Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended. Story is rated M for language, and lemons.

I'm working on chapter 13 right now, so as I get them back from my very busy beta, I will continue to post. Thank you all for continuing to support this story.

This is the first chapter that will not deal with anything in Korea. As we jump back and forth between Edward and Bella, most chapters will feature both of them, while others will remain with the one character. Also, I have no idea how medical practices worked in the 1950's, so I'm trying to piece together as best as I can using modern info and what I've found online as far as historical details.

Chapter 10 – Beginning a New Life

Time held little meaning for Edward as he finally arrived in Chicago. Twenty-three hours of travel on four separate flights had him hopping around the Pacific, crossing the international dateline only to catch back up to the date he left Korea before it was over. The army planes were cold, and the last leg of the trip had been a crowded flight, but Edward was happy to be on solid ground.

"Edward!"

The former Captain looked up to see his mother running towards him. "Hello, Mother."

"Oh my word, look at you. You're nearly skin and bones, Son. I know we won't have much time, but I need you to tell me more about this delightful girl you are seeing." Edward's mother took his hand as they went to collect his baggage so they could drive back to his home.

"I'm sorry that the letter didn't arrive before I did, but my wife is a vision of virtue and perfection and if you give me a moment I will show you her photograph." Edward pulled the frame from his knapsack and handed it to his mother.

"Oh, Edward, she's lovely. Is that from your wedding?" She pointed to the picture of the two of them and Edward nodded.

"We were married on July 9th and had two days to celebrate together before she had to return to the MASH. It took the heart from me to watch her board that chopper, but there was nothing to be done."

"Well, we will have to just work hard to get you ready to move to Seattle. The sooner you are near the places she's been and surrounded by her family and friends the distance will be easier to bear."

"Thank you for understanding my need to move out there, Mother," Edward said as he pulled her aside.

"You need to follow your heart, and it isn't so bad. It's only twenty dollars for a train ticket so I can come and meet my daughter-in-law."

"Let's get on the road, Mother. I would just like to get home and get some real sleep before I begin to deal with everything that is coming in the next few weeks."

Allowing his mother to take him out to a restaurant on their way home, Edward fell quickly into his unfamiliar bed once he got back to his house. The jetlag allowed him to find rest that first night, though waking up the next morning was tougher.

Benjamin made himself available to Edward when he stopped by the office, setting out to explain everything to him.

"It is good to see you home, Edward. And I believe we will be able to settle things in a timely fashion." Benjamin said as he offered Edward a cup of coffee.

"That is excellent news. I will be taking very little with me, so with the exception of a few things, I can either sell them the house furnished or sell the items separately," Edward explained.

"They're interested in buying the house furnished, so we can do a walkthrough and anything that will be making the trip with you can be pointed out to them and a price including the furniture can be made. From there it is simply a matter of the paperwork."

Shaking hands after they had a chance to catch up, Edward gave Benjamin the okay to arrange the meeting with the buyers and get the ball rolling. Knowing that he needed a car, Edward took a bus to the car dealership on the way to his house and began browsing.

One car in particular caught his eye as he entered the lot, but he looked around at a few others before the salesman approached him.

"Good morning, Sir. You seem to be interested in that Chrysler New Yorker over there. I have to say that you have excellent taste, as that is a very popular car. If you'd like we can take a test drive and see how it feels to be behind the wheel."

Edward knew that the moment he got behind the wheel it would be over, but as this was his second Chrysler, he knew it would be a good purchase. "I'd love to take it for a spin. I owned a Chrysler before I left for Korea and I'm looking to replace it now that I'm back."

It was a short drive for the two men, but Edward knew what he was doing. Using some of his inheritance, which had been sitting in a bank collecting interest much of the last decade, Edward filled out the paperwork and then went to the bank to have a bank check printed for the full $1670 price of the car.

