With the following chapter we turn back the time a little bit again.

We start at the point when David put Bella to bed. Originally, this was a rather long chapter and would have ended after David's stories. But since it got a bit longer with each read-through, I decided to split it into two parts, however. I hope you enjoy it and have fun with Edward's thoughts!

Sandra

Chapter 60

Jealousy 1

Edward

"Don't stay up too much longer, you two," David told the children with an instructive undertone. "Edward ... maybe we'll see each other again ... Good night," he wished me.

I gritted my teeth tightly together as David took my angel in his arms and brought her upstairs.

Bella's words echoed in my ears, 'Please be nice to him. David is family to us.'

That Bella liked him very much was unmistakable and I tasted the jealousy bitterly in my mouth since over an hour. Eventually I then felt Jake's and Leah's hands on my shoulders, pressing me against the sofa. I hadn't even noticed that I had started shaking with anger.

They were afraid that I would do something rash. Something that neither Bella nor they could forgive me for. But what could I do? Tell him to keep his hands off her? A schoolboy, as he thought? I didn't know this person and I had no idea to what extent Bella was willing to tell him the truth about me. Whether she wanted to tell him anything at all. Because as far as I had taken it from both his thoughts and those of the twins, he was here regularly, but always only a few days.

"Who is that?" I asked quietly. And angrily.

"David Mitchell. As long as we can remember, he's been here," Jake said.

"There was a time when we thought he was our father," Leah said with an incline of her head.

"And a time when we hoped he would be," Jake opined.

"And then?" I hissed between my teeth just as I saw in David's thoughts that he was undressing Bella.

"Then he got married. Sonya."

This information from Leah reassured me little to nothing.

I stood up and walked slowly to the stairs, the twins walking backwards in front of me.

I held on to the railing with all my might, repeating Bella's words over and over so that I wouldn't rush up, but I looked doggedly into David's head.

A marriage vow meant nothing to many in this day and age, and as I had gotten to know his thoughts, this was also undeniably true of David. So far, I had received no clue at all that he was married. I eavesdropped on every single one of his thoughts, ever since he had rung the bell, and in not a single little thought or fleeting memory did a woman other than my Bella appear.

However, I also had to admit somethings to myself.

Two things:

First, they were very caring and loving thoughts. He had not asked the children out of politeness what he had missed the last few weeks. Not a phrase that one asks out of decency. No. He asked out of honest interest. To that end, he was very well informed. No matter what the children had reported, what they talked about, or who they talked about, David had a matching picture in his head. He sympathized with Leah's grief over Ben. He felt joy for Jake because of Becky. Also, he was proud that Jake wasn't impressed by the bullies in the gym. And, of course, deep love and sincere awe for Bella. How she alone managed to give everything to her children and mastered her own life. That she had not simply taken a man, because it would have made her existence and that of the children easier in many respects. Apparently, there had been enough interested parties.

The second point was that I trusted my angel ... theoretically. I just had my problems with the practice. That was less due to Bella than to David. Because he unmistakably felt at home here, moved around as if it were his house. And his family. From his thoughts one could conclude that the homeowner, husband and father, had returned home. Not only in his, the twins had mentally welcomed him that way. And Bella had looked no different. She tolerated this behavior, which only appeared presumptuous to me. And yet I hadn't noticed a bit of this guy in the past few days. No one had said anything or thought about him. Only once, last week on Monday, had Jake briefly considered whether it would be better if David were here. But he had not thought any further of it. Also, I had not been able to recognize a connection with me. In retrospect, however, it was probably to keep me away. If I had seen Bella and David so intimate with each other, I would never have knocked on her door.

But now Bella was my fiancée. Things were different now. I could no longer stay away from Bella, even if I was indeed angry with her. How could she have not told me about David? What exactly was going on between the two of them? What significance did this man play in Bella's life? It was clearly not a small supporting role if he dared to lie down in her bed. And his thoughts until he fell asleep did not reassure me at all!

