I don't own these characters. They are the sole property of Stephenie Meyer. I only borrow them. No humans are permanently harmed through my actions, though I do confess to harassing, annoying, torturing, and exasperating them – just because it's fun. I make no money from my little stories, sad day. I only play in the sandbox, I didn't build it.

Author's Note: Okay, we're all suffering from blue balls. I get it, LOL! Unfortunately, Bella and Edward are now facing the very mundane but cock blocking problem of privacy. As a parent, it's hard to find time alone. Their situation is compounded by the fact that Bella probably isn't ready to have Edward spend the night. And I have a feeling they're going to want the whole night when they finally, FINALLY go all the way. And you know, with Bella being a screamer and all… So, they're going to have to find a way to do that. Hmm… I think that maybe Edward's dick will be giving this matter his undivided attention to come up with a solution.

Chapter 37: My Ninja Temptress

I really didn't want to leave Bella's house. Actually, I just didn't want to leave Bella. Every time we had to be apart it got more and more difficult. And I knew with school starting the training cycles gearing up, it was only going to get worse. So we only had a few weeks left before our schedules suddenly got crammed with shit. And some of those precious days were now being taken up by my family. Normally, I would have been okay with that. It was great to see my parents, even though it hadn't been that long. I expected that the next time we saw them would be Thanksgiving, unless Bella had different plans. Note to self: Beg Bella to spend Thanksgiving with me.

I loved my family. Really. I did. But enough was enough. I left Bella and the boys reluctantly – very reluctantly. I headed toward my house, which somehow didn't seem much like a home anymore. I had stayed so long at Bella's house that everyone was asleep when I got there. Well, except my dad. He was sitting on the back porch by the pool and I might not have even seen except for the glint of the moonlight on the bottle of beer he was holding.

He looked up when I stepped outside and gave me a smile. "Hey there, Edward." He sounded mellow and relaxed, as he always did after just a few beers. He couldn't handle much alcohol, no matter what form it came in. My mother could drink him under the table every time. "I thought you got lost," he teased.

"No, I was just hanging out with Bella and the boys." I couldn't help but smile when I talked about them. It was like a reflex now. Bella and boys equaled smiling.

I sat down beside him and sighed, looking up at the night sky. My dad was silent for a long moment, but I sensed him studying me. "You love her, don't you son?"

"Yes," I answered simply. This was my father; I never could lie to him. He'd seen it on my face every single time I had tried.

Dad smiled. "It's a scary thing to meet that one woman who totally undoes you, and yet she completes you and makes you whole at the same time." He laughed softly. "It's an interesting dichotomy." Dad sighed. "A conundrum, if you will."

When Dad got tipsy he tended to use big words. It was kind of endearing.

"That about sums it up," I agreed dryly.

"She's an amazing woman, your Bella."

Something warm bloomed inside of me at hearing my father refer to her as my Bella. Not a sense of possession, but something much more intimate and real. We belonged to each other. Simple. Easy. Life-altering.

"Yeah, she is," I had to agree. "I'm going to marry her one day." The words were out there and I couldn't take them back. I found I didn't want to. It was Kyle's fault; he ws the one who had started spouting that "M" word in the first place. "But we're not there yet," I felt forced to add.

"Yes, I had guessed that already, on both counts actually," Dad replied. "Can't say that I'm displeased and if you take a while to get there that will only make your relationship stronger. You'll get there, of that I have no doubt. You'll be good for Bella and those boys. But they'll be good for you too, you know."

"They already are," I told him, smiling up at the sky. It was a beautiful night, full of promise. We fell into a comfortable silence once again. "Dad? Can I ask you something?"

"You know you can."

"Well, do you think it's weird that I uh… Well, that I'm not jealous of Mac or anything?" I turned to look at him and my dad just had this funny expression on his face. This had been bothering me lately. I had wondered why I wasn't more…territorial or something.

"Do you think you should be?" he asked softly.

