Disclaimer: I don't own the twilight saga or characters: However the story here is MINE! =))

Summary: Being an army wife is difficult you worry because of "not knowing". Not knowing when they will come home and not knowing if they will come home. This is the life and troubles they face! Couples : Ed&Bells Jasp&Alice Rose&Em

Alice and Jasper: Last name Whitlock.

Rosalie and Emmett: Last name McCarthy

Edward & Bells: last name "Cullen"

Ages

Alice: 19

Jasper: 28

Rose: 22

Emmett: 25

Edward: 27

Bella: 20

Love in the time of War

The most devastating news is to hear that your loved one isn't coming home and waiting is torture. The not knowing if and when they are coming home is the worse pain imaginable. You watch and read stories about it all the time, but unless you are experiencing it yourself you have no idea what it's like. The separation is difficult. People asked if I was nuts when I accepted his marriage proposal. I was a simple girl from a small town of Forks, and I hadn't experienced much of the world outside my safety net... Little girls always have dreams of being swept away by their prince charming, right? After all, he sure did look good in his uniform. But them leaving is something that is bound to happen with their profession, that don't make it easier though. Especially when your only been an army wife for relatively a year which makes you practically newlyweds.

The first Christmas we shared was special other then I had been nausea for a week prior to that. I could tell that my husband Edward was worried; he always was very protective over me. That was when I got the best Gift that Christmas me and Edward was going to be parents. Then the day came for his leave and it was devastating, it was always hard for me to let him go. What had I gotten myself into? How could this be so unfair? I got angry, and I felt so helpless. I felt like screaming out at the top of my lungs, but instead I just leaned against the kitchen counter, and cried to myself. I didn't want him to see. Maybe if he didn't see, he would think I was strong. I felt so pressured. All the other wives seemed to handle it so much better when their husbands were sent away. Why couldn't I be like them? I guess most of my emotions where due to my pregnancy. I knew that I had to be strong for him and for my unborn child.

I meet some other woman during my marriage and we all shared a strong bond, because we were going through the same things. All of us were Army wives and it was good to have someone who understood you. There was Alice Whitlock who is married to Jasper Whitlock and his rank in the army is Sargent Major. Alice is also the younger sister of my husband Edward Cullen whose rank in the army is Sergeant first class. The next in are bond of sisters is Rosalie McCarthy Who is married to Emmitt McCarthy whose rank is Master Sergeant. Being Pregnant was another surge of mixed emotions. I was so glad to have this life growing inside me, but yet so distraught that my family could not be there with me to share in it.

RoseandAlice came over bringing her little girl named Emily who had an equal resemblance to both her parents. She had Jaspers blonde locks, Alice's eyes and personality. She was just as hyper as her mother. This made me wonder what my child would look like. I had hopped it got more from his/her father then me, especially my klutziness and my plain looks. Edward had charm, grace, intelligence, good looks and beautiful jade eyes. I had always wondered how I ended up with someone so perfect. His face was perfectly sculpted, like the rest of his body. High cheekbones, straight nose, perfect full lips and his crooked smile that always had me melting in his arms. He was muscular but not as muscular as his friend Emmett, but still lean and strong. He was just impossibly handsome almost Godlike in his looks. I was now eight months pregnant and I found out at sixteen weeks that I was going to have a little girl; I just wish that Edward could have been there to experience that with me. I now had only one month to go and the Doctor said that the baby could arrive a month early. Alice and Rose where such a good help to me even when I refused they would stay and help.

Rose took Emily from Alice and went into the kitchen so that she could help to cook one of her specialties green bean casserole, Turkey breast, gravy and mashed potatoes. She was a wonderful cook and the first time I had tasted her cooking I was in heaven, it was the best food I had ever tasted. Rose even gave me a few recipes that have been passed down from generation to generation in her family. I noticed that Alice had a bag in her hand and she placed it on the floor to give me a hug. For a small "pixie" she was strong. "Bella I have missed you dearly, look at you your lovely and guess what I brought you some clothes." Alice said bouncing up and down to reach into a bag and pull out a silk dress, pair of designer pants, and shirts. Alice loved to shop and she had bought me so many fashionable clothing since I have been married to her brother. I loved Alice she was the sister I never had, but me and her was total opposite in taste. Emily had flower on her so Alice had to give her a bath before we ate Dinner she was so adorable.

After Dinner and Emily was in bed we talked about are husbands and how we missed them. No one ever wants to hear the news that they're going away. But it's inevitable in this day and age. Wives complain all the time about how hard it is for them to deal with, but I wonder how many stop to think about their husbands feelings. They are trained to be tough, and I have met some so lacking in emotion it's a wonder they found wives, but I know that it has to choke them up at least a little. I wouldn't want to be on the other end. I can't imagine watching my spouse and child standing there, looking into the bus window, waving goodbye to me yet again.

