A/N: Hi everybody! I'm so happy to be working on this story again, I hope it hasn't been too long between this chapter and the last.

I want to give a big thank you to the recent comments I received on chapter 9. That really meant a lot, and they totally inspired the events that I wrote for this one.

I wanted to make it worth it for you all so get ready! It's time for romance! (ghosty style)

Enjoy!

Sarah's eyes shot open. The darkness of her bedroom came rushing back, the embrace of the mattress swelling around her as her body jolted from its slumber, reminding her that this was reality, not the nightmare still fading from her eyes.

But Sarah wasn't certain. Was it not the same face above her now that had grinned and laughed and watched her die not seconds before? Sarah tried to scream but an icy hand pressed hard against her throat stopped any sound from escaping. She gasped for breath, her hands clawing at the stone grasp around her neck, her body pushing back against the bed trying to free herself from this dream demon that had somehow followed her out. It was to no avail. The being had her under his power and that's where she would stay until he chose to release her.

Ramsley, his expression dark and disappointed, leaned in close to the choking woman. He pressed her further into the bed, his haunting face inches from her own.

"So she figured it out." He sneered, his lips curling with contempt, "I suspected more from you. A 'sensible' woman would know better than to believe in ghost stories. But you just couldn't let it go, could you? You just had to remember!" He tightened his grip. For a moment Sarah started to fade. Her vision went spotty and she felt certain she would pass out. But something caught the man's attention and he turned quickly toward the door. It was as if he'd heard something, something coming.

His grasp loosened, letting air slither frailly back into her lungs. Sarah's eyes fluttered open. Still she couldn't scream, her body weak under his grasp. He pressed her down, facing her once more with those terrible empty eyes that burned her with their dark and wicked gaze. Hatred seeped from the phantom, turning her ice-cold with pain where his skin touched hers.

"One word, and I will kill you again Elizabeth." Through gritted teeth he snarled, "Do you understand? No more Sarah, no more happy family. I'll put your miserable corpse back in the ground where it belongs!" Ramsley gave her a hard shake, rustling a feeble nod from her to ensure her terrified silence. Then raising his skeletal brow he removed his hand and pushed away. The specter levitated above her body, put one boney finger to his lips and suddenly faded from sight. His voice snaked through the bedroom, rustling the curtains and extinguishing the coals in the hearth with a faint and wavering "shhhhhhhh."

Sarah sputtered and gagged. Her back arched as she gulped air back into her lungs. Instinctually her body lurched forward trying to sit up. When she did she felt the touch of a hand on her shoulder, accompanied by a soft rush of wind. Instantly she twisted away, her hands flying out to push the demon off, desperate to escape another attack. But warmth enveloped her and held her still. Through her thrashing Sarah felt soft fabric and gentle touches. She smelt parchment paper and autumn leaves. And eventually, her yells for help and pleas were calmed by the low voice of the only man who had ever been able to quell her most fervent fears.

Edward had appeared, summoned through the darkness by the disturbance of his sleeping Elizabeth. He took her into his arms like she was a part of him, holding her against his chest and whispering softly that she was safe.

After some comforting, and once she'd gained partial control over her breathing, Sarah dared to raise her eyes, meeting the handsome face of Edward Gracey. His expression was riddled with concern but god was it beautiful. She saw him now exactly as he had been in her memory, the man she had loved a lifetime ago. He was still here. He had waited for her just like he said. The reliefs of realizing his promise made Sarah want to cry and she clung to him feeling everything from love to regret at how long he had stayed… at how long she had made him wait.

Edward held her tightly as if fearing she might crumble without his arms around her. He didn't understand what had happened to upset her so and seeing her this distraught struck a pang of guilt in his heart for not having stayed by her side while she slept. But after he had extinguished the candles and watched her drift off to her dreaming, Ramsley had suggested he walk the grounds, to give them both time to sort out the situation. At the time it seemed like the sensible thing to do, and of course Ramsley had meant well by it, but seeing her this way now made him want to never leave her alone again.

Edward put his hands around her face, brushing the hair from her eyes as he tried to meet her gaze.

"Sweetheart, what is it? Are you hurt? Talk to me angel." Though the rest of her had seemingly calmed down Sarah's eyes were still wide with fear. One of her hands covered his, the other went to her neck. She swallowed and opened her mouth, looking into his eyes as she finally seemed to find her voice. But Sarah stopped.

Her eyes darted to the back corner of her bedroom where, just out of focus behind the face of her loving protector, stood looming in the black her oppressive killer. She stared into the darkness until the rigid frame of the figure standing there seemed to burn itself into her retina. Half draped in shadow, his eyes, skin, and hair void of color, it was like he wasn't there at all. Yet the presence of the being bore into her so that Sarah found it hard to comprehend anything but the warning of its threatening gaze.

