Well hello there, loyal readers! Thank you for your kind words. I finished my treatment, however, sometimes life still doesn't feel quite normal yet.

I'm very grateful for your patience. 😊

I give y'all the next chapter, it is a little short but please bear with me while I get into the rhythm of writing.

CHAPTER 4

Bella jolted awake. It took her a while to process why she was still wearing jeans in her bed. She felt confused and grimy, there was a layer of sleepy fog surrounding her brain. As she shifted in her bed, a flare of pain shot up her leg, bringing memories of the previous day's events.

"Oh, my god." She groaned to herself. Edward, the woods and Paul. Oh god. Ignoring the pain in her ankle, Bella eased herself out of bed. Her clothes from yesterday were still damp and heavy, she groaned again as she noticed the muddy stains on her quilt. The temptation to create a nest in her blankets was almost overwhelming, but she couldn't stay in those clothes.

It took a few minutes but after grabbing some fresh pyjamas, Bella could shuffle towards the bathroom, she peeled off her uncomfortable clothes and managed to limp into the shower. As she turned the water heat up she forced her mind to stay blank. No bronze or black haired men would enter this safe zone.

Bella vigorously shampooed and scrubbed at her skin, she was soon more soapy foam than woman. That suited her fine, she was finally feeling warm again and she smelled like her amazing fruity shower gel. The steam was making her feel tired all over again and her aching ankle finally pulled her from the shower.

She redressed in her pyjamas and felt more like herself. Dangerous thoughts were beginning to creep in, she needed to hold on until she made it back to her bed. Bella began to limp back to her room, but Charlie appeared at the top of the staircase.

"Bells…" he began, his face was crinkled in concern. Bella sighed. She needed to divert, urgently.

"I'm sorry I worried you yesterday, but dad, I really need to wallow today. I'll be a functioning human soon."

"Of course, honey. We'll talk soon though? Can I bring you anything?" His eyes looked tired and sad, Bella pushed the guilt of making him look that way, back down with her post abandonment depression. She was almost at the safety of her room.

"Of course, and I'm ok thanks. Well, kinda… but I don't need anything. Thank you, daddy." Bella's eyes began to prickle.

"Ok, just holler." Charlie mumbled awkwardly.

Bella hurried back into her bed and proceeded to nest. Once she was warm and curled into a protective ball, tears began to fall.

She felt her nose running and eyes streaming as she thought about Edward. Even thinking his name hurt.

He left her with so many questions, of course she was just human and couldn't keep up with him. Yet, after everything they went through with James and her recovery, how could he leave without looking back?

Unable to help herself, she began cataloguing her failings as a girlfriend to the immortals. Exhibit A was definitely her nose running faster than her tears. She grabbed a tissue from her bedside table and gathered as much snot as she could.

Trying to control her tears she rolled on her back to look up at the ceiling again. As much as she hated it, her sense of inadequacy was getting stronger. As was the flow of tears.

A few hours passed while Bella sobbed her self-loathing away. Gradually she dozed off, exhausted. This time she didn't dream.

The shrill shriek of the home phone woke her up briefly, but she plummeted back into sleep. Then a soft knock at her door woke her up again, before she could feel irritated she heard her dad's voice.

"I'm not going to make you talk, I know you aren't ready yet. But, uh, someone dropped this off. Apparently… it's better than most medicines." Charlie approached the nest of muddy blankets and balled up tissues with a tub of cookie dough ice cream and a spoon in his hand.

Bella eased herself up in her bed and gave her dad a small, tired grin as she reached for the treats in his hand. Charlie's answering smile made her sore heart flush with warmth. It really didn't take much to make her dad happy.

"Enjoy, tell me if you need anything."

"I will, thank you," Bella croaked, "but Dad, who brought this?" Charlie turned and looked back at Bella, choosing his words carefully.

"That guy, Paul, from yesterday."

Bella paused, but she smiled softly at her dad.

"I'll have to thank him. Maybe you can taste test some gratitude cookies before I distribute them?"

Charlie beamed at her, "We'll talk tomorrow, but that sounds awesome."

Bella laughed softly and dug the spoon in. She ate the ice cream while pondering thoughts of her mysterious rescuer. He knew about the Cullens, he knew. He found her, when she was lost so deep in those woods. Then there was the thing about his shorts and no jacket.

He had said, he knew what they were, not who. He said she could talk to him. How did he know she would need a lifeline?

Thoughts of Paul swirled in her head as she swirled her spoon in the ice cream. Unknown to her, there was a big lump of grey fur in the woods behind her house wagging his tail triumphantly.

He was finally starting to take care of his imprint.