A/N:

Disclaimer: I still do not own Twilight, though, I would like to be an author some day?

Hi, guys! Sorry for the long wait between updates. I was going to update sooner but...this chapter is a beast. It's long. I would apologize, but I think most of you will like it.

Remember, reviews equal quotes from the next chapter, which I am hard at work on as we speak. Maybe there will be smut? Who knows!

Do you guys even want smut? Ha ha.

Chapter Seven

To his credit, after my impassioned speech in the kitchen and that slightly awkward kiss in Nessie's bedroom, Edward does make it a point to be home more over the next few weeks. He has even apologized to Jasper and I, once again, during breakfast before he asked us if we would be willing to speak to his lawyers about his current custody battle. The only stipulation was that we not tell Nessie what was going on.

To be honest, it was better that she did not know.

Edward's increased presence thrilled Nessie. He is home every night to put her to bed. He leaves with us and eats breakfast with us every morning. He is spoiling Nessie incessantly. Everything she asks for magically appears for her. No questions asked.

I, personally, think that Edward is going a little overboard. She already loves him and she doesn't even know Tanya. If a judge were to ask her opinion on who she wants to live with, I know without a doubt that she would say Edward.

I, on the other hand, have returned to avoiding being alone with Edward. This isn't largely a problem and I'm not sure that he notices. If he does, he says nothing. He leaves with us and is treats me no differently than before. When we have meals together, he speaks with me the same way in which he always has. When he comes home, he puts Nessie to bed and then heads straight for his office, so he has not extended an invitation to me that I have had to turn down. I´m beginning to think that he has realized that kissing me is a mistake and that´s why it isn´t even a topic of discussion.

I need time to sort out my feelings on the whole matter, honestly. I had my own puppy crush on Edward to deal with and I wasn´t going to let that affect my work. Any hope I had of him returning those feelings should be squashed and pushed away as brief, ridiculous fantasies.

I spend so much time sorting out these feelings that weeks pass very quickly in the Cullen house. We all have a routine and we just...kind of stick to it.

My birthday, subsequently, comes and goes. I don't like my birthday, so, that's not a problem.

It doesn't actually become a problem until two weeks after my birthday. I'm spending my day in my room, reading and sleeping in. That's the day that Alice asks if she can come visit. I'm not sure that's a good idea. Personally, Alice can be overbearing. Also, she's probably inviting herself to stay in the Cullen household and that's just...slightly rude.

I rub my temples as I sigh into the phone. "Alice...you can't just invite yourself to stay with the Cullens." I chew my lip. I know Alice. She will do whatever she wants anyway. It doesn't matter what I say; if she wants to do it, she will.

"Please! I promise to stay at a hotel! I just want to spend time with you! And you can stay with me! We´ll get a super nice room!" The pout on her face can be heard through the phone. I know that Alice has a point. Aside from the occasional video call on the computer, she and I haven´t seen each other since I left for New York back in May.

I do miss her...and it was my birthday.

I sigh into the phone. "Fine. I'll see if I can get some time off...but, I make no guarantees. Edward...Mr. Cullen is going through some legal matters and it is keeping him very busy."

Alice is pleased by this answer. So much so that she squeals into the phone. "Oh, I can't wait to see New York City!"

Alice is so pleased and so giddy that she hangs up on me...without another word. No planning, no nothing. Knowing her, she´ll be here tomorrow...

I'm actually stressed out about this and unsure how I'm going to broach the subject with Edward. On the one hand, it shouldn't be a big deal that I want to take a couple days off. I had never asked for a day off before. Mostly, Edward just let us revolve our lives around Nessie and I was absolutely alright with that.

I´m working up the nerve to talk to Edward when I hear my name being called from the foyer. As if this day couldn't get any worse, now my boss is summoning me and he´s the last person I really want to have some quality time with at the moment. I rush to the foyer, trying to look as professional as possible. Maybe he got called to go to work and needs me to take over with Nessie. Maybe heś going to fire me.

