The dreams had taken her back to the battle field that belonged to another life. They had shown her again the moment when the world changed. She had crumpled to the ground trying to catch the body of the man she loved. He arms had slid around his waist trying to support his form. But the momentum had already started. She pitched to the ground just trying to keep him from hurting himself further. The blood flowed out of his wound seeping through the material of his shirt. The image of his face growing pale stuck with Astrid as she woke up in another strange room. Peering through fuzzy eyes, Astrid tried to focus on the different shades of creme and honey surrounding her. A soft tugging caught her attention. The man beside her focused on the bandages that were already crusted over with dried blood. Frowning his eyebrows knitted together as he examined the the cloth. His large fingers seemed a sharp contrast to the gentleness he was showing as he tried to manipulate the wounded limb back and forth.

"They have to come off." He said more to himself then to the patient.

The man seemed almost completely in his own world. Astrid allowed a small snort of a laugh to escape her. The light noise caught his attention and brought his blue almost green eyes up from the bandages to lock onto hers. His right eyebrow arched as he tried to examine her reaction. Astrid allowed her eyes to linger on his face. The soft skin lay across his strong features giving him a quiet strength. The man's expressions were ungaurded, honest.

"How did you find me?" Astrid asked as the man continued to tend her wounds.

"I didn't expect that to be your first question. I would have assumed a name or location would have been what you were looking for." He remarked his accent mild.

"I am fine with those too." Astrid perked up and rolled her wrist trying to give him a better vantage point.

"You wrists seem to be in extremely bad shape. You lost a lot of blood, but you have stopped." His eyebrows knitted together.

"You also aren't answering any of my questions. Small tip if you aren't trying to freak me out then you might want to rethink that." She said as she flicked her wrist around so that she could hold his hand. "I am not as fragile as I appear to be. I am wounded not weak."

"I found you because my sister told me where to look. My name is Liam. You are in my home roughly an hour from where you were. Now I get to ask you some questions. I want full truths." His eyes became stern as he set his jaw.

"Trade you. One for one." Astrid didn't like feeling cornered. It was a trend that was beginning to annoy her.

"Alright. Why were you in the woods?" Liam asked.

Astrid watched as the man waited for his answer. It was the moment where she was trying to figure out what to say. The phrase whole truth kept annoying her. But this man had risked his life to save her. That was something that should be honored. Astrid drew in a deep breath then set her internal compass to a place of self truth. This man deserved respect.

"Someone kidnapped me about a week ago. I came up here with him to hide from that person. We were only supposed to be up here for a few days. It was to give me time to get grounded again. How did your sister know where I was?" Astrid said trying to fight back the tears that welled up behind her eyes.

"She is special. She knows things. I could explain it, but I have a feeling you already understand. How long have you known him?" His answer was so much simpler then hers.

"Not long enough. He had a really good act. He wanted me to believe he was someone else. Why are you so worried about scaring me? It is more then just not wanting to traumatize me further." Astrid tried not to let the bitterness seep into her voice.

"I don't want you to be scared of me." His simple words startled her. It was the most genuine answer she had gotten in a while. There wasn't a ploy behind it. There wasn't a manipulation being set into play.

"It is your turn to ask or is this a freebie?" Astrid tried to pull herself back together. This man took her off guard. His eyes locked on hers as he looked into her. It was beyond her. This must be the vulnerable feeling she had so often been told about. It was the feeling of having her walls stripped away. The sensation unnerved her like having overly sensitive skin after a long cast.

"Are you scared?" He asked. The man watched her reactions. He wasn't looking for a verbal response. It was obvious as he studied the muscles in her face then the tension in her arm. His fingers curled lightly around the bandages on her wrist coming to rest on a pulse point. The sensation caused her heart to flutter slightly. His face grimaced.

"It was your fingers. I do that too. I watch people. It bugs them when I actually see them. Most of them are too used to not being seen. I think this is the first time in a week I haven't been scared. I think some of it is that point when you can't take it anymore. So you find that breaking point then it all goes calm again like going into shock." Astrid said as she decided to test the boundaries. Wriggling her hand free Astrid decided to touch him rather then being touched. The tips of her fingers touched the soft curve where the inside of his thumb me the palm of his hand. The flesh of his hands were soft, but firm. Small callouses seemed to collect around the ends of his fingers.

