Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight, but not Merged Souls: Trying for Normal

Author's Note:

Chapter 5

EPOV

Disgruntled royals my ass! I keep thinking that Wales is trying to cheat at this chess game and we are his unwitting opponent. Not in the adversarial sense but I still feel that he's trying to use us much like politicians of this era do who attach themselves to a worthy cause to raise their profile or improve their image.

Reagan was anxious that we accept them as damaged goods, victims of their upbringing. Yet I look at Carlisle who was raised in a time of great political upheaval with the execution of King Charles I by Oliver Cromwell. His mother had died in childbirth and his father was distance and cold but a devote clergyman of the Church of England. It was his fanatical drive to rid his world of the creatures of darkness and the instruments of the devil that lead Carlisle to become a vampire. And despite his nurture Carlisle became a truly kind and compassionate man, who strives to keep his humanity intact and remain a man of faith.

It is too easy for us to blame our upbringing for our choices in life. We still have free will and can choose a different path from those that precede us whether that path is good, bad or neutral. Wales and Reagan I believed were on a neutral path, from which they tried to manipulate others such as the Cullens. Just then Bella mentally tapped me she was holding Masen and Anthony's hands and Beth had climbed up on my lap touching my arm while I was holding onto Masen's other hand in mine it seemed to be time for a private family conversation.

Bella smiled winningly at Wales as we completed our circuit 'Edward I feel like I've been slimed every time he looks at me.'

'Well love he finds you attractive and admires your devotion to the kids.'

"I know you're not telling me everything, he's ogling me and you're not ready to rip his head off?"

'Oh I'm very ready to decapitate him but he opened his mind to me for a bit and I saw more than he intended. In fact though he sees you as an object of desire but more to the point he actually envies the children for having a loving mother and father that are both alive and with the power to protect them. That's something none of our royal friends had, but it's somewhat disconcerting having a man centuries older than me lusting after wife as well as desiring her as a mother, it just puts my head in places to weird to explain.'

Antony and Masen were smiling at each other and Anthony spoke up, 'Dad they don't want to hurt us and your right he does think Mom is hot. But he misses his own mother and his nanny who loved him and his brother very much. He feels he was cheated out of a better life.'

'Wait a minute how are you getting that.'

'Oh were only kids to him Dad so Mr. Wales doesn't try and block me. He's really easy to read because he has to concentrate hard on the person he's blocking. Uncle Jasper would say I'm flying under his radar. He's actually amazed that you talk to us and play with us and stuff. He thought that because of when you were born you wouldn't act like that with us, he wonders how you could change so much.'

Wales was looking very irritated and he shifted his gaze to Emmett and Rose. Emmett smirked and pointed at us. "Sorry their doing their circuit thing so anyone without Bella and Edward genes won't be getting into their heads any time soon. I bet even you can't break in on this family conversation. And unless I'm wrong about this and believe me I'm not you'd probably end up on your ass somewhere in the next room from the shock if you tried."

Rose looked at me with a half smile her man was busy baiting Wales so we could finish our conversation. Then Bella said: 'He's not evil Edward he's just immature. He hasn't had any decent role models growing up or in all his centuries of life since. I think he sees us as the type of family he should have had.'

'Yeah well just so long as he doesn't want to take my family that's fine. But if he continues to think of certain things about you we will be having more than words.' I straighten up and looked Wales in the eye "So Wales what's the plan? You want to eliminate Roma I get that but don't you think that's a bit drastic when she hasn't made a move to hurt any of us?"

Wales turned to Reagan, I couldn't see her face but she shrugged her shoulders then turned to look at me and raised her eyebrows in a question. Wales got to his feet and walked over to the balcony windows to stare out over the city. "You Cullens are rather naive at times aren't you, but always the diplomats. There is a lot to be said for a pre-emptive strike on our part she's a Volturi and she was Caius favourite that about sums up all the reasons I need to exterminate her."

I could see he was going to be difficult, but we couldn't condone killing without cause. "Wales I think we should try and talk to her first. It's possible that she just feels abandoned again. Unlike you and Reagan maybe she had never had the opportunity to be on her own. Perhaps someone has always been there to pull her strings and tell her what to do and when to do it. The argument that she is Volturi and should die is ridiculous! You have former Volturi on your staff, hell just look at Marcus for god's sake."

Wales had a short fuse at this point and Bella and Regan were both trying to get my attention "Marcus and his minions were not indiscriminate killers."

