A/N: Set during New Moon when Bella chases Edward through the woods in an attempt to find him after he leaves her.

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Chapter 15

Bella's POV-

"We have to go back."

Sam stared at me like I had developed two horns on either side of the head overnight, a frown on his face as he debated over my logical thinking abilities.

"It is not fair." I continued. "We are being super selfish here. We have to think about Bella and Sam- the other ones. They are completely innocent in this mess. Even we are innocent in a way- but they more than even us. I guess life screwed us all evenly…"

"Hold on." he held up a hand, silencing my rambling. "You were the one who vehemently insisted that we don't go back, that we choose this life over our previous one."

"Yes, I did. But I didn't know the repercussions of my actions back then. Now I do. Rosalie made me understand…"

"Rosalie? What did she tell you?" he seemed concerned.

I sighed, shutting my eyes briefly. "Nothing. Just showed me the fucking mirror. Sam," I paused, nursing a quickly forming headache. "I really don't want to leave. I wish we could stay...but we ought to not disturb their lives. We can't do that. I can't knowingly punish an innocent in a world of dangerous vampires and werewolves. That's cruel!"

"We did not choose that life." he weakly protested.

"I know." I softly admitted. "But still, it is ours. We will have to live in our actual worlds. It may not be any good, but that is how fate deemed it for us."

"I won't be there."

I swallowed a gulp. "I know." I would miss him. Sam was my….I could not explain what Sam had come to mean to me. Just that I could no longer live without him in my life. "But I will be there in your universe." I attempted a forced smile. "You have imprinted on her- me. Don't fight it after going back. Accept it. You both will be very happy." The last few words were attempted through unstoppable tears.

"It won't be the same." he looked away from me, his eyes too moist.

I know.

It would be the same...and yet, it wouldn't be the same.

That Bella was a lucky girl.

"Please." I begged. "We owe this to them."

"Are you sure? We can still think over this?"

I shook my head in firmness. We had to do this.

It was doing the right thing. They did not deserve it.

Sam sighed, wincing. "When…"

He could not complete that sentence, and neither could I.

"Now?" I whispered, my heart heavy with emotion. I would miss this place. I would miss these people. Even Edward and Alice. I would miss this life of happiness and surety. And I would miss Sam the most.

I would miss his company...his smile...the peace he radiated.

I would miss him so much!

"Will you come searching for me?" he softly asked. "Maybe, you would be my imprint in your universe, too?"

I nodded my head in response, not having it in me to verbally respond.

I would search for him.

I didn't know what I would find...whether I would even find him or not in my original universe...but I would definitely look.

He was worth it.

At the same time in another universe

Sam's POV-

"Yo, boss, what do we do next?"

I frowned, having no answer to provide to him. The process wasn't something I was rather aware of.

"How do we kill a vampire?"

Er.

I don't know.

Just a few days ago, I had been a normal adult about to be married to the love of his life, and now I was a nobody teenager living with his parents and part-timing as a feral wolf.

It sounded insane even in my own head!

God knows, I probably belonged to some mental asylum!

"Sam, we really need to know." Jared- I had finally learnt his name- coaxed. "You have been a shape-shifter for over a year, the elders tell us. Surely, you know the ropes by now?"

Actually...how was I to tell him that a year ago, Bella and I had been having the time of our life, celebrating our first kiss anniversary with a weekend getaway to Seattle...it had been wonderful that weekend…

Anyhow, I was surely not spending my evenings traipsing as an animal a year ago...or ever!

"Jared...Paul...I need some time before I can answer you." I sighed. I would have to do some research work…but how? There was not one soul I could ask, at least not without admitting the truth.

This was not my world; I had figured that much out. But how had I reached here and why, I had not a clue!

I had tried finding Bella out, but according to a very differently behaving Charlie Swan, Bella was away for a few days with his wife, visiting some relative. He seemed reluctant to share more, for some weird reason.

Weren't Bella and I together in this world?

I did not deem anyone trustworthy enough to enquire on this. I would just have to wait for her to come back. I wish Edward was around- I could have asked him...but neither was he nor was Alice.

I guess, till I found someone I could trust, I had my instincts to guide me.

Uh-oh.

What was happening?

Why was I shaking?

This didn't seem like an earthquake!

"Sam?" Jared questioned, speaking through the mind-link. For some strange reason, I could hear them in my head, but they couldn't hear me back. Not unless I threw a message their way. "Are you okay? You are shaking?"

I don't know what was happening!

Was I having a seizure?

How?

Why?

I had never had one before! What was happening to me?

"Sam?" Paul, too, seemed worried. A first, it seemed to be.

Was I fading out?

How?

I was a human; we couldn't do that!

Crap. I was actually- creepily- fading out! I could sense myself go faint and fainter...before...