Happy Friday! Time for another installment of our favorite tattooed daddy! I'm so glad you guys liked the tattoo photos I put on my Facebook! I think our Edward would look very hot with them!

Huge thanks to Sherry and Paige for being the most wonderful betas in the entire world!

"Out on the ocean sailing away

I can hardly wait

To see you come of age

But I guess we'll both just have to be patient

Cause it's a long way to go

A hard row to hoe

Yes, it's a long way to go."

-John Lennon-

EPOV:

Dad is somber today, defeated. He has always been so strong, the anchor in our family growing up, the pillar of strength. It's odd to see him like this, but I decide not to comment. I don't want to cause what little strength he has to waver. We're at our favorite pancake house, the one he took me to so often growing up. Although today it feels just as odd as he does. Our day here has been such a contrast from what our previous trips once were.

He seems resigned as he sits across from me staring at his menu. He looks very old all of a sudden and it is obvious to me that he has gone through a great deal over these past few days. Charlie mumbles and grows fussy in my arms, something which usually happens when I'm not paying sufficient attention to him. I rest him against my shoulder and rub his back until he relaxes.

The waitress comes and we order our usual, Eggs Benedict for dad and a mountain of chocolate chip pancakes for me. I grab the formula from my bag to feed Charlie as dad sips his coffee quietly. I don't want to bring mom up, but she's like the elephant in the room that can't be ignored and I know the question just has to be asked.

"How did things go after I left?" I ask, knowing that mom's birthday party ended in disaster.

Dad is silent for a moment, staring at his cup of coffee as if it were the most interesting thing in the world. I know whatever happened must have been major, because I've never seen dad act this way. Finally, he looks at me and the pain in his eyes gives me my answer. I didn't realize how tired he looked until now. The dark circles around his sunken eyes cause him to look as if he hasn't slept in days.

"Your mom has left," he finally says, before taking another much-needed sip of his black coffee.

I sit in shock. I could never imagine mom leaving my dad. She's always been so dependent on him, and afraid to be alone. I wonder how she will fare in the world without a partner to rely on.

"What would make her leave?" I have to ask, it's just so hard to believe.

"I didn't know if I loved her anymore," he honestly says, unable to meet my gaze.

Did that mean that I ruined their marriage? I don't want to believe that I hurt my dad in that way. "I'm so sorry, dad." What more can I say?

"Don't be," he immediately cuts me off, "It wasn't your fault. Your mom was not who I thought she was. I never realized it until the other night. Once my eyes were opened, I couldn't go back to live the life I once had with her."

I nod, accepting this. Regardless of what he says, I know that I have not made things easy for him. My past has been terrible and even now, I know I am a nuisance.

"Still, I know I never made things easy on you," I reply.

"Your mom is the way she is, and that has nothing to do with you. When you were a teenager, you used to tell me that you thought she hated you. I'm so sorry, I didn't want to listen at the time. Your mom was never particularly warm, and I just thought you were misunderstanding things. However, the other night, I realized I was the one suffering from a misapprehension. I saw her face when you held her. I've never seen her look so cold before...and I was afraid that was how she had always had treated you. Is it true, Edward? Was that the way your mother always was? Was I really that foolishly blind?"

I shake my head, not wanting him to believe he was at fault. "Dad, I was a giant fuck-up," I crassly say. "I understood why mom wasn't as close to me as she was with Seth. He was the model child...and I just wasn't. Even now, I get why she doesn't warm up to me."

Dad shakes his head, not wanting to blame me in any way. "Edward, you were a kid then. Your mom should have understood that. I just can't bring myself to feel the way I once did about her. Not after what she did to you. She lied to me about that paperwork, she told me she had explained it to you."

Dad is quiet for a long time and I feel devastated for him. I couldn't imagine realizing the person you loved, wasn't who they appeared to be. I couldn't bear the thought of Bella betraying me. I couldn't imagine what dad could be experiencing after so many years of marriage.

"Are you two getting a divorce?"

Dad answers with a solemn nod. Our food arrives and I entertain Charlie between bites of my pancakes. He mumbles at me, trying to speak with a face so animated I have to smile in return. He says a bunch of random syllables before grabbing onto my shirt and saying, "Da."

He stares up at me with his large eyes and smiles, before saying "Da," again.

I look up to find dad staring at me, his expression unreadable. I wonder how he feels about Charlie calling me this. I wonder if it's a painful reminder that Charlie's real dad is no longer here.

"He just started saying that yesterday," I explained, embarrassed for some reason. "Sometimes I say 'daddy' around him, and I guess he just picked it up."

Finally, dad smiles at me and says, "You are his dad Edward, why should you apologize for it?"

He is right, why do I feel so weird calling myself 'daddy?' I am Charlie's caregiver, his provider, and I love him more than I love myself. Isn't that what a father is?

"I know you're right. I guess it just feels weird because it reminds me of Seth. I bet he was a wonderful dad and I know I won't live up to that."

"Stop being so hard on yourself," Dad commands. "You're doing amazing, don't let anyone tell you otherwise."

I smile at him, and he smiles back. I'm so thankful I have my dad in my corner through all of this.

"So, tell me about this girl," Dad says casually.

"Well, Bella is my girlfriend now," I announce proudly. "She's wonderful dad. Smart, funny, beautiful...I'm so lucky to have found her. I honestly don't know what I did right to deserve a girl like her."

"She sounds great, Edward. I'm happy you have her and she's lucky to have you," Dad says, making me smile.

I never thought of it that way. Why would Bella be lucky to have me? She is so far out of my league it's laughable. I couldn't imagine anyone seeing us together and thinking that she was the lucky one. She's a smart girl, and I have to believe she wouldn't want to spend her time with a man who was a giant loser. Maybe, I'm not too bad after all. As hard as that is to believe, perhaps it's true.

A/N: I'll be working on a Carlisle POV soon! Let me know what you think about what has happened. Also, what do you guys think about Charlie calling Edward "Da"? We are going to be introduced to some more characters soon! Stay tuned and please review! :)

Song- "Beautiful Boy" by John Lennon