You're probably thinkin' that you're gonna change me,
In some ways, well, maybe you might,
Scrub me down, dress me up,
Oh, but not matter what, remember, I'm still a guy.

I'm Still A Guy – Brad Paisley.

Bella.

"She's crazy like a fool, what about it Daddy Cool…"

*kiss* "I need to…" *kiss* "get that…" *kiss*

"No you don't." *kiss* "Just leave it."

"Daddy, Daddy Cool. Daddy, Daddy Cool."

"No, I do. It's Charlie."

I broke away from Edward's grasp; only to find out I had straddled his lap some time during our increasingly intimate kisses. And the occasional boob grope. I slipped my iPhone out of the front of my jeans and accepted the call before he could hang up. I sat back from Edward, but that never stopped him. He leant forward and dropped soft kisses on the arch of my neck.

"Sorry dad, I was… er… driving and had to… um…pullover."

Smooth, Bella. He'll never suspect a thing.

"Okay, well I thought it would be best to say that Draco has been crying since you left. I've left him to self soothe, but it isn't working."

I love my son, but did he have to do that right now?

"Not a problem. I'll be back as soon as I can." The second I've hung up and thrown my phone to the side, Edward decided to get back to where we left off. I pushed back on his face and turned my head to the side so he couldn't charm me with his devilish looks and lips. "No… No, I need to go home… Edward, stop."

"Five more minutes…" he whispered.

"Stop thinking with your dick; we need to get going."

"But if it wasn't for my dick, we wouldn't be in this situation. So I think it deserves a thank you. However which way you wish to… thank it." He smirked and raised his left eyebrow.

"You dirty bastard."

"Tut tut, Bella Swan, you speak to your mother with that mouth?"

"They are baby words compared to yours, Mr. Cullen." I whispered against his lips, pressing a soft kiss there and leaning back so we couldn't get any further.

"You little tease. And here I sit, thinking you had to be on your way…"

"I do, I do." I slipped from his lap and back onto my seat – I couldn't waste any more time. Charlie will have some serious questions waiting for me and right now, I don't have a clue how to answer them. I didn't waste any more time parked on the side of the road and drove to Edward's in record speed.

"What are you doing tomorrow?" He asked before opening the door.

"Food shopping, course work and we still need to have that chat."

"Then I'll be at your house by nine."

"What?"

"All shall be explained in the morning. See you then, Ms. Swan."

"Um… okay…bye…"

Within fifteen minutes, I was home and on my way up to see what was wrong with Draco. I jumped out my skin when I saw his attempts to climb out of his cot. He had one leg draped over the front, and his hands were holding onto the side bars with a death grip. How the hell he got up there, I will never know. All I knew was that if I hadn't come home when I did, he could have been seriously injured. I brought him into my embrace and only then did I breathe a sigh of relief.

His cheeks were bright red from crying, his eyes watery and his hair had flattened to one side of his face; the other side stuck up in a tangle. "Baby boy, what's wrong?" I bounced him gently and patted his back to sooth his crying. A few short minutes later, his crying had reduced down to sniffles. I didn't say anything, I just remained where I sat, continuously patting his back and cuddling him till he fell back to sleep.

Once he had been put back into the crib, with a blanket over his legs, I twisted the dial on the baby soother; a sweet lullaby began to play and lights were casted onto the opposite wall. I couldn't say for certain of course, but perhaps Edward forgot to turn this on last time – Draco doesn't tend to wake up and if he does, this helps him back to sleep.

I left my door open enough so I could hear if he woke up again and went back to join the guys downstairs. They were so involved in their game that they didn't notice me walk in, saying hello, and then walk out again. I backed into the kitchen to continue washing up, prepared some watermelon for Draco's breakfast and then fired up my laptop to continue with the essay I had still to complete. I had the copy of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' and my pad of paper next to me. The paper had more of Draco's pencil scribbles in it than my own.

