Happy Christmas to those who celebrate!

This chapter offers some transition and Bella and Jasper meet an interesting new character. The story really picks up after this. Some things are really important for later though.

P.S. I added a prologue! I figured it would help people get a better understanding of where this is going. Sorry if this is confusing, but it should clear things up.

Saudade (n.) A nostalgic longing to be near again to something or someone that is distant, or that has been loved and then lost; "the love that remains"

August 12, 1989

Budapest, Hungary

5:28 pm

Jasper and Bella were among the last people to debark the train. They were greeted by a small group of people standing outside and speaking quickly to departing passengers. They appeared to be trying to persuade them.

Over the past weeks Bella and Jasper had visited many European cities and their travel had now brought them to Budapest, Hungary. Jasper had been particularly excited to visit there for reasons unknown to Bella.

Jasper craned his neck as they approached the crowd. "Are you looking for someone?" Bella asked, noticing what he was doing.

"Yeah," he answered absentmindedly. "Remember how I told you we had somewhere to stay?"

"Yeah?"

"Well that somewhere is with one of them." He gestured to the group of people in front of them.

"Szeretnél valahol maradni?" a small woman asked as they passed. Jasper hastily shook his head, still peering above the crowd.

"Well are you looking for someone in particular?" Bella asked noticing that he was ignoring most of the people.

"A friend of mine told be about a man," he answered. Bella gave him an incredulous look not trusting any of his friends. Especially since the black-eye incident that he refused to discuss even though he promised he would explain. "A doctor. He's usually here and – oh, I think that might be him!"

A man stood on the far side of the station away from them. He too, was approaching travellers. Jasper hastily made his way towards him with Bella following behind.

"Te doktor Klein?" he asked the man as they approached.

"Igen," he answered. "Are you Americans?" He looked at them with curiosity. The man was of average height with graying blonde hair. His English sounded impeccable from the very few words he spoke. Bella noticed what sounded like a slight a slight English accent.

"Yes."

"You must be looking for a place to stay." He shoved his hands in the front pockets of his jacket, regarding the two travelers curiously.

"We are," said Jasper. "Our friend Elisabeth told me about you." This calmed Bella's nerves. Ms. Acker is a thousand times more trustworthy than one of Jasper's other friends.

Dr. Klein's blue eyes twinkled in understanding. "I think I know exactly who you are speaking of. Please, call me Carlisle."

"Nice to meet you Carlisle. I'm Jasper." Jasper held out his hand for him to shake. "And this is my friend Isabella Swan."

Bella fought the urge to roll her eyes at his use of her full given name. "It's nice to meet you."

The people around them started to dissipate as the train finally left the station.

"Well, Menjünk!" Carlisle said, clapping his hands together. He turned to leave the station and Bella and Jasper followed behind assuming whatever he said meant that they should follow.

He led them to his parked car where they loaded their backpacks into the trunk before following him. "You are backpackers?"

"Yes."

He nodded his head knowingly. "Quite a few travellers come in. People wait at the station to offer a place for travellers to stay for a small price."

Bella found it curious that he was there. If he was a doctor surely he made enough.

"What kind of doctor are you?" She asked, making conversation. "My dad is a doctor too."

"I used to be a general physician," he answered simply. He smiled at her through the rearview mirror with kind tired eyes that were full of wisdom from life's experiences. "I don't practice medicine anymore though." His voice almost sounded sad.

Not long after, the pulled up to a modest looking house. "This is it. It's not a lot, but it's home."

He helped Bella with her bag while she followed with Jasper who carried his own. The inside of the house was very tidy and well decorated. She wondered if there was a Mrs. Klein.

"I live alone," he said, unintentionally answering her unasked question. "Your bedroom is down that way. It is the last door."

After Bella and Jasper settled in their shared room they rejoined Carlisle in the living room. They chatted about their trip and Jasper seemed reluctant to say very much. He was deep in thought and left most of the talking to Bella and the doctor.

"We are going around to see the city tomorrow."

"You should visit the Opera house. The Basilica is nice too," he said pensively. "Oh, and Memento Park. That's one to see now."

"That sounds great." Bella pulled out her notebook and started making note of his suggestions.

Carlisle started dinner and Bella joined him as he taught her how to make a traditional Hungarian dish. She noticed Jasper had disappeared once again. When dinner was ready, he reemerged and barely touched his food. Something was seriously wrong with her friend.

Carlisle moved to the living room after dinner with a newspaper and a cup of tea.

"There is a lot of political drama in the country at the moment," he said taking a sip of his coffee. He didn't seem to be talking directly to her. He was simply musing.

