Five

Bpov

I'd heard the kids get up an hour ago, squealing at Edward to make them breakfast.

I had been a coward hiding in bed, staring at the ceiling.

He'd kissed me.

I have no idea what sparked him into it. I have no idea if it meant anything.

Questions circle in my head. Feelings I'd suppressed for years resurfacing.

"Mummy," Gage squeals loudly as he races into the room, laughing as Bree follows trying to keep up.

Gage launches onto the bed, jumping up and down. Edward walks in holding a tray, plates and a mug sit on top.

"Gage," Edward warns, "we said we'd wake her up nicely."

Bree climbs up onto the bed crawling to sit beside me as I lean back against the headboard. Edward grins, placing the tray across my lap before turning to the curtains.

"I made the pancakes," Gage pointed at my plate proudly.

"He mixed them," Brielle corrected, snuggling into my side.

Edward opens the curtains letting light in.

I glance at him feeling all kinds of bashful.

"You didn't have to make me breakfast in bed," I shake my head.

"Yes we did," Edward walks toward me and grins, "because mummy deserves it at the very least, right kids?"

Gage nods energetically.

"Eat up! We have a big day," Edward claps before heading toward the door.

"Doing what?" I am confused.

I hadn't even packed fresh clothes.

"You will see. I managed to find some clothes for you," he motions to a bag by the door, "hopefully they fit. We're not going anywhere fancy. I think a family day is long overdue."

A family day?

"Okay kids," he claps his hands again, "out! Let's leave our beautiful Queen to enjoy her food."

I look at him. Really look at him. Looking for any evidence of last night. Any hint of regret or awkwardness.

There is none.

I pick up my coffee and take a slow sip. Once both the kids have raced past him, laughing and squealing down the hall he steps back into the room, walking closer to me.

"I added honey to the coffee just like you used to love," he points at the cup.

He remembers?

"Oh and you look more breathtakingly beautiful than you did yesterday," he leans down to kiss me on the head, "eat up now."

I watch him bound out of the room in utter shock.

I'm trying to calculate when I might have hit my head.

The weather is perfectly warm as I follow Edward's footsteps over rocks and dirt.

He'd managed to rustle up jeans, a shirt and I already had sneakers. Underneath he had given me just swimwear. They all had tags on them meaning he'd ducked out to Target at some point this morning. It was all a clue to what was in store. I knew that the lake house backed onto hiking tracks that he has taken the kids to many times before.

Bree clings to Edward's back as he carries a wicker basket, Gage walks in front on him holding a stick, smacking trees and the ground as he walks.

I watch them amazed at how easy their relationship is. Despite his panic last night the adoration they have for him is undeniable.

"Just ahead," Edward calls back to me.

"Just ahead," Bree looks back over her shoulder, mimicking Edward.

Little bossy boots.

She was as assertive as her father. She would definitely follow in his footsteps and become some sort of CEO or surgeon. She would grow to big things like he did.

A few more sweaty meters and we clear an opening between the trees. Edward places Bree down and turns back to me as she rushes into the field before us, chasing Gage.

Gage laughs loudly as he manages to just outrun her.

"Welcome to our little sanctuary," Edward offers me his hand as I made it to uneven rocks.

Instinctively I take it, letting him guide me over them. He holds onto my hand as I take in the scene. The grass is slightly long, with trees creating a bushy border around the outskirts of the meadow. At one edge there's a rock pool, with a small waterfall trickling down the surface of the wall of rocks.

"Wow," I mutter.

"I usually bring them camping here," he explains, "last time Gage got bitten by that ant."

"I remember the photos you sent me," I smile, "you had me googling ants for hours."

"It's a warm enough day. I figured we could have a picnic before you head back home," Edward offers, "a splash in the water could be fun too."

He squeezes my hand and rather than letting go he leads me toward the water. Gage throws down his stick and jumps up and down excitedly.

"Okay," Edward laughs, "let me lay out the stuff and we can play."

He lets me hand go so he can spread out a blanket for us to sit upon, then he digs out some sandwiches, bottles of water and cupcakes. Bree's eyes light up at the cakes.

I laugh as she licks her lips, staring at them. She has an insane sweet tooth.

"Daddy," Gage pats his shoulder, "you bring my soccer?"

"I did," Edward nods, "in the backpack you carried."

Gage kneels down and picks up the bag Edward is referring to. He opens it pulling out a black and white ball he'd gotten from his uncle Emmett for Christmas.

"Great," I smile, "you can practice your kicking."

"Can I play?" Bree asks.

"Boys only," Gage shakes his head.

Edward gives me the look only another parent would understand. I bury myself in a muffled laughter behind my hand.

"Gage," Edward begins, "Bree can play."

Edward stands dumping his sunglasses on the blanket.

