I don't own anything. Zero. Anyway, I just want you to know I do plan on finishing my other stories. I will be posting a new chapter for each of them hopefully by tomorrow. This is something i've been working on for the past month. It's fun to write and I have contemplated over and over if I wanted to even post it. I'm going to admit that I know barely anything about the Army. All that I know is what I've heard and read. This is definately Edward/Bella. :) I hope you enjoy!

Prologue

I remember the day all too clearly. It was two days after I graduated High school. I hadn't been feeling well for the past month so I figured it wouldn't hurt to see the doctor. I saw him. Got my news and was set on telling my boyfriend of three years. Sure, what I was going to tell him wasn't in the plan for our future, at least not for another couple of years down the road but I figured we could handle it. I had him meet me at the spot we had had our first date. It was where we sent the other whenever we had something big to tell. Apparently, he had something big to tell me as well, so it worked out just fine.

I remember setting my blanket down on the beach and waiting for him. I remember hearing his motorcycle before I saw him. I turned around and smiled when I saw him hop off the death trap and walk towards me. I suddenly felt all of my love for him rush to the surface. He was beyond perfect in my eyes and I could really never see myself with another man. I remember he smiled back at me before jogging the rest of the way to me.

I hadn't expected for his news to be so earth shattering. I thought maybe he was going to tell me his Uncle came through and was able to get him a summer job. Hell, anything but the four words I got.

I joined the Army.

In which I reciprocated with two words of my own.

I'm pregnant.

To say the least, three lives changed that day.

I met Embry Call when I was seven. I had been visiting my Father, Charlie, for the summer. Charlie was best friends with Embry's Uncle Billy Black, who had a son a couple of years younger then us, Jacob. I had just made a mud pie with Jacob when Embry walked up and told me I was a baby for playing with Jacob. I kicked him in the shin that summer and refused to ever speak to him again.

That lasted all of four days. We were forced to play together since Embry was living with Billy and Jacob since his Mom had just up and left him. Embry never knew his Dad so Billy was his only relative.

It was the summer before we turned sixteen when I moved to Forks to live with Charlie for good. That summer I found out that I was madly in love with Embry Call, even if he had been a jerk to me when we were kids. It was that same summer I forgave him for calling me a baby for playing with Jacob. He also ended up apologizing to Jacob since I refused to kiss him until he did.

The summer before we turned seventeen I lost my virginity to Embry. It wasn't a rash decision. It was something we had talked about over and over again. Just to make sure we were both ready.

The summer before we turned eighteen and before we were seniors, I lost my Mom in a plane crash. It wasn't three months into senior year when Charlie died of a heart attack.

I had felt so alone in the months following their deaths but Embry had been right by my side helping me through everything. He was the glue that held me together then and I remember feeling like someone had ripped my heart out and stomped on it when he told me he had joined the army. He was all I had and there he was talking about risking his life, sure he felt it his duty since he found out his Father had fought and his father's father had also fought. It wasn't his duty, and I had made sure I screamed that many times before he left for Basic. His duty was to be in Washington helping me raise our baby.

He would often tell me he didn't make the decision lightly. He'd say that he was thinking about what could be best for our future and he just didn't see himself succeeding in life if he worked at some low paying job in our hometown.

I wouldn't have cared if we were broke and living on the streets, as long as we were doing it together.

I was four months pregnant when he left for training. He had kissed me on the lips and told me loved me more then anything. Then he got down on his knees and kissed my tummy before leaving me standing in his Uncle's yard crying my eyes out.

I had our little boy at the hospital in the Forks, which was the town over from where we lived. Embry hadn't been able to make. I remember laying in bed after Samuel Charles Call was born and screaming for my boyfriend. My heart was breaking with each passing second that he wasn't by my side.

Sammy was five days old when Embry was able to get leave. Embry only stayed a couple of days before he had to be back.

After Basic he was stationed somewhere about ten hours away. I was tied down with Sam, work and school. I couldn't just up and leave. But, I would have if Embry had let me.

Sammy was two when Embry was stationed in Iraq.

He was four when Embry was killed in a suicide bombing.

Chapter 1

I was running late.