"Off to bed with you!" I said much more harshly than the twins deserved.

Immediately I let my head hang guiltily.

When the children tried to turn away without a word, and quite frightened, I held them back by one hand each.

"Please forgive me!" I asked, looking truly apologetic against the two. The fact that I was angry had nothing to do with them. It was wrong to take my temper out on them. "It's already almost midnight and predators need their sleep too!" I said gently now.

They said nothing, just nodded sympathetically and went up the stairs.

Idiot! I scolded myself and let myself fall on the steps of the stairs. They weren't mad at me for talking to them like that. Worse! They were blaming THEMSELVES. I would love to go up and make it right. Sincerely apologize again. To make it clear to them that they had done nothing wrong. They should not be ashamed of their feelings towards David. But they needed their sleep and I did not want to keep them from their necessary rest any longer. Be it by my presence nor by my words, which possibly gave them cause to lie awake and think about it.

I cleaned up the living room at human speed, until I then stood indecisively in the middle of the room. I ruffled my hair.

What was I supposed to do all night? I could run to my house, but the ceiling would just fall on my head. Besides, I didn't want to expose myself to my family's questions. Of course, they would assume we had argued. Why else would I not be with Bella? On the other hand, I would only bother about what was possibly going on here. Of course, I trusted Bella. She wouldn't do anything to hurt me. I didn't question her love for me. But I just didn't trust him. He showed up here late at night unannounced. Throughout the evening, all he could think was that he was glad to finally be back. He had something to discuss with Bella that was between Bella and him, alone. He wondered what man couldn't fall in love with Bella - I would agree with that point. He didn't even think much about whether someone else could bring her to bed, but just did it as if it were the most normal thing in the world. And all this time I had not received any indication that he had a wife! Did he possibly also have children for whom he had not a single thought?

I needed something to do.

I remembered, fortunately, that most of our purchases were still in the car.

I got them, removed all of the tags, neatly folded them, and quietly put them in the twins' closets. With Bella's dress, I stood fickle outside her bedroom door.

Should I enter? I lived here and in that bed in there was MY fiancée!

Decisively, I entered and immediately smirked.

Bella had pushed the blanket off the bed and mumbled my name barely audibly and incomprehensibly. I gingerly covered her up again, but I hadn't even reached the closet when it was back on the floor. The little game repeated itself a few times, until I finally remembered why Bella probably did that unconsciously.

She was too warm without me.

I carefully took Bella in my arms and sat down with her in the huge neon-colored armchair, with the blanket over her. She practically clung to me and I gently stroked and kissed over her satisfied face.

Her nightly monologue was about David. It annoyed me, but was quite predictable.

Since I knew when David's alarm clock would ring - I had been very attentive this evening - I put Bella back to bed in time and quietly left the room.

On the way to the door, I grimaced, offended.

Bella turned to David and then lay on his shoulder, whereby one of David's arms wrapped around her.

I growled, but left.

I turned on the coffee maker, since I was already downstairs anyway, and then escaped through the patio door when I heard David coming down.

He had the same idea regarding the coffee, wondered briefly, and ran into the woods.

After listening to his schedule in his thoughts, I decided that after I got the rolls, I would run out into the woods and do some hunting.

I didn't know to what extent his morning habits were compatible with those of Bella and me. Moreover, he had no problem just lying down in her bed. So, it was conceivable that he would also enter her bedroom just like that. So, I didn't want to get in the way. Bella would have trouble explaining things if he saw me with her.

I also brought him two rolls.

Under inner protest! For Bella's sake.

Only when his car left the driveway did I go back into the house.

I was a bit taken aback when I looked after him.

He looked decent. Well-groomed and serious, like a businessman. Yesterday - in jeans and a sweatshirt - he had given a different impression. A playboy who never let a chance go by. David was already a different caliber of man than that boring and naive Andrew had been.

Bella stood with her back to me, seemingly staring into the forest. Forgetting the world around her.

