A/N: Okay, so basically, I hate historically inaccurate 1918 stories with Edward and Bella. So I wrote my own. Funny story how this story came to be. You see, I was sitting in 19th and 20th World History class. This chapter we're learning about World War I, and the movie I was watching...you guessed it. The 1918 Influenza.
I swear I sat up so straight and actually paid attention when I heard that date and word together in the same sentence. Hehe, every girl in that class was watching the movie searching for Edward and Carlisle.
So anyways, this is Edward's life, or at least what I percieve it to be, while he was human. Except I added Bella.
Now this is the first, besides the Suffering, that I have done Edward's POV, so if I suck at it, tell me. I'll do Bella from then on.
Next chapter though WILL be from Bella's POV.
This chapter's influence: Do You Realize? by The Flaming Lips.
The entire stories influence: Dancing in a Minefield by Plushgun. (althought loosely influenced.)
I own nothing!! --Disclaimer.

Chapter one: Do You Realize??

I stood on my tiptoes to see over the crowd in front of me. The sound of marching soldiers came to my ears and I shoved my way more urgently through the crowd gathered on the sidewalks. Soldiers were coming home from war. The forest green hats were starting to come in sight over the heads of the crowd and I heard my name being called. Mother was waving her hand at me in the front of the people.

"Edward!"

I waved back and maneuvered my way politely through the throngs of people welcoming the soldiers home. Mother moved over to make room for me. As she shifted over she revealed Isabella standing next to her, clapping and cheering for the soldiers with the rest of the people. I smiled and stepped next to my best friend, wrapping my arm around her shoulder.

Her head turned up and smiled at me before going back to cheering.

Mother leaned over to my ear, talking so that I could hear her over the applauding crowd. "You see Edward? The war is practically over!" she said. "There's no need for you to go at all!" I forced myself to smile at her and nod.

Bella nudged me in the side and smiled apologetically, like it was her fault Mother didn't understand. I shook my head, grinning at her and cheered with Bella and the crowd as the last of the soldiers marched past us. Bella didn't understand either; I knew she was just trying to make me feel better.

My entire family didn't understand my need to go to war. Well, my father probably, but my mother certainly not.

All I have ever dreamed of is going off to war and serving my country. The cruel things the Central Powers had done, our ships they had blown up, The Lusitania, and the neutral countries they had ignored and warred through all needed to be avenged. When the draft came out I waited and waited for my draft letter to come so that I could be shipped out to war with my friends. But when the time came and the soldiers came for recruitments, I wasn't the one that they took with them.

I remember the day clearly. It was one of the worst days ever, next to the day that I thought Bella was moving away for good.

Two soldiers knocked hard on our doors…

I pulled open the door and peeked around it. Two soldiers were waiting behind it. My excitement grew and I threw open the doors welcoming them in.

"Where's your father, son?" the first one asked.

I looked at him confused for a second. Why would they need my father he's only thirty-seven. But I hurriedly complied not wanting to disappoint them before I was officially drafted. Bad impressions and all that.

"Dad," I called through his office door, "There are some soldiers here to see you…"

The door was thrown open quickly and Dad looked slightly startled. He quickly composed himself and clapped me on the shoulder before striding towards the front hall. I followed after him quickly.

By the time I got there I had missed what the soldiers had told Dad, but I saw his face and heard what he said.

"You're drafting me? But I'm only a lawyer. I have no experience. I need to stay here and take care of my wife and son."

"I know, sir, but we all need to do our part," the second soldier said.

Dad nodded his understanding, but I couldn't possibly leave it at that.

"Sir?" I asked hesitantly. "What about me?"

The soldiers looked at me, appraising me with their eyes. Trying to measure up my age.

"Your age, son?"

"Seventeen," I said with my head held high, trying to make myself look older than I said. For once I wished my father wasn't right next to me. I could have lied about my age, but Dad would never have allowed it.

The soldier smiled at my attempt and I bristled at the way he looked at me like I was a five-year-old. "I'm sorry, but the draft is for 18 through 40 year olds. Not for young boys like you," he said.

"Your mother might need you here anyways, son," the second soldier said. "What's your name?"

"Edward Masen, sir," I answered.

"Well Edward Masen. I'll keep an eye out for you next year if this crazy war is still going on. You'll make a fine soldier one day."