Someway through describing Helena's love life, I felt my eyes begin to close. It's a rare moment for me to stay awake longer than nine o'clock nowadays. Even with the help from Charlie and Edward, Draco still manages to drain all the energy from my body. I decided to call it a day, closed up my books, saved my work and hid it all out of Draco's sight, in case he goes searching without me noticing. I took a glass of water with me, saying goodnight to everyone in the living room as I passed.

I had a shower – only so I don't need one first thing in the morning – and kissed Draco goodnight once I had changed into my pyjamas. Switched the lights off, turned on the blue night-light by the door and then fell straight into the comfort of my bed.

Goodnight, world.

xxx

I woke up to three different things. The wailing of my son, my phone ringing and a headache that felt like someone was hammering against my skull. What a beautiful morning…

'My heart skips, skips, skips, skips, skips, skips a beat.'

"Maaaaama! Maaaama!"

'I can see you're not yourself, even when you're here with me.'

"Maaaamaaaaaaa!

"I'm coming, baby boy." I quickly answer my phone and tell Edward I'll be two seconds, then got out of bed and went to take Draco from his crib. He wrapped his podgy arms around my neck and put his head on my shoulder, nearly going back to sleep from the comfort. "Good morning." I heard his faint yawn and felt him squirm against me. When I lay back on my bed, Draco never budged and stayed exactly where he was. I took my phone and apologised for my little delay.

"It's alright. I was just making sure you're still okay for me to come over at nine."

"Yeah, er, what time is it now?"

"It's just gone eight-fifteen. So I was going to have a smoke then head over."

"Not a problem. I better get up and get this little man dressed, just come over when you're ready."

"Will do, see you then."

Draco and I cuddle for a few more minutes and then it's time to get up. Ignoring the banging in my head, I change his diaper and put him into a pair of jeans, a Batman t-shirt (grey with the logo on the chest) some white socks and black Converse. Funny thing is, before, I never wanted to put Converse on my children because I didn't like the idea of squashing their feet into them, but now, I don't worry about it and don't even know why I did.

With Draco sitting on the edge of my bed, I brush out the tangles in his hair and tickle his tummy. "High five?" His fingertips slap my palm, "good boy! C'mon then." I let him play about my floor with his favourite teddy bear as I get dressed into some black leggings, a jean skirt and a grey t-shirt with Kermit the Frog on the front. I pull my hair into a messy pony tail and clip back my fringe with a kirby.

Once we're downstairs, Draco fights me over being put in his high chair. He wanted to play with his toy box, but I had to feed him his breakfast so we could start the day off quicker. In the end, I took the pot of watermelon from the fridge, made myself a cup of herbal tea and sat down on the couch, putting the watermelon next to Draco so he could eat as he played. I had taken some pain killers, but they didn't seem to work.

"Mama?"

"Yes, little man?"

"Mama?"

"What is it?"

Draco threw a ball into the air and it hit him lightly on the head when it came back down. "Aaaaaaaaaa." Draco smiled, shaking his knees and tapping his head where the ball had hit.

"Wow, can you do that again?" instead of throwing the ball up the way, he chucked it to the floor and watched it bounce along the carpet. "Good job!" The rat-a-tat-tat knocking interrupted our playing. I answered the door with a hint of hesitation – How would Edward act after last night? Is it going to be one of those times where it happened, but you don't ever discuss it again? Or is he going to be hoping for the flirting to continue? And what do I want? Sure, he knows how to kiss… but that doesn't mean I want it to happen again. I'll just play it by ear; the safer way of doing things.

We greeted each other with a 'hello, how are you?' Edward found out about my headache and tried his best to force me back upstairs so I could have a nap. But I'm a stubborn person; I won't run and hide from the world because of a headache.

"Right, but if it gets worse through the day, you're going for a nap – no arguments." Shame he's as stubborn as me.

"Okay. Sorry dad." I respond sarcastically.

