Sorry! I have waited so long this time to post this chapter, because the views are no longer displayed to me for a good week. When it happened before, this problem was always fixed after a few days. This time unfortunately not. So I'm posting today anyway.

Good fun with this chapter!

Verena

Chapter 158

On to the Everyday Baby Life

Bella

"You can do it, my little one!", I spoke encouragement to my sweet baby, who giggled happily at me.

Rrrrippp!

Ced's eyes widened in a flash, looked horrified, and he wept bitterly. And quite thick crocodile tears.

"All is well, my darling. It's already over. You did a great job. Shh ...", I made while swaying him reassuringly in my arms.

"What happened?" Edward suddenly stood beside me in panic.

I hadn't heard him coming, so I almost dropped Ced in shock. Fortunately, my fiancé was so worried that he had already taken Ced from me.

To save him! That was something I could have been really offended about. Did Edward think I had done something to our baby? That I would really drop him?

But his anxious face was too funny.

"Ripping off Band-Aids is not something your son likes," I chuckled, and Edward breathed a sigh of relief. "We both know that Carlisle would never hurt our little angel, but with his behavior, he's not exactly helping his grandson believe him anytime soon!" I stated still laughing.

Carlisle had taken some blood from him last night.

With a huge syringe, which had hurt very badly, as our son had made clear to us afterwards.

Not that we weren't there and didn't see the little vile that contained a few drops of blood.

Carlisle had also helped himself a little to my blood.

My results were okay. He talked about the ones of Ced for so long that at some point I stopped listening. Everything was fine, as he assured me several times, but he couldn't stop being excited about it.

It was now Sunday.

The Mitchell family was back home since yesterday. Emma was better again, only her nose was a little runny.

How Daniel discovered his 'skate' room was transmitted to us via cell phone video.

To say he was thrilled would be an understatement. He had even personally called afterwards and thanked everyone for it. And challenged Emmett to a duel of finger skateboards on the mini skateboard track.

Sue and Charlie were still here, treating themselves to some wellness before we would drive them to the airport this afternoon. They had been fishing yesterday. In the freezing cold out there.

Fishing was a pastime I would probably never understand.

In this respect, today they needed the opposite - the sauna.

Since the rest of our kids were in the basement, we decided to keep them company.

I wasn't supposed to swim yet because of the chlorine, but in thin clothes I could at least lay on a lounger and relax. I didn't really get to read, though. It was too nice watching my family splashing around. How Edward was fooling around with our four teenagers. As if my family had always consisted of these five people. Six, I quickly corrected myself as Ced woke up next to me. There was one more of us now.

Chortling happily, he too followed the picture that presented itself.

After some time Edward stood with us.

Soaking wet! He shook his tangled hair. Right on top of us!

Ced thought it was totally funny and tried to catch the drops.

"You want to swim already, too?" he asked the little man.

I don't know if he understood the question, but he clapped his hands together happily.

"Do you think it's right to take him into the chlorinated water now?" I asked, though. After all, our treasure was only five days old today, even if he looked more like he was already four weeks old.

My gaze went to Sue, who was sitting next to me on the lounger, and Edward followed my gaze.

She asked what the umbilical cord looked like, whereupon we presented Ced's tummy.

It had already fallen off and was almost completely healed.

Sue was undecided, we had better consult Carlisle.

So Edward disappeared temporarily and came back with a re-dressed baby. Ced was in a cute swim diaper.

My vampiric relatives really thought of everything. From this I gathered that Carlisle probably had no concerns.

At one corner of the pool, a staircase led into the water. There Edward sat down on the steps with our son.

I knelt next to him on the edge and the four youths also came closer.

Ced looked pretty focused, but also pretty excited as he got closer and closer to the water. Lying in Daddy's safe hands, he splashed his palms enthusiastically on the water's surface. Delighted in every drop that flew through the air as a result.

And was he trying to wriggle out of his father's hands to move more freely?

But Edward, of course, was careful not to let Ced sink. He pulled Ced through the shallow pool. His legs kicked cutely in the water, and he seemed to really enjoy it. At least until he fell asleep in the water.

It was all quite exhausting for such a small man.

"Are you guys coming to dinner?" I asked Jake before leaving the swimming pool.

Edward had already gone ahead with Ced.

I didn't have to ask Leah. She and Marcus were going to his mother and sister.

"Nah, we're going to the movies," he replied, sitting on the edge of the pool.

"Well, have a good time!" I smiled and gave him a kiss on his wet cheek.

"But after that, we're coming home," Jake still told me, though.

I smiled.

Tonight my family would be reunited. In our home!

