2. Catching up.

Skye

I sat on the bar stool, Stevie in my arms, in a slight daze and half listening to Rose who was sitting across from me with Lisette in her lap.

"Earth to Skye!" she said louder pulling me out of my haze.

I looked at her and sighed.

"Desole' Rose, j'ai beaucoup sur mon esprit. (Sorry Rose, I've got a lot on my mind)" I confessed.

"I can see that. You want to talk about it?"

I shook my head. It had been a couple of weeks since Eddie and I talked, but I did as he asked and considered all the options available to me. He was right, the old me was in here. I just needed to find her. I decided that working would just add fuel to a already blazing fire and cause more distractions. So, I declined the offer from the hospital and signed up for a baking class at a local restaurant a couple of nights a week. I also decided to take a pole dancing class at a local strip club on Sunday afternoons. I know that I went in two totally different directions with this, but this way I was feeding both sides of myself, the mother in me and Eddie's wildflower whom I'd missed. He of course was torn and kind of leery about me hanging out in a strip club, but he knew I needed the outlet and besides all that, he knew that he'd also benefit from it.

"What's going on with you?"

I shrugged and pulled Stevie into my bosom.

"I don't know. Just tired I guess."

"Isn't Stevie sleeping through the night?"

"Yeah, he's doing much better. But no matter how much sleep I get it never seems to be enough."

"Is it Edward? You tell him to back off. Your body is still recouping from having his child. He knows better." She seemed annoyed.

"No, he's been great. I think it's something else. Something more than that."

"Well maybe you should have Carlisle take a look at you. He's in his office right now if you want to go up and see him." She reached for Stevie.

I thought about it. I had been feeling a little off lately. I knew my body and something was wrong. I was a trained physician, but I was a human trained physician, and I wasn't all human so maybe a talk with Carlisle was needed. No one knew hybrids like him. He'd been studying them since Bella got pregnant with Ness.

"I guess it couldn't hurt to get his opinion." I handed Stevie to Rose. Who placed him against her chest and kissed the top of his head.

"Come to Auntie Rose, sweet baby." She cooed smiling at him.

She was really good with my children and it warmed my heart to see her so happy.

Just then Em came into the kitchen and kissed my cheek.

"S'up, sis?" He grinned wide, showing off his deep dimples.

"Hi, Em. My boys giving you trouble?"

"Of course not. They love hanging with their Uncle Em."

"That they do." I smiled. "You're like a gigantic kid to them." I winked.

He laughed.

"It's all in good fun. Now, where's my little Lis? And why haven't you come to give me my kisses." He teased looking at Lisette.

She grinned as he started toward her slowly.

"Come here baby girl, you owe me some suga." He mimicked Jazz.

She shook her head smiling. He smiled and nodded before grabbing her off Rose's lap. She squealed and giggled as Em kissed and blew into her neck.

"You ready?" He laughed and she nodded.

He tossed her high in the air and she laughed spreading her arms. She came back down into his massive hands and he did it again.

I hated watching this ritual of theirs even though I knew he would never miss her.

"God Em, please be careful with her," I said.

"You know I got her. Don't worry so much."

I looked at Rose and shook my head. "I'm going to head up and see Dad. Will you guys keep an eye on the kids?"

"Sure."

Em caught Lisette and hugged her tight to him. She kissed his nose and he smiled at her.

"Love you, Uncle Em."

"Me too, Princess." He snuggled her.

Rose and I watched them interact and I smiled when I read Rose's thoughts. She loved watching him with the kids and was happy that he had them to love. She couldn't make him a father, so she was glad he got to be an uncle. He was very good at it.

He noticed her watching and leaned over her to kiss her.

"Love you, Babe."

"Me too, Em." She smiled.

I took their kissing, and Lisette's 'eww's', to make my exit.

0~~~~~~~~~~0

I knocked on the door lightly and he called for me by name to come inside. I stuck my head in the door.

"Hey." I smiled.

"Hello. Come in…take a seat." He gestured with his hands.

I entered then went and sat on one of the soft, overstuffed leather chairs that faced his desk and him.

"Tell me what's wrong." He smiled.

"Why do you think there's something wrong?" I asked.

He shrugged a little and he didn't seem surprised by my visit.

"What did he say?" I sighed.

Carlisle looked at me grinning.

"Nothing really, he just said that you weren't feeling quite yourself lately."

