Summary: What if Bella had existed in 1918? What if she had two brothers who went off to war? What if she fell in love with Edward then? What would happen when Edward caught the Spanish Influenza? What would have happened in 1918?

AN: Sorry this is so late. Didn't have much time to write. Hope you like this new chapter. Read and Review!

Disclaimer: Do NOT OWN TWILIGHT NOR THE CHARACTERS FROM THE SERIES!

Chapter Seven

It had been two hours. Two hours ago, my family crumbled further to the ground. Two hours ago I became the last member of my family. My father caught the influenza and passed away three hours ago. He held on longer than some. I was able to say a few things before losing him. My mother later became infected and it became harder and harder for me to breathe. The sobs were coming hard and fast. There was only so much I could handle at once. I still hadn't gotten over my brothers' deaths and then my parents were sick with a sickness that had been killing people all over. It was scaring me and there was nothing I could do to help them. The illness had just engulfed my parents, leaving me as the surviving member of my family.

I sat in my house all alone. My eyes turned to the steps. No one but me would ever walk up down those steps. The scent of my mother's perfume was weakening more and more each day. Mother had been in the hospital for days before death had taken her. The things I saw, the scent in the house brought a pain further into my heart. I don't know if I could ever recover from something like this. What would I do know? What would become of me? I made my way up the stairs and into my room, passing my family's rooms without a glance. I grabbed the metal handle of my dresser, pulling it out to reveal a book. It was a dark green and full of blank pages. I pulled the drawer open and picked up the book. I stared at it. I smiled, remembering when I had first gotten the book.

"Happy Birthday, sweetheart." said my mother, smiling her beautiful grin. I was smiling myself. Today was my thirteenth birthday. I was so excited. My brothers were grinning next to me and my father had his arm around my mother while she handed me a present wrapped in blue. I opened up my gift to see a dark green book. I opened it up to find no words, just blank pages. I looked at my parents confused. My whole family laughed.

"It's a journal, Bells." laughed Father. My brothers were still laughing hard, not bothering to stifle their amusement.

"Bellsy, you're supposed to write things in it." explained Jase, slowly as if he was speaking to a child. I glared at him for his condescending tone. I was not stupid.

"Bells, you're supposed to write your thoughts and experiences. It is kind of like expressing how you truly feel. It's a good way of also remembering how you were feeling." added Jazz. I nodded, smiled, and then hugged my parents. This was the last day I was here with my family before I left Chicago for finishing school. This was a few of my last days with my brothers, though the next time I had seen them was so long ago.

I walked downstairs with my journal and opened the first page. It was blank. The book had not been written in. I never found the need to write in it. I grabbed a writing utensil and started describing my thoughts in my messy scrawl.

Dear Journal,

This is the first time I've ever written in here. I am doing this because it was something my mother would have wanted me to do and I needed to describe how I felt. I would have told someone but I don't know who to talk to. So here it goes.

I'm alone. My brothers are dead. My parents are dead. I'm all alone in this family, in this house. Everything in this house depresses me. Each room is a strong reminder of my dead family. I can't even bear to take a glimpse into my parents' room. I am just barely able to go into my brothers' rooms and the moment I enter them, I am sent crashing to my knees. The pain is unbearable. It feels like I can't breathe sometimes. What was I supposed to do now? I had no family. All I had here now lied with my fiancé, with Edward.

Edward is truly my heart and soul. He is my only happiness in this chaos. He brought me light in this darkness, this terrible time of pain. I don't know what I would do without him. HE was my life. I need him. I need him now more than ever. Edward was there when I found out my parents had died. He held me until I went home to be alone. When I was alone though, instead of helping me deal with the pain, the pain increased greatly. I need Edward here with me. What do I do? Things aren't going as I had planned.

After Edward proposed, I imagined Jason and Jasper as Edward's best men. I knew he would choose them. He admitted that they were the closest thing he had to brothers. My father was going to walk me down the aisle and give me away to Edward. But now all the plans are ruined. Things will never be the same and I'm all alone. I want my family back but I know there's nothing I can do. I have felt alone before but never like this. Now I was truly alone.