Bella looked around the small living room, taking in her surroundings. She noticed that Carlisle Klein didn't have many personal items such as photographs. The only things that gave away much about his self was his collection of books and various trinkets that came from an array of places.

"Do you travel a lot?" Bella asked.

"I used to," he said, his eyes lighting up as he leaned forward. "I was very adventurous in my youth. Oh, the places I've been. I was like you once."

"Really?" she asked, her curiosity was piqued. "Where did you go?"

"Where didn't I go. I've been to all the continents, except Antarctica. I went bird watching in the Galapagos. I used to live in Sierra Leone and I practiced medicine there. I even, as cliché as it sounds, fell in love in France."

"Wow," she said in awe. "Was it Paris?"

"Not that clichéd," he laughed. "Her name was Essie and we met not far from Lyon. She had the most amazing green eyes and copper colored hair. She was the most beautiful woman in the world. I knew very quickly that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her. Essie was smart, funny and quick-witted and she was everything I wanted in a wife. Someone to spend forever with." He had a nostalgic look on his face.

"That sounds so romantic."

He sighed, putting down his mug. "It was. At least, while it lasted. I let her get away. She was perfect. I didn't believe in soul mates, but when I met her I knew. We just bumped into each other. She spoke very little English, but that was fine because I went to school in France as a boy. I am fluent in the language." He rubbed his chin as the memories came back to him. "It was a summer before I went to medical school. We did everything and went everywhere together. We ran off to Paris together for an entire week and her parents were livid when we came back. They didn't know about me."

"Was that the last time you saw her?"

"No," Carlisle said. "The last time was at the end of the next summer. We were fighting. She said she never wanted to see me again and that was the last we saw of each other. Our families didn't approve and she didn't want to be secret lovers. We both said things that we regretted later." He rubbed his eyes, possibly holding back tears. "Essie called me at my home in England a few months after but I turned her away. She said she had something to say, but I didn't want to hear it. To this day, I wish I had listened. I still hear her voice. She sounded so broken. It was probably her grandmother's passing. They were so close."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be," he said sadly. "I was foolish. I let her get away. She probably married someone and had children by now. Hopefully she's happy and well."

Bella nodded sadly, hoping the same.

"Just remember," Carlisle said looking indulgently at her. "If you find the right one, don't let him get away."

"I won't," she said with a smile.

"Good." He picked up his paper. "Now, enough of this depressing stuff. What about you? You're headed to France?"

"Burgundy," she answered. "I'm going to pick grapes. I don't have to be there until sometime in October though."

"Burgundy," he murmured. "To pick grapes. Sounds like an adventure."

"Have you been in that area?"

He regarded her silently for a few seconds. He was deep in thought. "Once or twice I think. The wine is exquisite though."

"So I hear."

"Well you should hear about the time I went to Bordeaux." Carlisle continued with fascinating stories of his youth and his time spent travelling. He had seen so much and lived a very fulfilling life, but Bella could tell there was still something missing.

The next day found Bella and Jasper exploring Budapest. "That Dr. Klein is an interesting man isn't he?" Jasper asked as they exited an old church. Jasper carried his backpack with him while Bella only carried a small purse that contained maps, tickets and a small disposable camera.

"He most certainly is," she said, thinking back to their late night conversation. "I can't believe he's originally from England."

"Yeah. I wonder what he's doing all the way in Hungary."

"Who knows? He's been everywhere. Maybe he liked her for his permanent home."

Jasper hummed in agreement. "Where to next?" He fiddled with the camera that hung around his neck. Bella noticed the expensive looking camera and absentmindedly wondered where it came from. She didn't even know he owned one.

"Uh…Memento Park," she said after pulling out her map and checking the small notation. "Carlisle suggested it. Then some more historic stuff."

"History," he groaned with a dramatic roll of his eyes. "Great." He snapped a quick picture of her, causing her to blink in surprise.

"Hey I wasn't ready!" she whined lightly shoving his arm.

He laughed boisterously causing an older woman to regard them with trepidation. "Those are the best ones."

"Come on you bozo." She grabbed his arm, pulling him in the direction they were supposed to go. "You're scaring people." She knew something was going on with him. Jasper's behavior had been very strange in the past days. He was the one that suggested Budapest and now he gave the impression that he had no interest in being there. She couldn't figure out why he wanted to visit there so badly in the first place.

"We have a lot of time before October, where should we go next?" she asked, linking their arms together.

"I was thinking about Italy," he said. "And Croatia. I think the InterRail goes there."

"Italy," she repeated with a grin imagining the fun they would have. "I love the sound of that."

Review and recommend if you like it please! I know exactly where I am taking this and it should be interesting.

Translations

Te doktor Klein? – Are you Dr. Klein?

Igen – yes

Menjünk! – Let's go!