I write this as I sit at a Starbucks and drink vanilla lattes and have a 3-cheese sandwich. Do they have those in the States? Anyway, we're closer to the end… sorry about the super long wait, but work was kicking my ass. Enjoy!

She didn't know me.

Her words hit me square in the chest as though she'd actually punched me. I could only stare at her as she began to cry and Alice ushered us out of the room, doctors included. They huffed indignantly, but one evil glare from my sister had them scurrying down the hallway.

All I wanted was to go to Bella's side, hold her hand, and explain everything to her. I knew Jasper would do all that, as he was technically the only person she did know. He was her therapist, after all.

We made our way to the waiting room. I paced restlessly, while Alice sat on the squeaky leather couch. I ran my hands through my hair, making it stand on end. I must have looked deranged; an older woman gave me occasional sympathetic glances. She probably thought someone I loved was in surgery or very seriously hurt. Except I was the one that hurt. Fuck, I was being such a pussy about this…

"Edward, stop. You're making me nervous," Alice chirped.

"Shit." I came to a halt and just plopped next to her. She gripped my arm in sympathy as I put my head in my hands. Hadn't we just done this?

"We have to give her time, I think." Alice rubbed my arm soothingly, patting my back with her other hand. I felt like a child.

"More time?"

"Seriously, Edward, you've known her for like a month… it's a little premature, isn't it?"

"Probably," I sighed. Alice had a point. We had just met. Or to be precise, I had just met Isabella. And Bella didn't know me at all.

"Well, look at it this way. She's just been through hell. Bella seems like a lonely kind of girl. Maybe she'd like to remain friends with us. Get to know you."

"Do you honestly believe that?" I leaned on the back of the couch, tilting my head back and closing my eyes. My head was starting to hurt like a mother. "She seemed extremely freaked out by everything."

"She feels that now. But time, Edward… there's always time."

And who would give us back the time we had spent together?

Bella wasn't looking at me. At all. I was practically boring two holes on her back, but she remained oblivious. I tapped my fork impatiently on the edge of my plate until an elderly woman turned around and glared at me in annoyance. I shrugged an apology and went back to staring at the girl of my dreams.

Literally.

Ever since I had had that fucking regression, Bella—or Isabella I guess—had starred in my dreams night after night. It was always the same. I was riding a horse like mad on a dusty road, surrounded by scrawny mesquite trees. The sense of urgency in my dream was overwhelming; something was pulling me in a single direction and I rode the horse towards it.

After awhile, as the sun dwindled in twilight, I reached a rough-hewn gate. It was the entrance to a great estate. Still, I rode, until a huge house came into view. Other people dressed in shabby clothes walked about, herding chickens and cattle and going about life that was centuries old. I vaulted off my ride, and strode purposefully to the heavy metal-studded door. Before I could pound on it, it would creak open, and Isabella stood there.

The look in her eyes was indescribable. Utter joy and relief were etched upon her face, as I engulfed her in my arms without further order or ceremony. I twirled her around and around, as her embroidered skirt swirled about us.

A comforting sense of being home pervaded me, as I inhaled the sweet scent of her hair. Our eyes met. And then, right before I fucking kissed her, I would startle awake, and I could swear that the smell of strawberries and flowers still lingered on my pillow.

Frustrated and confused—those were my mornings now. I usually spent my mornings and afternoons painting in Jasper and Alice's attic, which they had kindly let me keep as my studio. It had been awhile before I'd worked up the courage to stalk her at work. Rose and Emmett would occasionally give me little tidbits about her, but I couldn't resist seeing Bella for myself.

And now, she wouldn't even acknowledge my existence. I suppose I might have made her uncomfortable with my impromptu appearance. Well, impromptu for her, at least. I had planned my outfit very carefully (with Alice's assistance, of course), and what I would say, and had even dared hope for what she might reply. Of course, it all went to shit and now I was ogling her and fucking pouting because she wouldn't just turn and look at me.

When I finally left, I tried to edge as close as possible to the hostess stand for the chance to say something to Bella. Unfortunately, she was busy trying to find a lost reservation for some really bitchy ladies, and so barely even glanced at me. All I could muster was a lame-ass smile before I pushed my way into the balmy night.

Back at square one. No time to lose—and I made my decision.

I pulled out my cell phone and scrolled through my contacts. The line rang a couple of times before a deep female voice answered.

"Victoria? Hey, it's me. I really need to see you tonight."

DUN DUN DUUUUUUNNNNN… Okay, trust me on this, ladies (and gents—you know you're out there). Intrigued? Put me on alert and pimp me out to your friends. Last chapter coming up! And sorry about the lateness of this one. Huge apology and hugs.