All normal disclaimers apply.


Chapter 6

I look at the building in front of me. It's a building I've seen many times from the inside and out. I let out a deep breath before walking in.

"Isabella?" I hear the questioning tone of a familiar voice. I turn, looking to see Aro standing there. He is the Lieutenant General in the Washington area. I met him only a few times, but both Jasper and Edward spoke highly of him.

"Hi, Aro, I've graduated with my nursing degree, and instead of going for my doctorate, I've decided I want to join up and serve my country," I say quickly, and he tilts his head at me.

"Oh, come with me, dear," he says, leading me away from where the signup office is.

He ushers me to sit on a chair in front of his desk, and he sits on the other side. I quickly hand him all my certificates and forms already filled out. I watch as he looks them over.

"Very impressive, Isabella, so why do you want to do this?"

I clear my throat. "Joining … well, it's something that means a lot—meant a lot—to my brother, my brother-in-law, and to Edward. I've been feeling lost and alone, almost empty these past weeks. I want to do something to leave my mark on the world. I feel that, with what I've learned, I could use that where it would mean so much more than it would here in some hospital."

He just looks at me, but I notice his one brow is slightly higher than the other. "Colonel Edward Cullen?" he asks after a few minutes.

"Yes, Sir," I nod, smiling at him.

"Okay my dear, we'll sign you up. You'll have to take some fitness tests and see a doctor. If everything goes well, you will be sent off to Basic Training before the end of October."

He looks at me, and I nod. "Okay, then, let's do this. It's what I want."

It takes me just over an hour to get everything done, mostly because we keep chatting. By the time I walk out, I feel happier and lighter than I have since Jasper's death.

~*EL*~

My cell buzzes with a text, and it brings me out of my thoughts as I sit in my room. I look to see Alice is in labor. It's now the first week in October, and she's right on her due date. I send her a quick message saying I'm on my way and not to have him before I get there.

I call a cab and grab a few things I need to take with me. I go out to wait, just as a cab pulls up. The driver gets me to the hospital in record time. I hand him a bunch of ones to cover the fee and tip before jumping out. I run all the way to the room Alice is in.

"Did you have him yet?" I say a little out of breath as I come in the room.

She looks at me, and I can see she's scared. I move to her and kiss her forehead. Twenty minutes later, we are joined by Rose. Alice has both Rose and I down as her birthing partners, and I'm very grateful to her for that.

It takes Alice seventeen hours to push him out. He was seven pound, seven ounces, and got nines on both Apgar scores. So he's very healthy.

"So do you have ... have you picked a name?" Alice's mom asks softly.

"Yes, if it's okay with Rose and Bella, I would like to name him Jasper Charles Swan the third."

I feel the tear running down my face as I nod at her.

"That's perfect, because he looks like a Jasper," I finally say, giving the baby in my arms a kiss on the head. I pass him to Rose for her turn to hold him, and I watch silently as my sister is both happy and sad at the loss and gift we have with little Jasper.

"Alice," I say softly, and she looks at me. "I had this crazy thought, but you know you can say no, right?" she nods at me but looks confused.

"You know how they take babies' footprints and handprints?"

She nods again, and I look around the room to see everyone is looking at me.

"I was thinking we should get a copy of the one the hospital did when he was born. We should take it to the monument place that is making Jasper's headstone and have them put it on there. You know that way it will give Jasper a little piece of his son with him too. When Jasper gets older, he too can see that his daddy did love him."

As I finish speaking, Alice starts to sob, and I feel guilty. "Shit, Alice, I told Rose it was a crazy ... no make that a stupid idea. I didn't mean to make you cry."

She shakes her head at me, and I look around the room to see that everyone has tears on their faces or in their eyes.

"I think it's a great idea. I really do, Bella," Alice finally says.

I let out a breath, and Rose passes baby Jasper back to his mama. Before she sits back down, she kisses my head and whispers, "I freaking love you, Isabella."

~*EL*~

I'm in the kitchen getting everything ready for Edward's home coming. I know it's only for the weekend and he'll be spending time with his parents, but I want at least one day with him. I actually will be leaving for basic before he leaves again.

"ISABELLA SWAN," I hear Emmett shout, and I turn to see Emmett standing there, just looking at me with a hard gaze. "You signed up?"

I nod, not getting why he's so mad.

"Does Edward know about this?"

"No, not yet, I was going to tell him on Sunday."

Emmett shakes his head at me. "No, you'll be telling him tonight. We're having a family dinner, so you'll tell him and everyone tonight."

I swallow but nod at him.

"Why the hell didn't you say something to me?"

"Because …" I say and then stop, unsure what I can say next.

It doesn't take too long for everyone to arrive, and Esme takes over in the kitchen. It allows me to spend time with baby Jasper, which isn't really any fun, since all he does is sleep.

"Hi, honey, I'm home," I hear the voice I've been missing say.

I turn, seeing Edward standing at the door. Before anyone can, I move and run into his waiting arms.

"Hey, Van, damn it's good to see you girl," he says in my ear as he pulls me closer to him in a tight hug.

"I missed you so much," I sob a little at the end.

I feel his lips brush against my head. He slowly lets me go. I move back, and when I turn, I can see Edward looking sad and worried.

I tilt my head at him, and his eyes fall on me, and he gives me a weak smile.

Edward greets the rest of the family and then sits with baby Jasper until dinner is on the table.

"Okay, people, I have something to tell you," Edward says.

We all look his way but he's looking at me.

"Wait, Bella, has something to say too, and you need to hear this before you say your thing," Emmett pipes up.

I swallow and throw a glare Emmett's way for putting pressure on me.

I take a deep breath, and I stand up. "I signed up. I'm off to boot camp on Tuesday," I say without looking at anyone.

"WHAT!" I frown. I was expecting that from Rose, but instead, it was Edward that yelled. It sounded more like a painful yelp than a mad yell.

"What do you mean what? This is something I want to do. I thought you and Emmett, most of all, would understand?" I say, and he looks at me after a few minutes. He closes his eyes and shakes his head.

"Well, congratulations, Van," he says lightly.

I turn seeing Esme, Alice, and Rose are all crying.

"It's only for two years," I say weakly, hating that I've upset them. "So, what's your news, Edward?" I ask shakily.

"Er, nothing, just there was a chance that I was getting moved to another place," Edward says dully.

The rest of dinner seems to drag on with no one really saying much of anything. I guess I know how to crash a party. After we all are done, I clear the table. After all the food is put away, I start to wash the dishes.

"Van," Edward says from behind me, but I don't turn around. "I'm sorry. Your news just took me by surprise. There's a war going on, Van, and you could be deployed into it."

"I know that, Edward. I watched as you and Jasper both were deployed and brought back and deployed again. Only Jasper came back in a casket. So believe me, I know."

I stop talking for a few minutes then turn looking at him. "Don't you think I have what it takes?"

He shakes his head moving toward me. "Of course you have what it takes, Van. You'll be great. It's just … I can't lose you. You mean so much to me," Edward sobs a little, and I hug myself to him. I'm so glad when his arms wrap around me right away.

"You're mine," he whispers.

"Hmm," I hum out.

"This weekend, you and I are spending it together, just you and me. Okay?"

I nod at him. "Does that mean you're staying here?"

"You can count on it, and you can count that I'm not leaving your side until I have no choice."

True to his word, Edward didn't leave my side. I was rather glad at that, when it became clear Rose was not speaking to me at all.


A/N: So what do you suppose Edward was going to announce? Some of you have already guessed, so what do you suppose he will do now? Are any of you shocked that Bella feels the need to honor her brother this way? What are your thoughts? See you tomorrow with the next chapter.