I heard a knock on the door. I closed the book and got off the couch and walked up to the door. I opened it up to find Edward, my fiancé. Thank goodness he was here.

"Hello, Bella." said Edward softly, smiling comfortingly. I did not fail to notice the concern he held in the green eyes of his, the ones he had inherited from his amazing mother. I shot him a little, sad smile.

"Hello, Edward." He held out his arms welcoming, noticing my eyes beginning to tear up again. I ran into his arms and he held me as I cried once more. This went on for about an hour before I could finally speak a word to him. "I am so glad you are here, Edward. I really needed to see you." He kissed my forehead gently.

"I know. I'm sorry I couldn't be here for you earlier. I didn't know if you wanted to be alone."

"I thought I did but now I realize that I need you here. I can't do this alone. I need you, Edward." I said. He pulled me in close for five minutes before parting from me. He looked into my eyes.

"Bella, my parents and I feel terrible for what happened and my parents asked if you would like to stay with us, rather than stay here alone." I looked at him surprised.

"Really?" I asked, hopefully. He smiled and nodded.

"Yes."

"You don't have to do that you know. I would eventually be able to handle being here alone. You and your family don't have to offer this to me."

"We want to Bella. You shouldn't be left here alone to live. We want you to live with us."

"And your parents are agreeing to this?" I asked shocked they would even consider it.

"They know how much you mean to me. You mean everything to me and they don't want to stand in the way of that. Besides that there's the fact that my parents adore you, Bella. They already think of you as their own daughter. Why wouldn't they offer this to you when they love you?" I never thought I could ever be more grateful to the Masens after bringing Edward into my life and letting him remain there. Most wouldn't offer a thing like that but here were the Masens doing it for me. My eyes welled up in grateful tears. I ran right back into my love's arms. Edward bent his head down to my level and held me tightly once more.

"Thank you." I whispered in his ear with much gratitude. "You don't even know how much this means to me. I love you, Edward." I felt Edward bury his face in my brown hair. I inhaled the sweet, sweet aroma radiating off of my dear Edward.

"I love you too." He said, keeping his grip on me. After a minute he pulled away to look at me. "So, is that a 'yes'?" he asked. I nodded. He picked me up and spun me around before stealing a kiss. We kissed passionately before parting to breathe. "I'd better go." he stated. I moaned.

"But you just got here." I complained. I didn't want him to leave. His presence was so soothing. Why did time have to go by so fast? He chuckled.

"I know, love, but I need to go let my parents know you are staying and I need to go talk to someone about something."

"About what?" I asked, stalling and also trying to get him to tell me whatever he is keeping from me. He smiled his crooked, mischievous smile.

"You'll find out later, love. I will meet you at the house later tonight, alright? Kristen said she was coming by in a few minutes anyway to see if you were doing alright."

"But Kristen's not you, Edward. I don't want you to go." I whined. He laughed once more before giving me a kiss on my forehead.

"Bella, I promise I will see you later. There are some things I must do first. I'm sorry. I don't want to go but I must. Forgive me?" He said. I was silent before nodding. He smiles and gives me one last kiss before leaving me to myself. My mind had drifted away from the dreaded subject and focused on another. His eyes were full of mischief. There was something he wasn't telling me. I don't know what or why but I can tell by looking at him, he was planning something. One question plagued my mind: What is Edward planning?

A week has passed since I moved into the Masens' home. It was just like Edward had said. His parents did want me there. They welcomed me into their home with open arms. When I had first gotten there, Elizabeth pulled me into her warm embrace, telling me how sorry she was and how glad she was that I was staying with them. Edward Sr. Masen held me as well exchanging his own condolences and telling me that if there was anything I needed, all I had to do was ask. Edward of course had helped me get my things over to his home. My stays were much more productive sleep wise. In my old home, after my parents died I could not sleep much. There were too many memories. I still cried myself to sleep sometimes but it made me feel better, knowing that my fiancé was right down the hall. The only problem I've been having is that my fiancé is keeping something from me.