I thought about that. "Well yeah, sometimes I get the feeling that talking about Mac should make me uncomfortable, you know?" I sighed. "But it doesn't, and I just wondered if that was weird."

"No, Edward, it isn't weird," my father replied with a touch of laughter. "Mac was a huge part of Bella's life…of the boys' lives, right?"

"Well yeah," I answered. Perhaps my father was drunker than I had imagined.

"Then don't you think it's only natural that you accept his role in their lives? How miserable would you all be if you got upset and tense every time they mentioned Mac's name? You'd all be wretched and you know it." He shook his head. "No, if you're really going to be a part of their lives then you have to accept that Mac is too. And I'm glad to know that you have."

"I guess…I just expected that it would feel different," I finally said. "That I'd worry more about…I don't know…how she felt about him." I paused. "But it almost feels like, well this is going to sound silly, but just humor me." I took a deep breath. "Well it almost feels like it was somehow meant to be. Almost like Mac knew he wouldn't be there to see this part of their lives and somehow trusts me to watch out for them." I glanced at my dad. "That's completely weird, isn't it?"

"Do you remember when you were in college and you pestered me and pestered me until I read Dune?" I was confused at the change in topic, but I just went with it. I nodded.

"Well I remember this line in there. It was something about if the gods decreed that a man should die on a certain day, then fate would direct his footsteps to that place where he died."

I thought about that. "So…Mac's death was his fate?"

"I don't know, Edward," Dad replied. "That is for better minds than mine to ponder. But I do know that, from all I've heard about Mac from those boys and from you and from Bella, that he would be relieved to know that Bella and his sons are being loved and cared for – he'd be very happy to know that." Dad smiled at me. "Because if he couldn't be there for them, then he'd want to know that someone will be there, that someone will love them. And that someone is you, Edward."

"So you're saying Mac and I are like a team?" I laughed.

Dad shrugged. "Think of it how you will," he answered. "Maybe you were both destined to love Bella, and she was destined to love both of you in return."

I liked the thought of that. "Yeah, that makes sense."

"Or maybe I'm just a little drunk and throwing out ideas that may or may not make sense in the morning."

"Thanks, Dad," I said. We were silent again.

After a while, I looked over at him. "I don't know if Masen told you, but I'm not re-enlisting when my time's up."

Dad considered that for a moment. "No, Masen didn't say anything but I think it's a good choice," he finally said. "If you're going to make your life with Bella, then staying in the Army probably isn't the best choice."

"I couldn't do that to her and the boys," I said softly.

"Well, your mother will be pleased," Dad observed.

That kind of surprised me. "Really?" I hadn't realized that my service was something that bothered her. She had never said anything about it. "She doesn't like me being in the Army?" Even when I had first joined, the only thing my mom had asked me was if I was sure. When I answered yes, I never heard another word about the subject. She had been in my corner completely from that day on.

Dad smiled and shrugged. "It's not that she doesn't like you serving. She just worries, son. That's what mothers do." He looked at me. "She's not the only one who worries, though."

"But I-"

Dad must have seen my confusion. "Do you think that spouses and children are the only ones who worry about that knock on the door? Every time you're over there, your mom and I are basket cases. Every time a delivery guy knocks on the door your mother turns pale and grabs my hand." He smiled. "And it will be nice not to have to worry about that again."

I was shocked. I honestly hadn't thought about how worried they must be when I was deployed. But how would I feel if Jake was over there? Or Sam or Kyle? Any one of the boys being over there would make me crazy with worry. How could I have been so stupid not to realize? I had always been sort of arrogantly proud that I wasn't leaving anyone to mourn me really if something happened. But I was wrong, of course. Wrong, wrong, wrong. I decided then that I would encourage my nephews and Bella's boys to be accountants or teachers or dog groomers – something that wasn't dangerous.

"Dad I never realized," I said. "I'm sorry." I grimaced. "I mean, I knew you'd be worried, but not really upset."

