May We Meet Again Teaser

 I was sitting at my desk, trying to make plans for Bella's rescue, but coming up with nothing. I was angry, scared, and sick with worry. I had to save her. I absolutely had to.

Think, brain think!

"Newton to Cullen," Mike called over the radio. "You've got some visitors."

"I'm busy," I snapped to myself. I picked up the radio, keeping my voice even. "I'm working, Mike."

"You'll want to see these visitors," Mike pressed.

"Unless it's Jacob, returning Bella, I don't want to see anyone," I snarled. "I've got to figure out how to save her and being interrupted? Not. Helping." I went to turn off the radio when it crackled again.

"Edward, it's your mother … please, let me see you. It's been so long and from I'm hearing, I'm worried about you," Mom said. "Your father and I both are."

I leaned forward, pinching my nose. Hearing my mother's sweet voice made my heart lurch, missing her and my father. It also made me want their comfort, even if I didn't deserve it. Bella was taken under my watch. I promised her that I'd keep her safe, and I'd failed. I'd failed her in the worst possible way. "I don't deserve your support or your love … I failed her, Mom." I swiped my fingers under my cheeks and wiped away tears. "I'll meet you in the dining hall. Cullen out."

May We Meet Again Teaser

 "Get the Rover ready to go," I said woodenly, unclipping my radio. "We need to find them. Bella cannot be taken back to the Drop Ship. Jacob will … he'll …" I stood up and tried to not cry. I had to be strong for my Bella.

I was failing miserably.

"We can't take the Rover. Not today," Jasper said, pointing to the dead battery. "It needs to charge for at least eight hours."

"Then, find something else to cover the ground!" I yelled, turning to face Jasper. "Run! Just get her back!" I wanted to take off into the forest, but strong arms stopped him. Peter tackled me back to the ground. "Get the fuck off me. I need to find her!"

"Bella would tell you not to go off half-cocked, Edward," Peter said. "Radio your team."

Scowling at Peter, I opened a channel to the command center. "Cullen to Command Center, Mallory come in?"

"Yorkie here. Mallory was on the overnight shift," Eric said. "How can I help you, Commander?"

Swallowing down bile, I spoke to Eric. "Can you pull up the security feeds in the garage? Bella was called up here for a medical emergency, but there wasn't an emergency. There's also no Bella. She was taken by someone from the Drop Ship."

"I remember that call," Eric said. "It came from a different channel than we use for medical."

"What channel?" I pressed.

"One we don't use … channel fourteen," Eric replied. "We can hear all the conversations, but we have to turn to the channel in order to respond. Anyway, I didn't recognize the voice, either."

The update for May We Meet Again will be posted on Friday. I have curriculum night on Thursday and will not get home until after nine at night. Thank you for your patience. :-)

May We Meet Again Teaser

 "Bella, my sweet girl, you did amazing work with Alice," Mom said as I worked on Mr. Murphy's head wound. We gave him a mild sedative, which knocked him out. He was snoring loudly as I worked on suturing the laceration closed. "You are a born healer."

"I'm a healer, but when it comes to psychological issues, I'm a mess," I said quietly, cleaning Mr. Murphy's wound of blood. "My mind keeps thinking of what could have happened … you know? I think Alice might have the same problem when she regains consciousness."

"You focused your studies on general medicine, not psychology. You took some of the basic classes, but you don't have the training I have. I do need to impart my knowledge on to someone, but from what I've heard, you might be struggling with PTSD. Hell, most of you are dealing with post-traumatic stress. I'm so sorry for that."

"It's not your fault, Mom," I said, covering Mr. Murphy's head wound.

"I didn't help the situation," she sighed. "But, we'll get you all the help you need. I promise you that."

"Thanks, Mom," I whispered. Edward walked back into medical. "Did your dad get back to the garage?"

"Yeah," he nodded. "He got turned around once, but we got him to Rover III with time to spare. How's my sister?"

"Physically, she'll make a full recovery," Mom explained. "Psychologically, I'll have to work with her once she's in a place to talk about what happened to her."

