Hey everyone, I hope you all had a wonderful Valentine's Day. I did. Things have been quite eventful but in a good way…finally! I've got about half of chapter 21 written and am hoping to finish it soon, although I do have another eventful week ahead.

I hope you all were able to read the last chapter that was posted before FFn went wonky. Here's hoping there are no problems this time.

Thanks to Brie and kitch for their fabulous beta skills.

Enjoy! xx

Chapter Seventeen

Confession #17: As not only a man, but as a husband and father, I am grateful that I have the ability to be level headed when coffee girl just isn't…it doesn't happen often, but I like when she lets me be the rock she needs.

"I love you, coffee girl. Tell me what's going on in that beautiful mind of yours?" I asked the second I was back on the road toward home.

She was sitting beside me but staring in the back at Caleb's car seat. "I feel like I might be cheating him out of a lot of bonding with this pregnancy. Like I won't be able to be the mom I want to be because I'll be too tired to give him my all."

I could understand where she was coming from. I would feel that way if I hadn't been able to take this time off, and I already knew I wasn't going to have that same chance with the twins. I had work commitments that, barring any delays, would begin next summer.

These babies were a huge surprise, but I was excited nonetheless.

"I get that, but you are an amazing mother already. Sure, you've been more tired lately and had to work on top of that, but you've finished up most of your obligations. You only have a few more days, right?"

"Yeah."

I continued. "I really don't think you're going to be cheating him out of anything. Do you think parents that have to go back to work full-time six to twelve weeks after their children are born are cheating their children out of parent time?"

She vehemently shook her head. "Of course not, but this is different. They don't have a choice; without money they cannot provide for their families. Caleb will have to share our attention way before he should have to. He's my little boy. I don't want him to hate me."

She sighed and glanced out the window. "I know I sound completely ridiculous. I just can't help it. Everything is changing so fast. I just don't know how we'll do it all."

Even though it was something we'd wanted to avoid, now seemed like as good of a time as any to broach the nanny topic again.

"You sound like a mother who loves her child very much and wants nothing but the best for them...except clothes." I was teasing her, trying to lighten the mood. "Maybe we should reconsider hiring a nanny…"

I left the words hanging there, allowing her to think on them without any pressure. I would support any decision she made because I knew it would be one we talked about together—the way we did every other important decision in our lives.

~o~o~o~

Coffee girl was fourteen weeks along when we had the family over and told them we were expecting again. While they were just as shocked as we had been, they were excited.

"And not only is she pregnant, but we're having twins, too."

"Way to go, Edward!" You've got to love Emmett and his loud mouth.

"More babies for me to love on!" Renee exclaimed! "Charlie, we have got to move closer!"

I watched as my father-in-law snorted into his beer. "I'm a police officer, Renie, not a millionaire. The only thing we can afford to buy here is a map to the stars' houses."

Bella clung to my side, laughing at her dad's response to her mother.

Renee huffed and crossed her arms over her chest. "Well, I'm going to win the lottery one day, and when I do, we're moving on up!"

"To the eastside! We finally got a piece of pie!" Emmett sang.

More laughter rang out from all of us as Emmett and Renee put on a show for us. All I could think was how much I loved my family.

Once everyone had left, Bella carried Caleb up to bed on her hip and I followed behind. She wouldn't be able to do that for much longer, but I didn't mention that...I liked my balls right where they were. I just stood in the doorway and watched as she fed and rocked him to sleep, humming quiet little lullabies.

Her beauty shone brightest when she was in mommy mode. I stepped away to grab my camera, and then snapped picture after picture of them—mother and son bonding at its best.

I could only hope at least one of the twins was a girl who I could attain the same connection with that Bella and Caleb shared. A Daddy's little princess. Someone I could raise to know her own worth like my parents had done for me. Someone who would know the way a man should treat her, the same way I would teach Caleb to be a strong, supportive, and loving man as he grew up. I would teach all of my children that chivalry wasn't dead.

I looked forward to the possibility of father-daughter dances. To being wrapped around her tiny, little pinky the same way I was with my coffee girl. I wanted to give standing ovations at ballet and piano recitals.

Yeah, I needed a Daddy's little angel.

~o~o~o~

Life was good, and while everything had been quiet on the work front due to my self-imposed paternity leave, Alec contacted me about a new venture.

"Edward, I was just contacted by Armani. They are looking into adding a new men's line to their Privé fragrance collection and they want you to head the campaign."

"I don't know if that's something I would be interested in. I'm not really a cologne type of guy," I explained.

"It's a fifteen million dollar, three year deal. They would allow you to choose the director for the campaign as well as the photographer for the stills. I really think this is a great opportunity. Talk to Isabella; get her opinion. They're even open to the idea of you working together on the project and are willing to pay her a substantial amount of money for someone who hasn't worked in this field before."

