I am so incredibly sorry that it took this long to get the story out. I must have started and stopped it at least a dozen times. Every time I started it just didn't seem right. Hope you all enjoy this part and that you all fee it was worth the wait.

Disclaimer:
These characters not mine, I am just borrowing them for a while. They are property of CBS, Barbara Hall Productions

Joan didn't see him again until after school. As she made her way down the hall towards the lockers, she saw him leaning against wall. He looked up and their eyes met. All of a sudden, everything around her stopped, slowly fading away.

She was walking towards him. Stopping, she looked down at herself and saw that she was wearing a simple pale blue dress with a white apron. She looked up to see he was wearing a plain white button down shirt and black pants. He stepped away from the wall, moving towards her. Stopping in front of her, he reached out and took her hand. Raising it to his lips, he brushed a kiss across the back of her hand.

"I have been waiting for you." He whispered

He pulled her towards him, wrapping his arms around her waist.

"I've missed you." She whispered

He leaned in and just as their lips were about to meet, he whispered

"We will be together soon my love."

His lips touched hers and everything began to fade around her.

Joan's eyes opened as someone crashed into her from behind. Her books fell to the floor. The person stepped around her and continued down the hall. Joan knelt down and began gathering up her books. Another person knelt down beside her and handed her her notebook. Joan didn't need to look up to know who it was. She grabbed the notebook, added it to her pile and stood up. Making her way to her locker, she opened the door and set her books on the shelf. He was by her side a moment later.

"No hello Joan? No thanks for my help."

She grabbed her backpack and opened it. Setting in on the floor, she looked at the shelf. After a minute, she grabbed her notebook, Math book and English book. She was about to put them in her backpack when he said

"Don't forget your Chemistry book."

Glaring at him, Joan set the books in her backpack, then grabbed her Chemistry book and added it to her backpack. She closed up her backpack and stood up. As she picked up it, she groaned under the weight.

"Would you like some help with that?"

Still ignoring him, she made her way down the hall with him trailing behind. She pushed open the front door and stepped outside. As she started down the steps, she looked glanced over her shoulder but didn't see him behind her.

She started down the sidewalk, heading away from the school. As she rounded the corner, she saw him leaning against a tree. She continued walking, passing by him without a word. He pushed himself away from the tree, falling in step beside her.

"Still not talking to me?" he asked

She kept walking but he stopped.

"It's a shame you're not talking to me." He said, "I guess you don't want to know about the dreams."

Joan stopped and slowly turned to look at him. After a moment, she walked back to where he was standing.

"Why are you doing this to me?" she said, "You've never told me anything before when I asked. Why should now be any different?"

He looked at her.

"Because now its time."

Joan shook her head.

"Now you have decided its time." She said, "What makes now so important."

He didn't say anything. Joan waited for a minute and when he didn't say anything, she turned and walked away. She looked over her shoulder and saw his standing in the same spot. Shaking her head, Joan continued walking home.

When she got to her house, she pulled her key out of her pocket and let herself in the house.

"Hello? Anyone home…Mom…Kevin…Luke?"

When no one answered, she put her keys in her pocket and made her way upstairs. She opened her bedroom door and walked in. Dropping her backpack on the floor, she made her way over to her bed and lay down.

'Just a short nap before everyone comes home.'

She was standing on a staircase looking down at the sea of people dancing. The women were wearing dresses similar to hers with full skirt and sweetheart necklines while the men had on suits. All of the people had masks that hid their faces. Holding up her skirt, she slowly made her way down the staircase, looking for him. She was about to give up hope when she heard

"Looking for someone?"

She turned to see him standing behind her, wearing a black suit and mask. Taking a step towards her, he whispered

"Take a walk with me."

He offered his arm and she slipped her arm through his. They slowly made their way through the crowd and out a door leading into the garden. He led her over to a bench and sat down, pulling her next to him.

"Did I tell you how lovely you look tonight?" he whispered, "I love this color on you."

She looked down at her dress.

"I thought my mother was going to die when I picked out dark purple for my dress." She said, and then added in a slightly accented tone, "That color is not appropriate for a proper young lady. What will everyone think when they see you?"

He brought their joined hands up towards him lips and kissed the back of her hand.

"I want us to be together." She whispered

"And we will be." He said, looking away

"What's wrong?"

"I came here tonight to tell you that I have to leave for a while."

"Where are you going?"

"I can't tell you that." He said

"When will you be back?"

"As soon as I can." He said, "Promise me that you will wait for me."

She moved closed to him. Taking off his mask, she stared into his deep blue eyes and whispered

"I will wait till the end of time if need be."

Slowly he leaned towards her and allowed his lips to brush against hers."

Joan sat up, looking around the room.

'What is going on with me?'

Slowly she got out of bed and made her way over to the dresser. Picking up her brush, she ran it through her hair.

'Where are all these crazy dreams coming from?'

