I don't own these characters. They are the sole property of Stephenie Meyer. I only borrow them. No humans are permanently harmed through my actions, though I do confess to harassing, annoying, torturing, and exasperating them – just because it's fun. I make no money from my little stories, sad day. I only play in the sandbox, I didn't build it.

Author's Note: It won't be too long before a bit more about Edward's past is revealed. Yes, it will be revealed evntually! :D

XII

Edward's POV

We decided to tell the boys our news at breakfast. Food generally put them in a good mood, and it was our hope that they would be so busy filling their bellies that they would give little real thought to our new status. We both realized that our reprieve would not last long, just long enough for each of them to formulate a million questions. But we were determined to be grateful for any moment of peace we could gain.

I watched as Bella nervously sipped at her tea and I dared to reach out and grasp her hand in my mine, even in front of the boys. Aaron stopped chewing and looked at our intertwined hands. I cleared my throat and got a subtle nod from Bella.

"Alex...Aaron," I said quietly. "Your mother and I have some news to share with you that we hope will please you both."

Alex swallowed a large bite of eggs and waited, shoving another bit of bacon into his mouth when it took me a moment to find the words. "Well, the truth of the matter is that I've come to regard your mother with a great deal of respect and affection." Aaron blinked and looked at our hands again.

"What Mr. Masen means to say is that we've both developed feelings for each other and..." Bella's words trailed off and her fingers tightened around mine. I decided to forge ahead.

"I have asked your mother to be my wife," I said boldly. "I've asked her that I be allowed to act as your father, to raise you as my own."

Alex and Aaron looked at each other, communicating in that wordless way they had with each other. The "conversation" did not take long, and at the end of it they nodded and turned their eyes back to us.

"Does that mean you'll still teach us our lessons?" Aaron asked, looking merely curious. Alex, however, looked hopeful. I knew exactly what that quick young mind was thinking.

"While I will not be your tutor exactly," I began cautiously, noting Alex's ever widening smile. "I will continue to instruct you as I have done before. I will simply add the responsibilities of being your father and your mother's husband to my duties." I smiled and kissed Bella's hand daringly. "Which will be both my joy and my privilege."

Alex looked disgruntled while Aaron merely nodded. "All right," Aaron said quietly. He looked at his brother once more, and yet again they indulged in that oddly silent communication. They turned to look at us as one. "We like it," Aaron announced, giving us their seal of approval. Then Alex began chattering away, a mile a minute and hardly taking time to draw a breath. He had a hundred questions for us, including whether or not we intended to have any more children and if any of them might, tragically, be girls.

I had to swallow my laughter at his blunt question, while his mother's face lit up as if she was sitting much too close to the fire. I had to then restrain my thoughts as I wondered if that blush extended down into her chemise. One day, I would know and that thought had my hands clenching.

Luckily, the boys finished up their meal at that point and began to squirm in their seats, waiting to be excused. Bella glanced at me and gave me a small nod, letting me know that she wanted me to start taking the initiative with the boys. "You may be excused now," I told them. "Make sure you wash your faces and hands," I added as they rushed away from the table.

"And don't forget behind your ears," Bella called out.

Alex groaned and then they were gone.

I began gathering the dishes and Bella got up to help me. We piled the dishes onto a tray and I put them outside the door of the room. "Well," I said. "That went well."

"They know you," Bella said quietly. "They like you. I'm not surprised it went well."

She came to stand so close to me that I could inhale her unique, subtle scent. It was womanly and warm and beckoned me as surely as a touch. Slowly, giving her time to refuse me, I reached for her. I put my hands on her hips and pulled her closer to me. I felt the layers of petticoats beneath my hands and longed for the day when it would be my right to tug at them, pushing them out of my way so that I might caress the scented flesh beneath. I hardened at the thought, my whole body surging on the wave of desire I felt for her.

Bella wrapped her arms around me and rested her head on my chest. I could only pray that the folds of her petticoats and the voluminous skirt would shield her from the realization of my physical need for her. "Edward?" she whispered.

"Yes, love," I answered. I felt her start slightly at the endearment. We had not yet truly spoken words of love, but I vowed to give them to her before I made her my wife. Having made a marriage of convenience once, she needed to know that I wanted her simply for her.