I looked away from him and toward the window. And after a few moments I asked, "Do you think female hybrids can have postpartum depression?"

He didn't seem surprised by my theory. He seemed to think about it a little.

"I don't see why they couldn't. If female hybrids can procreate, I don't see why issues that come along with it wouldn't arise as well." He paused. "You know the symptoms. What do you think?"

"I think that if I'm not there already, then I'm headed that way."

"Explain."

"I just feel…off you know. I'm tired and moody all the time. I'm second guessing and questioning everything. I feel like I'm lost, drowning, suffocating." I explained with a sigh.

"I see… And what about the children?"

"What about them?" I asked.

"Are you able to handle them? Is it affecting how you feel about them?"

I thought about it.

"Yes and no. I love them of course, but having four little ones is a lot to handle at times. I'm so happy when they go to bed. Is that wrong?"

Carlisle laughed.

"No, you and Edward definitely have your hands full. Raising four little ones is a challenge. Raising four hybrids that have endless amounts of energy is insane. Even I feel tired when they leave here."

I smiled glad he understood.

"I think you're correct in your theory. You sound like you may be having some early signs of PPD. But I don't believe that it's all centered around the birth of Etienne. I think you may have some underlying issues that you need to come to terms with. Sure, your hormones are through the roof right now. You just had a baby and you're nursing. But something else is exacerbating your underlying emotional issues. Either way I'd like to run some tests on you and rule out other causes."

"So, what should I do. I mean, I don't think I need meds or anything."

"No, meds probably wouldn't work too well with you anyway. I think you need to slow down and maybe do some introspection. You know, meditate. Find your inner peace so to speak. And slow down! You're doing too much and it's overwhelming you. You just gave birth not to long ago. And to a hybrid. A baby that can destroy it's mother from the inside out. It's a tough pregnancy and is very, very hard on the body. You may feel better but your body is still healing itself. I think that being around us all the time makes you forget that you are indeed human. Can't you just relax and enjoy your new baby?"

I took a deep breath.

"Are you and Eddie in cahoots?" I teased.

"No, but Edward is a smart man, a talented doctor, and he loves you. He knows what he's talking about. Trust him when he tells you something." He winked.

I smiled when there was a knock on the door. Carlisle called for him to enter. Eddie strolled in with Stevie asleep against his chest. He was stroking the baby's back gently. It seemed to soothe them both.

He walked to me and leaned over my chair. "Bonjour, belle (Hello, beautiful)." He kissed me softly.

"Bonjour, beau (Hello, handsome)." I blushed and whispered.

He smirked. He could feel…and smell, my body responding to him.

"Rose said you were up here chatting with dad. What's up?" he asked loosening his tie.

He'd just left work. He worked a midnight to noon shift, three, sometimes four days a week. It was the ER's busiest time and most doctors hated the shift because it was the middle of the night to the middle of the day. It really messed you up unless you were use to it. But it was no problem for Eddie. He didn't sleep and was never tired.

I explained to him what dad and I were discussing, and he listened quietly. When I was finished he stroked my face. "I knew something was wrong. I was just telling dad yesterday that I wanted you to come and see him."

I turned my mouth to his hand and kissed his wrist.

"I'm sorry I got pissy with you. Sometimes I just don't know when to stop. You know how I get."

He nodded. "I do, but you need to listen to me sometimes. I will always have your best interest at heart." He smiled.

"I know." I smiled and leaned into his kiss.

"Listen, I was thinking that maybe we should go to the chalet in Martinique. Just you and me. Our anniversary is a little over a month away, but we can always go early and spend a extra week there. I think we both could use the break. What do you think?"

I loved our chalet on the beach. We'd gone there every year for our anniversary just as Edward had promised.

"Well, Etienne would be almost be three months and I could have enough milk stored by then. You think Ness and Jake would mind coming a little early?"

"Do you really have to ask me that?" He smiled.

"Okay, let's do it!"

I stood to go.

"Skye, I need to get some blood from you before you leave," Carlisle said.

"Oh right," I said rolling the sleeve on my sweater up.

He went to the cabinet in the far corner and started grabbing the things he needed. I sat quietly as he drew the blood. Edward watched and Etienne started to stir. The smell of the blood was making him hungry. I looked at Edward and he shrugged.

"He is vampire."

I shrugged in response.

After Carlisle put the bandage over my cut I reached for Stevie.

"I better go and feed him. Will you order Chinese for the kids? JR has been bugging me all week for some."

