Thanks for all your wonderful reviews. A lot of you are saying that Edward accepted what Bella did a little too easily. I'm not sure if I said so or not to anyone, but I'm not the best writer out there. Believe me, I've read enough FF to know.

I do have the ability to create these great stories that you all love so much, but I have a problem with bringing the characters to life. I can't ever seem to make them come alive, and develop them around the story.

Anyway the reason he accepting this so easily is because he thought she was dead for all these years.

Anyway thanks again for your wonderful reviews!

When I signed in at the office, the principal stopped me before I made my way to my classroom, "Ms. Swan, do you have a minute?" The principal was a tall older man, with greying temples and a physique that suggested he worked out quite often.

"Yes sir. What do you need?"

"I just wanted to tell you that one of the new students Edward Cullen came to my office this morning, and asked if he could become your senior aid. Now, I know he's not a senior yet, but he has third period free, and I know that is your fullest class, so I thought I could make an exception this time, as long as he helps you when you need it, and does not fall behind on his studies. His records from his last school were all A pluses, so he's already ahead."

"Sure. Edward was a very helpful student in class yesterday. I would love to have him as my aid." I lied about him being helpful, he just stared at me the whole period, but the principal doesn't need to know that. And besides, third period was the class I had Mace in as well, maybe that would be a good place for them to talk.

"Alright, I'll tell him right away. He's actually in my office right now. He just wouldn't leave until I spoke with you." The principal then shrugged and shook his head, and turned toward his office. I peeked around him to see Edward, in his office, in front of the desk. As soon as the principal was not looking at either of us, Edward winked at me and gave me a sly smile. I tried to smile back but just then, Gabriel entered my field of vision.

"You know, mom, he really does love you. I don't understand what Mace has against him." Gabe stated.

"Mace does not have a problem with him; it's just that he did not get to know him at all last night." I was surprised that Gabe just said that Edward still loved me.

"Well, he should have come out of the garage."

"It's alright Gabe; he'll get another chance tonight."

"We're going over there again?" Gabe asked, excited.

"No, even better, they are coming over our house." I said with as much excitement as he used.

"Excellent. I'll show them my drum set, and Mace and dad can get better acquainted. That way I won't have to listen to his indecision anymore." I did not miss the fact that Gabe just called him dad, and the fact that he really does care for his little brother. "Ya know, sometimes I think Mace forgets that I can hear his thoughts, and he can hear mine. He wants to get to know him, but he's afraid that dad will not like him the way he is." Gabe said. And with that he went off to his first class.

Wow. Mace was afraid? I did not think that such a thing would ever happen. Mason was always fearless as a child, and during his first hunting trip. He was the one sticking his nose where it did not belong, and Gabe was the one to get his butt out of trouble. I would have to see if I can keep Edward after his class today and talk to him about this.

~o~O~o~

Third period came on fast, and when everyone was in their seats, I introduced Edward as my senior aid and said, "You can ask Edward for anything, he knows this material very well, probably just as well as I." I added, just to give him a little boost to his ego. Edward said "hello" to the class and went to take a seat at the back of the classroom.

I handed out graded homework and then got to work.

"Alright guys. Today there will be a group project. Everyone break up into teams of two and write a one page paper about what you think Macbeth's soliloquy means in act 5,scene 5. And I want details."

Everyone started chattering about what groups they wanted to be in. When the noise died down and everyone had their tables shifted and was in their groups they began working.

Edward walked to a few groups here and there, sitting down and chatting with them, helping them along, sometimes he just sat and watched. I couldn't help but notice that Mason was eyeing him almost half of the class, trying to be subtle about it but I sure noticed. Edward didn't seem to notice though, he had his back turned talking to a couple of boys who were on the school's basketball team.

It was almost as if he was shy about looking at him. Now that I knew what to look for, I saw it in Mace's eyes almost all the time. The shy, quiet turmoil in my sons mind telling him that he had a father but wasn't sure if he would like him or not.

After that class was over, and everyone, including Mace, was gone; I pulled Edward to the side and said in very quiet voice, "I need to talk to you about Mason after your class with me today."

