Author's Note: I would like to thank those that reviewed the last chapter. I really appreciate your comments. They are what keep me writing.

Disclaimer: Same old story. I own nothing.

Something Was Missing

Part II

I was frequently haunted by the magical field and Edward in my waking hours but never quite like this. Before last night, it had always been a sweet dream that I tucked away and would recall when I was having a bad day and needed something to look forward to. But now, it seemed to be more than a dream. It seemed to be some sort of other reality.

As I got ready for the day, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was something that I needed to do. I could remember Edward and the field but I could not remember specifics. Everything was fuzzy. I knew that we had conversed for the first time last night. I knew that the conversation had been important and altering but I couldn't remember what it had been about. I knew that his voice had been the most alluring thing I had ever heard but I couldn't quite remember it. It was all there, on the edge of my consciousness, teetering back and forth as though about to jump off and disappear forever.

I stared at myself in the mirror for a moment before I pulled my hair up in a ponytail. It was raining and why bother doing my hair if it was just going to get wet. Raining in Forks; what a surprise.

I had actually come to like Forks, Washington over the years that I lived here. It was nice, safe, and comfortable. Forks is the definition of "small town life". Everyone knew everyone else. It was a big deal if someone new moved into the town. Trust me, I know.

I haven't always lived in Forks. Believe it or not, I used to live in Phoenix, Arizona with my mother for most of my life. Her and my father divorced when I was very young. My mother couldn't stand the oppressing clouds and constant rain so she took me away to a place full of invariable sunshine and warmth. I lived there up until the middle of my junior year. My mother had gotten married and she needed some time alone with her new husband. My mother would never say such a thing but I had always been able to read her exceptionally well. So I condemned myself to Forks, trading in my shorts, tank tops, and flip flops for jeans, sweaters, and waterproof boots.

It wasn't as bad as I imagined it would be. After everyone got over the fact that I was the new girl in town, I was able to find a nice, tight-knit group of friends that has lasted through the years. My father is incredibly easy to live with. He just needs someone to clean and cook while he watches the endless games that seem to play on our television. After I graduated, I went to the University of Washington. I was only a few hours away from home and I came back constantly.

"Bella?"

I looked out the bathroom door and to the stairs. I could hear his feet thumping on them. He was never one to mask his presence.

Jacob Black. He was the love of my life. I met him within my first week of moving here and we quickly became friends. He was so easy to be around and he had this ever-cheery aura around him. You just couldn't help but want be around him. It was like he was the sun's substitute in this cloudy place. At least that's what he was to me; my own personal sun. Near the end of my senior year, Jacob no longer wanted to be "just friends". He made that clear when he hauled off and kissed me in the middle of some conversation we were having. I was stunned by the action but not displeased. It was gentle and kind and comforting and safe; just like Forks. From there, we transitioned from friends into lovers with amazing ease. Nothing was really different about our relationship, just a lot more kissing. We had always been very close and it only seemed natural that we took the next step.

It was like everyone had been waiting for it. Everyone on the Indian reservation of La Push where he lived and everyone in Forks. It was like it was meant to be. We dated all through my college career as well as his. He's two years younger than me and he just recently graduated from college. Now he was working full time in the garage that he ran and he couldn't be happier.

He smiled brightly at me when he saw me. His grin lit up his entire face. He really was attractive. He had the most beautiful russet skin. He towered over me and his strength was obvious through his tee shirt. His long, flowing black hair was held together by a gum band at the nape of his neck. In two steps, he crossed the landing and enveloped me in his arms.

It was a warm, comfortable embrace that eased me. My head rested perfectly on his chest and I listened to his heart beat steadily. He rubbed my back for a second before pulling away and looking down into my eyes. I saw all the love he held for me in the dark brown orbs. He gave me a kiss. A kiss like all the others: sweet, gentle, safe.