Maybe he wants to kiss me again.

I smack myself mentally and ascend the stairs...

...to find a giant package in the hands of one of the men of the house. I bite my lips.

Of course, it's a Saturday, so, who should be signing for it, except one Edward Cullen.

Edward holds the package out to me, politely, and laughs. "Did you do a bit of online shopping?"

I groan as I take the package. I didn't order anything. I didn't need anything. And I didn't really want anything that anyone had to send to me. "No. Unfortunately, I don't know what this is. But, I'm sure it's nothing dangerous, if that helps." I look at the return address and feel myself twitch.

Edward pauses, clearly seeing that there is something not quite right about my face. "What?"

I sigh. "Nothing." I shake my head. "It's from an ex. He wants to be friends...I'm sure he means well," I sigh, about to take it up to my room and open it. I'm sure I'm just going to throw it away...or regift it to Alice. My ex, Jacob, doesn't just want to be friends. He wants to get back together, but, I'm not really looking for a long distance relationship...and I'm most certainly not looking for him to move to New York.

Just as I was turning, a wild Nessie appears from the living room, her hair in braids and wearing a frilly dress, as is usual. She runs straight up to me and grabs my legs so tightly that I almost drop the box. "Miss Bella!" She holds onto me so tightly that I question whether I've given this child separation anxiety within the twelve hours we have been apart. "Did you get a present?"

I sidle the box onto my hip and pat Nessie's head with my newly free hand. "Yes, Ness. Someone decided to send me a present." I can't help but smile around Nessie. Nessie loves everyone she comes in contact with. She has an energy that is infectious.

Nessie's eyes narrow. "Is it a birthday present?" Nessie tries to grab the box, but I hold it up a little higher.

"Ness," I say, sternly. "That is rude. You do not grab for anything someone is holding unless you ask."

Nessie pouts. Edward chuckles a little bit, but, I am grateful that he let's me handle the situation. "Fiiiine. I'm sorry, Miss Bella. May I see it? And is it a birthday present?"

I smile back, though, I try to hide my amusement. "As soon as I open it." I kneel down and give her a hug. "Thank you for correcting your manners," I compliment her, gently. "And, yes, I think so. It probably is a late birthday present."

Nessie smiles as brightly as the sun. "Is today your birthday!?" She is practically bouncing with her excitement, her braids hitting her shoulders.

I shake my head and laugh. "Not today. It was two weeks ago. September thirteenth!" I put the package down and continue our conversation. There's no point holding it and it is important to be ok the child's level when you're speaking to them.

Nessie suddenly looks sad. "I'm sorry, Miss Bella...we didn't have a party for you…and you didn't get any presents."

I roll my eyes. "Oh, Miss Nessie…when you get as old as I am, you don't need a birthday party. And every day I get to be with you is a present to me."

Nessie shuffles her feet, not quite understanding. I glance up at Edward, but he looks puzzled. Reneesme turns to him. "Daddy? Can I buy Miss Bella a birthday present?"

Edward nods, his eyes soft as they meet Nessie's. "Why don't you go to the living room and we can look for something together on your tablet? I'll join you in a moment."

Nessie jumps to attention and the vibrant look returns to her face. "I'm going to find you the best present ever!" She nods her head quickly. "You'll see! It will be the best birthday present you've ever gotten!"

With that, she hops off to the living room. I pick my surprise gift back up from the floor and I am ready to return to my room, all but forgetting Edward is still there. When he speaks, I nearly jump. "Why didn't you say anything about your birthday?" I had also forgotten that he was so close to me.

I turn toward him and shrug. "My birthday has never been that important to me. And, besides...it's not very professional of me to bring it up." I smile, hoping to seem as genuine as possible. It wasn't an important day to me and I didn't really care. Besides, it seemed somehow wrong to get everyone involved in an event around me when there was so much going on with Edward and Nessie.