Very, very late but waking up Samuel Call was like trying to wake up the dead. It was impossible, or at least that's how I was feeling as I pulled my son's shirt over his head. He was barely awake, but I had somehow managed to get him to open his eyes.

I was used to this, though. I basically dressed him, fed him and made sure his hair was brushed all while he tried waking up. It was normal but I was usually so good with time.

"Sammy, I need you to help me. We're running late." I sighed taking the brush I had stuck on the his bedside table and brushing out his bed head. "Please, Sammy…" I sighed when he just leaned over and pretended to be asleep. I could always tell when he was faking it or not.

"I'll handle this, Bells you go finish getting yourself ready." I was relieved when my son's second cousin offered his help. Most of the time I refused everyone's help with Sammy. I could do it on my own but sometimes I was able to admit my defeat and this morning was one of them. Plus, I knew Sammy would straighten up with Jacob.

I was able to get us out of the house ten minutes later. Sammy had finally opened his eyes all the way and helped Jacob in getting himself ready for the day.

My seven year old son yawned three times in a row before getting out of my car that morning. He was so tired, I knew I shouldn't have let Jacob keep him up late to watch that stupid kung-fu movie.

"Have a good day, Sammy!" I yelled after him.

I spent the next fifteen minutes driving from La Push Elementary to Forks County Hospital where I worked as a Sonogram technician. I enjoyed my job even if some days I wished I would have gone after my dream of being a high school English teacher. I'm still not even sure what made me change my mind while in college. It probably had something to do with my Sammy. Not that I would ever blame him for anything wrong in my life.

I kept to myself at work mostly. I'd been working there for four years and have barely gotten to know any of the doctor's or nurses. I didn't mind though. I wasn't there to get to know people. I was only there to do my job, make my money and get home to my son.

I shifted from one leg to another as I started up the sonogram machine. I looked over at the smiling couple as the woman laid on the bed. This was their first ultrasound, I could tell from how nervous the man looked and how excited the wife seemed.

She had beautiful blonde hair and a very gorgeous face, while the man stood tall and was rather large but seemed like he was a teddy bear type man. I smiled to myself. He was probably one of those overbearing types, the kind that I would have wanted to stab when I was pregnant with Sammy. But, she didn't seem like she cared. She probably liked being fussed over and cared for.

I played this game a lot, guess what the couple is like. I had even gotten a few of the nurses in on it during lunch when I actually talked to them.

It was concluded that this was the first child for the couple and first grandchild for either side of the family. They were excited and they couldn't wait to tell their families about the baby she was carrying. I also found that the man really was overbearing and the woman actually enjoyed every minute of it. They had gotten married just a year ago and had been trying ever since to have a baby. I learned all of this in a total of thirty minutes. The wife, while looking a bit mean, seemed to be very talkative. The tall husband was rather quiet as he smiled over his baby.

They seemed like the perfect couple. The type of couple that I had wanted Embry and I to be while I was pregnant with Sammy. Sure, it was nice not having to share food but I would have loved to have him at every appointment like the man I had just met would be.

I got off of work at 5, there was a wreck just outside of La Push that caused me to wait a little longer to get home to my son. I quickly made a call to Emily Uley telling her why I'd be late. Of course she was okay with it. She and her husband loved having Sammy around. Mostly because he reminded them insanely of Embry. Then there was the fact that they had four girls and no boys.

I smiled thinking about the day I met Emily Young, now Uley. I was fifteen and I had just moved to Forks to live with my Dad permanently. Somehow Embry and Jacob had managed to talk me into going cliff diving over in La Push. I'm still to this day not sure how they managed that. I had always been afraid of heights but when I noticed Emily had come along with Sam and his brother's Jared and Paul.

I had bravely gone over to talk to her. I was ready to have a female friend, I mean I'd spent my entire life practically hanging out with a bunch of guys. I didn't have many friends in Phoenix where I lived with my Mom during the school year. Emily told me how freaked out she was and I told her I was too. That's when we decided to jump together. None of the guys thought we would do it but we grabbed hands and took that fall together. We've been best friends ever since.

I pulled up into the Uley's driveway, which was only four houses down from my house. Sam and Sammy were out front throwing a football back and forth. I smiled at them.