I was startled by how disappointed I was by the kiss. They never changed. They were nice. I never minded them before. I could feel something tugging at my consciousness as though trying to alert me to something but it eluded me again. I shook off the feeling of discontent and looked up at him as he grabbed my left hand and ran his thumb down the length of my arm, to my hand, and down my ring finger.

The gesture surprised me. I was having a major sense of déjà vu. I knew that I had experienced this before but I couldn't remember when or where. I also expected to feel a pleasurable trail of fire spreading down my arm from his touch but it never came. It was warm but that was just due to the warmth that he possessed. I was confused and I'm sure that it showed. Something was wrong but I couldn't put my finger on it.

I looked down to see what he was staring at so lovingly. The diamond ring. We were engaged. The night flooded back into my mind and I couldn't help but smile at the memory. He was so hesitant at dinner when he got down on one knee and pulled out the velvet jewelry box.

Velvet….

I shook my head as I smiled up at him. His kiss last night had been more passionate but still the same safeness was in it. There was no fire, no raw passion. Should it be like that? Why was I thinking like that? It had always been Jacob and just Jacob. Why was I acting like this wasn't enough? It was enough. Of course it was; it was everything.

He didn't seem to notice the turmoil that was taking place inside of me. He just rotated my hand back and forth, catching the diamond in different patches of light, making it sparkle.

Sparkle….

That tugging was present in my mind again. I could see the endless field in front of me, the stars above me, and the magic floating around me. But what did Jacob have to do with that place?

"I've been waiting for you, Bella."

I saw Jacob's mouth move to make the words. I knew that he spoke them aloud. But it wasn't in his deep, calm rumble that I heard them. The voice that reached my ears was that musical, velvety voice of my dreams. No, of the other reality. Edward was standing in front of me with that crooked grin that melted my knees.

Edward!

The dream came rushing back with a force that left me breathless. I knew what was bothering me. I had to find Edward; I had to find where he was. I had to help him so that he could leave that beautiful but constricting place.

I pulled my hand from Jacob's grasp and ran back to my room. I ripped my closet open and pulled out an old duffle and started throwing clothes in it from my drawers and closet without really paying much attention to my selection. All that mattered was that I helped Edward. I had to go to Chicago and find out who he was.

I could feel Jacob watching me from the doorway. I knew that if I turned to look at him he would be completely confused. I knew that what I was doing made absolutely no sense. It would seem even crazier if he knew that I was chasing after a dream, literally. But I had to do it. There was no questioning it.

"What's going on, Bella?" Jake finally asked, clearly stunned by my behavior. "Are you going somewhere?"

"I have to go to Chicago," I replied as I brushed past him to grab my toothbrush from the bathroom. I came back and threw that in the duffle as well. Then I zipped it up and threw it over my shoulder. "I've only just remembered."

He followed me as I rushed downstairs. My father was already at the station. I would have to leave him a note explaining that there was an emergency. Obviously, I would lie but it was the thought that counts. I set my bag on one of the chairs in the kitchen and quickly penned a note to my father. I pinned it to the fridge. He would certainly see it there.

"Why? What's wrong? What's in Chicago?" His questions came out so quickly I didn't have time to answer them before another came.

"I need to see my old friend…Julie. She called me last night. She's having some family problems." It was bull and I was a horrible liar. I'm surprised that Jacob didn't see through my charade. But I guess that my panicked state helped the matter.

"Should I come with you?" he asked. "I could go home real quick and-."

I cut him off. "No!" I realized that I sounded a little suspicious. "No. Thank you, Jake. But it's kind of a girl thing. I'll be back soon." I pecked him on the cheek. "I'll have my cell phone. Watch after Charlie. Don't just let him eat take-out, please."

I grabbed my bag from the chair and all but ran to the door. I pulled my keys and jacket off their respective hooks and ran to my aged truck in the rain. I tossed my bag on the seat next to me once I was inside and coxed my old motor into life. I looked back to the house and saw Jacob standing on the porch, drenched by the rain, staring after me with confusion…and hurt. I felt some remorse for just taking off on him like that but there was nothing that I could do. I had to do this for Edward.