"Thank you," she replied quietly. "Thank you for being so good with the boys."

I tipped up her face and placed a chaste kiss on her lips. "I hope you will think I am as good with their mother."

Her face turned rosy again and I laughed a little. Then she stood on her toes and pressed her lips more firmly against mine and all inclination to laughter fled as I tightened my grip around her and moaned at the feel of her soft tongue brushing against mine. With no regard for our potential audience, I let my hand slide up her side until I was gently cradling the soft weight of her breast in my hand. She moaned and moved against me like a wanton kitten and I knew in that moment that I was going to savor the process of initiating Bella into the joys of the marriage bed. It seemed her union with Mr. Black had been a cool, joyless thing. Our marriage, however, would never be like that. I would show her every day how she made my blood run hot and my body tremble with need.

I softly brushed my thumb over her peaked nipple and she gasped against my mouth. I wondered if her nipples would be a soft pink or perhaps a dusky rose. I looked forward very much to finding out for myself. I moved my lips to her ear and whispered, "I cannot wait to feel you pressed against me in our bed, with nothing between us..." The words were crass, crude even, but she responded positively.

She shuddered against me, but then I heard the boys approached and swiftly stepped away, keeping my hands on her shoulders to steady her. Bella took a deep breath and straightened her skirts with trembling hands. She shot me a look of exasperation and longing and I laughed.

It felt good to laugh. I was a happy man. And I meant to make sure that Bella was a happy woman.

~AYW~

A few hours later, Bella's friends arrived. I had arranged to have tea and some small cakes delivered to the room. It was a bit of an extravagance, but I did not want her to be shamed in front of her friends. No one knew how difficult her circumstances were, for Mrs. Swan had bragged to her friends how her daughter had married a rich man. There was no need to disabuse them of that notion. Bella had her pride after all, and I would not have it any other way. She had worked hard to keep what was hers, and now I would help her as much as I was able.

Angela Weber Dawkins and Mimi Drake Bell had been two of Bella's friends while she was growing up. First, the young ladies expressed their sympathies on the passing of Bella's parents, and then their condolences on the death of Jacob Black. Finally, they voiced their admiration of Bella's sons. The boys bore the kisses and hair ruffling with ill-concealed impatience but they did endure. Alex wiped away the more demonstrative Mimi's kiss when the ladies weren't looking. I tried to look disapproving but failed miserably, as Alex's giggle told him.

The ladies settled down to drink their tea and the boys tried to act as if they were having fun. They squirmed and wriggled and finally began poking at each other in their boredom. I foresaw a squabble and kept a close eye on them.

"It was so nice of you to accompany Bella, Mr. Masen," Mimi said with an arch look.

Bella's eyes widened and she shot a look toward me. I just waited to see if she would tell them their news. Finally, she squared her shoulders and cleared her throat. "Actually, Mimi, Mr. Masen...Edward...and I have recently..." And it was there that words seemed to fail her.

I took pity on her and decided to break the news before Alex or Aaron blurted it out. "I've recently asked Mrs. Black to become my wife," I said with dignity and pride, and reached for her hand. "She agreed and the boys don't seem to mind." Alex was too busy trying to grab something out of Aaron's pocket to pay much attention.

Angela smiled widely. "I'm so happy to hear that, Mr. Masen. Our Bella deserves to be happy and I think you'll certainly make sure that happens." Angela was quieter than Mimi, but her dark eyes held a kindness that made her hard not to notice. I smiled at both of them and then stood up.

"Well ladies, it has been a most enjoyable afternoon, but I do think that I'd best get these boys outside and let them run off some of their mischief," I told them with a pointed look toward the two boys, who raised guilty expressions.

"Aw, aren't you the sweetest?" Mimi gushed. Angela's lips quirked in amusement as she took a sip of her tea.

"He most definitely is," Bella replied with a little smile of her own. She raised her face and I took the opportunity to place a polite kiss on her cheek. "Thank you...dear," she said quietly and flushed.

I took her hand and pressed a kiss to it. "It's my pleasure...love."

Alex groaned and Aaron made a choking noise, which was why I was sternly lecturing them while we made our way down the stairs. It was difficult to know exactly what I said to them, because my head was still spinning at the sound of her voice calling me dear.