I felt sorry for Emily and my unborn child. Emily was a Daddy's girl, and she cries for days when he leaves. But boy, does she get a smile when that phone rings and it's him, calling to tell her how much he loves her. It must be hard to see your children in pictures and not be able to hold them. There are so many out there right now with children they've never even met. Alice had to leave because Emily had school in the morning. Rose later left because she had to work in the morning. When I had first found out where Rose worked I was shocked, she was this beautiful woman who had style and grace and looked like a super model or belonged on the cover of a magazine, defiantly not a mechanic. She just never seemed like the type who would get dirty…but then again appearances can be deceiving.

After everyone left I decided to go to bed early. I walked into the bedroom me and Edward shared when he was home and walked over to the dresser and pulled out my pajamas to go and take a bath. I walked into the bathroom and got out a towel and the things I would need to bath. Then turned the water on to get warm as I took off my clothing, after the water got warm I stepped into the tub and let the warm water sooth and relax me. I put my favorite body wash on that made me smell like strawberries the smell that Edward loved. I lathered and then rinsed all the soap off and after I was clean I stepped out of the tub and with my klutziness I about feel getting out. After I got my balance and was sure I wasn't going to fall I grabbed the towel to dry my body and hair. Then got dressed and combed my hair. I opened the conjoined door and walked into the main room to get in bed. As I was in bed it felt lonely and empty without Edward in bed with me. I wanted so much to be able to cuddle up to him and soak in the heat of his body and feel the comfort of having him next to me. I had always thought he was my pillow because my head was always on his chest when he was in bed with me.

The next morning I awoke and went down stairs to fix some breakfast. I was supposed to head over to my doctor's appointment at 2:00 so that Carlisle could check and see if me and the baby where healthy. So after I ate some breakfast I went upstairs to change into a pair of my maternity clothes Alice got me since my normal clothing wouldn't fit. After I changed and got everything ready I grabbed my keys and left the house. I had to make some stops so I left the house early to get my check cashed and to put gas in the car. I arrived at the Doctors office at 1:55 and signed my name on the list in front of the window. I went over in the waiting area to wait my name to be called. My cell phone ringed and I looked at it and seen it was Alice. "Hey Alice what's up?" I asked as I waited impatiently for my name to be called. "Hey I was wondering how the appointment went?" Alice asked and I could hear Emily in the background yelling Bell Bell. "I haven't gone in yet," I said just as a nurse I recognized named Leah called my name. "Hey Alice that's me I have to go," I said and hung up. I walked into the office and lay on the bed which was highly uncomfortable and waited for Dr. Carlisle Cullen to enter the room.

At 2:15 Dr. Cullen walked in and smiled at me and asked, "Hey Isabella how are you feeling today?" When you looked at Dr. Cullen you could see where Edward got his good looks, charm, intelligence and grace from all of Edwards's family where so kind and graceful. "I'm feeling fine today Carlisle," Bella said smiling up at the man who was more of a father then her own father Charlie. After he done his few tests and feeling something cold on my stomach I looked over to the screen and seen my princess. Though I haven't met her yet I love her more than life itself. "It appears everything is doing fine she has a good heart beat and is healthy," Carlisle said. After all the tests and I was released I went out to the car and made my way home.

I walked into the house and pulled off my shoes and went into the kitchen to get me something to drink that's when I heard it, the knock at the door. That's odd; I thought to myself, who could it be at 3:30 in the afternoon? I made my way slowly through the house and as I approached the front door I could hear two men quietly talking to each other on the front porch. It was probably girl scouts selling cookies or something. I opened the door to the last two men I wanted to see. There on our front porch stood two Army officers dressed in the dress uniforms. A thousands different things ran through my head, none of them good. "May I help you gentlemen," I said, trying to keep my voice under control, my heart was racing. The man on the right looked sad as he looked at my baby bump and then to my face and asked, "Are you Mrs. Isabella Cullen?" "Yes I am," I said quietly as I braced myself for the news they were bringing. "Mrs. Cullen, we are here on behalf of the United States Army to regrettable informing you that Sergeant First Class Edward A.M. Cullen was killed in action in Iraq on April 11th 2010." And with those words my word came crashing down around me. My husband was gone. I was never going to get to hold him in my arms, never going to get to kiss him again. My daughter was going to grow up without a father whom they never got to meet. How could this happen to me? I collapsed to the ground as the sobs shook through my body. All I could think was he was gone. The one on the left quickly dropped to his knees "I'm sorry," was all he said as he helped me up off the ground. They let me know that the casket would be coming in tomorrow at 4 pm and gave me a number of the funeral services on base. I nodded my head before shutting the door. Once the door was closed a fresh set of tears started to fall. I stood there with my back against the door and cried.