For the first time in three months, Jacob dreamed.

"Jacob." Her voice was uncertain, calling through a thick shroud of mist. "Cate," He breathed. She walked forward, forehead wrinkled in concern.
Agony ripped through him when he saw her face: beautiful, lovable, and completely a dream.
"Why," He asked slowly, "Are you doing this to me?" How it hurt him. How it hurt to look at her. She hadn't ever done this before- why come to him now? She must know. She must know the torture it caused him. Just her face was slowly shredding apart his swollen, frail scab over the wound of her absence.
"Who's Sara?" She shot back, eyes flashing.
He stared at her. "SARA?"
"Yes, the girl you like so much," She hesitated, and he watched her anxiously for her next words,"Who's replacing me." The shattered, breakable look on her face was like the ragged edge of glass plunging into the depths of his chest.
"Cate, I don't-" His voice broke before his face hardened. "No one will ever replace you."
Her expression was hopelessly sad. "She's already started to."
His jaw was set. "Never."
She looked up at him. "Jacob," She began, a weak smile on her face as tears welled in her large, afflicted eyes.
"NO."
She shook her head. "It's going to hurt for awhile, but maybe," She broke off, breathing jerkily, "After time…" She couldn't continue.
He reached out for her, only to have his hands pass through her as if she were steam. His hands dropped like they'd touched fire. "No," He said firmly, "I'll wait."
"Till you die?" She laughed bitterly, "They're trying to make you a vampire- how long will it be before you grow bored of waiting for me Jacob?"
"Forever." He replied stubbornly.
She laughed again, this time softer and more real. "I miss you," She admitted, a few tears spilling over.
He watched them trail down her cheek absently, wondering how long it would take before they figured out he'd commited suicide.
"I have to go," she said softly after a silence, her eyes tracing over his face as if memorizing it.
"Do you remember my promise?" Jacob demanded.
She smiled sadly, blushing a little,"Remind me again."
"Forever. My heart will always be yours alone." He said solemnly.
She was starting to fade, but her laugh was still clear.
"I love you." He whispered.
He heard her hesitation, "Me too," She replied, her voice a slight whisp of sound now, but he knew she meant it. Dream or not, Cate was here. She had come to him.
I love you. Jacob repeated in his thoughts, over and over.
He didn't know if she would hear him anymore, she was gone in the mist like she'd never been there.
"More than you know," He whispered after her, turning his face away.