Ever since the day Edward came to my home to ask if I'd like to live with him and his family, I could tell there was something he was keeping, some secret. My curious nature has made it harder and harder to bear. I've always hated surprises, my parents, Jase, and Jazz knew that even Edward knew that, but that does not stop him from springing them on me. I hate surprises even more now because the last few surprises I have gotten ended in fatalities to my family. I do know that whatever he's planning won't be terrible. His surprises always soften me up and make it hard for me to be mad at him. But I feel like all the good surprises are gone. What good surprise could there possibly be left?

I walked down the stairs of my new home. I walked into the kitchen to see Elizabeth working on a lot of food. I watched her prepare it and noticed that she never cooks this much for four people. Normally I ask to help. I didn't know she was making this much food. It was a bit surprising to me. Elizabeth worked and worked, oblivious to my presence.

"Good morning, Elizabeth." I greeted. Elizabeth swiftly turned towards me. Great, she was hiding something too.

"Good morning, Bella. How are you?" she asked kindly, turning back to her food.

"I'm doing alright." I said suspiciously. It was silent, except for the sounds of pots clanging as Elizabeth retrieved each one and the sizzling on the stove. "If you don't mind me asking, why are you making so much food?" I asked. She turned to me and gave me a smile.

"We are putting together a small party tonight. I was just starting the cooking early." she explained. I looked at the quantity of food she was cooking and wondered, what exactly was her idea of a small party? I nodded.

"Where's Edward?" I asked, noticing the lacking men in this house. I assumed Edward Sr. was out at work. There was always some law case he could win. Edward though was always here until I had awoken.

"He's out getting some things for me, sweetheart. He told me to send you his regards and that he'll be home later this afternoon. I talked to Kristen and she said that she'll be coming over so you two can go shopping for the party tonight." I cringed. Shopping…I hated it. No matter what, I hated shopping. With Kristen it was ten times worse. She loved shopping. But I would go with her. It would be something to do whilst my darling Edward was out. I heard the doorbell and saw Kristen in the doorway.

"Hello, Bell. Ready to go?" she asked, bouncing in excitement. She loved to take me out. Any excuse was good enough for her. I internally groaned. This was going to be a long morning and afternoon. I sighed before nodding. Kristen grinned. "Good." she said to me. "We will see you later on this afternoon, Elizabeth." called out Kristen.

"Alright, girls. We'll see you later. Have fun and be back here by five o'clock tonight." yelled Elizabeth from the kitchen.

"Will do." called out Kristen before dragging me off to my doom.

We went shopping for five hours before heading to Kristen's house to get ready for the party. Don't ask me why we were heading to her house because I have no clue. The shopping wasn't nearly as horrific as I thought it would be. We had both found dresses for tonight. They looked gorgeous. Kristen's dress had an exquisite royal blue color to it. The blue went perfectly against her skin. I told Kris that but she said blue was better on my skin then hers but the dress was magnificent. My dress paled in comparison to hers. Kristen had insisted that I get a long white dress. It looked like one a princess would have worn back in the days of monarchy. It was so beautiful. I could never do the dress justice. When I had told Kris how I felt, she had yelled at me, telling me not to say anything like that. She thought I had looked amazing in the dress and said she was preparing me for tonight.

We sat in Kristen's bedroom. I was sitting in front of her while she was doing my hair. I felt the tugs that come with the job but Kristen never yanked enough to hurt me which I was grateful for. We were both not speaking at the moment, letting Kristen focus on her 'important' job of making me look stunning. She told me it was for Edward but I had this feeling it was for something bigger than that. It seemed like everyone was in on Edward's secret except for me and it was really staring to irritate me. My eyes wandered around the room until it Kristen's bedside table. On that table was a picture of the four of us: Kris, me, Jazz, and Jase from when we were little kids. It was before I had left Chicago, before I had met Edward. Although meeting Edward was the greatest thing to ever happen, I missed the times before it had.

"Come on, Bells." said Jazz, smiling encouragingly. We were running and chasing after each other on the hill. We were playing a game of tag. I was seven years old. Jase was eight and Jazz was ten. There was nothing to worry about right now. We were kids. There was no war, no illness, just us being kids. Seven year old Kristen joined in on the game a while ago. I am such a slow runner. Everyone was running faster than me and I was it. It was no fair. I was the smallest and I hated it. I heard Jazz sigh before appearing in front of me. "Tag me, Bells. I'll go tag Jase for you." I didn't tag him. I shook my head. I wanted Jase to get tagged. He was being very mean to me today. He kept on picking on my size but I wanted to tag him fairly.

