Hello everyone! This is a brand new story I have had in my head for awhile. I am writing very late at night so if it is disorganized or has alot of errors you can leave me a nasty note..I promise to read it! :) Tell me if you like it! I have been working on my other story Must be Dreaming for a long time now so I thought I should do something different.

This story is set in the middle of the Civil War in 1862. Alice is what you would call "Sheltered" but wants to see the war for her own eyes. She is trying to find Emmett(her brother) and meets Jasper Whitlock at Fort Davis in Texas. I really hope you enjoy this! I tried to be as historically accurate as possible so if you have any ideas or commets about anything please review!

Enjoy!

My vision was blurred by a sea of grey, scruffy uniforms. I felt slightly overwelmed realized I and quite a few other women would be washing every single one of the jackets, pants, under garmets. All of them dirty and covered in either dried mud or even blood.

The year is now 1862. This Civil War, I realized, had gone on long enough. I knew life would never be the same once it began. But I never imagined I would be here right in the middle of it all.

My name is Alice Brandon. I am eighteen years old. I knew this was comming, all of this war and civil dispute. We were all Americans, but so different. Differences that might separate us as a nation and people. I am at Fort Davis to help any way I can. Although women cannot be drafted into war, I believe it is my duty to help in any way they see fit. I suppose you could say I drafted my self.

My brother, Emmett was drafted and forced to join less than a year ago. I couldn't bare the thought of him being here all alone. Texas seemed to big for him to be so far away. Only the Holy Bible and a gun to keep him safe and comforted.

Emmet was also extremely, should I say, cocky. He never saw anything but as a joke. He was what made the house a much brighter place. Since he left I keep finding things I had to tell him, but he wasn't here to share them with.

I was here to find him. Not to talk him into going back home, but to make sure he stayed out of trouble. He had been gone for around six monthes. Letters move slowley and my parents have not been the same since he left. We always worried about him. Not knowing whether he was safe or being careful...

Although my mother was against me coming here, my father was much more open to my argument. I felt guilty, not helping save lives in when Emmett had his own in line of fire.

I realized I wouldn't be help at home. Father said, "As it is your brother's duty, it is yours also." My mother said it was not my place under any circumstances to come to Fort Davis, for I was a young women and it was seemingly impropper to her. Mother thought me coming here was 'impropper' because of how it might look to other people. She is only intrested in my well being I knew, but I was quite capible of taking care of myself.

Mother was the one who thought I should be wed by now. She knew I wasn't fond of any men in our town. I suppose she was so distressed not because I came here in the middle of war, but because I would be around soldiers who she might find unkept or even the men themselves to be. My mother was extremely high on apearences, it was one of many subjects we disagreed on.

I suppose father thought differently...

In my own thoughts I hadn't seen a women come to stand beside me. She had auburn hair that was in a smooth, perfect, braided bun on her head.

She spoke, looking at me with humerous eyes. "It seems we are needed quite desparately ladies." Her nose slightly scruched at men passing us who bent their heads respectivly and giving us warm smiles. I was quite taken back at her bold discust. It wasn't their fault they had not had proper, clean clothing. That is why we came in the first place was it not?

She looked over at me and her eyes softened their glare, realizing I was staring at her disaprovingly. Her and mother would get along well I think.

"I am Jessica. You are?" She looked at me in what seemed to be annoyance. As if talking to me was a bore in in of itself.

"Alice Brandon, pleased to meet you." I then knew why I was most jealous of her. It was not looks or her beauty but that mother would have wanted her more as daughter then me, I could already see there similarities. She seemed to walk with pose and gained the attention of any man who looked her way.

Mother would have honored this girl much more than she ever did me. In my mother's eye I was, "Ill fit to be a good wife or do much of anything!"

Trying to ignore my mothers voice in my head I took in more of my surroundings. I walked past her and walked into what would be my new home. A small wooden house with ten beds.

It is something that I may never get used too, the smell of gun powder. The sight of tired yet able men trying to win a war. A war with their own brothers. One country fighting itself. Destroying what vaules we placed upon it when it first came to be. Mother thought me coming here was 'impropper' because of how it might look to other people. She is only intrested in my well being I knew, but I was quite capible of taking care of myself.