With the check in the salesman's hands, Edward drove off in his brand new black Chrysler New Yorker. From there he went to the military office downtown to take care of his paperwork. He had his discharge handled and the $6300 in military script he'd saved up in his two years in Korea exchanged for real money. Once his records were updated, he made another trip to the bank, depositing the money and providing the bank manager with the documentation to have Bella added to the bank account.

His first day set a pattern for him over the next few weeks. Edward would spend his morning handling various business, adding Bella to various aspects of his life, including his will. Afternoons were often spent with his mother, enjoying her company while he was still in Chicago, but finding that the city held little draw for him.

Once the young couple interested in his house made the revised offer, Edward urged Benjamin to proceed and then Edward moved onto the task of packing up his belongings.

With his mother beside him, Edward boxed up his books, keepsakes, and other important items, knowing the room in his car and the U-Haul trailer he would rent would be limited on space. He had yet to see his father since he returned home, but that was more his father's doing than his own.

Every day was chronicled in letters to Bella, which he sent off knowing that her letters would be waiting for him upon his arrival in Forks. It was surprising to Edward just how little he had to take with him in the long run, but on the day that he signed the sale paperwork and rented his U-Haul trailer, he was glad to be able to squeeze everything inside.

On his final night in Chicago, Edward drove his New Yorker to his parents' house and was only mildly surprised to see his father's car absent from the driveway.

"Edward, I can't believe you're leaving already," his mother cried as she pulled him into the house.

"Mother, please don't start crying now, because you will have no tears left in the morning when I drive away." Edward could smell the dinner that Tina had prepared, so he followed her into the formal dining room and took the seat beside her. "Just remember that you will have a place to stay whenever you make the journey to Seattle."

"Once your wife returns you won't want your mother underfoot," his mother commented, but Edward squeezed her hand.

"Elizabeth Masen doesn't have it in her to be underfoot, and I'm sure Bella will want you up to visit your grandchildren." Elizabeth was a little shocked by her son's declaration, but the idea of still having a place in his life was too good to pass up. "Father's staying at the office?"

Elizabeth recognized the hurt in her son's voice, and tried to assuage it. "Work is very hectic for him now, and-"

"Mom, really, you don't have to make excuses for the man, I understand. Now, I can smell Tina's meatloaf so we better go and start dinner." Edward led his mother into the dining room where the meal was already waiting on the table.

Over the course of the meal, Edward mapped out his trip for his mother, explaining the stops he had planned along the way so he wouldn't get too tired on the long drive. Elizabeth was relieved to hear about his plans, but it didn't alleviate her worry completely. Today she was watching her only son prepare to move halfway across the country, and her instincts told her to hold onto him for as long as she could.

Elizabeth had helped Edward buy the house that he had just moved out of, and his new home wouldn't need her touches because he was buying it with his new wife in mind. Edward was excited when his mother asked if she could write to Bella, wanting to get to know her better, but made her swear not to tell her any stories that would be too embarrassing for him. With the promise made, the pair turned in for the night.

The following morning, Elizabeth was up with the sun making breakfast for her son so he would start his trip on a good note. When Edward came downstairs he smiled at the memory of his mother cooking breakfast for him before school. The meal was eaten far too fast for either one of them, but there was no more delaying their goodbye.

"I'll call you when I get to the Swan's house in Washington," he told her as they walked outside.

"Make sure you call collect, I'll be waiting right here to accept the charges," she responded.

Pulling her into his arms, he took a deep breath, committing her perfume to memory. "Goodbye, Mother."

"Goodbye, Edward," she whispered, kissing his cheek before she released him.

Edward sat his bag on the seat beside him and turned on his car, giving it a moment to start up before he pulled out of the driveway, waving to his mom until he turned the corner.

That turn started three days of driving through Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, and finally Washington. Edward saw more of the country than he ever had before, and he made a promise to himself to take a road trip like that with Bella someday, so she could appreciate it too.

The final miles seemed to stretch out before Edward, but as he saw the 'Welcome to Forks' sign, he smiled, knowing that he was home. Edward got a little turned around trying to find the street that his in-laws lived on, but lucky for him, everyone knew where their Chief lived.