I start to head back into the living room, but Edward pulls on my hand. "Hey, I think you're forgetting something." He raised his eyebrows and licked the middle of his top lip. This answered my previous questions - looks as though he still felt the same as he did last night. Looks as though? It's crystal clear! I just went for it, brushed away my feelings, stood on my tip-toes and gave his lips a chaste kiss. "Much better," he whispered, slyly stealing another.

We sat down, watching Draco push four cars along the floor and clapped when they bashed into each other - Road rage, anyone? – He went to Edward and gave him a car, then went to me and gave me one and went back to Edward, stole his car, and gave it to me as well. Draco played this 'pass the car' game as Edward and I talked.

"What I've wanted to say is that I've… kind of… bought a house…"

I looked at him skeptically. "What do you mean you've kind of bought a house?"

"It's actually an apartment, and I wanted to get my own place so… I have."

It shocked me that he had the money to just go out and buy one like it was a loaf of bread. But I'm not one to judge; people can spend their earnings on whatever they wish. "Fair enough. What has this got to do with me?" Call me stupid, I didn't exactly think before I spoke.

"Well it has three bedrooms, and seeing how quickly Draco is growing, I thought it would be better if he had more space to run around –"

"—He has plenty of space here!" I don't approve of people telling me my house is too small. It might be small, but it's big enough to fit those that live here.

"Oh, no, Bella that isn't what I mean. I'm sorry. I mean it might be best if he had his own bedroom."

"In that case, it would be lovely for the nights he is with you."

"I mean permanently."

Ah. Now that does cause a problem. "I… I don't know… I just… I think… maybe…"

"I don't mean taking him away from you."

"Then what do you mean?" I'm very confused right now.

"They'll be an extra bedroom… and I thought you could take it…"

"You mean… we move in with you?"

Shit, this is getting awkward.

"Yeah…but more like roommates."

"I'll have to think about it, okay?"

Edward's fallen expression didn't go unnoticed. I felt guilty – I didn't mean to be offensive. But I can't accept something like that without thinking it over first.

"It's okay, I shouldn't have said anything."

Bollocks, now I feel really guilty.

I leant forward, taking his hand in mine. "I didn't mean it in that way. I just have to think about it before making a decision. Please, don't be torn up over it."

He said he wouldn't, but something by the way he said it and the look he gave made me think he was lying.

xxx

Our shopping trip to Target had been a success. I stocked up the kitchen cupboard, bought Draco a few new t-shirts and Edward treated him to a push car which he can both sit on and ride himself, or we can push him on it with the handle. Draco usually causes a hassle when we go shopping – he hates sitting in the cart and unless I have something for him to nibble on, he'll be crying from the moment we leave the truck to the moment he gets back in. But this time, Edward kept him plenty occupied with silly faces and playing funny games to make him laugh.

When we got home, I made us a quick lunch and then put Draco down for his nap. He cried for us, but it didn't last long and he fell asleep soon after. I cuddled up on the couch with my blanket; my headache had gotten worse during the morning, so I couldn't face staring at a computer screen or attempting to write an essay. Edward popped out for a cigarette; he offered to get me a glass of water and some pain killers before he went out. He's too cute sometimes.

Lying sideways on the couch hadn't done me any justice. It was like that one and only time I have been drunk; whenever I closed my eyes it felt like I was on a swing. The nausea bubbled in my stomach, I opened my eyes and the nausea went away. I rubbed my forehead, groaning out of discomfort.

"Go to bed, Bella."

"No, I'm fine."

"You're not fine. Stop being a stubborn little bitch and go to bed."

I could fight for my case, but I knew I would lose.

I went to bed.

I ignored every urge that told me to fight the pain.

One thing I did not ignore, is the comfort my bed brings whenever I arrive.

Edward

"Did you have a nice nap, buddy?"

Draco stared at me with wide eyes, he always had that same confused expression after a nap – it's awfully cute.

"Mama?"

"Mummy's in bed, buddy. We're going to have some fun, just you and me, okay?"

