A/N: SM owns twilight. Thanks for the follows, favourites and especially the reviews. Your kind encouragements light my way ahead in the dark. Love y'all. This is a short burst of sweetness for you.

Chapter 51 - hush puppies and key lime pie

"Edward are you listening to me, baby?"

"No, sorry love. I am watching this beautiful brunette on Good Morning America. Damn she is so sexy," I teased.

"Tell me you are not watching that again?"

"Are you kidding? I loaded all your interviews onto my iPAD and I have them on repeat. This one is my favourite though, seriously love you looked so gorgeous in the blue dress, I am just glad I am on my own while I am watching it or it would be very embarrassing."

I wasn't kidding about watching that interview on repeat, Bella had been gone for two fucking weeks on the launch tour for Sweet Temptations and I missed my wife more than I would've believed possible. This week had been made even worse when Alice and Jasper decided to join them for the last leg of the tour taking Lil Bit and Anthony with them.

Rose was running the bakery downstairs and I was helping her oversee the refit on the new site across town for the second Bella's Bakery. Really all I was doing was getting out of Rose's way as much as possible. Since her altercation with her pig of an ex she'd become so assertive and full of confidence. It was impressive really. When she and Emmett got back from their honeymoon, she was like a woman possessed wanting to get the second bakery finished and operational before her twins were born.

I had my hands full anyway, between work and the remodelling of my parent's house getting it ready for our moving day which was going to be two weeks after Bella got home from the tour.

On top of that I was recruiting a replacement for Angela which was proving a challenge.

Before she left Bella called me into our shared office for a 'meeting'. I loved when Boardroom Bella came out to play. She's so smart and sexy. It was unfair really because she knows how distracted I get when she talks business. She used it to her advantage too like the sassy business woman she is, she had me eating out of her hand.

I'd already agreed to let her steal Angela away from CMV to head up Artemis Investments before I'd realised. True, CMV was now part owner of Artemis and it was to my own profitable benefit to have the best person in charge. Yes, I was keen to reduce Bella's workload with Sweet Temptations, the soon-to-be two bakeries, the new talk of a cookbook deal, not to mention being the mother of two but soon-to-be three children.

It all made perfectly good business sense but honestly I didn't even hear her obviously prepared, well thought out presentation on all the pros and cons. I was in a trance watching her walk back and forth around the office in her short shorts showing off her growing baby bump which is so damned sexy I get horny just watching her walk around the apartment.

And. She. Knows. It.

So thanks to Angela now being appointed as CMV Vice-President Artemis Investments, I found myself short listing candidates for her replacement heading up the New Proposals team at CMV as well as reading her implementation plan for rolling Artemis Investments into the main part of the business without it losing its own identity. Bella wanted it to remain as a separate stream of the business rather than completely merging into CMV. It had been her deal breaker if I didn't comply, so of course I agreed. Hell, I was besotted with the woman but I also recognised her business skills. She had a winning and profitable philosophy with Artemis and I respected her successful approach enough to know not to mess with it.

Angela had done a great job with the New Proposals team and I was worried about replacing her. James had been useless in the role, obviously relying on Angela's efforts to keep himself afloat at all.

Remembering my cousin reminded me of Tanya and I couldn't help the wave of shame that came over me thinking about the relationship I had with her. Isabella told me she didn't blame me for it but I couldn't help feel ashamed of my behaviour with Tanya.

Aro told me that James and Tanya are still together in Alaska living on her father's property. Tanya's father and James were running a hunting business together thanks to a little investment assistance from Aro. They take city slickers out 'Wilderness Hunting', no killing just tracking down rare and beautiful animals which apparently James is incredibly good at. Who knew?

Aro doesn't really understand it but is relieved that his son seems to have settled at last.

"Edward, are you okay baby?"

Shit, I had completely zoned off. "Sorry love, my mind was wandering. How did the launch event go today? Are you enjoying the deep south?"

