Sorry it took me so long to update...I had to do some rearranging and editing so the story turns out as planned. Sometimes you get ahead of yourself and the story takes a life of its own! :)

Here you go! :) Read to your hearts content!

We were getting ready for the party all week. It was two days away, and everything was almost prepared. We cleared the large dining hall for the dance hall, there was not one item that didn't look brand new. The table clothes were pure white with lace trimming, all the women got the best dress they had and made sure nothing needed sewing or patching up. Many of the men brought there shoes for us to scrub the mud off of and asked for small razors for shaving. Everyone was anxious enough for Friday evening.

For some reason, when I thought of the party, I immeadiatly thought of Jasper Whitlock. Butterfly's swarmed in my stomach just thinking of being in the same room as him again. I was never this nervous, but ever since Rose said he fancied me every time I saw him I'm sure my face turned one-hundred shades of red.

I convinced myself not to be so childish about it. I was a lady. I was a Confederate nurse in Fort Davis, Texas. If a man was interested in me I would either graciously decline his offer or graciously accept...

Not that he offered. I told myself, even shaking my head at the thought. And why on earth would he? He is the Major in the Texas Calvary...

"Alice. Where is Rose?" I saw a figure standing up from a chair in the back coner of the room. It was Emmett. He walked swiftly to me, almost urgently.

"She should be back in a few moments. Why?"

"I just have some people she will like to know is here." He said uneasily.

I looked up at him, "Who? Who is here Emmett?"

Our conversation flew out of his mind as he he saw his fiance walking through the room.

"Rose! You will never guess who is here."

"Who, Emmett?" She asked softly with a ease and leasure look about her.

"Your parents."

Her relaxed figure snapped straight. Rose face was pale, the natural bright color in her cheeks was now pure white. I heared her breath catch in her throat at his words.

"W-What?"

"There just inside the next room. I led them in there, there waiting for you to come in and see them."

All her confidence seemed to rush out of her in the one moment. Her voice was just as unsure. "What? How-how did they get here? I didn't invited them to come."

Esme, who had been in this room all morning asked, "Did you not write them a letter to come for the wedding?"

"No." Rose stated uneasily. "I haven't written any letters to them at all."

Esme paused, and said reluctantly, "That might explain it. Don't you think they would worry about you? Perhaps they came to see you were safe."

Rose now had a new look about her. A look that was determined, freshly harsh and angry. "No, they didn't."

Emmett walked over to her "What do you want me to do? What do you need me to do for you? Should I tell them your not here?"

"I didn't even know they were coming. I-I'm not prepared. I never even expected for them to do this."

Rose looked at Emmett with a torn expression. I saw tear's fighting in her eyes. Emmett's face was now almost in a panic. "What's wrong Rose? Tell me what you need."

Her voice came out so weak and fragile I hardly recognized it. Rose never spoke in such a way before, "They will ruin everything."

My brother still looked skeptical, and tried to lighten the situation, as he always did. "Oh Rose, I don't think thats really the case. They're your parents, don't you want them here for this?"

"You don't understand Emmett, they won't like me. They never have! They won't want like the wedding or anything else here!"

"Rose..." Emmett said, now holding her face in his hands. He kissed her forhead gently and looked down at her lovingly. "They love you, that's why there coming. Of course they like you. I suppose it's good there here. I wasn't going to marry you without your father's permission." He chuckled, still stroking her face.

Rose looked at Emmett in the eyes for the first time during the conversation, while one single tear fell from her face.

Rose has never cried before, at least not in front of me.

I had never realized it, but in that moment I realized every person has a weakness. No matter how strong they seem.

Every person has a breaking point.

"Now Rose, your in front of a men and just look at you! Such filth!"

Then walked in a women who looked like she should be at a ball of the most formal and luxurious kind. She was covered in lace and silky fabric. Her bright, lavender dress had not one wrinkle that I could see. The large hoop under her skirt made her waist look unbelievably small. She wore a large hat that was placed on top of her think blonde hair. It didn't have the same shine as Rose's, but you could tell where she got some of her spell binding looks.

