Disclaimer: The Twilight Saga characters and plot lines used in this story belong to Stephenie Meyer.

Prologue: Sudden Departure

Renesmee Cullen sat on the roof of her grandfather's house. If her parents knew she was up there, they'd probably ground her for the rest of eternity, but at the moment she didn't care. All she cared about, all she thought about was him. She stared up at the stars as she pondered all that had happened between May and now. It was October. He'd been gone for three and a half months at this point.

He was never expected to leave, even if it was for a good cause. He was always supposed to be there for her, wasn't he? That's what he promised, right? Gazing at the big dipper she thought back to that first night…

I stared at him while he looked up into the heavens. The moonlight shadowed his dark skin perfectly, almost as if he was born to be under the full moon. I giggled at the thought. He probably was knowing the beast that laid beneath his human skin.

"What's so funny?" his question brought me back to attention, and I blushed as I realized I'd been caught staring at him.

"Nothing really. Just an observation I made."

Leaning up on his elbow, he squinted his eyes as he gazed down at me. I felt my insides melt at the intense yet teasing look in his dark brown eyes. "Nothing, huh?" He raked a hand through his hair the same way he always did. "Then why are you so embarrassed?"

Of course he noticed. Damn my mom for the annoying human half of me she contributed. I'd been noticing him in a different way recently, and I just couldn't get enough of him. I could watch him all day. My toes curled at the thought of the strong line of his jaw and the way his muscles rippled in his back and arms as he worked on cars. He was just so beautiful. And he always noticed me enjoying the view although I don't think he knows my feelings for him.

I frowned as I realized just how long I'd been in love with him. A year? Possibly longer even. Nothing would probably happen between us though. There was too much history.

"Hey, have you ever thought about dating?" I quickly shut my betraying mouth. Dammit. Why can't you just leave it alone, Renesmee?

"What?!" He sat up so fast that if I hadn't had vampire in my genes, I probably wouldn't have seen the whole movement. "Wha- Why…?" He seemed flustered. I sat up as well and stared at him, confused. "I mean," he paused and looked at me with wide eyes, "Why did you ask that? It was so outta the blue. I just… Since when have you thought about dating, Ness?"

"Oh, uh, I dunno. I dunno why I asked that either. I guess I'm just curious. You're always with me, but don't guys, like, want a girlfriend so they can, like, uh, kiss and do other stuff?" I blushed at my insinuation. Dammit. Why must I show when I'm uncomfortable all the time?

And he, well, he just look plain horrified that I had just said that, but he answered anyway. He sighed, "Yeah, Ness. I'm gonna be honest and tell you that most guys do want girlfriends for…all that stuff."

"Most guys? What, you prefer boys? Getting it on with Seth and Embry, eh?" I joked, trying to lighten the mood.

"NO! I'm definitely NOT into guys! Is that what you think?" He looked so panicked that I became even more confused.

"No, not at all. I was just kidding."

He visibly relaxed. "Okay, good…. Look, Ness. I have thought about, you know, dating and having a girlfriend. There's, um, this one girl who I just think is the most amazing person in the world, ya know? I just don't know if it's the right time to make a move, and I don't want to destroy the friendship we currently have. Ya know? I just don't think I could stand to lose her, especially if it was because I pushed her or made a move too early."

My heart sank. I don't know what my stupid brain was hoping for when I asked the question, but it certainly wasn't that. I selfishly wanted him to be mine, my boyfriend, but I couldn't make him like me, especially if he's into another girl. I wondered who she was, if I had met her. "Do I know this girl?" I glanced up at him.

He looked at me and opened his mouth, but didn't say anything for a moment. Finally he said, "Yeah, Ness, you do."