"Is mummy playing?" He asks.

"I'm not very good," I grin, "but I can try."

"Girls against boys," Gage points at me, "We'll beat you."

"Will not," Bree pokes her tongue out.

Edward takes the ball from Gage's hand and drops it onto the floor, kicking it across the field. Immediately they both dash after it.

"Our kids are so humbled," he looks back at me.

"They get it from their father," I tease.

"Their beauty comes from their mother in that case," he winks at me, eyes shamelessly looking me up and down.

He's flirting with me?

I had to have hit my head.

I shove him playfully as I push past him chasing after Gage for the ball.

"Did you just… push me?" He asks.

I turn to look back at him, jogging backwards giggling.

"Oh you didn't push me," his smile is wicked.

Edward races at me, I gasp loudly, his arms wrapping around my waist. I cling to his biceps as he tackles me into the grass. I laugh out loudly as his hands move to tickle my sides.

"You don't get to push me," he laughs.

Gage screams out and Edward halts his attack to check on what is happening.

"No hands, Bee" he shouts furiously.

As soon as I hear Bree scream out in anger I know Gage has probably hit her.

What a little cock block my son is becoming.

Edward looks down at me sighing.

"How'd the guy sell Hansel and Gretel again?" He jokes.

"Is there a candy house nearby?" I giggle.

"Nope. But you can lick me instead," he tickles my side.

Tempting.

Bree races over crying loudly, hand on her arm. She doesn't wait for me to sit up. Instead she falls down onto my chest, wailing dramatically from pain I know isn't there. She wants attention.

"Gage," Edward puts his dad's voice on, "come here right now and say sorry."

I sit up moving Bree into my lap, Edward kneels back stroking her back. Leaning in, I kiss her forehead, rocking her to sooth her.

"She touched it," Gage points at her, "she can't touch the ball."

"That doesn't mean you hurt her," Edward says, "you never hit a girl. You never hit anyone. You keep your hands to yourself, son. Come and say sorry."

Gage huffs walking over, his soccer ball under his arm. I extend my free hand to him, feeling my heart warm as he steps into my embrace.

"Sorry," he huffs.

"Say it like you mean it," I pat his bum softly, "what are you sorry for?"

"I'm very sorry for hitting you Bee," he moves to put his hand on her arm.

She looks up at him, barely crying at all. He kneels down into my lap too, picking up her arm where he hit her to kiss it better. Edward watches them holding back a laugh.

Discipline was difficult. They were just too cute.

"What if we swim?" Edward says.

"Yes!" Bree nods suddenly happy as Larry.

Edward stands up holding his hand out to me as the kids climb off me racing back to the picnic blanket so they can get out of their clothes.

I take his hand letting him pull me up into his arms, they both go around me before I can escape.

"You're the world's best mother. Today is about you. Thanking you for all that you do for them but also me," he says, "last night wasn't a mistake."

Before I can say anything, before he can add anything else he is walking back to our kids tugging his shirt off.

I watch his perfectly muscled back, confused by every feeling I have right now.

"No splashing," I hear Edward warn, "and no going past your knees. The water gets deeper as you get closer to the waterfall."

Once out of my trance I join them, stripping down to the bikini he left me. The kids already have their feet In the water, pointing out the little fish darting around their legs. Edward looks back at me, eyes assessing my body.

Once I reach him he leans down, hand around my waist. I shiver involuntarily, the chemistry we once had simmering again. Nearing boiling point each time he looks at me like that, touches me, kisses me.

"You look sensational," he whispers into my ear, "last night definitely wasn't a mistake. If it was in your mind I hope you don't mind me making more."

I glance up at him and nod, lip between my teeth.

Edward wasn't just trying to break whatever walls I'd put up.

He was Jack hammering them down.

A part of me wanted to let him. The unwise part.

It's that unwise part that forces me to stand up on my toes, place a flat hand on his chest and kiss him quickly. It's the part that lets his hand slide down my back to cup my ass.

I grin against his lips, when I pull back I look at my children checking we didn't have an audience. They were preoccupied with the fish.

It wouldn't be the worst thing if they saw their dad kissing their mummy.

Perhaps it's what they need. To see what love looked like. Even if it wasn't meant to be outside of this little world he'd built for us. Even if it was just me who likely still felt it. It'd been a long time since I felt this close to Edward. I wanted to bask in it. I wanted to be selfish for once.

Besides, what defence do I have against a jackhammer?

Just for today. There were no corporate snobs or hotel rooms here. It was us among the trees where my heart could race free. He wouldn't be judged for having me on his arm here. I could pretend to be enough.

"Stay until tomorrow," he whispers, "spend the full weekend."

I find myself nodding without hesitation. The large smile stretching across his face was my precious reward.

Thank you so much for reading.

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