Disclaimer: All the Twilight stuff belongs to Stephenie Meyer. No copyright infringement is intended. I'm just playing in her sandbox.

Author's Note: There are no words adequate to express how sorry I am for the length of time between updates. Were I the reader, I would be extremely frustrated and quite frankly would probably have forgotten most of the story line.

Real life has slowed somewhat, in spite of the holidays, and I seem to have a handle on writing this Edward and not mixing him up with the vampire Edward in HHH. At any rate, this chapter is the births from Bella's point of view and I hope you enjoy it!

Chapter 28 Family

I checked on the boys, who were both fast asleep and slipped out the door

to see what the hell was so important I had to leave my babies.

Carlisle was standing in the emergency waiting room,

lab coat on so I guess he had been on call tonight with his arm around Renee.

As I approached and asked what was going on, Renee fell apart crying,

"Oh, Edward . . . it's Charlie!"

~oooOooo~

EPOV

"What the hell is going on?" I spat, fucking annoyed that I wasn't with Bella and the babies, "What's happened?"

"Edward," my father's tone admonished me, "Charlie was brought in about an hour ago. Concussion."

Shit. I should have known my father wouldn't have called for me unless it had been important. Now I felt like an ass for being so angry when I first walked up to them.

"How is he?" I asked, putting a hand on Renee's shoulder.

"He's holding his own. He hasn't come around yet and we don't know if there was any . . . damage," Carlisle told me.

I knew what he meant. Brain damage caused by the brain being bruised and swelling. Damn.

"Some joggers found him lying on the ground beside his car up in Port Angeles and called 911. The ambulance brought him here. Guess the EMT guys figured he's rather be in his own town since they knew who he was. His deputy has gone up there to get his patrol car and ask questions. There is nothing you can do, we just wanted you to know and to decide if we told Bella," Renee said softly, obviously having a hard time holding it together.

Bella. Damn. She just had our babies yesterday and there was no way I wanted her upset. Damn it. We had promised to keep nothing from each other and I had no idea how to handle this.

"She's sleeping right now and I don't want to wake her. I'll see how she is when she wakes up and decide then whether to tell her right away or delay it longer. Just keep me the fuck informed if he stirs at all, will you?" I asked Carlisle.

"Yes, of course. We just thought you should know. Bella is bound to have asked why her dad hasn't been by to see the babies," he said.

"She mentioned it this afternoon, but she just dismissed it. She's been kind of busy trying to feed and change two of them," I chuckled in spite of myself.

"Oh! The babies! How are they doing?" Renee asked as though she had done something wrong in not checking on them recently.

"The little guys are doing just fine, Renee, and Bella is sleeping. No need to worry about us, just take care of yourself. I'm sure my dad will do everything he can for Charlie," I assured her, giving her a hug. "If you need anything, anything at all, just let me know, okay?" I quietly offered.

I walked back to Bella's room and entered, making sure I was quiet. My wife and babies were still asleep, just as I had left them. I crawled into bed beside my wife, feeling her unconsciously snuggle into me as I wrapped my arms around her. Why the hell did life keep throwing us curved balls? How the fuck hard would it really be for us to just get a fucking break and be left the hell alone for a little while. I had just gotten her back after years of separation and now we had a family together to tend to. I just wanted to be left the fuck alone with my family, with no one hurt and no damned drama!

~oooOooo~

BPOV

I looked around the room, admitting even to myself that it was absolutely perfect.

"Now all we need is for you to share those babies with the rest of us," Esme chided, placing her hand softly on my huge belly.

Of course, it was at that moment that one of the twins decided to kick . . . hard. We both broke out laughing as I grabbed my belly.

"I think the babies agree with you, Esme. Edward was so nervous this morning, it was almost impossible to shoo him out the door," I laughed.

"Well, the call I got from him was probably from the driveway, dear."

"He didn't!" I interrupted, shaking my head at the lengths my husband was willing to go to to make sure I was alright.