Eddie nodded.

"Sure."

0~~~~~~~~~~~0

I headed to our old bedroom to feed Etienne. It still baffled me as to why Esme hadn't changed anything. The twins bassinets was still by the bed and Edwards sofa was still in the far corner, next to the stereo. I stared out the glass wall into the woods. The memories we'd made here. The memories we were still making here. I couldn't help but smile.

I sat on the small sofa and started feeding Stevie. A few minutes later there was a knock on the door. Jazz stuck his head in and smiled.

"Busy?"

"Not really," I said motioning for him to join me.

He came in and shut the door behind him. Making his way to the sofa at a humans pace he sat next to me. He leaned into me and kissed my cheek softly. A shiver ran down my back and I looked at him.

He smiled devilishly.

"Don't let Edward see that blush on your face." He teased.

"Shut up." I nudged him playfully. "And you better cut it out. You know how he is."

He laughed louder. Then threw his arm around my waist. I leaned into his hold and he hugged me closer and kissed the top of my head. He looked down at Etienne and watched him nurse.

"Man, he's going to town." He stroked his hair back softly then looked at me. "Is it wrong to be jealous of a baby?"

I rolled my eyes at him and he grinned wiggling his eyebrows.

"Jazz!" I hit him in the leg. He was on a roll today.

"I'm just saying…"

I laughed shaking my head as he kissed Stevie's head.

"You are one lucky little man, you know that?"

Stevie opened one eye and held his hand out to Jazz. When Jazz took it, he tightened his fingers around Jazz's index finger. Jazz smiled at him and kissed his hand. Stevie started to kick and smile.

Just then Eddie walked in, without knocking, and looked at Jazz. Jazz smiled at him. Eddie looked at me and I did the same.

"Skye, must you…" his eyes went to my breast then to Jazz.

I sighed but took the blanket and covered Etienne, who got upset and started pulling at the blanket because he couldn't see Jazz anymore. Jazz smirked at the annoyed look on Edward's face and I knew he was about to say something stupid.

"Do you need something?"

"Naw, just admiring the view." He responded.

I shook my head.

Edward's eyes narrowed. "It's time for you to go."

"Oh come on... I was just fucking with you."

I don't know why Jazz liked pushing his luck.

"I said, it's time for you to go." Edward repeated, not at all amused.

Jazz sighed, stood up, and kissed my forehead as I switched Etienne.

"We still on for tomorrow?" He asked me.

"Yeah, of course. I can't wait." I smiled.

"What's happening tomorrow?" Eddie asked.

"We're going riding," I said smiling. I couldn't wait to feel the wind in my hair.

"Are you crazy? She just had a baby." He turned to Jazz.

"Edward…" I spoke up.

"She's fine. And it's not like I'll let her get hurt, Edward." Jazz interrupted me.

"She's not ready to get on a motorcycle."

"I'm fine, Edward."

"Skye, what happened to taking it easy and letting your body recoup?"

I sighed.

"Fine, I'll wait another month, but that's it."

"Another month should be sufficient," he said.

"Angel?" Jasper looked at me.

"He's right, Jazz. I need to rest. I've been pushing myself and it's making me feel like shit."

He huffed and nodded.

"Alright, fine, rain check then?"

"Sure." I smiled.

He smiled back but I could tell he wasn't happy.

"I'm going hunting. You want to come?"

Eddie shook his head.

"Can I take the kids then?"

"If they want to go," Edward said. "Don't keep them out too late."

"I won't. Angel, call me tomorrow if you need me to come help with..."

"That won't be necessary," Eddie said.

I looked at Eddie. He couldn't be that mad about Jazz's teasing.

"It won't?" I asked.

Jazz always came by in the mornings to work with the kids on their lessons.

"No, I'm taking tomorrow off. Sick day." He shrugged.

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Sick day?"

"Yeah, you need a sick day, right? I'm giving it to you. I'll stay home with the kids so you can get some rest. I already called in."

"Really?" I smiled. He always made sure I was good and tired on his nights off. I wondered if he would do that tonight though, since he thought I was so tired that he needed to take off.

"Yes really." He smiled back and walked over to me. He ran his hand through my hair. "And don't worry. I'll put you to bed tonight."

My smile widened. He was reading my mind without reading my mind. He knew me so very well.

"You're so bad doctor…" I purred and he kissed me softly.

