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***This is the story we submitted into the Fandom 4 Soldiers, so it is possible that some of you may have read it before.***
Chapter 1
July 2010 - BPOV
"Bella, how do I look?" I hear my sister ask.
I turn and gaze at her, taking in her whole appearance. She looks amazing in her wedding dress. This is, however, strange for me, because I swear this is the first time I've ever seen her in a dress.
Rose, who's seven years older than me, is my beautiful sister. She's really like my mother too. Our parents passed away three years ago in a car crash. Rose and Jasper, our brother and Rose's twin, were both nineteen at the time. They were, of course, deemed old enough to take care of themselves. I, on the other hand, was only twelve then and still had a lot of growing up to do.
Both Rose and Jasper fought to keep me with them. Rose was already in the Police Academy, and Jasper was enrolled in the Army. Thankfully, with the aid of Dr. and Mrs. Cullen—who were friends of our parents—and the support of the whole town, we showed the court that we could do it.
Jasper was stationed for that first two years stateside and close to home, and Rose was home each night. She had to travel every day between the Police Academy and home. During the day, I was in school. After school, I spent my afternoons with Dr. and Mrs. Cullen. Dr. Cullen has a very busy practice, and Mrs. Cullen is his nurse.
It wasn't long after I started spending afternoons with them that they insisted I call them Carlisle and Esme. Carlisle was great to be around, because he always helped challenge my mind. I've been in advanced coursework since very early in my schooling. At twelve and in seventh grade, I was already doing high school work.
When I showed a natural aptitude for the medical field, Esme and Carlisle were there as my sounding board. I know I don't want to be a doctor, but I think I'd like to be an APRN one day. With the help of Esme and Carlisle, by the time I started high school, I was able to start some programs through the local community college toward my goal.
Carlisle and Esme have two children, both boys and both are enlisted in the armed services. We never met their boys before our parents died, and I was excited to meet the youngest one soon. The day Emmett came home was the same day as Rose and Jasper celebrated their twenty-first birthday. It was love at first sight for Rose and Emmett, and just over a year later, she is marrying him.
"You look amazing," I say, wiping my tears away.
"Okay, I can do this, right? I mean, I can take his name? Officer Cullen, Rosalie Cullen, Mrs. Emmett Cullen – it sounds nice, right?"
I nod at her as she continues to ramble.
"What about Rosalie Swan-Cullen – that sounds good, too, doesn't it?"
I shake my head at her, frowning. "Haven't you talked to Emmett about this?"
"Yeah, he said he's happy if I am, no matter what I choose."
"So tell me what's really wrong, Rose," I say, and she sighs.
"I'm going away for two full weeks. Jasper has to go back in two days. Who's going look after you?"
"I'll be fine, Rose. Come on, two weeks without your cooking will be like my own vacation."
Rose glares at me, and I shrug at her. Her cooking is shit, and she knows it. I swear I don't know what she does, and I'm sure she doesn't either, but my lovely sister could make boiling water taste like shit.
"What if Emmett gets stationed far away too? I can't lose him."
I sigh, moving closer to her. I hug her close. I think she's more surprised than I was that she fell in love with a soldier.
"Just Jasper is for sure being deployed to the Middle East. Edward just got off of one tour of duty, and he could easily be sent on another tour. If they don't send him out again, it's likely Emmett will be deployed overseas. I can't explain why, I just have this gut wrenching feeling we're going to lose someone."
Edward is a doctor like his father, Carlisle, but he's also enlisted in the Army. He is stateside for now, but he did just return from being stationed in Iraq. I have yet to meet him, but of course, I have seen pictures of him in his dress blues.
"So is there anyone in here waiting to be escorted down the aisle to their soon-to-be husband?" Jasper asks, peaking in the door and looking very dapper in his new dress blues. He just got his new dress uniform when he was promoted to corporal.
I point at Rose, and he chuckles walking in with a tall guy behind him who is also wearing dress blues.
"Bella, this is my dear friend, Edward."
