Thank you all for saying so many lovely things even though I was such a grouch last chapter! I love you guys. You all put the biggest smile on my face :)

I have made a photo album for this story, the link to which is on my profile. It basically contains pictures that I think set the mood of the story well and that give you a good idea of the period and the scale of this war. Edward is just one man and there were millions that lost their lives. And while you're on my profile, don't forget my twilighted thread. I'd love to see more of you over there and I do post teasers if you want to check them out ;)

Now, I have a favour to ask. I currently have 96 reviews and if I don't get 100 from this chapter then I think I'll cry. Can you please bump up the number for me? (I'll happily take 100+ by the way so don't think your job is done. It never ends *evil laugh*.)

Thanks again to my wonderful beta, Cullenista. I worship her, seriously.

Also, I would like to dedicate this chapter to EJ Santry, a brilliant reviewer and lovely person to talk to. I tried to follow your suggestion but I'm not sure I did a very good job. The description of the curtains and settees is for you, lol.

Sorry for the rambling AN! Here you go then, EJ Santry's chapter. Enjoy :)

Quick reminder of the end of the last chapter:

"I love you, Bella," he continued his voice no longer a whisper but growing in volume and rough with emotion. "I thought about you every moment in the trenches. Anytime I was afraid or in danger, it was you I saw before my eyes. You can't imagine what it was like –"

"I love you too, of course I do, but I – I just – I don't think I'm good enough for you," I finished in a rush, hiding my face in his jacket which I still clutched tightly to me, breathing in his scent which clung to it.

"Bella, you don't see yourself very clearly," he told me, weak with relief and with a touch of amusement colouring his tone. "If anything, I don't deserve you," he went on, his voice turning sour and acrid, but I was too distracted in that moment to process what he meant by it.

He moved so that my head was cradled against his shoulder and he was stroking my hair, and I shifted so that one arm was wrapped around his back and one hand rested on his chest.

He sighed and held me close, seeming to be reluctant to move an inch, and that was fine by me. We stood there in the field, oblivious to the biting wind whipping around us as we swayed together, our arms clutched tightly around each other as if we would never let go.

A Man Of Few Words

EPOV

I barely noticed that I was frozen in the icy field; I was too wrapped up in the beautiful creature in my arms. When she held me, her warm body pressed tantalisingly close to mine, I ceased to be aware of anything but the alluring scent of her hair and the feel of her hot fingers resting on my chest.

It was a struggle to tear my eyes away from her for long enough to really notice our surroundings, but when I did the sight alone made me shiver and pull Bella closer to me, both protectively and seeking comfort. We stood in the middle of a barren wasteland, the large empty field stretching out balefully behind us. We were barely sheltered by the woods to one side so the wind swept across the open plane, roaring in my ears and almost creating a maelstrom of frosty air around us.

For some reason, I found the bare earth quite menacing as it seemed interminable, spreading portentously to the horizon. This expanse of land, which had the potential to be fruitful and profitable were it cultivated, was abandoned and discarded, forgotten and left to fester. The symbolism was jarring and I shuddered again.

Bella looked up at me questioningly and I smiled to forestall the inquiry, not wishing to share my ominous judgement with her. Seizing the opportunity, I leant closer to her and she exhaled quickly, fanning my face with her mouth-watering breath. Her eyes widened and I could feel her heart rate pick up as it thudded against my chest, matching mine as it raced in my own breast.

Trying not to appear hesitant, I ducked my head and brushed my lips to hers for the second time, closing my eyes at the sensations flooding my body. It felt as if a jolt of electricity passed from her mouth to mine, setting all my nerves tingling as I cautiously reached up a hand to cup her cheek with my palm.

She sighed and moved unconsciously against me, causing me to swiftly lift my face away from hers. At that moment, there was nothing I wanted more than to move closer to her, to hold her so tightly that she would never move away, but I knew I couldn't do that. She was trusting me to look after her and I would never do anything to make her feel uncomfortable.

She frowned at my quick retreat and bit her lip anxiously, worrying it with her teeth. "Bella," I murmured reprehensively and she let it go in surprise, enabling me to run one finger along her lip, marvelling at the softness. She relaxed against me again and I allowed my fingers to run up and down her spine, tracing up to the back of her neck and making her tremble.

Eventually Bella reminded me that our parents might be wondering what had become of us and I reluctantly relinquished my hold on her, instead taking her hand firmly in mine. Her touch alone seemed to reassure me, make me feel that everything could be alright, and I was filled with a hope that I had been untouched by since I had arrived at the trenches.

We walked together back to the road and towards my house, neither of us speaking nor feeling that anything needed to be said. I clutched her hand tightly like a lifeline, marvelling that such a perfect creature would accept me, damaged as I was. I felt almost giddy with happiness and relief, all the tension released from me by her presence alone. She was everything to me; everything that I could no longer be and everything that I aspired to.

When we reached my front gate, Bella stopped and pulled her hand from mine, taking off my jacket that was slung around her shoulders and handing it back to me. I raised my eyebrows questioningly at her and she shot me an apologetic look before leading the way inside, closing the door behind us.

We found our families assembled in the front room once again, drinking coffee and chatting lightly about all manner of affairs. My mother and Mrs Stanley were seated together on the cream regency settee, chatting lightly, and my father was looking grave in his favourite brown leather chesterfield armchair. Alice was perched nervously on the arm of his chair, shooting sappy looks at Jasper who sat nearby, and Mr Stanley and Jessica stood as if ready to pounce at any moment.

