That one word took Edward by surprise. It was only the memory of what was going on that stopped him from jumping with joy. Cole called him Daddy. Cole didn’t know it, but at that moment there was nothing in the world he would deny him.

“I think a doggie would be a good idea.” Edward grinned hugely. Dana gave his arm a squeeze and kissed his cheek.

“Mommy, if Daddy and Cole are getting a dog, can I have a snake?” Elizabeth asked.

Edward felt Dana freeze under his arm. For a bomb she kept her cool and walked across the lawn without showing an ounce of fear, but the mention of a snake had all the blood draining from her face. He had to laugh.

“N-no sweetheart…no snakes…..” Dana looked like she was about to pass out. She decided clarification was in order when she caught a twinkle of mischief in Elizabeth’s eye. “That includes babysitting a snake and any snakes you find outside.”

“Man!” Elizabeth groaned.

Amy looked Dana over and realized the same thing Edward did, she had a huge phobia of snakes. “Sweetie, perhaps this isn’t the best moment to talk about this,” Amy said, taking Elizabeth into her arms.

“Okay,” Elizabeth said dejectedly.

The fire department arrived next. Several men ran full blast toward the backyard. They could hear loud screams and then a loud boom! “Oh, please let everyone be okay,” Dana said softly. Edward pulled her and the kids closer.

“Daddy, smoke!” Cole said, pointing above their house to a thick column of gray smoke.

Edward pulled Cole into his arms afraid his son was going to try and get a better look.

Several police officers came running around the house. They paused at the corner. Their eyes ran over the crowd until they settled on them. Then they were running full blast towards them.

“Get down!” one of the officers yelled as screams erupted behind them.

Edward turned to find everyone behind them was running or dropping to the ground except for a teenage girl holding a gun aimed at them. Her hand shook violently. Tears ran down her face, dragging black massacre with it.

He pushed Dana behind him using his body to protect her. She grabbed onto his sides, holding him tightly. “Edward,” she said tightly.

“Amy, get the kids out of here,” Edward said evenly.

He didn’t have to look back to know Mark was pulling Amy and the kids away to safety. “Get them behind the car!” an officer ordered. Edward heard Cole crying out for him, but he didn’t look back.

“Edward, move please,” the girl said through broken sobs. “Let me take care of this for you.”

“Take care of what?” he asked genuinely confused.

“Her.” She gestured towards Dana with the gun.

He shook his head. “You might as well kill me, because you’re not touching one hair on her head,” he said firmly.

“Edward, no!” Dana said behind him.

“I’m not going to hurt you, Edward. I would never do that. Can’t you see this is the only way we can be together?” she cried. Edward looked her over, she looked familiar.

“I know you from somewhere.”

She smiled hugely. “Yes! I’ve asked for your photograph thirty times now. I send you homemade cookies every week, and I write to you every day.”

He shook his head. “No, not that. I’ve seen you walking outside my other house and this one.”

She gave him a sheepish smile. “Well, I had to keep an eye on you.”

“You sent the box, didn’t you,” he stated.

She nodded frantically. “It was supposed to kill her. I tried to make sure it had a three foot range, but the directions I found on the internet were a little confusing. I didn’t think you would be around when she opened her mail, that’s too mundane for you.”

“What if my children were near her? Or what about my unborn children? Did you think about them?” he asked through clenched teeth.

“They’re not really your children. I only care about you. How do you know she’s carrying your babies? I’ve seen her pictures in Maxim magazine, there’s no way someone like her would settle for just one guy,” she rattled on.

“They are my children!” he snapped.

“Really?” she scoffed. “Then why was she kissing Lucas James? Hmm, I have pictures from the internet.” She pulled out a printed picture from her back pocket while keeping the gun pointed at Edward. She held up the picture of Lucas and Dana embracing.

“They’re in a movie together. What you saw was pictures from the set. I saw the same pictures.”

“Well…I don’t think so," she said sounding a little uncertain, "you were gone for nine weeks and now she’s pregnant…uh uh, she cheated on you now I’m going to take her out for you.”

“Edward, move I don’t want you hurt,” Dana said.

“No!” he said to Dana.

Movement to his right caught Edward’s attention. He saw dozens of officers circling the girl. “Put the gun down now!” a man ordered as dozens of weapons were aimed at the girl.

“No!” she screamed.

“Put the f**king gun down before you get shot!” Edward roared.

“You care about me?” she asked, giving him a goofy smile.

He didn’t answer her. She placed the gun down while she stared at him dreamy eyed. Two officers threw her to the ground and checked her for more weapons. Edward spun around in time to catch Dana as her knees gave out.

“Are you okay?” Edward asked her. He was shaking so badly that he had to lower them both to the ground before he dropped. He pulled her onto his lap and held her tightly. He ignored the cameras that were snapping rapidly.

Dana kissed Edward’s face and neck repeatedly. “Don’t you ever scare me like that again!”

“Yes, Dear,” he said mockingly, making her chuckle weakly.

He placed a hand on her stomach. “How are my babies doing?”

“They’re doing fine,” she said, looking a little embarrassed.

“What is it?”

“I think I’m hungry. I can’t believe I can even think of food at a moment like this,” she said, shaking her head in disgust.

He laughed feeling a weight lifted off his shoulders with this revelation. “You’re carrying twins, sweetheart. You’re bound to get hungry.”

“No! He’s mine!” the girl screamed as she was dragged away.

“I’m really sorry about this,” he said, feeling horrible about everything.

“You didn’t do anything. It could have just as easily been one of my many stalkers so don’t worry about it,” she teased. She kissed his mouth gently, trying to chase the unnecessary guilt away.

“Why don’t you bring her inside?” the officer standing protectively over them said. “We’ve checked over the house several times, it’s safe.”

Edward nodded. Dana moved off his lap as they stood up. He took her hand and began walking towards the house. He could see Amy and the kids entering the house. Cole was riding piggyback on a fireman’s shoulders.

He looked back to see Mark talking with his cameraman. “Mark, are you coming?” Edward called.

Mark looked at him and nodded. His cameraman followed him close behind. Neither man looked triumphant about getting the hottest interview in town at the moment. Mark looked upset and serious. That was one of the reasons he liked the man. He never took joy out of someone’s misfortune and he certainly didn’t risk his own life saving children expecting anything in return. He was a good guy all around.

Chapter 11

Dana and Edward slipped into their bedroom and quickly got dressed before they made their way to the kitchen. Dana immediately started to make coffee, sandwiches and snacks for the police officers and firemen. Within twenty minutes she had a huge spread laid out on the table for them.

Police and Firefighters passed through the kitchen, grabbing something to drink, or eat, and thanking her. Soon she found herself sitting on the couch with Cole on her lap.

“Baby, you need to eat something,” Edward pleaded.

She shook her head. “Not hungry now.”