Hey, This is my first Twilight fan-fiction so be nice. Not your run-of-the-mill story either, the main character's are OC's, but the original gang will show up later in the story. (So basically if you don't like stories that aren't conpletely centered on the main characters from the book stop reading.) But i asure you Bella and the Cullens come in later.

Well, let me know if you like it. (Edit: This chapter's contents were updated 08-26-09)

Celeste's POV

Bullets whirled around me, some only missing my slim frame by centimeters. I squeezed the trigger of my musket, wincing as the butt of the gun rammed itself into my shoulder. I clumsily reloaded the barrel as I watched my previous target fall. Once again thoughts of my brothers filled my sleep-deprived thoughts. I stopped for a split second, praying silently that I would never meet my kin in battle.

A bullet whizzing by my head broke my daze, ushering me back into thundering reality. In a small way, I wished the bullet had connected. What did I have left to live for anyway? Parker was the reason I was disguising my self as a man in the first place, and he was dead, or worse, had abandoned me and run from the raging conflicts that surrounded us. If I ran and went home, my Confederate family would surely disown me, or in my father's case actually kill me: me, his Union daughter who'd run off to join the army with her husband. A husband they didn't even know I had might I add.

Another ball of lead flew passed my ear, triggering a burst of adrenalin, reminding myself that not all of me was quite ready to give up on life.

I let lose another blast of gunpowder and prepared to fire once more as I watched my mark fall to the blood soaked earth. I almost laughed; I never missed. Anything unfortunate enough to be in my sights while I carried a heavy musket in my arms had seen it's last day as a living creature. It was ironic; I was a woman, but the Union Calvary's best shot, and also the luckiest when it came to avoiding the deadly shrapnel.

Or so I'd thought.

Vaguely, I felt the sensation of a small ball rushing through the center of my chest. I felt it burst through my lungs and out through my spine. Pain erupted from my chest; sending the signals of unbearable suffering to my already foggy head as the musket clattered to the ground, no longer supported by my limp arms. My knees lost their strength as my weakened body fell to into the hard dirt, preparing to join the dead of the Civil War.

My mind began to shut down as the blood drained from my body, my senses loosing their function. I could no longer think coherently, and the smell of gunpowder faded from my nose. My sight failed completely, and the world faded into a searing darkness. My ears however, still seemed to work, or I thought they did. I must have started hallucinating because I thought I heard a snarl coming from the woods beside me. It sounded terrified and furious at the same time.

Then, I knew I was dead, because I heard Parker calling my name. He sounded terrified. He called again, his voice full of authority and fear, telling me not to give in, that I wasn't allowed to die, that I had to stay in awake. I felt two stone cold arms wrap around my beaten body, lifting me gently off the ground. He moved me, I think, because the thundering of the battle was suddenly muted as if it were miles away.

Cool hands caressed my face, and Parker's voice called my name over and over again. I wanted to move, open my eyes and find him, but my body wouldn't listen. I felt separated from it, as if I was trapped at the bottom of the ocean. The same cool hands moved to my neck, brushing my short sweaty hair aside. The pain in my chest was numbing, the feeling fading as I lost contact with the realm of the living.

Cold lips kissed my neck with the softest pressure. The lips formed words against my paling skin as Parker's voice floated through my head, "Be angry if you must, but I cannot lose you," he said as the lips parted and cold teeth sunk deep into my flesh.

Parker's POV

I'd been watching her for weeks now. I had been surprised at first that she'd stayed after my 'disappearance'. I had hoped that she would run away from it all; nothing could be better for her now. She looked miserable, sitting there a few feet away from the men. I mentally kicked myself as I studied her still thinning frame. She'd lost an impossible amount of weight during the war. She looked as if she hadn't eaten or slept in days. Her body was being destroyed, and this whole stupid, idiotic thing had been my idea. At least before, when I'd been able to be by her side, she was somewhat happy. Watching her now, it seemed everyday she grew more depressed.

