I don't own Twilight.

Chapter 6

Edward's POV;

My phone beeped as I walked into my house. I ignored it as I walked slowly up the stairs and lay Evie in her crib. I removed her jacket and shoes before taking my phone out and checking the message.

Just letting you know that Oliver and I got home safely. Thanks again for lunch.

I smiled at her text and sent a reply.

How is Oliver, is he still sleeping? I've just put Evie down in her crib. I should be thanking you for the excellent company you provided at lunch.

I walked downstairs, taking the baby monitor with me and stretched out on the sofa to read a report from work. Even though they'd let me take a couple of weeks off work I still had to do a little work from home. It was mainly analysis of stock and trades which was easy enough to do and I was usually able to get it out of the way during Evie's nap time or when she was down for the night.

I had scanned the first page when my phone beeped with an incoming message. I dropped the report and eagerly picked up my phone, hoping that it would be Bella texting me.

He's completely knocked out and sucking his thumb. Is Evie okay? I agree I should get all the credit for such a wonderful lunch. It wouldn't have been possible if weren't for my Goddess-like tendencies.

I chuckled. Bella had a dry sense of humour, I loved that. Did this woman have a fault? Besides her obvious trust issues.

She's fine, not a peep from her other than her little snores. I have to agree, basking in your light was refreshing beyond belief which is why we should definitely see each other again tomorrow.

I held my breath as I sent the message and leaned back into the softness of my sofa. Was me asking for another meeting after two in the space of two days too much? What if she said no? What if I freaked her out? What if-

My phone beeped to alert me to a new message and a glance at the screen told me that it was Bella. I shook my head at myself and opened the text.

Tomorrow you say? Well I think I could clear some time out of my busy Goddess schedule for you and Evie. What do you want to do?

Shit. I had no idea about what we could do, I had just known that I wanted to spend the day with her and our children. I quickly typed out a response.

Maybe we could take the kids out somewhere?

My phone beeped almost instantly and I eagerly opened the message.

No shit Sherlock. Where?

I laughed at her sassiness. She was beautiful, smart, funny. She was good with Evie and a brilliant parent to Oliver. And as much as I hated to admit it, I liked her. A lot. I wished I could act on it but I couldn't. Until I met a woman who could Evie as her own and never leave us I couldn't commit.

Maybe Bella could be that woman.

I quickly pushed those thoughts away with a scoff. I had been with Tanya for 6 years when Evie had been born and it didn't stop her from walking out the door. I had known Bella for two days! I was being ridiculous.

I promised Evie I'd take her to the zoo, you guys could come too. I mean I know Oliver is a little young but he'll like the colours and I'll buy him a teddy from the gift shop.

I chuckled at my mental image of Oliver clutching a little lion stuffed animal and Evie clutching a giraffe.

I think it's a great idea but you don't need to buy Oliver anything. You bought me tea and a muffin yesterday and lunch today!

I rolled my eyes at her comment and thought back to lunch today. When Bella had been nursing Oliver I felt so much regret about Evie and Tanya. I wished that Tanya could've cared enough to bond with her daughter. And then Bella had switched sides and forgotten to cover herself with the blanket. I had almost swallowed my tongue at the sight of her pink nipple even though I'd only seen it for a second before Oliver closed his mouth around it. She was so embarrassed.

It was cute. I cleared my throat and typed a reply.

I know that I don't need to, I want to. So we're on for the zoo tomorrow?

I'll see you then.

I smiled and set my phone down. I'd see her and Oliver again tomorrow. I knew that she didn't trust me fully because I didn't trust her fully yet either but maybe we were getting somewhere. Maybe we could be friends.

Maybe she'd let me hold Oliver tomorrow. The thought of his little body in my arms made my smile grow. I hadn't held a baby is so long, not since Evie. My brother Emmett and his wife Rosalie had finally managed to conceive after trying for a few years and Jasper hadn't found anyone that he wanted to settle down with yet.

I was about to start back with the report that I had tossed aside when I heard Evie start to stir over the monitor. I waited a few minutes to see if she'd go back to sleep but she started calling for me and I knew that work would have to wait. I tucked the report into a folder and placed it high up on the bookshelf so Evie couldn't reach it before climbing the stairs to Evie's room. She was sat up in her crib clutching her blanket to her with her thumb in her mouth. I pulled it out gently and lifted her into my arms when she reached for me.

"Where's Ollie Daddy?" I looked down at her little face and saw her eyebrows drawn together with confusion. "I just saw Ollie, he was playing with me downstairs."

I was confused for a second before it clicked. She must have been dreaming about Oliver. I smile spread across my face as I regarded my daughter. She was adorable.

