Ok so this is my first ever story, so please be nice, constructive critisism is always welcome, however. I hope everyone likes this story and please review so I know how you guys feels about it and reviews will definitely make me update faster. Also if you guys have any ideas you want to throw out there, or if you want to say something privately to me, then don't hesitate to PM me.

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So without further ado...

EPOV

"Cullen! Let's go, I don't have all day here, just finish laying that last brick and then we need to get out of here!"

My god does he always have to yell?

"I'll be done in a sec!" I yelled back. Yeah, it seems like all I do when I work is yell. Not because I like to, but more that I need to considering how freaking loud it is around here. One minute it's the sledgehammer that is annoying the shit out of me, then it's my boss, Al. But I don't complain about the job, because I don't have a choice, one way or another, I need to support my girls. My beautiful angels.

I get back to work and make sure I am doing my job as perfectly as I can. I can't afford to mess up. This is the only job I have been able to get since I was forced to drop out of college about four years ago. A week after my parents practically disowned me. Which is a different story in itself that I try not to think about.

I finish smoothing out the concrete on my last brick for the evening and then wipe the sweat off my dirty head. It's a fucking hot day in Boston today and I'm stuck here working my ass off. I put my tools away and then rose from the uncomfortable position I was in on my knees. Once I was standing straight, I stretched out my limbs and tried to make the soreness go down. You would think that after four years of doing this shit, I would get used to all the uncomfortable positions I'm always in, but that's not the case.

I wipe my hands on the piece of cloth hanging out of my jean pocket, and then reach for my phone, I flip it open and check the time, 6:19, perfect. Now I can go home at an earlier time than usual and spend some much needed time with my babies. Oh, and I don't have to pay the babysitter as much I would normally because she gets to leave early.

I walk down out to where Al is waiting and take the stupid yellow hard hat off and run my hands through my hair out of habit. I fucking hate wearing that stupid thing, I just don't get why I have to wear it ALL the time, I mean I was just laying brick for God's sake, it's not like a big boulder is going to come out of nowhere and hit me upside the head. Oh well, it came with the job, and I need this job so I just need to stop complaining.

Al was waiting in his beat up blue pickup looking annoyed as hell. Great.

I opened the passenger side door and then slipped into the seat. As soon as I got in Al started the engine and sped off.

"You did alright today Cullen, even though you took forever to lay that brick."

"I'm sorry Al, I was just nervous, you know, considering this is the first time I have ever done anything like that on my own. I'll get better, I promise."

"I believe you Edward, that why I promoted you. You're a good kid, but you need to get faster, we are working with a time frame here." He said.

"Thanks, and I understand."

That was the only real significant conversation we had during the 30 minute drive to my apartment. Al was telling me all about his conquests in the local bars. Al may be 47 years old but he sure knew his way with the ladies. He had almost a different girl every night. The filthy bastard.

Once upon a time that was me, the guy with all the girls he wanted. But things change. People change.

I began to get anxious as we pulled onto my street. I just needed to be with my daughters. I've missed them so much, 12 hours is just too damn long. I always felt like such a horrible father when I went to work in the morning, but I don't really have a choice. They need a roof over their head and food for their mouths before anything.

Finally, finally, Al pulled out front of my apartment. I gathered all my stuff—tool belt, phone, stupid hard hat—, said bye to Al and practically ran up the stairs to my apartment. After running up the three flights of stairs I finally made it to the door and could already hear my youngest, Avery, giggling away.

I took my keys out of my pocket and opened the door and a huge smile spread across my face when I saw one of my reasons for breathing running towards me and calling my name.

"Daddy! You home!" my angel screamed and ran straight into me. I bent down and scooped her in my arms and held her close.

"Hello, my love, how has your day been?"

"It was fun daddy! Wose hewlped me bwow bubbles today!"

"Did she? That's great baby! What do you say we go find your sister and then we can start making some dinner?"

"Harper is in our room weading or somefin."

I chuckled at Avery's mispronunciations. I know I should be correcting her so she can learn the right way to talk but come on, that shit is just too cute to try and stop. I walked into the living room where I knew Rosalie would be while still holding Avery. Only now she had her head resting on my shoulder and her hand on my cheek. As I walked into the living room I saw Rosalie was already packing her stuff to go. Poor girl, she was probably aching to get out of here. Maybe I should still pay her the regular amount even though I came home early.

"Hey Edward! Wish I could stay and chat but I kind of want to go see this guy I met at school."

"That's fine Rose, I understand, your young, go out and have fun. Just make sure that guy is treating you right."

"Oh shut up, Edward, I'm twenty-two, only two years younger than you, don't start acting all old and wise."

"Well I am older…and wiser…and prettier."

"Whatever dork. I gotta go." She said while walking towards me and Avery. She kissed me on the cheek, and then Avery. "Bye Aves, I'll see you tomorrow, be sure to tell your sister I said bye….bye Edward." She said as she was walking out the door.

"See ya." Me and Avery said at the same time. Once we realized it, we both stared at each other and laughed.

"Come on you copy cat, lets go see your sister."

I walked out of the living room and down the hall to Harper and Avery's room. It always made me feel bad that they had to share a room, but there wasn't much I could do about it at the moment. This little apartment is the only thing I could afford right now. It only has one bedroom, so I was already sleeping on the couch at night. I didn't really mind though. As long as my girls are comfortable.

I opened the door to their room and smiled at the sight before me. Harper was laying on her stomach in the middle of her tiny bed with the first Harry Potter book out in front of her. It always amazed me how smart my baby was. At seven years old, Harper was an avid reader. She would try to read whatever she could get her hands on. Once she heard the door open she was snapped out of her daze and looked up at me and smiled. She climbed out of the bed and ran to me and wrapped her tiny arms around my waist.

