Disclaimer: I don't own any characters from the Night World; they all belong to L.J. Smith.

A/n: My sequel to DOR. Mare is involve in an accident and has become missing, while Ash goes distraught with pain, worry and heartache, Mary-Lynnette has amnesia, when will she remember and how long till Ash breaks down dissolving the hope that Mary-Lynnette is still alive. Will they overcome the challenges fate has brought them and live happily ever after?

Title: Underneath The Same Sky

Chapter 1         Unexpected Fate

"Underneath the same sky, we are both looking at the stars, And my love for you grows deeper, no matter where you are."

            *Sigh* Mary-Lynnette Carter stared outside the bus window towards the scenic countryside view wistfully. Her friend Bunny Marten gave her a glance. "I wonder what's in her head these days." Bunny thought. Bunny gave her childhood friend a scrutinizing look. Mary-Lynette turned around and caught Bunny studying her.

"What? Did I suddenly sprout another head?" Mare asked jokingly.

Bunny didn't answer her.

Mare cleared her throat. "What's wrong?" Mare asked seriously.

Bunny shook her head. "Nothing, it's just that you've become distant ever since the school year began. As though you're thousands of miles away…thinking of something else." Bunny finished with a shrug.

Mare gave her a weak smile. "I didn't know you were so concerned."

"People think I'm dumb, and I may not like the next person to volunteer in social services, but hey if it's about persons I care about, I can be concerned." Bunny spoke while making a face. "Anyways, did something happen Mare? I mean, we may not be that close but I'm still your friend." Bunny spoke concerned.

Mare shook her head. "Don't worry about me." She assured her friend giving her another smile. 

Bunny sighed. "Okay, if you say so. I'm glad that you decided to come to this trip even at the last minute. We are going to graduate after all and might not see each other any more." Bunny spoke sniffing, her dramatic persona back in evident.

Mare rolled her eyes. "Not see each other?" Mare echoed. "In a town like Briar Creek?"

Bunny gave a 'hmphed' "You know what I mean… I know you're going to go away for college and everything."

Mare gave a soft smile and nodded. Truthfully she'd rather stay at home and count the seconds of her reunion with Ash rather than go in this boring trip. She was only cajoled by Claudia to go.

"There you go again!" Bunny exclaimed.

"What?!" Mare protested.

"You became soooo far-away." Bunny made a face. "Are you sure nothing's wrong?"

"Nothing." Mare insisted.

"You know…I have this theory that this new attitude of yours is because of that hot boyfriend of yours that visited a year ago." Bunny proclaimed.

"What boyfriend?" Mare asked briskly missing Ash again.

"YOUR boyfriend! IF you say he's not your boyfriend then I guess he's free for the taking! And I wont be hesitant to claim him for myself!" Bunny declared.

Mare shut up and shrugged. Bunny hid a smile. "C'mon tell me of this romance of yours! What's his name?"

"If you put it that way…" Mare started cryptically. She never got to finish her sentence for…

"OMG! What was that?" Mare exclaimed as something hit them hard.

"I don't know!" Bunny wailed terrified as the bus started zigzagging and doing dizzying turns. Everyone was shouting and shrieking, students thrown across the floor, paying the price for not wearing their seatbelt.

Mare started grabbing for handrails, grasping the windows anything to hold her balance. Heart thumping wildly… "I'm going to die, wait… I can't die! ASH!!!" Mare thought panicked shouting Ash's name loudly in the end.

Bunny gave her a fleeting look and then started crying and gasping filled with terror.

"If you can hear me Ash…I love you!" Mare shouted in her mind as she made a sign of the cross.

The bus went off the cliff… Mare was thrown to one side on to the window, she felt the glass gave way beneath her palm, Mare gasped half-conscious as shards of glass flew to her face as she catapulted into the air sky-high. The wind stung her face as she fell, she began to close her eyes and whispered Ash's name and then she felt nothing at all.

A/n: Please review and feel free to ask questions and give comments.