Carlisle Cullen is a high ranking officer in his country's army. Esme is his wife and they have a son – Edward. Charles Swan was a dear friend of Carlisle. He lost his life fighting for his country. He had a daughter – Isabella, who was orphaned on her father's death. Her mother – Renee Swan – had died earlier of sickness. Carlisle and Esme brought Bella home and raised her as their own. From the moment Edward and Bella looked at each other, it was clear that they shared a strong bond. As they grew up together, their love for each other also grew stronger with each day. Carlisle and Esme were pleased as they had secretly wished for Edward and Bella to fall in love with each other when they got Bella home. Edward eventually followed his father's footsteps and joined the Army. The most difficult time for Edward and Bella came when Edward had to go for the 3 month mandatory training at the time of enlisting. The Army rules forbade any contact with friends and family during this time. And so for the first time in their lives so far, they were separated for such a long time period.
And now Bella was of age and wanted to join the army herself. Edward was upset because he knew this meant danger and pain for her. Thus started the first argument of their life:
BPOV
We were all sitting in Dad's study. I had requested a family conference to decide on my joining the army. And because Edward was being childish. After all, if he and Dad could, why couldn't I join?
"Yes, I will".
"No, you will not".
"Edward..please please".
"Bella - I'm telling you once and for all. You are not joining the army and the discussion is over now". With this he started getting up.
"Edward, sit down" – Dad said.
Edward looked at him in surprise. "What? Surely you wouldn't be considering her absurd demand Dad?" I started protesting, but Dad raised his hand to indicate that both of us should sit down and listen to him.
"And why would her choice be absurd, Edward?"
"Come on Dad. You know how dangerous it is. And the hardships involved in the life."
"With me and now you in the army, she is well aware of the dangers and hardships, Edward. Bella, are you not?". "Yes dad, I am." I replied calmly. Dad nodded and looked at Edward then and I knew that I have won the battle.
"Edward, my son, your mother and I have never stopped either of you from doing what you wanted to. And we are not going to start now. If Bella wants to join the army, we will not stop her."
I could see the desperation on Edward's face. "Dad, please listen…".
"No Edward, there is nothing more I can say or do. If you still want to discuss this, you should talk to Bella".
Edward was kneeling before me in an instant. "Please Bella", he almost whimpered. But I could feel the resignation set in. With Dad and Mom on my side, he knew he had hardly any options left now. "Please.. I cannot see you suffer. Please love, what will I do if something happens to you?"
"Then you make sure that nothing happens to me. You ensure that I train under the best and the strictest trainer in the army so that I'm as well equipped as possible to survive in any situation." I smiled.
Edward's eyes grew wide. He looked at Dad who was also smiling. Edward was the best and the strictest trainer that they had in the army. And he was due to start a new batch of cadets in a month's time with his friend Jasper. He had met Jasper Whitlock and Emmett McCarty during his training and had told me later that though the 3 of them had clicked the moment they met, the friendship really built through the 3 months of shared hardships, pain and funJ.
I also hoped to build lifelong friendships during my time in the training. My childhood friend Alice Brandon was already slated to join this batch.
EPOV
"You can't be serious about this Bella". To say that I was shocked was an understatement.
I was scared to even think that Bella was joining the army. I was especially fearful of the training period. "The Training", as we called it, was not for the faint hearted. The cadets were tested to the limit and I know many broke with the pressure. But I did realize its importance since the very beginning. Having seen my father, I acknowledged that if you expect people to survive and perform their jobs well in this profession, you needed to train them as best as you can. You need to impart them all the skills that such a life of danger requires, even if it meant discomfort to them for a short span of time. It was like the age old adage – no pain, no gain.
And that was the reason I took my job of trainer for one batch each year very seriously and ensured that I give my cadets the meanest but "the best" training. I took pride in the various nick names the batches have given me over the years – the Devil, the Dracula, the Cold hearted etc.
But now Bella is asking me to do the unthinkable. I didn't think I have it in me to train her the same way I train the other cadets. I can't even stand her slightest discomfort, how am I going to endure the extreme hardships and punishments she is sure to go through during her training - that too in front of me and most of the times of my own doing? How will I forgive myself for causing her pain when I find it difficult not to interfere when Mom or Dad punish her deservingly?
I shook my head in disbelief and looking at our parents repeated – "You can't be serious. How do you expect me to survive training her?"
"What other option do you have son? Would you rather have her train under a less competent person and get hurt or worse on her first assignment itself?" – Mom spoke softly for the first time.
"Listen to what your mom is saying Edward. Now that Bella is joining the army, won't you want her to have the best of everything so that it helps her when she needs it most to perform her duty without hurting herself?" Dad added. I looked at them. Their hopeful faces were not lost on me. Then I reluctantly looked at Bella. She was almost begging me to agree. This girl would really be my undoing. She knew very well that I cannot refuse her anything.
I quickly got up. "Please give me some time to think." Dad nodded and I slowly walked out of the study.