A/N: A quick thank you to everyone who added this story in their alerts and/or added it to their favorite list. It truly means a lot to me.

Chapter 5-

Bella's POV- Stranger Danger

It felt like I was falling… down from the Mount Everest with not one person to hear me shout, or beg to be saved. I could not see the ground. No, I wasn't blessed with that golden opportunity. I was doomed to continue falling without even the scope of being rescued, nothing but the blue of the sky visible to my eyes.

This was my punishment, and I very well had to pay for it.

And so, I did just that.

I continued to stare in his beautiful black eyes- my personal heaven and hell, falling in deeper with each passing second, no exit available to my drug-induced brain.

For, that is exactly what it felt like.

I felt like I had consumed some heavy drugs, high on pleasure and want, as I laughed my way through serious situations, not quite understanding what was happening around me, but yet going with the flow, as that was what seemed to be the best thing to do in the situation.

I don't know why I was laughing.

I don't know why I was happy.

I had no reason to be happy.

I just was.

It made no sense, whatsoever.

And yet, it made complete sense to some small, hidden behind the covers, part of my mind, confusing me even further with its absurdity.

I should have stopped.

It was not healthy to be this out and far of reality.

But I could not stop. It seemed like a crime to stop now, not when I was this close to my goal….my salvation and destiny.

And so, I continued staring into this stranger's eyes, these brief moments of eternal happiness so very rare to find, but grabbed with both hands interlocked.

Images of an imaginary future swam through my mind on repeat, a beautiful winter wedding with a mysterious man by my side, two adorable children- one boy- one girl- both under the age of five- playing in the yard as their laughter filled my house and heart with incomparable happiness, family and friends surrounding me as we shared tales of our joy and satisfaction over a long dinner, nothing but love radiating through the air, sheer adoration sparkling in my eyes as I grew old with the one meant for me, a tear of unhappiness never to be shed again for the rest of my life…

What was happening to me?

Why was I thinking about my future….a future that could only be achieved in a romantic novel bound with a Happily ever after?

This was not reality.

This could never be reality.

No.

Reality was sad. Reality was broken hopes and unfulfilled wishes.

Reality was pain, and reality was nightmares and tears, hoping and praying that the suffering would just come to an end.

This was not reality. It never could be.

And….even if it was….I had lost my chance long ago at that glorious Happily ever after. I had lost my future and my happiness. I had lost my….Ed….

I had lost him.

I had lost my family.

I had lost the only love of my life.

I had lost everything….

"Hey," a soft, warmth filled voice grabbed my attention, making me look up in question, "Don't be sad. I can't see you upset."

Why did he look this genuinely concerned and curious to know my answer?

He was a stranger to me.

I did not even know his name.

Who was he?

What was his name?

How old was he?

Did he live on the reservation?

What were his likes and dislikes?

Who all were there in his family?

Why did I even care?

I did not know him. I should not have been interested in knowing anything about him, yet all I craved was to know everything there was to know about the man.

It was more than a want….almost a need that just had to be fulfilled.

I had no choice in the matter, but to comply.

"Why…" he stumbled over his words, "Why are you sad? Tell me. I can solve any problem. You…be happy."

"I…He broke my heart. It is broken!" I cried out, staring into his eyes, begging for comfort and relief from this constant pain that threatened to submerge me under its intensity.

I don't know why I was telling him all of this.

He was a stranger and obviously did not care about my problems or tears.

But yet, I was.

There was no logic out to play in this moment.

Some small part of my very being trusted him with whatever I was and whatever I would be, aware that we could safely keep our heart in his hands, without even the worry of something bad happening to it crossing our mind.

He would take good care of it, better than anyone else on this planet.

It was his, after all.

His to look-after and caress.

His to safely keep for the rest of our lives.

I was his- heart, mind, body and soul.

I would never be another's.

This was it.

Forever.

"Shh," he tenderly pushed a strand of hair behind my ear, his body slightly quivering but his eyes unmoving as they stared into mine, warmth and concern seeping into my bones and giving me the strength to stand up straighter.

I had 'him' with me.

I did not need to worry about anything anymore.

No. Those days of my life had now come to an end.

I was going to be happy and complete from now on, never seeing a bad day or a pain- filled moment.

"I am here."

He really was…. for the rest of eternity.

I nodded my head in agreement, letting him take my hand in his, gently caressing it as we simply stared into the other's eyes, no words needed to be spoken between us, the comfortable silence that cocooned us, talking volumes.

His eyes though, had a lot to say to me, asking me where I had been for all these years, and why hadn't I come to him any earlier?

He was upset.

He had been searching for me.

He believed that we had wasted precious time being away from one another, time that could have been spent in the other's arms.

I took his hand in mine, silently apologizing. I had not known that he was my future. I had not known that I would find him here, in this small reservation, in this very house today.

Had I known, I would have come to him long ago.

I would not have wasted one precious moment that we could have shared together.

No.

He was my heart.

How could I stay away from him then?

Never again, I promised him, the honesty and love shining in my eyes, for all to see and know.

I would never be separated from him again, no matter how long the two of us continued to live.

This was it.

He was 'it' for me.

And I could not have been any happier of this fact!

"I have been waiting for you."

"I know." I whispered, cupping his cheeks softly, all the love that I felt for him radiating through the room and lighting it with intensity.

"Never again." He shook his head fiercely, demanding me to promise him of this.

"Never again." I agreed instantly.

He smiled wide, his smile the most beautiful thing ever to be seen in this world, our hands never straying far from one another.

He was mine.

And I was his.

For now, and forever….

"Oh."

Billy's shock filled whisper pulled us out from under the haze that had buried us deep, the two of us staring at him in unison.

"This…is unexpected." His eyes were wide in disbelief. "Jake will be so heartbroken."

It felt like cold water was poured upon the two of us with those five words of his, the stranger running out of the room and house in visible anger and annoyance, leaving me there behind to face the unknown wrath.

"This changes…stuff." Billy muttered, looking away from me, deep in thought.

I would say!

I gave him a nod, unable to comprehend of what had just happened in this room today.

So…so strange!