"You are used to being so connected to people. What happens if you can't use your talents to get to know a person?" He asked out of turn.

"What do you think those are?" Astrid dodged the question. This was a game she was used to. Not explaining had become an art form. But it was easier then dealing with another disappointed look or terrified reaction. It was easier then having everyone view her as a mad woman who should have lived during the age of straight jackets and electroshock therapy.

"I believe you can feel people. I believe that you know most people better then you should. I also believe that you can blend into any social situation like a cameleon, but that you try not to preform to an audience. I believe you hate that. I also believe that you get bored with people easily. They stop surprising you, and even though you love the closeness you envy people who can just get to know someone. And I believe you dislike me a little because now you know someone else knows." He said while he allowed her to play with his hand.

"I don't dislike you. I am just not used to being on this end of the microscope. So how is it that you know me so well?" Astrid could feel her face draw up into a scowl. The muscles tightened and her lips drew up and to one side. That was not the response she had anticipated. Norrowing her eyes, Astrid did more then look at him.

"You should rest. You have been through a lot and I am being selfish by keeping you up. I will make sure that my sister brings you something to eat in a few hours. I am sure it has been a while since you had a real meal." Liam said as he cut the game short. Reaching down he pulled a small trash can up and then headed out the door before she could stop him. Trying to sit up Astrid wanted to call him back, but the man who had been so gentle was gone.

Plopping back against the overly fluffy bright white pillows. The soft cushion of fluff gave under her weight. Her mind raced against the newest turn of events. In her mind she ran through the cast of her own personal drama. The figures who had always been there. The villians who had tried to destroy her. Then the man of misterty who had suddenly appeared on the seen to pull her from the firing squad. The man who had played protected her was now hiding her so that she could heal. This man with the brilliant green eyes who saw every inch of her was standing in the way of hell. But this man had pulled away like she had bitten him. He had retreated. That had been the face of a man who was suddenly emotionally naked. It wasn't a look that she would forget.

XXXX

This was the room her father had obsessed about for most of his life. The idea of being both inside and out. The dreams of having shelter against the elements while being able to watch it from the belly of the beast. This room was his dream and his presence lingered here even now. It was a bittersweet sense of love and loss. The mixed emotions of a child who had lost her parents a too young of an age threatened her with tears. Refusing to give into them again, Bridget sealed that life away. This wasn't the time to drop the ball. This definitely was not the time for a broody brother with a serious case of masochism. And right on cue the depression took hold. The thick heavy notes of Don Giovanni oozed forth from the speakers tucked away in the corners of the room. Each piece of furniture resonated with the love of their parents as her brother seemed to radiate his pain. Without fail the antique brown leather chair that had been their fathers was out of place. The small sign was the beginning of what she believed to be a full blown brooding spell. It was just one of his many indicators.

"Why is you seem worse now that you found her?" Bridget asked already knowing the answer.

He wanted her back. He wanted a woman who could hold her own. He wanted a memory he had been chasing for most of his life. And, right now her brother was faced with the harsh reality that his memories might be the last trace of her. It was a reality that she had already considered. The room was filled with an array of cloth and leather furniture each one hand picked by her parents. The bright wood floors reflected the light that streamed in through the glass walls and ceiling. Liam stared out into the bright green backyard. Bridget's heart broke a little for him.

"I assumed that if I could remember she would. Astrid was always like that." Liam said his accent more exaggerated.

"You know for sure... that she does not remember?" Bridget asked as she crossed the room to him.

The audomin that should be in front of the chair sat discarded to the side. Resting on it Bridget tried to show her support without pushing. His face showed it all. He was beginning to take it as a defeat. His eyes were glossed over while she stared blankly into the space in front of him. His eyebrows were furrowed as he tried to talk himself in and out of giving up. All she could do was watch his internal war.

"She looked at me and she didn't know me. But she knew enough to ask the right questions. She can already tell that there is more to it then I am telling her." Liam

"Isn't that what you want. I know you want her to remember, but if she can't remember wouldn't you want her to figure it out." Bridget tried to find an answer.

