A/N: DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING EXCEPT THE CHARACTER PERSONALITIES AND THE CONCEPT FOR THIS STORY. The names are not mine, the original Twilight is still not mine.

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Chapter Nine

After I remove myself from the bubble bath, I pull on an oversized grey sweater that I once stole from my dad and my jeans. There's nothing sexy about it or even appealing, but, that's the point. It's comfortable. Besides, I'm anticipating having to run after an exuberant seven year old today.

Not completely to my surprise, Edward spends the entire day with Nessie, instead, telling me that I am not obligated to join them unless it is what I would like to do.

It's actually quite nice.

Edward lets Ness turn the living room into a massive pillow fort. When I say "massive", I mean, he let her grab cushions from every couch in the house, every pillow that the Cullens own, and every blanket and sheet that wasn't currently being utilized in someone's room...and he and Nessie are in the fort, rolling around and playing. At one point, Edward and Ness are knights and I'm roped into playing the part of the queen they're trying to save.

Spoiler alert: Edward saved me...and held me close to his chest and kissed my forehead. "My queen," he had said. And, I can't help but to shiver at the words.

When seven o'clock rolls around, I barely notice. Jasper has yet to return, which means dinner falls to me...at least for Nessie. I sigh when I realize the time, shaking my smartwatch to clarify that I'm reading it correctly. I put down the book that I am reading in the foyer - some murder mystery that I'm not really following, anyway- and dare to interrupt the daring duo in their hideout. "Edward…" I hazard cautiously. From the blanket fort, Edward's head emerges. The scene is so humorous that I grimace before continuing, trying to hide my laughing. "If it's alright with you, I'd like to make Nessie some dinner. It's almost her bedtime and she hasn't eaten since lunch…"

Edward Cullen looks at me softly and he nods. "Absolutely." He turns gently back inside the fort to Reneesme. "Alright, princess. It's dinner time. What do you think Miss Bella should make?"

Out of the fort pops Nessie to stand before us in her frilly dress. Nessie considers for a moment, then, with the most determined look on her face that I have ever seen, she says, "Mac and cheese!"

Edward's face grows stern. "That is not a meal."

I am careful not to point out the wage gap that clearly exists between us as, in my family growing up, a bowl on mac and cheese was, most definitely, a meal.

I raise up a hand, trying not to butt into his parenting too much. "I can take care of it, Mr. Cullen." Edward immediately tenses at the use of the more formal name. "If you have business you need to attend to, I can get dinner ready for her and put her to bed. I can meet you in your study afterward...or, I can clean this up first," I motion to the blanket fort that will, inevitably, live in the penthouse for days if we don't undo it now.

Edward shakes his head and stands from the fort. He crosses the room to me, slowly. "No, please. Focus on dinner for Reneesme. I plan on making Jasper clean this up when he comes home...as consequence for the way that he behaved toward you this morning." He reaches out to touch my cheek. I try to force myself to not lean into it, but, my body, the traitor that it is, leans directly into his touch. His face softens at my reaction. "Bella...please, call me Edward."

I nod, my face blushing. "Of course...Edward." I fiddle with my fingers as I look down. I don't need to look up to see that Edward is frowning again. I finally make eye contact with Nessie. "Come on, Ness. Let's go find dinner!" I outstretch my hand for her to take so that we can adventure to the kitchen.

Nessie quickly runs over to me. Conspiratorially, she whispers as we leave Edward's earshot, "Can I have mac and cheese for dinner, anyway?"

I can't help but chuckle to myself. "Yes, Nessie. I can make mac and cheese for dinner."

Edward's voice rings out, even as I look at Nessie. "I'll try and get some work done in the study. Bella...can I help you put Nessie to bed?"

I'm confused by his question. "Of course," I feel my face furrow. "She's your daughter. I think that she would rather you put her to bed…"

"No, Bella," he interrupts me, though gently. "Can we tuck Reneesme in together?"

