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.

XIII

Edward's POV

I gave what I hoped was enough time for Bella to visit with her friends. The boys surprised me by taking my hands every now and then as they explored. And they ran. And tried to jump off of barrels and crates and other assorted obstacles. I tried to restrain them for the most part since they were wearing their best clothes and I did not think that their mother would appreciate me returning the boys – or their clothes – damaged. I took my role as their father seriously, and I did not think I should fail in my duties on my very first official day of duty. By revealing our plans to her friends, my fate had been happily sealed. So I would keep the boys presentable.

This, of course, turned out to be much more difficult than I had anticipated. Alex took a jump off a barrel and was clinging tenaciously to a drain pipe. He pretended that he wasn't frightened that he was going to fall, but I heard the shakiness in his voice. Aaron kept his brother calm until I could catch up and rescue the little devil. I had a feeling that I would never, ever be bored.

By the time I returned the boys to the hotel room, just a little worse for wear, we were all exhausted. Though I knew the boys would regain their energy far more quickly than I would. I collapsed onto the settee after Bella sent the boys to their room to clean up and asked her how her visit with her friends had gone.

She smiled sweetly. "It was lovely," she said. Then she sighed quietly and sat down beside me. "I suppose I did not realize how very different our lives were now," she admitted.

"In what way?" I asked, taking her hand in mine in a gesture that felt like the most natural thing in the world now.

Bella paused and then her fingers caressed mine, hesitantly at first and then with more certainty. Her touch did little to help my burgeoning state of arousal, but I did my best to shift my body away from her view. I had gotten the impression that, for all her widowed and motherhood status, Bella was still a bit of an innocent when it came to the pleasures of the flesh. I would most happily instruct her, I mused.

"They are all agog with the news that a new family is visiting the town, and wondering how they shall trump each other with the most beautiful dress," Bella explained. "While I..." Her eyes shot toward mine. "I am hoping that the cows are still giving enough milk and that the fence won't need to be mended again." Then a smile settled on her lips and grew wider. "And I am finally realizing that when we return home, I shall be married soon, and that I will not have to struggle to eek out an existence on my own. I shall have a shoulder to cry on, an arm to bring me close and comfort me. I am no longer alone...or lonely."

"I will do everything I can to ease your burden," I promised.

"That's not why I want to marry you," she said suddenly. "I want you to know that..."

"I know." I smiled and pulled her close, resting her dark head against my chest. I closed my eyes and imagined us in our bed, late at night with the sounds of the night surrounding us. Soon I would have every right to loosen the laces of her demure gray gown and to slip it from her shoulders. I would make short work of her corset, worn daily now that we were back in civilization as she said, for it was an instrument of torture if there had ever been one. I would soothe away the angry marks that garment would have left on her soft skin. Then I would kiss her fragrant flesh over the thin fabric of her chemise before delving beneath it to find the silk of Bella with my mouth and hands. I groaned at the imagery and Bella stirred against me.

Placing my hands gently on her, I urged her silently to stay in place. She stilled and settled. I inhaled her subtle scent, letting it invade my senses. Gradually the noises from the boys' bedroom quieted and I knew that they had fallen asleep against their will. The afternoon was warm and lazy and I sensed when Bella gave into her drowsiness.

Holding her there, the gentle beat of her heart just barely discernable through her garments, I let my hands roam a bit. I explored the curve of her waist, nipped in by her corset. I would suggest that all her corsets be thrown out with the rubbish when we returned home. Well, except maybe for one that she could wear for me some nights along with stockings with daring bows at the back of her knees and some delicate feminine shoes that would show off the elegant line of her legs. I somehow knew her legs would be long and slim, white and soft and just waiting for my touch.

I opened my legs so that she was resting between them, a move which did nothing for my tenuous control, but I did not care. Daringly, I cupped one buttock and she shifted against me. The feeling was glorious torment and it took every ounce of my will not to thrust my hips against her movement.

She slept on, oblivious to my dilemma, but I savored the feeling of her in my arms, resting against me. "Soon," I whispered, placing a kiss against her temple.

Stirring, she shifted yet again. "Edward," she murmured and I could not help but smile.

"Yes, sweetheart, Edward," I agreed and she gave a soft sigh and slept on.

~AYW~

Bella was fussing over her hair and I was wrangling the boys. Tonight was the soiree which had all of her friends talking. Her friends had filled her in on all the details when I had taken the boys outside. It was reputed to be "the" event of the year. I could tell that Bella was less than interested in attending, but since we would be leaving town next week, this would most likely be the only large social function we could attend.

"Besides," she had said coquettishly, looking at me over her shoulder as she adjusted a hair pin in the silken mass. "I am looking forward very much to showing off my future husband."

I laughed at her bluntness. "It is very gratifying to know that I have proven worthy of such a thing."

She looked into the mirror one more time and then turned to me and adjusted my tie and collar. "You're quite handsome, Mr. Masen, and I'm sure that all of the women in town tonight will be simply green with envy." She smiled smugly. "But you are mine...all mine."

"I was not aware of this possessive streak in you, Isabella Black," I teased.

Tilting her head, she studied me for a moment. "Oddly, neither was I."

That was a compliment that surely made a man's ego – along with other things – swell, so I decided it was time to get us on the road. I cleared my throat and she laughed huskily, which did nothing to help matters. Sometimes, I cursed the fact that my mother had raised me to treat a lady as she deserved.

Once we are married...I promised myself.

The boys are going with us, but would not attend the party. A servant would watch the children of the attendees, and Bella had issued several stern warnings to the boys about their behavior. I had stood behind her and looked appropriately solemn and stern. They had looked earnest and humble and subdued.

I had no doubt that they would cause chaos within an hour of stepping foot into the place.

~AYW~

Our hired carriage brought us to the entrance of the house, where gas lights lent a subtle glow to the scene. I leaned in and whispered. "I forgot to ask, what is our host's name?"

"We're visiting the Collins' family," she told him. "I think," she amended and I had to grin at her. She had confessed that she had only been listening with half an ear when Mimi rambled on. Mimi had a tendency to speak a great many words without saying anything of import, as Bella said.

Our carriage came to a halt and the boys pushed and shoved each other to get to the door first. I settled a look on them that had them scrambling back for their seats and making a path for their mother. I nodded and gave them an approving smile.

A servant waited to give Bella a hand and then I exited so that I might make sure the boys were up to no mischief – that I could ascertain anyway. Another servant waited to take the boys around to the side of the house, where I could already hear the excited voices of children. Excellent, I thought. Perhaps they would tire the boys out completely.

We made our way up the path in what was apparently a lull in between arrivals. I was looking down at Bella as we made our way up the steps. Mourning dictated that she wear black, but I had gotten a glimpse of her chemise earlier in the evening and I could well imagine what she looked like beneath the severe gown.

I thought of little else, truth be told.

Then we were approaching our hosts and the lights shone brightly behind them, briefly blinding me. It was not until I heard them greet us that I began to grasp the impact of the moment. I lifted my eyes and gazed at a face as familiar to me as my own.

The woman stared at me, her hand over her mouth, her eyes bright with tears. To the shock of every guest there, she pulled me into a fierce embrace. I felt Bella's bewilderment, saw the clamping of my father's jaw, was only vaguely aware of the figures shifting behind them.

"Edward," the woman finally said as she pulled back.

I could not help but smile at her, for she had been the first – until recently, the only – woman I had ever loved.

"Mother," I said as I wiped her tears away.