Last Chapter…

"Listen, you're a great guy, and I can totally see that anyone would be lucky to have a man like you in their lives, but I got out of an unsatisfying relationship a little while ago and I just want someone who is going to put me first. I don't think you can do that. I also have some things that will be complicating my life soon. I don't think that you and Nessie want to deal with that." I get up to leave.

His hand stops me as he cups my face. "Why don't you let me and Nessie decide what we want to deal with? I like you Bella. I like you alot. I may not be able to put you first, but I want you to be one of the most important people in my life. Please stay…?"

What should I say? What does a person say to that? I mean, I want to stay…but should I? Will he freak out again if I do? If I say no, how can I continue to live here? He's a sweet and friendly guy who has a delightful daughter… Besides, he did promise to feed me and he has yet to deliver!

Chapter 5: Bella's POV

"Ok, Edward…but, if we're going to do this, we've got to go slow. I want us to talk and have all the details…no secrets…" I trail off and sigh.

We look up as Esme and Nessie join us. "Bella, it sounds like you and my son have things to talk about. Nessie's coming to my house for the night, Edward. We don't need to confuse the issues." Esme says, patting my shoulder comfortingly. "I'll be seeing you, Bella."

I watch Edward kiss his mom and daughter good-bye before he sits back down. "What would you like for lunch, Bella? Chinese is always good, but as my guest, it's your choice."

"How's the local Italian food?" I ask.

"Italian is my favorite." He smiles and rifles through the menus to hand to the correct one.

I make my pick and hear him order 2 Chicken Marsala dishes to be delivered. "You like that too?" I say blushing lightly.

"Marsala is my favorite Italian meal. Come to the kitchen and I'll set the table while you talk." He encourages me.

Realizing that we have quite a lot in common, I agree and follow him back inside thinking about what I need to tell him. I like him so much…too much. I don't want my issues to send him running, but at the same time, he needs to know so they don't have an adverse effect on his little girl.

Edward's POV

"So what kind of complications are you expecting, Bella?" I ask, bracing myself.

"It's not all about me specifically. My dad has Alzheimer's." As she speaks, a tear falls down the side of her face. "It's pretty bad and I visit him for a few hours, 3 days a week, even though he hardly knows me or my brother anymore! He'll recognize me maybe one time out of a month."

I gasp. "Oh, Bella, I'm so sorry!"

"I'll be ok…It's just very emotional to deal with…" She tries to smile. "It kills me a little bit more every time I show up and my father asks me who I am and what my name is…The doctors had told me that it wouldn't help if he lived with me, because I'd have to be focused on him 24/7. I can't give him that kind of attention and keep writing as well as selling kitchen products!"

"Of course not…" I frown and take out the silverware. "Plus, you don't have the training to properly deal with health problems that might arise."

"Yes, that's true, but I miss him so much and sometimes I think if I could just see him every day…" She trails off.

I cringe. "…He wouldn't forget you so easily…?"

She nods. "Yeah…"

"It might make it harder on you though. What if you woke up one day, he didn't remember you and ran out the door to get hit by a car? You'd blame yourself for the rest of your life." I watch her think that through.

"You're right… I know you are, but part of me thinks that I'm abandoning him at that nursing home." She says defensively.

"Bella, you can't think like that! He's in a safe place with lots of attention and he's getting the medical care that he needs." I reassure her. "You haven't abandoned him either. You said it yourself, you visit 3 times a week and your brother visits once a month. You're taking care of him the best way you can."

Bella blinks. "Yeah, you're right…Anyway, I've got Em, but he's at college til the end of the semester and only sees me and Dad once a month. I talk to him every other day. We e-mail in between and sometimes when he takes little day trips he'll even send me a postcard. He'll be moving in with me for a bit when he graduates and he'll need a job and a car of his own… I love them and take care of them as well as I'm able to."

"Yeah, I had a question that I didn't get to ask him. Why is he still in college? He's only a year younger then you. I would've expected him to be out for a while by now." I say.

"He's the type to take his time. He only took a few credits at a time so that he had time to study and party, and by staying longer he got to party longer." She grins. "He says I should've done the same thing, but if I had we'd never be able to keep dad in the home. It's expensive and I'm barely scraping by with the mortgage, the bills and the nursing home. I've been selling kitchen products since before I went into college at 20. When I graduated, almost 6 years ago, I started writing…a few articles in the local newspaper, a science-fiction book and even a dime store romance novel."

"Really…? I'd love to read your work." I say with a grin.

She blushes and the doorbell rings.

I go to the door and get the food. "Hey, Ben…I guess it's the end of your shift?"

"Yup, and Angie's waiting so hurry up and gimme my money!" Our neighbor from down the street laughs. Ben Cheney works at the Italian restaurant in town and sometimes if he's going home when I order, he'll pay for our food and deliver it so I just have to pay him back. I always throw in a tip like I would for any delivery boy.

"Bella, come meet another neighbor." I call.

"Who's Bella?" Ben asks, handing me the box of food.

"Me…" She says as she joins me at the door. "Hi, Bella Swan, it's nice to meet you…?"

"Ben…" He says as he shakes her hand. "I'm Ben Cheney. My wife, Angela and I live down the street, next to James and Vicki."

"I bought the house next door and Edward kindly asked me over for lunch today." She says, blushing.

"That's right, the old Burke place… Jimmy told me the new owner had moved in! Well, it's great to meet you. So, Edward, are you having the big BBQ this year?" He asks.

"I'm thinking of having it for a different reason this year." I tell him, winking covertly as I hand him the money for our meals.