"Did you show her the tablet?" Edward asked me.

"I offered it to my mom, but she'd rather hear it from Alice," I replied. "Mom, do you want to get cleaned up and settled into your suite?"

"Suite?" Mom asked.

"We have enough room for you," Edward said, reaching into his pocket and producing a swipe card for her. "You're in suite four twelve, which is up a floor to the left when you get off the elevator. You're on the same floor as Bella and me. There's enough room for you and the Chancellor."

My mom's eyes welled with tears, squeezing Edward's hand. "The Chancellor didn't make it. He …" She pressed her hand on Edward's shoulder. "Excuse me." She disappeared in the bathroom in the medical bay, quiet sobs filling the room.

Back to the Grind ...

So, I've been waffling about posting this for a couple of days now. I love writing and weaving tales, but I've been writing nonstop since 2010 ... thirteen years.

I'm also going back to work on Monday. I don't want to go.

Also, I need to finish posting May We Meet Again. Teasers will be posted on Mondays with updates on Thursdays. We've got about nine chapters left until the story is complete.

With that being said, I'm going to take some time off from writing. If I feel like writing, I will. But, I'm a bit burnt out. I tried working on my latest story Stay With Me, but I got blocked on my second chapter.

I will be posting #QuestionOfTheDay and #FicOfTheWeek in my FB Group. I also encourage other writers to share their stories in here.

I hope you understand and I appreciate your support! Love you all!

May We Meet Again Teaser

 "Hey, Bells," Lauren smiled from her spot in the command center. "How are things?"

I walked over to her, sitting down and scrubbing my face. "Stressed, to be honest. Did you hear about the visitor who appeared like a forest fairy from the Drop Ship?"

"There was a hubbub about someone arriving, but not who," Lauren said, her smile falling. "Where they injured?"

"Yeah, but I can't really say much since I want to protect their privacy," I explained. "Long story short, things are not okay at the Drop Ship."

"I can imagine," Lauren sighed. "The Drop Ship had some tech, but not a lot. Plus, the people who remained back there were not the smartest tools in the shed, especially with Jacob as their leader. He doesn't seem like a planner like you and Edward. If it weren't for you two, we'd be a mess and still be searching for this installation. You know?"

"Thank you, Lauren," I said. "I don't know how much I needed to hear that. There are moments where I feel like I have no clue what I'm doing."

"I beg to differ. You got us here," she began, ticking off the positives. "You set up a working government and an amazing community in the mountain. We don't feel like prisoners from the Sky Box. We feel like a family. Plus? You've got an amazing partner with Edward. He clearly adores you. He'd give everything to protect you. Hell, it was because of him that we're down here."

"I'm grateful for Edward … in more ways than one," I whispered, sitting down next to her. "He was a friend when I needed a friend. He gave me human contact when I felt isolated from the world. And, now? He's my best friend and so much more … I can't imagine not loving him."

"Wait, you love him?" Lauren asked.

"Very much so," I blushed. "The way I told him wasn't the most romantic, but it worked for us."

May We Meet Again Update

MWMA Ch. 15 on FFn

MWMA Ch. 15 on AO3

MWMA Ch. 15 on Stars

MWMA Ch. 15 on Wattpad 

Everything was secured and Charlie was in the command center, preparing for our departure. I was strapped in, squeezed in between Carlisle and Aro's orphaned son, Demetri. Demetri's hand was in mine as I tried not to cry. To be honest, it was a losing battle with tears welling. I stared, unseeingly at the bulkhead in the surgical bay.

"Swan to Ark Station, thrusters will deploy in T-minus five minutes," Charlie's disembodied voice said through the intercom system. "Make sure everyone is strapped in." There was a pause and he let out a breath. "May we meet again …"

"May we meet again," I whispered back. "We will find each other again, Charlie." My eyes fluttered shut as tears streaked down my cheeks, the battle lost. "I love you …"

Carlisle took my hand, squeezing my fingers. "We'll figure out a way to get Charlie down to the Ground. I promise you," he murmured. "We did not spend hours and all of our blood stores to put him back together for him to die of hypoxia."

