December 19th

I walked through the rusting black gates with my eyes straight ahead. I had to do this on my own apparently since Jacob couldn't delay his trip for five minutes to come here with me. The skies were a desolate gray color that gave no hope or happiness, only hinted towards gloom and suffering. I walked through the gardens of graves, knowing exactly where I was going. Even though I hadn't been here in…well much too long, I still had the location memorized. And when I finally saw it, my heart sank into my stomach and the tears began to cloud my vision.

The stone wasn't all that extravagant. It didn't stand out among the massive crosses and large stones, but since it meant so much to me, it seemed to stand out.

I went over to the grave and sat down next to it, running my hand through the grass that had grown over the fresh dirt I had seen last time I was here. The grass was soft and I closed my eyes, imagining that I was running my hands through her hair as she slept. It was a pitiful delusion, I know, but my existence was pitiful so it fit.

"Hey baby girl," I said quietly as I reopened my eyes and looked at the grave. "I know it's been a while since I've been here…you must think I'm a horrible mother. But I think about you every day. I imagine what you would look like today. I can imagine you having your dad's black hair and my brown eyes. Hopefully, you would have been blessed with your dad's skin," I said with a slight chuckle. "I wouldn't want you to be called the albino like I was. But you'd be beautiful either way.

"And about your father," I began, feeling guilty for Jacob. This was still his daughter. He should be here. "He's a good man, Morgan. He's just...he loves you. I know he does. But he still blames himself. And he still blames me."

I ran my hand through the grass again, marveling in its softness. "I hope your happy up in heaven, Morgan. And I hope you know that you are the only happiness I have in my heart anymore," I said as the tears began to fall.

Soon after, rain began to fall and I had the feeling that Morgan was up in heaven, crying with me.

February 14th

"Edward, knock it off!" I said with a laugh.

He laughed with me as he stared at the picture I brought for him.

"Really, you haven't changed a bit…well, besides the fact that you have both of your front teeth now, but it's still the same you."

The more he heard about Emmett, the more curious Edward had became of our relationship and our childhood together. I promised him that eventually, I'd bring in a picture of us and today I did. It was a ridiculous picture and it made me laugh every time I looked at it. My mother had taken it during one of the "play-dates" Emmett and I had. My tooth still hadn't grown in by this point so as you can imagine, I looked silly. I had jumped on Emmett's back and was in the midst of falling off, but I still had a toothless smile on my face. You could tell we were both laughing. Emmett was trying to regain his balance as he grasped onto my falling form, but we couldn't quite manage it. My mom caught the picture right before we fell.

"Hey, I've lost the baby fat!" I said in my defense.

He laughed again. "Yeah, but you still have the klutziness…I don't think that's faded at all."

I giggled. "Shut up!"

He handed the picture back to me after laughing once more. Edward and I had been getting along great. The first month of our…"relationship" had been awkward and uncomfortable to say the least. But as I grew used to him, I found it easier and easier to open up to him, something that surprised me. I rarely even opened up to Jacob or Emmett, but for some reason, I felt comfortable around Edward. I could tell him anything. I saw him once a week and it was almost like I was living for our appointments. I considered Edward a friend now, someone I could talk to.

But he still didn't know about Jacob.

He'd kept his hands off of me for the last couple months which made it easier to "lie" to Edward about my situation. Sure, I'd come in crying because of Jacob being neglectful, but he'd never seen me with a bruise which made it easier and harder at the same time. I wanted to tell Edward everything, but I was afraid. Afraid of what Edward would do. Afraid of what Jacob would do.

"So, how has your week been?" Edward asked as he sat down and pressed the red button on the tape recorder. After the first month, I had mentioned how much the writing bugged me. I didn't like feeling as if he was keeping a secret evaluation from me, even though I knew he was. He mentioned to me that some of his other patients preferred it when he recorded things and then listened to them later, taking notes then. I asked if he'd do that for me and agreed. It made the sessions a lot easier and more… enjoyable for me.

"It's been okay, I suppose," I said. "Jacob has been gone a lot, but besides that, I'm okay," I said with a shrug.

"Is he still doing work in Seattle?" He asked curiously as he readjusted himself in his seat.

"Yeah, nonstop. He's up there at least four days every other week." It bothered me that I wasn't all that sad about that.

He sighed. "That must be hard on you, being alone all the time."

I bit my lip. "Yeah I don't like being alone," I said quietly. "But at this point, I'm used to it."

