A/N: Thank you all, as usual, for your support, adds, and reviews! Sorry it's been so long. But...I already have the next two chapters written. Woot woot!

Chapter 5: In the Summer Time When the Weather is Fine (18 months)

"Mommys?" came Charlotte's small voice from the kitchen.

She always added an 's' to the end of mommy, and I never corrected her; I thought it was adorable. "Yes, baby?" I said, closing the door behind me and bringing the groceries into the kitchen.

She tossed a Cherrio at Edward's head and laughed. "Chicken."

"It's warming up, right now, kiddo."

He stood up and rolled his eyes. "They've been demanding chicken for the last five minutes. Thackery has gone off the deep end and screamed until I gave him apple sauce. And Charlotte seems to think Cherrios in my hair are better than Cherrios in her mouth."

"I've got them, now. You put the groceries away," I said, kissing his cheek and pulling a sticky piece of cereal from his hair.

"Hi, babies," I said, and I gave them both kisses on their heads. "You want chicken?"

"Chicken!" they both screamed.

I pulled out a tray from the oven, covered in chicken nuggets and set them on the stove. I began to cut them into small, child-size pieces and blow on them before sticking them onto their high chair trays. "Edward, Emmett called and said they'd be here around eight."

"Uncie Em!" Charlotte cried, tossing a piece of chicken nugget at me.

"Excellent. Shall I prepare the grill now, then?" he asked, glancing at the clock that read six oh five.

"Yeah. I'll start the salad. As soon as I get these two occupied."

I got an idea when I opened the fridge and saw the ketchup bottle. "Babies, do you want to try ketchup?"

I took the bottle over to where they sat side by side. "Ketchup?"

Charlotte furrowed her brow in confusion and Thackery tried to reach for the bottle. "No, no. Watch mommy."

I poured a small spot on Charlotte's tray, and a small dot on Thackery's and then took a piece of chicken. "Watch. You dip it like this," I dipped the chicken and popped it into my mouth.

Thackery dug his whole hand in and then stuck it into his mouth, while Charlotte pushed a piece of nugget around in her small spot. I would work on dipping foods later, but I was satisfied that the children were occupied enough with their new find that I would be able to whip up a quick salad. Edward came in, bringing with him the smoky smell of charcoal and lighter fluid. He pulled out the pre-marinated steaks and laughed. "They sure know how to make a mess."

I turned around and saw that both children were covered in ketchup, with Cherrios and cookies stuck to themselves. "Oh, babes. What are you doing? Now I've got to give you another bath."

I put aside the onion I had been chopping and wet a washcloth. "Down!" Thackery said, and Charlotte followed his lead. "Down!"

"Good luck," Edward said, laughing as he brought the steaks outside to the grill.

I sighed and carried the babies to the stairs. "You want to crawl up?" I asked.

Thackery got on his knees and scooted slowly up the stairs, my hand on his back to prevent him from falling. Charlotte was afraid to go up the stairs on her own, so I held her to my hip. "Bathtub, babies. Now."

They both ran into the bathroom and I ran the water. I sighed. It would take some major cleaning to get the ketchup stains out of their clothes. Charlotte's hair, now an auburn color, instead of the bright red she was born with, was matted to her head in the sticky substance. She had the cutest curls I had ever seen all over her head. "Arms up," I said.

She squirmed away from me--she hated getting undressed and dressed again. I grabbed her around the waist and pulled her shirt over her head while she began screaming. Thackery stared at her, as he did every time she screamed, before he, too, burst into tears. I grumbled in frustration. With Charlotte naked, I placed her in the tub, while Thackery ran out toward the stairs. I chased after him, double checking that the baby gate that blocked the stairs was sturdy and firm in place.

Charlotte was splashing water out of the tub, and I nearly slipped with Thackery in my arms. I steadied myself against the sink and then tore off Thackery's pants. He stopped screaming, but laughed as I set him in the water. I was never having children again. It was so much work.

The babies splashed each other in the tub and I washed the ketchup out of Charlotte's hair, much to her dismay. Thackery once again began screaming, which set Charlotte off. I was going to kill Edward. He had narrowly avoided this nightmare, and then laughed and said, "Good luck."

Finally, after much work, I got them both washed and brought them into Thackery's room. I wrestled Thackery to the floor and got his diaper on him, while he kicked and fussed. Charlotte ran around butt naked with a diaper in one hand and a hairbrush in the other. I got Thackery's pants on him and finally a shirt. He had stopped fussing and let me get him dressed, but now it was Charlotte's turn. She was sure to give me a hard time.

I tried to scoop her up, but she slipped away and squealed loudly. "Babe, get your naked booty over here."