Edward's brow creases. His body language is fairly unreadable. His arms are crossed across his chest. "What does professionalism have to do with anything? You're not just the nanny." I chew my lip when I hear this. I'm absolutely fine with being just the nanny. "It's a special day," he continues, as if trying to convince me.

I shrug, again. "I'm not a very special person."

My heart soars into the air as Edward reaches out a hand to touch my cheek, his hand cradling my face. I try to force myself not to lean into his touch and fail miserably. "You don't see yourself very clearly," he whispers.

My entire body screams, kiss me. My brain is about to implode on itself. Clearly, I haven't dealt with his kissing me yet and, clearly, my hormones want a repeat performance. Edward has been acting completely normally and, now, he does this. It's reeking havoc with my emotions.

The moment is broken with a loud throat clearing. "Miss Bella, are you joining us for lunch?" Jasper's voice sounds almost threatening, just an edge from it. Edward pulls away from me, gently, seemingly unperturbed by the interruption, and I look to see Jasper, holding a spatula and donning an apron. He looks like a soldier about to assassinate us, even with the metal spatula.

I swallow the lump that built in my throat. I avert my eyes to the ground. "Y-yeah. That sounds lovely. I just...need to put this away." I quickly rush up to my room with my box, sinking to the floor to calm myself down. I need to convince myself that none of this is happening and that it's all in my head.

After dinner, I help Jasper do dishes. It helps him get out to enjoy his nightlife a little sooner and it helps me not die from boredom while Edward has Nessie for the day. Jasper is notably quiet through the entire day and every interaction I have with him is short. It's only as I am drying plates to set in the dish drying rack (self drying, self heated, electric. Not something we normal people have…), that he decides to tell me why.

"Bella," he says, quietly. "Are you sleeping with our boss?" The query is so uncharacteristic and out of the blue, I fumble the plate.

I start to laugh hysterically. "Absolutely not!" I place the dish in its rightful place. "Why would you think that?"

Jasper continues washing the dishes. "You seemed awful cozy in the foyer earlier." The air of suspicion and potential distaste that I hear in his sentence irks me a little. Jasper is my friend and the fact that he seems miffed is upsetting to me.

I frown. "Jasper…" I take a deep breath. "I'm not trying to start any drama. I need this job…"

Jasper gives me a side-eyed look at this. "What is that supposed to mean?"

Without thinking, and mostly because I know that Edward is in his study with Nessie, I blurt out, "Edward kissed me."

Jasper spins with the speed of a cheetah toward me. "Excuse me?"

I feel myself turn bright red. Jasper's face is angry. I don't know why, but I see something flicker in his eyes that is murderous. "When he got so angry with us, I went to check on Nessie...and he kissed me."

Jasper immediately begins to dry his hands. "Excuse me, Miss Bella. I'm going to go lose my job."

I grab his arm. "No! No, no! Let's not do anything ridiculously rash." I know that I'm not going to actually stop Jasper if he wants to do anything, but, I don't even really know what he wants to do.

Jasper shrugs my hand off of his bicep. "He took advantage of you. That is not alright with me."

I shake my head. "Jasper...it's ok. Really. Let me handle it." I reach out to touch his arm again, but the look on his face makes me recoil. I pull away.

Finally, he sighs. "Why don't you go...do whatever you need to. I'll finish up here." I try to protest, but he stops me. "I need to think."

I nod and walk upstairs. The clock in the foyer chimes, letting me know that it is eight o'clock. I try to roll my shoulders back and shake my head.

In the family room at the top of the stairs of the penthouse, Nessie and Edward and playing. They're running around the room, Edward holding a game piece high above Nessie's head as she tries to tackle him to the ground...and I can't help but stop for a moment and smile. This is one of the happiest moments of our house. They're both erupting into laughter as I decide that I should leave for my room, deciding I was intruding on the moment.

Edward feigns being felled by the tiny heathen, collapsing onto the giant couch, and sweeps her up to deliver a finishing blow. He must turn, because he notices me and calls out. "Bella!"