"He was anxious to know that you weren't going to be alone for long."

That was just like Edward. "Good thing everything is ready! Your son is so funny, Esme, I have to actually hold on to things I take out to look at or to put an outfit together. If I so much as lay a shirt on the bed, it disappears while I 'm in the closet looking for pants to match it!"

"Well, he's just so happy to have you, Bella," she said . . . a sad look covering her face, "I worried that we might actually loose him. He was so empty, just a shell really. You know we had to be desperate to see him interact at all for us to be happy when that Jessica came over with him, honestly."

My new mother in law stood and quietly surveyed the room with me.

She laughed, "I'm so glad you found each other. How are you doing with these babies? Are you going to hog these babies much longer or are you about ready to let the rest of us see and hold them?"

"Um, to tell you the truth, I was trying my best to coax them out this morning by . . . getting Edward to help me, if you know what I mean . . ."

"I'm sure Edward is more than willing to help with that all the time, is he not?" she said smirking at me.

"That he is."

We both broke down in laughter sitting on my bed chatting. She had brought over the linens we had ordered for the boys room and when we had finished hanging the curtains and making the cribs, I started to cry.

"Esme, it is just perfect. Thank you for helping me design this, it is just what I envisioned!"

"It is really perfect, isn't it?" she concluded. "Do we have another bear, dear?" Esme asked, walking over to the dresser to look at the little blue bear that was next to the lamp.

"No, just the one," I answered, knowing the blush that covered my face would give me away.

"Bella?"

I cleared my throat, reaching for the bear in her hand and hugging it to me. It still smelled of Edward.

"We can get the boys bears . . . but this one is actually mine. Edward gave it to me," I told her, adjusting the ribbons around the bears neck.

Esme saw right through me, "There is a story here. Come on, let's sit down and you can tell me just what is so special about that little bear."

I hesitated, fingering the ribbons and staring at the little bear in my lap.

"Apparently Edward had bought this bear to bring home to me in New York . . . the night I had left. Turns out, he tied my wedding rings to the ribbons around the bears neck and kept it on my side of the bed till last Christmas, when he found out where I lived and snuck in to put it under the tree along with a note," I started to tear up.

Wiping my face with the back of my hand as Esme's arm went around my shoulders, I told her about the note and explained more fully that either Edward or I had ever elaborated about the confusion that had occurred and how we had both left notes for the other that had not been read in time.

"Anyway," I paused to grab a tissue, "this bear is mine. Seems your son is such a softy he actually slept with the bear for all those years."

Esme smiled softly.

"He admitted it when I asked him why the bear smelled just like him," I explained.

"Well, I'm thrilled that you found each other. The way he looks at you, it's so obvious just how much he loves you, and you him."

"I do love him so much, he's everything to me. Even when we were apart, the only way I coped was to immerse myself in a fairytale world that I created with Edward and i together . . . that's how the book came about to begin with. It was just a way for me to survive, really. I missed him so much, I had no idea he was just as lost as I was!"

I looked at the time, realizing I was supposed to meet Edward at the hospital for lunch and realizing that my stomach was growling from having skipped breakfast. Esme offered to drive me into town, but then I would have to take Edward's car to get home and it was just silly. I could drive myself.

Reluctantly, Esme agreed and we both headed off, though i was pretty sure she was on the phone to Edward as soon as she was out of my sight. My husband thought he was so sly, but it could not have been more obvious that he was worried about me and the babies since he saw blood this morning. He had made sure I wasn't left alone for long and seemed to be keeping in touch at every turn. It was no surprise to me that he was actually waiting in the front lobby of the hospital when I walked in.

"We are pathetic, you know that, right? You are just as needy as I am right now and I love it."

"Am not," he shot back like a petulant 5 year old.

"Are too," I insisted, loving the tit for tat exchanges we always seemed to have.

"I want dessert first," I sheepishly told him, not wanting to bother with the pretense of going to a restaurant and having a meal.

