Wow what else can Nikky or I say...once again the overwhelming response and the amount of story love we are receiving from so many people just makes us both feel so loved.  I know that this story may have a few minor flaws, but we have tried all along to keep them to a minimum.  So essentially thank you as always for reading and reviewing our story it makes us all giggly and excited to see all the reviews we are getting. 
We asked you who you thought it might be that broke into Bella and the twins apartment, and I must say we were a little surprised that a lot of you have it figured out.  With a wide range of evil or rude nasty characters, many of you said it was Uncle Harry...and you are right.  There will not be resolution for a bit when it comes to Uncle Harry, so if you want to figure out what he was looking for all I can suggest is watch for clues.  There are some very important and much asked for things coming soon. 
We have been asked many times for Edward to stop using Aro’s girls for his pleasure.  And where we understand why, we also knew it was very unrealistic for a man with so much anxiety, pressure, cynicism and tainted view to jump into a healthy relationship and give up the release and hidden pleasure he has surrounded himself in to get by for the past five plus years.  He has slowly been weaning himself from the place, and very soon he will open up and tell Bella why he went there.  We have been asked when you all get to know a lot more about Edward...well very soon actually, and by that I mean the next few chapters are chuck full of things from the past. 
We have been asked if Renee will come back...(A LOT ACTUALLY)...Renee was Bella’s biological mother, who died when Bella was only three years old.  At the age of three after her mother died, custody of Bella was given to Charlie Swan who was her biological father.  Charlie was married to Sue Swan, who is the mom she talks about leaving all the time.  Sue Swan is the person who left Bella to care for the twins.  Since this story is not alternate universe, neither, Charlie or Renee will be making any grand entrance, unless via a dream.  But don’t get too happy, because Sue Swan is still out there somewhere, and she has a few things to say.
We have been asked a lot if Alice, Rose, Siobhan, and Esme will make any redemption...Esme already has begun her turn around, and we think she is doing well.  Siobhan, well she wore out her welcome quite completely at the ball, at this point there is not a real plan to drag her back into the storyline.  Alice...well this is a hard one for me.  I actually normally always LOVE Alice, but this Alice is a tough nut to crack.  She is not going to bring in the roses and become a fan favorite anytime soon, but you will notice some changes.  As for Rose, well...I just can’t wait to hear your opinions of her...and I am sure you’ll have plenty next week.
Updating...we had planned all along to only update every other week on Thursdays.  However since posting the first chapter we have been on an every week posting schedule...and we have NO INTENTION of changing that at this time.  Nikky and I have a comfortable cushion, and the next chapter to post is with the beta now.  I got this weeks chapter back from the beta on Tuesday afternoon, so realistically we are posting around when they are ready.  Nikky is working on her part of chapter 26 right now, and I am working on 24 so we are not looking at any lapses in time.  We are both so excited you are choosing to come down this road with us. 
Where the next chapter has some major info and angst, we promise that chapter seventeen will make up for it.  Thanks again for always being so supportive and showing the story love HCV deserves.

Kasi (&Nikky)

Chapter 16 Teaser...subjected to changes during the BETA process...

Its Thanksgiving today, and I am on my way to pick up Bella and the kids.  Bella and I decided that, after dinner with my family, they would all stay the night at my house tonight.  I will run them home to get their things for the camping trip in the morning, and see them off to camp.  Bella will make sure that Jake has enough food, and then she is coming to spend the weekend with me.  I’m looking forward to this weekend, but I am worried about my growing feelings for her. I knock on the door before using my key to get in.  Bella gave me a spare key so I could let myself in. The new door has a double lock on it, and is reinforced with steel; no one is breaking this one down.

I walk in, seeing Leah in a black, knee-length dress with a cream ribbon around the waist, and black shoes.  Seth is wearing a pair of black pants and a cream colored button down shirt, with a black tie and shoes.

“Wow, look at you Leah! You’re very beautiful, and Seth, you look so handsome.” They both smile at me and look up as Bella walks in. She is in a cream colored dress, with a black ribbon around the waist. The dress goes to just above her knees; she looks fucking beautiful in it - so fucking beautiful.

“Wow, Bella! You look sensational...really beautiful.  Are we all ready to go?” I look her up and down, I am so glad she allowed me to buy us all new outfits for today. 

