A/N: Dear readers. A new chapter might come as a surprise to you after that author's note I published a week ago. Like I say in that note, I was halfway through this chapter when I heard about the earthquake in Chile. And after getting some wonderful reviews from readers over here in Fanfiction as well as over there in Twilighted, I realized my readers deserved to read whatever I'd written. So, with a heavy heart and while praying for Mariana's well-being, I decided to finish this chapter. This chapter is un-beta'd. If you come across any sort of grammar or tense errors (which I'm sure you will), please forgive me for them. Let us all pray that Mariana and her family is safe.

Bella

When I was very young, I remember that every summer, Charlie would drag us to see Mamaw and Pop in Maryland. My grandparents had a nice little house in a secluded part of the city. It became an unspoken ritual for Charlie to get all domestic and start making barbecue for dinner once every time we visited. I remember standing outside in their nicely mowed lawn and watching pieces of meat getting roasted in the heat. I almost always wondered during that time, how hot the grill must get. When I saw the steam evolving every time a cold piece of meat hit the red hot grills, I would get my answer. The grills were very hot, indeed.

That was how every nerve ending of my body felt when Edward touched me. It seemed like every nerve was on fire and he was both the cause of it as well as its remedy. Every time his cool breath fell on my over-heated skin, I squirmed under his touch, wanting more yet afraid of being unable to handle it.

I shyly muttered, "I'll see you on Thursday," and looked up to meet those mesmerizing emerald green eyes of his. He nodded slightly, with a smile around the corner of those perfect lips and I realized I couldn't hold myself together anymore. So, I turned my back to him and hurried towards my house, praying to God so that I could make it there without injuring or humiliating myself.

Once I was inside my house, I tried very unsuccessfully to hide the silly grin on my face. Thankfully my dad and brother seemed to have retired for the night and as I was about to heave a sigh of relief and creep up the stairs stealthily, Renee's way too observant eyes caught me.

She was wiping a plate with a dishtowel in the kitchen, facing me. As I met her gaze, she raised an eyebrow quizzically.

"Um, yeah, the neighbours sort of filled all the trash cans with all their rubbish. It took me a while to find an empty trash can…" I said. I mentally smacked myself at the back of my head for my pathetic explanation.

She lowered her raised eyebrow and continued wiping the already dry plate. "I wanted to ask you if you wanted waffles for breakfast tomorrow…"

Stupid should be my name. Could I be any more obvious? Finally, I replied, "Yeah that would be great. Good night, mum."

Just as I had turned my back to her to go up the stairs, she called out. "Oh and Bella? Next time, please invite him in. It's rude to keep guests waiting outside."

I felt my face heating up and I had no strength to turn and face her. So, like a coward, I hid my face from my mum and hurried up the stairs, tripping when I reached the top.

I had always been a sound sleeper. All my life, as soon as my head hit the pillow, I have been able to fall asleep within minutes. However, that definitely was not the case on that particular night. I had taken off the sweatshirt I was wearing outside and was sleeping in the cotton t-shirt I was wearing underneath and sweatpants. I placed the sweatshirt I had worn at the foot of my bed and after every two minutes or so, my eyes would drift to that piece of garment, wondering if Edward's smell still lingered on it. I tossed and turned in my bed, thinking about what he was doing right now. Was he asleep, or was he up, thinking maybe?

I sat up, reached out and picked up my sweatshirt and fell asleep with it tucked under my arm.

It seemed like the alarm went off soon after I had fallen asleep. I groaned loudly, threw the covers off myself and got up reluctantly from bed. I brushed my teeth hastily, picked something from my closet to wear and brushed my hair indifferently. Clearly, I had my mind elsewhere.

Downstairs, Renee set down the previously promised waffles on a plate in front of me, with a knowing smirk on her face. Seriously, I have such a hard time understanding my mother. When I saw that my brother had left for work and Charlie had settled down with the day's paper, I cautiously approached the subject that would inevitably come up.

"Mom," I started and immediately that stupid grin spread across my face as I realized I was going to talk about the love of my life with my mother.

"Yes, dear?" she asked nonchalantly, putting a spoonful of whipped cream on the waffles on my plate.

I kept my head down, trying to hide that smile and paid attention to the food on my plate. "I just…."

"Hmm, do I get to know the reason behind that smile of yours? Or is it my waffles that are making you extra happy today, huh?" she asked giving me the look that said she knew everything.

At this, I lowered my head even further and groaned in frustration. Renee just laughed. She came over to where I sat and wrapped her hands around my shoulders, patting my head. "It's okay; we'll talk about it when you are ready."

Edward

I was sitting on a field of grass. Bluebells and daisies covered the ground around me, while the afternoon sun shone mercilessly, blinding me with the light. I held up an arm to shield my eyes and that's when I saw him.

He was standing a few feet away from me, his mop of auburn hair sitting unceremoniously on top of his head. He looked about five and his hair colour and brown eyes looked painfully familiar. Yet, I was very much aware of the fact I had never seen this child before. He had his left arm stretched towards me, beckoning me to follow him.

I stood up on my shaky legs and he walked towards me, grasped my hand with his little ones and tugged me forward. His hands were warm and now that we were in a closer proximity, I realized he had my jaw line and high cheekbones kids used to make fun when I was in kindergarten.

He held my hand until we reached the middle of the field. Suddenly, he released my hand and ran towards an unknown figure standing across from us. She held out her arms and the little boy jumped into them. My eyes widened as I realized what I was witnessing.

Angela, still beautiful in a lime green dress, while the wind blew her dark curly hair that curtained her oh-so familiar face. She held the boy in her arms while he squealed in joy, her laughter synchronized with his.

Abruptly, they both went quiet and turned to face me. The little boy, a smile still gracing his lips, mouthed one word in a whisper, yet it rang out clearly across the entire field: "Daddy."

My eyes flew open as I realized my entire room was bathed in sunlight streaming through the winds. As was usual when I was dreaming, the bed sheets were tangled with my limbs, while I was covered in a thin film of sweat.

I sat up and checked the watch on the nightstand. Darn it! I had almost overslept. If I hurried, I'll be able to get to work in time.

So, that was how I kept my mind from wandering back to the dream. I got dressed, grabbed a latte on my way and reached my workplace at just five minutes past nine. I was late, but marginally so. Throughout my drive, I had successfully managed not to succumb to thinking about the dream. But once I was settled in my office room and glanced at the picture of me and Angela, taken during one Thanksgiving, it all started coming back.

Every minute detail – the sound of the child laughing, the way the corners of Angela's eyes crinkled when she laughed along with him and the way the sunlight reflected on her dark hair. What mostly bothered, no, fascinated me was the way the two seemed to be at ease with each other. I felt like a complete outsider. I felt like I was letting go of the memories of the love of my life – like she was turning into a stranger. That thought terrified me and kept me from paying attention to work all day.

At the end of the day, when I was finally able to get my mind off of that dream, last night's conversation with Bella started coming back to my memory. I remembered everything, how my body reacted to her, the way she blushed at everything I said and the way I had practically assaulted her in my apartment. I felt sick. I felt like a manipulative monster, playing with a girl's emotions while I already had such a horrendous past to haunt me. She doesn't deserve that. She doesn't deserve any of the miseries I had put her through, intentionally or not.

As if on cue, my Blackberry buzzed, indicating I had received a text message. The number was familiar.

Apology accepted – Bella.

I groaned and dropped my face in my hands.

A/N It's a short chapter, I admit. I just hope that one day Mariana will come back and read this.

Meanwhile, I have some fic recommendations for you: 'Juice Me Up' by Leon McFrenchington and 'In Bloom' by queenofgrey.