EPOV

I am a man with a plan or that's what I keep telling myself. Namibia changed my perspective on a lot of thing in my life.

The assignment I went on for National Geographic was based on a series they were doing involving family dynamics. They chose five photographers to go to five different locations around the world to document what family meant in their cultures.

It killed me when Tanya told me the shoot was for six weeks. It was the longest one I've been on since we had Mackenzie. I hated the idea of leaving Bella and her for that long.

When I arrived on location in Africa my heart broke. A lot of the mothers in the village I was in were single mothers. They were either widowed or abandoned by their partners. It started to hit home when I saw the children.

I thought about Bella and how I never wanted her to face anything alone. I wanted to be with her forever. I've loved that girl since we were kids. I was afraid if I told her it would ruin everything and then her twenty first birthday happened. Still to this day she thinks I was drinking, but the truth was that I had two beers that night. She told me that night that she loved me and I knew I couldn't let her go.

Mackenzie was the best thing I have done in my life. These children only had their mothers in their lives. The more pictures I took the more I realized that I wanted more with Bella.

I wanted to marry her. I wanted to have more kids with her. I wanted to get out of the complicated situation we were in.

Last night I finally listened to Bella and let Mackenzie sleep in her bed. Since I've been back I've been using my daughter as a shield. Bella and I have slept in the same bed for almost five years and it drives me crazy that I have to keep my hands in check. Thank God, I wake up before her and she doesn't notice the accidental boob fondling going on.

I could feel her start to stir against me.

"You up?" She said stretching.

"Yeah, I think I'm going to head over to Jasper's and drag his ass out of bed for a run." I smiled playing with the ends of her hair.

She took her hand running it along my jaw line. "You're still acting funny."

"Jet lag?"

She was thoughtful and broke our brief silence. "Are you growing a beard?"

"Why?" Did she not like it? I only grew it because it was hard to shave on my trip.

"It's just your face is scruffier then… ever." She giggled still brushing my cheek again.

"You want me to shave?"

"I kinda like it," She smiled. "It makes you look more rugged."

I brought my face closer and brushed my cheek against hers. She tried pushing me away. "I'm going to have cheek burn."

"There is no such thing as cheek burn." I chuckled kissing her cheek.

"Is my face red?"

"A little."

"See cheek burn." She said frowning.

"Mommy!" Mackenzie called swaying her tired little body in our room.

"Come on up, Kenz." Bella giggled pulling her up in bed with her. We were definitely spoiling her.

I leaned down kissing both my girls on the head. "I'm going to Jazz's call me if you want me to bring home lunch."

"Okay, later."

I made my way to Jasper's and he wasn't very happy with me for waking him up.

"Edward, there's a women keepin' your bed warm and you left her to wake me up." He frowned running his hand through his messy blond curls.

"I need to go for a run." I announced pushing my way into his house.

He followed me into the living room and plopped down on his couch. "Let's get this over with."

"What?" I asked confused.

"Are you finally going to propose to her?" He asked in frustration. Why is he acting like this?

"I have a plan." I stated.

"You're an idiot. She's gonna meet someone and take your daughter with her."

"She wouldn't do that." I argued.

"Let me tell you somethin', she has loved you since high school. You were a fuckin' man whore, but she still loved your sorry ass. When she graduated she went to the college we were at and moved in with you. Then finally I thought you saw what she had to offer when you told me you slept with her, but no you didn't. You were ecstatic the day she told you about the baby and like always you did nothing… No I take that back cause the two of you fucked like rabbits until you had said child. What you two have isn't healthy." He sighed shaking his head.

I sat back letting his words sink in. All of it was true, but the one thing I was sure of was my love for Bella.

"What if I tell her I love her and she freaks out? I can't lose them."

"Then work your way into it. You had no problems showin' her at the party yesterday." He shrugged.

"What do you mean?" I asked causing my brow to furrow.

"We all saw you continually kiss her neck and she let you carry her everywhere."

"I didn't realize…"

"That's why you're both damn blind," He yelled throwing his hands up. "The thing that amazes me is Kenzie is a little genius."

I rolled my eyes. He was right and I guess that's why he's the psychiatrist of the group. We didn't run, but we did watch Sports Center before I had to leave.

"She hasn't called yet." I frowned looking at my phone.

"You're the one pickin up the food call her." And I did.

"She's not answering."

"She's probably busy with a client."

"You're right, I'll stop and grab something."

"You have officially become a pussy." He said shaking his had sadly.

"Fuck you."

"Go home to your girls." He chuckled.

I decided to listen to Jasper. I stopped at La Bella Italia getting Bella's favorite the mushroom ravioli and Mackenzie the baby pasta.

I wasn't prepared to see the seven-foot man boy that was sitting on my couch with my daughter. The guy looked to be at least in his mid twenties, but his height told a different story. He had russet skin and long black hair leaving me to believe he was Native American. I know I shouldn't be staring but I'm trying to figure out why the fuck he is here.

"Hey." He grinned at me.

"Hello?"

"Daddy this is my bestest friend EVER Jake." Kenz said bouncing around the room.