Rose got up then and called it: "Bullshit! Why is that? Because when they were Volturi they killed within the rules of our society? While Roma killed at the whim of her benefactor? So where does that put your brother's mate Heidi, she has lead thousands to their death, men, woman and children, that's pretty indiscriminate to me."

I think he had just about reached tilt when he turned around so fast that the glass in the windows vibrated from the shock wave. "I will not debate this with you! She is not another one of your reclamation projects. And those have gone so well in the past haven't they. Let me see there was Jacob Black and Tanya, oh wait, nope they were both abysmal failures! She will be eradicated and I will brook no interference from you, do you understand!"

Before I could open my mouth my wife and Reagan both stood up between us. Bella shooed the children into our room with permission to order a movie. Reagan looked to her and waved her to go ahead. "First it's time to turn down the testosterone in the room and lower your voices. Now if I'm correct Wales by your own admission back in Forks you do not want to rule the vampire world. And you Edward do not want to lead either. So my advice to both of you is sit down and shut the hell up! Wales your right Jacob and Tanya were both lost causes, but we weren't wrong to try, it's never wrong to try. So far this woman hasn't done anything to make us believe that she wants to kill us. Reagan has already told us that she thinks she's mad and she does come across as a little spooky, but as far as I know no one in this room has ever talked her to find out what she wants."

Reagan then approached her mate and put her hand on his chest. "Edward, Bella is right we need to talk to her first. We have always prided ourselves on being better than the Volturi. Our world will be watching how we handle this and it will seal our fate as to whether we are heralded as leaders, or dictators that are no better than the Volturi."

Emmett and Rose stood on either side of me alert and ready if this was to turn into a fight.

Wales walked over to me with his fists clenched, "This is your doing. Your family's influence is like a virus, it's insidious! My wife was ever obedient to my wishes before she met you people, now I suppose she will drag me kicking and screaming into the 21st century." His face softened as he turned to Reagan and pointed at me, "Just because he was able to turn his back on his Victorian upbringing do not expect me to abandon my ways so easily Reagan. He paused and sighed deeply like he was utterly defeated "But I will try. How did you do it Cullen, how did you just let go of everything you were."

"I haven't, it's still all there and when it is appropriate I let it out for an airing. I chuckled and looked at Bella. "Otherwise Bella just smacks it down or out of the way. You don't have to do anything. If Reagan is anything like Bella she'll lead the way and tell you when you can be the boss."

Bella reached over and smacked me on the chest. I grabbed her and pulled her closer to me. Emmett and Rose relaxed and Reagan stepped into Wales embrace and we all laughed.

"So I suggest that we try and get Roma to come to us in a comfortable and quiet place where we can control the environment and the number of people present. The penthouse is good but the hotel itself has too many escape routes to cover. So I suggest our house near Lincoln Park."

Wales scoffed, "And how exactly do you intend to get her there?

Bella laughed. "How do you get anyone to visit your home...you issue an invitation."

Wales stood with his arms across his chest. "And just how do propose we send this invitation? I don't exactly have a forwarding address for her."

Okay I was ready to deck this guy. I pinched the bridge of my nose and looked at the ceiling; just then Simon walked into the room and cleared his throat, "Sorry for the intrusion but can I make a suggestion?"

Wales chuckled. "Great now the children are in on the act."

Emmett was about to say something when Simon turned to Wales and said with disdain: "Excuse me sir but I am a fully mature hybrid and while you are forty years older than me my age does not preclude me from entering into this conversation. Edward and Bella are several centuries younger and your wife is over a century older than both of us, so please don't insult me by referring to me as a child."

And believe it or not my wife walked over to Simon and high fived him. If I wasn't so angry with Wales I probably would have seen the humour in the gesture, Reagan most certainly did: "Quiet right Simon, so what's your suggestion?"

Simon smiled at her, "She's been seen here at the hotel, near the Cullens home and the theatre district. That would seem to indicate that she tries to remain close to them. So why not just throw open a window and ask her, I'm willing to bet that she'd be close enough to hear."

I had to smile it was the old KISS principle at work 'keep it simple stupid' he just made Wales look like a moron...yep that was my future son-in-law! Bella kissed him on the cheek and opened the doors to the balcony, walked out and very politely asked Roma to visit our house tomorrow afternoon. Of course Wales had to jump in: "Why wait so long, tell her to get over there now, we can be there in a few minutes, I'll call my men."

