Chapter One

Sadness. It was all he could really feel in his very being as he was watching the one woman whom he loved, dying in his arms. At her request he had set her free but in that moment as he watched her eyes, her face, her expression; he wished he had never pulled the trigger. It was his fault this happened. If he had never left then she would have never gave in to the darkness. He was losing her as he watched the life drain from her eyes, and her face while feeling her body become limp in his arms. His eyes were watery as the sound of sniffles could be heard throughout that tiled room. Just closing his eyes he lowered his head to her chest as he brought her body closer to himself, just in time to hear her heart beat for the very last time.

"I'm sorry." He whispered the words while his voice was somewhat broken as he felt overwhelming anguish as more tears came.

...

Vanessa… Someone was calling out to her as she felt like she was in a dream but as soon as her eyes opened, it was dark. There was little light as there was mist everywhere and quiet whispers as she saw shadows pass at every direction she looked to. Confusion set in on her features before she put a hand out in front of her, and began to walk, just trying to find anything to grab onto. Then someone took her hand as a bright light flooded her eyes, and her senses as it made her close her eyes. As her eyes opened again she still felt someone holding her hand, but the scenery had changed, and now she heard the sounds of waves. Seagulls. It was sunny and felt warm as she realized she was standing outside but looking to the person in front of her, her eyes went wide. "Mina…?" Vanessa whispered.

There was a smile on her friends face as she appeared happy to see Vanessa and Mina appeared happy and healthy, nothing like how she died when Malcolm had ended her life. She was different. "My dearest Vanessa." Mina said as she pulled her in to hug her.

"Where are we?" She couldn't help but ask her happy looking friend as she slowly remembered what had happened. "Ethan...I must go." Vanessa said hurriedly but Mina pulled back to look at her.

"I'm afraid not, your battle is done and you are free to rest at last. No more death. No more sadness and anguish. Just peace." Mina said.

A look of concern had come over Vanessa as she was somewhat in thought of her situation as she stared back at her best friend. It was all coming back to her that she had become the mother of all evil as she had accepted her true nature influenced heavily by Dr. Sweet, or Dracula as he had many names through the ages. "But what about Ethan? Malcolm? I can't just leave them behind."

"I'm sorry Vanessa but you must, they will come eventually, though it may be somewhat of a wait." Mina said with a shrug as Vanessa felt tears welling up in her eyes while Mina continued speaking. "It will be very difficult but they will move on, I promise you."

"Yes but..." She couldn't bring herself to speak further as her voice was cracking somewhat because of her crying, Vanessa could picture Ethan in her thoughts as she yearned for his presence, and kind words. Mina could tell what Vanessa's thoughts were as the beginning of a smile tugged at the edge of her lips. "You wish to see him."

Vanessa gave a nod of her head as she couldn't stop thinking about her small family. Mina gave a slow nod as well before she took her friend's hand once again as the scenery fell away to Vanessa's room in Malcolm's home. It had happened all so suddenly that Vanessa hadn't expected to see Ethan sitting by himself in the room against the wall, the very wall that used to hold the cross she had thrown into the fire. Realization hit her that she could see him but seeing that he couldn't see her, she felt fresh pain. "He can't see me."

"No." Mina said while sensing her friend's hurting as she came up beside Vanessa and held her arm. "We are not of the living anymore so they cannot see us. Some can because of gifts God gives them but they are few people."

Her eyes were glued to Ethan it seemed as she watched his every move down to his chest rising and falling just from breathing. She longed to go to him and hold him to let him know everything would be alright, but she couldn't. "If I could do it again, I would choose him." Vanessa said while a tear or two fell from her, staining her cheek.

"You could." Mina said with a thoughtful look but what she had said made Vanessa raise an eyebrow while looking to her. "Could what?" She asked.

"Choose him. Do it again." She said as Vanessa still seemed lost until Mina sighed softly and began to explain. "I've heard from others that sometimes souls can return back to the living, but as different people. Sometimes."

Her explanation made Vanessa realize what she was talking about as her eyes widened. "Reincarnation? But there is no guarantee I will remember why I brought myself back. What if I don't find him?" She asked these questions as Mina had a nervous laugh.

"Unfortunately it is not an exact science. Sometimes God has other plans but this would be a way to find Mr. Chandler. The only way." Mina said with a little bit of a smile.

"Then..." Vanessa let out a soft sigh while thinking about her options and weighing the many cons, as there were many. "I wish to go back."

"I thought perhaps you would choose such." Vanessa's friend smiled softly.

...

Candles burned against the walls of ceramic tile as she stood, a figure in white while he slowly approached. Beaten and battered he was tired but they needed to escape, all he could think of was getting them away from here. The woman that turned around was not the person he remembered as he stopped, each looking at one another for what felt like eons.

"It hurts me more than I thought it would. Seeing you."

"You have to come with me. Now."

"And go where? They will hunt me till the end of days."

"Vanessa!" A voice shouted as something clattered onto the wood of the desk and a high school-aged girl suddenly sat up, startled, when she had accidentally fallen asleep. The teacher who stood over the girl had a disapproving look. "Vanessa Jones, what date was it that Pearl Harbor was bombed by the Japanese?"

For a moment the raven-haired girl thought but because her mind had been elsewhere, she shrugged. "I...I don't know Mrs. Kline."

The teacher clucked her tongue in disapproval before she seemed to lighten up. "No more sleeping in my class. For anyone." She said out loud before returning to her lesson.

It wasn't long before the bell rang for the class to let out as young Vanessa got up from her desk and was beginning to put her things away to leave, but her best friend came over from where she was sitting across the room. A young blonde whom always seemed friendly.

"Did you have the dream again?" She asked as Vanessa slowly nodded with a sort of scared look. "Yeah, it was really weird like it always is. Candles. Mood lighting. And these two people just facing each other talking pretty seriously. What do you make of it Mina?"

The girl shrugged her shoulders as she looked back at Vanessa. "I don't know, maybe it's reincarnation."

...

A/N: It's obviously been forever since I've actually written anything legit so you'll have to forgive me if I've made any spelling errors, I already know my grammar isn't the best, but what do you expect? It's a fanfic to a series that I adore. Anyway. The end of Season 3 just plain sucked to me that Vanessa and Ethan didn't even get their moment together except when she was about to die. The thought of reincarnation hit me last night with this and I thought I'd pour out my own version of a second chance for the lovers, and see if other people like it too. If this story hits a lot of people's fancy I'll probably keep going with it, but until then I hope you enjoy at least the beginning of my version of them finding one another. Reincarnation is tricky stuff.