He made some snide comment about me always wanting dessert, more innuendo really, then suggested we go to the ice cream parlor and skip going to a restaurant all together.

Bingo.

"Yes! I knew I loved you for a reason, husband," I said as I kissed him right there, not caring who was looking, "You buy me ice cream and don't make me eat my veges first!"

I was having a great time, Edward always seemed to hog the pineapple topping and we were in the middle of a spoon fight over the last piece when my stomach tightened uncomfortably. It had been doing that all morning, but I just assumed it was because I skipped breakfast. This one though . . . well, it was different. I had my hand on my belly, holding it from all the laughter that had been going on during our fight over the banana split and I noticed that my belly got rock hard.

Edward noticed, of course.

"This explains why you wanted dessert first. I thought this might happen today, after the morning we had," he laughed, his arm tightening around me.

"Is that why you called to make sure I was coming to have lunch with you, you were checking up on me?" I questioned.

"Bella, I am always checking on you and yes, I wanted you to be examined today and I didn't want you to worry about it beforehand. I love you, all three of you."

I had to laugh at him. he was just so damned cute when he went all overprotective like this. He put one hand on each side of my belly, I thought to feel his sons, but the wide eyes stare he gave me let me know that he was teasing me about how big and wide I had gotten.

"Edward Cullen! It is your fault I'm as big as the side of a house so don't you dare stand there and stare!" I fussed.

I accepted his help to lower me into the seat of the car, anyway. The devilish look on his face told me that the teasing wasn't over, and I was right.

"Love, I think the ice cream parlor has had something to do with it," he chuckled.

If I could have reached him I would have given him a swat, but as it was I had to settle for doing my best to look mad. He rounded the car in no time and was driving toward the hospital, on the phone telling them to expect us and that he would not be back on the floor today.

Even from the passenger seat i could hear Angela's voice as she yelled "They're having the babies!"

Edward pulled into the front entryway of the hospital and tried to drop me off at the door, but i wasn;t having it. His assigned parking space was close enough and i didn;t want to leave him even for a minute. As brave as I was trying to be, I wasn't about to let him out of my sight.

Dr. Riley came in and checked me after we were settled into a room, a courtesy I was sure was due to Edward's position on staff and the fact that he was a pediatric doctor. Patients were usually checked to make sure they were really in labor before they were wet up in a room in labor and delivery.

We were indeed having the boys today, and we both got on the phone and called everyone. Everyone. We even left a message for my dad, since he hadn't answered.

It wasn't long before Carlisle joined us. He was bubbling over, obviously excited for us and excited at the idea of being a grandfather. You honestly would have never know he was a doctor himself and in charge of the hospital to see the almost giggly way he was acting over the babies coming. Esme and Alice were there moments later, holding my hands and asking if I needed anything . . . anything at all. I finally sent Alice to get me some crushed ice just to give her something to do to use all that energy she had.

Mom walked in, worried but excited as she eyed Edward almost glued to my side, his arm around me still and my hand in his as he sat on the bed beside me. She was still unaccustomed to seeing me being so close to anyone, I had always been so reserved as a kid and even as a teenager. Somehow she had gotten it into her head that she was going to be the one to stay with me for the actual birth of our sons, and I was worried that she would put up a fuss when Edward asked her to leave.

I refused pain medication, knowing it was better for the twins to deliver them naturally and hoping that with Edward's encouragement, I could last through it. He must have noticed that the contractions were coming faster and harder now, or maybe it was the blood loss to his arm from my death grip that gave it away. In any case, he announced that when they stepped out for the doctor to check me, he would appreciate it if all of our family and friends would wait in the waiting room. He told them that we wanted to be alone to welcome our sons, that it needed to be private between us. The love in his eyes was unmistakable.

They all understood . . . except my mom. She pouted instantly, and Esme had to actually take her by the arm and pull her out of the room. If looks could kill, Edward would have been a dead man from the glare she was throwing his way.