"Daddy! I didn't even know you were home, when did you get here?"

I bent down and picked her up onto my other hip, holding both my angels.

"I just got here about two minutes ago, I got to come home early, so what do you say to some Avery-Harper-Daddy cooking tonight?"

"Yay!" They both yelled and squirmed out of my arms to run into the kitchen and put their aprons on. This was something special that we did together whenever I got a chance. This wasn't very often due to my long work days. I usually got home around eight, and they went to bed at eight-thirty so I usually only get to hang out with them for a little while each day, so today was definitely a gift, and it called for some daddy-daughters cooking time.

I made my way into the kitchen and paused at the door watching my girls interact. Both of my daughters were breathtakingly beautiful. They both had my hair, which was a weird bronze color. Luckily their hair wasn't messy like mine though. Harper's hair was almost pin straight, whereas Avery's hair was more curly. More like hers. Only my baby's curls were much more beautiful. They both had my green eyes. But they also both had her pouty lips. Which again, were much cuter.

Harper was currently helping Avery get on her pink butterfly apron. Harper has always been a perfect big sister. She is always willing to help Avery and teach her things. She thought since Avery was only three, and Harper was so much older than her, she needed to teach her everything. But don't think they are perfect together all the time, when those two fight, it begins to look like World War 3. But minus the fights my girls we amazing. Whenever I saw them, I always felt so proud that they were mine, that I raised them. It wasn't easy for me when Harper was born, considering I was 17 years old at the time. I didn't think I was cut out to be a dad, but once I saw my baby's beautiful, chubby face for the first time, everything became about her and there was no way I was going to fail.

"Hey girls I'm just going to get changed because I'm all dirty but I'll be right back. Why don't you get the stuff out for some grilled cheese and carrots with ranch dressing. OK?"

"Kay Daddy!" They said in unison. I smiled and made my way to the closet in the hallway with all my clothes in it, and went to the bathroom to shower and change.

When I got back they already had six slices of bread buttered and ready.

"Wow, look at my little chefs, learning fast."

They both giggled and told me to hurry up because they were hungry.

After we ate dinner and the girls took their baths it was time for out nightly ritual. Every night, no matter what, I made sure to lay and read with them and talk before they went to bed. Even if I knew I had to work until midnight, I made sure I came home just for a little while and read to them and hear about their day. This was my favorite time of day because it was a time for me to just spend with my girls and listen to all their little stories and be amazed how much they have grown up.

"…and den Bwake frew up all ova' Miss. Snow and she made a face wike dis." Avery made the most cutest, disgusted face she could and had me and Harper laughing hysterically at her.

"That sounds really disgusting baby, did you try and help Blake after her was so sick?"

She looked at me with the biggest are-you-kidding-me face and said "Absowootwee not Daddy! Dats discustin"

I chuckled at her cuteness and pulled her down to lie next to me, she rested her head on my chest and sighed, she must be getting tired.

I turned to look at Harper whose head had already been on my shoulder and asked her how her day was.

"It was alright I guess" she said quietly.

"You guess? Didn't you learn anything new today? Or play with the other kids during recess or something?"

"No."

"No? Why not?"

"Because I just didn't, OK?" she said, irritated.

"Is something wrong baby?" I asked in concern. She never usually snaps at me.

"No Daddy I just want to go to sleep now."

"Alright baby." I slid out of her bed and carried Avery with me. I placed a sleepy Avery into her bed and tucked the covers around her and kissed her forehead. "Goodnight, Avery Grace, I love you."

"Wuv you, Daddy." She mumbled.

Then I walked back to Harper's bed where she was already curled up under the covers. I walked over to where she was facing and knelt down by the side of her bed. I pushed some strands of hair that were falling in her face and kissed her forehead also.

"I'm sorry if I made you upset baby, but if there is something happening at school that you need to talk about, you know you can talk to me right?"

"Yeah I know, but there is nothing wrong."

"OK baby, I trust you, now why don't you just go to sleep, tomorrow is Saturday, so I was thinking we could go to the park."

She smiled slightly and said "That sounds good Daddy."

I kissed her forehead one more time and mumbled "Goodnight, my angel, I love you."

"I love you too, Daddy." I rose up from my knees and walked out of the room and left the door cracked open just a little. I made my way to the bathroom and brushed my teeth. Then I went and made sure all the doors were locked and all the lights were off.

I left the hallway light for last so I could get the pillow and blanket out of the closet for me to sleep with. After I got them, I laid down on the couch and settled in for sleep. I thought about putting on the TV just so I could watch something for a while but then I thought better of it when I thought of the electric bill.

So I just laid there waiting for unconsciousness to overtake me. This was the worst part of my day. When I'm not with my girls or working my ass off, I am forced to realize how lonely I actually am. I haven't had an actual girlfriend in over eight years, and that sucks, I'm not gunna lie. But it's not just a girlfriend that I don't have….it's just anyone. I haven't had anyone that I could just talk to about my day, I don't have someone that I can talk about my girls to and tell them how amazing they are, and how much I love them. I don't have anyone to tell me "Your doing good, Edward" or "I'm proud of you, Edward" or anything. The only people I'm closest to, besides Harper and Avery, is Rose and Al, and they both have helped me immensely, but they still have their own lives to live. And it sucks sometimes, having no one. But then again its not so bad, because I have my girls, and they were my reason for living. And everything I do is for them. And as long as my girls grow up as strong people, are cared for, and loved, and never have to feel my loneliness, then all of it will be worth it.

Because they are all that matters.

I want to hold you
Protect you from all of the things I've already endured
I want to show you,
Show you all the things that this life has in store for you,
I'll always love you,
the way that a father should love his daughter.

Zoe Jane, by Staind

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