"Booty!" she yelled and ran away from me once more.

I finally wrapped her up in my arms, wherein she gave me a sad little look and promptly burst into a fresh round of tears. I quickly put her diaper on her and then pulled her sundress over her head. I didn't even worry about the panties that came to go under the dress--I was done with the whole situation. If this is what they were like at one and a half, I was afraid of what they would be like at two and a half--in their terrible two's.

We went down the stairs, a baby on each hip, clean and angelic looking. We found that Edward's family had arrived, Alice was finishing my salad and everyone else was standing around talking. "UNCIE EM!!" Charlotte screamed.

He turned around, a huge grin on his face and bent on his knees. "Come give, give uncie a hug!"

Charlotte squirmed until I set her down, and Emmett promptly scooped her up and swung her around in circles. "Hello, purdy girl."

"Uncie," she said, burying her face into his neck.

Thackery got down and walked around my legs, hiding. Emmett intimidated him with his sheer size, though he was always friendly. "Hi, Thackery."

Thackery peeked his head around my legs, but upon seeing Emmett smiling at him, he quickly hid again. It always took him a while before he warmed up to Emmett. "Bella, did you want the corn on the grill, too?" came Edward's voice from the back yard.

"Yeah. I'll shuck them now."

It wasn't necessary--Esme had already shucked and cleaned the corn. I brought it out to Edward and smiled. He was wearing a "Kiss the Cook" apron, and his hair was windblown and messy, sweat on his brow. I wrapped my arms around him and kissed his neck. "Love you."

He put the corn cobs, one by one, carefully on the rack. I squeezed him tighter. "I know, Cullen. And you know I should kill you for allowing me to give them both a bath."

"I thought it might be an experience," Edward said, grinning from ear to ear as I came to stand across from him.

He eyed my clothing--soaking wet all over-- and laughed. "And it looks like I was right."

"I'd like to see how you fare after giving them both a bath, and dressing them. It's a nightmare."

He laughed once more and I heard a commotion in the house. "Sounds like trouble," came the raspy voice I knew only too well.

I spun around and threw my arms around Sid's neck. "Hey you!"

He laughed. "Hey, Bella, Eddie."

"I wish you would stop calling me that."

"Eh, Eddie suits you. Really."

I laughed and hugged Jeremiah as well. It was then that I noticed a woman standing close to Sid. "Hello," I said uncertainly.

She smiled kindly. "Hi. I'm Autumn. I'm Sid's--"

"Fiance," he finished proudly, wrapping an arm around her waist.

"Fiance? That's great! How did this…? When…?" I was smiling widely, looking at them both.

"On the trip to Peru! She was in the group with me."

Two months prior, Sid and Jeremiah had taken a trip to Peru with a group from the college. Sid had finished his schooling, having majored in South American history, and the pilgrimage to Peru had been a huge opportunity for him. Jeremiah tagged along, never having been out of the country, and they had roughed it for the last two months in the Peruvian wilderness. They had climbed mountains, saw Incan ruins in the Peruvian Andes, and slept in small tents. All this information, I had learned from Jeremiah last time I had talked with him on the phone. He had conveniently forgotten Sid's betrothal to Autumn.

"Well, welcome to the family. Well, extended family, anyway," Edward said, leaning over to kiss her cheek.

"Thanks. Sid has told me all about all of you. I'm just dying to meet the kids," she said, and as she did, a high pitched yell sounded on the lawn. "Unc Sid!" Thackery kept yelling repeatedly.

"Hey, kiddo. How's it going?" he asked, running a hand over Thackery's hair and ruffling his hair.

"Up," Thackery demanded.

"Say please, Thackery," I reprimanded.

"Pwease?" he asked shyly.

Sid bent and lifted him. "Hey, you!" the boy said, laughing jovially.

He eyed Sid's spiky hair and reached out to touch. Sid laughed and bent his head so that he could grab handfuls. "Funny," Thackery laughed.

"I bought the kids something. Do you mind if I give it to them?" Sid asked me.

I narrowed my eyes suspiciously. "That depends on what it is."

"You have no faith in me, Bella. It's a kiddie pool."

I bit my lip nervously. "It's fine, Bella," Edward began. "We'll be right here watching them. They'd have too much fun."

"Should we have arm floaties?" I asked.

"Bella, it fills up with about seven inches of water. They won't drown."

"All right. Let's blow it up for them."