Sammy was named after Sam for plenty of reasons but the biggest was the promise I made him when I was seventeen and he saved my life. I'd gone cliff diving with the guys and had somehow managed to hit my head on a rock. It had knocked me out and I would have drown that day if Sam hadn't jumped in and saved me. I knew Embry would have if he was there but he was working that afternoon. Anyway, that day I promised Sam I'd name my first born after him. He made sure I held through with my promise when Sammy was born. What Sam didn't know was that the promise never left my mind and I was calling my baby Sammy even before I knew what I was having.

"Mom!" My seven year old dropped the football and ran over to me. He started telling me about his day and how he was good for his teachers. Sammy was diagnosed with ADHD last year and often had a hard time paying attention.

"That's good, baby." I told him as I ruffled up his dark hair. My son was truly beautiful, he looked and acted so much like his father.

"Uncle Sam picked me up from school and we went and had ice cream…" I groaned as soon as Sammy said he had ice cream. I tried desperately to keep my son off of medication, but ice cream really didn't help me.

"Hey, you were supposed to keep that a secret." Sam laughed. I narrowed my eyes at him but quickly softened my face. I wasn't angry with Sam. I was sure Sammy probably talked him into it. My little boy was very persuasive. I had learned over the years not to fall for Sammy's ways.

"It's fine. Run inside and get your things. We need to get home so I can start dinner." I crossed my arms over my chest as I spoke to Sammy. Sammy quickly ran inside.

"Embry would have been proud of that kid, Bella." Sam sighed. I nodded. I knew that because even when Embry was living he was proud of Sammy.

"I miss him so much, Sam. It's so hard sometimes…" My voice broke as I spoke. Sam Uley was the only guy I trusted fully outside of Sammy and Jacob. He was also the only guy I really ever told my feelings to. His wife happened to be the only other person I broke down to when I felt things getting too difficult. "Especially with Sammy looking like his clone."

"You're the strongest woman I know, Bells. You've been through so much in your life but somehow you're able to keep going. Everyone admires you for that." Sam wrapped his arm around my shoulder.

"Sometimes I wish I could just break down, you know? I want to throw things and be angry…but I can't. Not with Sammy."

Sammy chose that moment to run out of the house with his schoolbag and a drawing. Emily was right behind him carrying her youngest daughter, Amelia. I waved to the both of them and noticed two little faces poking out of the house beside Emily. Aubrey and Adrian were a year apart. Aubrey was about three months younger then Sammy. Emily and I have this bet going on that they will one day be together. Right now, Aubrey's in the early stages of boys having cooties, but before that the two of them did everything together. I'm sure we even have pictures of them taking baths together. One day they will really hate us for that. Addison made number three, she had just recently turned three while Amelia just turned one. I couldn't imagine having that many daughters, let alone having that many kids. I am perfectly content with just having my Sammy. He's handful enough.

"Why don't you two stay for dinner? I've made more then enough and I'm sure there will be some left over for Jacob." Emily walked out into the yard. Aubrey and Adrian followed close behind her. Sam walked over and scooped both of them up into his arms causing them both to shriek. "And before you even say it, you know you're not imposing." Emily really knew me all too well.

"Sure, we'll stay." I smiled looking down at a smiling Sammy. I couldn't help but laugh at the fact that he was now missing his two front teeth. Just last week he ran into the counter and knocked them both right out. I was thankful they were just his baby teeth and that they would have fallen out eventually. I wasn't sure if clumsy was something you could inherit from a family member but if it was Sammy sure got that from me.

I followed Emily and Sam inside with Sammy trailing next to me. Emily had prepared chicken parmesan but had cut up pieces of chicken on five separate plates for the kids each with a bit of noodles and sauce, well each aside from Sammy's plate. Sammy hated any sort of marinara sauce. I'm not sure why but I was surprised that Emily remembered.

Eating dinner with the Uley's was always entertaining. It always brought me back to those times when it was just Sam, Emily, Embry and me sitting around the table eating dinner before the kids were born. Emily and Sam had gotten a place together soon after high school. I was already pregnant by this point and Embry was still waiting to go for Basic. Since Emily was three months behind me in the pregnancy department, she wasn't pregnant just yet.