Her little heart raced worryingly.

The kids saw me and smiled reassured. Their school bags were already in the hallway, so I quietly asked them to leave us alone.

I had absolutely no conception of what Bella would say to me and what I would say back. If we actually argued over David - which I didn't really think we would - I didn't want to do it in front of the twins.

They nodded in understanding and immediately went on their way.

"Bella," I whispered.

I didn't want to startle her, as lost in thought as she seemed to me.

Slowly I walked towards her, but she didn't seem to notice me. Gently, I took her tense hand in mine.

She was wearing my ring. It reassured me. I saw in it a small token of my trust.

Immediately she turned around and jumped into my arms.

To feel her body against mine, to see her wonderful gaze, to inhale her lovely and flowery smell, to hear her little heart, made me forget that I was actually angry with her.

Since I couldn't possibly step under my sister's eyes with the same clothes on for two consecutive days, and I had spent the past hour hunting, I went to take a quick shower while Bella cleared the table.

I had very pleasant help in getting dressed. I kissed Bella at any given opportunity - while carried her to the car, at every red light, leaning against the car until I was finally late for class.

Explanations could wait.

I only got mad again when I got her text message.

I wouldn't need to pick her up because David was there. Great. This guy was driving me crazy with this matter-of-factness. What was he doing at the Prescott Institute anyway? He was supposed to be far away in Lewiston, and not be back until after dark this evening! I gathered from Bella's text message that David had apparently aroused Peter's curiosity by asking about a boyfriend, who would then presumably wait for me with Bella. But Bella wanted to talk to Peter and Stan, as well as David first, before she presented me as her fiancé.

I talked Rose and Em out of visiting us today.

At first, they were all miffed about that. All the others had already been to us, and they hadn't seen Bella since Sunday. Finally, deeply offended, they gave in.

Since the kids didn't have practice because of the gym's leaky roof, they drove right after me.

I put my BMW in the garage so David wouldn't see it.

Arriving in the house, the twins quickly ran upstairs and came back down in sportswear.

I was still standing next to the stairs, undecided what to do.

I was simply angry. However, I didn't really know who this anger was concentrated on. This whole situation upset me.

"We'll get you some time with Mom in a minute," Jake promised me earnestly.

"We feel like you guys really need to talk. Mom didn't look well this morning," Leah said before I could ask.

I nodded doggedly and was grateful to them.

"How come I've never seen anything in your thoughts about him before?" asked, trying to be composed.

A pitiful attempt to hide my mood. My tone was probably more like an accusation.

"I don't know ... I don't think about him much. I don't have to think about when he'll be back because I know when he'll show up. Usually, anyway! Even if we realized at some point that he's never going to be our dad, it still feels like that when he's there ..." Jake mumbled to himself, whereby Leah nodding.

"... It's great when he's here ... Maybe we don't think about him because we'd just miss him," Leah considered, and it sounded like an apology from both of them.

I leaned miserably against the banister and thought about her words - with the images of last evening in mind - while reprimanding myself for my chastising tone.

I could not resent the two of them for their thoughts. It was only natural that Jake and Leah wanted exactly this harmonious life together and enjoyed it for a few days. As long as it was granted to them. To be a complete family. Father, mother, children. Isn't that what all children who weren't so lucky wished for?

"We only have David for a few days at a time and he has his own family ... You'll stay with us forever!" Jake looked at me as he came down the last steps of the stairs.

"You may have gotten us both a little suddenly, but you're doing a damn good job of it!" Leah said, following her brother. "Mom wants to marry you! That makes you our stepfather! And we're more than agreeable to that!" she added.

The two of them looked at each other for a brief moment and gave a barely perceptible nod before looking back at me.

"Dad!" they said almost simultaneously and took me in their arms.

My eyes burned, my heart warmed, and I was overcome with a feeling of the deepest gratitude as I pulled Leah and Jake to me.

How much I loved the two. How much my life had changed in just one week.