Ced loved being entertained by Charlie and Sue during the drive to Portland, but he didn't like the hustle and bustle at the airport.

"Ice cream?" Edward asked me as we bridged some time in a bistro.

We were early.

"Coffee," I replied, however. I had no appetite for ice cream at all at the moment and wondered how I had been able to eat so much of it over the last few weeks.

We chatted about the past few days and as the departure approached, the humans among us adjourned once again to the restroom.

So Edward sat alone at the table with our son on his lap and when I returned, a young beauty was sitting in my seat.

Half my age. At the most! She smiled provocatively, touched Edward and/or Ced all the time, leaning towards my fiancé to give him a deeper view.

Nevertheless, I chuckled.

Ced looked at her sullenly, but with Edward I wasn't sure if he was just smiling to be polite.

Edward noticed me.

"Look, here comes Mommy!" he immediately said to our son, turning so he could see me.

Then the little angel could smile again from cheerful eyes.

Edward rose, handed me Ced and gave me a very meaningful soulful kiss on the lips.

I sighed with relish and when I looked around the place, the young lady had disappeared.

"I think we're going to have a serious problem with our son when he reaches an age where he understands that you can do more with girls than just play Monopoly. He's already practicing charming the ladies. With success!" my angel explained to me very seriously.

"He got that from his father!" I answered just as seriously. "The girl flirted with you!" I added.

Edward looked at me, confused.

"I didn't even notice that!" he replied in surprise.

Inwardly, I grumbled.

That with my fiancé, however, I never knew whether he wanted to tease me or seriously meant it!

We walked to the gate, and I hugged my dad goodbye.

"It was nice spending the holidays with you guys," he murmured.

"You can come visit us anytime!" I mumbled on his shoulder.

"When my grandchildren turn eighteen or I walk my daughter down the aisle, at the latest. Depending on what happens first," he hinted, reminding me to keep sending him pictures of Ced, who was changing every day.

I promised.

Then I hugged Sue.

"Edward, I can count on you to take care of my family!" stated Charlie as they bindingly joined hands.

"They are the most valuable thing I have!" assured Edward.

"And you kindly stop growing so fast," he smiled as he leaned down to Ced in his baby carrier and tickled his belly, which he commented on with a happy giggle.

But it lasted only a short time.

Ced apparently realized that this was a goodbye.

As Charlie and Sue walked down the aisle and waved again, our son looked sadly after them. However, he let himself be distracted again quickly.

At home we had a little time before we had to start cooking. So we could change Ced's diaper and feed him in comfort. When Edward did make his way to the kitchen, I picked out some appropriate music and turned it on. I put on my carrying sweatshirt and started dancing with my son in it. Ced squealed happily at this, and Daddy watched us sentimentally from the kitchen. He was unable to stand uninvolved in the doorway for long and danced with us. Edward led me, safe and excellent as always. A song sounded out and Edward put his hands against my cheeks with feeling.

"I love you, Bella, my heart!" he whispered, coming slowly closer to my lips in joyful anticipation.

Before he reached them, little fingers slapped against his mouth, which he then kissed instead.

Surprised, Edward opened his eyes.

He pretended to eat Ced's little finger kissing, which made our son chortle happily.

"Bella may be your mother, but she's also my wife!" explained Edward to our son, laughing sternly, and kissed me after all.

I sighed contentedly until a little something occurred to me.

"That's not true at all!" I protested.

Edward looked at me strangely.

"I'm not your wife. We are only engaged!" I corrected know-it-all.

"I'm not going to let a missing piece of paper dictate what you are to me!" countered Edward.

For a brief moment I was speechless.

I felt like I was in the totally wrong movie. In a funny way. Because I think twenty years ago I would have made that exact argument.

"Where did your concepts of virtue and morality go?" I inquired, remembering his speech from Halloween in the costume store. All that about me sinfully getting involved with a vampire and all. And of Emmett's identical question on Christmas morning.

Ced's little head went back and forth between the two of us with interest during our little 'war of words'.

"We've been living together under one roof for months. We share a bed every night with each other. We have three to five children together. Never in my long existence have I felt more alive or happier. So what else should I do with any moral concepts?" he summarized.

"So you don't want to marry me anymore?" I asked. Stunned. After all, he had asked me to marry him twice, and now that was suddenly unimportant to him?

"I didn't say that!" smiled Edward charmingly.

"Uh ..." I said and still thought about what that should mean now. But that I was somehow displeased, I was already clear. He was confusing me, and I hated that! Because he was having a blast with it.

"I'll ask you again if you will do me the honor of becoming my wife," Edward then held my hands in his.