Rose, however, come up with a her personality all on her own.

"Rosalie, What in the heaven's name are you wearing?" Her mother fiddled with the plain fabric in her hand from Roses dress.

"It's a dress, mother." Rose said curtly. I blinked and looked up at her upright, bold comment.

Her mother squinted at her, now annoyed at what she thought a inadequate answer. "Hardly. Where are the clothes you came with?"

"I am not allowed to wear them."

"Well, they certainly do not do you much justice! Well, no matter! How are you my dear?" Her mother asked, and for some reason I felt didn't mean the question to be answered. She gave Rose a small hug while speaking.

"Fine, mother. It's lovely to see you and-"

"Good, good darling! I've been wonderful! But you know, this war has just been such an disruption in our lives! You just wouldn't believe the trouble we have had at home!"

I felt my heart stop at her display of utter bordeom toward our own civil war. It was an insult to my Brother fighting and the rest of the soldiers fighting for our rights. My heart swelled with anger and I felt a desperate need to step in and give that women a piece of my mind.

My hands gripped the bed railing I was standing beside as she continued her blatent display of unappreciation.

Your father's business's partners can't understand it! They talk for hours about how this war is affecting the slaves cooperation!"

"Really?" Roses voice was small. I had noticed all her confidence had vanished when she knew her parents had come.

"Yes darling, it's dreadful! Speaking of your father, where is he...Arther?" She called loudly behind her.

In walked a man with a simple, but elegant suit on, not nearly as lavish as his wife's. He was thin, tall had a brown mustache. Had deep tan you could tell that he had worked a lot outside for years to get. He took of his hat when he saw Rose and all the rest of us in the room. "Rosalie! How are you darling?"

"Father! How are you?"

Rose greeted him differently than she had her mother. Her face actually lit up at the sight of him. She hugged him immeadialty after she saw him.

"So happy to see you! You look even more beautiful than when you left!"

"Oh, don't kid yourself, Daddy." Rosalie said laughing.

"What? There isn't a thing wrong with you." Mr. Hale said with absolute seriousness. You could tell he had a connection with Rose that his wife did not.

"Now! Who is your husband to be, Rose?" Mrs. Hale snapped. "I expect you to be more excited than this! You look absolutly exausted, and your hair is in knots! How could you let yourself go like this?"

"Alice? Where is Emmett? He was just here..." She asked me, now looking nervous all over again.

"I'll go get him." I said quickly and walked out of the room into the hallway.

"Emmett?" I called.

"Yes?" Emmett answered from a few doors down. I found him standing against the back wall with is hands in his pockets.

"Why did you leave? Rose is looking for you."

"Oh, I thought she might want to meet with them alone first. I didn't want to introduce myself without Rose's permission. I didn't know how much she wanted to tell them."

"Well, come on! She needs you. She is wound tighter than a spring."

Emmett nodded and walked with me quickly into the next room.

When she saw Emmett and I coming through the door, a look of relief came upon her face. As if she had been saved from certain death.

"Mother, Father, this is Emmett Brandon. I will be married to him by the end of this week." Rose said curtly, her hand went around Emmett's arm, almost protectivly. I could tell Rose was choosing her words carfully, making sure her mother knew there was no option. Emmett and Rose were going to be husband and wife, no matter Mrs. Hale's opinions.

Her mother looked at my brother with a skeptical, anylizing eye. She squinted her perfect blue eyes and looked him up and down.

Emmett didn't seem to be very worried, maybe because he knew that he didn't look his best, none of us really did. Emmett always took things like this in stride, there was no sence in fretting about something that would never change. We would have to where patched up dresses and dirty aprons, and Emmett would where a worn out, faded uniform. That was the way it was. We accepted it.

Mrs. Hale, however, did not.