"You know I love all of you," I all but panted, "please don't be offended and please don't leave! I want you to meet our sons."

I had enough restraint to wait for the door to shut as my mom left before I grasped onto my husband with a renewed death grip, struggling to breath through the hard contraction that was wracking my body. I knew it would be hard for Edward to see me in pain, but he knew better than most just what I was about to go through . . . and he knew that by not using drugs of any kind, I was giving my boys their best chance at a healthy birth.

He held me with his other arm (the one I wasn't puncturing with my nails) and whispered his love for me. He told me how well I was doing, how beautiful I was, and how happy I made him. He wiped my forehead with cool rags, massaged my lower back and wrapped his arm around my belly to help with the contraction. He told me how glad he was that I came back to him, how much he missed me whenever I was out of the room with him, and how happy he was that we were having children together.

"You are 9 centimeters and fully effaced, are you ready to push?" asked Dr. Riley.

I tried to answer, but the contractions were inter fearing with my ability to speak as well as the blood flow to Edward's hands as he encouraged me to push. I felt as though I was trying to "shit a brick". Literally. It was worse than any food poisoning or gas or menstrual cramps had ever been in the history of time, and just when I thought I would give in and ask for drugs . . . just when I could no longer talk myself into being somewhat calm and determined, the baby's head apparently entered the part of the birth canal where the intense pressure on the nerve is so great that it effectively cuts off all feeling.

Thank God.

I released my vice grip when I heard the doctor ask if Edward wanted to be the first to hold the baby. He moved to the end of the table, apparently morphing into partial doctor mode as he delivered our son, wrapped him in a blanket and placed him in my arm. I felt his gentle kiss on my forehead before he moved back to the end of the bed to deliver our other son who apparently wasn't as quick to want to get out as the first one had been.

The nurse took a photo of us, one baby in the crook of each of my arms and my husband's arm around me. It seemed like I only got to hold them for an instant, a glimpse of them really, before the nurses whisked them away. I tried to sit up, alarmed that something was wrong . . . they had taken my babies!

"Shhhh, Bella. It's fine, the babies are fine, wife," Edward assured me, his arms encompassing my shoulders and pulling me back against him as he sat on the bed beside me. "Our sons are fine, I promise," he said, getting my attention so that I would look at his face, "Doctor - remember?"

He had the cockiest expression on his face but he couldn't hold it and a smile covered his features as he chuckled at me.

"They're cleaning them up, wife. We need to be able to see if there is even one thing about them that gives away the fact that they're brothers. From what I can see, they look nothing alike!"

"You were amazing, sweetheart. Thank you for our beautiful sons. I love you," he whispered as he nuzzled his face against my neck.

"I love you, too, husband," i told him.

Edward was the sweetest most loving man on the planet, and it made the guilt I felt over Jaymee-Rose feel even more of a weight. I had wanted her, though James had fathered her . . . she seemed as though she was Edward's and mine and she had been taken away from us. I just really wanted to give her a chance to be born and the thought made tears come to my eyes, though I was overwhelmingly happy with the births of our sons. My husband knew. Whether it was his need or he sensed it in me I heard his words just s I needed them.

"Bella, I would still like to have Jaymee-Rose someday, if that's alright with you," he said softly, kissing my cheek as he stared into my eyes.

"I would too. I love our sons, but there is still a place in my heart for our lost daughter. I'm so glad you feel that way, too!"

I had no sooner gotten the words out and Edward had kissed me softly than the nurse handed me one of our son, the other right behind him in another nurses arms. They each had a little blue hat on and had been bathed and cleaned up enough to see that James had Edwards unruly copper colored hair and square jaw, for a baby, and Charle's face was more like mine, tear shaped with a head full of dark curls. Edward was right, they looked nothing alike.

"I would have sworn these two weren't related, Bella, except I saw them both born from you. They look like we each cloned a child," he laughed, kissing each baby on the forehead.

"They really don't look at all alike, do they! Not even the shape of their eyes or nose, Edward!"

