Just in case some of you are confused as to where we're at in the timeline, it's early April at this point.

BPOV

From the moment Tim and Jacob left on Saturday until we got Tim's phone call, everything in my life seemed to go in slow motion. It was the most maddening anticipation of my life—if we got the restraining order pushed through, then Tim could have a team of cops watching our house all day, every day.

I was at the sink, washing dishes while Edward sat in the living room with the kids when the phone rang. I dropped the plate I was absentmindedly rubbing with a washcloth, and it shattered on the floor near my feet. I didn't even think about trying to clean up the mess, I just stepped over the shards lying before me and made my way to the phone.

"Yes?"

"Bella? It's Tim," he said.

"Tim, so good to hear from you," I replied with a shaky voice—I wouldn't be able to calm myself until I knew my family was safe.

"I played the tape for my boss and he agrees with me, this James is dangerous," He said. "I have already sent a team to your house to do surveillance tonight. The team leader's name is Russell, and he should be there to introduce himself shortly."

Tears streamed down my cheeks as I was finally able to speak in a nice, even voice, "Thank you, Tim. I'm in your debt for the rest of my life."

"Don't mention it, Bella—this is my job."

"Thank you," I whispered once more before hanging up.

As soon as the phone was back on the hook, I felt a pair of strong arms wrap around me. I leaned back into Edward for a moment before turning to cry on his shoulder.

"Shhhh," he soothed. "Everything is going to be fine—he's not getting anywhere near our children now."

"I know," I said as I began to calm myself. "It's just, this has been hanging over my head for so long; I'm so relieved to get past it."

Edward pulled back and smiled at me sweetly. He leaned in to give me a kiss as the doorbell rang.

"That must be Russell," I said, giving my husband a quick peck on the cheek. "Let's go meet him."

We walked through the living room where our children were enthralled with an Elmo DVD. I smiled at them lovingly before heading through the foyer to answer the door. Standing there was a man nearly as tall and muscular as Jacob. I was glad the police force wasn't messing around on this one.

"Mr. and Mrs. Cullen?" He asked.

"Yes," Edward answered. "You must be Russell; it's nice to meet you."

"Likewise, I'm Officer Russell Culpepper," he said as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a card. "All of my information is on there—cell phone, home phone, e-mail. Don't ever hesitate to call if something seems out of the ordinary around here."

"We'll do that," I said. "Thank you so much."

"My pleasure, Ma'am," he replied as he smiled and turned back towards his team.

Edward and I walked back into the living room to enjoy some quiet time with our babies.

EPOV

Wednesday

Though we had the protection constantly around the house now, I was still nervous about what our future held. Bella made the reservation for the hotel just to appease James, but she had no intention of showing up for the supposed tryst.

This was all part of Tim and Jacob's plan. If James has to wait all night and Bella never shows, our cavalcade of officers will be waiting for his inevitable retaliation.

I was going along with it because I had no other choice and no better idea, but it made me nervous to no end. We still weren't sure what James was capable of.

I went about my daily routine with the knowledge that there was always extra security loitering around the hospital keeping an eye on me. Bella, on the other hand, had given up all pretenses of working at this point. It was almost as if she was under house arrest. How ironic, we're living in our own personal prison when James is the one who should be behind bars.

I went through the motions of meeting with patients, but I was on autopilot the whole time. It was a very good thing I didn't have any surgeries scheduled for a while—I couldn't handle a malpractice suit on top of being stalked by a psychopath.

I was sitting in my office when one of my receptionists, Brenda, walked in. I had hired her on part-time to learn under my regular receptionist, Maria, who would be out soon on maternity leave. And I was beginning to think she wasn't the best choice—she's only 23-years-old, she's kind of lazy, she dresses inappropriately, she's not the brightest bulb in the tanning bed and she seems to have developed a crush on me.

"Hey Dr. Cullen," she said, trying to give me a sexy smile. "A bunch of us are going to SODO Deli for lunch. Did you want to tag along?"

"No, thanks Brenda," I replied as I stretched and closed the book I was reading. "I'll probably grab something from the cafeteria."

"Oh, come on, Dr. Cullen," she said coyly. "What is it you always say about team-building?"

I sighed and rubbed my temples gently before reciting my motto on building a strong team, "'We should do things outside of the office in order to bond.' You're right; just give me a moment, OK?"

"OK, see you in the parking lot," she said as she walked out of my office.

I sighed and put the book back on my shelf. I took my lab coat and put it on the hook on the back of my door. I took my fleece coat off the back of my chair and headed out.

When I got out to the parking lot, there was only Brenda standing there next to her blue Kia.

"Where is everyone else?" I asked.

"I told them to go ahead to the restaurant and I'd drive you over when you got out," she replied. "They were really hungry."

I eyed her suspiciously for a moment, and then shrugged and got in her car. She plopped down in her seat and giggled as she started the engine. As soon as the car roared to life, some god awful music came blaring out of her speakers.

Even worse – she started to sing along.

"Even though the gods are crazy, even though the stars are blind," she warbled in a horrendous, airy voice.

I closed my eyes and thought of something pleasant to take my mind off of the assault happening to my ears. I remembered listening to Bella sweetly singing a lullaby to the twins when they were babies. I smiled and rested my head against the window until I felt the car come to a stop.

"Gee, you must have really liked my singing," she giggled, biting the nail on her left index finger. "I've never made a guy smile like that before."

I chose to ignore her inane accusation and stepped out of the car. As I walked into the restaurant, I scanned the area looking for any familiar faces. I found none.

Brenda walked in behind me; she already had a sheepish look on her face.

"Guess they went to a different restaurant – oh well, let's eat!" She chirped, grabbing my arm.

She tried to tug me over to a table, but I refused to move. I glared at her sternly and she looked down at her ridiculous, non-work functional high heels. I calmed my temper before I proceeded.