"It's part of being a parent, Edward," Dad said. "You don't stop worrying just because your kids are older. It doesn't work that way."

"Yeah, I guess you're right," I agreed.

"But that's over now," Dad said. "So all's well that ends well, yes?"

"Yeah."

"So…eight months left?"

I grinned. "Yeah, it's almost August, and my date comes up in April." I felt lighter. Eight months? That was nothing. I'd be out of the Army before the school year ended. Wow. I'd be out of the Army before the school year ended. That put it all in perspective.

My dad sighed and got to his feet, taking his empty beer bottle with him. "I'm going to bed, son." He smiled down at me. "Sweet dreams." It was what he had told me every night he was home when I went to bed.

"You too, Dad," I replied.

He stopped at the door. "Oh Edward?"

"Yeah?"

"Just so you know, you really didn't look surprised enough when Masen said they were moving," Dad said in an amused voice.

"Aw, shit, Dad, you didn't mention anything to Mom did you?"

"No."

I breathed a sigh of relief. "Good, because I got a really sweet deal out of Masen for keeping my mouth shut."

Dad chuckled, shaking his head. "Don't worry, son, your secret is safe with me."

~TBTA~

The next day Masen and Alyssa decided that they would try to go house hunting. Apparently, Bella had scouted out some possibilities for them and emailed them to Alyssa, who printed them up on my computer. Bella had emailed just five and I wondered if that was enough. But Alyssa was looking through them when I said something along those lines and she just looked at me and shook her head. "Bella's picks are…perfect," Alyssa breathed. "I'd be happy to call any one of them home."

Masen's company was going to help him sell their current house, and with the real estate market being so bad that took a load off their minds. It also meant that they could afford pretty much any house they wanted because prices were going lower any day. When I questioned Alyssa about what they wanted, she just shrugged. "Something good for the kids. We don't care about fancy."

Truthfully, Masen made about eight times what I did. We both knew that, but neither one of us cared. We both were doing something we loved. Masen and Alyssa had never lived beyond their means, finding contentment in raising their sons and being together. The thought of seeing Alex and Kyle on a very regular basis was really starting to grow on me. I finally felt like I might understand them better. I was even willing to endure Masen, because he came as part and parcel with the boys.

God, I had turned into such a pussy.

I tried to be upset about that, but couldn't muster up the energy. Fuck it. I was a big pussy. So be it.

~TBTA~

Bella and Alyssa had gotten together and decided that Bella and I would watch all the boys – all six of them – at my house while Masen and Alyssa looked at houses. I was not consulted. I pouted for a bit until Masen reminded me that he and Alyssa had watched all six of them so I could get a little action. I shut up after that, because I definitely didn't want to mess up that little arrangement. Not stupid, remember?

Mom and Dad decided that they were going shopping. I supposed that six boys were best handled in small doses. And Mom had put in her time, having raised Masen and all. That couldn't have been a job for the faint of heart.

Bella kept the boys busy baking cookies, having brought all of the ingredients and equipment with her. When I asked why she wanted to bake cookies, she shrugged. "Well, if it involves something to eat they're more likely to just go along with it. And if I don't give them something specific to do, they'll just play video games all day."

"Okay," I replied. Now I knew. Maybe I should start taking notes and put all of my observations in a binder titled, "Things I Need to Know About Parenting" and carry it with me everywhere.

After making both chocolate chip and peanut butter cookies – and eating at least half of what they baked – the boys went to swim in the pool while I helped Bella clean up the kitchen. Honestly, it looked like a war zone in there. And I should know. I've seen war zones. It took us a while, mostly because we'd stop every few minutes and kiss.

Once, I sort of backed her up against the counter and she put her arms around my neck. I wasn't wearing a button shirt so I didn't have to worry about her mad ninja button skills. I had tucked in a tee-shirt since my dick was a little bit more under control since our night together. I still woke up hard as fuck, but honestly, having gotten off twice in one night had made my dick a happy camper. And I haven't done that since I was in my late twenties, so I was feeling pretty fucking proud of myself.

