I'm trying with this one. I can't promise anything.
Chapter 1 – Never Love A Soldier
"Bella, I must go!" He bellowed determined.
"Edward, no! You'll die!" I cried, tears streaming down my face and landing on my plump belly, hard with the promise of our daughter.
"Bella, I need to do this." He warned prying my fingers form his tear stained shirt. I grabbed onto it the second my hands were free, he narrowed his eyes but made no comment. Good, I have a little more time.
"Edward - I pronounced his name carefully, controlled – do you really want our daughter, Elizabeth – I spat the name too angry to be rational – to never know her father? Don't you want to hold her and to read to her?" He stood their, still as stone and eyes as hard as frozen ice.
"Answer me!" I screamed and he slowly raised his eyes to meet mine, his chin risen defiantly. I knew in that one moment, I had lost.
I woke with a start as usual, to Elizabeth rolling restlessly around my stomach. She was two now, two years old to the day next week. This had been the third time I had dreamt the same nightmare, the same memory in a week and I was exhausted. Tired of fighting the images that were embedded in my mind. Tired of trying to control the rage I felt when he left me. And for what? Honour? Edward Anthony Masen had never seen his daughter, photo or otherwise. I wanted him to come back because he wanted too, not because he needed too. I kept Elizabeth away from others because really, it was too painful. Having her come home one day and ask the most dreaded question, What's a 'daddy'? I had never even told her of family, Edward made sure of that. He told me they could never know, or they wouldn't allow him to leave. I went ahead and told them anyway, as soon as he left. Elizabeth was born with our family, the Swans and the Masens united forever.
"Mommy." Lizzie groaned, she had caught my sleep talking trait. She blinked and rolled further onto my stomach, thumb still in her mouth, she swears she doesn't suck it but how does it stay in? I'll need to google that. I liked that I featured in her dreams, but I also knew that Jake did too. She said his name at least once a night sometimes more. He had been the main and only father figure in her life and the only man I had allowed to stay in mine. Many of my male friends had tried to make a move on me once Edward left, knowing full well I was pregnant by him and loved him dearly. Jake also was very handy in that department, he kept any unwanted guys at bay and swatted away any suspicious looking baby-snatcher.
Just then I felt Lizzie stir and I held her on my arms, cradling her there. I had been told by many that it wasn't 'healthy' for me to hold her this much. But, those who really knew me, didn't judge, they knew the real reason why I couldn't let her go, ever. Elizabeth was the only thing I had left of my fiancée, I didn't even know if he was still alive. All I had was this little piece of perfection, lying dozily in my arms.
Elizabeth was the most beautiful child. She had the bronze hair, curly and wavy and the electric green eyes. The chiselled nose and sculpted mouth, not forgetting the pink lips, the exact colour or pink roses or the slight, delicate body. I had never given her a second name, that was Edward's right, or at least until she turned six, she needed a second name at school, but I wanted Edward to decide that, it was his wish. The one thing I allowed him, her middle name. She was my Edward. Elizabeth Masen-Swan.