DISCLAIMER: Stephanie Meyer owns all things Twilight... but I own Anthony. Aww. Okay, so I need to answer some anonymousness reviews really quickly... AGLOVER69- I do have some other stories posted. Some are just one shots but my other completed fanfic is called A Second Life, A Second Chance and it's about Bella moving to Forks after her twin brother dies in a horrible accident. It's much more angsty than this one has been. I'm also going to start another after this one ends but I don't want to give too much away. Lol. It will be up as soon as the last chapter of this is posted though because I already have the beginning written. ALEX- What pictures did you want me to post? Let me know and I'll see what I can do. Thanks! And now on to the new chapter. Enjoy!
-BPOV-
"Do you want to go down the slide with Daddy?" I asked, smiling down at the bundled up baby in my arms.
Edward grinned, wiggling his eyebrows, as he held his hands out for Anthony.
I laughed.
We were standing in the middle of the one little park we had in Forks and I think Edward was enjoying this much more than our son was. I'm pretty sure Anthony wouldn't care less where we were as long as he was fed, changed, and had our attention but Edward had insisted the park was the perfect idea. I think he might have just been trying to escape his family though.
I had spent the last three nights with the Cullen's and they were all starting to drive us both nuts with the attention. I now knew what it felt like to be famous because there was a mob waiting for us in each room we went into with Anthony, just waiting to hold him or hug him or kiss his cheek. It was cute and sweet but it became a little overwhelming after a while so Edward had suggested we flee the coup.
Edward took him from me, climbing the three steps to the kiddie slide. He tried to get situated at the top of the slide and I couldn't help but laugh. It's a good thing it wasn't a tube slide because he wouldn't have been able to fit at all. As it was his long legs were already reaching the bottom of the slide as he sat at the top.
"This looked so much bigger when I was four." He commented, frowning slightly.
I giggled.
"Do you want me to take him?" I asked.
I wouldn't really fit either. It was a slide made for little kids after all but I would at least fit better than Edward did. My legs weren't nearly as long as his.
He pouted.
"I've got him." He insisted quickly.
"Admit it." I smirked. "You're just trying to get as much time with him as you can before we have to go back and share."
He shot me a lopsided grin, his eyes sparkling.
"You got me." He said, not sounding repentant in the least.
And then he slid down, his feet hitting the ground before he had gone two inches so that he had to bend his knees until his butt reached the end.
And that left him with his knees up so high he was having difficulty getting up with Anthony in his arms.
I bit my lip, trying not to laugh at him any more so than I already had but it was by far the funniest thing I had seen all week.
He looked at me and I just continued to stare at him in amusement.
"Bella." He groaned.
I raised an eyebrow, smirking.
"Yes Edward?" I asked innocently although I knew full well he needed help getting up.
He sighed, narrowing his eyes playfully.
"Oh, Alright." I relented, stepping over to grab Anthony from him.
"You, little one, have the silliest daddy ever." I told Anthony as Edward grabbed the sides of the slide with his newly freed hands, trying to launch himself off of the end.
"You okay there?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at him.
He chuckled.
"From now on I think you should handle the slides. I'll take the swings."
I nodded.
"Deal." I agreed.
He finally managed to free himself from the machinations of the kiddie slide and he winked at me.
"Time to swing!" He announced.
I laughed, handing Anthony back to him after I had given him a kiss on his little forehead.
"Save a turn for me!" I called after him.
Edward turned his head and grinned, one side of his lips lifting just a fraction higher than the other side. Even in his imperfections he was perfect. It just wasn't fair.
"Who would hold Anthony if we were swinging?" He asked.
I rolled my eyes.
"I meant Anthony."
He pouted but his eyes gave him away. He wasn't upset in the least. He was happier than I had seen him in a long time.
"She loves you more." He teased, kissing the top of our sons head.
I rolled my eyes but didn't say anything. I didn't love either of them more than the other to be completely honest. It wasn't like a line was drawn between the two. It was as if my heart had doubled in size once I had Anthony to fit the love I felt for both of them.
I watched from a distance as Edward sat down on a swing and cuddled Anthony to his chest, swinging only a tiny but as he rested his cheek gently on the top of Anthony's head.
I sighed happily.
It was unbelievable how that little baby already had his daddy wrapped around his little finger. Edward would do anything for Anthony. As would I.
Charlie was starting to get better but I hadn't been able to make myself leave the Cullen's yet. I had kept making excuses, knowing that they were excuses even as I said them. Like, "He's still sick... A little. And we can't risk that with Anthony."
Of course the Cullen's had all agreed with no hesitation. I knew they didn't want to take even the smallest chance with Anthony's health either but I think it was mostly because they wanted more time with him. Especially Edward.
The more and more I saw Edward in his full time daddy role the less and less I wanted to go back to Charlie's. You could just tell by looking at him that he was happier. It had been so hard for him to leave each night; to say good bye to Anthony and know he wasn't going to be there when he awoke later needing something. To know he wasn't going to be able to see him first thing in the morning or sing him to sleep, which he had taken to doing the last two nights. And Anthony seemed to be happier when Edward was around as well. I know it sounds crazy but it's almost as if he knew both of his parents were there with him and that's all he had really wanted.
The more I thought about it the more the thought of separating them again killed me.
To be completely honest I didn't want to be separated from Edward either. I loved being with Edward and Anthony, all of us together like a family should be, without a big hour glass hanging over our heads, counting down the time until he would have to leave us. I rather liked him being the first person I saw when I woke up and I liked saying good night to him right before I drifted off to sleep. I liked not having to think of an excuse to call him or ask if he'd come over just so I could see him. I also liked falling asleep in his arms...
