Happy New Year, one and all! Sorry it's taken me so long to get this out, I've been a bit busy – what, with the holidays and such – but, I wanted you all to know the next chapter (after this one you're reading, so chapter 20) will be the last of this story.

Sorry, I just can't seem to get much more out of this one. Fear not, though, for I have a few things in the hole at the moment – not the least of which is my Alice/Jasper story "The life before her eyes." Now, I know some of you don't like A/J stories, but I implore you to read this one! It's going to go in some interesting directions, and could be my best story yet!

Also, I will eventually get to my sequel to "Ghosts of the past," I promise, but I'm trying to step back from that for a moment to focus on a couple other ideas. One of those ideas is a story where Bella is a novelist who writes very beautiful, very steamy romances, but is actually a virgin in real life and not good at relationships. Thoughts?

Let me know what you think, and, as always, thank you so much for reading my stories! You all truly make my day :-)

EPOV

Early January

As soon as I got back into the office after the holidays, I was on the phone trying to get a hold of Dr. Baker; a man I knew was the foremost clinician for cancer research in Washington.

My father had tried to assure me that his friend, Dr. Thompson, was perfectly capable of handling the situation – but, I wasn't about to take any chances. I had a friend named Dr. Steve Meyers who worked with Baker; I was bound and determined to get Steve to help me out. It helped that I used to let him look at my notes all through medical school. Steve definitely owes me a huge favor.

I finally got through to Dr. Baker after lunch on Tuesday. I was about to meet with a patient when he called and asked me to bring Dad in on Friday afternoon. Apparently, my father's reputation preceded him in many ways – Dr. Baker was very adamant about helping one of Seattle's most beloved doctors beat prostate cancer.

"My cousins have been going to see Dr. Cullen for years," he told me with immense reverence. "It would be an honor to see him."

As soon as I finished with my patient I called up my father.

"Dad! I've got you an appointment with Michael Baker on Friday!" I practically screamed into the phone.

"Edward," he began, "You know I already have a doctor."

"Dad, I'm not arguing with you on this," I countered. "You're going to see him. If I can get the top clinician in the state to see my father, then that's what's going to happen. So, be ready by 2 p.m. on Friday."

Dad sighed, "Alright, I'll see Dr. Baker. But, I want Dr. Thompson to be kept abreast of everything that's going on, OK?"

"Sure," I conceded. "See you Friday."

I moved my appointments around so I could be with Dad when he saw Dr. Baker. I was not surprised to find my mother was there, too – fretting over my father as she does so well.

"Are you sure you're feeling OK, Carlisle?" She asked as I walked into the waiting room. "You barely touched your lunch today."

"Dear, I'm going through chemo therapy," he said gently as he took her hands into his. "My appetite just isn't what it used to be."

I greeted my parents and sat down next to Mom, who turned her worry-wart ways on me the second I hit the seat.

"You're looking too thin these days, what are you doing? I know Bella feeds you," she accused as she brushed my hair out of my face. "And you need a haircut."

The nurse came and called us back to the examination room before Mom had any more opportunities to kvetch over me. We sat in the room while Dr. Baker discussed my dad's condition. Dad had his first round of chemo last week. Dr. Baker's face told me there would be nothing to worry about.

"I think, with the chemo therapy treatments, this tumor should shrink very quickly," Dr. Baker said. "And, since it hasn't spread to the lymph nodes, I should be able to operate in about two months."

"That soon?" Mom asked excitedly.

"I think we're well on our way," he replied. "But, I won't know for sure until I get a better sense of how the chemo is working. So, I'll see you again next month, Carlisle."

Dad stood up and shook hands with Dr. Baker, and I did the same. I left feeling as though the weight of the world had been lifted off my shoulders. And, I was pretty sure Mom and Dad felt the same.

I went right back to work after the appointment and became increasingly anxious to get home. As soon as the clock hit five, I was running for the parking lot. I got home to find Bella and Lizzie making dinner. The older twins were playing one of those LeapFrog video games they got for Christmas, Owen and Alys were sitting at the table coloring while the little twins perched just inches away in their bouncing chairs.

I stood back and watched my family interact with each other. Owen showed Alys how to draw a little heart with her pink marker…Bella approached Donovan and Rory to play a game of peek-a-boo, using a dishtowel to cover her face…and, I could hear Aina and Keely's squeals of delight as they played their game.

My happiness from earlier was only amplified as I watched this beautiful scene before me. As I felt a tear run down my right cheek, Bella noticed me standing there and rushed over.

"What did the doctor say?" She asked as she kissed me hello.

"Just like we thought – Dad's going to be fine."

"Really?" She asked excitedly.

"He's going to have to go through a bit of chemo, but, Dr. Baker said he should be able to remove the tumor in a couple of months."

Owen noticed me then, and ran over so I could lift him up and swing him around in the air. We sat down to the delicious chicken parmesan Lizzie had made while my two oldest regaled me with how their day went.

Lizzie stuck around to help me get all the kids to bed – I ordered Bella to go upstairs earlier and get off her feet. Just because she's not pregnant anymore doesn't mean she has to be running around all day, making herself exhausted. I walked Lizzie to her car and said goodnight before running back to the house. I flew up the stairs and rushed into the bedroom. I half expected Bella to be asleep when I got there, or at the very least too fatigued to do more than just cuddle all night.

