A multitude of thanks would not suffice as gratitude for the wonderful women who help me make this story better. Vagabonda, Beachcomberlc, and IpsitaC77, I adore you.

Chapter 28

Weak sun streamed through the windows, finding gaps in the curtains and hitting Edward in the eye. He was tempted to just roll over and go back to sleep when the rooster began crowing. He flopped onto his back and stretched his legs, then, reaching down, gave his testicles a very welcomed 'good morning' scratch. It was the customary beginning to his daily routine. A routine that was suddenly disrupted by the warm, soft body he encountered when he made to roll out of the bed. Delightful memories of the night before came flooding into Edward's brain and he was instantly aroused. Instantly and painfully aroused, as he had to make water as well and was torn between which was a more pressing bodily need.

Bella shifted in her sleep as he got out of bed. Edward watched her eyes flutter before she sighed and nestled further into the quilts. He gently moved a strand of hair that was caught on her lips. She looked so lovely—he just wanted to crawl back into bed and lie with her for hours on end. But the ache in his bladder and the fact that he wondered if she'd even be willing to engage in lovemaking again forced him to get up.

Edward pulled on his trousers and grabbed a thick sweater. Slipping his boots on at the door, he jogged to the outhouse. The cool fall air caused his erection to quickly deflate. With a groan of relief once positioned in the outhouse, Edward's mind began to wander back to his bed and his glorious, beautiful, sweet wife. Rachel hadn't allowed relations for six weeks after their first time. Bella was so different from her; still, he was hesitant to ask when she might want to indulge him in relations again. He knew for damn sure he wasn't going to mention Rachel or the six weeks to her. He'd learned that lesson well.

He walked back to the house with a spring in his step and the sudden desire to whistle a tune. The rooster crowed again as Edward reached the porch. It was time for him to get dressed and be ready to milk the cows. On his way back to the bedroom, Edward paused to add a few logs to the fire and set the kettle to boil, giving Bella a few more minutes rest by starting her chores.

Bella was still all tucked up and sleeping. Edward leaned over and ran his cold nose along her cheek. She groaned and moved her head away. He did it again, and a smile crept across her face. He did it a third time.

"If this is how you plan to wake me up everyday, I'm going back to the loft, Edward Masen." Bella grumbled from under the covers.

"It's time to get up, sweetheart. Time to get to work."

"I know, but I don't want to."

Edward laughed as he found clean underwear and a fresh shirt. When he was properly dressed for the day, Edward sat on the bed beside her, pulling up his suspenders. He smiled down at her dozy face.

"I'll be back with fresh milk and eggs. You rest a bit more, alright?"

When Bella nodded, he began to rise. She shot her hand out from under the blankets and grabbed him by the suspenders, causing him to fall back down onto the bed, landing on top of her.

"Don't I get a morning kiss?"

She looked too sleep-rumpled to be coquettish. Edward grinned and gave her a quick peck on the cheek in response.

"No, not until I've cleaned my mouth."

Bella held her hand over her mouth with a look of mock horror and laughed as Edward left the room.

Edward did his chores as quickly as he could. He brushed his teeth and washed his face, using a bowl of water from the rain barrel behind the barn. The cold water bit at his split knuckles, but felt marvelous on his bruised face. It was too cold outside for him to strip down for any other bathing. He checked his beard, scrubbing his hand across the sharp hairs and decided he could go another day without shaving. Edward eagerly hoped he could ask Bella to do it for him, and wanted his beard to be good and thick to make the experience last. It had been so wretchedly painful watching her shave Carlisle, Edward could just imagine the pure thrill, the pleasure there might be if he was the one being shaved.

As he tromped across the farmyard, Edward gave a brief thought as to what might have happened to his former friend. Carlisle hadn't returned from his search for Bella. Edward didn't pay it much mind; if anyone could survive in the wild, it was Carlisle. Some distance might be just the thing towards fixing their friendship. It all hinged on whether the bastard grovelled enough–if and when he returned.

The chickens gave him no trouble and the cows were quick to give up their milk. Edward stashed most of the milk in the springhouse, bringing the eggs and a large jug into the house.

Bella was standing at the stove, swaying back and forth, as if there were music playing only she could hear. He placed the small basket of eggs on the table and the milk by the sink. Feeling overcome with love at the sight of her and comfortable enough to be bold, Edward walked up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. When she didn't complain or push him away, he was encouraged enough to kiss her neck. Bella let go of the wooden spoon she'd been holding and covered his hands with hers. She hummed a sweet note of enjoyment.