I looked over towards the kids. Sammy was bouncing in his seat unable to keep still long enough to finish his chicken.

"Sammy, baby please stay still." I sighed.

"Sorry." He looked down as he stopped bouncing. Of course he didn't sit still long. I decided to give up and just enjoy Sam and Emily's company.

"He's fine, Bella." Emily promised. I just nodded. "He's a lot like Embry. I don't remember a time when he didn't fidget all through dinner." Emily reminded me. I smiled because she was right. Embry couldn't sit still for the life of him. I'm not even sure how he got through Basic in the Army or even got as far as he did. He had never taken authority or demands too well either. Of course Sammy listened a whole lot better then his Dad ever could.

After dinner I helped Emily in the kitchen. The kids were allowed to watch a little TV before they had to get baths and go to bed. Emily washed the dishes while I dried them.

"So, guess what?" She spoke up in the silent room. I looked over at her with a raise eyebrow. "I'm pregnant again."

I should have known. They had already declared that they were going to keep trying until they produced a boy no matter how many girls they had to go through first. I smiled at Emily then hugged her. She and Sam were really great parent's so I had no doubt in my mind that they couldn't take care of this baby just as much. I congratulated her and then Sam when he came into the room.

"We are really hoping for a boy this time. I love our girls but I don't know if we can handle a sixth one." Sam said sitting down at the breakfast table.

"I'm almost positive that you could." I told him. "But, it would be nice if there was a little boy besides Sammy running around." I chuckled. The front door of Sam and Emily's house opened causing all of us to leave the kitchen to see who it was.

We all went back to the kitchen when we saw that it was only Jacob. He looked extremely tired as he sat down at the table with Sam. I unwrapped his food and put it in the microwave for him. I hadn't expected for him to come by so after dinner I had made him a plate of the leftovers and stuck it in the fridge. I was going to bring it home for him.

"Wash your hands before you eat, Jake." Emily grimaced looking at the 23 year olds hands. They were covered in grease since Jacob worked as a mechanic at Sam's Auto-repair shop.

Jacob groaned then made his way to the sink. I leaned up against the counter to watch him. Jacob Black was my best friend. Besides Emily and Sam of course. But, there was something about him that always put him on top. Maybe because he was blood related to my son. I wasn't sure but I did know that I wouldn't have survived these past seven years without him. Ever since Embry went off to Basic Jacob has stuck by me, hell even before that when we were younger he's always been by my side.

"Long day?" I asked taking his food out of the microwave and setting it in front of him. He took his fork and shoveled a bit in before nodding.

"Long as hell. Quil never showed up and Paul lost his cool with a couple of the customer's. Mrs. River's even showed up and tried to tell me that someone messed with her engine. I'm not even sure what that crazy lady was even talking about." Jacob said then started to eat his dinner.

"I wonder what's going on with Quil. Matter of fact Claire hasn't called me a few days…" Emily pondered. Quil Ateara was married to Emily's cousin Claire. Claire was 8 months pregnant with their first child so Emily had reason enough to worry about her cousin. "I'm going to call her." Emily said then left the kitchen. I went and sat down at the table with the guys.

I sighed as I looked across from me at the empty chair, the chair right in the middle of Jacob and Sam. It was where Embry belonged. He should have been sitting there between us while he scooped his dinner into his face just as Jacob was doing. He should have been coming in from a long day at the shop looking like he hadn't slept in days, but instead the man I loved wasn't sitting there next to his best friends.

"Bella?" Sam's voice brought me out of my thoughts. I looked up at him and gave him the best smile I possibly could. He reached over and placed his hand on mine. "What's wrong?"

"Just thinking…" I said knowing I didn't have to mention Embry's name. They knew exactly who and what I was thinking about. "It's getting late, I need to get Sammy in the bath and get ready for tomorrow." I sighed taking my hand and standing up. I looked at Jacob who was finishing up his dinner. He quickly ate his last bite then got up. "You go get Sammy and I'll wash this." I said taking his plate then going over to the sink.

"It's going to be okay, Bella." Sam stood next to me as I washed off Jacob's plate.