"I want to tag him, Jazz." I stated. Jazz looked thoughtful for a minute, his blonde hair in his face. His eyes then lit up with an idea.

"How about I help you tag him? I can make it easier so you can catch him. It'll be like we're on a team. How about it, Bells?" he asked. I nodded. I liked this idea. Jazz ran over to Jase and tried to hit him. Jase, not knowing I was still it, ran away from Jazz. Jazz and Jase ran down the hill and near the pond that was at the bottom. They got closer and closer to the water when Jazz pushed Jase in. Jazz gave me a signal to come over there. As I got closer, I saw Jase was both pouting and glaring at Jazz, while Jazz was laughing. I then got close enough to Jase that I could tag him without being pulled in.

"You're it, Jase." He looked at me incredulously before glaring more at Jazz.

"Wait, so Jazz wasn't even it?! Bellsy was it?! That's not fair!" complained Jase. I heard rustles from the bushes and saw Kristen step out. She was laughing hysterically.

"Ha, ha! Jase got outsmarted by Bell! Jase got outsmarted by Bell!" sang Kristen. Jase then looked at Kristen with some mischief in his eyes. That was never good. He got out of the pond picked up Kristen, who started screaming, and threw her into the pond. She screamed loudly while Jazz, Jase, and I laughed. "This is not funny!" Jase stopped laughing. He nodded.

"Nope." he said. Next thing I know, I'm soaking wet in the pond and next to me is Kristen and Jazz. "But that sure is." We all glared at him and exchanged looks before chasing after him. Our parents saw us and took pictures of us soaking wet like that together. It was one of the good moments we had together.

"Bell, can I ask you something?" asked Kris, taking me out of my memories. I shrugged.

"Sure."

"Well, I wanted to know how you are feeling about the influenza." she said. "Are you scared?" she asked, looking slightly frightened. I understood why.

The influenza was spreading rapidly amongst people here in Chicago. It had hit badly after the men fighting in the war came home. It was spreading so fast and so many people were scared of catching it. It was something people were not sure whether they'd survive from. Panic was everywhere because of it. It wasn't even just in Chicago. It was everywhere. The influenza took my parents and I must admit it…I was scared to my very core of what might happen if one of the Masens caught the influenza, especially Edward.

"Yes, I am. I am scared to death right now. The influenza took my parents. I'm scared it will do the same to you or the Masens." I answered softly.

"Especially Edward." added Kristen, knowing that's exactly where my brain was at.

"Yes, especially Edward. I don't know what I would do without him. He's my everything and I'll admit it, I am terrified of Edward catching the influenza. It's spreading so fast though, Kris. It's becoming more and more probable that he'll catch it and then what's going to happen. I would crash down, Kris. I would rather it be me who get sick, not him." I said in response.

"Yes well I doubt Edward likes the idea of you getting sick either. I am willing to bet he is worrying just as much as you are right now. I don't think he can lose you any more than you can lose him." she said. I sighed. I hoped he didn't feel that way. I didn't want him to be feeling this fear. I didn't want him to worry about me. Edward should be able to move on if something ever happened to me. I already know it wasn't an option for me. Edward had changed me completely. It would be impossible to pretend he never existed. "I know this subject is depressing but I want to know, if you were going to die tonight what would be your biggest regret?" she asked. It was silent. She probably figured I was thinking but I knew my biggest regret. The thing that kept me silent was the question itself. Why was she asking me these things?

"My biggest regret…would be not marrying Edward. It's one thing to be engaged to him but to be married to him…it would make me feel happy, wanted, like I had actually won his heart over. It would be an honor for me to be known as Isabella Masen. I want to be bound to Edward every way humanly possible." I replied. Kristen smiled.