"Brenda, can we step outside for a second?"

She nodded and followed me back out to the parking lot. I walked back to her car and sat gently against the hood. I ran my hands down my face and looked up at her.

"No one was ever meeting us, were they?"

She was still looking down as she shook her head.

"You were trying to have lunch alone with me?"

She nodded.

"Even though you know I'm happily married with four children."

She nodded.

"Why, Brenda?"

Brenda finally looked up from her shoes with cheeks soaked in tears, "I…I think I'm in love with you, Dr. Cullen. And I think you could be happier with me than you are with your wife."

I shook my head and looked down at my hands, "That's ridiculous, Brenda. I love my wife and my children more than life. And no woman could ever take me away from them."

She sniffed her tears back and went to speak again, but I held my hand up and shook my head again.

"Don't say another word, Brenda. When we get back to the office, I'd like you to pack your things and leave."

We had an awkward drive back to the hospital and she whined and moaned her way through packing her things and made a scene exiting the building. I almost had to call security.

Once I was settled back in my office, I heard a beep come from my desk and realized I had left my phone behind and missed a call. I flipped the phone open and listened to the message.

"Hey babe, you must be with a patient, so I'll make this quick." It was Bella, and it felt so nice to hear her voice after what had transpired earlier. "The surveillance team won't let me go to the store, even if they go with me and the kids, so I need you to pick up some asparagus, some red potatoes and a mixed spring salad for dinner. And, maybe you could pick up a bottle of wine that Mommy and Daddy can drink later tonight? I love you."

The smile on my face must have stretched from ear to ear before I hung up the phone.

After work, I dropped by Safeway and got the things Bella asked for when I bumped into a familiar face. Leah Clearwater was working at the check out counter as I set my basket down.

"Hello Leah," I said.

"Hi," she said her face like a deer in the headlights. "How…how are you?"

"I think you know how I am," I replied. "I think you know how my family is doing now, don't you?"

She shook her head quickly, "I don't know what you're talking about."

I kept my voice even as I leaned in closer, "You gave all of my family's information to James – you're the only one connected with him who would ever do something to hurt us. I know you've never liked Bella, and you've never wanted the Swan's to be part of your family, but did you have to put my family in danger in the process."

"He…he said he was just going to scare you – to have some fun with you," she stuttered as she attempted to explain herself. "As soon as I gave him the photos and your phone number, I never saw him again, I swear."

"It was enough to give him all the tools he needed to harass and threaten my family," I hissed.

"I didn't know he was going to do that," she said quietly. "I'm sorry."

A manager approached us, "Is there a problem again, Leah?"

"No Mr. Mitchell," Leah replied.

I ran my credit card through the reader and steadied myself on the side of the check out.

"Sir, was Miss Clearwater rude to you?" Mitchell asked, glaring at Leah out of the corner of his eye.

"No, we just have some unfinished business, it has nothing to do with her work," I responded as she handed me my receipt and I grabbed my groceries and left.

I drove home angrily, but all the anger went away as I pulled into our driveway. I was coming home to the people I love most in the world, and none of the unpleasantness of today would stop me from having a great night.

When I walked into the kitchen, Bella was standing at the counter with Alys on her hip while the twins were mixing something in a bowl.

"Hey, Daddy's home!" Bella said as the kids ran to hug my legs.

I walked over to where my wife and youngest child stood and kissed Bella gently.

"Hello my angel," I said before kissing Alys on the top of her head. "Hello to all my angels."

Owen was sitting in a playpen near the table and he called to me.

"Daddy!!"

"Hey son," I replied as I pulled him up into a hug.

I set him down and the twins both jumped on me, "Daddy! It's our turn for hugs!!"

"Of course, I saved my little ladies for last," I replied as I sat on the floor with them.

Aina sat in my life as Keely jumped on my back and threw her arms around my neck. I held them both close to me and smiled. I looked up and saw Bella gazing at me wistfully.

"Well," she began, "Let's get dinner ready, shall we?"

I stood up and got the groceries out of the bag. Bella took the asparagus and put it in a glass dish with some butter and dill – the potatoes went into a pot to be boiled on the stove. She had been cooking a pot roast in the crock pot all day, so by the time the vegetables were done, dinner would be ready.

"And what have we here?" I asked as I tried to dip a finger into the batter the twins had been mixing.

Bella slapped my hand back and smiled at me, "We're making some cupcakes – some are for us and some are for the surveillance team."

"Honey, you don't have to feed them," I said with a smirk.

"It was Keely and Aina's idea," she countered.

"Well aren't my ladies such gracious hostesses?" I replied as I stooped down and pulled each twin into both of my arms.

"And they're a couple of fine bakers, too," Bella smiled as she set Alys down so she could pour the cupcake batter into their individual cups.

We sat down to dinner a little later and I sat by Alys to cut her food into pieces for her while Bella did the same for Owen. I felt that sense of contentment and happiness settle into my chest as I ate and laughed with my beautiful family.

After we put the kids to bed, Bella and I opened the bottle of wine and drank a couple of glasses while we languished in our bedroom. We made love after the first glass and then took the activities to our bathroom for one long, hot shower.

I held Bella close to me as our bodies entwined under the wonderful, hot water. There was an aura about our love-making that had been absent lately, and I knew I had our new protectors to thank for our newfound sense of comfort and well-being. We had a kind of freedom that we hadn't felt in a while, and it came pouring out of each of us while we continued to rollick through our bedroom all night.

I had no doubt that after this night we should be expecting to find ourselves with another little bundle of joy very soon. And, I knew Bella could feel it, too. In fact, we fell asleep thinking up names we can give to our next baby.

Next up: the night of the "appointment;" how will James react to being stood up?