"Yes, I will!" I said clearly, stamping my foot once to emphasize my mood.

Edward and Ced chuckled before Edward's face turned serious again and he put a hand to my cheek.

"I love you, Bella. But I no longer give our wedding the highest priority. It doesn't matter how long it takes for us to swear eternal love to each other in front of a clergyman ... I was there when you gave life to our son in excruciating pain. Even though I could hardly bear to see you suffer during it, it was the most beautiful and moving experience of my existence. I have never felt so close to you, so connected to you, as I did at that moment ... I look forward to the day when we will be married, and you will officially be my wife. But the thing is, I can't imagine that it could somehow affect my love for you. That it can surpass the event of the birth of our son together on an emotional level ... You are the most beautiful and magnificent woman on this earth! You are my wife, Bella! It is what I feel for you! For eternity! No matter what a piece of ephemeral paper has to say about it!" he said emphatically.

His golden eyes sparkled like stars in the night, his tender fingers on my cheek burned, his words made my heart bubble over.

I felt dizzy.

"Bel ..." I heard, but everything was already black.

Crap, damn!

When I opened my eyes, I was lying on the sofa. Edward was sitting at my side. He smiled gently as he cooled the back of my neck.

"You see, my little one. Mommy is already awake again!" he told our son, who eyed me anxiously from the carrying sweatshirt.

His little hands braced himself on my chest and he stretched his head towards me. He cried.

I pushed myself up a bit in the sofa so that I was sitting more upright against the backrest.

"Everything is fine, sweetheart. Mommy just forgot to breathe," I said soothingly and gave Ced a kiss on the forehead.

I smiled encouragingly, but my son didn't seem convinced yet. He looked at me suspiciously.

"How long was I out?" though, I asked sheepishly in Edward's direction.

"Just a moment. I'm sorry I didn't react before. I got lost in your increasingly glowing eyes," he whispered apologetically, leaning his forehead against mine.

"And I got lost in yours," I admitted, nuzzling the back of his neck with one hand. "I love you, Edward, but that breathing thing might be something I need to get a handle on," I smiled.

"I gave up hope a long time ago," Edward chuckled softly and our son now did the same.

Albeit somewhat restrained and indecisive.

Edward slid an arm under the back of my neck and moved a little closer. So we sat there for a moment, finally soothing our baby, tickling or stroking him. Until he closed his eyes, which was not very long in coming.

"As much as I'll miss it when you can't respond to me like that one day, I'll be relieved when you can't scare me with it anymore!"

"Surely that won't be the only thing you'll miss," I reasoned.

"Certainly not. But I respect your wish as soon as you express it. Because I want to have you with me for eternity," Edward gently clarified and kissed me stunningly.

Fortunately, I was already lying down.

"So? When are we getting married?" I then asked curiously.

"Preparations have come to a bit of a standstill in the past few weeks, but Alice will certainly be ready as soon as you wish," he kissed me again, but gently.

"Tomorrow?" I inquired.

An overwhelming smile was on his lips and made his eyes gleam.

"I would like nothing better than that, my heart. But I think we should allow Alice a few more days. Above all, you should let Charlie and Sue land in Seattle before they have to leave again. So, I would lean more towards the weekend ... As long as it doesn't conflict with your idea of a wedding night," he smiled delightfully, while I screwed up my face disapprovingly.

Wedding night. Completely forgotten.

"Um ... I think ... we should probably wait a little longer then," I mumbled.

"I thought so," was all he said.

I stayed on the sofa and snuggled with our sweet baby, while Edward went back into the kitchen. Luckily he hadn't had anything on the stove yet, but soon we needed to hurry up a bit. I was even allowed to set the table despite my self-inflicted fainting spell.

Then it was already half past six in the evening and Edward said a very melancholy goodbye to his son.

"My heart, your son is not disappearing forever. You'll get him back tonight! And I'm pretty sure he won't forget you by then," I teased him a bit.

I left a rather depressed vampire in the house and chuckled a bit about it.

I knew how much Edward disliked not having his son with him in the immediate vicinity. As a mother of three, I was a bit more pragmatic. I appreciated the moments when someone else lovingly took care of my children. As long as these moments did not get out of hand! After all, I had not born a child to be cared for by others. I loved my three babies and would prefer to have them around me all the time. Nevertheless, it was important for us as a couple to have time without the baby. I didn't know this from my own experience, since I had raised the twins without a father, but I hardly knew any new parents who didn't argue in the first weeks or months. Especially with the first child, the new parents felt they had to be overzealous about the child's welfare and hardly thought about anything else. However, the partnership of the parents suffered from this and made them forget that the child was created out of love. It was like that with Sam and Emily, with Alex and Zoey, even with David and Sonya. So I knew it was important to nurture the relationship between man and woman from the beginning and to take certain little breaks from being parents. To spend a normal evening among friends. Or even in intimate togetherness.