"Yes, but they both have the same long fingers and toes, sweetheart, just like Esme used to tell me I had as a child."

I heard a knock at the door, demanding our attention. When I looked up, I was surprised to see that the doctor and nurses had left the room, leaving me alone with my family. Carlisle's head peaked in the door, obviously responsible for the knock.

"Okay to see my grandsons now, son?" he asked with a smile.

"Sorry, sure, come on in Dad and bring all those other people I see peeking around from behind you!" Edward told him.

Our entire family surrounded us admiring my sons. There were congratulations and pats on the back, ans Carlisle put his arm around Edward, telling him, "Well done, son."

My dad hadn't arrived yet. Apparently he had gone to follow a lead up in Seattle and hadn't gotten back but there was so much excitement and commotion that I had o nly thought to ask Edward about it once and had let it go.

Several wrapped gifts were brought in and handed to us, the first being from Alice. It figured. I had specifically told her NO on the designer clothes, but when i opened the box, "Alice, designer clothing for infants! Come on!"

She was ready with her defense, knowing I would fuss.

"Bella, I had these outfits designed just for these babies, one of a kinds! It's what I do, you know that!" Everyone chuckled at the exchange, as if anyone could win against Alice!

She had also gotten Edward and me a gift card to I tunes and the note read -

Something for you to listen to, since moaning won't be an option for awhile!

"Alice!" Edward's mom had almost yelled, admonishing the little pixie for being so blatant. She defended herself by declaring, "You know they can't keep their hands off each other, they need something to do for the next 6 weeks!"

It seemed as though that comment had everyone turned to stare at Edward. His face was that of a man being burned at the stake - honestly. He had apparently not considered that once I had the babies his body would have to stay out of mine for awhile. Though he was a doctor, well aware of all the conditions and precautions necessary after a babies birth, he had obviously not considered what that meant to him . . . to us . . . to our routine.

"Eddie, you okay?" Emmett asked, "You look like a guy whose brand new Italian sports car just got crushed by a train!"

"No, no, I'm fine. I just hadn't thought about. . . I mean I had forgotten about . . . I hadn't considered that . . ."

The room broke out in laughter, I took his hand in mine and told him, "Don't worry, husband, you promised I could kiss anything I wanted any time I wanted!"

I don't believe I have ever seen that shade of red on a human before . . . on either his mom or dad but I just couldn't help it. Though they all laughed, he stared at my eyes and was immediately comforted . . . knowing I meant exactly what he thought I meant.

My girly bits were starting to remind me that I had just had two babies, the ice packs no longer really curtailing all the soreness. When the nurses came to move us to a room, Edward noticed the wince when I moved to the wheelchair, and I saw him nod to the nurse. I could only wonder what that meant in terms of the arguing i was going to have to do to keep them from giving me something for pain.

The boys rode in my arms, though hospital regulations clearly insisted they be transported in each individual rolling bassinet. Edward had handed them to me after I was seated, and the nurses apparently dared not question him, choosing to push the empty baskets along after us down the hallway and up the elevator to our new room.

Edward had apparently explained to the family that the boys were fine, but that since they were a few weeks premature, he didn't want them around people for a couple of days - other than our moms and dads, of course. Alice and Emmett would sneak in, of that I had no doubt. especially Alice,

I couldn't believe how good the boys were, not even venturing to cry!

"Mrs. Cullen," the nurse entering the room addressed me, "Hi, I'm Gail, the lactation consultant. I understand that you're going to breastfeed and I'm here to help you get comfortable with that."

"Well, I think I know most of the ins and outs, Gail. My husband can help me with any problems that may come up," I said, squeezing Edwards hand as he sat in bed beside me and assuming any nurse that worked here knew who Edward was.

"Yes, well, husbands can be supportive and of course we encourage that, but I think I would like to just show you how to make sure they latch on correctly," she said, pulling the covers down slightly and reaching for the tie in front of my robe. "If you could excuse us for a moment, Mr. Cullen," she said dismissively, I think actually expecting him to leave the room.