Edward started to sway with her. Nibbling her ear and nuzzling her neck elicited light happy sounds from Bella—soft whimpers and more humming. He could feel the smile on her face as he held his cheek to hers. If the oatmeal hadn't begun to bubble, Edward would have spun her around and kissed her soundly. Instead, he enjoyed the feel of her stirring their breakfast, just holding her in his arms.

They stayed that way, engaged in their shared dreamy moment, until Jasper emerged from his room followed by Emmett. Emmett smiled and shouted a "Good morning!" as he bolted past them and out the door, on his way to the outhouse.

Emmett had recently declared chamber pots were for babies and real men use the outhouse, no matter what the weather. Edward was waiting until the first really big snowfall of the season to remind him of his edict. Jasper must have used his before he came out of the room, otherwise he would have done his little pee-pee dance and asked Papa to take him outside to relieve himself. The tyke was too young to be in the outhouse unattended and couldn't manage holding his skirts up and peeing straight at the same time.

"Is-Bella!" Jasper threw himself at her legs, giving her a big hug. Seeing his baby cling to her, with all the love and adoration a three-year-old could muster, did his heart a turn and filled it to bursting. Edward reached down and picked up his boy. He tucked Jasper under his arm and they sat down at the table. Jasper rested his head on his father's chest and together, they watched Bella cook; Edward stroking his hand over Jasper's back in slow circles.

Emmett returned, looking satisfied. He sat in his usual spot and waited for his breakfast, as if today were just like any other day.

Bella handed out bowls of warm porridge and cream to them, and went back to the stove for sausage. Placing one hand on Edward's shoulder, she leaned over him and slid the platter of sausages in front of his place. Her hand tickled his ear as she moved around him. She picked up Jasper and lowered him into his chair before taking her own seat. It was a seamless dance of gentle steps with an effortless grace of swirling skirts.

In between spoonfuls of her own breakfast, Bella helped Jasper with his oatmeal and cut his sausage into tiny pieces. Emmett crammed as much in his mouth as he could before swallowing. Edward took a look around the table with love and pride. This was all he'd ever wanted from life, here, in front of him.

His eldest son caught his eye and grinned back at him.

"Papa?" Emmett asked with his mouth still showing traces of chewed oatmeal at the corners. "Are you going to be kissing on Bella a lot now?"

Edward coughed into his coffee, thankful he hadn't yet taken a sip. He looked panicked at Bella, but she blushed and ducked her head, pretending to be too busy with Jasper to answer.

"Well son, I'd like to if I have time, yes. As long as Bella will allow me kiss her." Edward stuttered his answer, his ears turning crimson with embarrassment.

"So, girls like kisses then?" Emmett licked at the back of his spoon and ran his tongue around his lips as a means of cleaning his face. Bella passed him a napkin and gave him a wink.

"Yes, I think they do. Why do you ask?"

Emmett took another massive spoonful of oatmeal before answering. He was too hungry to wait for the end of the conversation he'd started.

"You said we could go to town for my birthday. You know I'm turning seven next week. I just wanted to know, in case I met a girl in town."

"My boy, if you meet a girl in town there'll be no kissing." Edward thumped his hand on the table, not in anger, but to keep himself from laughing at his eldest boy.

"What? Why not?"

"Seven-year-olds don't go around kissing girls, that's why."

"Well, how old do I gotta be?" Emmett jabbed his spoon in to his empty bowl.

Bella excused herself from the table to make more coffee and to laugh in silence, her back to them. Edward glanced at her and saw her shoulders shaking

"Seventeen." Edward stated with authority.

"Seventeen? That's near twenty years from now; that's not fair, Papa." A pout formed on Emmett's mouth.

"I'm sorry, that's the law, Emmett. The sheriff says so."

"Is that true, Bella? Do I have to wait until I'm seventeen? That's forever from now." Bella nodded, not trusting her voice to answer.

"How old were you when you first kissed a girl, Papa?"

Edward cleared his throat and caught Bella's eye when she turned to face him. She smiled and nodded in encouragement.

"I first kissed your mama when I was twenty-one. But I was married to her first."

"Anyone want more breakfast?" Bella finally decided to rescue Edward, and succeeded in capturing Emmett's attention by spooning a generous dollop into his bowl. She poured her husband more coffee and took his bowl to the sink.

"Is-Bella? Are you old?" Jasper piped up.

"I'm twenty years old." Bella indulged him with a big smile.

"You old enough." He nodded solemnly as if he was giving her his permission. Jasper speared his last piece of sausage almost violently, as if he'd been giving it chase and finally caught it. Edward swallowed a laugh with his coffee.