"Yeah, I know." I whispered nodding. I wasn't so sure about that, though. Everyone kept telling me that it was going to be okay or eventually things would get better but each day seemed harder then the last. Sammy was getting older and growing up without his Father. Nights were the worst. That's when the feeling of being alone sat in. After Sammy was put in bed and Jacob was in his room. "Good night Sam." I hugged him then left the kitchen.

Jacob and Sammy were at the door waiting for me. Emily came from the back of the house to say good bye. Apparently Quil had just been staying home with Claire because she hadn't been feeling well.

"We'll just walk." Jacob said once we were out the house. I sighed nodding as Jacob picked Sammy up. I got into my car and cranked it. Like I said we only live a few houses down from Sam and Emily so it wasn't like I had a long way to drive.

Once inside I started Sammy's bath. He fought me for a few minutes before Jacob stepped in and got him in the bath. After his bath I put him in bed and read him a story. He was fast asleep before I got through the book. I sat it down on his nightstand knowing he would make me finish it tomorrow night.

"Hey." Jacob said softly as I exited Sammy's bedroom. I looked up to find him shirtless and lounging on the couch. I gave him a slight smile before walking over and sitting down next to him. "How was your day?" He asked.

"Alright, nothing special happened." I shrugged. I looked over at Jacob to see him nod then focus his attention completely on the TV.

Jacob moved in with us about a year ago when his Dad got remarried. It had been my idea since he decided to skip college and work for Sam. He's a big help with Sammy and having him around makes me feel a little less alone.

"I'm going to bed." Jacob said a few minutes later. "Night, Bells." He said getting up then giving me a hug.

"Night, Jake." I smiled as he left me alone in the living room.

I retreated to my own room not much later. I crawled into bed and shut my eyes knowing that sleep wouldn't come easy to me.

Just like most nights when I finally did fall asleep I dreamt of Embry. Tonight my dream ended just the same as all of the other's. I had learned to control my screaming over the years. The first few times it happened I had woken up my son, which in turn would frighten him to the point of crying.

The bad thing about waking up in the middle of the night was that once I was awake I couldn't fall back to sleep. So, just like most days I found myself pulling on jogging clothes and shoes. This past year I had taken up jogging to clear my mind. It helped me a lot after my dreams.

I circled the neighborhood before returning back home. Jacob was already awake with my coffee waiting on me.

"Another bad dream?" Jacob asked. I just nodded. He didn't go further.

"I'm going to shower."

By the time I was out of the shower and dressed it was 6 am and time to get Sammy up.

I had been at work for only two hours when Sammy's school called telling me he got into a fight. I just couldn't afford to leave work so I called Jacob and he went to deal with my son. Throughout the entire day I tried to figure out in my head when my son had started fighting. Sammy was a laid back kind of kid. He rarely argued unless it had to do with him getting a bath, but other then that I just couldn't see a reason why Sammy would get into a fight.

After I got off work I walked into my house to find Sammy sitting on the couch with his hands in his lap. The TV wasn't on and he was pouting. I looked around to find Jacob coming out of the kitchen with Sammy's cup. I sighed and put my things down on the coffee table.

"What happened?" I asked squatting in front of my son. Sammy just shrugged not looking at me. I quickly noticed he had a busted lip. I looked up at Jacob hoping he could give me some sort of answer.

"A boy in his class said something and Sammy hit him." Jacob said sitting down.

"What did he say?" I asked Jacob.

"It was about Embry…" He said nervously.

"He said my Daddy died because he didn't love me." Sammy sniffled. "Daddy loved me, didn't he mommy?"

"Oh baby, Daddy loved you very much!" I wrapped my arm around my seven year old. He sobbed into my shoulder. "But you know it's not nice to hit anybody, Sammy."

"I know…but he wouldn't stop." Sammy said pulling away from me. He quickly wiped at his eyes. "I didn't mean to break his nose…" I widened my eyes at looked at Jacob who was chuckling. I narrowed my eyes at him. I didn't want Sammy to think it was okay to hit another kid. It just wasn't how I wanted him to solve problems, even if the kid said something bad about his father.

