Not much left *I think* we are on wind down (sad face)

Hope you enjoy this!

Chapter 36

Settling into a normal routine has been easy. Bella is working steadily from home each day and Edward has done two full weeks of work. He comes home really happy and feeling good. Bella feels good working from home, she has taken so much time off she feels like she needs to get her ass back in the game.

Sue has been such a blessing, she doesn't work and she has taken the liberty to entertain the children a few hours a day so that Bella can get right into editing.

Wednesday July 17th 2013

"Hi sweetheart" Edward walks into the home office. His father used to have this as his home office when he was a boy. Bella is glaring at her laptop screen.

"Hi" She murmurs.

Smiling he walks over to her and around the desk. "You can do better than that wife" He nuzzles her warm throat.

"Edward shh" She scolds moving her head away. "It is getting good"

He humpfs before walking and going to sit on the couch across the room.

Bella finally looks up and smiles. "My big baby" She looks at him.

"Go back to your book; I haven't seen you all day, its fine"

She covers her mouth with both hands and laughs lightly. "Come'ere" She urges, she grins when he hops off the couch and strides quickly back around the desk to her.

Edward takes her hands and pulls her up quickly. He pops her on top of the desk careful of her computer.

"Hi" She grins, her hands going to the back of his neck. She laughs when he 'shh's' her and attacks her neck with love bites and kisses.

"This is more like it" He whispers on her throat. He pushes into her roughly trying to alleviate some of the pressure building inside of him. They have both been so busy trying to settle the kids and themselves. Getting into work that they have had very little adult time. His commute to work is about 40-45 min each way so when he finally rolls in around 6 he is done. But he helps deal with the kids, dinner and dishes. He is ready to crash, as is Bella.

"Mom" Lucy pushes the door open and freezes.

"Mommy" Paget runs in right after.

"We are back Bell…" Sue stops. "A" She finishes.

Paget smiles at her parents staring back, well her mother is not looking but her father is all pink, like Pinkalious. "They are tickling again" She laughs.

"Let's go girls" Sue ushers her granddaughters out of the room.

Edward laughs pulling his wife upright.

"Oh god, the kids are gonna be in therapy the rest of their lives" Bella pushes him away as he laughs more. She scrubs her hands over her face and looks at him.

"Calm down" He laughs clutching his stomach.

"Why are you laughing" Bella shoves his chest. She finally laughs with him. "Oh my god" She whispers.

"You didn't see Paget's face" He brings her close.

"Oh no you don't" She pushes him or tries.

"Don't fight me sweetheart" He holds her tight. His nose nuzzles her. "I need you, I miss you"

"I'm sorry" She whispers, they have been just passing each other, meeting in bed to sleep at night only.

"Bella" He takes her face and kisses over her sweet lips. "Sweet Bella"

She smiles.

"We just need to slow down, the kids are settled, we are settled, and we can enjoy it all now"

"I know, I just"

"Shh, we should do a date night each Friday…you think?"

"Date night, are you gonna swing by the house and pick me up?" She laughs and he bites her lower lip in response. "More" She begs of the rough kisses.

Edward kisses her deeply sucking her lips, nipping them hard making them tender for his soothing kisses. "Date night then?" He whispers against her warm wet lips.

"Sounds amazing"

"I'll try to be home by 5:30 on Fridays and" He rubs her neck and down her arms. "We can get Seth to babysit"

Bella laughs. "My stepbrother is not gonna go for that"

"Well Charlie and Sue"

"They have them all day…most days to help me until school starts" She argues not wanting to depend on them too much.

"Okay, I'll ask around at work about a sitter, it will be regular pay" He offers.

"Sounds good" She smiles.

"Okay" He kisses her nose before taking her hand, his fingers link with hers and they head from the office to find the kids and face Sue.

Friday July 19th 2013

"Bella"

Bella turns; she and the kids have the afternoon free and are getting some dinner for tonight. Edward found a babysitter from a co-worker, 16 year old daughter, Lauren Mallory.

"Can we get this pizza mom?" Masen points through the freezer door.

Bella stares at Jacob as he makes his way towards her and the kids. "Go away" She whispers when he reaches them.

"Jakie!" Paget squeals.

"Hi beautiful" Jacob lifts her from the cart and gives her a kiss.

Bella glares. "Go away" She whispers.

