AN: We're getting to the good part! Good news: I've made progress! Chapters written: 17, almost 18 (like, seriously, there's only a few more sentences, then that chapter's done). Chapters typed: this is the most recent. Chapters planned: 22. I may change those plans, though... I'm being indecisive about where the story should go from a certain point... Anyway, this chapter is by far the longest! I hope you enjoy it, and if you would be kind enough to review... I would love you forever, in a totally non-creepy way. (oh, yeah, in case you can't guess, the little bit in Italics is a dream. *smiley face*)

And I still don't own anything.

Song: Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad, Def Leppard

Lyrics:

Have you ever needed someone so bad

Have you ever wanted someone

Who you just couldn't have

Did you ever try so hard

That your world just fell apart

Have you ever needed someone so bad

Rayne was following her routine just like she always did: wake up, go to work, go home, sleep, repeat; with almost no variations. So as she walked into a convenience store for no apparent reason, she confused herself. She had picked up groceries the day before, so there was really no reason for her to be there. She didn't generally act on impulses these days, mostly because she didn't get them. But, to satisfy her mind, she picked up a bottle of water and went to stand in the short line.

She couldn't help but glance repeatedly at the man standing next to her. His posture, that look in his eyes... She could swear she had never seen him before, but he seemed so familiar and she couldn't figure out why. She acted on impulse, yet again, and spoke to him.

"I'm sorry to bother you, sir, but could I ask you something?" she asked politely.

"I don't see why not." the way he spoke, his accent, was odd. It was almost irritating, she couldn't place where the accent was from.

"Do I know you from somewhere? You seem familiar."

"No, I don't believe we've met. Now, if you'll excuse me..." He responded, sounding hurried and nervous suddenly as he stepped up to the counter. He then paid for his things and left.

As Rayne walked home, she tried to figure out why the man seemed so familiar. He looked like a mix of her old Algebra teacher and a man her father worked with when she was a kid. The thing that threw her off was his attitude and speech. She had met someone just like like that once, but no matter how hard she thought, the answer evaded her.

She had arrived home, and though she was frustrated and anxious to find out who the man reminded her of, she knew she was too tired. Rather than falling asleep on the couch after a long think, she decided to go to sleep voluntarily, in her bed.

Rayne opened her eyes, and all she saw was a gray, almost white, wall of fog. She stood slowly, not trusting her misty surroundings. She started to wander around, tying to figure out why she was there, when she glimpsed a silhouette of someone through the fog. She walked forward, compelled to see who was waiting across the expanse of gray.

Suddenly, there was an open spot in the fog, a clearing, and standing there, facing away from her, was a man in green and black, attire she knew. Then he turned to look at her, his green eyes vibrant and not a hair out of place. It was as if a door opened in her mind, and all the memories she had subconsciously blocked came flooding back to the forefront of her mind.

She woke up crying. There was a reason why she had blocked those memories, she realized. She had forgotten because memories of him ripped her apart. He wasn't coming back. He didn't want her, and he never would.

Then she felt arms wrap around her shoulders, and she recognized the hand that wiped a tear from her face and moved to pet her hair. "I haven't woken up yet, have I?" she asked, miserable and doubting.

"No, my dear, you are awake." Rayne could hear the smirk in his voice.

"I had no idea that hallucinations felt so real, then." She couldn't think of any other explanation. He wasn't real, he couldn't be.

"I'm offended. I go through all that trouble, and you have the audacity to think I'm fake." He chuckled.

"You can't be real," she sniffled. "You aren't coming back."

"I am back. I'm right here, and I'll never have to leave you again." He said. He then kissed her forehead, getting off the bed and laying her down, pulling the covers up to her shoulders. As he turned to leave, she reached out and grabbed his hand, a silent request for him to stay.

And stay he did.