Well we are now switching to Edward's point of view, let's see what he has going on in his head.


Chapter 8

EPOV

I sit on my seat, and all I can do is see her face. How in the hell did my plans get so fucked up? I was retiring. This was meant to be my last month in Iraq. I was planning on spending the last six months of my duty stateside. I should have told her in my birthday letter. If I had, I just know she may not have enlisted.

I never meant to fall in love with her. I still remember the first time I saw her at my brother's wedding. She looked a few years older than her fifteen, almost sixteen years. I got to talking to her when we had our pictures taken together.

I made a passing comment that she didn't look like her brother and sister. She brushed it off, saying they looked like their mother, and she took after their father. She seemed a little sad about it. I felt like she didn't think of herself as pretty. So I joked with her and told her that he must have been an attractive man. It made sense, because she was beautiful. She still is.

We talked for most of the night, and I found myself enjoying her company. Her mentality was just like her looks; she seemed so much older.

When I left to go back to Iraq, we kept in contact through letters. It was strange. I felt like I was able to tell her anything, and she seemed to be open with me. We had this instant connection, and it only grew stronger over the years.

The years seemed to go by, and soon Jasper was stationed close to me. I was happy, not only was he my friend but Bella's brother. I felt like I could watch over him for her. The day he died still haunts me, and I think it will always be with me.

I don't think I was in love with Bella before that, but the two weeks after his death brought us closer. We became closer because of our grief and our need to believe in each other's strength.

When I left to go back, I was in love with her. For the first time since enlisting, I didn't want to go. I didn't want to leave her, and it took me only a week to get my plans in order to retire. I wanted to surprise her, telling her the second I was through the door. Emmett stopped me, saying Bella had news to tell all of us first.

Hearing that she signed up broke my heart. I couldn't tell her after that, about my plan of retiring. Instead, I cherished our time together like a starving man.

Watching her leave was harder than I could have ever imagined. I went back to Iraq, not knowing what I could do. I canceled my retirement and let my CO know I was thinking over my options.

I requested a need for an RN, hoping I would get Bella. Our medical troop did need an RN, but it wasn't dire yet. I didn't want her here in Iraq, but I know that hoping she wouldn't get deployed wouldn't work, and if she were here, then I could protect her. Instead, I found she was going into a lot more danger. She was being sent to Afghanistan. My girl will be in the very heart of the war.

Returning to my base in Iraq, I march into my commanding officer's office. I was lucky enough to find, not only my CO, but also Lieutenant General Aro Volturi. After salutes as expected and some friendly conversation is exchanged, I get down to brass tacks.

"I know I need to sign my re-up paperwork. Before I do, I need you both to be aware that I need to be transferred to Afghanistan," I say, and they both just look at me.

"Edward, with all due respect, I made this trip to talk to you about joining the team at Madigan. We are in need of a chief of staff, and I feel you'd be best there. We can guarantee you stateside for the rest of your very long career. Why would you want to go to Afghanistan?"

I shake my head at him. "She's been sent there, so I have to be there."

"Who?"

"Van—Isabella Swan, Jasper Swan's little sister," I say, and Aro nods a little. Aro knows that Jasper was my close friend.

"Ah, you want to keep an eye on your friend's sister. I can understand that but ..."

I cut him off, because he has no idea what she means to me. I know I can't tell him, because he'll never send me, knowing I'm in love with her.

"Sir, with all due respect, I've never asked you for anything, and I have served my country for fifteen years." I stop, closing my eyes. "I need to watch over her."

Aro shakes his head and logs into the computer. Time goes by without him saying anything.

"It's done, but you have one week to collect your belongings and report to Afghanistan. PFC, soon-to-be Corporal Swan, will join you ten days later. Stay safe, Colonel Cullen. Please don't ever make me regret this choice."

"Thank you, Sir, no chance in that," I say, jumping up.

"Please be careful, my friend."

I nod at him, stand at attention, and salute both my CO and Aro. They salute me back, and I turn and walk out the door.

*~EL~*

The last two weeks have gone by, and I feel like I've been on autopilot. In my rush to get here and Bella moving to California for her intense training before being deployed, I haven't had the chance to tell her about my move. Emmett and my parents know. None of them are happy, but they understand.

I hear the rumble of a truck arriving, and I take a deep breath, looking out the window and see the new recruits unloading.

"We got five FNG incoming on this Six-By. One of them is a woman, a tiny woman."

I swallow, looking around at Banner, who I've learned always keeps us informed.

"Good job, she's a RN. I don't see her carrying Full-Battle-Rattle, sporting Ma-Deuce."

"Maybe she'd surprise you," I say, moving away to look at my schedule for the week. I see I'm scheduled for duty most of today, meaning I may not be able to see Bella until tomorrow.