"Bella" Jacob rests the little girl into the cart. He looks at Masen and gives him a high five and then at Lucy just staring at him. "Hey Lucy"

"Hi" Lucy answers before looking at Bella.

Bella smoothes her hands down Ava's hair.

"I heard you were back in town"

"We have nothing to say to each other"

"Bella it has almost been a year" Jacob says softly, firmly. "I'm sorry"

"I don't want to hear it, the things you said" She hisses. She has had to deal with so much and Jacob hasn't even been in her thoughts. But she is not ready to let him into her life. Not after calling half of her children unwanted.

"I'm sorry Bella"

"We are over Jacob" Bella whispers not wanting the children to hear. "This town is small but go the other way when you see us"

"Our families are friends"

"But we aren't" She mutters shaking her head and walking away with Ava and Paget in the cart. Lucy skips next to her.

Lauren is downstairs with the kids, Edward is not home yet and Bella sits in their bedroom crying softly on the bed.

"So sorry I'm late" Edward lets his eyes rest on his wife. "Bella" He says softly pushing the door shut and locking it. He greeted Lauren when he came home and the kids, so he knows they are all fine.

Bella wipes her face and looks at him. "I'm sorry you have a mess for a wife"

He smiles and comes to his knees between her legs. "What is going on sweetheart?" His hands rub her legs and up to her hips. He watches her shake her head. "Tell me"

She sniffs. "I ran into Jacob today" She watches his jaw tighten. "I know you hate him, I do too" She shrugs. They have been friends for so long and she hates that this is what they are now.

"Bella if you want to work things out with him I won't try to stop you"

"I don't I just" She bites her lip and shakes her head.

Edward cups the side of her face and presses kisses along the other side comforting her as best he can. "You can talk to me Bella"

"I know" She sighs and nuzzles her face against his and his palm.

"I know it has almost been a year sweetie" He tells her, he feels her freeze.

"I'm such a mess" That has been pushing on her lately as well.

Edward smiles and pushes up; he grabs her around her middle and rests her back sliding her up the bed before settling on top of her. "You are my mess if you insist on calling yourself that" He kisses her nose. "You are safe Bella, I know the memory lingers but know you are safe"

She wraps her arms around him and holds him tightly.

Edward watches her as they sit in a Port Angeles restaurant. "You look beautiful tonight" He smiles at her.

Bella puts her fork down as she chews. "Thank you, you don't look so bad yourself"

He laughs a bit. His eyes move to his plate and wine glass before back to her sitting across from him eating some pasta.

"This is nice" She comments looking around the quaint restaurant. It is so different from Settle, the size, the atmosphere, everything. 3hrs away makes a huge difference.

"I could get use to it"

"We have about 6 weeks before we run out of different places to eat" Bella laughs a bit.

"I know" He grins. There is one theater with two screens also. "Maybe we can do short trips into Seattle when you have to travel back for work each month"

"You can't take that time off, the kids" She argues.

"I would do the weekend part and travel back Sunday" He says.

Bella thinks. "That would be really nice" She smiles at him. "We could stay at the house if Carlisle and Esme don't rent it out"

"We could" He confirms staring at her.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" She questions him; he has been staring at her all night.

"Because I'm happy" He states, his eyes just on her. "You are beautiful, and I love you"

Bella laughs a bit and smiles. "I'm sure my eyes are still puffy as ever"

"They are perfect" He comments lightly, Edward reaches across the table and takes her hand lightly in his. "You are perfect"

"Thank you" She says with a smile.

"Did you have a nice time?" He walks next to her as they head up to the door of the house.

She feels his hand on her lower back and she nods before leaning into him. "The best" She whispers turning to kiss his mouth, her hand slides up the side of his neck. "The best" She whispers into his lips.

Edward smiles and holds her hips. "Hold that thought, let me get rid of the sitter"

Bella giggles before going into the house before him. She squeals when he pinches her ass. "Edward" She whispers harshly.

"Shh" He hushes her. "Or the kids will wake up" He smiles into her grinning mouth before kissing her.

Bella looks as he enters the bedroom. "Hey, Lauren got out okay?"

"Yup" He nods with a smile. "She is headed home" He answers.

Bella smiles. "Good"

The sparkle in her eyes excites him; it has been far too long for them.

Bella lies with her head on his chest and sighs.

