All characters belong to Stephanie Meyer and I own nothing. I haven't read something like this so far, but if you have, please let me know.

Summary: Bella died at childbirth. Edward is left alone with their daughter feeling guilty for his wife's death. 25 years later he meets a girl who is very familiar to him.

Chapter 1: Memories

EPOV

It would have been her birthday today. 25 years had gone by and it seems like yesterday. Her last birthday – the one we spend together – where truly a disaster, due to another one of my mistakes. I had hoped that I would make it up to her, but I didn't get the chance.

They said that I should be strong, because I had a little girl now and Alice believed that things would eventually get better. Of course it was hard to believe it then – it still is. Being immortal gives "eventually" a totally different meaning. I really don't know how I managed to survive to this day without her – maybe because she would have wanted to. She would never have wanted her child to be parentless.

I drive to the cemetery to "see" her. I have a beautiful bouquet of red roses at the passenger's seat. When I arrive there, I stay a few minutes inside the car. I try to gather my thoughts, but all I see in front of me is her – how happy she was before the end, assuring me that everything was going to be all right and that we would have been very happy after the baby was born. She was so wrong – I wasn't worthy of her trust or her love – it was my fault she died.

Finally, I decide to step out of the car and luckily there is no one here. It would have been very weird if someone saw me and realized that I hadn't aged a day in the last 25 years. And there it is, the white marble tombstone with the golden letters "ISABELLA SWAN – CULLEN Beloved Daughter, Wife and Mother". Although I had seen it many times the past few years, I still can't get over the fact that she will always be here and the heartache I feel is always like it was the first time I saw it. I really miss her and what makes things worst is that I will have to spend eternity without her. At least she is not alone. Charlie is next to her, as his only wish when he got sick was to be buried beside his only daughter. He was really devastated when she died and that was probably the reason of his sickness 2 years after her death.

I place the flowers on the tombstone and notice the contrast between the colors – red like blood on white like snow. I stay there thinking about all the things I wanted to have told her but never will have the chance. I would like to tell her I love her for one more time, but I'm sure that she knew that. Time passes by while I remember everything we lived together. We should have had more time – she should have had more time. She was only 19.

By the time I decide to leave I realize that 2 hours had gone by. We didn't have any disturbances as no one came. Forks population hasn't increased over the years, because it is always the gloomy town which used to be.

During the 3 hour ride back to Seattle it starts raining, which is not unusual for early September. When I enter my office at the publishing house, my secretary greets me politely with a big smile. She asks if I want a cup of coffee and I decline. I seek some privacy and after closing the door I sit at my desk.

It had been 15 years since Carlisle decided to buy a publishing house and I thought that maybe work would make my life bearable. After all, going to school all the time had turned out to be very boring for all of us. So we moved a step further and we started working. When curious people ask why we look so young, we attribute it to our genes.

Working as a book editor I have the opportunity to read many books, which I must admit is quite relaxing. The intercom buzzes when I'm reading a manuscript, which seems pretty interesting. It's a story for young adults – a young girl who learns how to cope with her father's death while moving with her mother to a foreign country and her efforts to adjust to the new situation.

"Mr. Cullen your sister, Miss Nessie is here to see you" my secretary Laura says.

"Send her in".

She probably wanted to see how I was, knowing it was her mother's birthday today. We all pose as siblings because Nessie calling me "dad" would really be weird since we look like we have the same age.

"Good morning Edward" says as she walks in.

"Good morning Nessie", I say looking at her closing the door.

I know that the start is a bit depressing, but the next chapters won't be like that. I really hope you will like it.