-1A/N: Again, I'd like to thank everyone. Y'all rock.

Chapter 4: Single Dad for A Day (6 months)

An earsplitting cry shattered the silent night. I rolled over and shoved Edward harshly in the back with my finger. "It's your turn."

Edward sighed loudly and sat up. He ran a hand through his hair and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. "Shriver will kill me if I fall asleep at the lab again."

"Tell him to go f--" I began, only to be drowned out by another cry.

"I've got them both, go back to sleep, love," Edward said, placing a small kiss on my forehead.

He left the room and I fell back against my pillows. Most nights, I took care of the babies, so that Edward could get a good night's sleep for work the next day. He hated that, wanting to help me out and look after them, but I refused to allow him. He didn't think I noticed when he got up and tiptoed to their rooms to check on them every night. My head pounded, my throat was scratchy, and my stomach was doing uncomfortable flips. I rolled onto my side and listened to the subsiding cries of two very powerful pairs of lungs.

Edward returned almost an hour later, and I still hadn't fallen asleep. He slipped his arm around me and cuddled right into me. "Why are you still up?"

"I can't sleep. I feel…sick."

He made a noise at the back of his throat and rubbed my hair back away from my face. He kissed my face. "What's wrong?"

"I think I'm getting the flu."

"I'll stay home tomorrow. Shriver would already send me home when I fell asleep, so might as well save him the worry and not go at all."

"You don't have to do that," I said, and even as I did, my head gave a terrible throb.

"Hush now, and try to sleep."

He settled against his pillow, still holding me tight. I heard and felt his breath in my hair and knew he had fallen back asleep. His body was too warm, it made me sweat. When I was sure he had fallen into a deep slumber, I slipped out of his embrace and went downstairs. There was an almost guaranteed two to three hours before a baby woke up, and I intended on taking advantage of the silence.

I laid on the couch and pulled off the light blanket from the back. It was much cooler down here, and I fell sleep quickly. It was an uneasy sleep, wrought with uncomfortable sensations throughout, sweat pouring from my forehead as chills wracked my weak body. When the sun came up, Edward walked down the stairs, carrying the babies carefully. "Bella?"

I made a noise and he came around, his face worried. "Are you all right? I woke up and you weren't there."

I shook my head. "I'm feeling pretty shitty. You need to get the babies out before they get sick."

He sighed. "I'll call mom."

He brought them into the kitchen and fed them, burped them, and then brought them upstairs to change them, and dress them. I listened to his footsteps, the small noises each baby made, the cooing talk Edward spoke softly. By the time he was finished, it was almost eight. He brought them both down in their car seats and set them in front of me. "Bella, I'm going to change my clothes, and brush my teeth. Call me if they wake."

I stared at our two children as Edward fixed himself up. It took him only a few moments, and he was back, fully dressed. "I'm going to take them to the park for a little while. My mom will be here in a few hours to take them. Do you need anything, love?"

"Ice cream. Chocolate. And ginger ale."

He nodded and bent to give me a kiss on the forehead. "I'll be back before you know it, to take care of you."

"No need to rush. Enjoy your day as a single father. And don't let any ladies come onto you."

He shook his head. "I don't even see other women, silly girl. Only you."

He slipped out the door, and I fell back into my fever induced sleep.

EPOV

I gave Bella one last look before I left. To see her sick had always been hard for me, through out our entire lives. She was the healthiest person I knew, but seeing her weak in the bed, fever higher than should be, made me sad. My mother was going to come and take Charlotte and Thackery off my hands so that I'd be free to take care of my sweet wife.

After getting the babies' car seats properly attached to their bases, I drove to the park. The weather was surprisingly nice, especially for Seattle in June. The sun felt pleasant, and I had brought things to occupy myself while the babies slept. I got out the two-child stroller and placed them delicately in their spots, covered them up with light blankets, and pulled their sun roofs over them, so they wouldn't get burnt.

There was tons of people out in the park. I walked along the cobblestone path until I found an empty bench and sat down. Charlotte was fast asleep, snuggled up in her blankets, while Thackery was wide awake and alert. I pulled him out and held him in my lap, and he looked around at all of the people in silent wonder. I ran a hand over his bald little head and bent to give him a kiss.

A woman jogged past, an iPod strapped to her arm, and the smallest sports bra on I had ever seen. She winked at me and kept going. I shook my head and Thackery wrapped his hand around my finger as I rubbed the back of his hand with my thumb. "Stay away from those kinds of girls, Thackery. They're trouble."

Two men, both of them flamboyantly gay, saw him and one of them squealed and came over to us. "Is this your baby?"

I wanted to say, "No, I stole him," but I refrained. Instead I said, "Yes he is."

"And what's your name, handsome?" one of the men asked, touching his face.

"Thackery," I said, smiling proudly at my little man.

The man straightened up and smiled. "Thackery. Sounds like a pilgrim name."

I laughed and shook my head. "It's old fashioned."