Tonight Ced would spend the evening with his godparents.

For the time being, we did not want to tell anyone that we had had a child and we had also asked Mr. Prescott for discretion for the time being. To him we had indicated the general problematic nature of our relationship. In truth, we simply could not assess how Ced would develop in the long run. At the moment, it didn't look like he was going to stick to the human stages of development. At just five days old, he already commanded an entire repertoire of facial features that would take a normal baby months to acquire. He was already lifting his little head on his own since today and I doubted that it would be very long before he started crawling. His whole-body coordination was that of a baby several months old. With height and weight, on the other hand, he was only a few weeks ahead of development. Parents often wondered with their children where the time had gone. I was already one of them with the twins. The past soon-to-be eighteen years had gone by so incredibly fast. But with Ced, that thinking was almost literally true. One blink and he had changed again a tiny bit or was able to do something new. Body, mind, and dexterity clearly did not go hand in hand for Ced. Carlisle was working on a theory.

"Where is my godchild?" the front door was impatiently opened for me by David.

Sonya slapped him on the shoulder.

"Let Bella come in first!" she instructed her husband.

"That would be great. It's cold!" I stated.

I was graciously granted entry.

Sonya gave me a quick hug and David gave me the obligatory kiss after taking my backpack.

I needed to bring to David and Sonya only the necessities for Ced. Due to Sonya's circumstances, all the baby stuff here in the house was quite tangible and no longer well tucked away in some basement corner. Therefore, the backpack contained only bottles with the associated selection of contents, change of clothes - with children you never knew what they would do, and the various things for changing diapers. Emma had already been out of that age for some time. We didn't need a pacifier. Ced couldn't do anything with those things, about which I was a little glad. It had taken a long time to break Leah of this habit. They still had a baby seat themselves - one like the one Edward was so overly enthusiastic about - from Emma. It was already ready on a sideboard in the living room.

I carefully pulled down the zipper of my jacket and to reveal my blissfully sleeping baby.

"This one is doing splendidly - lying on your bust like that!" smirked David.

"You're with Emmett too much!" Sonya stated matter-of-factly as I rolled my eyes.

I agreed with her wholeheartedly!

"I wonder if he'll be as comfortable at your breast," I asked rhetorically.

I had brought the sweater from Edward for David, so he could wear Ced as well. Ced really liked hanging out in those kangaroo sweaters. I guessed that in it he just felt that he was not alone, even if he was slumbering like he was now.

"I doubt it. I'm not so well padded on top," David commented, but put on the sweater, which hid a few straps inside.

It actually wasn't as complicated as David made it out to be when one dressed it correctly. Gently, we relocated Ced without him waking up. David walked up and down the living room a bit, picked something up off the floor, bent down to the low table. Then he built himself up in front of us.

"Honey! I want one of those, too!" he demanded imperiously.

Seemed a little silly, with the infant on his chest.

Sonya and I laughed.

"Where are your bullies, anyway?" I asked when it seemed a little too quiet for the Mitchell household. It seemed so empty without children. And I didn't see Cookie anywhere either, although I recognized his basic move-in based on a basket and various toys.

"They're all upstairs," Sonya said, pulling me along by one hand.

Outside Daniel's room, she told me to be quiet. Very carefully, she opened the door a crack and the three of us peered through.

The four children sat on the floor in front of Daniel's new telescope and listened most intently to Rosalie's words. Cookie was also sitting there. She talked about the stars, aligned the telescope, and all the children looked through the device one after the other. They were fascinated.

Me too. Rose would certainly have made a very good mother. It made me feel sorry for her that she never got to know that feeling. Perhaps it was a comfort to her to be able to let off steam now, at least as an aunt. The way the picture presented itself now, she would certainly have been an excellent teacher, too, if she could captivate children of all different ages like that.

She waved at us unobtrusively, presumably so as not to endanger the children's attention.

They let themselves be distracted quickly, as we all know, which is why we closed the door quietly and went back downstairs.

"How long have they been sitting together so quietly?" I asked, a bit astonished.

"Rose came here a little over two hours ago when Daniel had a problem with the telescope," David replied.

Rose had studied astrophysics at CalTech, the California Institute of Technology. I had known this since David had asked Edward for advice on the purchase of the telescope. He had referred him to Rose.

I was saying goodbye - it was already close to seven o'clock - when Ced woke up.