With one last look into those dark eyes that I loved and the ones that would haunt me until I returned home, I pulled out of the driveway and skidded onto the road, kicking up a shower of mud into the air in my haste. I pulled onto the highway, already driving at the top speed my poor old Chevy could handle—a mere fifty five miles per hour. Anything over that and the thing started sputtering, shaking, and wheezing like an old man. Normally, it didn't bother me; I didn't mind taking it slow and the speed limits around Forks and La Push barely went over twenty five. But now, when I really needed some power and speed, I had nothing. I would take a full hour, if not more, to make it to the airport in Port Angeles.

After an hour of crappy music, truck horns, and endless trees, I finally made it to the airport. I quickly pulled into the long term parking lot and jumped out, pulling my bag with me. I all but ran to the doors, careful not to trip over anything, especially my own two feet. Once inside, I made a mad dash for the ticket counter, not paying attention to the crowds of people I had yelling vulgarities as I pushed through them. Because I am just so lucky, I was able to book a flight for Seattle in an hour and another flight that would take me to Chicago. I checked through security, not having to worry about checking luggage—the advantage of travelling light or, in my case, in a hurry. They were already boarding my flight when I made it to the gate and I joined the cue. I looked at the passengers in line with me, never staring at one face for too long. I was only looking for one person and I knew that I wouldn't find him here. He told me to look in Chicago and that was what I was going to do. It had thousands of people living there but I would have to try. It was the least I could do.

But as a flight attendant checked my ticket and I proceeded through the tunnel to the plane, I wondered why. Why was that the least I could do? What did this man mean to me? Was I thanking him for sitting with me, for keeping me company? For something so trivial? I knew the answer. It had nothing to do with that. There was some other reason, a reason that my consciousness was clearly not aware of. I needed to help him find out who he was and why he was there. If I did, maybe he could leave and maybe I would find out why I continued to visit every night once I was asleep.

The first flight went by quickly for I was too trapped in my musings of Edward and the field. I found the gate for my second flight after landing, not wanting to risk missing it. I folded myself up in the uncomfortable blue chairs and watched as the area began to fill up around me even though I wasn't really seeing any of them. Edward was the only thing on my mind.

It was odd, I knew, to be so…obsessive over a dream. But in my heart, I knew that it was something more than that, something more powerful. There was a reason that I was there, just like there was a reason that Edward was there. Maybe we were there for the same reason. Maybe….

I scolded myself for putting me and Edward in context together. Here I was, thinking incessantly over a dream-man that had me flying halfway across the country while my fiancé was confused and hurt by my actions. I had never felt so selfish in my life but I couldn't find the right place in my mind to truly be upset by it. It was wrong but it felt right. I shouldn't be doing this but I didn't care. What kind of person did that make me?

I got the window seat for my flight to Chicago. I watched the asphalt race past as the plane picked up speed and finally took off. I felt a little better once I was in the air. I was on my way to finding Edward and I couldn't turn back now. I had chosen my path and I would have to live that now. I could live with that.

I'm not sure when I started to feel drowsy or when I allowed myself to close my eyes. The next thing that I knew, I was lying in the peaceful field, surrounded by grasses and wild flowers of stunning vibrancy. Of one thing I was certain, it was light when I fell asleep. But there was no sun here, just the cloudless night sky that was covered with tons of brilliant stars that cast their glow on the field. The warm breeze and the low hum of the lullaby were present as always.

Before sitting up, I looked myself over. As always, I was in my flowing white get-up with my brown hair falling in light ringlets around me. Just as last night, the gorgeous diamond ring was on my finger. It took a moment to look through my mind to remember why it was there. I could see a blurry face of russet swimming in my mind. It took a little longer to put a name to the face and a reason for why he was there.

Jacob. Fiancé.