"No!"

"No? Do you not want to do some drawing with daddy?"

"No!"

"Erm…I know, we could make something to make mummy feel better. Shall we do that?"

"Mama!"

"What shall we do then? How about… we make some cookies."

"Eessss."

I don't know if that means 'yes', or if he's just mumbling. But I took the former. "Yeah?"

"Eesss."

Baking it is then.

Edward, remember that time you set the toaster on fire? Yeah? Good luck making cookies then.

xxx

Pre-heat the oven to gas mark 4… which one's gas mark 4?

Fuck.

I'm not very good at this…

I measure out the sugar and butter, put them all into a bowl and mixed them together. It said to 'cream' them, but fuck knows what that means. Oh shit, it also requires brown sugar. I could just add more of the caster sugar, right?

Apparently Draco doesn't like to bake. I had given him the bowl full of ingredients, and instead of mixing them together, he decided to pour them over the kitchen table. I would have felt bad for wasting Bella's food if I didn't carry on making these sodding things.

Now it was time to add the flour. Is there a difference between self-raising and plain flour? Bollocks. There's only one person I can ask.

"Hello?"

"Hey mum, it's me. Listen; is there a difference between self-raising and plain flour?"

"It depends what you're making, dear."

"I'm making cookies and it's a recipe Bella had written down and she only put 'flour'."

"Then you need to use plain."

"Right, 'kay, thanks, bye."

The mixture didn't look too smooth to me… but the lumps of butter will melt in the oven, right? Shit… this was such a bad idea.

xxx

The cookies were sort of… dropped onto the tray and thrown into the oven. Ten to fifteen minutes and they'll be done. Draco had now had enough with the scribbling on a piece of paper, he was let down to play with his new push car. I needed to show him how it worked, but he soon got the hang of things.

"Dada!"

"Yes, buddy?"

"Baaaall."

"Where's the ball gone?" Draco stood up and went to the other side of the room to collect his green plastic ball. "Throw it here." I clapped twice and opened my hands out. He held the ball in his right hand, stuck his arm out, pulled it back and spun in a one-hundred-and-eighty degree turn before he let it fire. The ball, instead of coming across to me on the couch, smacked off the side window and flew straight past my face and rolled to the back of the room. I could only laugh at my son's attempt at throwing, and he joined me in the laughing – even though he didn't know what we were laughing at.

"Edward? Is something burning?"

Fuck! "Oh, shit, shit, shit!"

Bella stood on the stairs dazed and a little scared. I raced into her kitchen, grimacing at the strong smell of smoke that attacked your nostrils. The tray of decimated cookies was flung onto the stove. There goes my effort to make her feel better…

"Um… what's going on?"

The cookies looked like little piles of dog turd. "We made you cookies (well, technically only I did) in hope they would make you feel better. I kind of burnt them…"

"You did? Oh, that's so cute. Thank you."

"Thank you? If you hadn't woken up, I would have burnt down your fucking kitchen."

"Give your sense of smell some credit, Edward; you would have noticed before that happened. And I think it's adorable that you made me cookies."

Here's my chance… perhaps I will get something sweet from this mess. "Adorable? Do I get something for being adorable?"

"Maybe…" Bella slipped her arms slowly around my neck. "But we have a son just across the hall…"

"Then we'll have to be extra quiet."

Fuck the cookies. I'll take this please.

Just as her lips brushed against mine, she pulled back with an evil glint in her eye. "Edward?" She whispered.

"Whatever you have to say, please hurry up."

"I've been thinking… It's dawned on me how much I struggled doing things when there isn't anyone else here to watch over Draco."

"Okay…"

"I hope you don't mind finding my things all over the bathroom."

"Really?"

"Yes. Really. We would love to become your roommates."

A huge, cheesy ass grin crossed my features. "Can I kiss you now?"

"You don't have to ask."

I'm taking a note of that one.

xxx
We all love a bit of cheesy romance.
Thoughts?