"I don't know. I don't know if that would be fair to her. If she doesn't remember then this is a whole knew life for her. I don't know if I can take that from her." Liam said deciding the outcome of the war.

"Maybe that is what she had to give up to get us all here. We still don't know how she did it. Do you really think she would want you to hurt like this? Especially if she could stop the pain." Bridget said trying to give him some comfort.

"It doesn't matter. My Astrid isn't here." Liam said reaching for his mug of hot tea.

"If she ever does get her memories back... I hope she kicks your ass." Bridget said a little angry at his attitude.

"Look I found her. I am going to do everything I can to protect her. But this person is not the woman I knew. She is different. She is actually just in her twenties. I am not going to show up and push her to resume a relationship she can not remember." Liam argued trying to defend his position.

"No, you shouldn't. Pushing her would be wrong. I wont hurt her like that." Liam said trying to take a stand.

"I am not saying you should hurt her. What I am saying is that you shouldn't take her choices from her. She has the right to know. You would want her to tell you." Bridget said trying to break through his wall of denial.

"I agree with you sister. You should have told her." Astrid's voice cut through the air like a knife.

Bridget's heart stopped violently. Turning around Bridget tried to wish her away. This isn't how this was supposed to happen. He was supposed to find her. She was supposed to remember. They were supposed to fall in love again and everything was supposed to be how it was. But that was that life. In this life it was all slowly but surely going wrong.

"Astrid," His voice was weak. "I..."

"It was your eyes. They seem to be the only part of you I can remember. It is the color. Everything else in the dreams just seem to be a blur." Astrid said as she stood in the doorway. Her silhouette slightly visible through the nightgown.

"Astrid you should sit down." Bridget said trying to coax her into the room.

"I am fine where I am. But, thank you. Do you remember? Were we together?" Astrid asked her eyes narrowing on the man in the chair.

"Astrid, there is more to it. We thought everyone else would remember. It never accured to me to think that you might not." Liam said trying to explain.

"Everyone else does remember. I am the only one without any memories. We do not know why. And, with the way you answered and the arguement I heard I am going to guess you are the man on the battle field. You are the one that the other Astrid was trying to show me." Her brown eyes shifted from Bridget to Liam.

"What do you mean the other Astrid?" Liam asked staring at her intensely now. His blue green eyes couldn't hide the confussion and pain.

"There is another version of me. She tells me things. She told me that I paid a price. She didn't explain it. But she also tells me that things are wrong and I don't understand. But that isn't really the problem I see. Were you really planning to not tell me? What would you have done when I started looking for you? Would you have told me then?" Astrid asked not hiding her own pain.

"I don't know." Liam said. It was honest. He wasn't trying to hide from her. He had been trying to protect her. But that was the problem. That was the biggest problem. Everyone was trying to protect her without giving her the ability to choose. She was done with it. Her body shook slightly from anger, fatique and loss of blood. So when she turned on her heels to head back to the cotton colored room, it didn't surprise her that the world spun long after her body had stopped. Her shoulder slammed into the door frame hard as Astrid tried to brace her self against the next impact. The strength that had been fueling her suddenly evaporated as she slumpped to the floor. Small warm female hands were the first to get to her. Then larger stronger hands pulled her up and off the floor.

"Are you okay?" Liam's eyes were scared as he began to inspect her.

"I am just dizzy." Astrid said trying to pull away.

"Stop being stubborn. You have been extremely hurt. I want to make sure you are okay." He said as if trying to instruct a child.

"That is the real problem." Astrid finally connected the dots. "You look at me like a child. All you see is the person who is not the adult you remember."

His face said it all. That was his issue. Both of them had been reborn. Both of them were now younger then the had been on that last day. But he remembered. He had all of the experiences of those years. She didn't. Her life, her experiences and memories had been lost or given up. He was looking at a body that looked like his love, who wasn't. Astrid's heart sank. It was then that she realized her own problem with this. She was staring at a man, who had been inside of her dreams for the past few years. This man she had looked for and almost gotten killed over. The man that less then ten minutes ago who had chosen not to be with her.

"Astrid, it isn't that simple. It never was with us." Liam said trying to explain.