Dad put his hand on my shoulder and looked down at me proudly, but sadly. The soldiers handed him an envelope of information and he showed them out of the house.

I was thrown out of the past in my head by Bella shouting in my ear. "Edward! Edward, look! Your father, he's home!"

I looked out at the marching soldiers, searching for my father's familiar face. I found him marching in the middle of the last section. He was looking discreetly in the crowds for us as well. "Dad!" I called out, waving my hand. Bella jumped and screamed 'Mr. Masen.' I smiled thinking of how she treated Dad like her own since her parents divorced.

Mother was calling out to him as well. He looked over at us, smiled greatly and whispered something in the man's ear next to him.

Next thing I knew he was running for us, abandoning the soldiers marching in order on the streets, and calling our names. "Elizabeth, Junior, Bella!" All hell broke loss then. Other soldiers saw Dad running towards and they looked into the crowds searching for their own families running towards them and yelling their names.

Dad ran to us, dropping his bag on the curb and gathering his wife in a huge bear hug. When he kissed her I looked away pointedly, but Bella giggled at me and sighed at my parents. I knew she was playing around with me so I poked her side, tickling her. She laughed and slapped my hand away.

"Junior!" he yelled, grabbing me for a hug. I cringed at that nickname. Bella grinned at my face. Dad pulled back and smiled, shaking my hand. "Guess they didn't need me much after all, huh Junior?" Dad ruffled my hair and I groaned. I ran my hands through it trying to desperately make it look normal again. Typical Dad. "I was barely gone half a year!"

"It's good to have you home Dad," I said, not wanting to show my disappointment of the war not lasting long enough until I could join.

He turned to Bella then, gathering his self-proclaimed daughter in his arms. "Bella! It's so good to see you! You've grown so much since I last saw you. You and Edward both!"

She smiled and squeezed him back. "It's nice to see you too Daddy," she said, pulling back and teasing him with her nickname for him.

He laughed. "Well I hope Elizabeth hasn't been taking your friendliness to an advantage," he said as he wrapped his arm around Mother. I smiled and picked up his forgotten bag off the street slinging it over my shoulder and slipping Bella's arm through mine. We started walking through the crowd back to our home.

Mother slapped Dad's arm playfully and Bella laughed. "No, she hasn't."

"Actually," Mother said, "Bella's been too much of a help. I barely have had to work. She does the housework and keeps Edward off my back." I frowned and Bella giggled.

"I only tried to help, Elizabeth," Bella said. Mother patted her hand and kissed her forehead, smiling in thanks.

As we walked through the crowds I saw many families rejoicing with their sons and husbands. I saw my friends from school hugging their mothers and girlfriends. And I saw husbands hugging their wives. But, I also saw many families weeping for theirs who had not come from the group in the street. Dad would pass by some weeping women and families, whispering in their ears something. They smiled at him saying 'Bless you,' and would go back to their families to tell them what they were told.

"Dad?" I asked after he stopped at our weeping neighbor, Mrs. Collin.

He looked at me and smiled. "Not everyone was sent back, son. There's a lot of cleaning up to do."

I nodded and stopped, sliding the bag off my shoulder and handing it to Dad. "I should get Bella back home. It's late."

Dad and Mother hugged Bella good-bye and made her promise to come to dinner tomorrow night. She accepted, like she always would and said good night.

I walked with her down the darkening empty streets of twilight to her house. The silence around us was comfortable. I've known Bella Swan all my life. All through childhood and school we've always been the best of friends. Lately we haven't felt the need to talk. We could always tell what the other was thinking and feeling just by the silence.

But lately I've also felt something different. I wasn't sure what it was, but whenever I was around Bella I couldn't help but want to be closer to her.

My parents both told me that this would happen one day. In fact, they encouraged it, hoped for it. They loved Bella like their own daughter.

We stopped at Bella's front door on her porch.

"I'm glad your father's home, Edward," she said. I knew she meant what she said, but I also could hear the other reason in her voice. She was happy I didn't have to go to war as well.

I smiled and kissed her cheek. She blushed red deeply. "I know you are Bella."

"Good night Edward."

"Good night, my Bella," I whispered as she turned towards the door and went inside.

A/N: Please review, once again tell me if I suck at Edward's POV, I won't get offended, trust me I know I suck. I'm so much better at Bella's but this chapter had to be told in Edward's.