Edward must have immediately sensed my tension, as he grabbed her wrist, effectively stopping her from reaching for my gown.

"Thank you Gail, but your help won't be necessary. We have this," he insisted.

"Mr. Cullen, your wife just had twins and while I'm sure you only mean to help, it's important that she be given proper instruction in their care and how to effectively nurse them. Two children breastfeeding at the same time can be quite a strain, especially if it's done incorrectly and her nipples become happened and cracked," she explained as though we knew nothing about what was to come.

"Gail, is it? Gail. You need to back the fuck off," my husband told her, moving to stand and slightly block her access to me, "You're upsetting my wife and I assure you, she has all the input on how to nurse and what care the boys need."

"Perhaps you need to let your wife speak for herself and no be so overbearing, Mr . . ."

I had no chance to get at her myself before we simultaneously heard a knock and the door burst open, Carlisle having come to make sure all was well with the new room and his grandsons.

"Edward, Bella! Are you and the boys all settled in?" he asked, nodding hello to Gail as he entered.

She stood with her clipboard now firmly held to her chest with both arms, decidedly convinced that my husband was an overbearing oaf that knew nothing and was probably completely controlling.

"Doctor. It seems that Mr. Cullen here is refusing to let me show his wife lactation techniques," she complained, "and not in such a polite way."

Carlisle ducked his head and couldn't seem to suppress a chuckle, knowing his son well.

"Gail, Dr. Cullen here is my son. I know you're new and haven't had a chance to meet everyone yet, but I would like to introduce you to our resident neo natologist and the only pediatric surgeon on staff here at the hospital."

"Edward, this is Gail Cummings, our new lactation specialist," Carlisle continued.

"Doctor Edward Cullen?" she stammered, "the head of the Nicu?" she asked as though she was about to be fired.

"Yes, Gail. I'm glad to meet you," Edward said, offering her his hand. "I appreciate your insistence in showing new mothers and even your determination to push past bullish husbands," he laughed, "but in this instance you see, we really don't need your assistance."

I pushed on Edward's hip, getting him to move aside slightly so that I had a clear view of the poor nurse. She was, after all, only trying to help and I had to admire anyone that was willing to stand up to my husband . . . he could be quite intimidating.

"Forgive my husband, Gail. He has always had somewhat of a potty mouth that none of us can contain but he's harmless. Right now he is just in overprotective husband mode."

"Sorry I snapped at you. I may be a doctor and all those other things, but right now I'm just a new dad."

"Well, I'll leave you to it then. Bella," she said staring at me, "I'll still leave this information on the table. If you have any questions, perhaps some that another woman can answer for you, please feel free to call. Good luck with the boys."

"Well, I see we may need to talk with her about her bedside manor. I hope she didn't upset you," Carlisle soothed.

Edward looked to me, then answered his dad, "No. She was actually fucking determined to help Bella, regardless of how obnoxious and overbearing her husband was. I think her next move would have been to have me removed from the room so she could talk to Bella privately!" Edward laughed.

Carlisle laughed, reaching down to silence his pager. "Gotta go - emergency," he explained as he hastily exited the room.

"Huh. Is he always like that when he's paged?" I asked.

"Only when it's critical," Edward explained as he handed me our now fussy son so that we could figure out this nursing business.

The babies and I slept for the remainder of the evening, the nurses waking me regularly to press on my belly and otherwise torture me. Edward insisted on escorting me to the bathroom my first time, and the nurses apparently knew better than to argue with him. . . so did I. He was in full doctor mode in spite of the fact that they were his babies and I was his wife.

"Edward, I can't pee in front of you!" I fussed as soon as we were in the bathroom together and the door was closed, affording us some privacy from the nurse.

"Wife, I have had my face inches from all parts of you down there and anything that would fit inserted," he purred in my ear as he stood holding me.