"Bestest friend ever?" I asked slowly and confused.

"Bella's the editor for my book." He explained.

"Oh," I tried to recover and stuck out my hand. "Edward Cullen."

"Jacob Black." He smiled shaking my hand back firmly. "So, you're the famous Daddy?"

"He's my Daddy. He takes lots of pictures and they're very pretty." Mackenzie gushed to him.

I didn't feel like staying in the room any longer. "Where's your mom, monk."

"In the kitchen."

"I'll be back." I mumbled.

I took our food and placed it on the counter. Bella was moving around with her iPod blasting. She was making food with her back to me. I walked up behind her grabbing her hips pulling them to me and placed a kiss on her neck.

"Did you enjoy your run?" she asked sweetly.

"Jazz was being a bitch."

"So you ended up watching Sports Center." She giggled

"Ah, you know us so well."

"Jasper's lazy," She said shrugging. "I think its all the pot."

"Damn stoner." I chuckled, moving her hair to the side. "Why are you making food?"

"We were…shit I forgot you were getting something." She said apologetically.

"I did bring food." I told her pointing to the counter.

She walked over to the bag on the counter. "La Bella Italia!" she squealed.

"Your favorite." I murmured, pulling her back to me.

"You're so good to me." She sighed reaching up to kiss my cheek.

"Hey Bells, I'm going to take off." Jacob said breaking up our moment.

Bella ran to where she was working when I first came in and picked up the food. "Wait, take the sandwiches with you."

"The way to my heart." He said placing his monster-sized hand over his heart and she fucking giggled at him.

"See you later Jake." She smiled.

He walked over taking the Ziploc bag out of her hands and placed a kiss on her cheek. "Later guys, nice meeting ya Ed."

"Likewise." I mumbled, walking out of the room to join Mackenzie on the couch.

My girl could sense my mood. She looked at me with her mother's doe eyes when I sat down and crawled over to me. "What's up, love?"

She threw her little arms around my neck and placed sloppy kisses all over my face. "I love you." She sighed when she stopped her assault.

I squeezed her closer to me. "I love you too, monk."

"Daddy?" she asked curiously.

"Mackenzie?" I repeated in the same tone.

"Why is your face itchy?" she asked patting my cheek.

"It's a beard."

"I don't like it." She stated wrinkling her nose.

I laughed at her. "Then it's gone."

"Good." She nodded against me.

We sat watching TV until I guess we dosed off. I was woken by Bella's hand rubbing my face. She was kneeling in front of us.

"Hey." I rasped out.

She smiled brightly at me and her lips went down and lightly brushed mine. "Hey."

"Hmm… what was that for?"

"You being you." She whispered rubbing my cheek again.

"Your daughter doesn't like the beard." I told her looking down at the angel in my arms. "It's itchy."

"Bye-bye beard." She murmured and I nodded.

"Jacob seems… nice."

"He is." She smiled. "He wrote a car book."

"Your clients are normally fiction writers."

"His book is a funny guys car book."

"I see." I paused. "Kenz said he was her bestest friend."

"He plays with her, she loves the attention." She beamed, running her fingers through Mackenzie's curls.

"He's bigger then Em."

"That's what I thought when I first met him. He actually grew up in La Push."

"Isn't it a small world?" I added sarcastically, but I don't think she picked up on it.

"It gets even smaller because his dad is friends with Charlie, he actually requested that I would be his editor."

"I bet." I said rolling my eyes.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"That's becoming your favorite word."

"Sorry I've been distracted lately." I said quietly.

"I like you being home."

"I love being home." I said honestly.

Bella sat there quietly watching Mackenzie sleep. "She's not going to sleep for us tonight."

"She needed a nap, it's hard being four." I said kissing Mackenzie's head.

"It's hard being twenty five."

"I know I've been there." I grinned.

"I forgot twenty eight is the new fifty." She teased.

I pulled her down so she was laying with us. She traced her fingers over Mackenzie's face. "We did good, you know." She whispered looking up at me with her big brown eyes.

"The best thing we've ever done together." And she was.

We laid on the couch watching House reruns on Bravo. Bella sat up quickly. "I forgot Emmett called earlier he wanted you to meet him at Eclipse."

Eclipse was one of the three bars my brother owned in downtown Seattle.

"I don't feel like going out tonight." I whined.

"I don't think it was a hanging out invite. His bartender quit."

"He needs my expertise."

"You're a very good bartender," she stated seriously. "Think about the tips, you can buy me something nice."

"What do you have that I already haven't given to you?"

"Mmm… a Starbucks Espresso maker."

"You hate Espresso." I countered.

"Well it's something you haven't given me."

Without thinking I blurted out. "I'd give you the world."

She started cackling at me. "Now I know something is wrong with you." She said pushing away from me.

"Wake Kenz up and get her ready for dinner." She giggled shaking her head. She thinks I'm a joke.

My eyes couldn't break away from her ass and I knew I have a problem. She was gorgeous and I was in love with her. I needed to show her how much I loved her and soon.

A/N: It's official these two are a hot mess. So what do you all think are they driving you as crazy as they are me? I love your feedback too. Read and Review please!