I'm not even halfway through my shift when I get a call to go straight to Major General Marcus' office. I arrive promptly and knock on the door, and I am told to come in. I enter, standing at attention, but my eyes land on Bella, who's standing at ease and looking at me in shock. After saluting and being directed to stand at ease, he begins to speak.

"Colonel Cullen, this is the new RN, Corporal Swan. She and you will be scheduled to work with each other. If you're, on she's on. Make sure your schedules match. We expect great things from both of you. Understood?"

"Yes, Sir," Bella and I reply together.

"Take an hour to show Swan around and then get back to work."

"Yes, Sir," I say alone this time. Knowing he is done, we both salute before we walk out. As we walk down the hallway, I can see the fight in her not to touch me. It's the same fight I am feeling. As soon as we get back to the base hospital, I pull her into my small office and hug her to me.

"This isn't something we can do when we're on duty, but fuck, I just need this now," I almost growl in her ear.

"You're here. Why are you here?" Bella says, and I pull a little back from her.

"Because this is where you are. I asked to come here too."

She looks up at me and moves back into my arms. "Thank you," she says softly.

"We can't do this again when we're on duty, but on our off time, we can. But we must always be as discreet as possible. If we get caught together, you'd be court martialed, lose pay, receive a dishonorable discharge, and I would lose rank, pay, and more."

Bella nods, steps back, and wipes her eyes. I can see the change in her instantly when she goes from my friend to Corporal Swan.

"Let's go, Corporal Swan."

It doesn't take the hour to show her around and introduce her to the other staff. All too soon, we are at work. I hold back my smile. My father was so right. She's great at this and has a natural ability that makes her job easy. Many times she knew what I required without me asking for it.

"Let's go, Swan. We need to eat," I say, and Bella just nods. I can see she looks tired. "We'll eat and then straight to bed?" I say in a commanding voice.

I hear her chuckle a little. "Yes, Sir."

I shake my head a little. I walk into the mess-tent with her by my side. We walk along, getting our dinner, and then I lead her to a table that only has a few men sitting at it. We're very relaxed, and I have already told all of them my thoughts on being saluted and such when we're all on break. I sit, and Bella takes a chair close to my left.

"Hey, I'm Nightfall," the private beside Bella says. I roll my eyes at him as he grins at Bella.

"That's Banner, Copper, and Stanley." All the guys say hi, and Bella blushes just a little.

"I'm Bel … I mean Swan."

I cough to hide my chuckle.

"You're one of the FNG that arrived today, aren't you?"

Bella tilts her head at him, not understanding what he's saying.

"It means fucking new guy. It's a term used for soldiers coming to a unit straight from AIT."

Bella nods at me. "Well, I finished up three weeks ago, and that was boot camp. I didn't attend AIT. I had my nursing degree before I enlisted. "

They all roll their eyes at her.

"Yeah, and she outranks most of you since she's a Corporal."

"How the hell did you get that," Stanley says as they notice her rank marked on her shirt.

"On my knees," Bella deadpans with a roll of her eyes, and they all look at her in shock. I feel a little shocked too, but I see the smirk on her face and personally knew better.

"She worked her ass off in true Swan style."

"Swan?" Nightfall asks, and I know it finally registered with him. I give him a nod, keeping my eye on Bella. "You're Jazz's sister? What the hell? Aren't you like sixteen?"

"Nineteen," Bella says as she tries to control her face.

"Your brother saved my life," Nightfall says, holding out his hand. Bella takes it and gives him a firm shake. "And, if you're half the soldier he was, then I know you'll have my ass if it needs it. Jazz always told us that you were some kind of medical genius."

"Oh, she is," I say quickly, knowing Bella will really do well. Hell, if she keeps working the way she did today, she'll be outranking me soon.

"Fuck, she's the chick from the picture on your desk," Banner says way too loudly.

"Yes," I put a little harshness in my voice. "She's in the photo, along with my brother and her sister, who's my sister-in-law."

Banner just looks at me, and I can see the wheel in his head turning.

"Okay, I'll make sure everyone knows that they: A) don't fuck with the Swan, and B) they don't ask her out."

All the guys laugh, and I shake my head, feeling a little embarrassed.

"If you would, that would be great," Bella says, and we all look her way. "I've been asked out five times before I went on duty today, and I just got here, being the FNG and all."

They all chuckle but nod. "Don't worry, Swan, we'll take care of you," Nightfall says.

The rest of dinner goes by quickly. One thing about meals in the army, they never take long. I walk Bella back to her shared quarters, before heading to my private room. I want her here with me, but I know that's not possible.


A/N: So Edward pulled strings that in normal cases would not have happened, but this is fiction for a reason. What are your thoughts on him making sure they are together?