"Elizabeth?" The sweet, whispered sound of her name brushed past Edward's lips. He was holding her so close that she felt his words tickle her skin and once again he had her attention. Sarah let out a shaky breath of her own and nodded, blinking the vision away.

"Y-yes. Yes I'm here, Edward." She said and wrapping her hands around his neck looked deep into his eyes. A light seemed to flicker to life somewhere in the black of his pupils. His breath hitched slightly and his hands fumbled as he touched her.

"You're here?" he asked, the hope in his voice making it quiver. "You… remember?" Sarah bit her lip, nodding vigorously yes.

"Edward." It was all she could say as she wrapped her arms desperately around him.

The two clung to one another, exchanging their promises and apologies until all that was left was the urge to either laugh or cry themselves silly with joyous relief at having found one another again.

"I'm so sorry I left you, I'm sorry I left you alone for so long." Sarah cried into his shoulder.

"No, shhh. It's alright. We're together, everything's O.K."

"I didn't want to leave you, I…"

"It's over now. You're here, you're safe."

"Edward… You waited for me. I- I don't deserve…"

"No more of that." His voice was firm but so tender with love. Edward pulled away slightly, looking into her tear filled eyes. "I love you Elizabeth, in this world and the next. How could I not wait? I will always wait for you." His thumb brushed across her cheek, catching a tear mid fall and spreading its glistening light across her dark, heavenly skin.

Sarah moved toward him as if she had been made for it, finding his lips instantly under her own. She closed her eyes and kissed him with need and love and longing. His hand was immediately at her neck holding them together as he deeply breathed her in. Nothing felt more real than his lips against her own, such a remembered passion surging between them that if Sarah had harbored any doubts until now, they were immediately forgotten.

He deepened the kiss, making her feel week under his power. Sarah was surprised; if not for his traditional refinement she thought he might have devoured her right then and there. But grace was always with him, and he treated her with as much delicacy as desperation.

Locked together the lovers lost themselves. Edward melting into the warmth of his Elizabeth returned, she in turn was pleasantly chilled by the embrace of a man who by spirit alone had held on to the fabric of his existence. In that moment the energy passing between them should have been enough to make them both real. But Edward Gracey was dead, and Sarah Evers was only a part of herself.

Under the covers of rich and royal hues the couple lay in each other's arms, talking quietly against the silence of night. After their passionate reunion and upon her request Edward had slipped in under the sheets behind her. Resting against the plush headboard he held Sarah against his chest, one arm wrapped protectively around her stomach the hand of the other interlaced with hers. She hugged his arm and listened to the rumble of his words wondering, despite her happiness, how such an interaction could exist. He was a ghost. The permanence she felt with him was misleading, and Sarah feared what that meant for their future.

The future. That was the most troubling concept of all. Easy enough as it may be to dwell in the meaning of their past or the comfort of the present, Sarah knew that come the morning a decision would have to be made.

"So in a way, she's a part of me... just as I was a part of her." Sarah continued to explain. Edward had been very quiet while she told him her story, not even nodding when she paused between thoughts. "But, I am Elizabeth. I remember being Elizabeth. It's just that now, I have my own memories on top of it." Sarah let out a defeated breath and brought her hand to her forehead. "This is so confusing." She said.

Edward's grip around her gently tightened as he placed a kiss on the back of her ear. "I know darling."

She looked at him from the corner of her eye. "But, if it's any consolation, I think I know what this is." He gave her a patient expression. "Reincarnation," she concluded.

A small smile spread across his lips. "Sounds about right."

"I mean, what else could explain it?"

"The forgiving will of God." Edward said, his words muffled slightly as he buried his face in her thick black hair, kissing the back of her neck with small repetitive delicacy that sent a shiver running down her back. Sarah relished in the ecstasy of his touch for just a moment before shaking her head and pulling away.

"But why now? Why after so many years and after… what happened." her eyes darted to the darkness of the empty corner, "would we suddenly be brought back together? Why not ten years ago, before…" but Sarah couldn't bring herself to say it.

"Before your family." Edward Gracey finished. Gazing into her eyes he saw the truth.

"I love them, Edward." She said quietly.

"Do you love him ?" He asked. His expression was hard as stone, but there was a fragile look shinning behind his eyes.

"Jim is my husband." Edward didn't say anything, his silence speaking for him: So what? I was going to be your husband. I loved you first.

Sarah swallowed, "Yes, I love him. The part of me that's Sarah, she loves him completely." Edward turned away, but Sarah placed her hand under his chin and sweetly turned him back to her. "But the part of me that's Elizabeth, she loves you completely Edward. And without that love, I might not have ever existed. She carried me through time to find you again. And I'm so happy she did." He nodded and wrapping his arms around her took her into a fond embrace. Sarah squeezed her eyes shut, wishing she could have stayed in that hug forever.