It killed me to know that she thought I was dead, or worse, had abandoned her. I wanted so badly to run to her side and let her know that I was still here, watching her everyday, that I wasn't dead and that I hadn't abandoned her. But how could I face her, being this pathetic creature that I am? I was a vampire, and could never hope to hold her in my arms once again.

I resented being kept from her; it was a fate far worse than death. Oh, how I longed to run to her, hold her warm body close to me, and kiss her full sweet lips. But I couldn't, there was too great a chance I would hurt her. Oh, but I wanted to so badly, to take her away from this war, the world even, and have her all to myself. Damn that vampire. It would have been better if he had just killed me, especially after hunting me as long as he claimed. But no, my luck was not that good. He left me to change, doomed me to a life of pinning for a love I could no longer have.

I suppose I could always change her, but I could never do that to her. Celeste may have been able to stomach the idea of war, but not killing innocent humans for any reason except personal gain. It would destroy her. I could take watching her from afar as she went on with her mortal life. I wouldn't last long after her life ended, vampire or not, I couldn't live without her.

The barking of orders broke me from my daze. A battle was about to begin. My eyes never left my girl as she filed into rank disguised as a man. I followed slowly beside them in the woods as they marched. My eyes never left my angels face, not even to see if I was about to run into something.

I watched as they lined up facing the opposing Confederates, Celeste on the front line, as usual. The Union would never find a better shot. My eyes were glued to the battle as blast after blast was fired. The dead littered the ground. Eventually, I had to stop breathing. My self-control was being tested to its limits. The only thing that kept me from drinking the blood of the dying was the thought of the look of horror on Celeste's face if she saw.

I followed her with my eyes and thoughts as she moved closer to the woods. She was so close. I could take her now, and no one would ever know.

She was slow today; normally her reactions were much faster. Her thoughts must be elsewhere. Though what could be more pressing than bullets whizzing past your head I had no idea.

One shot rang out more clearly than all the others. I watched in horror as a bullet connected with my love's chest before shooting out through her back. I snarled in fury and terror, as she fell, not caring who heard me. Without thinking, I yelled her name to the air, rushing forward to her side. No, she was not allowed to let this happen. She was not allowed to leave me so soon. I called her name again, willing her to return to consciousness. Her eyes had clouded over, and I knew she could no longer see. Slowly her eyes closed, ignoring my pleas.

I picked her limp form off the blood soaked ground as gently as I could, and ran. I stopped a spilt second later and laid her back down on the earth. Quickly I checked her wound. Miraculously, her fragile heart was still beating, but she was loosing so much blood. I briefly wondered why I felt no urge to drink from her, but the thought faded quickly.

Celeste would never last more than five minutes if I didn't do something. What could I do? I could change her. No, I wouldn't, couldn't, do that to her. Could I? Softly I ran my hands over her paling face. Her skin was getting colder, another reminder of her limited time. She was fading fast, I had to do something. My life was nothing if she didn't exist.

I brushed her short blonde hair away from her neck, exposing the soft skin below. Carefully, I kissed her neck, noticing for the first time how wonderful she smelled. I pulled her close to my cold body, my lips lingering on her neck. I decided then and whispered against her skin. "Be angry, if you must, but I cannot lose you." I bit her.

Celeste's POV

Fire spread through my veins, dragging me back to earth. Only the damage to my spine prevented me from screaming in agony. This was it. I could be in no other place than Hell itself. Distantly, I could here Parker's voice, "Celeste, hold on, love. I know it hurts, don't worry, it will be over soon. It's all right. I'm here with you. It will be over soon." He kept repeating these words in my ear and I was thankful, it gave me something else to focus on. It was the only thing that made it through the agony of my body. The next three days seemed like an eternity.

Okay, that's the first chapter. Let me know what you think of the story and i'll post the next chapter if I get some feed back.

colonelZ