"I see, and how old are you, Mr. Brandon?" She said shortly, and said each word with a determined maliciousness. Rosalie looked at her mother with a stern glare in her eyes. I could tell she wanted to tell her to show some respect for what would be her son-in-law. But would never saying a word, Rose simply stood closer to Emmett, a silent reminder she was supporting him.

"Twenty three, mam."

"I see..." She said again, still looking at him with a demeaning eye. Then, turned her attention to me. "Who are you, my dear?"

"Alice Brandon. I am Emmett's younger sister, mam." I said proudly. "It's lovely to meet you." I looked her straight in the eye as I spoke, letting her know I wasn't intimidated by her.

She changed stances, her head lifted up in what seemed to be...respect? She took my hand gently, "Well, aren't you just adorable! A lovely girl like you should have a husband. Are you married?" She asked suddenly.

I laughed nervously, I had never been asked a question like that before. "No mam, I'm not."

"Well, I don't see how. Your a lovely young lady." Giving me a smile. For a moment I smiled back, trying to be polite. But getting a compliment from a women who said that she was 'having trouble at home' because of this 'disruption' of a war, made me sick to my stomach.

"May I speak with you alone, Emmett?" Mr. Hale asked calmly. It wasn't meant to be rude or intimidating. He just wanted to talk to my brother in private. Probably so he could get to know

Emmett nodded and said, "Yes sir, of course."

Both of them walked outside to have a talk. I was quite interested to hear what Mr. Hale had to say, but I assumed I would never here it. A conversation between two men that needs a walk outside is enough for me not to ask many questions.

It wasn't quiet for long. Her mother opened her mouth and started barking orders. "Are you going to show me around Rosalie? I would like to know where your staying, where the wedding will be taking place and the ceremony after! It is simply to hot to be taken place outside, the dust is wretched out there. Have you even found a dress yet?"

Then, something quite memorable happened. I will never forget it as long as I live.

Major Whitlock walked in with the General Cullen and Mrs. Cullen. They seemed to stroll in, as if walking through a gallery of some sort. I had never seen the General before up close. He had short, blonde hair and was a tall, slender man. General Cullen and Esme had there arms linked as if he were escorting her somewhere.

Then there was Major Whitlock. He looked serious, more clean cut now than I had seen him in the past few months. He looked at me in the eyes, and dipped his head slightly. I smiled slightly and nodded back. It had become a ritual every time I saw him, whether it was passing him on the road or when he came to visit men in the infirmary. I saw Rose look at me, and she gave me wink. My eyes grew wide, but smiled at her.

"Hello ladies." Esme said, finding her way into our conversation.

"Hello, I am Anastasia Hale, Rosalie's mother, and you are?"

"Esme Cullen. Lovely to meet you." Esme spoke kindly and grasped her hand softly. "If I may say so I think you have a fine daughter, she is very strong and a very good nurse. Not to mention very kind. You should be proud of her."

Mrs. Hale looked shocked, and blinked a few times at Esme's comments. It made me think about how much her mother really knew about her daughter. She glanced at Rose who was smiling humbly at Esme.

"Yes, yes we are very proud of her." She breathed, almost looking confused.

Rose's eyes snapped to her mother, virtually in shock. I'm sure she had never heard words like that from her mother.

Esme broke the silence. "Did I hear you wanted to be shown around?"

We all looked at her as Mrs. Hale answered. "Yes, yes I did."

"Come with me then."

All of us followed her out the door, it was six o clock' in the afternoon. I stopped, feeling brave enough to speak to Jasper. Asking if he waned to come a long with us.

He looked so relaxed leaning against the wall. I almost thought I was bothering him too ask. He looked up slowly, and thought about it for a moment.

He had a way about him that I admired. He was very old fashioned and treated every person he met with charm. Even though he was quiet, his laugh made me smile every time.

He looked up at me, his mouth turned up in a small smile. Then the butterfly's didn't fail to flutter around in my stomach.

But Jasper nodded, and lifted himself off the wall. Walking up to me, he answered. "Why not?"

Whats the verdict? Hit or miss? Your thoughts are invauleable to me! Thank you for reading!