"It's nothing bad is it?" he asked. Then I remembered that Edward could not read the twins minds, or mine, unless I lifted my shield away from my mind.

"No, but, hopefully it can be solved tonight."

"Alright love, I'll see you then." he said, then swiftly leaned in to brush his lips to mine. I visibly shuddered at this contact, and he smiled, and left for his next class.

Sixth period came and went without incident, and then I pulled Edward aside again and then said, "Ok, so Gabe told me that Mace was afraid to get to know you because he was worried that you would not like him. He's intimidated by you."

"Really? He's… intimidated by me? Now that I think about it, he was awfully quiet during lunch. But why would he be worried? He's my son, why would I not like him?

"I'm not sure exactly. I guess it's just because you're not as outgoing as Alice or Emmett. And he doesn't have anything that he knows of, in common with you. But once you guys get to know each other I think it'll be easier. I just don't think he'll do that himself, you'll have to do it. But like I said, hopefully it can be solved tonight when everyone comes over. Gabe said he'll show everyone his drum set, so you guys can talk some more."

"Well, I'm glad you told me this. I'll talk to him tonight then. Don't worry about a thing."

"Great, thank you Edward."

"Don't worry, love, I'll take care of everything."

"Alright, I'll see you after school at our house, Oh, before I forget; here are the directions to the house." I gave him a piece of paper that had our address on it. I had made it this morning while waiting for the twins to come down the stairs. But Edward, just smiled at me, and tossed the paper into the trash can by my desk.

"It's alright love, we'll just follow you, Carlisle, and Esme will meet us here and we'll all go together." Once again, he quickly leaned in and brushed his lips against mine, and then left for his last class of the day.

Because seventh period was my free time, I decided to catch up on grading last week's tests about Macbeth, still a classic.

It was finally the end of the day, and because teachers were not allowed to leave until all of the students have either left, or gone off to their extracurricular activities, I was forced to wait until 3:30 to leave. When I got down to the front door I saw Edward, Mace, and Gabe all waiting for me. Mace was about three feet away from Edward, and Gabe, was standing right next to his father. I sighed, and then when I got there, Edward greeted me and, we all went outside.

Once outside, Gabe, and Mace went to their cars, and I saw a black Mercedes behind them, which held Carlisle at the wheel, and Esme in the passenger seat. They waved at us and went to follow the twin's cars that were already leaving the parking lot.

I got into my truck, Edward got into his Volvo, along with all the rest of the other Cullen's, and we all drove to my house. On the way I was suddenly self-conscious about the less than perfect condition I left the house in this morning. Well, it's nothing like dirty dishes scattered everywhere. It was more like some cloths scattered about, and books left almost everywhere, but that was nothing I could not get before they entered the house.

When I got to the house, followed by Edward's car, the twins were already entertaining Carlisle and Esme in the driveway. We got our cars parked, and I excused myself to go clean up the house a little bit. After that was done I came out to see Edward and Mason gone. I was about to ask were they had gone but Alice chimed in.

"They went a few miles up north to have a race. Edward remembered that Mason liked to run on the track team, so he challenged him to a race." So Edward was thinking about this all day. And he remembered that Mace liked to run.

I ushered the remaining Cullen's into the house. Esme gasped when she got inside. It was nothing like the Cullen's mansion, but it was home. It was a good sized two story house with three bedrooms, and two bathrooms. We added a third bathroom for me down the hall. We also added a three car garage for Gabe and Mace for their activities.

I said all of this, and then I started showing them around the house.

"That's my room down the hall, along with the bathroom we added. And the boy's rooms are upstairs."

"Bella, this is a lovely house." Esme said, in a breathless voice.

"Yeah Bella, you finally got some sense of style." Alice said at this point, appearing proud of herself.

I was very happy to hear that they liked the house, but all of my thoughts were going back to wherever Edward and Mace are. I left Esme and Alice admiring my kitchen and went to find Gabe, knowing he could tell me what's going on out there. I found him sitting on the porch steps looking north. So, he was already checking on his little brother. I sat down beside him, and looked him in the eye. Gabe gave one small nod and then I released my mental shield and pushed it around my son. The first thoughts that came to us were:

This is so much fun, I'll have to remember to thank mom for this later Mason's thoughts came in loud and clear. I quickly disconnected my shield and looked at my oldest son.