BPOV

I was starting to get tired of 'He who would be or was a King'. "Wales it's polite to give people time to consider an invitation, and you do not demand that a guest come to your home. Besides it gives us time to develop a game plan and for you to assemble a goon squad that has more than one brain cell between them."

Edward came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist giving me a squeeze and a kiss under my ear, he mentally tapped me. 'You are so sexy when you are bitch slapping anyone but me.'

I could feel Mr. Cullen getting hard and though it was neither the time nor the place I could certainly go for some tasty Edward Cullen...down girl later. God he always does this to me, now my panties are wet and ever vampire in the room can tell I'm aroused... great. That's what I get for marrying a hot sex god.

'Really? sex god?'

Edward's grasp tighten and he pushed his hips into my back and I knew he was smirking 'Shit I left our connection open! Yeah mister and you will be in so much trouble later. Now get the hell out of my head.'

'Huh what did I do? You were the one that left the connection open...but I'll be ready for later. Can I ask how you're going to punish me?'

'Damn it Edward! Stop it I can't think when you get like this... so astalavista baby.' And I closed the connection. I smiled to myself, he is just too good at this since I was still feeling the effects of an Edward induced haze. Emmett and Rose both groaned and covered their eyes like they were embarrassed. Yeah well fine let them be, when I think of the number of times that they've been inappropriate it was mind boggling. So I just ignored them until Emmett gave Edward the thumbs up. Rose grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the door, "We're going to get a bite to eat in Canada see you guys tomorrow at the house."

Wales and Reagan left as well, but before she left she asked if I wanted to go shopping with her, I declined. And it was then that Edward just had to break out his latent seventeen year old to say: "Bella is allergic to spending money Reagan and shopping makes her break out in hives." Reagan chuckled and before she and Wales went out the door he said: "How did you get so lucky Cullen?" He didn't wait for an answer.

"Hardy-har-har Edward, anything else you care to say before I take a shower alone?"

"Nope except to humbly apologize and to ask if I can wash your back."

Wales and Reagan had left laughing while the kid's groaned from the other room and Simon walked out onto the balcony. I think our future son-in-law was embarrassed. Simon came back in after a few minutes and ordered a late supper from room service for him and the kids. Then he told us that he was leaving the next morning for Washington he wanted to spend some time with Marcus before we all moved to Canada. He had gotten his acceptance from UBC. He had been admitted into the Masters program in Music Composition and Performance at the Vancouver Campus. So he would only be a weekend visitor to us in the Okanagan Valley since it was about a five hour drive one way at human speeds.

Beth had heard and was despondent she went to bed a sad little girl. She barely kissed Edward and I good night and pouted all the way into her room. Simon said good night at the same time. I promised to have an early breakfast sent up for him and Beth before he left.

Edward and I looked at our own on the other side of the suite and thought of the shower that was even further away from our hyperaware children. We ended up racing like a couple of kids giggling as we stripped off our clothes. I made it into the shower first and got the water running just before Edward pinned me against the wall. "What took you so long?"

"I was distracted by my wife's fine ass and gorgeous legs; you have no idea what you do to me Bella!"

I was prepared to agree with him until I looked down and saw exactly what I had done. "Well I don't know about that but Mr. Cullen definitely has my attention."

Edward leaned back from me with a hand on either side of my head, "Did you seriously just call my dick Mr. Cullen?"

"Umm...yeah?"

"Since when?"

"Ah, since the first time I saw you get hard in Biology class."

Edward dissolved into laughter but he sobered up quickly. "Okay but Bella please you cannot call my dick Mr. Cullen when Emmett might hear you!"

"Edward I would never do that to you, besides you know it would embarrass me more than you."

He started to chuckle again, "Well love will you let me and Mr. Cullen make you forget everything but my name?"

With that Edward leaned into me starting with a chaste kiss that he deepened into a mind melting languorous dance of tongues and lips. I didn't even feel him enter me until he pushed so deeply that I thought I'd cum right then and there. I never feel as complete as when Edward and I are joined. It's more than just sex and more than a just expression of our love. It was a communion of our souls. I could feel our connection strengthen so when I opened my eyes I was looking into Edward's green ones. He sucked in a breath and I knew that he must be staring into my brown ones. Our hands touched each other's chest and we could feel our hearts beat. Our skin was warm from more than the shower and glowed with a post coital blush. These moments when we could manifest our humanity were few and far too short but they were precious to us. We left the shower and fell into our bed and made slow delicious love as only two humans can. Even as the affects wore off Edward continued to move within me and the feeling was amazing. But when we both climaxed it was as vampires and there is no human feeling that can equal it. "Edward? Do you think that maybe we experience these moments so that we'll always appreciate who we are, and never forget who we were?"