Boy was I wrong.

BPOV

I wasn't about to fight Edward on being sent to bed early. I was just so happy Carlisle was going to be alright – and I was ecstatic to see Edward looking so happy. In fact, I was going to concoct a way to make him even happier.

As soon as I closed the bedroom door behind me, I ran to my closet and started rifling through my lingerie drawer. I could have sworn there was a little negligee Alice gave me that I'd yet to wear for Edward. I found the red, strappy babydoll nightgown – more an idea than an actual piece of functional clothing – and threw it on. I went past the bathroom mirror and fixed my hair a bit and threw on a touch of makeup, just to make my skin glow. Lastly, I grabbed a pair of red heels and put them on before getting into position.

I could hear Edward walking Lizzie out to her car, he insists on doing that every night, as if some maniac could possibly be roaming the streets of our safe, benign neighborhood. But, that was just like my sweet Edward to be so chivalrous.

I lay back against the pillows of our king-sized bed as I waited for Edward to come upstairs. Suddenly, I could hear footsteps rushing up the staircase like the person were running for his life. At first, it made me a little nervous. Then, as Edward burst through our bedroom door, almost out of breath, I knew it was just my husband in a rush to be with me.

"A little anxious, lover?" I asked with a salacious smirk.

"You have no idea," he replied.

His eyes roamed my body hungrily as I writhed seductively for him. It didn't take him long to close the distance between us and start attacking my lips and every inch of my skin. He took a hold of the hem of my nightgown and began lifting it over my head.

"As much as I'm loving this little, red number," he said. "I'm afraid you're overdressed Mrs. Cullen."

"As are you, Mr. Cullen," I countered as I reached over and tugged his shirt open, sending buttons flying everywhere.

More clothing became torn during the removal process as we both seemed to be in a mad dash to get through the foreplay. Because if all he wanted to do was get down to business, I wasn't about to try and make him slow down in any way. I wanted this just as badly as he did.

We had somehow managed to get under the sheets before he entered me briskly. There was no need for any kind of protection anymore, Edward had decided to get a vasectomy a couple weeks after Donovan and Rory were born. And, I must say, it hasn't affected his game at all. In fact, the sex had become better than ever.

And, tonight was no exception.

Our first round was over with a bit too quickly, though. Edward and I went at it like rabbits; he dug his fingers into the flesh of my hips and thrust into me over and over until I reached the pinnacle of pleasure. I bit into his shoulder to muffle my scream and kept my mouth there for a moment afterwards, just nibbling and suckling at his soft, smooth skin.

"Trying to give me a hickey?" He asked.

I nodded as I pulled away from him, "Just like when we were in college."

He chuckled as he rolled us over. I took that as a sign he wanted me to be on top for our second round of lovemaking. He gazed up at me with hooded eyes and sighed.

"How is it that you keep getting more beautiful all the time?" He asked.

I ran my fingernails up and down his chest, "Maybe your eyesight is just getting worse and worse."

"Oh no, my angel, my vision is still 20/20. How else would I know you're the most exquisite creature ever to fall to earth?"

I could feel his excitement growing once more, just behind me. I lifted myself up just enough to position him at my entrance and slowly lower myself onto him. He grasped my hips again, but I placed my hands on his, "Nuh-uh, Mr. Cullen. I'm in control this time."

I guess one could have described my actions as moving at a snail's pace – but, it was the most delightful torture ever. And, unfortunately, it wasn't until I felt something brush against my hand that I realized I should have sped things up. That soft touch I felt didn't come from my husband – it came from Aina.

"Mommy, I don't feel good," she whined as I quickly removed myself from Edward's lap and reached for my robe.

"What's wrong, baby?" I asked as I rushed over and felt her forehead – it was on fire. "Oh Edward, she's burning up! Get the thermometer."

Before I even finished my request, Edward was out the door and downstairs to fetch the ear thermometer. He came back into the bedroom and placed the tip gently in Aina's ear as I held her close on the bed. When the thermometer beeped, he checked the temperature.

"One-hundred point two; it's not too bad, we'll give her some of that children's Motrin and get her into a warm bath – that should calm her down," he brushed her hair back and kissed her forehead gently. "Don't worry little angel, you'll be better in the morning."

Edward went back downstairs to get the medicine while I started running a bath. I put some of the calming lavender-scented bubbles I use on the babies into the water – it should help her sleep. Edward returned and got her to swallow most of the Motrin; just like me, she's not a fan of taking medicine.

I helped Aina into the bath and rubbed her back with a washcloth while Edward checked on the other kids. Keely slept through her sister's ordeal, but Aina's moaning combined with Edward's constant trips up and down the stairs had woken up the little twins. I could hear Edward trying to sooth them over the baby monitors.

Once I got Aina out of the bath and dried off, I wrapped her in a blanket and began to take her downstairs until she protested.

"Can I sleep with you and Daddy, please?"

I hesitated for a moment, but I couldn't deny her that one request. I set her on our bed and gave her one of my old t-shirts to wear. She snuggled up close to me as we both drifted off to sleep.

EPOV

After I got my boys back to sleep, I tiptoed back to my bedroom to find Bella and Aina fast asleep. I leaned against the doorframe and watched them for a moment before switching the light off and crawling slowly into bed with them. I put my arms around two of my angels and fell asleep with a big smile on my face.