"They are parts of your past Joan."

She spun around to see him sitting on her bed. Her eyes widened as the brush fell from her hand.

"What are you…how did you…never mind."

"Are you ready to listen to me now Joan?"

"Do I have a choice?"

"You always have a choice Joan."

'But if I don't then I won't find out about the dreams.'

"You're right Joan."

"How did you…never mind." She said, "So are you doing to tell me or what."

He patted the side of the bed.

"Come here Joan."

Slowly she made her way over to the bed. After a moment, she sat down beside him. Turning to her, he said

"Did you ever wonder why you were chosen Joan?"

She nodded.

"What if I tell you that you were chosen not for who you are but for who you were?"

"For who I was." She said, "I don't understand."

"What do you remember about your dreams Joan?"

"There were a few of them. They seem so long ago. I…I'm always wearing a dress but they are different and…and you are always there. Why are you in my dreams?"

"The dreams…your dreams…are past lives.

"I don't' understand." She said, "Why is this happening now? Why am I remembering them now?"

"You've always had these dreams Joan." He said, "Its just now that you are remembering them."

"So what do they mean?"

He reached over, taking her hand in his.

"The dreams reflect lives that you have lived." He said, "And the reason that I am in them is because we were…we were…"

Her eyes widened.

"We were…you and me…were…"

He slowly brought her hand to his lips and kissed it.

"You don't know how long I have searched for you." He whispered, then slowly started to lean towards her, "How long I have waited for you."

His lips were about to touch hers when Joan pulled away and stood up, moving away from him.

"Wait…we need to…you need…I…"

He took a step towards her and she held up her hand, stopping him.

"I…I think you should leave."

"I understand Joan." He said, "This was a lot to take in."

He turned and started to move towards the door. As he was about to open the door, Joan said

"Wait."

He stopped, turning towards her. Joan crossed the room, stopping in front of him.

"Why did you tell me all of this?"

"I did it because you wanted the answers."

"Well what happens now?"

"That is up to you Joan."

"Why is it up to me? Don't you have to make a choice too?"

He brought his hand up to her cheek.

"I've already made my choice Joan." He said, "I have waited for a time when we could be together again. The rest is up to you."

"But what if I choose wrong?"

"Nothing you choose will be wrong Joan." He said, "You just have to go with what you feel."

"How…how long do I have to decide?"

"You have as much time as your need Joan." He said, "You know how to find me."

He started to stand but Joan grabbed his hand, pulling his back down.

"I…I'm not that girl anymore." She whispered, tears welling up in her eyes and spilling down her cheeks.

He wiped the tears away.

"I know that Joan." He whispered, "And I am not the same boy but my love for you has never stopped."

His words made Joan cry even harder. Leaning forward, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her against him. He began to rock her back and forth, whispering soothing words in her ear. After a few minutes, she began to calm down. Slowly he pulled back, looking in her eyes.

"Feeling better?" he asked

She nodded.

"I must look like a mess."

He pushed her hair back from her face.

"You have never looked more beautiful Joan."

"You're just saying that."

"I mean it." He whispered, leaning forward to press a kiss against her forehead, "Now I think its time for me to be going."

"Where are you going?"

"I'll be around Joan."

"How will I find you?"

"You'll know." he said, "Now lay down and close your eyes."

He moved so she could lay down on the bed. Reaching towards the end of the bed, he grabbed a blanket and pulled it up so it covered her. He sat on the edge of the bed. Slowly he leaned down and Joan closed her eyes. She felt his lips brush hers softly. When she opened her eyes, he was gone. Slowly she rolled over in bed, closing her eyes again.

When she opened her eyes, it was dark outside. Pushing back her blanket, she climbed out of bed and stood slowly. She walked over to the door and made her way downstairs. Her mom was sitting in the living room as she came down the stairs. Looking up, Helen saw her daughter.

"Honey are you feeling better?"

"Better?"

"I found the note on the table." She said, "Did your nap make you feel better?

"Yeah…I feel a little better."

"I left a plate of spaghetti in the microwave for you."

"Thanks mom but I'm not very hungry."

"Want me to make you a sandwich or something?"

"No thanks. I think I'm going to go outside for a bit. Get some fresh air."

"All right but don't go too far."

"Okay mom."

She walked out of the living room and down the hall. Grabbing her jacket from the hall, she pulled it on and opened the door. Stepping outside, she walked down the ramp that led to the driveway. She crossed the driveway and started down the sidewalk. As she rounded the corner, she looked up at the sky.

'You said I would know where to find you but I don't know where to begin."

"Turn around Joan."

She turned and saw him standing behind her.

"You told me that when I decided what I want then I should find you."

He nodded.

"And now that you are here I am ready to tell you my decision."

"All right Joan." He said, "What have you decided."

"I've decided that…"

All right I think I need to build a little suspense here. I promise to work hard on the next part and hopefully have it out in a few day.