He looked truly saddened by that but he shook it off over after a moment. "You shouldn't have to be used to it," He said, his eyes smoldering slightly. The look only lasted a moment. He blinked, and it was gone. "So tell me…" and the rest of the appointment went on like normal.

As I left the appointment that day, I had a smile on my face. I normally did after I spent time with Edward. Emmett was pleased with all the progress I had made. My hair apparently looked "less wiry" and I didn't look "as much like a skeleton." Oh, and apparently he wouldn't have to "worry about losing me in the snow" anymore.

Regardless, I left the office with a smile on my face.

That was until I got to my crappy old truck and it decided not to start. I growled and kicked the tire angrily.

"Stupid car!" I yelled, receiving a few weird looks from nearby people.

I pulled out my cell phone and attempted to call Emmett, but I received no reply. I didn't even bother with Jacob. He was in Seattle yet again. I looked down at my watch, noticing that it was about 6 at this point. I had no idea where Emmett could be, but I tried him several more times, desperate for a ride.

"Bella?" I heard an unmistakable voice say from behind me.

I jumped and turned around, locking eyes with an amused looking Edward.

"Yeah?" I said stupidly.

He laughed. "Car troubles?" He asked as he walked closer.

I sighed. "Have you seen this piece of junk? I'm surprised today is the first time it died on me."

Edward walked up to my truck and attempted to start it up to no avail. He tried several times, but nothing came of it. It would make a loud sputtering noise each time, then an awkward wheezing noise, and then it would just…stop.

"Is someone coming to pick you up?" He asked as I checked my phone once again.

"Nope. I can't get a hold of anyone, so I'm just going to walk back to La Push." I said simply as I grabbed my purse back out of the front of my truck. I locked it quickly and threw my keys in my purse.

"Nonsense. I'll give you a ride," he said with a smile.

"Edward, really it's okay. It's a decent day out. I can walk," I insisted.

He didn't argue with me. Instead he grabbed my hand with a roll of his eyes and pulled me across the parking lot, over to where the staff was allowed to park. He led me up to the passenger's side of a shiny silver Volvo. He opened the door for me, not even giving me the chance to argue. I smiled as I stepped inside the car.

He was around to the driver's side quickly and put the keys in the ignition. As the car started up, I was surprised by the classical music that began to flood out of the speakers. I smiled instantly at the calming melody I knew so well.

"Sorry if you dislike classical music," he said politely. "But I find it very relaxing."

"Girl with the Flaxen Hair," I said with a smile. "It's one of my favorites."

"You know Debussy?" He asked with an excited smile.

"Of course. I've always loved classical music, ever since I was in high school. Jacob hates it but, as you said, I find it very relaxing."

I thought his smile looked somewhat satisfied as he started to back out of the parking lot.

The ride was filled with conversations that would seem meaningless to anyone else. However, I hung on his every word no matter how trivial it may have been. For once, the conversations we had didn't have a deeper meaning. They were silly and fun, and I felt like we were actually just friends for a while instead of the doctor and patient thing. Sure we got along well in the office and liked to jab at each other once in a while, but there was always that truth looming in the background. Here, in his car, we were just friends.

And it felt great.

"So what are your plans for the night?" he asked as we got closer to my house.

I shrugged. "Probably make myself some dinner and watch a movie or something. Things are kind of quiet when Jacob isn't around. You?" I asked.

He turned onto my road as he answered. "Probably the same. I might run to my family's house for a little while. Nothing too exciting."

I laughed. "Then again, there is only so much one can do around Forks and La Push."

He laughed along with me, his smile seeming to light up the entire car. "That's a very good point."

"It's right here," I said as we approached my house. I pointed to my little house that I had fixed up to the best of my ability and couldn't help but feel slightly ashamed of it.

He smiled as he pulled up next to the curve and the plain white mail box that had the word "Black" written on it.

"Here you go," he said as he reached over to put the car in park.

"Thank you very much," I said as I unbuckled my seat belt.

"No problem. And the next time your car breaks down in front of my office, please just come ask for a ride," he said with a chuckle.

I giggled. "I will. Thank you." I started to step out of the car, but he called my name before I could get out.

"Happy Valentine's Day," he said. And with that, he tossed me a little box which I caught before stepping completely out of the car.

"Thanks. You too," I said simply. Then I slammed the door and walked as slowly as I could in my excitement inside the house, curious to see what was in the little package.

Once I was inside the house and I heard the car drive away, I opened the small wrapped package with haste. And I couldn't help but giggle when I realized it was a box of those little Valentine 's Day hearts. And on the front of the box, it said: To: Bella. Love: Edward.

My heart jumped slightly at the word Love.