I kissed up and down Bella's throat. "God, baby…I want you so much," I had to whisper. And just like that, I woke my dick the fuck up. I'm a moron.

She felt it too and laughed, pressing up against me so I would know she felt it. Temptress. "I can see that you do," she teased.

I had to content myself with putting my hands on her ass and giving it a squeeze. Then I made myself move away.

I looked down. Somehow she had managed to get my tee-shirt untucked and my belt undone. Fucking ninja temptress.

~TBTA~

Masen and Alyssa surprised me by calling about two o'clock and letting me know they had found "the" house. They wanted to pick up the boys to take a look at it. They also invited Bella, her sons, and me along to check it out.

Thirty minutes later, I was standing in the driveway of a nice, two-story house. It was more modest than I had expected them to buy, something even I could afford. In fact, I knew I could afford it because it was in my neighborhood. I looked at Masen and frowned.

"Okay, before you get mad," Masen started. "Alyssa and I talked this over for a long time."

Alyssa nodded and I decided that I would hear him out before I said, "Hell no!"

"First, we like the school district here, and Kyle and Alex will go to the same schools with Bella's boys." Jake and Kyle cheered and gave each other high-fives. Bella smiled smugly and I figured it was one of the reasons she had included this particular house on their list. Sneaky, conniving little temptress… I glanced at her and arched one brow.

She ignored me.

"Second, it will make it easier when Mom and Dad visit," Masen continued. "They won't be driving all over town trying to see both families." Families, Masen had said. I felt myself getting more okay with it.

"Go on," I said, motioning for him to continue.

"And third, when we trade kid duties, this will make things so much more convenient," Masen finished in a triumphant rush. "In fact, Kyle can even walk to your house if Alex goes with him. I figure if Bella's boys are over there visiting then it will make it that much easier for them to go back and forth." Masen sent me an arch look and motioned with his hands. Back and forth, dummy, his expression seemed to say.

Back and forth. Back and forth. Ohhhh….

I grinned at him. "Sounds like the perfect house for you guys," I agreed immediately. "Let's go inside and look."

Masen snorted, knowing exactly where my dirty little mind had gone. I was determined to get an overnight visit with Bella and soon. I had a feeling that full-on sex wasn't going to happen as long as she had a "curfew." And I wanted her to myself for a full evening so that we wouldn't have to interrupt naked time.

Ahh…naked time. It beat out Miller time any day of the week.

Bella glanced at me and snorted, reading my naughty intentions without any effort at all. Hopefully it was because she had similar plans. She winked slowly at me and I sent up a little prayer of thanks for dirty-minded hell cats who screamed in bed.

Suddenly, I was wondering if I should ask her about condoms. I was clean. I always used a condom and I had been tested before I deployed. For once, I hadn't gotten laid as soon as I got back. Then just a few weeks after my return, a certain someone had busted my windshield and my dick had been pretty much useless except for Bella-inspired self abuse sessions.

I expected that Bella was clean too and I knew for a fact she was protected against pregnancy. I liked to be prepared though, and I had purchased condoms a few months ago. Just in case. Be prepared. Always. If I was going to be caught with my pants down – and oh I hoped I would – then I wanted to be ready.

The fact of the matter was though that I wanted nothing more than to slide into Bella bare. I wanted to feel her silky heat clamp around me, feel the play of the muscles as she milked me.

Great. I just had to go there while I was around other people.

Bella looked down, she had an uncanny instinct, my ninja temptress. Quietly, without a word or gesture, she moved to stand in front of me while Alyssa and Masen showed us around the house. I put my hands on her shoulders and leaned down to whisper in her ear while Alyssa showed us the kitchen.

"Thank you, baby," I said. Then I nipped at her earlobe. "But since it's all your fucking fault, it's only fair."

Bella gave a little moan that didn't help my situation at all. Seriously. The. Death. Of. Me.