"And who's in there?" the other man asked, finally speaking, pointing at the stroller.

I pulled back her sunroof and said, "Her name is Charlotte."

"Oh!" the first man said, squealing loudly once more.

He reached in and touched her hair. "She's beautiful!"

"Thank you," I replied. "You should see her mother. She looks just like her."

The sad tone in my voice must have made it sound like Bella was dead, because the second man said, "Oh, we're so sorry!"

I furrowed my brow. "She hasn't died. She's just sick with the flu."

"Ah," they said, giving the babies one final look.

"Well," the first man said, "we've got to be going. Got two miles to go!"

"All right. It was nice meeting you," I replied kindly.

They ran off, keeping a steady pace, and I opened the diaper bag. I retrieved my book and Thackery's pacifier and sat back. "You tired, little man?" I asked him.

He wiggled and I sighed. "Here sit in your stroller, baby."

I set him in the stroller and pulled up his sunroof to protect him form the sunlight. I sat back and watched some of the people around. A small family was having a birthday party at the picnic tables across the way. I watched as a gust of wind blew and the mother ran to catch the paper plates. The children clapped as she stepped on them. Another woman carried a large cake to the main picnic table, where a young girl with a tiara was eagerly awaiting. I watched as they sang Happy Birthday and she blew out the candles.

A distance away, a young African American couple threw a Frisbee back and forth. The man, a large, fit man, with short dreadlocks and yellow shorts, was laughing heartily. His girl, dressed in a bright, flowy skirt, tank top, and scarf wrapped around her short afro was covering her face and shaking her head, though she too laughed. I watched as he ran and scooped her up. Her high pitched, jovial squeak sounded loudly. I smiled at them. They must be newly in love. I remembered the days when Bella and I were like that in public. I silently vowed to start doing things like that again.

I glanced at the babies, happiness filling my heart. "Is this seat taken?" a woman's voice asked.

I looked over at her and shook my head. "Not at all. Please, have a seat."

"Thanks. I'm absolutely beat."

I looked at her and she did look tired. I pulled a water from the diaper bag. "Thirsty?" I asked.

She took the water and smiled gratefully. "Thanks. What's your name?"

"Edward. You?"

"Sarah. Those two yours?"

I nodded. Was everyone dim? Why did everyone ask me if they were mine? "Thackery and Charlotte."

"Oh, they're precious. How old?"

"Six months."

"Oh, Christmas babies!" she leaned over Charlotte and touched her hair. "You're going to have to beat the men off with bats."

I gave her a horrified look and she laughed. "I'm kidding. She is gorgeous though. Both of them are."

"Thank you. How about you? Any kids?"

She gestured to two young boys who were wrestling over a soccer ball. "Tim and Joseph. Guys, stop that fighting!" she called to them. "Twins? I bet they're a handful."

"Yeah," I shrugged. "But I wouldn't have it any other way."

She smiled again. "So, Edward, why are you here, at this park, all by your lonesome?"

I furrowed my brow and frowned. "It's a lovely day. My wife's sick and I thought I'd take the kids out to make it easier for her to get better."

"Wife? You look rather young to be married."

"I'm twenty three."

She nodded. "Your wife's a very lucky lady, Edward. Not many young, good looking men are willing to take care of children by themselves."

"Well, I'm not most young, good looking men. These are my children just as much as they are hers. I see no problem taking care of two of the most important things in my life, so that the most important woman in my life could lose her fever," I said, heat flooding my cheeks as my anger rose suddenly.

She backed away slightly and looked at her kids, where both boys were on the ground, hitting and kicking each other, the soccer ball forgotten. "Crap. Boys! Boys, stop it now! Joseph, got off of your brother!" she yelled and got up and ran toward them.

I picked up my book and leaned back to read. When the wind picked up, I snapped it shut and looked up. The sun was now positioned high in the sky and it was close to midday. I got up and packed up the baby bag and began pushing the stroller down the cobblestone pathway. I stopped at a water fountain to refill my water bottle. I was going to follow the path around and take the long way back to the car. I people watched and talked to the babies, making commentary on particularly interesting people. A young hippie looking female strummed her guitar under a tree, a top hat turned up a few feet away from her. When she began singing, "If You're Going to San Francisco" I dropped a five into her hat. She nodded and smiled at me as she continued singing.

I finally made it home, after a quick stop at a gas station to get the chocolate ice cream and ginger ale that Bella requested. My mother was there, waiting to pick up the children, and fluttering around in the kitchen. "I made Bella some home made chicken noodle soup for when she gets hungry, dear. It in the blue bowl in the fridge," she said before she wiped her hands on a dish towel and bent to kiss the babies.

"Thanks, mom. And thank you for taking them tonight. We're just worried that they'll catch whatever Bella has."

"It's no problem, Edward, really. Your father and I are looking forward to taking care of them."

She left shortly after and I crept to the couch. Bella was no longer there, so I went upstairs and looked into our room. Bella was lying in bed, on her side and staring at the television. She smiled when she saw me. "Hey, there."