It was just after dinner time when Edward pulled in on the gravel drive, making sure to pull in far enough so that his trailer was safely off the road. The door opened as he climbed out, a middle-aged woman clad in an apron came jogging down the steps.

"Edward? Oh goodness, it's so good to finally meet you." Bella's mother threw her arms around his neck as he bent down to embrace his mother-in-law.

"Mrs. Swan, it's so nice to finally meet you," Edward began, but Mrs. Swan quickly pulled back.

"It's Renee to you, Son; now let's get you settled inside so we can let you eat some dinner. I have a plate waiting in the warming rack."

"Well, thank you, Renee, but if you don't mind, I need to call my mother while you're heating up my dinner. She'll be worried sick until she hears from me." Edward informed Renee as he locked up his car and entered the house with her.

"That's fine. Charlie will be home late tonight, so you'll meet him at breakfast, but I can show you to Bella's old room and then you can make that call."

Walking into Bella's childhood bedroom was an odd experience for Edward. So much of her early life was chronicled along those walls, and it made missing her a little easier. Once he had his things unpacked, he picked up the phone to let his mother know he'd arrived safe and sound.

It was a short call, and soon Edward found himself downstairs sitting across from Renee as he ate her casserole.

"I hope you don't mind, but there's an area in northeast Seattle that has a lot of new building. They've expanded one of the neighborhoods and the houses are just about to come on the market. We went to do a little scouting for you, and while there were lovely homes that were up for sale, I have a feeling that you'll like these new homes much more. These are houses you can grow into. Some of them have as many as four bedrooms."

Edward smirked at his mother-in-law's enthusiasm and told her that he'd be happy to look at the houses she thought that Bella and he would both like. Truth be told, he wanted someone who really knew Bella to help him find a home for them.

"Renee, I don't mean to brush you off, but have I received any letters for me from Bella? I had asked her to send my mail here until I find a place for us and I was hoping to have at least one waiting for me in the past month." He tried to hold in his hope, but the smile on Renee's face gave him a little confidence.

"I honestly think that she began writing the minute she landed back from your honeymoon because there are fourteen letters sitting on her old desk in the room you're staying in. Enjoy the letters from her and I will see you in the morning." With that, Renee dismissed him, going about her own nightly routine.

Taking the stairs two at a time, he found his bounty sitting on the desk just as Renee said he would. Seeing the numbers on the back of the envelope, Edward arranged them in order and then opened the first one.

July 12, 1952

My Dearest Edward,

Getting on that chopper was one of the most difficult things I have ever done, but the memory of our time together in Korea, and more importantly, our days in Seoul will be what carries me through to the day that I am returned to you.

It seems so foreign an idea that I will have to wait weeks before these letters arrive in the US and then the additional delay of your arrival in Forks. I hope that the trip was not too arduous.

Please convey my sympathies to Billy and the girls when you see them, and do include them in helping you find a house. If we leave it to my mother, she will say something is my favorite simply because it has enough rooms to house the army of grandchildren she has already planned for us. It is my fervent wish that we will have news on it sooner rather than later, but it is merely the wishful thinking of a lonely heart.

I cannot wait to receive your first letters after you are able to read what I will be sending in the coming days, because it will make the distance more bearable. Please know that I love you and every spare moment that I have will be spent putting pen to paper. Jasper and Alice wanted me to send their regards, as do the Colonel and Major Hale. I will write again tomorrow.

Yours,

Isabella Masen

Unable to contain his smile, he pulled out the second letter and read its contents. That letter, as well as the next few were all along the same vein, but her sixth letter was the first to truly upset him.

July 18, 1952

Dear Edward,

I have not made much mention as of yet about the doctor that replaced you, but let me tell you now that he is the single most infuriating man I have ever met! And that is saying something considering the fact that I've worked beside Royce King for a year.

Major James Stoker is a pompous, egomaniac who is constantly trying to build his image in the minds of others to match his own self-perception.