"How can we do that? It's not like there's rockets to get up to the outer ring when we get down to the surface," I hissed angrily. "He's going to die up here."

"We have the most brilliant minds on the Ark, we can figure something out," Carlisle soothed.

"T-minus one minute," Charlie announced. "Ren, hug our baby girl for me."

"I will," I replied, even though he couldn't hear me. I closed my eyes, trying to imagine Charlie in the command center, preparing the Ark for its final departure and descent to the Ground. As the engines roared to life, I slipped my arms around Demetri, providing him comfort when all I wanted was my husband's arms around me giving me comfort.

"Ten … nine … eight … seven … six … five … four … three … two … one … launch," Charlie counted.

May We Meet Again Teaser

 Everything was secured and Charlie was in the command center, preparing for our departure. I was strapped in, squeezed in between Carlisle and Aro's orphaned son, Demetri. Demetri's hand was in mine as I tried not to cry. To be honest, it was a losing battle with tears welling. I stared, unseeingly at the bulkhead in the surgical bay.

"Swan to Ark Station, thrusters will deploy in T-minus five minutes," Charlie's disembodied voice said through the intercom system. "Make sure everyone is strapped in." There was a pause and he let out a breath. "May we meet again …"

"May we meet again," I whispered back. "We will find each other again, Charlie." My eyes fluttered shut as tears streaked down my cheeks, the battle lost. "I love you …"

Carlisle took my hand, squeezing my fingers. "We'll figure out a way to get Charlie down to the Ground. I promise you," he murmured. "We did not spend hours and all of our blood stores to put him back together for him to die of hypoxia."

"How can we do that? It's not like there's rockets to get up to the outer ring when we get down to the surface," I hissed angrily. "He's going to die up here."

"We have the most brilliant minds on the Ark, we can figure something out," Carlisle soothed.

"T-minus one minute," Charlie announced. "Ren, hug our baby girl for me."

May We Meet Again Update

MWMA Ch. 14 on FFn

MWMA Ch. 14 on AO3

MWMA Ch. 14 on Stars

MWMA Ch. 14 on Wattpad

Edward and I sprinted back to Mount Weather. Upon our arrival, we saw a puddle of blood on the concrete near the garage. It was a lot of blood and if the person walked from the drop ship, they'd lost significantly more on the way. I stepped in front of Edward, rubbing his arms. He was tense. The muscles in his jaw ticked and his verdant gaze was unseeing. "Edward, look at me," I whispered. "Please …?"

"She's going to die," he choked out brokenly. "My sister … I won't get to know her … With that much blood."

"You don't know that," I said. "I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure that she'll be okay. It might take time, but you have to trust me. Do you trust me?"

"With my life," he answered. "You're the only person I trust to save her. Please, help her, Bella."

"Then, let me do that," I said, caressing his cheek. He captured my hand, pressing a kiss to my palm. Standing on my tiptoes, I brushed my lips over his and took his hand, tugging on it. "Come with me. Let's go down to medical." I blinked to Emmett, giving him a look. "Can you clean that up?"

"Sure thing, Bella," Emmett nodded. "She stumbled in from the south, collapsing as soon as she hit the concrete. This tiny thing appeared like a ghost, covered in blood, leaves and dirt. She couldn't talk, only grunting and pointing at the door. I radioed Austin, who came up with a team and brought her down to medical."

"I'm heading down there now. Thank you, Emmett," I said. I squeezed Edward's hand, leading him into the mountain and down to the medical unit. Austin was down in medical and was monitoring the patient. Edward's fingers tightened around mine. His breath hitched as he gently tugged me to stop. "What is it, Edward?"

"It's Alice," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "She has a birthmark on her left arm that's in the shape of heart. It's there." He walked over to her swollen arm, indicating to small heart-shaped blemish on her tanned skin.

May We Meet Again Teaser

Edward and I sprinted back to Mount Weather. Upon our arrival, we saw a puddle of blood on the concrete near the garage. It was a lot of blood and if the person walked from the drop ship, they'd lost significantly more on the way. I stepped in front of Edward, rubbing his arms. He was tense. The muscles in his jaw ticked and his verdant gaze was unseeing. "Edward, look at me," I whispered. "Please …?"