"Looks like Mace is on board for dad as well, now." He said.

"Yeah, looks like it." I said, finally relieved to have both of my sons like Edward as much as I like him. We both went inside to chat with the rest of the family. About three hours later, around six o' clock, Edward and Mace came striding into the house, Edward's arm around Mace's shoulders. Mace just then had tried to mock punch Edward in the arm, but Edward deftly dodged it and mock punched Mace in the gut, both of them smiling, and laughing.

I was so happy to see my youngest son finally having fun with his father. After a little while, Gabe ushered the rest of the family outside to see his drum set, leaving Edward, and myself in the living room. We stared at each other for God knows how long, when Edward broke the silence:

"Well, Mace had a lot of fun with racing me this afternoon. He actually beat me on a few races." Edward said sounding almost proud, leaning back into the couch he was sitting in, across from me.

"I know Edward, I listened in." I said in a smug voice…smug that my son beat his father.

"What? You could hear us? But we were at least ten miles to the north. Not even the best vampires in the world could have a hope of hearing us from here." He said shocked.

"No, I didn't hear you specifically; I listened in on Gabe's thoughts. As long as I'm near him, I can hear Mace's thoughts." I said.

Finally getting over his shock Edward asked, "So you can hear someone's thoughts as long as you're near someone with the mind reading ability?"

"Right, if I was near Alice, I could use her talent to see visions, and when I'm near Gabe, I can hear other people's thoughts. Also, when I lift my shield, you can hear my thoughts, and Gabe, and Mace can hear inside each other's head all the time, no matter what. They can turn it off between each other though."

"So that explains you talking to me in school the other day." Edward said, effectively dropping the subject. "So, do the twins have anything else in common with me?"

"Well, Gabriel likes music a lot, but he chose to play the drums instead of the piano. And Mace likes to run a lot, like I said. As I'm sure you noticed, Gabe looks more like you, and Mace looks more like me then you, but they can still pass as twins."

I was really in danger of Edwards head exploding sometime soon. He looked so happy and proud for his children that I was getting worried.

"Can you talk to me again?" he said suddenly, very excited, leaning forward on the couch.

"Sure, what do you want me to say?" I asked leaning forward in my comfy armchair across from him, so that we were within touching distance.

He gave a sly smile, and said, "Tell me you love me."

I gave him the same smile back and lifted my shield from my body, and said, I love you Edward, more than you'll ever know.

Without missing a beat, he thought back, As I love you. Thank you for coming back to me.

We stared at each other for an impossible amount of time, when Edward started inching forward, still sitting on the couch. I copied each of his movements, and leaned forward, and met my lips with his.

I began the same way as our first kiss in the garage started, but with a little more fervor because he knew that I would not reject him. My lips parted when his tongue brushed against them, asking for entrance. The sounds of drums, and radio music came from the garage, but that did not stop us. In the midst of the kiss, his hands managed to easily lift my body up, and he attempted to sit me on his lap. I was having none of that. Before I sat down, a managed to maneuver my body so that I was straddling Edward's lap, never breaking the kiss. A low moan escaped his throat when I wove my hands through his hair. Edward kept his hands securely on my hips.

We stayed like that for a long time, our lips never leaving each other's, except for the occasional, "I love you." His lips suddenly broke our kiss to venture to my neck then to my collarbone. We never had to break off our kiss like we did when I was human. There was no need. I was just as invincible as he was now.

Edward caressed my waist slowly up towards my ribcage, until he did something that shocked me. He continued to caress my ribcage until his thumb brushed the underside of my breast. This action startled me, so I pulled back to stare at him. All I could hear at that moment were the sounds of our breathing. He immediately placed his hand back on my hip and stared back.

"Bella, I want you, love. I need you. I know this is sudden, but thinking you were dead all these years and now you suddenly come back to me. You have no idea how confusing that is for someone. But I'm sure of what I want, and it's you. It's always been you, Bella. Please, tell me you want me too. Please?" Edward pleaded. When he was done, he laid his head on my shoulder, probably to hide his expression from me.

