October 29th 1919

It had been over a month since Rose had gone, and it had been one tough month. Breaking the news to our little girl was heart breaking, she didn't understand death and she couldn't understand why the angels would take her Mommy away.

"But why would Mommy go to live with the angels Daddy? Doesn't she love us?" She had asked tears forming in her eyes.

I pulled her onto my lap and rocked her in my arms. "Your Mommy loves you so much Annie. Don't you forget that. She didn't want the angels baby, the angels wanted her," I struggled to say as tears fell down my cheeks. Annie cried into my chest she just wanted her Mommy to come back.

After a week or so she tried to get back into the mood of the bubbly little girl. Trying her hardest to block out the pain of losing her mother, but I knew Rose was always playing on her mind. For example last night when I tucked her in bed and offered to read her a bedtime story.

"Will you make a Princess Annabelle story like Mommy used to tell me?" She asked.

I nodded though I wasn't much of a story teller but I would have to try my best.

"Ok so once upon a time there was a little girl..."

"Princess," Annie interrupted.

"Right, Princess called Annabelle and she lived in a far away kingdom called..." I was dumbstruck I couldn't remember the place where she lived.

"Lemon top valley," Annie helped.

As the story drew on Annie was becoming less and less impressed. Who could blame her? My attempts were pathetic. I tried to make it sound magical and intriguing like Rose described but my efforts were failing miserably. I noticed Annie sink down in her bed and her smile turning into a sad one.

"Daddy," She finally said stopping me rambling.

"I'm not very good at this am I?" I asked.

Annie was to kind and caring to tell me the truth. "It's just not the same without Mommy telling it," She said softly.

"I know baby,"

I didn't like to leave her when she got upset like this. I stayed with her holding her small hand until her eyes began to get heavy and her breathing got deeper. Even after she had fallen asleep I stayed in her room gently stroking her hand. I was trying to keep my promise to Rose to be the best father possible but it was hard. After a while I gently prised my hand from her grip. I kissed her on the forehead before tucking her in and leaving the room. I cleared the dishes from dinner time that I had not managed to do before departing to bed. That night I couldn't sleep. I looked at the empty space beside me and gently laid my hand over it wishing Rose was there to smile that beautiful smile at me. I stroked the pillow imagining it was her hair I was stroking. I rolled over and laid on my back staring up at the ceiling wondering if she was looking down on me right at this moment, when the door creaked open.

"Daddy," A little voice said.

Annie stood at the door rubbing her eyes, gripping her bear in her arms.

"Hey Princess what's up?" I asked sitting up.

"I had a bad dream; can I come into your bed?" She asked.

I pulled the covers back and patted the empty space. Annie walked over and climbed into the bed pulling the covers back over. She snuggled into me.

"You won't die like Mommy will you Daddy?" She asked.

"Is that what your dream was about?" I asked.

She nodded.

"Oh sweetie, I won't die not for hundreds and hundreds of years," I reassured her.

"Promise?"

"I promise," I said kissing her on top of the head.

I tried to keep up with everything but it was proving difficult. I struggled to hold down my job at the museum as well as do the housework and care for Annie. Although I had been coping quite well with all the extra jobs when Rose had been ill. Now she was gone everything just seemed more difficult.

I remember it was about a month after Rose's passing, it had been one of those days where I was falling behind on everything. I had been late taking Annie to school, I had to rush down to the grocery store to find some supplies for dinner, do all the laundry that I had failed to do at the weekend, sew the leg back on Annie's bear, tidy up a bit, cook dinner and pick Annie up from school.

I had been cleaning the floor when the smell of burning hit my nostrils. I glanced towards the kitchen and saw smoke pouring out.

"Shit!" I exclaimed and ran into the kitchen, snapping off the cooker I flung open the door and desperately tried to rescue the chicken though it had already been charred. I threw it down in hopelessness and sighed. Looked like it was just the vegetables tonight.

There was a knock at the door, wondering who it was I made my way over. As I opened it I was surprised to see Annie's teacher with Annie stood next to her holding her hand.

"Oh hello Miss Young is there a problem?" I asked.

"Well, I hate to say it Mr Dawson but it seems you forgot to pick Annie up from school today. She was stood in the yard waiting for you long after all the parents had gone," She told me nicely.

I didn't want to believe it at first, it couldn't be that late. I looked at my wrist watch.

4:30pm

School had finished over an hour ago. I closed my eyes and leant against the door boy had I messed up.

"I'm so sorry," I said.

"It's ok Mr Dawson. I understand how difficult it must be for you at the moment," She smiled in concern.

"Me and Miss Young did some drawings Daddy," Annie smiled.

I picked her up. "That's great Princess," I smiled though in reality I felt like an utter arsehole.

"Mr Dawson can I have a word please?" Miss Young asked.

"Sure, Annie why don't you go play in your room for a bit?"

"Will you come play Princess Annabelle with me Daddy?"

"Sure Princess I will be in shortly,"

With that Annie released herself from my arms and ran out of the room her shoulder lengthed curls bouncing as she ran. They reminded me so much of Rose. Annie was like a double of Rose.

She had red curls, though due to inheriting some of my blonde hair, they were a golden red like the leaves in autumn. Her skin was the rosy complexion her mother had once had and her smile was exactly like Rose's. The only thing that Annie hadn't inherited off Rose was her eyes. Rose's eyes were the sparkling emerald that twinkled. Annie had big, blinking blue eyes which were the same colour as mine but shone even brighter.

I invited Miss Young in and closed the door behind her. I offered her a seat on the sofa and a cup of tea but she assured me she wasn't staying long.

"So Mr Dawson I...,"

"Please call me Jack,"

Miss Young cleared her throat. "Jack I just wanted to check on how things are at home,"

"There fine, everything is fine," I lied faking a smile.

She didn't look like she believed me and I could see her looking round at the messy apartment.

"Things just got a bit out of hand today is all I had so much to do,"

"I completely understand,"

"Miss Young..."

"Please if we are on first name terms call me Rebecca," She smiled.

"Rebecca, how has Annie been at school this past month? She tells me she enjoys it but, well what with my wife passing. I don't really know how it has affected her at school,"

Rebecca sighed and held her hands together. "Annie is a very bright girl, a pleasure to teach, has lots of friends but sometimes," She paused wondering if she should tell me.

"Go on," I urged.

"She has her off days. Where she isn't paying attention or interacting much with other s. It's like she's there in body but not in spirit, which is understandable with what she has been through," Rebecca explained.

I stuck my hands in my pockets and swayed a bit unsure what to say.

"Jack how are you coping?" She asked.

I sighed "It's hard I'm not quite used to it yet but things can only get better right?" I asked trying to reassure myself. Rebecca nodded and smiled.

"I have to go now, but please if you have any questions or want to talk feel free to come in and see me my classroom door is always open," She said making her way to the door.

I opened it for her and waved her off. Feeling glad that someone was on our side, I looked round the untidy apartment. It was time to get some serious tidying up done.

"Daddy! Are you coming?" Annie shouted from her room.

I looked at the mess again and smiled. "Sure honey just coming now!" I shouted back. There would be time to clean it up tomorrow.

Thank you for my first reviews especially AmazingWingedGirl who reviews all my stories on every chapter. I hope you all liked it. Again remember to review and chapter 3 will be up super fast if you do :P

Leah xx