"That's sweet, Bell." commented Kris before helping me out the chair I was sitting in. She brought me in front of her mirror. "Now, tell me…do you still think you look plain?" she asked. I stared into the mirror and saw a vision. She had my hair color, my eye color but the rest might as well have been foreign traits to me. The white dress hit every curve in the woman's body. Her brown hair was placed neatly into an elegant bun. Her skin was so perfectly pale white. It couldn't have been me yet seeing my own eyes in the woman's reflection I knew it to be true…I was this reflection. I turned to Kristen and hugged her tightly.

"Thank you, Kris." I said, starting to tear up. Kristen smiled back. Kris went over to her dresser and picked up two special items.

"Here I thought you might like to wear these tonight." she opened her hands and in them were my brothers' tags. I smiled and nodded. She took them and placed them over my head and onto me. It felt good to have them there. It felt like there was something missing before, now I know it was them.

Kristen then went over to her dresser once more and showed me an elegant necklace. I couldn't help but stare at it. It was a beautiful blue necklace. The facets shined so brightly. On the chain, there were some little small diamonds but not blue, white. I stared in awe at the magnificent necklaces. I don't remember purchasing this or Kristen ever having necklace like that.

"Edward bought this for you the night he asked you to move in with him and his family. He thought this would be a great gift for you. He thought you'd love it. Do you?" she said. I nodded, speechless. Edward bought this for me. He bought it for me. I stared at the necklace. It had to have been newer in earlier times. It was so elegant. Edward knew I would like this. He was too perfect. How could I ever deserve a man like him? I felt Kris put the necklace on top of my brothers' chains. Around my neck were things coming from three of the most important men in my life and on my hand there was a ring from my love. I wondered what the special occasion was for the necklace. When I had asked Kris, she had dodged the question. The necklace wasn't Edward's big secret. There was a bigger one and I was ready to find out what it was.

Kris and I arrived to the Masens' home. Outside there were many forms of transportation here. I had no idea what was going on that the Masens' seem to have invited everyone in town for. I looked at Kristen. She gave me a wink in response and got out of the vehicle. I stepped out, surprisingly not tripping over my new heels. Yes, Kris got me to wear heels. She wasn't about to let me out of the house without them. She said Edward would be there to catch me and that he wouldn't leave my sight all night. I really hope this was true because if everyone was truly here I was going to need him by my side. We walked up the pavement and into the house. I had expected everyone to be in the living room or dining room yet there was no one. No sound came from any room in the house. I was surprised and confused. What was going on? Where was everyone? I watched Kris as she walked toward the garden Edward and I had so loved. Elizabeth had created the very garden herself. Maybe she was showing off her hard work to those who came to the Masens' small party. Now I understand the need for lots of food. As we stepped out into the garden, I felt myself immediately go into shock.

In the garden there used to be in the middle nothing but flowers, grass, and a marble bench. Now there was an arch in the middle with the bench. The arch was covered in beautiful flowers, matching the very ones in the garden. There were flower pots on both sides of the arch, full of the flowers I had adored, the orange blossoms along with Edward's favorite freesia and his parents' roses and lilacs. I saw chairs with people in them on parts of the garden not covered in flowers. Everyone was dressed up for this party. I then noticed something else, a priest in the middle of the garden with the arch and bench. In his hand, lied the Holy Bible. Then one more shocking sight came into view…Edward in a black tux. The gifts made sense now. Oh boy. Edward walked toward me and stopped a few feet away. His eyes shined like the lights that were hung here in the gardens. He smiled his heartbreaking crooked smile before speaking.

"I know that I may not be able to give you everything but I do know that I love you. With the influenza spreading, I'm not sure how much time we all have but I do know that if I die, I would like it to be as your husband. Life is short and I would like to have the honor of having you, Isabella Swan, as my wife. I love you, Bella. Bella, I know this isn't exactly what you planned. I know that you wanted your family here when we got married and I'm sorry I couldn't find the courage to do it then. This wasn't originally what I had planned either. But two things are the same…the woman I was hoping to marry and the place. This place was the place I had first taken you to myself, granted it was at my home but still…somehow in all our time we spent together this place became our spot. I had hoped the moment I asked you to marry me that this would be the place…the place we would say our vows to one another…the place where we'd be joined together in a union…the place we would become husband and wife. So I ask you here, in front of all the people we love…will you marry me…here…right now?"