"Edward, you know I love you more than anything, and I want you too, but we can't do this here. Not with everyone here. And besides, we are not married."

"That didn't stop us back then." Edward countered, lifting his head up to look at me again, nothing but love, and want in his eyes.

I removed myself from his lap to sit beside him on the couch, and moved to hold his hand. "Edward, that was different, we're different, and I'm different now. And I have two sons I have to think about first now. I won't do anything without first asking them if they want you in their lives, being with us."

"But they like me already. Please, Bella let me be in their lives, as their father. They may be 60 years old but it's just been you and them until now. They need a male figure in their lives.

"Edward, you're talking like they're impressionable, 5 year olds. Not to mention, you're making me sound like I was a bad mom." I finished, brisling.

Edward ran a nervous hand through his hair, speaking more quickly now. "I'm sorry. This isn't coming out like I had thought it would." He let go of my hand to stand and start pacing around the room. Finally, he stopped at the window that gives a view to the garage from the hallway. I could just see out there from where I was. Gabriel was standing behind Jasper sitting on the drum stool, teaching him some snare and bass beats. Everyone was gathered around in rapt attention.

"When you left, I really didn't know what to do with myself. Part of me, well almost all of me wanted to throw your note in the trash and go find you, to demand why you wanted to leave. But then the other part of me had a thought. An 'ah-ha' moment if you will. I thought that you finally gained some sense after the newborn fight. You finally saw us for the monsters that we are. In the weeks leading up to when you left, I know the reason now, but you were just acting so strange. I couldn't for the life of me figure out what was wrong. You were so distant from everyone, including Charlie." He stopped looking out the window to turn in my direction, a sad look in his eyes.

"So, I thought you finally gained some perspective. It hurt me very deeply but in the end I finally decided to let you live your human life away from all this." I stayed holed up in my room for months. I didn't talk to anyone. As much as it hurt me and my whole family, even Rosalie, I prepared to live the rest of my existence without ever seeing you again."

"One particularly hard time was much like when I left after your birthday and I thought you were dead. Alice had to stop me from going back to Volterra about forty-five years ago when I came across your gravestone."

My breath caught in my throat. I knew he saw it before when I found them in school but I couldn't help but wonder if he ever took a close look at it.

"Wh-What did you see on it?" I had to ask.

He paused for a moment, turning his head to look out the window for a moment more before turning back to me again.

"It read: 'Here lies Isabella Swan, beloved daughter.' It also had your birth date on it. The death date would put you at around 32 years of age when you 'died' right?"

I slowly nodded my head, lowering it to the floor. I couldn't look him in the eye. I had never even thought about that before. All these years I thought I was protecting him and the boys but in reality, I was only hurting everyone around me. It was like my very own soap opera, except where no one can cry and no one dies in the end. I was the woman who left her boyfriend because she was pregnant and didn't return till years later with teenagers in tow.

"So how did you do it?" There was no emotion in his voice, almost like he didn't care.

"I uh…Had it planned out for a few years at that point. I managed to erase any and all records of the twins being born or existing at all, so they would not write the word 'mother' on my gravestone. Before you say anything, it wasn't so you wouldn't find out; it was for whoever changed me. I didn't want them to know about the boys if they did at all. After that was done the boys had a little too much fun and made a show of lighting my car on fire and pushing it off a cliff not far from here. The car was there for about three weeks before anyone noticed it hidden in the woods. By then we had moved to Maine so to be as far away as possible without having to go out of the country."

Edward nodded slowly, seeming to take all of the information in before speaking. "So, where were your parents then?"

"Uh…Charlie was on patrol one night until he was hit by a drunk driver about three years before my 'death'. He died instantly, so he didn't suffer. Renee and Phil lived till about 15 years ago. Phil had a heart attack and died almost immediately after, and Renee died peacefully in her sleep three months after. I couldn't go to Charlie's funeral cause then everyone would recognize me so the boys and I watched from afar. I was scared to death about Renee's funeral. We went hoping no one would know who we were. We just played the part of being friends of her daughter. I had already been changed and left long before any of this happened."