I stick my hand out. "Hello, Edward, it's nice to finally meet you in person," I say as he takes my hand in his.
"Nice to meet you too, Bella. My parents talk of you often," he says with a grin, and I feel my heart thump. He has the deepest green eyes that seem to see straight into my soul. He drops my hand and hugs Rose.
I take a moment to check him out from top to bottom. Edward really has a nice lean body, it's clear he works out. His hair is very short and neatly trimmed, but it is the oddest shade of coppery brown. I check out all of the different metals and insignias on his uniform. I can see his rank is that of Lieutenant Colonel.
"BELLA!" Rose says loudly, and I jump.
I look to her and see she is smirking at me.
"What in the world is with the yelling?" I ask.
"You were in dreamland there, sweet cheeks. Get your head in the game. It's time to go."
"Okay," I say, swallowing back my embarrassment. I close my eyes, feeling my face heat up anyway. I'm very glad Edward and Jasper are already walking out of the room.
"Bells, I'm happy you seem to have gotten your first crush, but he's thirty-one, which means he is way too old for you."
I look at Rose while shaking my head, but she just hums a little. I turn and walk to the door, and she follows me. We make our way to the hall outside the cathedral entrance.
"Bella, are you ready?" I hear a deep voice, and I turn to Edward and smile.
God, he's a great looking guy. Shit, Rose is right. I do have a crush!
"Bella," Edward says, sounding worried, which pulls me from my thoughts.
"Yes, I'm ready," I say, and Edward takes my arm and softly linking it with his.
The doors open, and he walks me down the aisle. At the front, he walks me to my place to stand and then moves to stand beside Emmett. The song changes and everyone stands. I look down the aisle to see Rose walking down on Jasper's arm. I can't help but smile at the love shining in Rose's eyes.
The wedding goes surprisingly fast, and I can't remember a thing that was said, not even a song we sang. I was too busy dreaming about Myward – I mean Edward. I really need to get a grip on this, but I've never felt like this around any guy before.
"Next, I need the best man and the maid of honor," the photographer says.
I move back up to the front and stand beside Edward.
"Okay, you two need to be standing a little closer. Best man, put your hand around her waist and both of you turn slightly toward each other."
I feel Edward snake his arm around me, and we both turn just a little as we come closer.
"This okay with you, Van – not too close, is it?"
I look up at Edward and smile at him.
"Van?" I ask, wondering where he got that name.
"Yeah, you know after Van Morrison. You know the song, Brown Eyed Girl?"
I giggle and give him an eye roll.
"Now tell me, Van, is this okay?"
"Yeah," I say with a slight tilt of my head, "This is good."
"Yeah?" he says again, but it sounds like a question.
"Yep," I reply while shyly getting lost in his eyes.
"Okay, now look this way please and smile nicely," the photographer says, and before I turn, I see Edward grin.
The guy takes a few pictures and calls for his assistant to bring him another digital card, and we both relax a little from our pose.
"You look so different from Jasper and Rose."
Rose and Jasper are both very tall, within four inches of each other. Rose is five-nine, and Jasper's six foot even. They both have blond hair and baby blue eyes. I, on the other hand, am only five-two and have dull brown hair and eyes.
"They take after our mom, and I look more like our dad," I say with a frown.
"Your dad must've been one good looking guy, if he looked like you."
I chuckle, slapping him a little.
"What? I meant it. You're a very beautiful young woman," he says.
Though it's a compliment most male adults wouldn't give a teenage girl, it doesn't come across as smarmy from him.
I blush a little, biting my lip, and I duck my head down. "Thank you," I say.
The photographer yells, and Edward and I move back to position and have another picture taken. We are told to go back and wait. We talk, but all too soon Edward is called back up for more pictures. When the guys are done, it's time for us girls, so we don't get to go back to our conversation. Soon, it's time for the group picture, and we're released from the clutches of the demanding photographer.
A/N: We hope you're all enjoying this story. Thanks for reading and reviewing.