Oh... I think. He's trying to involve me in this. Normally, if he's home, he puts Nessie to bed and I'm free for the evening. But, Edward wants me to be a part of this. I wonder if this is some strange way of him proving to me that he doesn't just see me as the nanny.

I take a deep breath. This is him being kind. This is him making an effort to show me that Jasper is wrong about his intentions. I smile in what I hope is an encouraging way. "Of course! I would gladly join you...if that's what Nessie wants!"

Nessie smiles brightly. "Yes!"

I sigh, but keep my smile in place. "Then, after dinner, we will all read a story together!" I squeeze her hand gently and start our way to the kitchen.

Nessie isn't that hard to please. And she's very sweet. Having mac and cheese and not following her father's orders for once won't get me fired...and it will make her happy. "Why don't you get the big pot out, Ness?" I am always happy to have Nessie help me when I cook for her. She really likes being helpful and she learns a useful skill. No use in her being a rich kid who doesn't know how to survive on her own.

Nessie is quick to grab the big pot and drag it to me. "Here you go, Miss Bella!" She's very pleased with herself when she completes even simple tasks. I adore that she wants to please.

I fill the pot with water as Nessie climbs up onto the bar stool at the kitchen island. She starts humming some song that was on a children's tv show she enjoys, but it's slightly out of tune and I can't place it. I'm waiting on the water to boil, pouring herbs into the water when Nessie startles me and I drop garlic salt all over the marble floor of the kitchen. "Uncle Jasper!"

I turn and see Jasper looking incredibly worse for wear, still wearing black athletic wear. He walks straight to the fridge and dives in to grab a bottled water. He cracks it open without a word. I'm not sure what to say.

Nessie, however, doesn't seem to be phased by the brooding air around him and jumps across the island to hug him. He returns her embrace, but his face is sad.

"Hi, Ness," he says, quietly.

"I missed you!" Nessie launches into telling him about her blanket fort and all of the fun that she has had today. She conveniently leaves out the fact that he is going to be responsible for cleaning up said blanket fort.

I carefully pour noodles into the boiling water as I listen before getting out everything I need to make the sauce. If Jasper wants to talk to me, he will.

"Hey, Ness...can you do me a favor?" I hear Jasper ask her. Her bubbly giggle tells me that she is going to do anything he asks. "Can you run into the living room and see if I left a glass in there last night? I'm sure you would have seen it earlier today, but, just in case…"

"I can do that!" Nessie's bright voice says. And, just like that, she's off.

I twitch. I'm alone with someone who thinks I'm persona non grata. I decide to just pretend that I don't see anything different about him. "Did you enjoy the gym?" I carefully tread, not even bothering to turn away from the stove.

He doesn't answer and, for a second, I honestly think he's going to give me the silent treatment. I roll my eyes and throw butter into the pan. "Bella...I've got to get this off my chest. So...can you please just listen?"

I'm even more startled by this than I should be. I turn slowly toward him, seeing his face that seems to be begging me to listen. I narrow my eyes. "Ok...What is it?"

Jasper sighs, running a hand through his curly blonde hair. "I think...I've started to fall in love with you. And, I think that...if I let myself, I could really love you…"

"Jasper…"

"Please...just, let me finish." He holds up a hand to stop me. What is with all of these men today!? "Do you really understand everything that falling for Edward Cullen comes with? Do you understand the baggage that you would have to take on? Not just Nessie, but his legal battle with Tanya for Nessie...Tanya wasn't the only one who had drug issues, either, Bella...Edward had his issues with alcohol. There will be people that watch you when you go out with him. He's as good as a celebrity because of how big his company is. Do you understand that you would have to take all of that on to be with him?"

I suck my lower lip in between my teeth and worry at it inside my closed mouth. Did I? I knew that being with Edward wouldn't be easy and it would definitely be complicated...but...did I really understand that it came with all of these things?

I quickly turn down the heat on the stove before I take a deep breath and steel myself. "Jasper...thank you for your concern...I really do appreciate how much you've watched out for me...but, Jas...I don't feel the same way about you. You're like my big brother...and, I love you...but, not in that way."