"Last week you said that I could forget it you calling me that," I whispered after some time in this great moment.

Never would I have expected this, had not felt it important, however it overwhelmed me. Such a small word. Such a big meaning.

"Opinions are meant to be changed," Jake opined.

"A lot has happened in a few days," Leah murmured, moved.

David destroyed this unique moment!

I could already hear his thoughts and Jake and Leah quickly ran outside.

I walked across the patio to the back of the house and escaped him as he - as a gentleman - carried Bella's groceries in. I rolled my eyes in annoyance.

Finally, I was reasonably alone with Bella.

"You promised me a few explanatory words!" I reminded Bella after a very extended kiss of greeting as she sat on the countertop and I stood between her legs, unable to let her go.

Yes, I could be really angry with Bella. As long as she wasn't with me. But being with my angel calmed my thoughts in every way and made me see things far more clearly than without her.

"I considered that you had better ask him yourself," I got in response, and I was annoyed about it.

She didn't seem to want to tell me anything, after all.

Enraged, I lowered my gaze, which Bella lifted back up to her almond eyes with her gentle little warm fingers.

"I'm afraid I wouldn't tell you everything and you'll notice and be upset. You'll know I'm leaving out essentials, glossing over them, downplaying them or something. So just ask him how we got to know each other and how it went on. He will definitely leave some things out because of Jake and Leah, and out of consideration for me, but in his thoughts he can't keep anything from you. And I don't want to keep anything from you," she smiled encouragingly at me.

With that, I was defeated, because she was right.

"What are the two of them doing this evening?" she then asked.

"I hope you're not mad at me, but I told Jake that his punishment is over. So, he wants to see Becky after dinner," I admitted carefully.

Bella had nodded in agreement yesterday when Leah and I said it was enough. Whether she was still of the same opinion today, however, I didn't know. My humility was almost genuine. It was too beautiful a memory for me to regret this high-handed decision. I had told it to Jake and Becky at lunchtime when they were about to retire outside again, just the two of them. They had both fallen around my neck, beaming with joy. But apparently things had been a bit turbulent without me this morning. Bella had just forgotten to tell Jake specifically.

I was relieved.

"Leah has decided to on work on her English essay," I added.

"Then we have time to talk. I want to tell David what you mean to me and that you are the man of my life ..."

I interrupted her briefly to kiss her for this declaration of love.

"... You live here. With me. You shouldn't have to flee because he's here. After all, he comes here regularly. But I don't really know how to go about it. What I can or may tell him, so that he also understands. Actually, I would like to tell him everything. I don't think I've ever talked to him about supernatural things, though. I have no idea if he could handle the whole truth. Including my two predators and your ice-cold relatives."

"Does he have to know EVERYTHING?" I asked. If he wasn't here all the time anyway, he could only be content with the part that concerned me.

Bella was uncertain on this point. He was her best friend, and she didn't really want to keep secrets from him. After all, he wouldn't have any from her either.

"After all you should also know nothing about wolves, even though you gave two of them life. "And that you're marrying a bloodthirsty vampire, of course you don't know anything about that either!", I teased her and nibbled at her throat, as is probably proper for our kind.

I growled a little dangerously, but Bella just chuckled adorably.

When had I lost my frightening nature?

"Yes ... I ... know ..." my angel tried to say between the mainly tickling threat and pushed me a bit away from her.

She took her a moment for her chuckles to subside.

She looked so adorable when she laughed and I gently stroked my fingertips over the cute little laugh lines around her bright eyes.

"There is hardly anyone I trust as much as you. You decide what we can tell him and what we can't!" Bella took my face in her hands and looked at me lovingly.

I didn't know what I could adequately respond to that, except ...

"I love you, Bella!", I said devotedly and pulled her tightly into my arms. "But you already know that I would like to throw him out?" I asked after a moment, chuckling for safety's sake.

"I know!" was all she said.

Thank you for reading!