From the moment I returned, he acted as though I was someone he could dictate to, so when I informed him that I was the ranking nurse below Major Hale, a Captain in my own right, and a happily married woman, he saw his way into my service so that he could attempt to convince me that a night with him would make me forget the chump I had back home.

As if I would be interested in the cad even without the love of my life starting to build a life for us back in the States.

The number of complaints against him in the past week is unprecedented, and I have a feeling that Carlisle will attempt to have him transferred if it is possible. I can only hope that he will cool his jets and realize that he is not winning anyone over with his actions.

Well, my love, I've had a long day, and I want this letter to make the mail, so I will send it out now. It is moments like this that I am glad that Corporal Yorkie has his daily reports to get out, because it means that mail will go out on the same chopper to Seoul. Until my next letter.

Yours,

Isabella Masen

Edward had never wanted to throttle someone as bad as he did the jackass that was harassing his wife. He couldn't believe his gall, that he would think that their marriage was simply a challenge that he could overcome. Edward thought that James Stoker better hope that he never met him in the future, because it would be a short encounter.

The last few letters were her recounting daily events, except the very last one, which brought a smile to his face again.

July 22, 1952

Dear Edward,

After thinking about the letter I sent you a few days ago in reference to the new Major, I realized that it wasn't fair of me to write that letter to you.

Although he is still a loathsome man, he is not nearly as unbearable as I made him sound and he has not done anything to cross a line beyond his comments, which are quickly beaten back with a reminder of where he is.

But to burden you with that when you are so far away and unable to defend my honor, as I know you would if we were together, is not fair. My only hope is that these letters beat you to Washington so that you will not have to wait for news, fearing the worst.

Another long stretch in the ER reminds me of the night Jacob was brought in. I hope you are able to make the visit to the Reservation after you arrive at my parents. It will do me good to know that you'll be paying our respects to the family.

I hate to cut this note so short, but if I do not send this now it will still be here in the morning when I wake up from the exhaustion that is about to claim me. I'm anxious to see pictures once you begin to look for our home, but do remember to find something that will be able to accommodate your practice someday.

I'm off to dream of you, my love, so I will not say goodbye, only see you soon.

Yours,

Isabella Masen

Sighing, Edward folded the letters and replaced them in their envelopes, sitting them back on the desk before he changed for bed. He had a lot to manage in the coming weeks, and thankfully he would get to share it all with Bella through his letters.

Readying himself for bed, he then wrote Bella a letter, telling her of the end of his trip and the joy he felt at reading her words, feeling her close by as he studied her elegant script on the page. Edward fell asleep shortly after, the long day catching up with him.

The following morning he awoke and took a shower before venturing downstairs to find both of his in-laws at the dining room table.

"Edward, I'd like you to meet Bella's father, Charles Swan," Renee introduced them, but after their handshake, Mr. Swan grumbled at his wife.

"No need to be so formal, Renee. You can call me Charlie, Son. Now join us for some breakfast and tell me a little about how my daughter is doing." Charlie seemed a no-nonsense type of a man, so Edward asked him to wait a minute as he ran up to get some of the pictures he could show her folks.

"This was a picture from this past winter," he said, showing them a picture of Bella bundled up in the Mess Tent. "And here is one from my birthday back in June." He held out one of them sitting together on his bed in his old quarters. "And these are from our wedding."

Renee brought over the food, quickly picking up the pictures that Charlie had finished looking at. "It looks as though you had a lovely ceremony, Edward."

"It was simple, but as she began the hour Isabella Swan, and ended it Mrs. Edward Masen, it was all that we had wanted."

"That will take some getting used to," Charlie said, "but I guess it's lucky that we'll still have her so close to home. Speaking of homes, I hear that my wife is taking you to see the houses that she has been looking at."

"Renee has offered, but I would like to mention that I will need a lot that will be able to accommodate an office for my private practice."

"Oh, Edward, of course I thought of that. I know you've only just arrived, but would you like to take the trip after breakfast? It is a three hour drive, so it is better if we leave early."