"She's going to die," he choked out brokenly. "My sister … I won't get to know her … With that much blood."

"You don't know that," I said. "I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure that she'll be okay. It might take time, but you have to trust me. Do you trust me?"

"With my life," he answered. "You're the only person I trust to save her. Please, help her, Bella."

"Then, let me do that," I said, caressing his cheek. He captured my hand, pressing a kiss to my palm. Standing on my tiptoes, I brushed my lips over his and took his hand, tugging on it. "Come with me. Let's go down to medical." I blinked to Emmett, giving him a look. "Can you clean that up?"

"Sure thing, Bella," Emmett nodded. "She stumbled in from the south, collapsing as soon as she hit the concrete. This tiny thing appeared like a ghost, covered in blood, leaves and dirt. She couldn't talk, only grunting and pointing at the door. I radioed Austin, who came up with a team and brought her down to medical."

"I'm heading down there now. Thank you, Emmett," I said. I squeezed Edward's hand, leading him into the mountain and down to the medical unit. Austin was down in medical and was monitoring the patient. Edward's fingers tightened around mine. His breath hitched as he gently tugged me to stop. "What is it, Edward?"

"It's Alice," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "She has a birthmark on her left arm that's in the shape of heart. It's there." He walked over to her swollen arm, indicating to small heart-shaped blemish on her tanned skin.

May We Meet Again Update

MWMA Ch. 13 on FFn

MWMA Ch. 13 on AO3

MWMA Ch. 13 on Stars

MWMA Ch. 13 on Wattpad

“A minute, Chancellor,” Sinclair replied. “And, sir? In peace may you leave the shore …”

“In love may you find the next,” added Esme.

“Safe passage on your travels,” said Alec.

“Until our final journey to the ground,” cried Carlisle. “I shall miss you, brother.”

“May we meet again,” Renee sniffled. “And, we will meet again, Charlie. I love you.”

“I love you, too, Ren,” I choked out, pressing the buttons to release the Ark. “May we meet again.” I disconnected the call and released the Ark from the central ring. The station vibrated with the power of the thrusters. I fell onto my ass, groaning as my injury barked. I monitored its departure, breathing deeply as it cleared the central ring. Scrambling up, I walked to the window as I watched what remained of the Ark descended into the atmosphere. Pressing my hand to the window, I repeated brokenly, “May we meet again.”

“Dad?”

I blinked my eyes, trying to reconcile the fact that my daughter was standing before me. She wore a doctor’s coat and a warm smile, reminding me of her mother, but a younger version. You’re losing your shit, Swan. Bella is on the ground. She’s not on the Ark.

“You’re not losing it, Dad,” Bella snorted. “I’m here. In a sense.” I walked over to her, reaching out to touch her, but her form evaporated like a puff of smoke. She reappeared the same way, but standing further away. “I’m in your mind, Dad. I’m just … I’m here to help you. This is not your end.”

“But, baby girl, I deserve this fate,” I argued. “I hurt you. I hurt your mother. Let me do this one last thing. This is my penance. My choices broke our family.”

“The Ark broke our family. It was overcrowded, overwrought and overused. All in all, the time of the Ark is in the past. Our time on the ground is our future. Now, I’m going to help you join your family so the real Bella can actually forgive you. She might be a hard nut to crack … In time, though, she will forgive you.”

“Ain’t that the truth?” I huffed. “My daughter is more stubborn than me.”

“And, she’s far more brilliant,” dream Bella smirked. “That’s why your brain conjured me and not, let’s say Carlisle or your wife. I can help you get out of this pickle. Have you ever had a pickle? I’ve heard they’re delicious and I want to try one.”

May We Meet Again Teaser

 “Sinclair, when does the window open?”

“A minute, Chancellor,” Sinclair replied. “And, sir? In peace may you leave the shore …”

“In love may you find the next,” added Esme.

“Safe passage on your travels,” said Alec.

