I'm on a roll, LOL! Blame it on Fairyward being overactive in my mind the past 24 hours.

Hope you enjoy this one!

*TT&ABOFD~*

Every muscle in my body hurt, proving that I was way too fucking old for this shit.

After picking Emily up from school today, I had taken her to a place in Port Angeles called Jump Galaxy. I, myself, had never been there, but I'd heard Bella and Emmett mention it many times.

I knew Emily loved it, and that showed in her reaction when we pulled up.

Walking in had completely thrown me for a loop. I was as excited as a ten year old child, and as terrified as a brittle old man with a new hip replacement.

There were bounce houses scattered everywhere in a huge enclosed space—and it wasn't only for the children.

The employee made sure to tell me that parents were encouraged to join in on the fun, and even made a point to show me this tunnel-like thing that she claimed was an obstacle course on the inside.

What was uncomfortable for me was that I was the only fucking guy here. The rest were women, most of which looked at me like I was something to eat. And that's not a egotistical, over-exaggerated statement either.

So, in my khaki pants, white button-down dress shirt, and dress socks, I'd happily joined Emily on the jumps.

Sure, everything had started out fine with us having a blast, but then? Then she'd brought me over to the obstacle course.

I was fairly certain that after my fifth time through it, I'd not only pulled every fucking muscle in my legs, ass, and back, but I'd also broken one of my wings.

I then made the mistake of taking her for ice cream once we'd left.

Never again.

No one had warned me about giving a child sugar after depleting their energy.

My whole point was to wear her out so that I'd have time with Bella, should she happen to come home tonight.

But as usual, things didn't go as planned. Instead, I'd brought home a child whose energy was back tenfold.

*~TT&ABOFD~*

I'd taken four Advil in the past three hours and so far, it hadn't done shit for me.

While Emily played in the backyard on her swing set, I'd taken it upon myself to get a lasagna in the oven—what? I know how to cook—and to get the house cleaned up a bit. The house wasn't destroyed by any means, but Emily had gone a little crazy when we'd gotten back and she had toys scattered everywhere.

Bending over when everything on my body fucking hurt was hell. All I wanted to do was lay down and cry.

Once we'd eaten dinner, and I'd managed to give her a bath, I wanted nothing more than to just go the fuck to bed. But I couldn't.

Not only did I still need to read her a book and get her in bed, I also had yet to go on the clock. Realizing that, I glanced down at my watch to see that it was already after nine.

What the fuck?

Pulling my phone from my pocket, I dialed the old man.

"This is the one and only time this is happening, you little shit," he griped without so much as a hello.

"Only time what is happening? I haven't been put on the clock, dick head. Where's the uniform?"

"Are you seriously that oblivious? Jesus, you really did take after your mother with your damn head of yours. I'm giving you the fucking night off. As much as it sickens me to say it, I'm proud of you for what you've done for that bitch and her little gremlin. That and I've been in your position so I know how fucking hard it is. Just don't get used to this shit. You're back on tomorrow night."

With that, he hung up, leaving me completely fucking astounded.

He was proud of me? Was he fucking drunk? Had he overdosed on Viagra or some shit?

But then, what he'd said set in; I had the night off.

For the first time since having been condemned to this life, I had the fucking night off!

I did a fist pump and started to jump up in celebration, but every muscle seized and I fell to the floor crumpled.

Of all the nights to have off, it had to be one when I was in too much pain to fucking move.

"Uncle Eddie, will you read me a story? I'm sleepy," Sweet Pea murmured as I put my phone back in my pocket and walked over to the front door to lock up for the night.

"Sure thing. Why don't you go upstairs and pick one out. I'll be right up, okay?"

She nodded and turned to walk up the stairs as I headed into the kitchen, rinsing off our dirty dishes and placing them in the dishwasher before turning the lights out and following her up.

"Hello?" I heard the sweetest voice call out as Emily flew past me down the stairs, her blonde curls bouncing with her steps.

"Mommy!" she shrieked in laughter as she ran to Bella.

I felt excitement, relief, and disappointment: Excitement because she was back and I could hold her once again; relief because I would actually get to sleep in tomorrow morning; and disappointment because I hadn't gotten Emily to bed in time.

What surprised me was that when I finally made it to the foot of the stairs, I found only Bella standing there. Emmett and Rose were nowhere to be seen.

Bella stood looking radiant as she held Emily close to her, and smiled at me…wickedly.

I motioned to her that I was go upstairs to give her time with Emily, but she shook her head and beckoned me over.

Emily informed her of how I was about to read her a story and then headed back upstairs to resume looking for one after some encouragement from Bella.

As I slowly and stiffly walked over to her, she arched a brow and looked at me in confusion.

"Edward, its after nine; why aren't you in uniform?"

"The old man gave me the fucking night off, if you can believe that," I answered with a grin as she smiled and reached up, wrapping her arms around my neck.

"Was he sick?" she asked with a laugh, pressing herself against me.

"I've been asking myself that question since he fucking called," I told her wryly, putting my hands on her waist tentatively, praying that I didn't pop a fucking boner because there would be no way for me to explain it to Sweet Pea when I go to read her book.

"What's wrong with you?" she mused with narrowed eyes. "You're holding back. Why?"

"I don't wanna…you know," I told her, gesturing to the general area of my junk and then my wings, mouthing the word 'poof'. "I still need to read her a book."

As I figured she would, she laughed and kissed my cheek.

Just then, Emily appeared on the stairs, a big smile on her face as she watched me and Bella.

"Hey Sweet Pea, you ready?" I asked her, letting go of Bella and heading for the stairs.

"Yeah," she answered, holding up the same book from that first night…Bear at the Beach.

"Oh, Emily, honey, maybe you should pick a differen…" Bella began to interject, obviously afraid of what I would think after reading it.

I stopped to glance at her over my shoulder.

"It's okay, Bella. I've already read it; no big deal. I've got this," I told her with a wink and watched as her eyes closed and she shook her head. "Oh, hey," I said, breaking her from wherever it was her mind had gone, "there's lasagna in the oven if you're hungry. I'll be back down in a minute."

"You cooked?" she exclaimed with wide eyes.

"Don't sound so surprised," I grumbled with a roll of the eyes and headed upstairs.

Good to know that not everything had changed.

Okay, so Bella's back. Next chapter will probably be a bit longer than the rest as I plan for it to be B/E reunion and also the beginning or her swearing in at the old man's house.

It probably won't post until tomorrow as I've got to get the next cluster of chapters for Thrift Shop (my new drabble) out.

It's sad how far one of your children getting sick can set you back LOL.

Anyway, as always, thanks for the reviews!

Leave some love!

T