"I'll be ready as soon as I've finished eating," he told her, anxious to get started.

And that was how they spent the next week and a half. Renee had him look at every type of property imaginable, and after lunch one afternoon, Edward met Rachel and Rebecca Black, who joined them to visit some of the houses.

The only exception was the afternoon the girls took him to La Push so he could pay his respects to Jacob's father. The drive wasn't long from the Swan house, but Edward noticed the difference as soon as he saw the first set of houses. It was a small community, with simple houses, especially considering the house they stopped in front of was that of one of the tribe elders.

The front door opened and Edward saw the weathered looking man standing in the doorway. He watched for a moment before opening the door, welcoming the trio into the house.

"I'm sorry for the bodyguard," a voice called from behind the door, "but we have grown wary of unfamiliar cars around here these past months."

Edward looked to the man who was speaking, a man he knew by his wheelchair to be Billy Black. "Mr. Black, I'm sorry if my coming here caused a problem, but I'm Dr. Edward Masen, I was the physician that treated your son in Korea. But more importantly, I am married to Bella Masen, formerly Swan, and she wanted me to pay her respects to you until she is able to do so herself."

"Please, call me Billy. Charlie told me that Bella married one of the doctors over there; he also told me what you gave up for her. Why don't you join us for lunch and then Harry can bring you down to pay your respects then?" Billy gestured to the kitchen table and the girls quickly went to work finding something that could be served quickly.

"I didn't know your son for long, Billy, but he was a great young man. Him and I spent some quality time together during his stay at our MASH, and I only wish there had been something more we could have done for him."

The girls returned with sandwiches and potato salad, offering the men iced tea before they returned with the pitcher and glasses for everyone. "The spirits see things that man cannot; it is obvious that our ancestors saw a greater purpose for him where he is now. Jacob ensures the safety of our people from his place with them. Do not blame yourself for circumstances beyond your control, we all miss Jacob, but he is with us still." Edward watched the elder as he spoke of their beliefs and how it seemed to ease his grief to know that his son was with their ancestors serving a purpose to his people.

The meal passed in conversation about how Bella was doing, which led to Edward showing the picture of her he carried in his wallet. After the visit was over, Rachel and Rebecca stayed behind to visit with their father while Harry Clearwater led Edward down to a strip of beach that was a little further down from where the families were congregated. When they stopped in what seemed like the middle of their trip, Edward turned to Harry.

"Our tribe has always sustained itself from the ocean, and when we die many of us return to the sea for our burial." Harry spoke in a voice that left no doubt that he was an elder of the tribe. "Chiefs and certain elders, as well as those chosen by the council are afforded the highest privilege of being buried on top of A-ka-lat, or James Island. That is where Jacob has found his resting place."

"Am I able to visit his grave on the island?" Edward asked, unsure if he was waiting for a boat, or if this was as close as he was allowed.

"No. Only members of the tribe are allowed on the island. If you'd like I could give you some time to yourself."

"I would appreciate it, thank you, Harry."

Edward stayed on the beach for a while, remembering as best he could the chant that Bella performed for Jacob as he wished him whatever peace he might find. Leaving the beach, Edward found the girls sitting in the living room of their father's house, ready to head out. With a heartfelt goodbye to Billy, the girls dropped him off at the Swan house before they returned to the city.

Edward had taken pictures of a few of the houses they had found, but the next day when they arrived at the last stop Renee and the girls had planned, he had a feeling that he was home. The construction workers were still onsite, finishing the last touches to the kitchen as the property owner walked them around.

"You seem interested in the house, but I can tell there's something more on your mind, young man."

"This is what I was looking for, but the only problem is I was hoping to start a private practice as I get better settled in the city, but there isn't anywhere in the house that would work for that purpose," Edward said honestly.

"Would a freestanding building work?" The owner was quick to ask.

"I'd actually prefer it," Edward admitted and the man.

"I have a set of plans for a house we built last year, it was a house with a small cottage in the back, but the interior could easily be altered to make a doctor's office. It would raise the asking cost of the house, but I think we could make arrangements."