"Okay, I'll get it form the van. Autumn, why don't you stay here and get to know the Cullens?" he asked, and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

Autumn stood shyly a few feet away, her hands clasped in front of her. I had to admit, she and Sid were the weirdest couple I had ever seen. Sid reminded me of Sid Vicious from the Sex Pistols--spiked hair, black, torn up clothes, safety pins, combat boots, anarchy signs. Autumn reminded me of Janis Joplin--long, bright red hair, pale skin, dark brown eyes, a flowy tie-dye skirt and a purple, backless shirt. She had a sparkly scarf tied around her hair and large wooden earrings. A hippie and a punk, who would have guessed? Maybe opposites do attract.

"So, where are you from?" Edward asked pulling the corn from the grill and placing it in a bowl to be buttered.

"I'm originally from Portland. I've lived up and down the west coast, but I finally settled in Seattle about a year ago."

"How is it you came across the trip to Peru?" I asked her.

"I was taking some art classes at the university. Saw the flier. The rest is history."

"And Sid?"

"He's amazing. I've never met someone so real before. His open and honest personality are what attract me to him. We really got to know each other on the trip."

"That's to be expected when you're miles away from civilization," Edward said, shrugging.

"All right, here it is. I'm afraid I'll have to pump it up," he said, taking out a butterfly knife from his pocket to rip open the tape.

It took him ten minutes with a hand held pump to fill the pool with air, and another five to fill it up enough with the hose. Everyone stood around and chatted, while Emmett chased Charlotte around, growling like a bear. Every time he got close, he's let out a particularly ferocious growl and Charlotte would squeal with pleasure. "I'm gonna get you, baby girl!" he said in a cutesy baby voice, wiggling his fingers.

She laughed and ran, as Emmett tiptoed after her, giving her leeway. "UNCIE! Bear!"

He roared again. "I'm gonna get you!"

"Get me! Get me!"

Thackery ran out of the house, butt naked, a spoon in his hand. Alice was chasing after him, while Rose laughed from the kitchen. Edward swung him up and kissed his hair. "Want to swim, kiddo?"

"Daddy! Swim!" he laughed and Edward set him into the water.

Thackery's face scrunched up and he frowned. "Cold."

"Em, can you get Charlotte into the pool, please? Just strip her down."

Emmett caught Charlotte, wherein she screamed, "No! No! No! Uncie Em!!"

"We're gonna go swimming."

"No! Bear."

"No, swim. Let's get you ready to get in the water," he said, pulling her dress over her head.

"Uncie!" she said, her face getting sour.

He dropped her into the pool and she squeaked at the temperature. I turned back to Autumn. "So, any plans for kids?"

"Hadn't really given it any thought, to tell you the truth."

Sid grabbed her waist. "I dunno. Twins might be fun."

"Sometimes," I said, glancing at the twins. "When they're being good. Other times when they're being little terrors, not so fun."

Charlotte was trying to pull Emmett into the pool with them. "Get in pool, uncie."

Emmett sat on the ground next to the pool and put his feet in. He splashed the twins and they laughed and jumped on him. I turned to Edward and smiled. "Emmett is going to make a great father one day."

"Yeah. He's like a big animal."

"Oh, he peed on me!" Emmett groaned, holding Thackery at arms length.

I laughed and he put Thackery back in t he pool and got up. "Ed, you got a shirt I can change into?"

"Not any that would fit you," he replied.

"Ugh, Edward, you need to bulk up."

"We can't all look like a model for a steroids ad, Em," Edward said coolly.

"You wish. These guns are all natural. Result of working out thirty hours a week for ten years. Speaking of working out, you used to come with me. What happened?"

Edward shrugged. "College. Chemo. Babies."

"You need to get trim again. You could attract so many ladies."

I swatted Emmett as he pulled his soiled shirt over his head. "He doesn't need to attract any ladies."

"Too late," Edward replied.

I glared at him playfully. "I doubt that. You're absolutely hideous."

"Say what you will. You know I'm a complete DILF."

I laughed. "No. You're grotesque. Lucky you landed me. Otherwise you'd have to become a hermit."

Edward tickled my sides. "Well, who said you're hot, huh?"

"You had no objections last night."

"Eh, I was horny. And you were there," he whispered.

Emmett cleared his throat. "Hello? We're still standing here."

I disconnected from Edward's embrace. "Sorry, Em. We know how rigid you are about you and Rose's sex life."

We all laughed, save for Autumn, who was looking at us in amusement. "Wow, it's nice that you're still so open after all these years."

I looked at Autumn and smiled. "I'm pretty well stuck with him."

"Don't act like you don't feel like the luckiest woman in the world."

"Lucky? Why would I feel lucky?"

Edward tapped his chin dramatically. "One, I'm hot. Two, I'm perfect. What else do you need."

"This is very true. Good points."