We had to laugh.

It was unmistakable that the face looking down at him was not the one he had expected. He was probably still thinking about what to make of it now.

"Hello, Ced. Do you agree to stay with Sonya and me for a bit?" asked David as Sonya quickly moved to his side.

Still undecided, my son looked at the two in turn. Then he giggled and happily dropped his head against David's chest so that he could see me with it. He looked at me attentively and reached out a hand to me.

He couldn't quite express it mentally the way he probably wanted to, but I understood him anyway.

'Daddy's going to pick you up really quick, and you're going to have a lot of fun until then,' I thought, punctuating my mental words with memories from the past. How David had fooled around with the twins when they were still very small.

That seemed to calm him down immensely.

I gave Ced a gentle kiss and wished everyone a good time.

At home, I then dealt with a nervous vampire who only calmed down - at least it seemed that way to the outside world - when Henry and Eliza Young, Becky's parents, were there.

I was really happy to see them both again. It had been weeks. I had talked to Eliza on the phone a few times, but it wasn't the same.

The meal was excellent.

Pork tenderloin with a walnut crust.

Accompanied by red wine.

After two glasses I already noticed the alcohol and switched to water.

I didn't want to get drunk, after all.

To our guests, Edward had used the same excuse he had given Evelyn Carter, Marcus' mother.

A rare form of diabetes associated with an immunodeficiency.

It was quite cheerful.

We talked about what we had experienced in the last weeks - minus my pregnancy - about the holidays, about our liaised children.

For dessert we had Crème Brûlée with a perfect caramel crust on top.

Plus the story of how Henry's mother tried to intimidate Jake.

Unsuccessfully!

At half past nine the first of our children arrived home - Leah and Marcus.

We introduced Marcus, they didn't know him personally yet.

They sat down with us after we had been greeted as usual. There was no end to the cheerful mood, yet Edward became increasingly restless the later it got.

"Edward," I said softly as I stood alone with him in the kitchen for a moment to get new beverages. "Please don't be so nervous. You know what great parents they are, and if there was something going on with Ced, David would have contacted us by now."

He nodded - restrained.

The rest of the young people came home after eleven in a good mood. Making out, they almost stumbled through the door.

"You're still here," Becky noted, somewhat embarrassed by her parents' presence.

She probably hadn't noticed the car in the driveway because of Jake.

"What time is it?" asked Eliza, first looking around at the clock. Startled, she read off the time. "Oh, goodness," she said, rising in the same breath.

Eliza had a work appointment bright and early tomorrow morning.

We chuckled.

Henry, too ... although his vacation was also over tomorrow.

But then they went on their way. They said goodbye to everyone, reminded their daughter to show up sometimes at home, thanked us for the invitation and the nice evening, and they were gone.

"Dad. Are you coming for a run?" asked Leah enthusiastically.

"Not today, little one. I want to pick Ced up. Not that he thinks we'll forget him," Edward replied and was already gone.

He was through the front door as soon as Becky's parents' car left the driveway, Jake went through the patio door. They both fell into the lock at the same time. And between them stood Leah, who now no longer looked as euphoric as she had three seconds earlier.

"Don't be mad at him, Leah. It's his first baby and he's a little overzealous," I asked my disillusioned daughter for understanding and put a hand to her cheek.

She had stared after Edward for a moment, but now she smiled a little, nodded, and went after Jake.

Hopefully Leah didn't take it personally and feel neglected.

"Leah can handle it," Marcus broke through my anxious thoughts. "She knows that this is a completely new experience for Edward, so he hardly perceives anything else at first. Also that Ced is quite helpless alone and is dependent on you as parents in every respect. That you inevitably pay more attention to the little one than to the two of them ... I'm sure she was just surprised that Edward refused her direct request," he added.

I nodded.

Hopefully it was.

"And what about Jake?" I asked Becky. "Have you noticed anything along the lines of jealousy?"

"Nah, not at all," she reflected.

I resolved to observe Edward's behavior toward the twins more closely over the next few days and, if necessary, to talk to him. Because I had to admit to myself that I had not noticed so far that he - or both of us - treated our baby excessively preferentially. More than the handling of the infant really required, as Marcus had also said. I would pay attention to that.

Marcus and Becky were waiting for their predators, of course, but they sent me to bed after I yawned twice in a row.

I had become tired.

It was our first night here in the house. I finally fit back into my sleeping clothes. Okay, they were Edward's pajama tops. My belly was still swollen, but the circumference was already decreasing considerably.

I was just brushing my teeth when Edward entered our bedroom - smiling blissfully with his son in his arms.