Jasper smiles at me. "I understand, Bells...you don't have to explain anything else to me…" He reaches out and pulls me into a hug. "I just want you happy, alright? You're one of my best friends...and if I have to kill my boss for you, don't question that I will."

I can't help but laugh as I hold Jasper tightly. "Thank you."

"You don't have my blessing...but...do you love him?"

I think about this for a second. I loved Nessie. I loved Jasper. I was fond of Edward. Edward who gave me books, who respected my brain, who trusted me with his daughter...I was fond of him, but, I couldn't call what I felt love. The attraction was there...but, I couldn't say I was in love with him. Not yet. So, as I pull away from Jasper, I go with that answer. "I'm fond of him...and I think he deserves to be loved."

Jasper nods at me and opens his mouth to say more, but Ness comes bounding into the room. "I didn't see it, Uncle Jasper!" She practically bounces up and down, excited to please.

Jasper can't help but smile at the little fairy princess. He ruffles her hair and has a seat next to her at the island. "Thanks for trying, princess."

His playing with Nessie allows me time to cook without disruption. I finish the cheese sauce and pour the macaroni into it before I stir in some vegetables to give it a little more nutritional value. "You want some, Jasper?"

He shakes his head and gets up from the counter and throws away his water bottle. "I ate with a couple friends after we were at the gym. Thanks though, ma'am. It does smell quite good. Save me some for tomorrow?"

I roll my eyes. "Can do, soldier. See you in the morning."

Jasper, once again, grabs me for a hug, but, this time, he kisses my cheek. I stiffen, but Jasper walks out and softly closes the door behind him. I serve Nessie her mac and cheese, watching as she gets more and more tired as she eats. Her eyelids keep growing heavier and heavier until she can't even hold her fork anymore. I chuckle as I watch the scene unfold and, finally, remove the plate and utensils from her. I guess she really could run out of energy!

I sigh as I hoist a very exhausted Reneesme to my hip. I smooth out her curls and I smile as she sleepily leans against me. "Miss Bella...can you stay with us forever?"

I laugh under my breath. "That's the plan, Miss Nessie." I gently and slowly take the stairs. At some point, Nessie is going to be much too large for me to handle dragging to her room, but, until then, I enjoy this. She's a treasure. I'm terrified by the prospect that anyone could even possibly think that Edward wasn't fit to keep full custody of her. He adores his daughter. He gives her the world...and she is the only thing that is truly more important to him than his business. She's worth more than the dollar amount in his bank account or the women that want to hook up with him.

Nessie is the glue that holds the Cullen household together. No matter what disagreements that we may have...we're all here for Ness.

At the top landing, Edward Cullen stands, waiting. When he sees me carrying Nessie, there is a brief moment where he pauses. I'm not sure why, but, there is a moment where his face immediately softens and he quickly walks to me.

"I can take Nessie, if you'd like," he says, softly, holding out his arms.

I shake my head. "No. It will just jostle her. I've got it. But, could you open the door to her room for me?"

Edward nods and walks ahead of me to open Nessie's bedroom door. He doesn't turn on the light to reveal her pink, frilly playground, merely steps inside and allows Nessie and I to pass. He turns down her comforter so that I can place her in bed, gently, trying not to wake her up. I let Edward do the honors and tuck Nessie in. I always feel like I'm intruding on the familial moment when Edward is with Nessie, but I watch, pulling my thick sweater closer around me.

Edward kisses Reneesme on the forehead, pulling the blankets around her and making sure that her favorite stuffed bear is next to her. I swear his name changes every other day…

After a moment in complete silence, Edward walks to me and puts his hands on my shoulders. Edward gently touches my cheek and gently tilts my head upward. "May I still have the pleasure of your company for dinner?"

