Edward

I looked at the phone in my hand. She'd asked a simple question so I answered it. I had just put Elizabeth down to bed and was busy rocking Anthony.

I had been so frustrated with her since our chat on the plane. She was pissed at me and she didn't even have a good reason to be.

I didn't know what the hell she thought I did but I was getting sick of it.

I woke the next morning to a knock on my hotel room door. I thought it was my mother and quickly threw on my pants to open the door.

We had plans to look at homes. I wanted to close on one today.

I was tired of all this running around. I wanted to get the kids settled.

I yanked the door open ready to invite my mother in so she could help me dress the kids.

I heard a gasp and saw Bella focus on my chest. I hadn't gotten any in a while but I was too tired and pissed to give a fuck what she wanted.

Of course that didn't stop me from asking. "What do you want?"

She cleared her throat and looked up at my stern face. "I want to see the kids."

"They're still asleep and my mom will be over in a few minutes to help me get them dressed and to pick a house."

"I can help you."

"No thanks," I snapped. "I've gotten really good at doing things on my own, thanks to you." I didn't mean to explode at her like that but I couldn't hold back now that she was talking to me again.

Her eyes narrowed and she crossed her arms. "Quit being an ass, Edward. I want to see my kids."

"It's not your weekend."

"Oh, that's how it's going to be?"

"That's how you wanted it! You left, you set up the visitation, now stick with it!"

She stood there gapping at me so I turned away from her.

I was heartbroken by what I saw.

Elizabeth was sitting on the edge of her bed wide awake with her lip quivering.

Fuck, I'd made my baby cry.

I walked over to her to comfort her but she shook her head at me. "I want my mommy!" she cried.

Bella had her up in her arms before I could say anything. I collapsed in the lounge chair defeated.

Bella was right; I was being an ass.

My mother came in moments later and helped Bella dress the children. Bella took them for the day.

My mother thought it would be boring for them to be dragged around looking at houses. I hated that my mother had sided with Bella on this, but I also saw her logic.

Women were not supposed to be logical, so why was it that one was making me so irrational as well?

I looked at houses all day with my mother. I wanted to pick the one furthest from the hospital just to spite Bella but my mother pointed out the benefits of the one that was closest.

I was glad she had her head on straight today.

I purchased the house my mother insisted I get or she would purchase it and make me live there when I came to my senses. I knew she was right, damn it.

I didn't want my mother to have to go through the extra trouble and get mixed up in the mess that was Bella and I so I bought the damn house that I knew she would like.

I went to my room and crashed on my bed. I pulled out a bottle of scotch and started drinking it straight from the bottle, not bothering to look for a cup.

My mother came in to put the kids down for the night. I was grateful her room was next to mine with an adjoining door.

I let her know I was going for a walk and she warily let me go, knowing that I was in no condition to be around the children.

After greasing the guy's palm at the front desk, I triumphantly made my way to Bella's room with a key card to open her door. Money could buy you anything but sanity and I had just proven that.

I opened her door and caught her changing.

She jumped at first but then relaxed when she saw it was just me. Silly girl didn't know what she was in for.

"You!" I said storming forward. "You're impossible to please! Nothing I do makes you happy! NOTHING!"

"You're drunk!"

I laughed at her brilliant observation. "Really? I thought I was pregnant but drunk makes more sense."

"What are you doing here?" she asked in her snippy voice.

"I'm going to fuck you because you're mine whether you like it or not. YOU. ARE. MINE! You're going to stop being a damned brat and you're going to stop running away. You're going to come home and take care of your children and as long as you do that I'll make sure that bastard that shot your baby girl and me is happy in his nut house. You leave and I'll pull funding."

She got up and slapped me.

She grabbed something from her bag and was writing something furiously. "You asshole! I was so stupid to think that you were actually being kind hearted when you tried to find a place for him; you really were just trying to get rid of him!"

She shoved the paper into my pants and shoved me. "Take your damn money and fuck off, Edward Cullen. I don't ever want to see you again."

Before she stepped away I grabbed her arm and pulled her to me.

"You know that's not true." I pushed her back on the bed and she squeaked. I laughed at her as I pulled at her robe. "You're mine. You always have been and it's time you stopped running away from me, Bella, because one of these days I'll get tired of chasing you and let you keep going," I growled in her ear and then kissed her roughly.

She fought me for a moment and then gave in readily like I knew she would.

She pulled at my clothes and I let her undress me.

She was mine and I would let her prove it.