"Angie and I will be looking forward to it!" He smiles and waves as he walks away.

"Ok, tell her I said 'hi'." I yell before closing the door.

Bella follows me and helps put the food on plates. "What movie do you want to put on, Edward?"

"I don't know, how about 'The Hangover'?" I suggest as we bring our plates into the living-room. "I know it's not really a 'date movie' but I think we could both use a laugh."

She bites her lip and nods, taking a bite of her meal and moaning with pleasure.

"Told you so…" I tell her, taking a bite of my own chicken as the movie starts. Hours later, I notice that during the movie we'd moved closer to each other. Our legs are now touching and the credits are about to roll and she's laughing and hiding her face from the pictures of debauchery at the forgotten bachelor party.

"How can you watch this? The only part I like is Mike Tyson's tiger and when the dentist guy sings it to sleep!" She tells me.

"Are you kidding? That's my favorite part, too!" I say. We both laugh. "Stay for dinner?"

"I can't… I've got things to do around the house…laundry and stuff." She says. "This was fun, though."

"Yeah, I'm sorry it got so serious." I say, taking her hand.

She smiles. "It happens…so, I'll see you soon?"

"Yes, definitely. Bella, I really enjoyed your company. I want to do this again." I tell her softly.

"What about my complications?" She whispers.

"I don't consider those to be complications." I tell her gently. "Your dad's illness is severe and unfortunate, but I think that going through things like that can make you a stronger person in the long run. A brother who's going to be around a lot isn't a problem either. Siblings are great; my sister's around a lot and she's a handful by herself, but she's also married and has an infant. I had an older brother. He died when I was young…a drunk driver hit the car he was in with his friends…" I frown and say, "Do you have an old boyfriend that wants you back at all costs or will he just want to beat me up if I get too close to you? Those are hurdles I could probably clear." I smirk and tap my head like I'm thinking. "I know, you're pregnant by your ex from the unsatisfying past relationship?"

She laughs and raises her eyebrows. "My ex was unsatisfying for a reason, Edward. He was boring and couldn't get it up for me so, when we broke up he went for a man. At least that seems to work for him!"

"Oh…ouch…" I frown. "Ok, how else could we make your life more difficult? Is it a divorce…?"

She rolls her eyes. "No, we weren't married."

"How about your job…? Is that the problem?" I ask.

She shakes her head and stands.

I snap my fingers and smile really big. "I've got it! You're fighting to gain custody of the child of a recently deceased friend or relative!"

She shakes her head at me and snorts. "It's not a soap opera, Edward…" Bella sighs and begins to pace the floor. "Alright, I'll lay it all on the table. My mother left us as soon as she'd recovered from a miscarriage…my little sister never saw the light of day. Em was 6 at the time and didn't even know that Renee had been pregnant. Daddy divorced her shortly after and we haven't heard from her since Emmett turned 18."

I gasp, shocked that a mother would leave her kids. My wife left us but it hadn't been her choice. She'd lost so much blood while giving birth and her major organs were failing. That combination made my poor Nancy so weak she'd barely been able to say good-bye to us.

"Emmett's last 2 girlfriends left him; one of them almost made it to the altar…both of them had been friends of mine." Bella's voice has a steel edge, but her eyes are filling with tears. "We're used to being left behind, Em and me...but we could very easily get attached to you and your family. If we did this and you left…you'd take them all with you." She turns away from me and looks out the window. "I may look like a strong, independent woman, but I'm terrified to become too attached to people for fear of them abandoning me. The issues that I'm dealing with shouldn't affect a sweet and innocent child like Nessie. Do you really want your 10 year old daughter around a woman with emotional problems and her dad who might die soon?"

I'm speechless. This poor, sweet woman has been through so much. Bella's been hurt by friends and family alike. Her brother is all she has and even Emmett can't stick around forever. An inexplicable feeling of protectiveness washes over me. I want to make all her troubles disappear. I want to hold her tightly in my arms and help her forget everything that happened before she met me. I want to protect her from any future pain that life can possibly inflict and somehow convince her that I'll never leave…but how do I do that while raising a child? I step up behind her, placing my hand on her shoulders. "Bella, I'm so sorry for the disappointments you've had so far in your life. I want to help… I want to be there for you. I know it won't be easy, Bella, but we can figure this thing out! Let me in…Let us in. We aren't going anywhere."

Bella worries her lip for a few minutes before quietly saying, "I'll try…would you and Nessie join me for dinner this week some time…at my house?"

Inside, I want to jump up and down in happiness. I keep my cool though and graciously accept her offer. "Sure, Bella…how does Tuesday night sound?"

She nods. "That's good for me too. I'll see you then."

Bella's POV

I get up to leave and he follows me to the door. His eyes hold promises that I can't fathom just yet. He kisses my hand and opens the door for me. I feel his eyes follow me to my door. Once I'm inside and alone, I squeal in excitement. I can't believe I'm really trying to do this! I do my chores and even get a little writing done before dinner and then its bedtime.

Sunday goes quickly but on Monday, he holds my hand on the porch as we wait for Nessie to come home from school. This is going to be great, I haven't seen her since Saturday and today I get to meet Nessie's friend, Annie, and her mom, Maria.

A car pulls up and Nessie and Annie get out of the back seat. A voluptuous woman gets out of the driver's seat. They walk toward us and I can see that Maria is wearing a mini-dress with a deep V-neckline and lots of makeup.

Edward cringes causing me to fight a laugh.

This should be interesting…

Thanks for all your hard beta work hnwhitlock2000! You're the greatest!