I'm so sorry for the delay and that this one is kinda short; I haven't had the time to write anything of a decent length.

I don't. Stephenie does.

Chapter 11.

Bella.

The nightmare started sometime during the night, I didn't check the correct time, but I was awoken to the arms around my middle tightening and the warm body that spooned me jerking strangely. The noises followed quickly after; 'mm...', he moaned, jerking his head; his eyes scrunched in an unconscious grimace.

'Nnn-no... no, please...' I sat straight up and watched in horror as Edward fought out his nightmare. 'Please... you can't... no... don't.'

"Edward?" I cupped his fisted hands. "Sweetheart, wake up, it's only a dream..." His thrusting stopped, but I knew he was still in his nightmare from the expressions on his face. "Edward." I spoke a little louder.

Before I could prepare myself, his eyes opened with a start and he stared into the darkness. His breath was labored and deep.

"Where's Cooper?"

"He's asleep in bed. Sweetheart, whatever it was, it was only a dream."

Edward scratched his forehead, then tore his hand through the cowlicks of hair. "I'm, um... I'm just going to..." He left the bed without finishing that sentence, but I understood - he was going to make sure Cooper was okay. I heard the creaking of floorboards down the hall, then a moment of silence and returning footfalls.

"Are you okay?"

Edward relaxed back down under the covers and gripped my offered hand. "Same old shit, but continues to scare the crap out of me."

"Do you want to talk about it?" Since I was a vulnerable child, running to my parents after a bad dream, I've always used my Mom's advice; tell someone about your bad dream and it makes all the fears disappear.

"Garrett came back... and this time he didn't take no for an answer... but Coop didn't think twice and took his hand... he just... walked away, like I meant nothing."

Oh, the love I have for this poor man.

I kissed his forehead once, twice, and a third time - because I could, and to help him. "You know that's not real, right? It's only a dream, and If anyone tried to do that, I'd beat their ass before they left the front yard."

Edward laughed and shook his head.

He thinks I'm joking, I'm really, really not.

"I love you. You always know what to say."

"And you always know how to be cheesy in a serious situation." I grinned and slapped his hand playfully, "I'm only joking; I love you, too."

Edward initiated the sweet kiss, and I didn't fight him; he can be far too tempting when he wants to be.

I fell back to sleep with his arms protectively around me and his soft breath whispering my neck.

0-0

Too soon after that, we were interrupted again, this time by the nine-year-old clambering between us.

"Cooper." I winced at the time: 6:07am - on a Saturday! "Are you okay, honey?"

"Yeah. Can we have a Lazy Saturday, please?" He beamed.

"We can, but let's get some more sleep first, okay? It's very early."

"Fine..." He sighed, "but only, like, half an hour, 'cause, y'know, we've got a lot to do today."

"Really?" Last I checked, we didn't have anything planned.

"Yeah, we have to go grocery shopping and get burgers for the barbecue tonight! Dad said we could have one if it's a nice day, and I 'fink it's going to be a nice day!"

"Cooper?" Edward interrupted.

"Yeah, Dad?"

"Shut up and get back to sleep."

We both giggled together - Edward was never one for early morning wake-ups. "Someone's cheery..."

Thankfully I convinced Cooper to cuddle up with me and get some more sleep.

0-0

Coop was right; the sun shone brightly the entire day and at some points of the day it was too hot to have the Twins outside. But during the cooler parts we all relaxed in the sun; Ellie and Marco lay on their blanket with a parasol for shade, dressed in their superhero onesies - Ellie was in a pink Superwoman one, and Marco wore a grey Batman one.

Edward and I sat nearby on the deck chairs and Cooper put the pool to good use. Not surprisingly, he had on his Superman shorts and tied his red cape around his neck.

"Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No! It's Coopermaaaaaaan!" He leaped off the edge with one arm outstretched with a fist. When he burst from the surface of the water, he flung his head back and laughed uncontrollably. Flash barked and ran up and down the fence around the pool, tried to find an entrance, but he wasn't successful.

"Dad! Come and join me!"

He hesitated for a second, but Edward can be as much of a kid as Cooper is, and he was soon bombing into the pool, making Coop bob with the waves.

"That was awesome!" Cooper spluttered his laugh. "Can we play the shark game, please?"

I watched in amusement as Edward pretended to be a shark and slowly chased Coop around the pool - Coop ran and swam away whilst giggling.

"I'm gonna get'cha!"

"No you won't, Padre; I'm too quick for you!"

0-0

Edward

0-0

All day I had been waiting for Bella to get distracted to give me the time to talk to Cooper secretively about something. Thankfully my moment came when we were in the pool and the Twins both messed their diapers simultaneously. I offered to help, but she said she could handle it and I should carry on playing.

Sweet.

"Hey, Buddy," I whispered and waded over to him, "I need to tell you about something, but it's a secret okay?"

His eye lit up, "I love secrets! What is it?"

"Well, I have this idea, and I need your help with it. You know how you break up for summer vacation next week?"

"Yes! I'm so excited!" He slapped the water with his palms.

"I know you are! Sometime next week can you help me buy something?"

He looked at me dubiously, "okay... but what has that got to with my summer vacation?"

"I can't tell you that much, only that what we buy is very important. However, before I buy it, I have to make sure you're okay with it."

"Dad, you're not making much sense right now..."

I know I'm not, but gimme a break; this is hard, dude!

"Sorry, Bud..." Just say it! "Okay... um... how would you feel if I asked Bella to marry me?"

The high pitched squealing and the way he leaped into my arms made me see that he accepted.

0-0

What about you guys? Do you accept? Hehe.

Btw, if you want to see pictures of Ellie and Marco in their superhero onesies, you can find it over on Cooper's Facebook group; Cooper Troopers Working of Fate.

See you all next time, and send me your thoughts! X