I pause, politely turning toward them. I smile. "Sorry to interrupt. Don't mind me. I'm just going to my room." I'm tired. I'm tired for several reasons. I'm tired because Jasper is mad at me. I'm tired because I still don't know what's going on in Edward Cullen's head. I'm tired because working as a nanny is exhausting...I'm also tired because I've yet to open the package from this morning.

Edward sweeps Nessie up and carries her toward me. His face creases. "What's wrong?"

I shake my head. "Nothing!" I smile brightly. "I'm just...exhausted, I guess."

Nessie frowns in her father's arms. "Are you sick?" She reaches out toward my forehead. "She doesn't feel warm," she says, turning back to Edward. I try not to giggle.

Edward puts Nessie to her feet. "Alright, my love. Time for you to head to bed. I need to talk to Miss Bella for a minute and then I'll read you a story."

Steadfast, Nessie plants her feet to the floor. "I can wait," she says, happily.

Edward is slightly confused by this answer. I don't think he realized how stubborn she was...or that she got it completely from him. "Reneesme…" His voice is stern, but his face remains ever loving.

"I don't want to go to bed by myself…" she whines.

I smile at Nessie and then at Edward. "It's fine. I'm alright, really. We can talk later, if you would like."

Edward sighs, seeing that he has been thwarted by two equally skilled female foes. He turns to Nessie. "Alright, princess." I scoops her up. "Come to bed with me, then."

Nessie looks at me. "Aren't you coming, Miss Bella?"

I stop for a second. Edward stops and shrugs, letting me know that the invitation is open. I shrug. "I guess I can stay for one story?"

I can't imagine any way that this could possibly go wrong. I help tuck Nessie in and settle on her bed in a sitting position while Edward bargains with her for a book. I laugh as they go back and forth over what book they should read. I'm not even too sure what book they finally settle on, I just giggle as they argue back and forth over the correct book to read.

Nessie perches her back on a pile of pillows and becomes enthralled by Edward's voice. "Once upon a time…" he begins. Shortly after I am as enthralled as she is. We listen to a several stories about knights and princesses and dragons before Nessie falls asleep, cuddled into my side. Edward keeps reading, even though she has long since passed out. I listen, anyway, Edward's voice lulling me into a comfortability that music would even have a hard time matching.

I must fall asleep. I don't remember the feeling of being tired or even of relaxing into Nessie's pillows, but, I wake up, groggy and being carried. I snuggle closer into the person's arms and sigh. This is fine. I'm cold and the warmth of their body comforts me.

It doesn't even occur to me to see who it is. I know they feel safe and warm and my eyes are too heavy to remain open. They deposit me incredibly gently into a soft surface, which I assume is my bed. I wrap my arms around the person's neck and pull them closer. "Stay," I mumble, groggily.

The person chuckles. I realize that it must be Edward when I hear his voice. "Bella...you're going to have to let go of my neck so that you can sleep."

I sigh and try and pull dream Edward closer to me. "I want you to stay with me."

"Bella," he says, gently. "I can't." The word almost sounds pained, as if I had just asked him to complete an impossible task. I don't understand in my sleep addled brain why my dream Edward can't stay with me. I want nothing more than to fantasize about falling asleep in the arms of my boss.

I feel large hands gently take my wrists and carefully detach me from him. I'm ever so gently placed under my blankets. I barely open my eyes and grab his hand. "Please," I whisper, hoping that he will listen. "I don't want to be alone."

I sound like Nessie. I'm just glad this is a dream state. Otherwise, I sound so childish, there is no way that I would ever convince a grown man to join me in bed. Not that I would ever be successful, anyway.

Dream Edward is nice. Dream Edward is convinced, because he does join me in bed. He does lay next to me and pull me into his arms. He kissed my forehead and he whispers, "Just for tonight."

It was a silly, school girl fantasy dream, but it was a nice dream, nonetheless.

A/N: Hmm...seems like she has a very vivid capacity for dreaming...

Lemons? Yay or nay? Ha ha.