Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.

Bella POV

I looked around at the bare walls of my apartment.

"it's start," I muttered aloud even though there was no one there to appreciate my progress.

"Are you fucking kidding me!"

I looked up from the laundry basket that I had filled with the last of my books to find Jake blocking the door way.

"I told you..." I began softly as I watched him run a hand through his hair.

"You can't go," he stated in such a firm tone that I flinched in response.

"You have known since the beginning that this arrangement was not permanent," I sighed nervously as I watched him clench his fist.

"You said…" He began, but I cut him off.

"I said I didn't need you and you insisted on following me to Florida," I replied in a soft, but firm tone.

"I said I would be with you since it would only push Edward to move on," I reminded him as I watched his jaw clench tight.

"And he has," I admitted feeling the ripple of pain wash over me as I thought of him moving on like how I had wanted for him.

I hated it.

I hated her.

I wanted to hate him for it, but I couldn't because this was what I had pushed him to do.

"Edward," he muttered softly, in a deadly tone that sent a chill down my spine.

"It's always about him."

"For me, it is," I shrugged then waited for him to move as he blocked my path to the door to leave him behind once more.

"Is that everything?"

Dad's voice cut through the tension in the room causing Jake to jump with surprise.

"Chief Swan," Jake practically whispered as he acknowledged my dad.

"Everything ok here, Jacob?" He asked, but it was more of everything better be ok here verses a question.

"Yes, sir," he muttered as he finally moved, stepping out of the door way and freeing me from what had been years with him.

Dad watched as I approached, not stepping into the house that was Jake's. He waited until I was outside before taking the basket from me.

"Is that everything?" he asked as he carried it to my car then waited as I arranged my last free boxes to make room for the basket.

"Yes," I nodded and for the first time in years I actually thought it might.

A loud knock on the door pulled me out of my memories of leaving Jake with a start and I sat almost on the other side of the flimsy wood door. Without thought, I jerked open the door to find my Dad standing there.

"You didn't check the peephole," he groused as I entered my apartment without any fanfare welcoming him.

My apartment.

I had never had my own place.

I went from living at home, to living with Edward, to living with mom, and then living with Jake. Nothing had ever been my own.

"Sorry," I shrugged as I watched him there and look around as if he was searching for other security flaws.

"I invited you over for dinner, not an inspection so check being a cop at the door," I teased him as I turned back to the kitchen where a roast was cooking away in the crock pot while potatoes for mash boil on the stove.

"Ha, ha," he replied in a dry tone that made me laugh.

I turned to find him watching me as I laughed at him.

"What?"

"It's good to see you laugh," he said with an uneasy nod before looking away. I watched him wander off with the excuse of checking the sliding glass door that led out to the tiny balcony that came with this apartment.

It was then that it finally hit me.

It had been a while since I had laughed, but what was worse was that he had noticed.

I had tried my best to put a brave face when I returned to Iowa.

To keep him assured that I was fine when the truth was, I was falling apart inside.

Yet here he was.

All this time.

All the loss.

He had felt it too even though I had tried my best to shelter him from it.

"Hey Dad," I called out to him as I watched him jiggle the door handle, trying to test its lock.

"I'm going to stop by Lowe's and get those safety bars to place on the track so no one can get this door open," he announced as I nodded.

Whatever would make him feel better.

"I'm sorry," I sputtered as I watched his dark eyes go wide for a moment before softening.

"Nothing to be sorry about, Bells," he shrugged as he stepped forward and pulled me into a hug that was warm and forgiving.

"But I am," I said firmly as I melted into his embrace.

"I'm sorry for making you worry and for…" I began only to be silenced with his loud sigh.

"Bella, I will always worry about you. No matter what happens. I am just glad that you seem to be happy and stronger," he said slowly as if he was choosing his words carefully.

I hated that he felt he had to be so careful with me.

I hated that he knew I still needed it.

"Have you spoke with Edward?" I asked, hating that I was asking him.

I knew he still spoke with him.

I knew that after I went to Florida to escape Mara's death Dad was there with him.

It was Dad who tried to talk me out of my plan because of him.

"Bella, what are you doing?" Dad asked in a low worried tone that had just become his normal way of speaking to me since coming home from the hospital to heal without my child.

Would it even be possible to do that?

"I think it would be better if I went to Florida with mom," I said as I struggled to pack my suitcase as he watched me from the doorway.

"And what about Edward?"

That was the million-dollar question.

"He needs to focus on his classes and he can't do that with me here," I said firmly and then listen to him sigh in an exasperated manner.

"Is that your idea or the great Dr Carlisle Cullen's?" he mocked causing me to stop packing and just stare at him.

"He isn't wrong, Dad," I admitted as I attempted to blink back tears as we stared each other down, daring the other to look away.

Our silent fight was interrupted by the appearance of the one person we were fighting over.

"Hey baby," Edward greeted me, pressing a quick kiss against my cheek as I moved the suitcase, shifting my aching body to act as if I was unpacking instead. His dark hair was wind-blown and he looked tired, yet incredibly handsome in that stupid polo and khaki that he was forced to wear for work.

"Let me help you," he urged as he took hold of it and easily moved it to the floor before turning to greet dad with a warm hello like the long-lost son he wanted to be.

Dad continued to stare, daring me to announce my plans, but I was too cowardly. I wanted one more night with Edward.

Just one more night.

I had told myself this last night and the night before.

I wasn't sure how I would ever let him go, but I knew it had to be done if he was ever going to get what he wanted with college. There was no other no way.

AN:

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