her again, hating to hear her say that, but glad I was the one able to look after her now.

Her voice became shy. "I love how you take care of me, Edward."

I held her tightly, regretting that I couldn't stay. It took all I had to leave her and head to the hospital for my shift. I wanted nothing more than to spend time with her. Time I simply wasn't able to offer right now.

I sighed as I shut my locker. I knew it was going to be a long week.

*()*

"Dr. Cullen?"

I looked up wearily from the couch in the staff lounge. It was now Wednesday and the flu outbreak had taken its toll on everyone. For those who caught it, and those of us left behind to try and deal with the staff shortage and the endless stream of patients that insisted on filling the ER. There was nothing we could do to help them except advise them to drink lots of liquids, stay away from certain foods and rest. There was no magic pill to make them better. Luckily, two more doctors were back today so I would be able to head home tonight. At this point, I wasn't even sure I could drive safely. I had basically been here since Sunday, sleeping when I could in the on-call room and only seeing Emma and Bella from a distance. I was worried about them catching the bug with all the exposure I had unfortunately been privy to. Many of Bella's staff and children had been hit with the same outbreak, but so far the three of us were, amazingly, still well. Still, I took every precaution I could not to make either of them ill, including physically staying away from them.

Blinking, I realized I had been just staring at the nurse in front of me. "Oh, sorry, Sue. What's up?"

She smiled kindly at me. "You're wanted on line one. And, when you're done they need you in exam three."

So much for a quick break. I nodded and grabbed the phone on the wall.

"Dr. Cullen."

"Edward, it's Demetri."

Immediately I tensed. Why was my lawyer calling? "What's going on?"

"Tanya got in contact with me. She has apparently been trying to call you, but of course your number has changed since you moved, and she doesn't have the new one."

"What the hell does she want?"

"She refused to say anything; only that she wants to talk to you. I wouldn't give her your number or the information she wanted about where you were but I said I would pass on the message."

I was silent as my mind raced with all sorts of disturbing scenarios. Why was she calling?

"Edward, relax. I don't think this has to do with Emma, or the divorce. She would have had her lawyer calling me if that was the case. She, ah, she didn't even ask about Emma."

I drew in a surprisingly painful breath.

"You have full custody, Edward. She signed away her rights. You don't even have to return her calls, but I'll email you her number."

"Thanks," I mumbled as I hung up the phone, sliding down the wall as my legs shook.

She didn't ask about her daughter. She hadn't even realized we'd moved and had been surprised to find my number changed. Because she simply didn't care. Once again, I found myself wondering how someone could be so callous towards a child; especially their own child. How could I have possibly been married to someone like that? How did I not see the type of person she really was years before? I rested my head in my hands for a moment as I tried to calm down. What did she want? What could she possibly have to talk to me about? The divorce would be final any day now. It couldn't be about that…she'd gotten what she wanted. I gave her everything she asked for just to get her out of Emma's life.

I shuddered. Surely it couldn't be about Emma. She'd already done enough damage. I wouldn't give her a chance to do more. There was no way in hell she was coming anywhere near my daughter again.

With that resolve, I stood up, shaking my head. I wasn't going to phone her anytime soon, if at all. Right now, I needed to make it through this week and then I would think about it again when I wasn't so exhausted. Picking up a chart, I made my way to room three.

*()*

"Edward?"

Looking up from the chart I was working on, I was not happy to see Bella standing in front of me. Her face was flushed and her eyes were watery, which were both signs of a temperature. Snapping the chart closed, I walked towards her, thinking the flu had finally caught up with her as well. As I reached her, my hand went up to feel her forehead, surprised to find it a normal temperature. I grabbed her wrist to check on her pulse and frowned in confusion when I found that it too was normal. The entire time she stood quietly as I quickly assessed her. "You're not ill?"

She smiled. "No, Edward. I'm fine. I already told you, you are being too over-protective about this."

Taking her hand, I led her to the closest empty room and shut the door. I pulled her into my arms and held her tightly, feeling both annoyed and grateful for the unexpected visit.

I drew back. "Emma?"

"Is fine."

Already anxious over the phone call and worried, my voice was unusually sharp. "Then why are you here, Bella? I asked you to stay away."

Bella's face fell and instantly, I regretted my choice of words.

"I had something I wanted to share with you, Edward."

"And you couldn't do it over the phone?"

"Edward."

I pulled my hands through my hair in frustration. "It's not easy for me not to see you and Emma, Bella. But, I'm doing it for your benefit. I don't want you sick. Is that so hard to understand?"

Bella regarded me silently. Her voice was patient. "What's wrong, Edward?"

"You're here, exposing yourself to all these germs. And then you'll go back to the daycare and expose Emma. I'm not doing this for kicks. I'm trying to protect you."

Bella's head tilted as she studied me briefly. "Okay, Edward," she smiled tightly. Then she turned around and walked out of the room, shutting the door firmly behind her.