The boys ran off to get dressed for the day as Bella tidied up the breakfast dishes. Edward finished his coffee, staring into the distance and seemingly lost in thought. He didn't notice as they ran through the house, calling out their intention to go see the puppies.

"Bella? When was your birthday?"

She dried her hands on her apron after finishing the last dish. She leaned her back against the counter.

"Oh, it must be about two weeks ago, I think."

"Why didn't you say something?"

"It's not important, Edward. It's just another day."

"You're important, Bella. I want to make sure you know that—that you're very important. Not only to me, but to all of us." He stood and walked over to her, taking her in his arms.

Edward kissed her gently at first, but his hunger for her grew the longer they were pressed together. Stopping just short of picking Bella up and carrying her back to their room, he paused for breath, pressing his forehead against hers.

"Last night … I never knew anything could be as wonderful as that. I love you, Bella."

"I love you too, Edward."

The boys came back from the barn, complaining that the puppies were sleeping and not game for playing. Edward managed to wrench himself from Bella, needing to get some work done in the barn. He would have much preferred to spend the day in her embrace, but work on a farm was never completely finished. He kept Emmett with him as a helper.

Jasper stuck to Bella's side like a burr. She was happy to keep him near her if it soothed him. She knew he needed the love and affection to prove she wasn't leaving him again. Bella made a game of dancing in and out of his grasp like a game of tag. Jasper took his nap in her arms as they rocked on the front porch, his need for her taking precedence over laundry or mending. The sweet boy woke with a smile on his face.


When he finished his chores, Edward found the wood scraps he needed to make Emmett's birthday present. He'd been mulling it over for a few days, the design and construction plans for a miniature covered wagon, much like the one his own parents travelled in when they crossed the country. This was long before Edward was born; his parents were children themselves, but he'd heard the tales of the journey and hardships his whole life.

He had already carved the horse team out of scraps from a strong ponderosa pine he'd felled for firewood. They needed a lick of paint and Edward wondered if he could ask Bella to paint them for him. She had a steadier hand and more nimble fingers. A couple of good supple twigs could be formed into place as the ribs, and Bella could sew the canvas cover. The wagon itself would take no time, but carving the wheels would be tricky; he still had a week to work that part out.


The scent of rich, roasted pork greeted Edward as he walked towards the house. The sound of his boys' laughter meet him at the bottom of the porch. He ran up the steps, beyond eager to be with his family.

Bella was holding Jasper's hands tightly in hers, her arms spread wide. She was crouching a bit as if she was about to sit on an invisible chair. Edward watched, highly amused, as Jasper place one foot and then the other on her legs, climbing up her body to her hips where he flipped over backwards in a somersault, twirling in Bella's grasp as she straightened up. Emmett jumped up and down, cheering. On the table was a picture book with drawings of dancers and acrobats. There were pictures of a lady high up on a wire with a parasol, and of people standing upside down on their hands and some standing up, all while riding horses.

The boys came bounding over to him, both speaking at the same time trying to tell him about their day and the fun new game Bella showed them. Edward nearly burst with pride as he kissed his smiling wife and ruffled Emmett's hair.


A toothsome hot meal served by his beautiful wife and a good cup of tea had him feeling like a king. As Bella cleaned up from dinner, Emmett tugged on his hand and made him stand in the middle of the room.

"Papa, I'm going to play acrobats on you. Mumby said I was too big to play on her and had to wait until you were done eatin'."

Edward looked at Bella and asked, "Mumby?" with a grin.

"They asked what I called my mother and then they added a 'b'. I like it." She blushed.

"All right then, Mumby, show me how to do this acrobat dance."

Bella explained to Edward how to stand and what to do. Emmett delighted in flipping over and over again while using his father as a springboard. Jasper took a turn with Papa as well, but declared that Mumby did it better and then dragged her over to demonstrate. Emmett laughed so hard at Jasper that his foot slipped while he was climbing Papa, kicking him right between the legs. The game had to stop then; Edward had to sit for a few moments to catch his breath.

Bella readied the boys for bed and tucked them in with kisses. Edward watched from the doorway, overjoyed, grateful for how his life had changed so much for the better.

AN: Victorian toddlers wore dresses, boys and girls. It was just easier for toileting and reusing. Infant mortality was so poor, some babies didn't get names until they were three or four and had survived, they were just called Baby. But this is fiction, we get to keep the cute aspects of the past like the image of Jasper with messy blond curls in a sweet white dress, and leave out scurvy, diphtheria and other discomforts.

Thank you for reading.