Content warning for suggested themes in this chapter.

*Christmas Eve!*

*The Next Morning*

After being woken up by a very eager Edward and Isabelle running onto our bedroom and jumping onto our bed before cuddling into us. We cuddled tightly together for a short while before Ben got ready as me, Edward and Isabelle watched TV in our room. Me and Ben decided that it was better that we got better one at a time so at least one of us could be with the children. When we were both dressed into clothes suitable to go outside for a short walk we then quickly got the children washed and dressed so we could go and find Adam and Belle.

Before I knew it breakfast had quickly come and gone and we were now on our hike; I only managed to walk for about twenty minutes before I stated that I needed to have a rest. So I sat down on a nearby log with Belle as the others continued their walk; but they stated that they we would walk back to us on their way back.

As they walked away I couldn't help but take in the very picturesque scene in front of me; the sky was clear and was bright blue in colour. The tall oak and fern trees that were around is were sprayed with a layering on snow; and every now and again iceless on the trees dropped with a smash. Me and Belle were currently sitting on a large wooden log at the top of a small bank and underneath us was a valley. The valley under that looked like an unfinished painting; with the snow cascading over the trees, boulders and fallen down trees. The air was of course cold, and where my face was bare the frost was slightly stinging my face.

"It's a nice thing you are doing-" I heard Belle say which pulled me away from gazing at the view around us.

"Thank you" I smiled as I looked at her and saw a warm smile spread across her face. "Can I be completely honest with you?" I offered.

"What?" she asked in confusion.

"I have mixed feelings" I admitted.

"How?" she questioned as her face dropped into concern.

"Well of course I am glad that I am helping Evie and Doug-" I started. "But I can't wait for it to be my due date" I sighed.

"I get what you mean" she replied. "Then things can then return back to normal" she added. "Well as normal as it ever is for you and Ben" she added and we both laughed at this.

"Yeah" I nodded. "Evie and Doug are going to be amazing parents" I smiled as I imagined Evie and Doug with their twins.

"Yeah" I heard her answer. "I like how you are giving them an opportunity" she smiled.

"Well it is both me and Ben giving them an opportunity" I amended. "We are doing this together; this isn't just me doing this" I urged and I watched as her face softened at the sound of her son's name.

"How are things between you and Ben?" she asked.

"Strained" I confessed. "But ok" I added. "We can't really go too far you know" I continued hoping that I wouldn't need to go too much into it. There was one point where it was strange to talk about mine and Ben's sex life with his mother but not now. She had given me advice in the past; and she has been the mother figure in my life that I needed. "We don't want to do anything that would put the twins at risk; of course we both were very active with Edward and Isabelle" I explained. "But we don't want to put these at risk; we would never live with ourselves if anything happened" I finished as I pursed my lips together.

"I get that" she replied.

"Yeah" I muttered. "A little bit of a warning though Belle" I smirked at her.

"Yes?" she questioned and I watched as a playful look entered her eyes.

"When everything has settled down after the twins are here; will you and Adam look after Eddie and Belle for us?" I questioned. I knew that she would expect that after when the twins are born me and Ben would need some time alone together; as we did after when both Edward and Isabelle was born. Both times me and Ben felt guilty for having a night or couple of days away from the children but we both needed it. Me and Ben were quite a physical couple; we always have been and I think nothing was ever going to change on that front.

"Of course" she grinned. "You know I love spending time with them" she added and we both looked over to them wandering in the snow in the distance.

"They love spending time with you and Adam" I noted. "It's very cute actually" I added as I looked back to her.

"Yeah" she nodded.

"I like how close you are" I answered. "I know that Ben was close to his grandparents" I stated.

"I wasn't" I sighed.

"Sorry" she quickly apologised.

"It's not your fault" I returned. "If I am being honest I doubt that I would ever have a relationship with my grandparents" I added.

"Really?" she questioned.

"No" I muttered. "Not at all" I stated.

"But do you think that they wouldn't want to get to know you?" she questioned.

"Only if I was being evil" I stated before I pulled a disgruntled face. "They would be exactly how my parents reacted to me being with Ben" I explained.

"I see" she noted as we both fell into an awkward silence. Unfortunately every time my family was mentioned Belle became uneasy as she didn't know how to respond - however with time this has got better but there is still times like this when we found ourselves in this situation.

"MAMMY!" we both heard Edward shout and when we looked over to where his voice had come from we saw Edward running towards us, with Isabelle running behind him - with Ben and Adam walking shortly behind them.

"Yes?" I teased as they both stood in front of me.

"Look what we have" Edward sang.

"What?" I questioned and they both showed me that they were each holding a large pine cone in their small hands.

"They are so pretty" Isabelle sang.

"Yeah" I nodded as Adam and Ben stood behind them.

"Daddy said we can hang them on the tree after we dry them" Edward advised seriously as he nodded.

"Oh" I muttered. "Maybe if we get some glitter glue we could add some colour?" I suggested.

"Oh!" they both gasped. "Please!" the both exclaimed as they eagerly stamped their wellies into the floor.

"I want pink!" Isabelle sang.

"I want blue!" Edward advised and I couldn't help but smile as he was pulling the same face Ben did when he was very content.

"Sounds perfect" Ben said as he smiled at me. "How are you feeling Dragon?" he questioned.

"Well rested Beast" I winked at him and we both laughed at each other. After Ben slowly helped me off the log; he then slowly and carefully led me back to the lodge as his right arm was wrapped around my shoulders. Yes I did enjoy this family time and talk with Belle; but I couldn't wait to be back in the warmth of our winter lodge - so we could get on with our Christmas Eve festivities.