"David is not predestined to babysit our angel!" said Edward smirking and showing me a video from his phone.

Ced was bedded down in some sofa cushions and busying himself with a push toy. David was holding it. Sort of. He sat on the floor in front of him, his head propped up on a pillow. Sleeping. It was thanks to gravity that Ced was able to continue playing unmolested by it. When he noticed Edward, pushing the wooden rings back and forth suddenly became uninteresting, and he struggled so enthusiastically that the wooden frame banged clatteringly against David's forehead.

I laughed, almost choking on my toothpaste foam.

Well, David didn't get any younger either!

I rinsed my mouth and took my baby in my arms.

"Did you keep David and Sonya on the go?" I laughed at him.

He giggled triumphantly.

I guess that meant yes.

He showed me a few mementos from the evening.

Ced had been playing with Cookie. Sonya had given him a baby bottle. Daniel tried to change his diaper. Emma had tried to play with him, but he was still a bit too slow in reaction for the little whirlwind. Luces had read to him, during which Emma had fallen asleep. A second baby bottle, which David gave to him.

Ced had not been unhappy, all things considered. Not at all. And he had apparently not slept all evening. That's how I interpreted the multitude of experiences and the hearty yawn that followed.

"Well, someone really needs to go to bed!" I stated and kissed him on the forehead.

Edward wanted to take him from me again, but I forbade him.

"YOU ... need to apologize to your daughter!" I instructed him. "You really put her nose out of joint back there!"

"With what?" he asked, confused, his eyes appearing shaken.

"She wanted you to accompany her," I said, putting Ced down on the changing table so I could change him.

"But I had to pick up Ced," Edward stated.

Did he really not understand? The vampires usually had such a quick grasp.

"Leah wanted to spend time with you! ... Time that you can spare mostly for your son right now. Every free minute you're busy with Ced. You play with him, watch him sleep, take touching care of him."

"Of course. Ced's still so little and helpless!"

"But would it have been so bad if you had left him over there for those twenty more minutes? Twenty minutes that you could have spent with Jake and Leah? ... Or if I had picked Ced up? Ced has a mother, too, not just a father!"

"You looked tired, so I didn't want you to go out in the cold again," he explained to me.

"My darling, I am a mother! And I have been for almost eighteen years. Of twins. You wouldn't believe all I can handle. And as you can see, despite my apparent fatigue, I can take care of my baby ..." I said, presenting the changed baby. "... And you have THREE children, Edward. Not just one!" I laid a hand on his cheek in conclusion and looked him emphatically in the eyes.

Embarrassed, he looked down at the floor and ran a hand through his hair. He pressed a kiss to my lips and ruefully left the bedroom.

A very rare sight that made me smile softly.

Since I had not had Ced with me for the last few hours, I now took him to bed with me instead of putting him in his crib.

Ced fell asleep as soon as he was right.

It must have been exhausting to get David to sleep.

It wasn't long before Edward was back.

I watched him very attentively while changing and regretted that I was much too tired for extended tenderness.

"What did the forgiveness of your daughter cost you?" I asked, however, before my eyes fell shut and Edward lay with us.

"Tomorrow morning, breakfast in bed," Edward replied with relief.

And exactly that there was also the next morning. In three different rooms we had breakfast lying cheerfully in bed. However, afterwards everyone sat with us on the bed.

"That was a very nice change, though ..." Jake stated, kissing his star enamoredly.

Edward had mentioned that it had turned into a breakfast with a 'happy ending' for our children and I lowered my gaze to the blanket a little embarrassed. That of Leah I had even heard.

"... but breakfast together is nicer!" summarized Leah, whose lips just gently detached from Marcus.

Edward nodded in agreement.

"Leah wished for it, and you wouldn't have had time for a really extensive breakfast," Edward opined, pointing to the alarm clock.

It was 8:23 on Monday morning.

"You have to hurry, or you'll be late," he reminded them, and already the teens were rushing around frantically.

They had a date with their group of friends and were going up to Shawnee Peak to go skiing. Marcus' sister Maggie and her fiancé Ethan would go along, as well as Daniel and Becky's little brother. And if it wasn't announced to be mostly sunny icy cold today, Jazz and Em would also accompany the troop.

Edward asked Jake and Becky, as they came out of the bathroom, to watch Ced for a minute so we could take a quick shower.

"Did you bring enough money?" inquired Edward as the youths gathered the last of their clothes.

I chuckled.

The question had been on the tip of my tongue, and I was already standing by my purse to take out some cash.

