Disclaimer:All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Somewhere Out There

This AN is long, but I promise it is worth it.

This fic is a love letter to so many things and people. It came to me in Forks last year (2015), as we celebrated twilight's 10th anniversary. Getting to see so many people that I only meet up with once a year, finally meeting Stephenie Meyer, and just spending time in a town that is truly magical enough to make you believe that vampires and werewolves roam the streets, got me thinking about a way to celebrate it all. That was where this fic came in. The book series in this is very similar to The Twilight Saga, only making one major change so that I could play with the titles and make it something a little different, something that our Edward might write.

This story is about finding love in so many forms, the love between two people, the love we should all have for ourselves, and the love for a town that gives so much to so many…to Bella it's where her story begins, to Edward, it's where his story is changed forever.

In that spirit, this fic is dedicated to the town of Forks, Washington, for embracing us pilgrims as we come, or come back, to the town that has grown to mean so much to us. To everyone I've met through my Twilight journey, those I've gotten to know online and the ones that I've met in person, especially those who make the annual trek to Forks. Mizzdee, you're more than my beta, you're my wifey, and you were the one who brought me into the fold of a group of women I'm proud to call my friends. Being a part of TF is one of the greatest gifts Twilight has given me and I love you all. The Olympic Coven, who capture not only their characters, but perform year after year for their own love of Twilight. My girl Jolene, I don't even know if you'll read this, but you're officially a Twilight character, because Maria came to life in your image. To ACullenWannabe, who is taking over the red pen for this fic, you were the first person in this fandom to know the woman behind the penname, and I'm grateful to know the woman behind yours. To all the authors in the fellowship of TwiAuthors, there is great talent in our midst, and I love diving into the endless sea of fics to find a new love, or rediscover an old favorite. And finally, you, my faithful readers. Your support, reviews, and well wishes get me through the rough times, and add joy to the good. Thank you for clicking the link, and following me on this journey.

The title of this story is from the Linda Ronstadt song featured in An American Tale, because first, the moon plays a significant part in the change that I've made to the book series for this fic, but also because the distance that's between Bella and Edward may be great, but they make it through knowing that they're on the other's mind…Somewhere Out There.

Chapter length will be what it needs to be. This prologue is probably going to be super short because most of the happenings aren't with Edward, and you won't meet Bella until Edward does. I'm working on this over the summer with the hope that it will be completed by summer's end so I an post it regularly.

Anything in italics is text from the book. Text messages will be bold.

Year -1: 2004

Edward sat at his desk, staring at the computer screen. When he'd been researching a setting for his book series, Forks had seemed like the perfect town. But now he was in need of details and it seemed that there was nothing to be found online. He felt screwed.

What he really wanted to do was hop on a plane and actually see the town, but not even Jasper, his agent and brother-in-law, could keep his publishers from freaking out if he decided to traipse off to the Pacific Northwest instead of working on the book that he was in major revisions on. The setting wasn't his only issue, the heroine of his novel hadn't fleshed out the way he had hoped, and that was another major point he'd been working on.

If he had been a fledgling author, this book would not have a deal right now and he knew it. It had been Jasper's powers of persuasion that had gotten Denali Publishing to follow their best-selling adult supernatural author into the world of YA vampires.

Now he just needed a novel that wouldn't have Kate Denali throwing books at him with the intent of causing as much pain as possible.

"Edward?"

The sound of his sister's voice should have been a relief, as Alice was the queen of spinning shit. It was, after all, her job as his PR rep. But today he knew that it would be an hour full of inspirational talks he couldn't deal with.

"Up here, Kit," he called.

"When talking to someone who is about to solve all your problems, you may not want to annoy them, Eddie."

"Come on, Alice. You know that you love that nickname. At least I don't call you 'Alley Cat' like Emmett. Kit is cute and most people don't know what it means."

"Comparing the cries of your baby sister to those of a kitten was cute when you were two, but at twenty-seven it's gotten a little old."

"Alice, I don't have time for this," he waved his hand towards the computer and she sighed.

"That is exactly why I'm here," she responded. "I'm off to save your ass and earn the title of 'World's Best Sister' in one four day weekend."

"English, Alice, I can't deal with all the cloak and dagger bull shit right now," he pleaded.

"Jasper told me that you wanted to go to Forks, but Kate balked because you only have a month to work on all these revisions and she felt the trip wasn't necessary. The fact that she's seriously thinking of pushing back the release date is absurd. But, that isn't what I came to tell you. Since you can't go to Forks, I am."