I smiled at her. "Well, hello. You feeling any better, love?"

BPOV

Edward came in quietly and asked me how I was. I actually felt significantly better than I had when he had left, so I shrugged. "All right, I guess. Still tired and weak."

He slipped off his shoes and pulled his shirt off over his head. Even in my illness wracked brain, I could marvel at the sight of his bare back as he put his shirt in the hamper and ran a hand through his hair. He came to lay next to me, wrapping his arm around me from behind. He rested his head on my upper arm. "I bought your ice cream and ginger ale."

"Thanks, kid. I might just keep you around ,you know."

"Oh? Was there ever any doubt?" he asked, kissing my arm.

I giggled a little. "So, how many women hit on you?"

"One," I admitted. "And one winked. And two very nice gay gentlemen came over to me. But they were definitely in love with the babies."

"Was this one woman very attractive?" I asked, feeling insecure as I pushed my messy hair away from my face.

"Not at all. She was much too forward. A huge turnoff."

I smiled. "Please."

"It's true. I told you, I don't even see other women. Plus, she had two kids who were practically killing each other. The bigger one had the small one in a choke hold."

I laughed and he did too. "I missed you," he said. "The babies don't exactly appreciate my commentary when people watching."

"I'm feeling better already. Next sunny day, we can all go to the park and people watch. Lord knows my commentary is funnier than yours any day."

"If you weren't sick, I'd have to punish you for saying that, Bella," he said, his tone mock stern.

I grinned and dug my head into my pillow further. "Oh, how I'd love to be spanked."

He busted out laughing and kissed my shoulder. "My mom made you some chicken noodle soup from scratch. She thought you might like it--it'll be light on your stomach."

"That was nice of her. When did she come by?" I asked.

"Hours ago, I think. She made the soup here. You must have been sleeping."

"Probably. Let's go down and have some, shall we?" I asked.

He got up and I threw off my blankets, regretting it instantly. The air conditioning was terribly cold, compared to my warm cocoon of blankets. Edward saw the goosebumps rise on my skin and went to the closet. He pulled out the fluffy plush robe he had bought me for Christmas. He held it out to me and I stood up so he could slip it on me. He wrapped it tight and tied the red silk ribbon carefully, while planting a kiss on my nose. "Better?" he asked.

"Much. Thanks."

He wrapped his arm around me and helped me slowly down the stairs. I was still pretty weak and had a hard time walking around, especially when a particularly painful throb rattled my skull. Still, I felt comparatively better now than I had this morning. I could actually open my eyes now. He sat me at the table and puttered around the kitchen, pouring two bowls of the most delicious looking chicken soup.

He set one in front of me, with a slice of bread and a glass of ginger ale. I ate quickly, ravished from my illness, and he refilled it for me. The soup warmed my bones and soothed the ache in my head. He eyed me warily. "You all right, love? Feeling better?"

"Yeah. I had no idea I was that hungry."

"My mom will be pleased," he said, and he extended an hand and pressed it to my forehead. "You still feel feverish."

I still had that dazed, feverish feel, so I nodded. "Should I be taking a medicine for this?"

He shook his head. "No. You don't feel too hot. My dad always said it's best to let your body burn off the fever."

"I feel so crappy, though."

"I know. Let's get you back to bed."

I stood as he placed our dirty dishes in to the dishwasher. He scooped me up and walked carefully with me, while I buried my face into his bare chest. His skin, cool from the air conditioned house, was wonderful against my burning skin. He set me in the bed and pulled the covers over me. "I'm going to get you a cool cloth for your forehead. Do you need anything else?"

"No."

He came back from the bathroom and placed a cold washcloth on my forehead and sat on the edge of the bed next to me. He put his head in his hands and rubbed his eyes. I ran my hand over his back and he looked down at me. "You look tired, Edward. Maybe you should rest."

"I think I should wait until you fall asleep in case you need anything else."

"Edward, go to sleep. I'll be fine. I'll just wake you up."

I scooted over and he got in next to me. I ruffled his hair and leaned on his chest. He flinched slightly. "You're so hot, Bella."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. It feels kind of nice."

"You shouldn't be here, while I'm sick. You could catch whatever it is."

He shrugged. "I've been through worse than the flu."

"But your immunities--"

"Are fine. Now hush."

I felt, rather than heard Edward's breathing slow and I sighed and snuggled up to him, feeling marginally better. I was completely aware that I had the best husband in the world. He was caring, loving, and the absolute best father ever. Even after being completely in love with him since I was seventeen, I still got those butterflies in my stomach and tingly feeling in my body when I thought of him. In his sleep, his arms tightened slightly and I pushed myself closer. I loved this man.

O.O.O.O

All right, peeps. That was another chapter. Next chapter, they'll be one. I really want to see some Emmett, so he may make a cameo next chapter, as well.

Reviews always brighten my day. I love getting them. (hint hint).