That idea really did appeal to me, but with the new pregnancy I didn't know if she would even be interested. I figured I needed to disclose our news to Alec anyway. "I'll talk to her, but I don't know if it will be possible. It would depend on the timetable for the shoot because Bella's pregnant again...with twins."

The phone line went silent.

"Alec? You still there?" It was still quiet, so I shouted. "Alec!"

"Wow," he muttered. "You sure do work fast."

I laughed. Hard. He joined in. "What can I say? My wife is sexy pregnant."

More laughter ensued before we parted ways with me promising to call him back tomorrow after I talked to Bella.

I exited my office and went in search of my wife. I found her in her studio. Caleb was sleeping in his playpen while she was playing the piano and recording lullabies. I sat outside the soundproof room and listened to her melodic voice as it rang out through the speakers. I loved when she forgot to turn them off and I was able to just sit and enjoy her music.

I didn't know how long I sat there or how long she'd been singing, but she had gone through several songs before Caleb awoke and voiced his presence. His adorable baby babble joined in with Bella's voice and my face lit up. I watched coffee girl smile and continue with the song until it finished. Caleb's tone somehow stayed on the same pitch level as hers the entire time, and I was in awe.

As the last note lingered, she stood and headed for Caleb. He cooed and smiled as she cuddled him and spoke in a sing-songy voice.

"Are you going to be a singer, little man? Have Mama write you pretty words for you to sing, huh?"

She kept talking as she made her way out of the soundproof room. When she saw me standing there, a huge smile overtook her face.

"Lookie, Caleb, it's Daddy." She held him out for me to take and I happily did.

"Hey, big guy. Were you singing with Mama?" He gurgled and grinned, moving his arms and legs as he 'told' me his story.

"Really? Well, you sounded great." He continued with his baby noises while I talked to Bella. "You guys sounded great. What are you working on?"

Bella had sat down at her soundboard and computer equipment and began replaying and editing the song they recorded. "I decided to finally put together a lullaby album. I don't know if I'll shop it around or not, but I wanted it for all of our babies and to help you out with nap times if I'm busy in here."

I loved that about her; she was always thinking about the kids and me.

"Whatever you decide, you know I'll support you with every ambition you have. I was actually coming out here to talk to you about a new job offer I received…"

She turned and glanced up as me. "Oh yeah? What is it?"

I began telling her about the Armani deal. She was half listening and half working, but I knew she was hearing everything I was telling her. "And they want you to star in the commercial with me."

All of her movements ceased as she glanced up at me in shock. Stunned, even.

"They want me? Why? I'm not an actress or even a model."

I chuckled and shook my head. "You may not be classically trained, but you could do it. Besides, this wouldn't be so much us acting as it would be about our chemistry. We have that in spades…remember singing together? We're sexy and you know it."

She snorted. I loved that sound. With a hand on her rapidly expanding stomach, Bella said, "So sexy."

She didn't see what I did, but that belly of hers turned me on something fierce. I did that to her. It was hot, and I was a man who appreciated every change her body went through. Even this time was different than with Caleb.

"You are sexy, so gorgeous with my children growing inside of you," I growled, lust burning in my eyes as I took in her form.

Her cheeks flushed and she rubbed her thighs together without even realizing she was doing it. I hardened at the sight and it wasn't without issue since I was still holding Caleb. We couldn't drop everything anymore, but my desire for her was raging.

I wondered how bad it would be to try and put our wide-awake son down for a nap so I could ravish my glowing wife. Probably very bad.

With a sigh, I willed my raging hard on down and focused back on business. "I didn't get all the details, but these things take time. You will most likely have delivered before we even begin the shoot." Though it wasn't nice, I gave her a push toward hopefully acquiescing to the idea. "There is no one else I would want to share a moment like that with. Please."

Puppy dog eyes never hurt either. I could see her resolve wavering and began to gloat internally.

She sighed and turned to the computer to save her work before facing me again and giving me her full attention.

"Tell me more."

And I did.

~o~o~o~

Coffee girl hadn't agreed right away like I'd been hoping, but I could see the wheels turning inside her head the rest of the day.

She was quiet throughout dinner and after, while she bathed and fed Caleb.

I left her to her thoughts, but it was hard. Sometimes reading my wife was impossible while others it was easy as pie.

When she climbed into bed next to me later that night, I wondered if she would even answer me before morning. I was dying to know, but still didn't press.

She turned off her side light and rolled toward me. Her eyes sparkled, and although she hadn't spoken yet, I knew. She was excited.

"I'll do it."

My answering smile was blinding, even in our dark room, and I couldn't help but ravish her.

I loved my life…and my wife.

Well, that's another one in the bag. I can't wait to hear from any of you who chose to leave you your thoughts. Love you all. xx Dee