Her tears were coming back and she sniffled against them saying, "Oh, Edward, what are we going to do? I love you so much, but, I can't leave Jim and Michael and Megan. I can't…" But she couldn't finish her sentence. Her words were catching in her throat and the fear of having to choose between one family or another was threatening to send her into a panic attack.

"My darling." His honey sweet words surrounded her like swirling water, ebbing the thoughts of fear and sending them slithering away. Carefully he laid them both down so they were facing one another on the bed. Sarah steadied her breathing as he tucked her hair behind her ear.

"You shouldn't have to carry this burden. I wish more than anything that I could take it all away." The look in her lover's eyes held as much sorrow as it did admiration. He tried to laugh saying, "If I was stronger I would let you go." Sarah gave him a sad smile shaking her head. "But," he said, "I'm afraid I'm just too weak."

She took his hand in hers and gently kissed each of his fingers. Raising her golden eyes to meet his own they stared together in loving silence.

For a few minutes they said nothing needing only the connection between them. Then for a few hours they talked idly: discussing possible solutions that lead them nowhere, reminiscing about their most cherished memories of the past, chatting about Sarah's life and all that she had experienced during their time apart. It was almost 4:30 in the morning when Sarah's eyelids began to droop. The pale glow of moonlight had drifted lazily across the comforter until it faded to the almost yellow light of the coming dawn. Sarah meant to cover her yawn but her hand was locked in Edwards and she didn't want to let go.

"You should sleep if you're tired." He said sweetly but she shook her head.

"I'm afraid to go back to sleep to be honest. I don't want to dream again." Edward gave her a look of concern mixed with a sweet smile.

"Was remembering me so awful?" He teased.

"It's difficult to explain." Was all she said, snuggling closer to him. The ghost tucked an arm around her as she nuzzled her face against his chest.

"If you sleep, you might wake up with fresh ideas."

"Why don't you go to sleep then?" she asked, "I don't have to solve everything."

"It's difficult to explain." He said back, rubbing her shoulder. Sarah looked up at him, quirking her brow to more than just his echo of her past sentiment.

"I unfortunately don't share your luxury of peace, my love. It's part of the whole purgatory thing. Eternal awareness of the mind, eternal restlessness of the soul. No rest for the damned means no sleeping." Sarah couldn't help but feel troubled by his words. To be awake for more than two hundred years; the thought alone made her feel exhausted.

"How did you do it Edward? I would have gone mad." She searched his eyes but the man laying beneath her didn't appear weary at all. He was seemingly unfazed by the concept of his never ending existence.

"I had you to guide me, Elizabeth." He whispered. "Whether that was to be in heaven or here again on earth. I knew I'd find you." Edward pressed a kiss against her forehead that sent Sarah's heart racing.

"I wish I could have married you, my love," he said. "Why did you…" Her eyes opened and she caught her breath, but Edward didn't finish the question. He couldn't. It was, after all, the missing piece to the puzzle that still made everything so confusing for him, but it was also the question he knew he could never bring himself to ask her- if they had been so happy before, and they were so in love now, why then had his dearest love killed herself?

More than time, purgatory, or a restless eternity, this sin had tormented his soul most of all. Edward Gracey could never understand it and even now, holding its answer here in his arms, he thought he never would. The truth scared him, while the opportunist in him told him to let it go and just be happy that she had returned. But what he knew deep within his heart was a thought that, left unattended, could still threaten the happiness they had found. She had killed herself before, without any warning or chance for him to save her… So what would stop it from happening again?

Edward spoke suddenly as if to interrupt someone, though no one had been speaking. "Nevermind." He said, and tightening his grip around her gave Sarah a protective hug, whispering, "It doesn't matter."

Say something, a voice within her shouted. But Sarah could only hug him back.

Until she understood the threat Elizabeth's killer held against her, she didn't want to risk telling Edward the truth. She knew he needed to know. But if she told him and was killed, Elizabeth and Edward would be lost again and she would lose her family as well.

Sarah shivered with fear, exhausted under the weight of decision that pressed against her mind. She knew she couldn't fight sleep any longer. And Edward was right, maybe when she woke she'd have all the answers. Maybe she'd see Elizabeth again, maybe she could tell her what to do. Though Sarah hoped more than anything that maybe, she wouldn't dream at all.

"Edward." She said, already half asleep.

"Yes, my Darling?"

"Promise you'll stay by me."

"I promise."

Sarah yawned, "Promise you'll be here when I wake up?"

"I promise"

"Promise you'll keep me safe?" she said slowly, hardly able to form the words.

"Until the end of time." He whispered, sending her off knowing with all of her heart that he meant it.

A/N: Reviews are so appreciated here ^ ^ Please let me know what you think and I promise the next chapter will be even better ;P

haha thanks guys! Love ya.