"Well, I'll just be going," Jazz said annoyed.

I pulled away from Eddie and he groaned.

"I'll…call you tomorrow night…" I moaned as Edward licked my neck and sucked my ear.

"Sure," Jazz said and walked out not bothering to close the door.

"Damn, I thought he'd never leave," Eddie said nipping at my chin.

"You're an ass." I fisted his hair.

"He needs to be reminded from time to time who's shit this is. This was one of those times."

"Edward!" I pushed him back.

"What? He does it to himself. Besides, that shit he said wasn't funny. 'Admiring the view'…asshole. He didn't think it was so funny when I was the one dishing it out. And don't you dare defend him."

I stroked his face.

"You're right."

He looked at me.

"What? You are. He likes pushing your buttons. But it's only because you get so angry. Stop giving him the satisfaction."

"Speaking of satisfaction..." he smiled before running his hand leisurely across my unoccupied breast. "I say we go home, put Etienne to bed and discuss the matter further."

I looked at the clock.

"It's only one in the afternoon." I laughed.

He considered it.

"And? Since when has that mattered?"

"What if he wakes up and..."

"Give him to me." He reached for him and then flit out the room.

He came back about a minute later empty handed.

"Where's my baby?"

"Mom has him." He smiled crookedly as he shut and locked the door.

"What are you doing?" I asked, my eyes watching his hands as he began to strip.

"What does it look like I'm doing." He stripped off his shirt and sweater in one fatal swoop.

I swallowed hard.

Good god his body was amazing!

"Eddie, we're in your parents house," I said looking up at him.

"And?" he replied, pulling me off the sofa into his arms.

"And we shouldn't be doing this here." I whispered.

"Why not? We use to do it here, on this very bed, all the time," he said pulling my sweater off.

His hands slid down my back and cupped my ass as he attacked my neck.

My hands went to his shoulders and I grabbed hold to brace myself. His muscles tightened under my hands as he held me upright. They were hard and protruded from his back.

Hmmmm... What the hell was I saying again?

Oh right…

"Because...because we have our own home now, and there are people down…stairs!" I yelped the last word when he pushed me onto the bed gently.

His hands were working their way up my skirt and I was having trouble making, or even seeing, my point anymore.

"Soundproof walls remember? They won't hear us." He grabbed my panties and slowly pulled them down my legs. Then he lifted them to his face and closed his eyes. "Hmmm...you smell so damn good. Laissez-moi vous le gout, mon amour... (Let me taste you, my love)," he whispered and dropped to his knees.

"Dieu (God)…oui (yes)…moi gouter (taste me)." I moaned when I felt his hair caressing the inside of my thighs.

He pulled me closer, and I lost all reasoning capabilities when I felt his cool tongue lick me from my top to bottom. All I wanted was him, closer. I grabbed his hair and pulled his face into me. He moaned and sucked my clit into his mouth, causing my back to arch and me to call out. It was when I felt his tongue licking at the hood covering my tiny bud that I realized how well he knew my body. He knew exactly what to do, what it would take to coax her out of her hiding place, because I felt her swelling with each flicker of his wonderful tongue.

"Oh god…oh shit!" I moaned roughly, grabbing his ears.

He growled when I got wetter for him and immediately pushed a couple of fingers inside me. My bottom began to arch off the bed so he grabbed my thighs to hold me still. To hold me to him.

"Don't try and run from me, belle (beautiful).

My legs began to tremble and Edward started pumping his fingers furiously while his tongue moved faster than humanly possible. I sat up quickly and screamed out his name as my body burst.

Stars…

I saw fucking stars as my body released, giving Edward what he wanted. He removed his hands quickly and gripped my hips, pressing his mouth tightly over me as I came. When I finally stopped, he eased off and started kissing my lower lips softly. I looked down at him and saw that he was watching me. His eyes smiling.

"I could watch that everyday." He smiled.

I smiled back and fell backward on the bed. He stood up and pulled his pants down before leaning over me. He raised my legs and kissed my feet before placing them on his shoulders.

"Oh no..." I murmured. I knew that look.

He grinned and I gripped the sheets.

"You know I don't like seeing his hands on you…" he growled, "...so I'm going to show you who this pussy belongs to. Trust me, you'll never forget again."

I looked up at him. His eyes were black as coal and his teeth were bared in a wicked smile. He slid into me quickly, roughly, causing me to gasp and grip the sheets harder. Then he fucked me with abandon, grunting and moaning as he pounded me into the mattress. I panted and yelped his name as I gripped the sheets holding on for dear life.