"I know," he replied shrugging.

"I love you, you loser."

He smiled and kissed my face. "I kinda love you too. Sometimes."

"You just wait. You're gonna get it."

"Oh, a punishment?" he asked me in my ear so no one else could hear.

"Steady, boy. Let's finish our get together."

He groaned. Two laughs rang from the yard and the babies were running around, chasing each other. Emmett took a running leap, trying to make a splash in the shallow pool water. Instead, he slipped and fell on his back in the pool. We all laughed loudly and Alice turned on the radio. We relished the warm, clear evening while it lasted.

After the babies finally went to sleep, exhausted from their day, we drank and had a small karaoke session (completely impromptu), and the others went home. Edward and I saw them off, Edward completely sober while I was a little wobbly.

He locked the door and then turned to me as Sid and Autumn made their way down the drive. "So, about that punishment."

I shook my head. "I'm drunk. And you are not. You wouldn't want to take advantage of me."

He wrapped his arms around my waist. "On the contrary. I'd actually love to."

"Not so gentlemanly," I said scolding.

"We have about an hour before Charlotte's due to wake up," he said, pulling his shirt over his head.

"We'd better get started, then."

He slid his hands under my shirt and lifted it over my head hastily. "Let's not even go upstairs."

I tried to unhook my bra and in my hazy state, I couldn't get it undone fast enough. Edward, kissing my neck, growled and unhooked it quickly. He unbuttoned my pants and slid them down. I kicked off my flip flops and used my legs to get my pants off my legs completely. He had his own pants off and across the room in seconds.

He kissed me and then pulled away, looking at my skimpy lace underwear. "Where on earth did you get those?"

"A present…from Alice."

He slid them off and I kicked them away. "I'll thank her later," he said, capturing my mouth once more and pushing my back against the wall.

His hips ground against mine harshly. I pulled his boxers carefully down and he stood on them and lifted my right leg and wrapped it around his waist. The friction was wonderful, but I ached for more. His hands slid down over my butt and grabbed it firmly. I lifted my other leg and wound them around his waist as he thrust into me. "Bella," was the only word on his lips as he worked.

His hands were on either side of me head against the wall, his lips attacked my neck, his teeth grazing bare skin. My arms and legs were tightly wrapped around him, and his body pressed against mine, holding me firmly against the wall. With each thrust, my back slid up the wall and fell again slightly. It was slightly painful, but the sheer pleasure it caused overshadowed the small pain. I arched my back into him and he grunted deep in his throat. My hands ran over his bare back, over the muscles that flexed with each of his movements. I didn't care what Emmett thought--Edward's gently muscular body was absolutely perfect. I ground my hips sinuously against Edward's pelvis and he groaned, speeding up. The sensations that worked on my body were unlike any other, as the adrenaline of this speedy love making caught up to me. Any second now, Charlotte would end up waking up, putting an end to this sneaky, kinky sex.

I put my face in the crook of Edward's neck, breathing heavily. Goosebumps rose over his entire body, as they always did when I breathed on his neck. I licked the salty sweat and kissed the hollow beneath his ear. I dragged my lips down to his shoulder. I bared my teeth, and after only a moment's thought, I bit down. Edward gasped and his body went rigid. "Bella," he groaned, running his hands over my sides.

At the feeling of his now gentle, easy thrusts, my muscles clenched around him and I clutched at his bare back. Breathing heavily, he pulled back slightly and kissed me. "That was absolutely wicked."

"Tell me about it. We should be sneaky more often."

He pulled back and lifted my hips before he pulled out and set me on my feet. My legs shook and wobbled and he laughed gently. "Having trouble?"

He had a smug smirk on his face and I pushed him. He swerved slightly and I smiled. "See? You aren't so stable."

I leaned back against the wall to brace myself and slid down to sit on the floor. He sat next to me, resting his head on my shoulder. He picked up my hand and played with my fingers. "Did you ever imagine that we'd still be so in love, almost seven years after we got together?"

"No. I would have thought we'd be stale by now. But that," I jabbed my thumb over my shoulder at the wall, "was anything but stale."

He laughed and my own body shook with it. "No. That was possibly the best sex we've had. So rushed and erotic."

"We should do that more often."

"And in more places," he joked.

"Definitely," I said, leaning my cheek against his hair.

A shrill cry sounded upstairs. I groaned and he pulled on his pants. "I'll be right back. And we're going to have an encore performance."

O.O.O.O

All right. That's the last baby chapter (I'm bored with writing about babies). I'm going to skip ahead a lot. Next chapter: You Spin Me Right Round (4 years). Title of story will make sense next chapter, too.