I got around her apprehension by telling her that I wanted to go to church with them this Sunday night.  We are attending the evening service after Seth and Leah return from camp.  Since I was buying something for myself, I wanted to get them something, as well.  As usual, getting Bella to let me buy Seth and Leah something, was easy, but her...not so much.  I was so fucking glad Seth and Leah helped me. I have on black pants and black shirt with a cream colored tie.  I push my fucking guilty feelings down and smile at the three of them.

“Yes, we’re all ready.” Bella picks up their bags, and I quickly take them from her.

“Let’s go,” I say as I usher us all out the door together.

Hello our faithful readers and reviewers!  We were expecting a bit of a lashing from some of you, and we have gotten a few but nothing like I expected.  Please let me remind you all now first and foremost that we are both happy ever after kind of gals.  Little refresher is needed about ages, and a few other things, since there were a few questions.  Edward is 28 and will soon be turning 29.  Bella just turned 11 when the twins were born, Sue left when Bella was 13, and Bella has been working for the university for over 5 years.  Bella just turned 19 in chapter 8.  Edward is 9 and 1/2 years older than Bella.  Before Sue left, she obtained a fake ID for Bella that said Bella was 18.  Therefore everyone surrounding the apartment building assumed she was of legal age.  Sue needed everyone to think Bella was 18, and she was sure to scare tactic that into Bella.  All these years, Bella has continued to maintain the age Sue said she had to say she was, in fear of not being able to stay with the twins.  Now for Bree Tanner and James...Bree Tanner was the female student from Edward’s Summer school course he taught.  In the summer for the past several years, Edward has been helping his good friend Marcus by teaching the kids who struggle to pass, or are so far behind they may not graduate high school.  Bree Tanner was the hoodie wearing shy and quiet girl from chapters 1 and 2.  Bree lives in Forks and attends high school at Forks High.  James Hunter is a Math teacher and the truancy officer for the Forks school district.  We don’t want to give too much away, but if you think back to the earlier chapters, when Edward had to take a break from his panic attacks, he was clear to tell Marcus his concerns about Bree being abused.  Bella is naive about many things, but she has grown a lot in the past few chapters.  We want to be clear that Bella feels as if she lied to Edward, she started trusting him a long time ago and when she started trusting him she feels she should have told him then.  Edward doesn’t feel betrayed by the lie, but he is more of in shock by the lie.  When he thought he was almost 5 years older than Bella he was concerned with the age difference, mainly because of how innocent she is.  Now that that almost five is almost ten, he is confused.  The next chapter will have you cheering Edward on, and hating his guts too.  We don’t want to give too much away, but I will say this, we are both excited at the prospect of the reviews after the next chapter posts.  Thanks as always for reading and reviewing this story, you all have no idea how much your words mean to us.  Thank you, Kasi (& Nikky)

Teaser for Chapter 18: Confessions  (As always subject to changes in the Beta process.)

Leaving Bella’s place, I get in my car and drive.  I don’t even slow down when the speedometer hits one-hundred-thirty miles per hour; I just keep driving.  I am racing to get away from the fear and the rage that is inside of me. I still feel so angry; how the fuck did I not see that she was only nineteen?!  I mean, she looks so young; I am so fucking pissed at myself.  She is still a baby, and the fact that she is only nineteen, doesn’t keep me from wanting her.  I want her, and I need to be with her.  I want her in every way, which is so fucked up. I shouldn’t want to be with a nineteen year old girl.

She was thirteen when Sue left her to look after Seth and Leah.  She was so fucking young, and she ended up in Aro’s club at thirteen!  Fuck, if he would have said yes to her…if she was in the pictures I had to choose from…I would have picked her…I know I would have… fuck! I could have really hurt her.  I am really fucking sick! Thank God he said no! Fuck, the dip shit pimp that said yes...shit! I’m sure she would…fuck I don’t even want to finish that thought.

“FUCK!” I scream out and I do an illegal U-turn at eighty miles per hour.  I decide I need to see Aro. If I find out that fucker knew her real age, I am going to add that motherfucker to my shit list.  I am going to hurt him so fucking much, and anyone who tries to stop me, too.