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

Chapter 21

Bella's POV-

"Char…dad?"

I rubbed my eyes hard, blinking repeatedly, as I attempted to make sense of what my eyes were seeing, and my mind was forced to believe.

What was Charlie doing here?

He was a human! Why wasn't I tempted to drink from him? Why wasn't my throat on fire?

How on earth had he even traced me?

I was so, freaking far away from Forks?

Wait.

I looked down.

Oh. Fuck.

I was human again?

Really?

Now, I wasn't unhappy by that change- no one really would, but I hadn't fallen down any tunnel this time around!

"Bells, you know I have an important meeting first thing in the morning today." Charlie seemed pissed. And nervous. Strange.

And yeah, actually, I didn't know about any important meeting today!

"Um, dad?" I forced a smile. "How old am I?"

Better to start at the basics.

He frowned. Obviously, anyone would.

No sane adult asked their father this question! Ever.

"Bella…" he slowly trailed the word, mentally questioning my state of health.

I waved him off. "Just tell me, dad."

He sighed, rolling his eyes briefly, muttering the word 'teenager' under his breath. "You are eighteen."

Okay. I could deal with that.

Thank God, I wasn't thirteen or fourteen in this universe!

Imagine going through puberty again!

Ew.

"Er, dad," I pushed a strand of hair behind my ear, my hands soft and my body warm; it felt strange to be a human again. "Where is Sam?"

Were we friends in this universe?

Were we together?

I couldn't deal with another universe wherein Sam was not near me.

Charlie frowned; his eyebrows raised to heaven. "Sam Uley?"

I nodded my head in agreement.

At least, he existed; that was certainly something to be happy about!

"I didn't know you two were friends?"

I waved him off. Long story, Charlie.

"Well," he cleared his throat. "I don't know much about him, apart from what I hear from Billy. But are you sure you want to hang out with him? From what I hear, he has this messiah type reputation on the res. But at least, he is not Edward Cullen, eh?" he smirked.

Wait.

What the hell universe was I now in?

"I was with Edward?"

"Bells, are you okay?"

"Perfectly alright. Now answer." I growled out.

"Okay. Okay." He put his hands in front of his chest, attempting to pacify me. "You were with Edward. Broke up a couple of weeks ago. You were upset initially. Upset being an understatement! You refused to eat or drink on your own. Just sat on a chair staring at God only knows what! From the outside, it seemed like your body was here, but you were elsewhere. I tried pulling you out, random words popping out of your mouth at times. Last night though, you got up from that chair and came to lie down on your bed, muttered a 'good night', and now, you are here, speaking as much in weeks."

Oh.

"Did I celebrate my eighteenth birthday with the Cullen's?"

Charlie's widened frown was my answer.

I looked down at my wrist; James's imprint remained.

Was it all a dream?

But it seemed so real?

I had to talk to Sam.

Only then would I get some clarity.

"I have to go." I mumbled out, getting out of the bed and rushing towards the bathroom, quick to freshen up, avoiding Charlie's confused stare and well-meaning questions, as I sat in my truck and drove towards La Push, only one thing on my mind.

If this was some other universe, Sam would be as confused as I was!

The drive to La Push seemed never ending, my fingers tapping on the steering wheel as I boldly broke all the speeding rules- eh, I was the police chief's daughter! I had to get to Sam as soon as possible. I had to know whether any of that had really occurred, or it had simply been a figment of my imagination. It did not feel like that, but how else could I explain waking up in the morning as an eighteen-year-old having previously dated Edward and having my heart shattered into a million pieces. I no longer loved him or wanted him back in my life. God no! That ship had sailed long, long ago. Now, my heart beat only for Sam. I let out a brief chuckle. Ironically, I loved him even when my heart didn't beat!

I could only hope that by some miracle, he felt the same for me. I don't know how I would react if it was truly just a dream and he refused to recognize my presence.

I would be shattered; I know as much.

I roughly parked my truck in the driveway outside his house, taking a deep breath, as my feet covered the remaining distance to his quaint house, my fingers crossed, yet a nervous smile on my face.

