This A/N is kind of a long one and this chapter is a short one. But I don't think I will be able to update until at least Monday and I wanted to give you something to tide you over, at least.

Before, the banner for this story (it is posted on my profile) was not working. It is working now and you should look at it if you've got time. I hope you all have a happy holiday week coming up if I can't update, because I was busy with things at home and work.

I also wanted to let all of you know that I've got three new stories out, all of which you should check out if you've got some extra time on your hands. So here goes the selfish self advertising….

The first one: 'Secret' is loosely based on the supposed romance between our darling Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart, but it's ExB. I obviously know nothing about Robsten personally, but the story is just fiction, right?

Next: 'Protecting Us' has more of a twist than my other stories. It's about a couple, Anthony and Marie Masen, who have to go into the witness protection program, change their names, and move to Forks. Again, it is an ExB story, like all of my stories are!

And lastly: 'Painted' is…well I can't really give away the story line, but I promise you will figure it out in the first chapter, which is the only one posted.. All I can say is that it contains an inked Edward who is a tattoo artist, but is also mature and Edward and Bella are already in a committed relationship when the story begins.

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BPOV

Edward and I walked into the house quietly, hoping not to wake the kids up. "I'll go tell Angela that we're home." I whispered in Edward's ear. He nodded and took our suitcase and headed upstairs to put it away. I walked quietly into the living room, relieved to see Angela awake and reading a book instead of sleeping. Angela was a friend of mine from college, and she loved watching the kids. She didn't have any children of her own, and I knew how she liked to play with them.

"Angela." I whispered softly, and her head jerked up. "Hey, I'm sorry we didn't let you know earlier, but we decided to come home early. We'll still pay you for the entire weekend." I said quickly, reaching into my wallet and pulling out the money designated to pay Angela.

"Oh, it's fine." Angela said with a smile, getting up and pocketing the money. "And thanks."

"I hope it's okay that we came home so late." I murmured, patting her shoulder. "Thanks for watching the kids, were they good?"

Angela laughed quietly and nodded, walking with me towards the kitchen. "They were fine. Emmet picked on Alice a little bit, but he stopped when I told him too. And Alice wouldn't eat her dinner, but eventually I convinced her to finish it off."

I laughed quietly and walked her to the door, waving as she left. "Drive safe!" I called softly, and then closed and locked the front door as Angela got into her car.

Closing my eyes briefly, I took a deep breath before heading upstairs and peeking my head into our bedroom, where Edward was unpacking our suitcase. "Let's go tuck the kids in." I said softly, and Edward nodded. "I'm really glad we're home, after everything had happened."

"I know. I'm sorry, baby. My parents-"

"It's fine." I interrupted him, shaking my head as I pushed the door to Emmet's room open.

I smiled slightly at the sight of my sleeping son; sprawled out on his bed on top of the covers and wearing his flannel pajamas inside out. I leaned over his sleeping form and kissed the top of his forehead, mussing his brown curls as Edward kissed his forehead as well.

Emmet's eyelashes fluttered slightly, but he didn't wake up. "I love you." I whispered in his ear, and then tucked his blanket's around him better. Casting one last look at him, Edward and I left the room and Edward pushed the door shut quietly before opening the door to Alice's room.

Alice wasn't even sleeping in her bed; she had curled up on the floor in the fetal position, wearing footie pajamas and clutching tightly to her blanket. "Ali." I whispered softly, touching her shoulder gently.

"Don't bother." Edward laughed, picking her up easily and moving her to the bed. "She's out." I nodded and kissed her forehead as well, running my fingers across her pudgy cheek and tucking her in properly, then falling back into Edward's arms.

"Let's go to bed." I whispered, and Edward sighed in agreement, whisking me out of the room and into our own.

"I love you, Bella. No matter what." He promised, taking my left hand and kissing my wedding band.

"I love you too."

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I'm so sorry for the short chapter but I need to go to bed.

Xoxo- Melodyella aka Mellie