In this place, the mere thought had a biting aftertaste. It seemed wrong to be thinking about it here in this paradise. It was as though thoughts of him didn't belong here. The ring weighed my hand down with a crushing force. I wanted to take it off but I knew that it wouldn't work. It would be the same as the last time I was here.

"Bella?"

A sound more musical and beautiful than even the setting rippled through the grasses behind me. I could feel him. It was as though electricity was running rampant through my body. I was pulled to him. I quickly stood up from my waking place and crossed the few feet to our circle where he was waiting patiently.

He smiled crookedly at me as I took my seat. Never one to disappoint, he held my yellow daisy in his long, white, nimble fingers. Once I was perfectly situated, he leaned forward, one hand cupping my face and the other tucking the daisy behind my ear before brushing the skin at my neck with his fingers.

But today, or tonight, or maybe it was all the same day here, was different. I could read it in his passionate green eyes that seemed to be darker than ever. I could see it on his face which was tight with anticipation. I could feel it in my stomach where the horde of butterflies had turned into something a little for aggressive—dragonflies maybe. But most of all, I could feel it in his touch. The fire was stronger and more consuming than ever before. His touch was slightly heavier than the brush of feathers that it normally was. And it didn't stop at my throat this time. The fingers of his left hand continued across my collarbone to my shoulder. From my shoulder, they snaked pleasantly down my arm, effectively raising a fair amount of goose bumps in the process. His hand then found my waist. Disappointingly, the skin there was clothed and the fire stopped at my hand. His other hand grasped my own. He stood up before me, gently pulling me with him. Soon, I was flush up against him.

It took only an instant to realize how intimate and romantic the scene around us was. The light from the stars shone dimly around us, our bodies pale in the glow. The breeze tickled past us, lifting our hair gently. The sweet aroma from the flowers filled our senses though it was not enough to stop the scent that came from Edward. The tall grasses enveloped us in a safe cocoon. Our bodies were touching at every possible point. The heat from the touch seemed to surround us like the burning of a bonfire and not even the breeze could cool it down.

It was then that our eyes connected. Green on brown. Emerald on chocolate. His eyes were so intense that I felt as though they were burning a hole right through me. The longer we stared at each other, the darker his eyes grew. Emotion after emotion flew over the surface that it became too much to comprehend. All I knew was that I never felt such a strong emotion nor had I witnessed one in another while they were looking at me. It was terrifying and exhilarating at the same time. It was everything. I felt alive, truly alive, for the first time in my young life even though I knew I was dreaming. My heart was pounding, my breath was labored, my hands, which hand ended up on his chest, were trembling, my stomach was going crazy. Every part of me had a response to Edward.

It wasn't until those mysteriously enchanting eyes were taking up more and more of my vision that I realized that our faces were coming together as well. When I had been staring at him, reveling in the reaction my body had for him, I never once thought of bringing the one part of our body that wasn't touching together. But now that it was close and within my reach, I wanted nothing more than to have his lips on mine. They were perfectly symmetrical and they looked impossibly smooth like the rest of his skin. They were parted slightly, breathing in as heavy as I was. I could feel that his own eyes were on my lips as well and I wondered if he wanted the same thing that I did. I wasn't sure if was my face or his that was moving closer or if it was both of us. All I knew was that I couldn't hold out much longer. Nothing else mattered at that point. I was gone.

I felt his cool breath fan across my face and my eyes flickered shut by their own accord. My own breath shuddered in my chest. He was so close. I was so close….

A brush. That's all it was. It was like he ran his fingertip across my bottom lip. I shivered even though the back of my mind registered that it was so small that it hardly deserved a reaction. But it wasn't insignificant. It was like a spark had been ignited by the contact, the friction. The heat spread across my lips and across my face. So small but so vital.

