After leaving Edward's room I heard Ben and Isabelle still chatting away in bed so I knew that it would probably be a while before Ben joined me, Adam and Belle in the living room to finish our evening.
As I walked back towards the living room I still couldn't believe that I was a mother to the pair of them. Time had gone so quickly Edward was going to be five in three month's time and Isabelle was going to be three next month. Yes I cherished every moment I had with them - I just couldn't believe that my babies were growing up far too quickly for my liking.
"Edward asleep?" I heard Adam asked as I returned to my seat.
"Yes" I smiled as I thought about my sleeping Beast upstairs. "Ben and Isabelle however are still talking" I advised.
"I see" Adam replied as Belle chuckled at this.
"Nice to see some things never change" he noted. I then opened my mouth to say something but was cut off when we all heard Ben's voice.
"What is that supposed to mean? He said as he entered the room and started to walk towards me.
"What I meant is that you always liked to chat before going to bed" Adam grinned.
"You always have" Belle interjected as Ben sat down on my left hand side.
"You no doubt always will" I teased.
"Hey!" He exclaimed. "You are all ganging up on me" he pouted.
"Would a cuddle make it better?" I teased back.
"Sold!" He exclaimed and we tightly cuddled together causing Adam and Belle to laugh. We all then started to watch National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation as we started to settle down for the night.
After the film finished Adam and Belle started to look for something else to watch and I heard my phone start to ring and me and Ben slowly looked at each other. I pulled my phone out of my dressing gown pocket and showed him the phone to show him that it was Evie.
"I should have known" I advised.
"What?" Belle asked as she asked Adam to leave Love Actually on.
"Evie" I replied as I nodded down at my phone. "I'm surprised she hasn't rang more" I muttered; and Ben chuckled as I answered the phone.
"Hi E" I said down the phone as me and Ben slowly untangled ourselves from each other.
"Hi M" I heard her say happily down the phone.
"Are you ok?" I questioned.
"Yes" she answered. "I just wanted to see how all of your nights were going" she stated and I knew deep down she wanted to know how the twins were doing.
"Everything is fine-" I began. "We watched a film with the kids, put the kids to bed so we are now all just calming down for the evening" I advised.
"I see" she noted and we fell into an awkward silence. "Mal?" She said finally breaking the few seconds silence.
"Yes?" I replied.
"Is everything ok with the twins?" She enquired.
"Yeah" I answered. "They have been very active tonight" I explained.
"Have they?" She cooed.
"Yeah" I repeated. "They must be getting into the Christmas spirit" I chuckled.
"Yeah" she replied. "Have you been resting?" She enquired.
"Yes and no" I stated.
"What do you mean?" She asked and I had to resist to roll my eyes at this.
"Well it's Christmas E I've been doing things with the children" I advised.
"Ok" she answered. "Just don't run yourself down" she stated sternly.
"I won't" I quickly answered. I know that Evie probably meant well; as she wanted me and the twins to be ok. However I think that sometimes she forgot that I had other commitments as well - unfortunately.
"How has your and Doug's night been?" I asked hoping to move the subject on from me and the twins to what she had been doing.
"It's been lovely" she replied. "We had a lovely meal" she added. "We are currently watching Love Actually" she advised.
"Ah, we are watching that" I advised as the opening credits finished playing.
"Really?" She questioned.
"Yeah" I nodded. "Great minds think alike" I chuckled.
"Yeah" she answered happily.
"I'm really sorry E but I need to go" I advised and I watched as Ben threw me a look of confusion. "I need the toilet" I admitted and I watched as Ben nodded at this before he pressed a kiss against the top of my head.
"Ok speak later on" she answered.
"Bye" I said.
"Bye" I heard her reply before I hung up the phone and I slid my phone back into my dressing gown pocket.
"Ben can you help me up please?" I questioned.
"So that wasn't just a ruse to get her off the phone?" He teased as he stood up.
"Nope" I stated as he slowly and carefully helped me to my feet. "I actually need the toilet" I smiled meekly at him.
"Ok baby" he replied before he sat back down as I turned around. As I went to leave the room Ben winked at me and I couldn't help but chuckle at my husband; my beautiful, supportive and very patient Beast.
When I came back into the room me and Ben cuddled together as we continued to watch Love Actually. I actually ended up falling asleep in his arms; which in my opinion was my favourite place in the world.
When Ben woke me up carefully he teased me by saying that I had not only slept through the film but in fact another film. Ben then told me that they wanted to put the presents out for the children; but Ben stated that I didn't need to help. I quickly told him that I wanted to help; so I suggested that they go and start getting everyone's presents and I cleared up then we could put them out together.
Ben then smiled at me and pressed a kiss against the top of my head before he untangled himself from me. I always loved this part of Christmas; as I couldn't wait for the others to see what they got for Christmas. I also was very excited to see what I had received for Christmas; but what meant more to me was this very valuable and private family time.
As I started to clear things away I started to hope that Edward and Isabelle wouldn't wake up too early in the morning; but given what had happened over the last few years I knew not to hold my breath.