They didn't resist this care as much today as they usually did. I very much hoped that the value of money was not lost on them because of their wealthy father, but that it was simply because it was December. The month had been expensive for my two teenagers, who lived only on their allowance.

"Please come home safe!" I admonished them at the front door and hugged them all as Daniel came down the sidewalk with his snowboard - with Sonya and Emma in tow.

They didn't want to drive along, but they wanted to give the boy a proper farewell for today.

We waved after Marcus' bus as it left our driveway in the direction of Brandon. There was the general assembly point, and the bus had enough room for six people - they would still be picking up Becky's brother - along with ski equipment.

Sonya and Emma went into the house with us, and we sat down at the table with coffee, tea, and cocoa.

We chatted while Sonya ate a pack of mini donuts besides.

Her two sons were already out of the house. A school friend of Deacon had birthday and the celebration for it in the large indoor playground would last the whole day. Since his older brother was the same age as Luces, he had gone right along. David was already busy in his study. He only had until Thursday to finish the ordered program. It probably looked good overall, but there was still a bug somewhere that he couldn't find.

Edward went over to help him in this regard.

"I'll be back in five minutes!" he grinned mischievously and arrogantly, but I dared to doubt the time figure.

He would easily find and fix the programming error in less than five minutes, but David and Edward always found a topic to talk about at length or forgot the time during a game of chess. Currently, infants and parenting would probably be on the agenda.

While Emma was dealing with Ced, Sonya and I somehow got on the topic of the aftermath of pregnancy.

"Basically, nothing hurts anymore, and I feel pretty good. But this belly just won't go away!" I complained. It still looked swollen, which is why I was still wearing my maternity pants. I couldn't remember how long my belly had looked like that after the twins. At that time I had been quite indifferent. Even how long I couldn't engage in sex had been unimportant back then. There had been no man.

"My doctor in Philly always said there's no rule for that. Your body will tell you when it's ready to do it again. Likewise, your body knows when it's capable of another pregnancy," Sonya reflected, startling me a tiny bit.

A new pregnancy? I hadn't even thought of that yet. Could Edward and I have another baby? A little daughter, perhaps?

The thought put a gentle smile on my face.

But for that I would have to be able to have sex again and I could hardly be that far after the few days, no matter how I felt. Also, I would first wait and see what Carlisle had to say tomorrow. Tomorrow the birth was a week ago and Carlisle had announced that he wanted to examine me then.

Sonya showed me a few exercises on the internet that I could do to support my body while also getting back my actual female proportions. All of them involved the baby in a playful way.

Well. Sports. I wasn't particularly athletic - because of my missing sense of balance - but I would certainly manage that. I could be pretty ambitious when I had to be. So the prospect of standing in front of Edward in a white wedding dress was incentive enough.

After some time I went to the bathroom.

I chuckled to myself.

Sonya had already been four times. My bladder had in the meantime reached a usual size for humans again, so that I no longer had to be hoisted into the bathroom in 'five minute' intervals. I was also pleased to see that the postpartum flow had already disappeared. If I could now get rid of my extra pounds, I could almost hear the wedding bells ringing in my ears.

As I stepped out of the bathroom, however, my clumsiness spoke up loudly, as if to mock my plans.

A pocket of my cardigan got caught on the door handle. In shock, I bumped my elbow against the door frame.

Exactly ... on ... my ... funny ... bone!

At the same time - as if that were not enough - I stubbed my little toe against the rebounding door.

I half turned around myself, cursed loudly, limped awkwardly, but was still able to save myself stumbling against a chest of drawers, against which I then still bumped with my side.

I saw Edward standing in the front doorway, startled, as I half hung on the furniture.

David was behind him.

"The door pushed me!" I clarified, but the two of them shook their heads, while Edward quickly approached me, and I let myself fall into his arms. "Ow ..." I muttered dejectedly. And offended! I couldn't decide what to be most upset about. Or what I should hold on to most to counteract the momentary pain. Not that it would really help in any way.

I finally decided on the angel kneeling next to me.

My family doctor looked at me teasingly, but overprotectively checked my small bruises, for which I as a well-behaved patient then also got vital 'mouth to mouth' resuscitation. The angel then looked at me questioningly and doubtfully narrowed his eyes.

"Huh ...?"

"I asked if it's better now," Edward asked. "Your pain!" he continued to remind me after I didn't answer.

"Oh ... Yes ... Sure ... Already over."

A musical smile echoed in my ears, and I was set back on my feet.

By now it was lunchtime and David and Edward - with Ced and Emma as assistant cooks - made us something to eat.

Salad with chicken strips with an herb baguette.

Sonya then wanted to lie down first and had the 'mother and child' yoga class a little later. David had to walk with Cookie and then get back to his PC.