It would all be okay.

I just knew that in my heart.

I was greeted at the door by a woman, looking no older than twenty, her hair cut short and a well-placed scowl on her otherwise pretty and symmetrical face. She looked annoyed. I had not the first clue what I had done wrong.

"Yes?"

"Um…is Sam…"

"Who are you?" She took a threatening step ahead, reminding me of a feral lion out to hunt the deer in me. I took a step back in fear.

"Um…Bella?"

Why was I making that sound like a question? Yes, my name is Bella. I was sure of that.

"I am here to see Sam?"

Again, it was not a question. I was confident that I was here to see him.

"He is not here at the moment." She raised an eyebrow at me, dismissing me off. "I can pass on the message."

"Actually…" I attempted a smile. "I can wait inside…"

"No, you can't."

Okay.

"I need to talk to him about something important. Can you tell me when he will be back? I will come then."

I had to see him.

Also, I did not trust this woman an inch to pass on my message to Sam. Not like I could even frame my need to see him in a mere message!

"You can tell me." She insisted. "I will convey the message to him. I am his fiancée." The last word was thrown roughly at my face, the power in it evident.

Oh. I felt my eyes widening and my feet losing all the strength they had in them as I faltered several steps back.

Sam was engaged.

Shit.

How?

Did that mean that it was all truly just a dream?

That he didn't love or care for me?

"Oh…um…I…" I didn't know what to say. What does one even say in such a situation?

She smirked. "If that's it, you should get going. I must prepare for my wedding. It is next week." The pleasure on her face was evident, every syllable an added blow.

"I…" what could I even say? "Well."

I could have fought for him. I should have.

But what if this was what Sam wanted?

Maybe, he truly did love her. He had agreed to marry her.

I could not stand in the way of his happiness.

I turned on my heels, walking back towards my truck, defeated, my head facing downwards as tears leaked down my eyes, my steps faltering. It had all been a silly dream. Sam did not love me. He was not mine. He loved her. He did not even know who I was.

What was I supposed to do now?

Where was I supposed to go from here?

Of course, I knew that this didn't mean the end of my life. I was now much stronger than that! I wasn't about to break down like I had when Edward had left me. But surely, I was devastated and needed time to digest this.

The past almost a year of my life- even if it was only in my dreams- revolved around Sam. All I thought about was being with him in some or the other capacity. But now, I was awake.

I had to face reality.

Like it or not.

"Ouch." I fell on my ass with a thud, unable to comprehend the brick wall I had banged into, familiar warm arms pulling me up, as I looked up at the man of my dreams. "Sam." It was a mere whisper, but of course he heard me.

"Sorry." He frowned, confusion in his eyes, as he let go of me, far too soon for my liking. "I was lost in my thoughts and didn't realize someone was coming from the opposite direction."

I waved him off, simply glad to be in his presence. I felt like a love-struck teenager! "It's alright. I had come here to see you."

It was clear that he didn't recognize me, but we could always start somewhere.

He hummed in agreement, looking up and meeting my eyes…and that's when magic occurred. I had felt it before, in another universe, but I would recognize that feeling anywhere. It was difficult to forget. For, it was enchanting and spellbinding. I could feel him being tethered to me, a million chords now attached, where there was none before. He was mine and I was his. Forever.

I was his imprint. His soulmate.

The Gods had heard me.

Sam was mine. For the rest of our lives.

"Oh." A gasp left his mouth. He hadn't expected this. He didn't look very happy with this development, but he would come to love me.

I would make sure of that.

"Sam." The woman from before came running in our direction, hugging him tight, ignoring my presence like one did with their pending chores on the first day of the weekend. "I was just about to call you. Mom had called. Invited us over for dinner tonight."

"I am here now, Leah." He offered her a warm smile.

So, this was Leah.

His Leah.

His fiancée.

"Let's go in." she pulled him by his hand into their house, leaving me there behind, a last look shared between me and my wolf. I could see the helplessness on his face. He knew what I meant to him, of how I was his future, but he was a good man. And he couldn't break someone's heart.