His finger tips stroke up and down her arm as his arm is wrapped around her back keeping her close and warm. "That was wonderful"

"It was nice" She sighs again with a little yawn. She is looking forward to the weekend, just the kids and Edward, no work nothing just peace.

"I thought it was better than nice" He plays giving her upper arm a pinch.

Bella laughs and turns her head to bite his chest. "Amazing, wonderful, earth shattering" She throws out. "I saw stars"

"Let's not go overboard here too much, it will make me think you are lying and it was only nice"

"It is always nice, perfect with you Edward" She now kisses the bitten spot.

"It is nice with you too Bella"

"Is it always nice with me?" She wonders softly.

Edward grunts as he moves, having been very comfortable. He rolls and settles half on top of her. Edward stares down at her face. "Yes"

"Good" She leans her head up and kisses his mouth. "Thank you for tonight"

"You're welcome for tonight"

Saturday 20th July 2013

Bella rolls and moans softly. She turns to her back and looks up at the ceiling. The sun is up but she is not. A smile graces her face, and a sweet smell attacks her nose.

"She is UP!" Paget squeals and runs from the room.

Bella pushes up in bed not sure what just happened or that a child was in the room with her. She shoves her hair from her eyes and looks around.

"Stay right in bed" Edward orders being flanked by Masen holding a pitcher of juice and Lucy holding a tray of fruit. She smiles as Ava toddles in holding some napkins.

Bella straightens the covers and sits upright in bed. "What is all this?" She smiles as Ava climbs up with Paget holding forks.

"Breakfast in bed" Masen smiles.

"I was talking to Mas here about the importance of wooing his wife"

"I'm not getting married mom" Masen settles down after resting the pitcher on the night table.

"Okay" Bella smiles. Ava climbs into her lap and rests her head back on her chest still clutching the napkins.

"I was the look out, to see when you woke up" Paget says proudly.

Bella nods looking at her. "I heard"

Edward laughs.

"We all did" Lucy throws out.

"And breakfast in bed is wooing" Edward finishes.

"It is" She smiles when the large tray is put on the bed. All the kids climb in.

"We made it" Ava announces from her mother's chest.

"It looks wonderful" Bella looks at the platter of pancakes, bacon, fruit, some scrambled eggs, a few sausage links and toast. "I am starving" She grins.

Edward leans over and kisses her mouth lightly before settling with the kids in the bed.

The breakfast in bed is full of idle chatter from the kids and easy sweet glances between husband and wife.

"Thank you" She whispers as he clears the bed. The children have gone off with Ipads (Christmas gifts from the grandparents). She pushes from the bed and wraps her arms around her neck stopping him from doing what he was doing. "You are such a wonderful husband"

"I'm trying" He says.

"You don't have to try you just are" She tells him.

Edward smiles. "Let me clean this up and we can just chill with the kids today, take a short hike, and have some lunch?"

"I'll make a picnic for us" She grins nodding.

Lucy and the girls pick purple flowers in the meadow.

"God it was nice growing up here" She tells him. They used to come here when they were in high school. It is so private and really it is their meadow. Now their children can enjoy it.

"There are so many" Paget runs over with a handful of purple flowers.

"Don't pick them all" Edward warns with a laugh.

"I'll try not to" Paget tells him seriously before running off.

Bella laughs and lies on her back.

Masen is following the girls with a stick acting like Indian Jones, jumping on roots near the edge of the meadow and hitting trees lightly with the stick.

Edward watches his son and then looks to his oldest daughter making a purple crown for herself. Paget is there bugging her to make one too. Ava sits in the middle of the massive amounts of flowers and leans in to smell them. That baby is all Bella.

Bella sighs contently listening to her children play and laugh. Her belly full of fruit and deli meat sandwiches with chips. Giggling she looks as her husband looms over her. "Today has been wonderful" She reaches up to stroke his cheek.

His hand grips her waist lightly. "I can live here" It is official Forks it is for them.

"Yeah" She agrees.

"With weekend trips to Seattle with the kids"

"Holidays" She adds with a smile.

"Definitely" He smiles pressing a few light kisses to her lips. "I love you" He whispers into her mouth, she tastes of the ripe strawberries and lemonade she had.

Bella moans and strokes her fingers down the back of his head. "I love you"

Edward makes slow love to her mouth as he hears the children playing nearby in their meadow.

A bit of fluffy fluff!