I smile, but I feel the anxiety and butterflies welling up in my stomach. "Why so formal?" I look down at my feet, still a bit flushed and unsure of what to do. "I didn't exactly make other plans for dinner…"

Edward nods. He drops his hands back to his side and motions for me to follow him to his study. I play with my fingers the entire thirty second walk, still unsure how to approach this conversation or what to say. If I thought that going into the study and starting dinner was going to make it any better, I was wrong.

Apparently, we have a concierge. I didn't know we had a concierge, but we do. There are wine glasses and a full meal that had been ordered out from one of New York's finest restaurants. I'm completely speechless, as I was not expecting a candlelight dinner and opera playing.

I pull my sweater tighter, again. I gulp and sit down in one of the chairs. I see Edward smile as I stare at my hands.

Edward sits down across from me and uncorks the wine. "Are you alright with red?"

I'm just glad to have alcohol. "Of course. That's fine…" I almost immediately gulp down half of it. I need to steel my nerves. I take a deep breath and look at Edward.

Edward's eyes never leave me and they sparkle. He smiles at me, almost as if he's infatuated. I can't help but smile back at him. "What?"

He shakes his head. "It's nothing…" He reaches out a hand to touch my hand on the desk. "You're just very beautiful."

I shake my head. "Now, I know you're just flattering me."

Edward begins to uncover the plates in front of us to reveal Antonio's Italian restaurant. My stomach immediately clenches when I see the amazing chicken parmesan. I don't remember telling him that I liked Antonio's or that I liked chicken parmesan in particular. Was he really that observant?

Edward and I eat in almost silence. There's occasional small talk, but I'm waiting to broach the subject of "us". It isn't until we are almost done eating that Edward brings up the topic.

"Bella," he softly says my name in a way that makes me blush. My name sounds oddly seductive coming from his lips. "You are under no obligation to entertain my ideas of romance. I'm used to getting my heart broken."

I look up from my plate, sadly. "Jasper...has given me some things to think about, honestly."

Edward nods. He motions for me to go on, critically examining me. Part of me just wants to jump in his lap and another part of me is still thinking that I should run. "He said you don't just have baggage...and he's concerned that my being with you could hurt your legal case."

"I'm not worried about that…" Edward interrupts me, but I continue.

"I think that he has a point…" I concede attempting to show him that there is a legitimate concern. I trust Jasper. I know that Jasper isn't wrong. "Tanya's attorney could find out about our relationship and use it against you to try and get custody of Nessie. In the eyes of a judge, it could be seen as inappropriate...and I can't let that happen."

Edward shakes his head. "Then I'll divulge the information to my attorney. We've only just starting dating and our relationship isn't inappropriate."

I bite my lip. "What if we were to…" I feel myself blush like a teenager.

Edward just rolls his eyes. "Naturally." He gently takes my hand and brings it to his lips. "I could marry you instead, if that would solve your concerns." He winks at me; meanwhile, I almost choke on my own saliva.

"That...that's not...I…"

Edward starts to laugh at my reaction. "Oh, what could be so wrong about that? You would have full access to my accounts. There'd be no need for a paycheck, then. No conflict of interest. You are merely my stay at home wife, taking care of our daughter. The relationship would be completely appropriate, then."

I tense up. "I know that you're joking, but, I think we should table that discussion for...a time when we've been dating a bit longer."

Edward, still laughing, nods. "I agree." Edward squeezes my hand, gently. "Does that mean that you...agree? Would you consent to see where this leads us, Ms. Swan?"

I smile. "Do you understand that we are taking a big risk with this?"

Edward smiles. He gets up from his desk and comes around to stand in front of me. He takes my hand and pulls me out of the chair. Very gently, he pulls me against him, his hands firmly on my hips. "I would gladly risk all of the money I have ever made to know what it is like to kiss you for the rest of my life."

I smirk. "You could start with a single kiss now."

Without a second thought, Edward Cullen lifts me into his arms and kissed me until I forget whose air I was breathing.

A/N: Again, thank you so much to everyone who is reading and supporting this fic! :)

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