I'm not sure who was responsible for what happened next. All that I knew was that my lips were crushed against his in the most gentle but passionate way. I felt as though I was on overload; there was so much to feel that my brain couldn't handle it all at once. The smoothness of his lips, the way they moved with mine in perfect synchronization, the fire that was raging at the junction of my lips, the warm feel of the skin on his neck, the softness of his disarrayed hair, the feel of his chest against my own, the tempting brush of his fingertips on this skin at my hip. It was all too much.

Slowly, he pulled away. I kept my eyes closed. I didn't want to lose the moment. It was like all the romance novels that I had ever read, a kiss I always longed for. A kiss that I never received before. It all came from a boy who was trapped in a place that seemed to be from a dream and didn't seem to want to keep me. That alone could have killed me.

I felt something gently sweep across my nose. It was enough to tempt me to open my eyes. He was staring down at me with eyes even darker than before that they were nearly black. There was a small smile on his lips and I felt his hand instinctively pull me tighter against his body. I didn't complain. I just smiled back at him, completely conscious of the blush on my cheeks. Part of me wanted to break from the gaze that he had me under but I couldn't manage it. His eyes were too entrancing and they held all the emotions that I had been hoping I would one day find in someone's eyes.

How ironic. All from a dream boy. Just my luck.

He was the first to speak. "I am fully aware that I should not have done that. Forgive me, Bella, darling. It is inexcusable." As a look of sheepish embarrassment and anger passed over his eyes, he bowed his head. His angel-like face tore me apart from the inside out. He shouldn't be upset; it was just wrong.

"Why would you say that?" I asked, confused by his sudden change in emotion.

His face looked back at mine, the sadness omnipresent in the green orbs that I loved to lose myself in. He didn't answer or move for even the longest time. He just stared at me. Then, taking the hand that had been rubbing gentle circles on my back, he reached behind him to grab one of the hands that was still tangled in his hair. He held it out in front of us. The diamond ring sparkled up at us, reflecting light onto our skin. I sighed.

"Inexcusable," he said again, revulsion now the key emotion.

I shook my head quickly, taking a small step closer to him even though our bodies had not lost the previous contact. "No. I'm on my way to Chicago. I'm looking for you." I could hear the desperation in my voice.

"You are betrothed, Bella," he took a step away me but our limbs stayed locked around each other. He wanted to limit the contact but he couldn't seem to break it completely. "There is someone who is waiting for you back home." He paused and his lips moved wordlessly for a moment as though he could not make himself continue. But he did. "It's not me."

I took his face between my hands and stared deeply into his eyes. "I am going to Chicago and I will find you. I will do everything in my power to find you. You may be waiting for me there."

"But will it change anything?" he asked, a small smile on his face as though he was trying to make me see reason. "I don't have to compete with anyone here, Bella. I'm the only one you see. But where you come from, in your reality, there is someone who loves you very much. He wants to spend the rest of his life with you. I can't possibly compete with that."

"No," I said, my own smile on my face. "You've already won. I have never felt like this before." And it was true. Jacob, my Jacob, the man who had been my best friend for years, had nothing on Edward. He loved me, of that I had no doubt. But it was nothing compared to what I saw in Edward's eyes.

"It could be a result of this place. It enhances everything. It is magical. I could be nothing where you come from."

"I doubt that," I said. "I see it in your eyes." I smiled a little brighter.

Edward sighed and pulled is body away from mine completely. The sudden loss of his skin mingled with mine was pure heartache. I immediately felt as though something was missing. It was as though he took a part of me away with him.

But I knew that wasn't true. I felt the same as I always did. It was rather like he was that missing piece of the puzzle. He made me whole, complete. I was perfect when he was holding me in his arms. But now that he was away, even by only a foot, I felt like I had been broken apart. It's true that you can't miss what you never had. But now that I had it, I wasn't about to lose it. I was adamant on that, at least.

