"Edward? What are you doing?" I was currently looking at my little boy who had dressed himself in his winter coat and boots. On his hands were a pair of oven mitts and he held a frying pan. "I'm going to kill a spider daddy." I gave him a quizzical look. "What's with the outfit?"

"Its my armor. I don't want to bite me."

"Oh, silly me. I should have known." He grinned at me, as if to say, Silly Daddy. "Do you need any help bud?"

"No daddy I can get it."

"Ok, just don't make too big of a mess, ok?" With a nod he walked back up to his room, frying pan poised above his head ready to strike.

It was quiet for the next ten minutes and then, CLANG! "Um, Daddy? Can you come here real quick?" Why do I smell blood. "Edward? Is everything ok?" He came out, his left hand clutched tightly to his chest. "Um, the spider got away."

"What happened to your hand?"

"I have really bad aim?"

"Oh, my poor baby." I reached for the swelling appendage and gently held it in my hand. "It doesn't seem broken, thankfully. Honestly Edward, why didn't you just step on the spider like a normal person?"

"Daddy, what makes you think I would do anything a normal person does?" He makes a good point.

"Well, come on. I want to get a better look at your hand. Why don't you go to your room while I get my medical bag." He looked at his room and then back at me nervously. "Um, daddy. That spider still in there."

"You aren't scared of a tiny little spider are you?"

"Yes, terrified. Go kill it, please."

"Edward."

"Look what it did to my hand!"

"You did that yourself."

"Who's side are you on?" I tried giving him 'the look' but all that got me was, "Well some father you are. You know some men like protecting their sons from big eight legged, fury, nasty spiders!" Maybe he should become a lawyer. "Alright, alright. I'll go kill the spider." I started off toward his room and noticed I had a shadow. "Where are you going? I thought you were scared of this thing."

"I am, but I have to make sure you really kill it and not just say you did."

"When have I ever done something like that? Never mind, don't answer that."

We went into the room, Edward hiding behind my legs, and I holding the heavy frying pan. "Daddy, careful. You might step on it." Of course he would suddenly have a change of heart about killing this thing. "Edward, do you want me to get rid of this thing or not?"

"Of course I do."

"Then shhh!"

"Fine."

I continued walking into the room, being extra careful of where I stepped. Good thing Edward is such a neat freak, or I probably would have spent hours looking for that damn spider. Truth be told I wasn't the one that spotted it. "DADDY! There it is!" Edward jumped onto my back and held on for dear life. "Edward, this would be easier if you weren't hanging on me."

"But daddy." He said in his most pitiful 'you're the only one who can protect me' voice. "Ok, hang on."

I took aim carefully and, WHAP! No more spider. "Yay! Daddy you did it!" Setting the frying pan down Edward wiggled his way to my front and wrapped his arms firmly around my neck. "Thank you daddy!" A sloppy kiss was placed on my cheek. Really, when he does this it makes me feel like a super hero. "You're welcome baby. Now let's look at that poor hand of yours."

I lifted the bruised little hand and frowned at how bad it looked. "It's not so bad daddy."

"We need to get some ice on it. And look you cut yourself a little." Told you I smelled blood. "I need to get that cleaned and wrapped."

"Are you going to put that stingy stuff on it?"

"Yeah, why?" Edward began wiggling in my arms. "I'm fine. It doesn't hurt a bit."

"Hey, are you the doctor here?"

"Um, if it gets me out of the stingy stuff I am."

"Edward."

"Please daddy. I don't like that stuff. It really hurts. Don't make me, pwease?"

"I'm sorry baby, but if I don't put it on then your hand will get infected and then you'll have to go to the hospital and get a shot." Edward's eyes widened at the thought.

"Oh no daddy! Not a shot! I'll take the sting!" I kissed his forehead, feeling a little low for scaring him into it. "Ok sweetie, I promise to be real gentle, ok?"

"Ok daddy."

After fixing up his hand, kissing away his hurt tears, and letting him eat as many cookies to his little hearts content, I finally was able to rock him into a dozing state. "Daddy, can I sleep with you tonight?"

"Sure Edward, but why?"

"Um, that spiders friends might come looking for him. I just want to make sure your safe." I smiled down at the sleepy little boy in my arms. "How very thoughtful of you. Come on, let's get you into bed."