"I don't know love. And as much as I would like the answer to that question, maybe we aren't meant to know. Maybe were just meant to accept it as a gift. And madam this vampire is not about to look a gift horse in the mouth."

"Cute honey, tell me Edward were you channelling Emmett with that gift horse remark?"

He smiled his best crooked smile at me. "No just trying to lighten the mood. Bella I honestly believe that some of the things that have happened to us have happened for a reason but we are not meant to question them."

"Edward, have you become a spiritual man?"

"I can't deny what I saw happen in Alice's vision or what has happened to us. So I have no choice now. I just wish didn't have to wait so long to find you."

We lay in bed talking, kissing and touching but nothing more it was killing me but I decided to see how long he could go before his balls turned blue oh yeah that was fun. I'd play with his balls and blow over his tip, but if I ran my nail across his tip he'd sound like I was flaying him alive...yes this was the punishment I had promised him and he really, really, like it. When I finally took him into my mouth he shred not only the sheets and the mattress but pulled out handfuls of the springs from the box spring and roared my name so that the windows shook. Fortunately the kids have grown used to their parent's extracurricular activities. Masen told me that if the day ever came that he couldn't hear us then he would be worried...he's a wise ass just like his father.

Morning came and it was a sad send off for Simon. He and Beth ate breakfast on the balcony she was really upset when she found we weren't going to the airport. She called us horrible parents before kissing Simon on the cheek and stormed back into her room and slammed the door. That tantrum lasted all of thirty seconds until she heard Simon open the door to the suite and roll his suitcase into the hallway. She flew out of her room yelling for Simon and jumped into his arms. Then we all went down to the lobby to see him off.

Masen put his hand out to Anthony and I saw money change hands. I went over to them as Edward stood holding Beth up in his arms so she could watch Simon's taxi drive out of sight. I put my hand out to Masen. "Cough it up. What are two betting on now?" Masen put a dollar bill and a Canadian Loony in my hand. They had picked up the betting habit courtesy of their father and uncles. "Okay boys what was worth a dollar US and Canadian?"

Masen sighed but it was Anthony that answered "You'd think as the mind reader I'd do better at betting. Masen bet me that Beth would have melt down this morning. Apparently he heard Simon arranging for a taxi this morning but neglected to tell me and since Beth didn't know and Simon wasn't thinking about leaving I blew the bet."

"I'm sure talking to you two about not betting would affect you about as much as the talk we had with you about Googling without a parent. Yeah you guys have to remember to erase the history when you surf. Your Dad may be over hundred years old but he's remained current with technology so you two are busted." I shook my head at them and turned to Edward, Beth was crying so hard she had the hiccoughs. "Edward mini me and the demon spawn were gambling and they're having trouble establishing ground rules for the mind reader even though he lost this time. I've decided to not fight this any longer because it's clearly genetic and from your side of the family. So love you need to deal with it and explain the rules."

Edward and Beth both laughed. "Since I guess the bet was about me Mom can I have the money?" I handed her the money and she slid it into the Gucci Bag Alice had given her before she had flown back to Seattle. And we took the kids back upstairs for breakfast.

When they were done eating and while they were brushing teeth, fighting, dressing and arguing I shared my thoughts about Roma with Edward. "I've been thinking about Roma and something just doesn't add up. If she is such a blood thirsty nasty killing machine why hasn't she made her move? It's not like she hasn't had her chances. Yet every time we see her she either remains stationary or moves away from us. I just get the gut feeling that we don't know everything. And where did Reagan and Wales get their information, to hear them talk Roma never left Caius side so how could they get to know her?"

"You think that Wales and Reagan are lying to us."

"No but I don't think their information is firsthand. It reminds me of tabloid gossip, the kind that has just enough facts right to make the whole story sound true when it's really not."

"I'll agree with you there. But Bella crazy is crazy and this woman is not playing with a full deck."

"I don't know Edward is she crazy or just crazy scared? I don't recall seeing her during the battle in Forks do you?"

"No."