Somehow I had never been so embarrassed in my life, and I was sure that the heat rising from my face was from the blood rushing to the surface as I closed my eyes in embarrassment. My husband was having no part of that, though, as he helped me out of all the padding and undergarments and sat me on the toilet.

The babies nursed every few hours and we dozed in between, knowing that when we went home and my milk came in, I would have precious little time to rest.

Morning came without incident, just an extension of the every two or three hour wake up calls we were getting from our sons. Edward and I spent the day without interruption from friends or family, just the nursing staff coming in to check on us or to bring us food and Carlisle occasionally looking in on us. The cafeteria sent Edward meals along with mine, so there was no need for us to ever be apart. We slept in the small bed together - what sleep we got, and my husband teased me about my jelly belly and how soft he thought it would be for a pillow for him now, since my boobs were entirely too large to use for that anymore. He threatened to try and have his way with me, only getting as far as to palm a breast and share some heated kisses before we were interrupted by one of the twins.

As the day wore on, something seemed to be troubling Edward. Occasionally I saw his brow furrowed or a distant look on his face, and I wondered what could be wrong, finally deciding to just ask him.

"Husband, we have an agreement to tell each other everything. Is there something you need to talk to me about?" I asked as I ran my fingers through his hair, sitting on the side of the bed.

The way his eyes ducked down and he refused to look at me, I knew there was something he was keeping from me.

"Edward . . ."

"EDWARD!"

"Bella, your dad was brought in last night with a concussion. They found him beside his patrol car up in Port Angeles and brought him here to the ICU. He hasn't regained consciousness since he was brought in."

"That was some of why Carlisle was here today, wasn't it? To keep you informed."

"Yes."

"Take me to see him," I demanded quietly.

He immediately reached for the nurses button and requested that the nursery come and pick up the boys for us for a little while. Edward disappeared out the hall door without a word, quickly returning with a wheel chair and holding my robe for me to step into. He didn't even try to argue with me.

Mom was there in the waiting room and Esme was with her. They stood and came over to us as we rounded the corner of the waiting room in ICU.

"Mom, you okay?" I asked.

"I'm fine, dear. You don't need to be here. Edward, why on earth did you tell her?" my mother chided.

"Renee, delaying telling my wife something for even a few hours is torture. I never keep things from her, and I only delayed telling her because she had just had the boys," he replied, "We just don't keep things from each other."

Esme smiled knowingly, and so did I, but right now i was far more interested in my dad and how he was doing. Edward hadn't held anything back. There had been no change, and no one had any idea just what had happened other than the fact that my dad had a hard hit to the back of his head, whether he fell or was hit . . . no one knew.

The nurses held the door as Edward rolled me in to see him, his face was pale grey and he just looked asleep. There was only a tube or two in his arm, nothing more than everyone else in the hospital seemed to routinely get. The blood vampires around here had to have easy access to body fluids for tests, it seemed. I held his hand and talked to him for awhile, a soft hand on my shoulder the entire time comforting me till I was ready to go back to our room.

Dad's deputy was supposedly up in Port Angeles trying to figure out what exactly happened, and who dad had been seeing yesterday.

"It's okay, Edward," I told him, his eyes pleading, expecting me to have a fit of some kind with him for not telling me.

Silly overprotective doting man.

"I understand you're not telling me right after we had twins . . . waiting. It isn't like I asked about him at all, if I had I'm sure you would have told me. I would probably protect you from bad news just the same if our roles were reversed."

"Bella. I've been struggling with this since last night. I wanted you to just get a little rest and recovery time before I told you so please please don't be upset with me, baby. I love you more than anything and I just didn't know what to do," he said, obviously deeply troubled over having not told me right away.

"Sweetheart, you know how badly things go wrong when we don't talk to each other. I love you. I promised, just like you did. I will always believe you and I will never leave you," I whispered, my lips against his, willing him to not be upset.

"I'm stronger than you think I am, husband."

~oooOooo~