This is a story that has been brewing in my head for the last few months. Now that summer is here I finally have the time to do something about it. I hope you enjoy.

AN: I do not own Twilight, but I really wish I did.

A Piece of You

Prologue

November 1946

EPOV

"Edward, are you going over to the library now?" Jasper asked we both packed up after a particularly grueling anatomy class. I rubbed my face and looked at my roommate as he continued to organize his books. He had been the first person I met when I arrived in Chicago well over a year ago. We were standing in a never-ending registration line and struck up a conversation. Turns out he was here on the GI Bill too. We had a lot in common.

"I'm going to have to. All that new material? If I don't study it right away, it just won't stick." I shrugged as I thought about the daunting reality of it.

"I hear you, friend. I was thinking of getting something to eat and then heading over. What do you think? You in?" I was just about to answer when I was cut off with a resounding slap on my shoulder.

"You in what? Love with your hand, Eddo?" I cringed at Emmett's crassness and the heaviness of his mammoth hand. He was a good friend, really, but sometimes the topics he brought up were things I didn't want to discuss with anyone and he was certainly no exception. And it wasn't just because he was way to close to the truth for my comfort. It was a private matter between myself and I and not one I wanted the whole Northwestern campus to be privy to.

"Seriously, Emmett? Can you be any more inappropriate?" I glanced around to see that most people had already left and those who hadn't were used to Emmett's colorful comments. "And don't call me Eddo. It's not my name."

"Whatever you say, Eddie." Like that was any different. "Anyway, I thought I heard you say you were going to get something to eat and then head to the library. Mind if I come? Banner's lecture was more than my brain could process and just listening to the two of you review the material always helps me understand it better." He looked at us in earnest and I couldn't help but feel for him. Emmett wanted to be a doctor just as much as Jasper and I did, but it seemed he had to work twice as hard at it. Nothing came easy, but his determination and dedication to learning the material made me admire him. He was a good man and I valued him as a friend, even if he wasn't the most couth person in the world.

We made our way out of the lecture hall and into the crisp fall air. November in Chicago could be brutal, but this one hadn't been too bad so far. As we descended the steps in front of the building, we debated on where to go to eat. With each step down the air around me got heavier, the voices of my friends began to fade away so that I could only hear the increasing speed of my heart, and my skin began to prick.

That hadn't happened since…no, that's impossible.

I shook my head hoping the feeling would subside. It brought back so many memories, ones I had treasured for so long and hung on to like a life preserver. To dare to hope that she was here only to discover that it was just my mind playing tricks on me…well it would be crushing.

But she is here. She has to be. I can feel it.

The familiar pull I always felt in her presence told my body where to look. Slowly, I turned around to see the subject of all my dreams on a park bench across the street. In that moment, everything including my friends, melted away. I could barely make out their befuddled expressions as I wordlessly moved away from them and towards her. She also rose to her feet and crossed the street until we met on the sidewalk. Up close she was the same girl I knew long ago. Her beautiful brown eyes were still warm and her hair, I could tell, was still silky and long, even if it was pinned up underneath a stylish hat. But there were subtle differences as well. Even with her coat on I could tell she had gained weight. Not a lot, just enough to give her some more womanly curves. There had been nothing to her when we were together over a year ago and now she looked healthier. My hands itched to explore those curves and discover just how they came to be. In addition to the changes in her body, there was something else radiating from her that I couldn't quite put my finger on. A new confidence or purpose, maybe. Whatever it was it just made her look even more damned exquisite. I wanted to scoop her up in my arms and never let me go, but she stopped short and I could do nothing but follow suit. There was a reason she was here and not back in Ohio. At that moment worry flooded my entire body and drowned out the original elation of seeing her again.

"Bella…is everything okay? Are you okay?" The stressful look that crossed her face as she closed her eyes only increased my concern. "What are you doing here? Who is watching the farm?"

When she finally opened her eyes I could see that they held the answers to all of my questions. Without looking, she reached down to take my hand and it was like a part of me that had been missing since we parted ways had been found. Before she answered, she glanced nervously behind me to my friends who were now shamelessly listening to our exchange.

"Will you go somewhere with me?" Was she kidding?

"You know I would." She glanced one more time behind me. "Just give me one second."

I let go of her hand and went to Jasper and Emmett who suddenly acted like the cracks in the sidewalk were the most interesting think on the planet. "I'll catch up with you guys later." Jasper gave Bella a brief look before coming back to me.

"Is that who I think it is?" I gave him a brief nod. I had told Jasper all about Bella when we first moved in together. He knew what she had meant to me.

"Okay, I'll see you back at the apartment. Good luck." His words were light but his expression was anything but. He was worried about me and his eyes warned me to be cautions. Emmett was about to say something, but Jasper grabbed him and pulled him towards the lunch counter around the corner before he could get anything out. With relief, I walked back to Bella and took her hand once again. I couldn't help it. I needed to touch her.

"Okay, where to?" I smiled at her, trying to ease some of the tension away. She smiled awkwardly back at me and began walking down the street. I could do nothing but follow her.

"Um, my hotel is just a few blocks away." I stopped and pulled her back towards me. I wasn't sure why she would bring be back to her hotel, but the man inside me went right to the obvious reason. Even if my body wanted nothing more than to get reacquainted with hers, rushing into that didn't seem like the right thing to do. We had a lot to talk about. Like why she was here after all this time.

"Bella, why exactly…I'm not sure I understand why you want to bring me to your hotel room." When she saw my confusion, she sighed. I could see resignation in her eyes.

"Please trust me when I tell you that this is something you need to see in order to believe." I had no idea what she was talking about but I did know one thing.

I trusted her…completely.

"Okay." A weak but grateful smile formed on her lips.

We walked the rest of the way in silence.

Chapters will be longer than this and I hope to post once a week at least. We'll be jumping back in time for the first chapter. I appreciate any feedback you would be willing to give.

~Isannah