"If she were so devoted to Caius and saw him go up in smoke don't you think she would have made her move then? At the least she'd be in murderous rage and focused on those that did kill Caius. I think she's looking for help Edward and regardless what Wales says she's going to get it from us. We're going to need your Mom and Dad to take care of the goon squad. Do you think they'll help?"

"Obviously my Mom and Dad are more resourceful and sneaky than I ever realized, I'm sure they'd love to help."

We discussed the rest of my plan the hard part was going to be me getting Reagan to side against her husband, not very medieval of me. And all Edward had to do was keep a safe distant between Roma and Wales. We set off for the house as soon as the kids were ready. We explained to them on the way what was going on and they took it surprisingly well. Edward talked to them about our neighbours Emma and Buttercup. Since the glamour covering our house was gone they may come across them so they would have to pretend that we were their older brother and sister.

Anthony immediately perked up, "Way cool, can we ignore you and flip you off like Uncle Em does to Dad? Ooooh, do we get to call you Bella and Edward or Bells and Eddie? The three of them started laughing neither Edward nor I were.

"Well you can try. But remember that there are always consequences attached to your actions." Edward was pinching the bridge of his nose "Oh and under no circumstances are you ever call your father Eddie!"

EPOV

I smiled at Bella and took in the looks on my children's faces, Anthony was blocking me, Masen was reciting the British North America Act in French and English and Beth was just being Beth she was thinking about Simon.

"Okay so now you know the ground rules. I expect you to be on your best behaviour. You may not meet the neighbours, but you will be meeting Roma. Your mother and I believe she needs our help. Anthony, when you read Roma's mind in the Lobby Bar you said she was hungry and angry, but she didn't look it. Did you get anything else from her like who she was angry at?

"Remember what Mrs. Wales said about her being bonkers Dad, well she sounded like two people arguing, actually like you and Mom when you argue. It was really weird."

Bella parked the car behind a dark blue Ford Fusion and got out. As we faced the house Tsura was just coming out the front door. She came up to us and wished us all a god morning and was sorry for the intrusion but my Mom had left her an email to say that the children would be at the house today and that we would be having important company. She had asked Tsura to prepare lunch, a snack and dinner so the Bella wouldn't have to be pulled away to long from our guests. Tusra told Bella where everything was, and whispered to the kids where to find the muffins and pound cake then she got into her car and drove away.

"Since when did my mother join the electronic age?"

Masen pulled on his Dad's shirt, "Since Aunt Alice left her laptop in the dining room. That's where I Googled the stuff I wasn't supposed to know about, remember what Uncle Em does to Aunt Rose with his tongue. Grandma was watching me and I used the email account to send a message to Grandma Esme... I miss her."

"I miss her to Masen but she'll be in Forks when we get back there." I was not going down the Googling road again Bella and I had already dealt with it. But if Alice had left her laptop here it wasn't because she forgot it. I have a feeling the interfering pixie was giving my parents access to the outside world. I can't wait to see what kind of monsters she has created, my phone rang at the same time my caller ID showed it was Alice.

"Hi brother dear how are you, Bella and the kids?"

"You tell me oh all seeing one."

"Cute Edward, really cute, maybe I'll just not tell you about your company."

"Sorry we're all fine. The kids have grown since we've been here and before you say anything that's not the all clear for you to revise their wardrobes. You have to talk to Bella about that first. And before we talk about the company, can we talk about the laptop sitting in my dining room?"

"Oh you finally saw that, well we'll be coming and going a lot. And even though I don't think your parents will be stuck there in the house they still have to back there to recharge. So I thought that if they want to chat and there's always shopping they'll need to do for birthdays and Christmas."

"Alice they're dead, they have no money! I have their money. Wait don't tell me what you did, I don't think I want to know."

"Ah yeah I set them up with their own account under assumed names and they have one of our black credit cards. Oh and I got them hooked up to the internet and full cable with a flat screen it's in the credenza in the parlour."

"How did you arrange all of this?"

"Oh through Tsura and Mina they've been a big help. And before you tell me one more time that your parents are dead, I know. But Edward they are part of the family and I think they should have the same opportunities the rest of us do. We don't know for sure how long we'll have them with us Edward and the children shouldn't be deprived because of your antiquated notions of death."

"Alright I bow to your wisdom; hmm this could actually be fun talking to my Mom and Dad on line."

