Chapter 26: "I feel like you're making all the moves and reassuring me all the time I want to do something to show you I'm committed to this relationship too."

A/N: I don't own Twilight or its characters; they belong to Stephanie Meyer. This is just what they got up to in my mind.

Over the next few weeks, I spent more time with Bella and Tyler, usually in the evening as it was the only time we were both free besides the weekends. We were both working and Tyler's bedtime didn't leave many options so we spent a lot of time at Bella's rather than out on more traditional dates like I was used to.

A few nights this week I'd come to Bella's when Tyler was already asleep.

The first night, she had cooked the most amazing lasagne which I wolfed down while she marked her class's homework books. The whole scene felt rather domesticated. She'd laugh every now and then and read aloud the answers some kids had given to their homework, and I'd shake my head and wonder if I'd ever understand how a kid's mind works.

The last couple of times I'd brought my laptop over and answered work emails while she worked on her lesson plans. I liked to be in her house, her home, it was far better than being alone at my place. Most nights Tyler was asleep when I got there so I didn't see him, but tonight he was still awake and being difficult. Bella had looked exasperated when I arrived, and Tyler was sat on the couch, looking exhausted.

"Hi." I kissed Bella's cheek, not daring to do anything more as I was aware that Tyler was watching me.

"Mama, I hafta tell Ewood something really important," Tyler spoke up.

"Oh, you do, do you?" Bella's voice was amused as Tyler nodded furiously.

"He won't go to sleep until he's spoken to you," she announced with a shrug as I shucked my shoes and jacket.

I didn't know that Tyler was aware that I was visiting most nights but he seemed to know to expect me tonight.

"Me? Umm, okay." I didn't know what Tyler could want to talk to me about, but I nodded and walked over to sit with him on the couch. Bella had obviously been folding laundry, as she was now walking to the bedrooms with a basket on her hip.

"What's up, buddy?" I asked.

Tyler looked at me and hesitated. I sat next to him, trying to make myself smaller and less dominating.

Tyler looked at the dinosaurs on his pajama pants before he finally spoke. "I fink Mama's sad."

His voice sounded so heartbroken and his words alarmed me.

"Why do you think that?" I kept my voice gentle as Tyler whispered his reply.

"'Cause I heard Uncle Garrett say it's okay for her to move on and she cried."

I gasped at Tyler's words. Clearly Bella had been talking about us to Garrett and was feeling some guilt about moving on from Jake. I was trying not to read too much into this when Tyler spoke again.

"I don't wanna move, Ewood. A new house might have monsters in the cupboards."

"Umm. You don't need to worry about that, Tyler. I'm pretty sure you're not moving house, but even if you do I'll visit your new house and keep those monsters away, okay?"

He looked so small in his pajamas, hugging Bartholomew as he nodded and climbed up onto my lap. I was surprised, but glad that I could comfort him properly. I enveloped him in a big hug as I whispered in his ear.

"You can talk to your mom about this stuff."

He shook his head. "I don't want to make her cry again. She used to cry all the time at bedtime but she doesn't now and I don't want to make her cry again."

Well...shit. I was reminded yet again of Bella's past grief and loneliness.

Tyler continued talking as I sat stunned. "Can you stay 'cause she's happy when you're here and she doesn't cry?"

"I'll do everything I can to make her happy, okay. Her and you."

Tyler gave me a watery smile, just like Bella had done in the past, and snuggled his head further into my chest as Bella emerged from the bedrooms with a now-empty basket. She paused as she saw us on the couch, dropped the plastic basket and walked over to join us. She didn't say anything, she merely sat as close to us as she could and hugged us both tightly.

I kissed the top of Bella's head as we sat together. It felt good that Tyler had confided in me, even if it was about Bella being upset.

"Are you okay, Ty?" she asked him as he nodded, apparently happier now. "Good. Then it's bedtime, baby," she told him as his little nose scrunched up in disgust at this information.

"I want Ewood to tuck me in," he announced as I looked at him in surprise.

Bella raised her eyebrows to me in a silent question and I stood up decisively.

"Okay, buddy, how do we do this, teeth first?" I questioned.

Tyler and I walked to his room as he spoke. "No, I don't need to clean my teeth anymore," he announced as Bella chuckled behind us.

"Yes you do, Tyler, three minutes, put the timer on."

"Oh, man!" Tyler groaned as I placed an arm around his shoulders and steered him away from his room and toward the bathroom.

"Nice try, buddy!"

Once Tyler was tucked in, I joined Bella on her couch. "Tyler was worried. He said you'd been upset." I dove straight in, knowing she would want to know what Tyler was upset about.

"What?" She asked, surprised.

"Something about talking to Garrett about moving on. He was worried you were moving house."

"Christ, he heard that?"

I shrugged. "I guess so."

We sat in silence for a minute. I knew Bella's mannerisms by now. I knew she was playing anxiously with her fingers because she wanted to talk but didn't know what to say. I remained silent and sure enough she soon spoke softly.

"I was talking to Garrett about us."

"Should I be worried?" I tried to keep my voice light, but I don't think it worked.