"It is alright. I don't want you to be in pain. I guess we were both looking for someone who doesn't exist anymore. Bridget will you help me to the room I am staying in. I want to tell you about the others." Astrid said reaching out to Bridget.

"If that is what you want." Bridget was obviously trying to find an answer.

Astrid tried not to look into his eyes again. She tried to hide behind a viel of brown hair, while she alloed Bridget to pull her up. Astrid allowed the woman who seemed famialiar to guide her down the hall with the ice cold floors. She allowed the redhead to open the door then shuffle her through and to the bed. It was then that it all fell apart. The tears that had been right behind her eyelids held back by anger finally broke free. Bridget's slender arms wrapped around her body. The shaking of her sobs rocked the two of them. Bridget's slender fingers combed back her mossy hair.

"Astrid. He still loves you. He is just in pain." Bridget's soft rolling accent snuck into her voice.

"I have looked for him for so long. I knew he was out there even if I didn't know how to find him. I could feel him." Astrid sobbed.

"He will come around. But, you can't give up on him. Things have been hard since our parents. He is in a lot of pain. He thought it would all end when he found you." Bridget said as she pulled a tissue for no where.

"I don't know what to do. Everyone remembers a life that I can't. I know that this is the biggest problem. I have an ancient person with my face who likes to tell me that I am screwing up. I have a best friend who tries to guide me towards a future that I have never seen. I have a man I love who hurts to look at me. And I just feel lost. I am tired of feeling so lost in all of this." Astrid allowed the truth to rush out of her.

"You know the part of this that doesn't make sense to me about all of this?" Bridget seemed to say to herself.

"I would not even begin to explain all the ways this is wrong." Astrid said a little petulantly.

"One is that you do seem like a child-like version of the Astrid I knew. It is like that version of you only allowed so much to get through. But the other is that the Astrid I knew would not have let herself come forward unwhole. It doesn't make sense. Would you allow yourself to be a fragment?" Bridget got to the point.

"No. I can't stand not being able to remember." Astrid said. The train of logic seemed to annoy her. "This is rubbing me like sand paper. That usually means something."

"That is what I thought. So the thing we need to focus on is what kind of back up plan would you have had?" Bridget asked. The woman's green eyes were so similar to Liam's The shade was just a few tones off.

"I don't know. I guess if I couldn't send my full self forward I would find a place to store the rest of me. I would have a way to find the rest of me too. Actually, I would have left it with someone I loved and trusted or somewhere I would think to look." This was the weirdest way to distract herself from a heart ache. Then again if Briget was on to something this might be the answer to the heart ache and a few other problems. The two of them stared at each other.

"You are the first person to think of this." Astrid thought out load.

"Then we should look into it." Bridget's face was serene.

"I don't want to tell Liam. I don't want to get his hopes up. I may never get my memories back." Astrid pleaded with Bridget.

"We wont until we know something concrete."

XXXX

Liam pressed her back against the wall. The cold seeped through his shirt and calmed him. The soft sounds of her sobbing had stopped then been replaced by soft murmurs. The soft sounds of her pain had broken his heart. Liam had spent most of his life trying to find Astrid so that he could protect her. In the end, he had been one of the people to hurt her. The idea of taking advantage of the woman who he had loved made him hate himself. It had repulsed him to think of how he could swoop in and just know how to seduce her. He wanted to know that she loved him for the right reasons and not simply that he had the advantage. Now she was sleeping in his home, under his roof, but in the farthest room from his own. And the pain of her absence was worse. He wanted to go to her throw all of his worries out of the window and just love her. He wanted to smell her hair first thing in the morning. He wanted to hand her the book off of the shelf just out of reach. He wanted to bury her face in her stomach and just be held. The worst was that he knew that she would have him. Even now, after what she had just heard and the way she now cried, Liam knew that Astrid would love him.

Liam fingered the small white gold band that cradled a large stone. The gleeming metal was meant to swirl around her finger then spike outward sharply. The large round diamond sat in between the band that did not connect as most bands did. It was a ring that was as unique as the woman meant to wear it. It was a ring he had spent years designing in his last life. It was a ring he had spent years in this life trying to find. It was one ring in a set. The diamond encrusted band that locked into the gleaming silver diamond ring was still missing. The sad part was that his love seemed to be missing too.