"See I knew you'd come around. Now about your company coming there's more there than meets the eye. I know she's hiding something or someone, maybe both, but she's looking for something as well and you guys are going to have to go to Volterra to help her. And Edward did Wales mention anything about a Gideon or Alger?"

"No he hasn't mentioned anyone by those names. So you don't think she's going to try and hurt anyone?"

"No Edward she isn't and I don't think she ever has."

"But you saw her kill Tanya."

"No, I saw her standing on the cliff by Tanya's body, I never saw the person that killed Tanya."

"Alice is Carlisle there I'd like to ask him about Roma."

"No, he's at the hospital, but I already asked him, he never saw Roma without Caius and never had an occasion to speak with her. Caius and Carlisle never were close. He always ridiculed Carlisle for his choice of diet. Well brother dearest say hi to the rents and kiss the kids for me. Now put Bella on I need to know what the kids sizes are now. After all were moving to the Rockie Mountains in Canada and they will need very different clothes from what they've been wearing."

"Bella love, the shopaholic needs to speak with you."

Bella grimaced but took the phone anyway, "Yes Alice I heard about everything you've done for Edward's parents and I think it will be fun for them and us. As far as the kid's clothes go you know Masen and Anthony could care less as long as they look like Edward clones." I had to stick my tongue out at her for that comment. "Beth is here so you can talk to her, but do not and I repeat do not go buying any of them designer clothes, they can live with the Gap...okay fine Burberry is great if it's just a store I'd up the sizes by two so they can grow into them, no they don't need a perfect fit all the time."

I chuckled to myself, I love my sneaky sister and naive wife, and I will never tell her that Burberry's is nothing like the Gap. We entered the house and the odour of cooked food permeated the air. Bella went into the kitchen and shrieked I flew to her side with the kid's right behind us. "This isn't Tsura's fault she doesn't know what they eat."

"No but your mother does and we've had this discussion the day you were at the zoo. She thinks unless it's high fat, hot and swimming in gravy it isn't fit to eat. Elizabeth! Elizabeth, I suggest you google nutritional web sites next time your surfing there's been a few changes over the last hundred years. Plus our children are vampire human hybrids they have very sensitive digestions and specific tastes, I'm sorry but this food has to go."

"Hon why don't I run it next door Jackie they can't have too much in the way of groceries in the house the way Emma lit into that pound cake. And since it's such a heavy meal I'll just tell her relatives from England are coming but they've been delayed and the food would be wasted. "

"Oh yeah... oh that's awful, sure take it Edward. And love, just say there was too much food and not enough company. Hey I thought you were supposed to be better at this lying stuff than me."

I took the food next door, Jackie was in the middle of packing the movers were to going to be there the next day; she was exhausted so she was very thankful for the food. She asked if I knew of a motel nearby she sold most of the furniture including their beds to apartment dwellers down the street and some college kids. I told her to go to our hotel and give them my name that we had booked an extra room for company and some had to cancel at the last minute. She was a little suspicious so I decided not to offer a car service to take her to the airport. But the money from my cheque had gotten her bills caught up and airline tickets bought. At least she wouldn't have to drive out to California like she had originally planned with Emma and Buttercup.

As I left her house Emma came running up to me and yelled "Hey Mr. Cullen..."That name conjured up visions of my wife confessing that she had named my penis. I shook myself and smiled but I heard Bella chuckling from our yard she had obviously heard Emma.

I crouched down to be on eye level with her, "Hi Emma, are you excited about the plan ride tomorrow."

"No cause Buttercup has got to travel in a cage with the suitcases and other aminals. So she can't sit with me. She's going to miss me sumptine awful."

"Oh, that's too bad, hey why don't you put your shirt in her cage and then she'll know that you love her and miss her too."

Jackie was standing on the porch behind me and nodded yes when Emma looked over my shoulder at her. Emma leaned in and kissed me on the cheek and whispered: "I met your kids. They told me not to tell my Mom that you were their Daddy, I wish I had a Daddy like you. Can you say goodbye to Mr and Mrs Masen for me. They use to let me play there sumptines but they won't let me in since the tall lady grey lady gots there."

"Emma it's time for lunch say goodbye to Mr. Cullen."

"Bye Mr. Cullen, and thanks! She kissed me again while I fretted that we had been lead into a trap. But before I panicked I called the hotel and made arrangements for Jackie and Emma as I walked into our yard.

And there sitting under the oak tree in our garden was my wife, children and the lady in grey.