"Oh…" I stared down at my hands. I'm his best friend. I have to be there for him. I have to support him. "Well, then, I think you should just do it. If it's meant to be, then it will work out. If she isn't into like that and she lets your feelings ruin your friendship, then she isn't worth your friendship anyway. You're an amazing person and friend. She'd be a fool to let that all go. Hell, she'd be a fool to not like you anyway, but if she doesn't I just hope she knows you're worth having as a friend even if you do have a crush. You won't push her. I know that. You're not that kind of guy. If you don't make a move, you'll just sit around wondering when the right time will be or if she really likes you. Eventually, you'll be too late, and she'll have someone else. All you can do is try."

He didn't say anything in response. I sat there uncomfortably, wringing my hands. Finally I glanced up at him. He was staring at me with an awed look in his eyes.

"How come," he grabbed my hand, "you always know the right things to say? And how do you say it so eloquently?"

"I don't know what you me-" My eyes widened as he cut me off by pressing his lips to mine. After a second, he pulled away and nervously searched my face for any hint of what I was feeling.

"I'd like to take you out. On a date, I mean. If you'll have me, Renesmee."

"Yes. I mean yes, please. I'd love that. You have no idea how much I'd love that." I launched myself at him, and, as always, he caught me as I hugged him tight around his neck.

It had been the best night of her life when he had chosen her. And the best two months of her life had followed. They did the normal stuff they usually did: cliff diving, swimming, racing, hunting. Only now, they held hands and kissed occasionally in between. Her parents hadn't been thrilled, but they hadn't tried to stop them either. They'd been in love which is why she couldn't understand why he did it.

It was the last week of June, and he was late picking me up. He was never late. I paced, worried something had happened. Finally, I saw his bike pull into the driveway.

I bounded down the steps and leaped into his arms. He caught me just like normal, only this time he seemed distant. "Where were you? I thought maybe you'd been captured by your sister for more wedding plans." I smiled at him. He returned it with a forced one.

"Ness…sweetheart… I-we need to talk."

Now I was freaking out. "What? What is it? What's wrong?" I started checking up and down for any sign of injury or what had happened.

"Hey, hey," he smoothed my hair away from my face and cupped my head in his hands, "It's nothing like that. Calm down. It's just..." he sighed and dropped his hands. "I'm just going to tell you like ripping off a band-aid, okay?" He looked at me for reassurance, so I slowly nodded my head. "I enlisted in the Marines, Ness. I'm not a hundred percent sure why I did it, but it was just something I needed to do. Seth, Embry, Quil, and I had been discussing it for a while, and this morning I just went and did it."

"I- I don't understand. What does this mean for us? How long will you be gone? Will you get leave and come visit?"

"I've enlisted for four years, and I leave next week, July 1st. All I know currently is there will be six months of basic training down in California, and then, most likely, I'll be shipped overseas for at least a year. I don't know what I'll be doing after that, and I don't know when I can come visit." He suddenly looked pained. As he spoke again, his voice choked for a moment, but only for a moment. "Ness, I think that we should end this. I want to be with you, don't think that's why I'm saying this, but who knows how long I'll be gone or if I'll even come back." My heart shuddered at the thought of his body lifeless. "I don't want you to feel stuck. If you meet someone, I want you to have the freedom to live your life the way you want, okay?"

Tears began to swell in my eyes, "I don't want you to go."

"I know. I don't really want to leave you, but this is something I have to do. Please, please be happy Renesmee. That's all I ask of you. Goodbye." And with that he turned at left without a second glance.

She had been so heartbroken, but because she loved him and that's what he wanted to do, she couldn't bring herself to try to stop him. She tried to forget about him. She even was trying to move on. She'd been on a few dates with boys from school. She'd been getting better at living her life without it him. It was hard, especially since she hadn't just lost a love, but her best friend as well. However, she had been figuring it out.

And then she saw the news.

A helicopter in his company had been shot down in the Middle East. No names of who was injured and killed had been released to the press. His father was here, with her grandpa, waiting for a call. A call from him telling them he was ok, or a call from his superior saying those dreadful words, "We're sorry for your loss." Now it was just a waiting game.

It wasn't until three days later that he called. He was safe. She could go back to living her life now, couldn't she?