Because you've all been so great & show this story so much love, I decided to give some back by posting this chapter early. Enjoy!

:-D

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight. Coz I would never give you 3 books of UST & then fade to black. That's just mean.

BPOV:

The delicious smell of homemade lasagna fills my senses as I open my front door. It's oddly comforting after an emotional week spent obsessing over my encounter with Edward, a week spent trying to convince myself that he wasn't real, that he was simply a product of my lonely imagination. Though as hard as I try I cannot make myself believe that, I'm lonely not crazy, I know he was real.

"Hi Bella," Sue's voice calls from the kitchen. "You're home late."

"Yeah sorry," I reply, removing my coat and hanging it in the closet. "I had some stock orders to go over."

"Oh, it's no problem. I thought maybe you'd gone out with friends after work, it is Friday night after all." Her tone was hopeful, I know exactly what she's implying.

"I think I'm a little too old to go out partying, don't you think?" I ask, walking into the kitchen as Sue pulls dinner from the oven.

"You're never too old to make friends though, Bella. I know I say this all the time and I know you don't agree, but it is alright to take some time off for yourself. There is a whole other world out there Bella, and you are letting it pass you by."

I ignore her, I've heard this lecture on an almost weekly basis since Sue started working for me, for us, nearly ten years ago. I know she's right but I have responsibilities, obligations, I can't drop everything to go out like other people, I can't be that selfish.

"How was he today?" I ask, no longer willing to discuss her opinions on my social life, or lack of.

She sighs, knowing the subject is closed. "He was good, still refusing to leave his room, but that's nothing new. Honestly Bella I think he's given up, he just does not want to try anymore and I can't force him, you know he'll just get upset."

"I'm going to check on him before dinner, okay?"

"Okay, I'm going to tidy up in here then head home. Is there anything else you need?"

"No, I'm fine. Thanks Sue, I'll see you on Monday."

"Sure. Have a good weekend," she says, collecting her things and heading for the door. "Call me if you change your mind."

"I will. Bye Sue."

Making my way down the hall, I pause outside his door to collect myself. No matter what is going on in my life, I will never burden him with it. Inside this house, his room, I try to remain positive, happy Bella is the only version of me he knows now. It is all an act, a charade, a brighter facade I keep in place because I love him, I never want him to know how the changes in his life have affected mine.

But in my darker hours, times when my weary body and mind falter under the pressures in my life, I hate him. It's irrational, I know this, it's not his fault this happened, it's a selfish desire to go back to the way things were, back to when it was his job to care for me, before our roles became reversed. Before I had to surrender my freedom, my dreams, before the medical bills began piling up, he had to rely on others to feed & bathe him, before he was stripped of his dignity, reduced to the shell of a man he is today.

Opening the door, I poke my head in to survey the room. The lamp on beside his bed, casting an eerie glow over the figure in the bed. He's awake.

He opens his eyes as I approach his bedside, one wide and alert, the other barely visible under its lid, unresponsive. I take his right hand in mine, squeezing gently, he squeezes back, it's our way of greeting now. I sigh, opening my mouth I say the one thing that means the most to him, and to me, as the only person who can say it to him.

"Daddy..."