Completely shocked, I stood gaping at the door. Then I lunged forward, pulling the door open and hurrying after her. I saw the door to the stairwell closing and I ran, ignoring the voice calling my name behind me. Wrenching open the door, I could see Bella on the stairway below.

"Bella! Stop!"

I caught up to her on the landing. She stood waiting for me, her arms crossed over her chest, her face impassive.

"I'm sorry. I'm tired and…"

Her hand shot up, silencing me. "I know you are, Edward. Just like you were last week. I know you're under a lot of stress. And, once again I've done something you don't like and you're letting me know." She stepped forward, firmly pushing on my chest with one finger. "Let me tell you something, Edward. I am not a dumping ground for your bad moods. You need to find another way of dealing with your anger. I am a grown adult. If I decide to come here and risk getting sick that is my business. Emma went home with your mother. I am not going back to the daycare after I leave here. I am not going to infect anyone."

I grabbed her surprisingly strong, pointy, finger and wrapped my hand around hers. "Finished?"

She pursed her lips.

"As I was saying. I am sorry. I'm tired and I just acted like a complete asshole. Again. I apologize."

Bella's eyes narrowed but she didn't say anything.

"I just don't want either of you sick, Bella. I've been worried. And missing you. Both of you. I shouldn't have taken it out on you, especially when I was really so happy to see you. I was stupid to think you hadn't thought this out. Forgive me." I leaned forward and kissed her forehead and began to turn away. She was angry and I needed to give her a little time to calm down. I also needed to learn to control my sudden impulse to overreact. She was right; I needed to talk to someone.

Bella's hand tightened on mine. "You were happy to see me?"

I smiled tiredly at her. "Very much so." My hand rose up and my fingers drifted along her cheek. "I've missed you."

Bella lunged forward, catching me by surprise. I stumbled backward into the wall, my breath leaving my body in a startled gasp. Bella's arms wrapped around my neck, pulling my head down to hers as her mouth covered mine, kissing me deeply, her silky tongue stroking mine. Groaning, I wrapped my arms around her, returning her passion with enthusiasm. Our tongues swirled and caressed, tasting and savoring each other as we became lost in our little bubble of heat. Leaning down, I lifted her up, and her legs wrapped around my waist, as I turned us around and pressing her up into the wall as we continued to ravage each other's mouths. It was only a door opening above us that brought us back to the reality of the fact we were not alone. Slowly, I pulled away, dropping small kisses on her mouth regretfully as I gently lifted her away from me and lowered her to the ground.

"You are an asshole," she whispered breathlessly, when she was standing back on her feet, glaring at me.

"I know."

"Stop it."

I chuckled. "You gonna give me a time out?"

She scowled up at me. "Don't tempt me."

I grinned, waggling my eyebrows at her. "Was I naughty enough to deserve…a spanking…Ms. Swan?"

She laughed and shook her head. "Somehow I don't think you take that as punishment."

Leaning down, I kissed her again, contritely. "I am sorry. I'll do better. And I will talk to someone."

"Tell me what happened. And don't give me the bullshit about being tired."

I grinned ruefully. Already she knew me so well.

Quickly, I told her about the phone call. She listened intently, frowning.

"Are you going to call her?"

I shrugged. "Not today."

"Whatever it is, we'll deal with it, Edward."

My eyebrows shot up in surprise. "We?"

Bella nodded her head. "If you think I will let that woman hurt Emma or you again, you are sadly mistaken, Edward. She isn't coming near you or Emma again."

I stroked her cheek, regarding her in awe.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"You amaze me yet again, Bella Swan." I shook my head in wonder.

"Were you not going to tell me about this, Edward?"

"I don't know. I hadn't thought it through." I drew in a deep breath. "The last four years I had to learn to just handle things myself, Bella. Tanya was never interested in being part of my…problems."

Bella's hand gripped my face tightly, forcing me to look at her. "I...am...not...Tanya."

I gasped in shock. "I know that."

Bella shook her head. "I am here for you, Edward. Just like you were there for me in the storm. I'm your soft place. I'm your protection. Do you understand that? Can't you let me be that for you?"

I stared at her, slowly nodding. A feeling of belonging spread through me. Belonging to Bella. I smiled as I let the feeling fill me. I liked it.

I let out a shaky sigh. "I'm worried, Bella," I confessed quietly.

"We'll deal with it together. Okay? When you are ready. But you need to stop reacting so negatively, Edward. I'm here for you. I am not working against you. Remember that." She gazed at me steadily.

"I'll do better. I will."

"Don't shut me out."

My breath caught. "I won't."

I heard my name being bellowed above me. "I have to go."

Bella nodded. "I'll see you at your place later."

She turned to go, but I caught her arm.

"What did you come here to tell me? You looked like you'd been crying when you got here."

"I was. A little."

"Why?"

She smiled, her voice trembling with excitement. "Emma spoke today, Edward. She actually spoke."

Okay... so Edward was a bit of a jerk again. At least this time he realized and apologized immediately. He is still new to all this. And Emma spoke. What did she say?

See you on the weekend. Be safe.