I tried to explain to Sammy why fighting was bad but Jacob really wasn't helping the situation. He just kept laughing and saying the kid deserved it. I ended up telling Sammy he wasn't allowed to watch TV for the rest of the week and sent him to his room. I angrily got up and started to cook dinner. I wasn't angry with my son, not even a tiny bit. I was angry with Jacob. He could have at least left the room if he wasn't going to agree with me.

Half way through cooking Jacob walked in the kitchen to get a drink. I stepped away from the stove and scowled at him.

"What's wrong?" He asked taking a sip of his coke.

"I don't want Sammy to think that what he did was right and with you cheering him on you're really not helping." I told him.

"The kid deserved it, Bella! Hell, I would have been angry if Sammy didn't do something about it."

"I don't want Sammy going around getting into fights just because of something someone said. Sticks and stones, Jacob." I said as I went back to preparing the pasta for the spaghetti.

"It was about Embry…"

"I know that and I'm not saying that what the other kid said was right but as far as I know Sammy should have handled it a different way. Just…either be on my side or don't even bother." I said putting an end to our argument. There really was no argument, Sammy was my son and whatever I said went.

Jacob threw his cup in the sink, his glass cup. Needless to say I ended up having to clean up broken glass. I was fuming by the time I had finished and put dinner on the table. Jacob was acting immature about the whole thing.

Dinner was silent as Sammy squirmed in his seat. Afterward I put him in the bath and made sure his homework was finished.

"Mommy, don't be mad at Jake." Sammy said as I tucked him into bed.

"I'm not, baby." I lied.

"Yes you are. He misses Daddy too." Sammy snuggled up to his pillow. "Do you miss Daddy?"

I bit my lip then told him the truth. "Every single second of every day."

"Oh." He nodded. I quickly picked up his book and finished where I stopped the night before. Sammy wouldn't fall asleep until he heard the end of the story. I kissed his forehead and shut his light off before leaving him.

When I walked into the living room Jacob patted the spot next to him. I reluctantly sat down with a huge sigh.

"I'm sorry, Bella. I didn't mean to get so angry…"

"It's fine." I said knowing his anger really wasn't fine.

"I just miss my cousin and hearing that about Sammy at school…it just pissed me off because I highly doubt the kid said it without hearing it first." Jacob wrapped his muscled arm around my shoulder.

"We know the truth about whatever any one says, Jacob, and that's all that matters. I don't listen to petty town gossip. Even if the kid heard it, he's still Sammy's age and they rarely mean anything they say." I sighed leaning into him.

"I know…I just miss him."

"I miss him too." I sobbed. Jacob and I didn't say anything else, instead we just sat there on the couch until we were both too tired to stay up any longer. I kissed his cheek before walking into my bedroom.

I fought sleep for another hour before finally giving in. The dreams weren't always bad and let me sleep through the entire night instead of waking me up before my body was ready.

I woke up the next morning and started my day just like any other except I didn't have to get Sammy ready. He was suspended from school for a day, which really baffled me. I didn't know elementary school kids could get suspended but apparently the boys fight had been bad enough that they had to use that sort of punishment.

After work I had a conference with Sammy's principle and teacher where they explained to me exactly what happened in class the day before. I was completely taken aback by Sammy's actions, still. It just wasn't like him, this boy must have really gotten under his skin to bring this out in him.

Fifteen minutes into the conference the other boys father showed up. I had to hold back a gasp when I saw him enter the room. He didn't look like any other father I had ever met before. He looked rather young and…beyond handsome. He had piercing green eyes and the strangest color of hair I had ever seen, bronze. He walked into the office and introduced himself quickly before turning to me. He flashed me a smile that I was almost certain could make any woman drop her panties in a second.

"I'm Edward Cullen, you must be Sammy's Mom?" He reached out his hand as he smiled at me again. Yeah, definitely a panty dropper.

"Uh…yeah, Bella Swan." I said shaking his hand. He smiled once more at me before sitting down. Turns out his son, Kye had just overheard his Mom saying something about Embry's death. I bit my lip as Edward went on to say how sorry he was for his son's actions. I ended up apologizing for Sammy acting the way he did.

I felt this strange pull towards Edward Cullen. I hadn't felt like anything like that since Embry.

I left the office feeling stranger then ever. I just shook it off as I got into my car to head home to my son and Jacob.