"Evie I think you were dreaming that you played with Ollie downstairs." I took her over to the glider that I used to feed her in when she was a baby and sat with her on my lap.

"So Miss Bella and Oliver aren't downstairs?" I shook my head and her lower lip started to tremble. Crap.

"But we're going to the zoo with them tomorrow baby girl so don't cry. You know Daddy hates it when you cry." She sniffled and smiled.

"We're going to the zoo with Ollie tomorrow? Can I cuddle him?" She was so cute! But I grimaced on the inside.

"I'm not sure Evie, that's up to Bella isn't it?" She nodded solemnly before stretching her little arms over her head and sitting up a little straighter.

"Can we watch a film Daddy?" I stood and threw her into the air. She squealed and laughed as I caught her and blew raspberries on her cheeks. I carried her down to the living room and sat her down on the sofa before crawling over to the DVD's.

"Which one Evie?" She sat and pondered for a while and I chuckled at her. She made a big deal about every choice she made, from what to have for breakfast to what colour socks she wanted to wear.

"Monsters Inc." I found the right DVD and put it into the player, grabbing the remote as I went back to the sofa. She climbed onto my lap and snuggled into my chest, still clutching her blanket. I wrapped an arm around her and settled comfortably while I pressed play on the remote. I tossed it and wrapped my other arm around Evie breathing in her fruity scent.

Evie laughed hard throughout the film and even quoted a few lines from it which made me chuckle. We'd definitely seen it too many times. As the final credits rolled Evie turned in my arms and looked up at me.

"Can I have some juice please Daddy?" I nodded and settled her onto the sofa while I stood up and stretched out the kinks in my muscles from being sat unmoving for so long. I walked to the kitchen and poured Evie some orange juice in her sippy cup and made myself some coffee. Evie toddled into the kitchen and wrapped her arm around my leg as I was stirring some sugar into my coffee. I lifted her into my arms and handed her the cup of juice.

"What's up Evie?" She shrugged. "Hey Evie, you need to tell Daddy if there's something wrong. Does something hurt?" She shook her head but her expression was forlorn.

"Evelyn Grace Cullen you better tell me what's wrong."

"I miss Ollie Daddy. Can he come and play with me?" I sighed and ran a hand through my hair.

"I don't know baby, I'll talk to Bella okay?" She nodded and squirmed to get down. "Where are you going Evie?" I lowered her little feet to the ground and she set off running to the living room.

"I'm going to get some teddies so that Ollie can play with me." I rolled my eyes at my daughter and pulled my phone from my pocket.

I was hesitant to ask Bella if she could come over. No woman that wasn't family had come here since Tanya left. I liked it that way. This was mine and Evie's space and I wasn't sure if it was a good idea to let Bella into our little bubble. Hell I wasn't sure if I was okay with how attached Evie was to Oliver after such a short period of time.

I didn't want her to get hurt and I couldn't trust that Bella wouldn't leave like Tanya had and take Oliver with her. It would crush Evie.

I scoffed at myself. It would crush me too as much as I didn't want to admit it. I loved how happy Evie was when she saw Oliver and I enjoyed spending time with Bella too. I sighed and tried to figure out how I would phrase my request. We'd literally parted ways 3 hours ago and made plans to see each other tomorrow.

Hi Bella, I know we already made plans for tomorrow but Evie misses Oliver. Would it be too much to ask if you'd come over?

I sent the message and went off to find Evie. She was halfway up the stairs before I caught her. I carried Evie the rest of the way and sat her down in her room so that we could talk. I didn't want her to get her hopes up in case Bella couldn't make it.

"I've asked Bella if she can make it but you have to understand that she might be busy Evie." She nodded and I hated the disappointment that I could see in her face.

My phone beeped and I went to check the new message. It was from Bella. I held my breath and opened it.

Sure, why not? We're just sat at home bored anyway. Are you going to give me directions?

I grinned.

No we'll come get you from the park. How quickly can you be ready?

See you in 20 minutes.

I turned and smiled at Evie. "They can come." She squealed and rushed around her room grabbing various stuffed animals and teddies and throwing them into my arms so I could carry them downstairs for her.

Seeing Evie this happy was so satisfying. If someone could make Evie this happy they couldn't be all bad, right?

I just want to thank everyone for their kind reviews and all the favourites and follows. I seem to be on a roll at the moment with updating this story, it's just coming to me a lot quicker than my other story. I'm hoping to finish both of them in the next two weeks because after that exams are going to start kicking my ass. A special thank you twilightwolf13 for giving me faith in my writing and also to jay7795, thank you for letting me know that my story was relatable. It means a lot to me. Love you guys!