Bella turned to me and ran her fingers over my hand as she spoke. "No. I just haven't had to deal with feelings for anyone else before. I'm really falling in love with you, Edward, and Garrett was just telling me he was pleased I've found you and moved on."

"I see." I grinned. "Tyler heard about you moving on and thinks you're moving house."

"Damn. I'll talk to him." Bella rested her head on my shoulder as I remembered the last time she told me she'd talked to Tyler. It was the day after Tyler's birthday when she told him about us. From what she had told me, he had been fine, pleased even when she told him I would be spending more time with them but he didn't understand much beyond that.

"Well, I'm glad we're moving on together and it was nice Tyler talked to me about this. He said you're happy when I'm here."

"I am. I like you being here almost every night. I know we're moving quite fast but I don't see why we shouldn't be together if it's what we both want."

"It's certainly what I want."

"Good, 'cause…" Bella stood up, returning a few seconds later with a silver key attached to a silver 'E' shaped key ring. She held it out to me as I gaped at her, involuntarily doing a pretty good fish impression.

"Errr…" I reached out and took the key.

"I'm still not sure what you're getting out of this relationship but as you seem determined to stay around, I want you to have this."

"Is this what I think it is?" Bella smiled at me.

"Yes."

"You're sure about this?" Her giving me a key to her house was a big deal to me.

"Yes. I feel like you're making all the moves and reassuring me all the time. I want to do something to show you I'm committed to this relationship too."

I grasped the key so tightly in my palm that I probably had an indentation of it on my skin. I didn't care. I leaned forward and kissed Bella softly. "Thank you," I whispered, as I parted from her lips.

"You're welcome." She toyed with my tie as she sat closer to me. "Now tell me about the jackass from work today that you mentioned in your text."

ooooooOOOOOOoooooo

The next day, I visited Bella straight from work. I was childishly excited to use my key and was richly rewarded when I opened her front door to see her bent over in the smallest pair of shorts known to man. Granted it was a hot day, but, Jesus, I think she was trying to kill me.

As she heard my entrance, she straightened up and smiled over her shoulder at me. Wearing the same off the shoulder top that I'd seen before. The same one that she never wore a bra underneath. I tried to stop my mind wandering as she walked over to greet me but I soon realized it wasn't my mind that was the problem, it was my hands. I had to physically stop them from checking out what, if anything, she was wearing under those shorts.

"Hi." I gave in as my hands wandered towards Bella's ass. "Is Tyler asleep?"

"I don't think so. He's in bed but still awake."

Damn! I retracted my hands, knowing I couldn't get too interested as Tyler was still awake. I kissed Bella on the forehead before we withdrew from our embrace and turned to the couch.

After a few minutes spent agreeing on a film, Tyler shouted for Bella. She looked apologetically at me as she left the room, returning about five minutes later.

"Sorry he took a while. He said his tummy hurts." She sat next to me and rested her head on my shoulder.

We started the film and as it progressed Bella shifted down the couch until she was stretched out with her head resting in my lap. Thankfully there was a cushion in between her head and my body because she was really fricking close to my junk, which was making concentrating really difficult. I should have been more mature about things but her head so near my junk was making my mind wander from the film we were watching, to the point where I'd totally lost the plot of what was happening. I ran a hand through Bella's hair as my other hand rested on her hip, my thumb lightly stroking her soft skin.

Bella was engrossed in the film but as my mind was elsewhere I heard the little feet that plodded into the room just as Tyler spoke.

"Mama, I don't feel good."

Bella's head shot up as she turned to Tyler.

"What's wrong, Baby?" she sat up slightly as Tyler stumbled further toward us. He was still half asleep, his hands rubbing at his eyes.

"My tummy hurts. I feel sick." Tyler coughed and covered his mouth with his hands as I shot up. Because Bella was still lying down, I was able to jump up and reach Tyler first.

"Bathroom, Edward!" Bella shouted as I grabbed Tyler under his arms and rushed him to the toilet.

He promptly threw up, thankfully in the toilet bowl, as I was reminded of the time Alice sneaked out to a party and returned stinking drunk. At least this time Tyler didn't have any hair to hold back and I wasn't trying to hide anything from my parents.

I kneeled down as Tyler turned around to face me, burst into tears and dropped his head onto my shoulder. I felt him wipe his mouth on my shirt just as Bella caught up with us.

"Ty, Baby," Tyler turned his head and looked at Bella as she took him from me. She noticed my shirt and her face fell.

"Edward, I'm sorry," she looked worried as she held Tyler and soothed him, rubbing his back as I stood up and flushed the toilet.

"It's okay," I reassured her.

Bella reached for a wash cloth and used it to wipe Tyler's face while I grimaced at the state of my work shirt.

"How do you feel now?" Bella asked him as he groaned.

"Okay," he replied rather unconvincingly.

"Let's get you back in bed." She picked him up gently and I followed her out of the bathroom to Tyler's room. She settled him in his bed, over to one side close to the wall as she sat in the remaining space. She soothed his forehead as I noticed how pale he looked.

"Can you just watch him for two minutes?" she asked as I nodded and sat on the end of Tyler's bed.

