June, Present Day

I balanced the phone between my shoulder and ear and made my way down the stairs, from Charlie's room that I had redecorated to an office. "Yes, I can have the first part of the rebuild done in two weeks time." I spoke into the phone. It was a blessing to be able to work from home but it could be hectic at times also. I pulled open the front door to a smiling Harry Clearwater. I grinned as he silently handed me two bags of his fish fry. I mouthed sorry as Greg began speaking again on the phone.

"It's fine," Harry whispered and pointed toward Charlie's room. I nodded and followed him to the kitchen where I put the fish in the fridge.

I bounded back up the stairs, listening to Greg hoping I could remember all the details he was counting off at a mind numbing rate.

Forty-five minutes later I descended the stairs and heard Charlie's voice.

"How is-" He paused and I sprinted the rest of the way to his door way.

"Sue." Harry supplied for him. "She is fine. So are the kids, Leah and Seth." Charlie nodded and looked at me. The thoughtful look was on his face again, but once again he didn't say anything. Harry looked over his shoulder at me, "He started to remember things about me and Billy."

"That is so great!" I exclaimed. "I'm so happy Dad. I'm gonna call Billy maybe he can come over."

"That would be great." Harry replied and I left the room.

The phone rang twice before Billy's voice flowed over the line, "Hello."

"Billy! It's Bella can you get here to the house?"

"Yeah, what's wrong?"

"Nothing! Harry is here and Dad is remembering things." I told him in a rush.

"Oh! I'll be there in just a few minutes." I heard him call for Jake as he placed the phone on the receiver. I hoped against all hope that Jake would be with him, it would make a great day, perfect.

I paced the floors of the living waiting for Billy, hoping that there would be a knock instead of the horn just like last week.

My hopes deflated with the gusto of a popped balloon as I heard Billy's horn honk twice. I sighed and opened the front door and flew down the stairs to the back of Billy's truck.

"How is he?"

"When I left he was laughing at something Harry had said."

"Oh! That amazing." Billy replied as I pulled the chair out beside his door. I helped him get settled in his chair and pushed him up the ramp. I wheeled him into the house and into Charlie's room.

"Billy." Charlie's eyes lit up as he saw his best friend, as if he knew he had been missing him but couldn't tell anyone.

"Charlie! I'm so happy see you are coming back!"

Charlie nodded, "I know there is still so much I need to remember," He said and looked at me. It broke my heart for him to admit that he didn't remember me, it made it so real it was a cold slap in the face.

I sat down behind Harry and Billy and listened as they recounted all of their adventures, laughing at most but crying at some.

At a little after four I stepped out of the room unable to stand anymore memories, their weight heavier as I knew which ones he was missing. I sat down at the table, my eyes staring unseeing out the window. I felt the tears start, and I felt my heart ache.

At that moment I would have given the world to have Jacob there, to lessen the pain as he wrapped his arms around me. I missed him so much at that moment I found myself dialing the too familiar number. As soon as I realized what I was doing I hung up. He had made it perfectly clear that he didn't want to be around me, to be there for me. I knew it was my own fault but it didn't lessen the pain at all.

I moved to the fridge, in a feeble attempt to keep myself busy as my mind rehashed all the mistakes I had made.

February, One Year Earlier

"I can't do this!" I cried staring at Jake.

"You can't do what? I'm not asking anything!" He roared back.

"Jake I just can't do this, us. I need time."

"You need time? I'm not asking anything of you. I want to come to your house and cook you supper on Valentine's day. I know you are stressed out." I rolled my eyes, stressed was a light way to put it.

"Jake can't we just forget this holiday? I'll buy you a card or something."

"I don't want you to buy me anything." His tone was softer, and it pulled at my heart strings. "I miss you Bells. I just want us to be together, just for a few hours with nothing else. I just want to be with you."

I turned to look at him and I felt my heart break as I looked at him, he wasn't even asking me for anything and I could still give him nothing. How could he want to be with me? How could want to stay with someone who couldn't take care of herself, let alone deal with a relationship. "No Jake. I'm sorry. I just need some time. Please."

He sighed, his defeat ringing loudly in the room. "It's okay." He moved across the floor to me and kissed my forehead before slowly making his way to the door. I sat down heavily on the couch, my head in my hands. How did my life get this screwed up?

I moved from the couch to Charlie's room, Anna was watching him carefully as she thought he might have pneumonia. The thought of losing Charlie after all he had been through sent a chilling lick of fear down my spine. It didn't matter that he didn't remember me, I was just not ready to give him up yet.

"How is he?" I asked as I paused at the end of Charlie's bed. His chest rose and fell silently as he slept.

"He's okay, but I believe we will have to take him tomorrow."

I nodded, "I'll go pack my bags."

Charlie had been diagnosed with pneumonia, just as Anna had said, and had spent just a little over a week in the hospital. His numerous well wishers had brought him flowers, cards and the silly balloons with an amazing variety of animals each sporting a band aid or cast, all declaring a get well wish.

On the 14th Billy came to the hospital and nestled in his lap was a vase of blood red roses. While he never said, I knew the roses weren't for Charlie. I knew I needed to call Jake and thank him for the flowers, I knew it would hurt him if I didn't. But I didn't.

Three days later, I carried Charlie out to the car, his menagerie of well wishing gifts nestled in the car.

I didn't realize until later that the roses were left in his room.