"How does that help me?" Edward asked.

"Because, I can do your research, take pictures and send them back to you while I'm there and find out what the town is like. It will fill in the blanks on your setting while you work on making Leona someone that Rosalie won't want to hit with a brick."

"Rosalie isn't my target audience," Edward fired back.

"You'd be surprised how many of these YA novels are gobbled up by women between 24-49. You may be writing for teens, but the older audience will be the ones that allow you to finish the series. This deal is only for two books right now."

"I can't do everything I need to in two books," he bemoaned for what felt like the millionth time.

"That's why Blood Moon has to be a success. So they'll agree to the rest of your outline."

"When do you leave?" he asked.

"I'm on the first flight out tomorrow. I'll be home by Monday evening, ready to show you everything."

"Thanks, Alice, for doing this for me," Edward said.

"You're welcome, Edward," Alice replied. With a kiss on the cheek and a flourish only Alice could muster, Edward was once again alone with his work.

~*SOT*~

"Edward, have you heard from Alice?" Jasper asked Edward as he sat at his computer Saturday morning.

"No, not since she sent me twenty-five pictures of clouds as soon as she landed in Seattle," Edward responded.

"I'm starting to worry. Radio silence isn't her thing," Jasper said as he settled into the couch in Edward's study.

"Silence in general isn't Kit's thing." Edward thought for a moment before sighing. "Did you try calling her hotel to see if she checked in?"

"Yeah, but why hasn't she called since? If not me, you think she would be bombarding you with pictures and comments."

"Maybe she's waiting until she gets home? She'll be here Monday afternoonow stop worrying and let me write," Edward dismissed his brother-in-law. There was little he could do to make him feel better and he knew it. The pair of them were joined at the hip fifty weeks a year, and those rare girl trips that Alice took, or Civil War reenactment trips that Jasper indulged in, left the other mopey and in need of distraction. Normally, Edward didn't have a problem dragging Jasper back to reality, but he was battling to make his heroine someone the readers wouldn't secretly wish death on.

It was a struggle.

Picking up his phone after Jasper had gone to occupy his time elsewhere, he looked at the last messages he got from Alice when inspiration struck. Edward scrolled up to the first chapter and began typing, feeling like he might be onto something.

In the state of Washington, under a near constant cover of clouds and rain, there is a small town named Forks. Population: 3120 people. This is where I was born, and where I'm returning after twenty-one years.

~*SOT*~

The rest of the weekend Edward tinkered around. Leona was the current thorn in his side because he felt like he was missing something with her. She did and said what she needed to for the plot but what she needed was a soul, and he didn't know where he would find it.

Until Alice came bounding in.

"Oh, my God, Edward, you won't believe what I saw this weekend. You were so right in choosing Forks as the setting for this novel. There's this weird, otherworldly quality to it. And it has everything. Rainforests with massive trees covered in moss, the woods in general are so dense and green it feels like twilight even at noon when you're in them. Then there's the coast, La Push is so beautiful with all the little beaches and the little islands towering over the surf. And-"

"Alice, breathe before you pass out," Edward chastised his sister, earning him a scowl. "Why didn't you call? Jasper has been worried sick."

"Oh, that…for all its wonders, Forks seems to be the town that time forgot as far as cell service. Bella was laughing the whole time while I tried everything to get better reception."

"Bella?" Edward asked.

"She's a local. Sweetest woman in the world. She works at the diner. When she and her co-worker, Angela, found out why I was there, she all but shoved Bella out the door. She traded shifts with Bella so that she wouldn't lose out on pay, even though I offered to pay her for being my tour guide." As Alice spoke, she opened her tablet and began tapping away at the screen, a folder of pictures filling the screen. "There she is. That's Bella."

As Edward looked at the picture of Alice's new friend, her brown hair flowing over her shoulder as she looked back at the camera, with what Edward assumed was the rainforest Alice had just described surrounding her, a few things clicked into place.

Alice still had plenty to say, and he would of course listen to her full report before going back to his draft, but suddenly Leona didn't feel soulless anymore. If she looked at Patrick the way this Bella was looking at the camera, even an immortal would fall under her spell.

EN: The opening line that Edward types is from the first Twilight movie. (I'm sure most of you knew that, but giving credit where it's due and all.)

Love to hear what you think.