Then abruptly he pulled out of me and flipped me on my stomach.

"Hmmm... spread your legs," he said roughly.

I'm pretty flexible so I did as he asked and spread my legs doing a Chinese split along the edge of the bed. I looked back at him and smiled. He shook his head.

"You're such a bad girl," he said as he pulled my hair to the side and licked up my spine.

I moaned in agreement as he dipped down, kissed his tattoo, and started blowing his cool breath along the wet trail he left.

"You do know that you're mine?" he said, pulling my hair roughly, causing me to rise a little.

I nodded.

He kissed up the side of my neck and turned my mouth to meet his. We kissed passionately, our tongues fighting for dominance until I needed to catch my breath.

"Then tell me!" He growled as his hands pulled harder on my hair. It hurt so good.

"I'm yours, Edward." I purred. "Everything, all of me, yours..."

I felt his sticky cock on my ass, his hands on my breasts and his mouth on my ear.

"And I am yours. All of me and everything I am. I love you," he whispered in my ear.

I sighed in reverence, because no matter how often he said it, I would never tire of hearing those words from his lips.

"Tell me something, beautiful. Does your body crave mine, the way mine craves yours?" He asked.

"Yes..." I shivered as he swept his cock across my ass slowly.

"Good, I'm glad to hear that I am not alone in my wanton." He replied as his hand grasped my breast.

"Please Edward…"

"Please what?" he asked.

"You know." I replied.

"I do, but I want you to tell me. Tell me what you want."

He had already set a gruesome pace. Why mess up a good plan?

"Fuck me... I want you to fuck me."

"Hmmm…so very bad." He chuckled.

He pushed me down on my belly and grabbed the back of my neck, pinning me to the mattress. He slammed into me and I screamed his name as he held me down and fucked me hard.

I loved when he let go a little. It didn't happen a lot, but when it did, it was always spectacular. And Edward was right, I would remember, because I was gonna be sore for a fucking week.

His hand moved to my ass cheek.

"You have such a pretty ass. So…round…soft…and smooth. And this…" he caressed his tattoo with reverence, "...I fucking love this."

Then his hand disappeared. I soon felt why, when it returned wet with his venom and slipping into my ass.

I moaned incoherently.

"Ummm… I can't wait to take you here." He groaned as his finger plunged in and out, and in time with his thrusts.

We had never tried it with anything other than his finger because he was afraid that he would hurt me while I was still human.

"Will you let me? Will you let me fuck you here?" he asked in a half grunt, half moan.

He was close. I was there.

"Yes! Whatever you want... Oh god... I'm…I'm…cumming!" I shouted as softly as I could as my eyes rolled back.

"Ohhh Angel…"

"Oooooo…" I buried my face in the sheets and closed my eyes as I rolled my ass.

Both of Edwards hands flew to my hips."Oh...god...OOOhhhh!" He grunted and thrust faster.

He felt amazing and I came again as he did.

He collapsed on my back but I welcomed his cool skin. Besides, I couldn't move him if I tried. He was heavy and I was done. Thoroughly, and completely fucked.

"I need a nap." I informed him after we'd laid there for a few minutes.

I felt his body shake as he laughed.

"You can nap if you want to. I'm going to grab a shower," he said but didn't move.

A few minutes later he rolled off of me slowly. I felt all the wetness he'd trapped inside of me come running out. I didn't care. I still couldn't move. I didn't want to.

I heard the water running and closed my eyes.

I didn't hear him come back in the room. I just felt him spreading my legs. I moaned in protest and he laughed.

"I'm just going to clean you up a bit." He kissed my knee.

I then felt the warm washcloth being pressed against my sex. I moaned and so did he.

"Sensitive?"

I nodded and opened my eyes. His were black. I motioned with my finger for him to come closer and he did. I pulled his face to mine and kissed him as he caressed and cleaned me gently. It was surprisingly erotic.

He pulled back slowly when he'd finished. "You sleep and we'll continue this later. If you're able to of course."

I smiled and closed my eyes again. The last thing I remember was him rubbing my hair and giving me a soft peck on the lips.

0~~~~~~~~~~~~~0

AN: So what do you think? Are the Cullen's too comfy living like humans? Worrying about mundane things like who should stay home with the kids. Don't they deserve a break though?