"Pass me your shirt. I'll get it in the wash." Bella stood and waited as I gladly rid myself of my top.

"Okay, Buddy?" I checked before Tyler rolled over onto his side.

"Uh-ha," he replied. We then sat in silence until Bella returned carrying a large plastic bowl, a glass of water, two wet wash cloths and a thermometer. She passed me one of the cloths and when I looked blankly at her she used it to wipe my shoulder, where my shirt had been dirty.

"Thanks," I replied, while she placed the glass and the bowl on Tyler's nightstand and used the second wash cloth to wipe his face and his forehead. He then took a sip of the water before settling back down.

"Does he have a temperature?"

"I think so," she replied as she took his temperature, sighing when she read the digital display before she lay on his bed next to him.

"I'm sorry, Edward, I'm gonna have to stay with him."

"Of course. Can I help?" I gave Bella a soft smile. I didn't want to leave her as soon as things got tough but I didn't know if she wanted me to stay. Tyler sat up and as Bella passed him the bowl he was sick again.

"It's okay, Baby," Bella soothed him as he groaned. She wiped his face once more with the wash cloth before getting up again and then returning with a clean bowl and cloth.

I watched as Bella snuggled down next to Tyler again and I thrust my hands into my pockets.

"I could stay, in your bed, in case he gets worse," I offered rather lamely. "We can always phone my dad if he gets any worse."

"Sure. Good idea."

I grinned, pleased Bella was finally accepting of my help. "Okay. I'll turn off the TV and get us both a drink."

Once back in the living room, I set about locking up Bella's house for the night. I'd watched her enough times by now to know she puts the chain on the front door and checked the back door is locked before setting her home alarm. It was still relatively early but I thought it was sensible for Bella and me to get some sleep while Tyler slept, as we could be in for a long night.

I was right. Tyler was sick three more times before midnight, waking Bella and I in the process but after that he seemed more settled and was still asleep at 6am when I woke from a few hours rest.

I searched Bella's fridge and decided to make a round of French toast for us, we needed a nice start to the day after such a shitty night. Thankfully, it was Saturday and, given Tyler clearly wasn't going to karate today, we could all have a restful day.

As I plated up, I heard Bella's soft footsteps and she walked up behind me and hugged my back. Her hands crept around my front and rested on my bare chest.

"How is he?" I asked I turned around in her arms.

"Still sleeping," she said, stifling a yawn.

My hands found Bella's waist and I effortlessly lifted her up on to the kitchen worktop. It wasn't until I'd done it that I was reminded of the time after our first date, at my house. We had started out like this then had to find a bed pretty quickly. Bella was so fricking close to me. She stretched up, placing her arms around my neck as I lowered my lips to hers. I couldn't stop my body from inching closer to hers and I knew she felt it too when she moaned into our kiss.

However, Bella soon pulled away as I sighed and ran my hands through my hair.

"What?" Bella asked sounding and looking adorably confused.

"Nothing. You just don't make it easy for me to behave here." I turned away and busied myself with finishing our toast. I knew I sounded grumpy and snappy but I was trying to force my dick to calm down as he was painfully trying to escape out of my pants but meeting resistance from the belt buckle.

"It was just a cuddle," Bella protested, looking hurt.

"In those?" I spoke louder than I meant to. "Baby, your shorts are so short I can see your ass whenever you bend over. Your t-shirt is baggy off one shoulder so I know you definitely aren't wearing a bra. You have no idea how much you turn me on," I protested weakly.

Bella smiled at me. "Well, you're somehow topless again and you know by now what that does to me!"

I grinned back at her, lightening the mood as I walked back in between her legs again. "I'm sorry. I'm not used to interrupted sleep, it makes me grumpy."

"I can tell!" Bella laughed as we heard little feet enter the room.

"Mama?" Tyler stood in the living area rubbing his eyes as Bella hopped down from the kitchen counter and walked to the little boy.

"Hey, Ty. How are you feeling?" She brushed his hair off his sticky forehead as she spoke.

"Okay," he mumbled, as Bella scooped him up and sat with him on the sofa.

The rest of the day was surprisingly fun. Tyler perked up once he was fully awake and didn't question why I was there so early in the morning. By lunch time he was ready for a piece of dry toast and by dinner time he was pestering me to recreate our pirate ship, a sure sign that he was feeling a lot better!

I eventually headed home in the early evening, much to Tyler and Bella's protests. I probably would have given in and stayed at Bella's longer but I needed fresh clothes and I didn't want to outstay my welcome. However, as soon as I was home I felt lonely. My house suddenly felt too large for just me and I was starting to think it didn't make sense to have Bella and Tyler in their small house and me in my large house alone, especially when the only thing the three of us wanted was to be together.

A/N: Thanks for reading. Please let me know what you think.

I love to hear your thoughts and really appreciate any reviews.

Thank you to my beta Lellabeth. I'm truly honored that she would give up her time to beta this little story. Any mistakes are mine because I tinker with this story all the time.

Thanks to SarcasticBimbo and Lovintwilife for giving me their time and opinions when they pre-read this story.