"I know what you see in my eyes," he said as he turned his back to me. He stared off at the horizon, where swaying green grasses met black expanse littered with stars. His shoulders hunched as he pinched the bridge of his nose between his thumb and index finger with his right hand. "I know what it is that I feel for you; someone that I didn't need to talk to…not even to know my love." My breath hitched at 'love'. I didn't need any more reason. That had me. I was his. "But you don't know what you feel. No, you don't know if what you feel is real. This isn't your reality, Bella. There is someone else in that reality. And even if I am there and you find me, that doesn't mean that I can match up to him. I see how it is for you here. You barely remember anything that pertains to that other world. So you can't possibly know that you feel stronger for me than the other. You just can't."

He sighed heavily, his breath shaking. I watched him closely for a minute. Even without seeing his face, I could tell that he was in pain. I could feel his pain. I coursed through me like a driving knife. In a single stride, I closed the distance between us and put my hands on his shoulders. He stiffened for a moment at the contact but he quickly relaxed under my fingers.

"Then I at least deserve the chance to see. Don't you agree, Edward?"

He nodded after I spoke and his right hand fell to his side. He breathed in deeply and I could imagine him closing his eyes as he did so.

"But I'm going to need some help," I prompted. I stepped away from him and moved back to where I normally sat in the grass. I sat in our usual Indian-style position. I waited silently for him to join me. After a minute he did, sitting closer than he usual. He raised an eyebrow, a signal for me to continue. "I need you to try to remember something…like why you sent me to Chicago. Anything that give me a clue as to where to find you. I need somewhere to start."

He bit his lip in thought as he stared up at the sky. He thought about it for a while, long enough that I absentmindedly braided a few pieces of grass together while I watched him. I couldn't take my eyes away. I knew when he had found something that could be useful. His green eyes, which were still dark with his anger at himself, lit up considerably. His eyes quickly found mine, the crooked smile in place.

"I remember a house," he said, his voice distant as he looked into his mind. "It isn't in the city, exactly, but you can see the buildings from the top of the large maple tree in the front yard. They are not too far away. It's a red brick house with white shutters. A long, wooden porch is on the front. There is a single oak rocker on the porch, surrounded by wicker chairs and a swinging bench at the end. On the railing of the house are flowers that are practically spilling from their flowerboxes. There is a white picket fence around the yard with the large maple to the right of the cobblestone sidewalk. It is lined with roses." He sighed, a smile on his face at the memory. "The name Hickory comes to mind. Hickory Drive. I want to say 479 is the number but I can't be sure…."

He trailed off, his mind still going over the house in his head. I smiled at his expression. "Thank you. That should help a little bit."

As soon as the words left my mouth, I felt the tugging sensation once again. He automatically came back to me and reached for my hand. I grabbed his and held on. He leaned down a kissed it gently, his green eyes locked on mine the entire time.

I could feel myself being pulled farther and farther away. I would be gone in a minute. I knew that he may not like it but I had to say it. I wouldn't rest until I did. I might be wrong, it might not be real, but I couldn't help myself. It was there and I couldn't resist it.

"I love you, Edward," I said, my voice strong with conviction. I stared at him with hard eyes as though challenging him to say anything against it. "I will find you. I promise."

Edward stared back at me, a sad look in his eyes. But there was also something else mixed in. Could it be? Or was I imagining it? Nothing was impossible at this point.

Just as I could no longer feel the ground beneath me, the wind playing at my hair, the grass tickling my arms, or his hand grasping mine, he gave me a small smile.

"I love you, my Bella, darling."

I was swallowed by the blackness again before I found myself in my seat on the airplane. An attendant was standing over me, wearing a forced smile with lip liner. "Miss? Please buckle your seatbelt. We will be landing shortly."

She stalked away with a slight shake of her head. I glared after her before complying. I watched as the asphalt raced up to meet us. I felt the light, double bump as the tires hit the ground and we finally came to a stop.

"Flight 175, Seattle to Chicago."

Well, there is Part II. I really hope that you enjoyed it.

I would like to wish everyone that is reading a safe and happy New Year! And now, if you would be so kind, please review.