The Twilight Twenty-Five
thetwilight25[dot]com

Prompt: Meadow

Pen Name: Mcgt
Pairing/Main Character(s): Bella
Rating: M

This will be a multi-chaptered story.

Photo prompts can be viewed here: thetwilight25[dot]com/round-six/prompts

A/N

Thanks toLittleRedScientist for helping beta this for me and Jenequilter for her prereader skills.

Chapter 8 – Meadow – Sweet Dreams are Made of These

His arrival was almost silent.

I wasn't sure how long he'd been sitting beside me, gently stroking the back of my hand before I woke up enough to feel it.

How he snuck in without me noticing was a bit disconcerting but his calming effect was nothing short of miraculous.

Only a while ago I was frustrated, angry and was wishing for a way out of my current predicament, a running theme in my life and so called after-life. Unfortunately running away wasn't getting me anywhere.

More like the treadmill on my way to been there, done that.

His presence changed all that.

I felt relaxed and my intense urge to flee was no longer present. In fact quite the opposite, I longed to remain in his company for as long as I would be allowed. My curiosity had been peaked and I kept wondering who he was and why he was visiting me.

The last time he appeared it felt like a confessional, and I was the only one who could absolve his guilt. It was a stark contrast to my other visits where I was always the star attraction.

He didn't speak for a long time but I could tell he was just choosing his words carefully. Or at least I'd like to think that's what was causing him to open his mouth, pause, and close it again, repeatedly.

Unfortunately, God was still obviously angry with me based on the fuzzy image of my mystery man, just like last time. His mouth and chin, throat and shoulders are clear and defined, but the rest is just a hazy cloud of what I could almost feel might be the man of my dreams.

"Who are you?" I asked softly, turning onto my side to try and see if a change in position would clarify his image at all. Unfortunately it didn't help, and instead of answering me, he just smiled sadly.

"Isabella," his whisper came out like a sigh, one that you've been holding in for some time.

I waited not knowing what I could say to ease whatever was burdening his mind.

"I had a dream about you today." He paused again appearing to collect his thoughts.

In a flash we were now sitting on a blanket in a meadow, surrounded by all the wildflowers the spring graces the Pacific Northwest with each year.

It was breathtaking.

The field was an explosion of purple, yellow and orange blooms that encircled the small navy night-watch plaid blanket we were seated on. We were both sitting Indian style while one of his hands continued to hold on to mine. So gently, it was as if he felt I was a fragile egg he was in charge of not breaking.

Sitting beside me he explained his dream about how he had been sitting in this meadow with me, talking and joking as we got to know one another. He paused dramatically once again unsure of what say when he blurted that the dream had taken a more erotic turn when out of the woods a cheetah began chasing us both down. We ran and ran but the jungle cat continued to pursue us until finally, he woke up with a start.

"My only concern during the entire dream was to protect you, keep you from danger. I wish I knew why I can't seem to get you out of my mind. It doesn't seem to matter what time of day- awake, asleep, working or at rest, you've completely captivated my attention."

Now his words had completely rendered me speechless.

I wished I could express my surprise at our intense connection but no words would spring to my lips. We both reclined onto the blanket holding hands between us as we lay shoulder to shoulder looking up at the clear blue sky.

"You're so beautiful, even resting. I can't seem to help myself." His hand drifted up to move a stray hair off of my forehead. That simple gentle graze of his fingertips sent my pulse racing.

"Hey, relax it's just me," he murmured, making me wonder if perhaps my tell-tale blush had arisen to warn him of my unexpected swooning over him. He slid closer to me on the blanket we were sharing and continued to run his fingers through my hair and spoke soothing words in soft tones, almost like he was trying to not scare a wounded animal.

"I'm fine. Truly," I replied once I'd gathered my wits about me. I'd kept my eyes closed, fearful that my lie would be easily revealed in one telltale glance.

He was a stranger who I knew nothing about. Connection or no, I still didn't know him or what his intentions were.

He could have been the devil incarnate for all I knew, and without Alistair's presence I had no one to ask but him.

Instead of pestering him with a slew of questions I had a feeling he wouldn't be able to answer I remained silent. I was simply enjoying the feel of his hand holding mine own, and the sound of his breath a steady rhythm I could focus on over the wash of the ocean.

"Sometimes it feels like I've known you forever," he whispered before I felt the brush of his lips against my forehead.

My eyes fluttered open and I realized we were back in my cottage and he'd pushed the chair back to its rightful spot next to the table by the door.

"Sweet dreams Isabella. I'll see you tomorrow." He exited my room much like he entered, with barely the click of the door, and he was gone.

I was all alone once again and any kind of respite from the anxiety I'd been feeling melted away with his departure.

My loneliness felt like a heavy boulder weighing me down, dragging me beneath the depths of the ocean that was so close to where I sat.

If this was going to be my never-ending loop of a story, I could only pray that every night I'd be visited by my mystery man. He was the tiny beacon of light in my otherwise monotonous after life. Visit after visit, they were all starting to wear on me, especially since they didn't seem to get me any closer to figuring out where I was, and how I could get out of this purgatorial existence.

No, if this was my Groundhog Day, I'd take spending every evening curled up next to my stranger. He was the only solace I felt I had.

Closing my eyes again, I allowed my mind to drift off to the imaginary sound of his deep timbre voice and comforting touch.

A/N

Thanks for reading. GOOD NEWS! Next week all will be revealed. Stay tuned. Tuesday & Thursday's chapters will shed light on what has been going on to our dear lovely Bella. (Aren't you glad I didn't make you wait until chapter 15?) Me too.

Leave me some love, theories, etc.

Have a good weekend and see you Tuesday!