Edward had fallen asleep in the bed every night I had been there. Last night he hadn't even attempted going to the futon first.
I had been sitting crossed legged on the bed, rubbing lotion into my hands when he grabbed his pillow from the futon and set it down on the right side of the bed. He had looked over kind of sheepishly and I had raised one eyebrow. "What are you doing?" I had asked. He had sighed, running his hand through his hair as he sat down next to me. "Anthony was harder than usual to get to bed tonight. It's been a long day and I'm tired."
I had nodded, slowly. "You can have the bed if you want." I assured him and then I had made a move to get up so I could go to the futon. I didn't want to keep him from his bed if he was really tired. I was actually kind of ashamed of myself for not thinking to ask him if he wanted to trade earlier. Edward grabbed my wrist before I had made it off the bed. "Bella." He sighed. "Just go to sleep."
I had turned my head to look at him, my eyebrows furrowed and my bottom lip firmly between my teeth. His offer was very tempting. Like he had said, it had been a long day. I was tired and the bed looked so inviting. Beside that if I was being completely honest with myself I had gotten used to sleeping in Edward's arms after just the passed two nights. It's kind of scary how quickly habits can be formed. He smiled slyly. "Besides", He had said, letting go of my wrist and lying back down against the head rest. "We both know you're going to wake up in my arms anyway."
I had blushed but eventually nodded, sitting back down. He had smiled, looking more shy than he had just moments before, as he opened his arms for me and I couldn't help but to settle in to his embrace. It had felt like the most natural thing in the world. And I had gone to sleep within minutes, my ear pressed against his chest, just listening to the almost melodious rhythm of his heart. I had slept better than ever for a full three hours at which time Anthony had woken up, needing to be changed.
"Bella?"
"...Bella?"
"Bella. Love. Are you okay?"
I shook my head, trying to clear it, and looked up at Edward who had walked over to me at some point while I had been remembering falling asleep in his arms.
"Are you alright?" He asked.
I nodded, feeling my blush creep up my neck and warm my cheeks. Stupidly traitorous reflex!
"Are you sure?" he asked, frowning. "You seemed really out of it for a second."
"I'm fine." I said quickly. "Is it my turn?"
He smiled.
"Yes. I asked him and he wants to swing with his mommy and then go for hot chocolate."
"Oh really?" I asked, quirking an eyebrow in amusement.
He nodded resolutely.
"Oh yes." He assured me. "He specifically asked for hot chocolate with marshmallows."
"He told you all this?" I smirked.
He rested his chin on the top of Anthony's head out of habit as he pretended to ponder my question.
"Well... not exactly." He admitted.
I laughed, reaching out to take the baby and he handed him over with a grin.
"How do you know he wants marshmallows and hot chocolate then?" I asked, going along with his joke.
I started walking to the slide and he fell into step beside me, his long strides somehow matching mine as he put a hand on the small of my back as if I needed a guide to the swing set. Not likely but I didn't bring this to his attention.
"We're father and son." He said simply as if this explained everything. "We are of one mind."
I laughed and he grinned at me, his eyes seeming to dance with emeralds and jades like they did only when he was truly happy.
"I'll remind you of that when he goes through his rebellious teenage stage." I said and he frowned.
"He'll still love me." He said after a moment, sounding sure of himself.
I laughed lightly.
"Of course he will dear." I said, reaching up on my tip toes to place a kiss on the corner of his chin.
As soon as I did this I froze.
I don't even know where that had come from but I wasn't sure if I had crossed some imaginary line and I held my breath, waiting for his reaction.
He just chuckled.
"He'll always love us both." He assured me and I felt my shoulders relax.
It didn't seem like he had even noticed my affectionate gesture. Thank god.
"We all know you're his favorite." I teased, aiming the conversation back towards the light hearted banter of a couple minutes ago.
He shrugged, not try to deny it and I pouted.
"That's okay," He said casually, putting his hands in his jeans pockets and ambling to the swing seat.
"You can have the next one."
I felt my mouth drop open and he chuckled, winking.
I blinked a couple of times, momentarily stunned by his blunt words.
This was going to be an interesting day.
----
-EPOV-
She just stood there, her mouth hanging open and I internally cringed. I had gone too far. I had crossed some imaginary line she had in place.
I forced a chuckle and when I saw her blush I winked.
I had decided last night, as I sat up watching her sleep soundly, that I couldn't do this any more. I could not pretend that I was only in this for the baby. Of course, I loved Anthony. I loved my son more than I had even known was possible. My entire life revolved around the axis that was Anthony and Bella.
When I had finally gotten Bella to tell me what Lauren and Jessica had said I knew I had to tell her exactly what I had been thinking that fateful day she told me our lives were going to change. That we were going to be parents.
It hurt, reliving that memory, but I knew I had to reassure her. I couldn't leave a doubt in her mind that I wanted them, both of them, in my life for the rest of eternity.
I will make her see that I want her in my life until they day I die. I will make her see that she is the last person I want to see when I go to sleep at night, and the first one I want to see when I open my eyes in the morning.
I will make her see that she and our son are the only people in the world that I can not live without.
I know she's worried. She wants to focus solely on being a new mother and I understand this because I am worried myself about being the best father that I can possibly be. Every time I look at him I feel a pull to protect him, and care for him, and ensure that he never doubts how much I love him.
I realize that this is going to be harder now that we had Anthony. We had another person to consider before we made any big decisions but I believe that we can do this. We can make it work and we can make the future I have dreamed about since before she even had Anthony reality.
We can take it slow but I can not hide my feelings from her any longer. I will let her see exactly how much I love her and Anthony and I will leave the rest up to her.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: What do you think? Please review and let me know. And let me know if you have any questions. Thanks guys!