Mother was the one who thought I should be wed by now. She knew I wasn't fond of any men at home. I suppose she was so distressed not because I came here in the middle of war, but because I would be around soldiers who she might find unkept or even themself's unworthy of respect. My mother was extremely high on apearences. It was one of many subjects we disagreed on.

Then I saw a women who was washing the fimilar grey uniforms with an ironing board in a bucket. She had to be the most beautiful women I would ever see. I looked at her hands moving the coat up and down on the wooden board. Her dress was a deep red but simple, her sleaves were rolled up so she could move more freely. Her bright blonde hair made her stand out. Her face had a look of fatige on it. But she looked up with soft and kind eyes and gave me a small smile.

"Hello." Was all she said. "Are you new here? They said we would be getting more women to help us here soon."

"Yes I am. Is this where I will be staying?" I hadn't met it the way it came out. It sounded as if I were a frivilous girl who wasn't strong enough to handle this. But I was. I was strong enough to handle this.

"I am Rosalie. And you are?"

"Alice."

Rosalie looked up at me, and must have not heard my voice quiver and whispered, "See that women over there?" She pointed to a lady who had just walked in.

When I nodded Rosalie continued. "She is who will be intructing you. She will tell you how we do things around here. Mrs. Cullen has been here for the past two years and is married to the general."

"Have you been here long?" I asked her.

"This will month will be my eighth. Please call me Rose.." She stopped her next sentence and looked right into my eyes. "It's your first time away from home isn't it?" She asked, looking me up and down.

When I nodded and asked waringly, "How can you tell?" She looked at me with nothing but sympathy and said. "I can just tell. You look nervous but eager at the same time. You have a look to you like you have never seen blood. The way we all should look."

When you looked at her closley, she had dirt under her finger nails and mud on the bottom of her dress. Yet she had a natural beauty of strength and indepedence I immeadiatly hung on her every word.

We both looked at the same time to a women who looked down on us from the steps. She looked around my mother's age but the tired look in her eyes made her look older. "Good morning ladies. I am Esme Cullen. Most men here call me "Mother." I will tell you a few things about your wages and how much you will earn. Come inside with me please." She walked straight back in the house and all of us followed.

I looked back at Rosalie and she gave me a small smile. "I'll walk in with you if you would like." I nodded and took her hand, making our way inside the building.

"I actually came here to find my brother. He is supposed to be here." I said.

She looked up at me and said, "Oh really? What is his name? Maybe I am assigned to his regiment. I wash around sets of clothing for nighteen men so maybe I know him."

"Emmet. Emmett Brandon." I asked hopefully.

Her eyes widend and she gave me the biggest grin. Only Emmett could make someone smile like that. She sounded dazed as she spoke, her eyes looked dreamy. "Yes..yes I know Emmett quite well. After Esme talks to you I will show you were he is. So your the sister he talks about?"

My heart leaped. I could just imagine his face when he saw me. I knew he would get upset I was here. I hadn't even sent him a letter tell him I was coming. This would be a huge suprise for him and I hope it would be a good one.

"Alright ladies. Here is what you will see day to day. Right now most are sleeping. Treat every one in here with respect, they deserve it. Give them a smile. Kindness is given and recieved." Mrs. Esme said like she had repeated it a thousand times over.

When we walked in.

We were in the hospital room. Wounded men lined up across the walls in beds. I had never felt so lucky or guilty that my parents had sheltered me from sights like these. Rosalie squeezed my hand witch I had not let go of the entire time. They looked sad, almost as if they didn't want us there. It was shame exactly, I wasn't sure I wanted to know what the look in their eyes ment.

They seemed to know Esme, some greeted her and had a conversation about how they were feeling. Some simply said, "Good evening." and gave her a gentle head nod. I realized she had a connection with all these men that I wanted. Maybe I simply wanted to belong somewhere. I felt like I belonged here. I felt like this could be my home and that I could make a difference here. I would prove everyone wrong. I was not a frivilous girl, I was a young, independent women and I would make my mark.

Thanks for reading! Tell me what you thought! :) I have absolutly no clue when I will put up another chapter. I will try my hardest to be speedy quick! Since summer is right on our heels I think it will be soon! :) Goonight to all!

Reviews would be lovely.