Edward nodded. "Alice had a vision about Charlie. It was only about six seconds before he got hit so there was nothing we could do at the time. I'm so sorr-"

I immediately put my hands up to stop him. "It's okay Edward. You don't have to apologize. I've already accepted their deaths. What happened to them is nothing compared to what I put you through."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that all this time I was here walking around right underneath your nose and I didn't even try to find you. All this time I thought I was doing what was best for the twins and for you, but I can see now that was all for nothing. I hurt you and your family so deeply that I'm not sure even an eternity is enough time to make up for what I've done." I dropped my head into my hands, dry sobs beginning at the back of my throat.

Before I was even aware it was happening, I was on Edward's lap, my head cradled into the crook of his neck, his nose resting on the top of my head. He was sitting in the same spot on the couch I was previously in and rocking back and forth in soothing movements.

"Bella, you don't have to apologize to me. You never have to apologize for anything. If somewhere along the line I made you think that I didn't want children. I'm extremely sorry. I wasn't even sure that vampires could father kids but I'm more than happy that it happened. I'm ecstatic. I now have the children that I've wanted for more years then I care to admit. It doesn't matter that I missed their baby years, what matters is that they are here and that you are here with me…at last." I couldn't help it. The dry sobs in the back of my throat reached their climax as I wrapped my arms around him, holding him close as I let the sounds inside me loose.

Butterfly touches skimmed over my skin, gentle and comforting, trying to get me to calm down. If it was possible, I leaned into him more.

"Bella." Edward spoke with a low volume, meant for my ears only, not that the music in the next room meant anyone else could hear us. I looked up into his liquid amber eyes, waiting. "I love you more than anything. Gabriel and Mason also mean everything to me. There's nothing that I can say that will convince you that I love you as much as I do. So I can only do this…"

Edward lifted me and him off of the couch, and set me down on it facing him. He then got down to kneel before me, still holding my hand. "Bella, you and the twins mean more to me than anything on this plant, even my family. I know I don't have your ring on me, but please don't let that confuse you. Bella, will you be my wife? Will you marry me?"

I froze, taken aback by his sudden proposal that I could not say anything for a few moments, I was just staring at him, blindsided. Outside, the sound of drums, and music stopped, waiting for my answer. I was still staring into his amber eyes when I noticed that both of my sons had raced into the house, leaving the rest of the family outside. I watched as both Mace and Gabe stood not far behind Edward and gave me a firm, but subtle nod, sincere smiles on both of their faces. Edward somehow noticed this too and his smile widened.

I let out the breath I didn't know I had been holding and smiled at them both, reassuring them, then turned to Edward, a big goofy grin on my face at this point, and said, "Yes, Edward. I will marry you. And this time I won't run away." For me, for our children.

Edward let out a small breath, stood, still holding my hand, pulled me up with him. He took me into his strong arms, and gave me the most passionate of kisses. The only reason we stopped was because Gabriel had cleared his throat. Edward separated our lips, then turned to the twins, "Looks like you're stuck with me now." He said with the same goofy smile on his face that I had not a moment ago.

"Oh no. how will we cope?" Mace said, dramatically, putting his arm over his eyes, looking lost and forlorn, all the while having a huge smile on his face.

"Does this mean he'll be moving in with us, or will we be moving in with them?" Gabriel asked, with the same smile. Clearly they were happy for us.

"We'll leave that up to your mother. Our house can easily fit all of us." Edward said looking back at me.

"Well discuss that later. Right now we need to get ready for school." I did not need my watch to remind me this time. The lightning of the sky outside was clue enough for me. At that moment, the rest of the family came in to congratulate us. Esme gave me and the twins a big motherly hug and welcomed us into the family.

After congrats were out if the way, the Cullen's left in their cars to get ready for today, but not before needlessly reminding me about the football game tonight. We all got ready for the boring day ahead, making it to school before the Cullen's. When they got there we greeted each other as if we were no more than students and teachers, keeping up appearances on the outside. After the greeting, we all went inside to enjoy our boring day.

Just in case anyone's wondering, the soliloquy that I was referring to was in Macbeth, when his wife killed herself.

I hope that I portrayed Edward good enough when he said he was hurt.

Let me know what you think in a review. They make my day!