Agreeing to meet with Liam, the property owner, in a week, Edward sent the pictures off in the mail to be developed and then wrote Bella a letter discussing his progress.

In the week it took for Liam to make his plans, Edward had handled a lot of business, making sure to pass all of the news along to Bella in his nightly letters. He'd stopped by Harborview and inquired about a position. As luck would have it, his time at Mercy in Chicago, the two years in Korea, and a mention of his wife's referral had him sitting with the head of general surgery.

"One of our surgeons is retiring next year, so I have been looking for someone to take over his responsibilities. I will have to introduce you to Dr. Douglas, because if you're interested he might be willing to sell his practice to you. But you would need a location because he practices out of his house."

"That wouldn't be a problem," Edward told him as they began to discuss the details of his working there.

In the end, he would have privileges there as a surgeon who was affiliated with the hospital, and would work a few shifts a week as an on call surgeon, but luck was on his side as Dr. Douglas was a World War I veteran who instantly hit it off with Edward. He was willing to spend his last year transferring his patients over to Edward, and by the following spring Edward would have full ownership of his practice as well as his work at the hospital.

Liam's plans for his office were right along the lines of what he had in mind, so he signed the paperwork that would allow him to move in while they did the work. Since it was the end of August, Liam was agreeing that by the end of October there wouldn't be any more workers on the property, which was fine with Edward.

Edward signed his contract with Harborview, and then signed the paperwork that Dr. Douglas had drawn up for the transfer of his practice. Renee and Charlie were surprised at the amount of money that Edward was able to readily part with, but he explained the amount of money he'd been left by his maternal grandmother, and how he'd used it to pay for college, support himself during residency and buy his first house, and now he was using that and the money from the sale of that house to set himself up for Bella's return.

He'd paid for the house in full, including the addition, and was now about even with his account balance prior to moving. Edward had set up a monthly installment plan to buy Dr. Douglas' practice, making it easier to part with that money until he took over the practice in full May 1st of 1953.

The pictures came back and Edward was about to sit down to write his letter that evening when he saw the letter from Bella. In the rush of days that had come with meeting with lawyers and bankers, setting up payment schedules and arranging to go shopping for furniture for his new house in the last few free days before he began working at the hospital on September fifteenth, he hadn't noticed the lull in letters as anything serious. Her letter explained exactly what he missed.

August 14, 1952

Dearest Edward,

I'm sorry for the lack of letters these past days, but I haven't been much myself. Though I had not informed you previously, afraid of getting your hopes up only to have a delay in informing you if I had been mistaken, a few weeks after arriving back from our honeymoon I thought it might be possible that I was in a family way.

I was scheduled to go to Tokyo to perform the test there, but the day before I was to leave I began my monthly, letting me know that I was not pregnant as I had hoped.

It hasn't been too busy these past few days, so the Major let me do light duty, such as organizing and ordering the supplies and overseeing the cleaning of the OR and Post-Op. Those duties have kept my body busy, but my mind has had plenty of time to think.

It was my most fervent wish for myself as well as for us that I would be with child. It would not only end this separation, but it would have given us a miracle to look forward to, but it seems that is a miracle that I will have to wait until I am back home with you to see into fruition.

I last received your letter from August 1st and I am happy to hear that things are moving so smoothly. The thought that you are possibly sitting in my parents' house reading my first letters eases the ache in my heart.

We will overcome this separation and our life will begin anew when I am free of Korea. Give my best to everyone, and I will write you again tomorrow. I am sorry if the stoppage in letters has caused you any worry. I love you, husband.

Yours,

Isabella Masen

It tore at his heart to read her anguished words, no matter how hard she tried to hide it. Edward picked up his pen and wrote her the longest letter he was able to stuff in an envelope, outlining the progress he had made, including pictures of the house to go along with his descriptions, and offering his heartfelt sadness for the hope that had been dashed. Edward echoed her sentiment that they would endure, silently wishing that it wasn't too long before she was returned to him.