"Oh baby, the launch was fine. Lots of media, which was great. The PR team have done a great job getting us lots of exposure. It is so strange being interviewed and people writing down what I say," she giggled, damn I loved that sound.

"Jasper has been showing us around all Phil's favourite places. I'll send you the pictures I took. Lil Bit and Anthony have had a great time and the food is amazing. Lil Bit's new favourite food are these 'Hush Puppies' which are deep fried and delicious but Anthony is so your son, he just loves Key Lime Pie. I can't wait to make you my version, you'll love it.

"I've been collecting recipes everywhere we go. Not sure how I'll go getting some of these ingredients back in Seattle but I've promised Jasper I would try. Oh that reminds me, Jasper's out with Alice at the moment and Edward...," she whispered, "I think he's going to propose. He wanted to take her to some special place from his childhood. Isn't that lovely?"

I knew Jasper was going to propose since he'd asked my advice before they left. He'd already spoken with Carlisle asking permission but then he spoke with both Emmett and I knowing how protective we were of our little sister.

I gave him my blessing straight off the bat, the guy's a war hero for fuck's sake I think even he can protect our little Alley Cat, but Emmett made him squirm of course. He gave Jazz his best stone face crossing his arms over his chest interrogating him about his plans for the future. He couldn't hold it for long and when he burst out laughing Jasper wrestled him to the ground, no small feat I may say. When Emmett called 'uncle', Jasper did a ridiculous victory dance. I laughed so hard I fell off my chair.

After their little testosterone display was done with, we had a few beers and talked about his proposal plans. When he heard that the Sweet Temptations launch tour was going to his hometown he booked flights for him and Alice straight away.

Of course, Alice decided she wanted to take the children so that Lil Bit could see her biological father's home and experience it first hand. Jasper thought his plans were ruined but I assured him that he'd have plenty of opportunities to sneak off with Alice as Bella's tour schedule wasn't too punishing. When they were planning the tour I had insisted that she had at least one rest day in every three so she didn't wear herself out.

"That's great love. I think he really loves her, do you think she'll say yes?"

"She loves him, that's for sure. They are so close but it is so different to us and certainly very different to Emmett and Rose."

Well, that was true. Bella and I were like one person split in two, we each only really made sense when we were together. Emmett's and Rose's affections were more like a physical magnetism. They were drawn to each other and couldn't get enough of each other. Esme and Carlisle sent them home early the other night when they caught them almost going at it in the pantry. I laughed my head off at their walk of shame out of the house, Rose apologising for their lack of control and Emmett strutting like a peacock... idiot! When they left Esme dropped her angry face and fell about laughing so hard I thought she was going to collapse.

Bella's soft voice continued, "I think she'll say yes. They are like yin and yang that pair. He's calm where she's excitable. They were out on our suite's balcony the other night and I swear it was so intimate watching them but they were just sitting together not doing anything, just being together in their moment ... not like Emmett and Rose!"

I laughed. She was thinking of the pantry incident too.

"I miss you love. When are you coming home?"

"Two more days Edward. Then I am home for good. Vicky will take over from then. I am so glad she's feeling better if she hadn't joined us I would've had to do all the events next week too."

"Well fuck that!" No way she was going to be away from me for another week. I would lose it if I couldn't hold her again soon and I missed the children terribly.

"Edward! Language!" She loved using her momma voice on me, trying to tame my language. Hard luck love, I love my sweary mouth. I think she did too really.

"Why, the babies aren't there are they?" I try not to swear in front of the kids but sometimes I forget myself, she's probably right, I should probably try harder.

"Well, no but junior is here," she whispered again in her sexy breathless voice.

"Fuck. I mean damn. I really miss you sweet one."

A/N: my family and I are having a tough time at the moment so I am sorry if my updates are slower than I'd hoped. I hope you enjoyed this little sweet taste of a moment in their lives. I look forward to your thoughts, see you as soon as I can. Love and hugs.