“Until our final journey to the ground,” cried Carlisle. “I shall miss you, brother.”

“May we meet again,” Renee sniffled. “And, we will meet again, Charlie. I love you.”

“I love you, too, Ren,” I choked out, pressing the buttons to release the Ark. “May we meet again.” I disconnected the call and released the Ark from the central ring. The station vibrated with the power of the thrusters. I fell onto my ass, groaning as my injury barked. I monitored its departure, breathing deeply as it cleared the central ring. Scrambling up, I walked to the window as I watched what remained of the Ark descended into the atmosphere. Pressing my hand to the window, I repeated brokenly, “May we meet again.”

“Dad?”

I blinked my eyes, trying to reconcile the fact that my daughter was standing before me. She wore a doctor’s coat and a warm smile, reminding me of her mother, but a younger version. You’re losing your shit, Swan. Bella is on the ground. She’s not on the Ark.

“You’re not losing it, Dad,” Bella snorted. “I’m here. In a sense.” I walked over to her, reaching out to touch her, but her form evaporated like a puff of smoke. She reappeared the same way, but standing further away. “I’m in your mind, Dad. I’m just … I’m here to help you. This is not your end.”

“But, baby girl, I deserve this fate,” I argued. “I hurt you. I hurt your mother. Let me do this one last thing. This is my penance. My choices broke our family.”

“The Ark broke our family. It was overcrowded, overwrought and overused. All in all, the time of the Ark is in the past. Our time on the ground is our future. Now, I’m going to help you join your family so the real Bella can actually forgive you. She might be a hard nut to crack … In time, though, she will forgive you.”

“Ain’t that the truth?” I huffed. “My daughter is more stubborn than me.”

“And, she’s far more brilliant,” dream Bella smirked. “That’s why your brain conjured me and not, let’s say Carlisle or your wife. I can help you get out of this pickle. Have you ever had a pickle? I’ve heard they’re delicious and I want to try one.”

May We Meet Again Update

MWMA Ch. 12 on FFn

MWMA Ch. 12 on AO3

MWMA Ch. 12 on Stars

MWMA Ch. 12 on Wattpad

“According to Sinclair, the outer most parts of the Ark will most likely be where it breaks apart,” I said, reading off the tablet. “Take everything from these storage containers and bring them down to the promenade. These are medical supplies. They need to be tacked down to protect the contents inside.”

“Yes, Dr. Swan,” said Angela Weber. She held her baby in a sling, picking up a smaller container.

In the madness, I gave her baby a booster of its pain shot, along with the medications Bella had promised her. I was sitting on the floor, taking inventory of what we needed to take as opposed to what we wanted to take.

“Dr. Swan, we have some bins of extra clothing,” said a male voice. “Keep?”

“Yes, keep. We don’t know when or if we can make new clothes. Those can be brought to the dining hall,” I explained. “Thank you.”

“No problem, Dr. Swan,” he said, grabbing a few guys to carry the bins to the dining hall.

I worked for another hour until my communicator chimed from my pocket. Pulling it out, I saw a message from Charlie to meet him in the command center. I handed off my task to Alec, who had just come from a shift in medical and went to the command center. The surviving members of the council were already there, gathered around the center console with Sinclair. I walked over to the console, giving my husband a kiss on the cheek and nodding to the rest of the council. “When are we going to begin our descent?”

“We need one more orbit to line everything up. We’ll be landing about five miles from Mount Weather. At least, that’s where we project where we’ll land,” Sinclair explained, pointing on a map.

“And the Ark?” Charlie asked.

“After we disengage from the center ring, we’ll use thrusters to push us into the atmosphere. I’m not going to lie … it’s going to be a bumpy ride, but we’ll have control. I’ve linked the command center and the thrusters to a console in medical to allow me to pilot the Ark down to the ground. My main concern is, of course, where the Ark will break apart,” Sinclair frowned.

Dr. Alec Foster

Chancellor Charlie Swan

Dr. Carlisle Cullen

Esme Cullen

Commander Marcus Blake

Dr. Renee Swan

Chief Engineer Sinclair