Edward and I drove to Portland.

We still had to order four bracelets.

Edward proudly pushed the stroller in front of him while we leisurely walked through the town and along the promenade.

For dinner we had pasta at an Italian restaurant, and Ced stretched out his fingers for it with great interest.

We gave him one of the spaghetti, but the thought of eating it obviously did not occur to him.

Pretty much the most important thing in a diaper bag: wet wipes. To retrieve hands and face. Half-vampires were definitely no exception to this!

It was quite late when I sat with Edward on our sofa, and we practiced with the yo-yos.

For me, the handling was too high. I couldn't even get it that the cord rolled back up each time. If I did manage it once - completely by mistake - that was also immediately rewarded.

Edward's cell phone rang.

The children.

They had announced they were going to have dinner at Shawnee Peak, so we hadn't worried TOO much so far.

A certain basic nervousness was undeniable - after all, the children were out of the house without us - but we were not frozen with fear. Nevertheless, I felt a cold shiver run down my spine when I identified the callers as our twins.

But I exhaled in relief.

They were at a gas station somewhere in the middle of nowhere and Marcus' bus wouldn't start. They would have pushed the car a little out of the way into a parking lot and continued on foot, but they had Daniel with them. Becky's brother, on the other hand, had driven back with Brandon, since he lived in the same area.

Edward would pick them up and already had his car keys in hand.

In the front door, however, he stopped and considered asking Rosalie for help.

If Edward were to drive off immediately - at his usual pace, of course - the children would nevertheless stand in the cold for half an hour. Rose would get to them much faster. In addition, Rose would perhaps get the bus running again, since she was most familiar with its technical condition and would guess where the defect lay.

So Edward called Rose and I called David so the parents wouldn't worry unnecessarily that their son wasn't back yet.

David was actually already worried, and I teased him a bit about it.

He didn't have to know that we were no less worried - because of the time of day. Our children were safe and sound. Well. Marcus had probably hurt his hand slightly, but it didn't seem to have happened while skiing. Nevertheless, I could go to bed with a clear conscience, even though they were not yet in the house, and my men accompanied me. The cradle was obviously too lonely for our precious, so we lay together in bed - as we had done every night so far.

I dreamed of breakfast in bed, which was arranged on my pregnant belly. The space on it was enough for a feast for several people. Curious, but at some point the plot became not only stranger, but watery. No matter what my dream came up with, there was water everywhere.

I woke up, opened my eyes and immediately had an explanation for all the water.

My son looked at me expectantly, had put a hand on my cheek and signified to me that he wanted to swim again.

"You should ask Mommy when she wakes up ... Not wake her up with the question!" my son was immediately reprimanded, but he didn't let it bother him.

He continued to look at me unimpressed with a sugary sweet, yet impatient smile, without mentally withholding the swimming pool from me. He was urgently waiting for an answer.

I took his little fingers and kissed them before looking up at my big angel.

The swimming pool did not disappear in my mind!

"Good morning, my heart! Where are the children?" I wished and asked directly. After all, I hadn't catch sight of them yesterday.

"Good morning, dearest. They are still asleep. It got quite late before they were here and in bed. Did you sleep well?" asked Edward, breathing a soulful kiss on my lips.

"It became increasingly wet," I indicated played grumbling. "Of course you can go swimming again!" I then answered the impatient little angel.

Immediately he giggled enthusiastically.

While I was getting ready, Edward was preparing breakfast.

I washed very thoroughly, conscientiously used the oil procured by Rose, and while Ced occupied himself in his crib, my skin was very carefully lotioned.

Everywhere. So that my gynecologist would have nothing to complain about right away! Everywhere, however, also meant that we needed a little longer for it. The gentle cool fingers of Edward stroked me cautiously and that felt really good, as I lay so naked on the bed. Delicate as a spring breeze, the touches enraptured me so that I pulled my angel's lips against mine. He continued heartily and my hands grasped more and more gruffly through his hair. Until Edward withdrew from me, breathing heavily.

I sighed in frustration.

"Forget it, Bella. Not until Carlisle specifically allows it!" he stated matter-of-factly.

His voice trembled, making his matter-of-factness unbelievable.

We then went to breakfast, but Edward did not want to wake the children.

It was the vacation, they just had an appointment for a New Year's Eve party tonight, yesterday's skiing would certainly have been exhausting and it had gotten very late.

Still, we looked silently in the children's rooms before we actually left after breakfast.

We did, however, leave the table set for our children - Edward doubted they would be in bed too much longer - along with a morning greeting.

Thanks for reading!