Taking in the unpalatable scene, framed perfectly by the chintz curtains that epitomised this small town, I almost turned around and went out again, only being kept in my place by Bella's steady presence at my side.

Mr Swan looked up sharply from his matching armchair and asked Bella where she had been, and she stammered for a moment, eventually placating him with a vague answer. I noticed that she declined to mention any details of our absence so I decided to follow her lead, adding nothing when he looked suspiciously in my direction.

My mother looked shrewdly at Bella, seeming to realise that she was being evasive, and turned to me for answers. I just shrugged and shook my head, worried the expression on my face would give us away. She let it drop, but I knew that her mind was still whirring, trying to explain our sudden disappearance.

To my annoyance, Jessica seemed delighted by my return and attached herself once more to me, hanging onto my arm like a limpet and laughing shrilly at the most banal of comments. Trying unsuccessfully to shake her off, I resigned myself to her company and listened unenthusiastically for several minutes to her description of the trimmings she would use to accessorise her new hat.

I glanced across the room, desperately looking for an escape, and saw Bella trying to catch my eye as she was dragged into conversation with the exceptionally dull Mr Stanley. She made a face at me and I struggled not to laugh, indicating that I, too, was trapped.

Jessica jabbered on for some time, occasionally pausing to run her hand up my arm gently or brush a speck of lint from my jacket. I essentially tuned her out unless a specific reply was necessary; most of the time she just seemed content to have a captive audience.

After one particularly bad joke on her part, she shrieked with mirth and barrelled into me, shaking with laughter as she buried her face in my shoulder. I looked up in time to see Bella stalking towards me, a murderous look on her face directed at the oblivious girl that was just composing herself after her fit of hysterics.

"Excuse me," Bella interrupted and I welcomed her intervention, my eyes conveying my gratitude to her in a look. She plastered an overly sweet smile on her face, although her eyes glinted dangerously, and leaned into Jessica to ask her in a stage whisper, "Do you mind if I borrow Edward for a while? I need his help with something in the kitchen."

Before Jessica had a chance to answer, Bella took a firm hold on my arm and yanked me into the hall with her, not stopping until we were out of sight and earshot of the party in the front room.

"That girl really gets on my nerves," she muttered, releasing my arm and straightening my jacket apologetically.

"Jessica?" I clarified, slightly bemused. "She wasn't even talking to you."

"She didn't have to be," Bella responded shaking her head. "Didn't you notice the way she was acting so coquettishly, laughing too loudly at your jokes and using any excuse to touch you? She was so obvious," she spat, her face twisting in outrage.

"Are you jealous?" I asked her, amusement colouring my tone, and she scoffed, brushing me off.

"You are adorable when you're jealous," I told her, gathering her in my arms and kissing the top of her head. "And you have nothing to worry about. Nobody could entice me away from you."

She relaxed slightly into my chest but still grimaced uncertainly, lifting her face to read mine.

"Don't you believe me?" I teased her as I leaned down, capturing her lips with mine and she softened still further, bringing up one hand to wind round my neck. My heart jumped in my chest and I ran my hand up to the centre of her back so that I could pull her still closer, trying to mould her to the shape of my body. There was nothing I had felt in my life that could compare to the feeling of kissing Bella, of holding her close to me, and I judged that there was nowhere I could feel more comfortable than in her embrace.

The sound of movement in the front room broke us apart and Bella disappeared into the kitchen, leaving me standing in the hallway when my parents, Mr Swan and the Stanleys filed out towards the front door.

"Thank you so much for coming," my mother said, smiling amicably at her guests, and my father proceeded to shake the hand of every person in the crowd.

Jessica ran to me, looking slightly put out that I had been dragged away form her and simpered sickeningly at me, fluttering her eyelashes in a way that I'm sure she considered alluring. "I'm so pleased we had this time to spend together, Edward," she told me flirtatiously and I smiled briefly back at her.

"I'll miss you when you go away again," she continued, undeterred, "will you write to me?" I muttered something indistinct about a shortage of writing paper, which she seemed to accept albeit with a disappointed pout, and she finally left with her parents, waving hopefully back to me.

"Have you seen Bella?" Mr Swan asked me, scanning the hallway for her, and I had opened my mouth to answer him when she appeared at my side just as suddenly as she had vanished.

"I'm here, Father," she called and threw me a hasty smile in farewell before she joined him and helped him with his coat. Slipping into her own while I stood glued to the spot she thanked my mother profusely for her hospitality and led Mr Swan out into the cold with only a quick glance thrown back at me.

I watched her as she walked away, splinters of loneliness shooting through me as her slight figure moved out of my sight. I never wanted to let her go and considered chasing after her right now, but my more practical side warned me that I could not do this. We both had responsibilities; hers towards her father and mine towards my family and, ultimately, my country.

Our lives were taking us in very different directions and I feared more than anything that they would pull us apart. After years of admiring from afar, I had finally got to legitimately hold her in my arms and I sent up a silent prayer that we would not soon be separated again. She was worth more to me than my own life, but I could not put her at risk in any way.

My father closed the door behind our guests, leaving only Alice and Jasper, and I shook of my ominous thoughts and walked into the front room to find them huddled in a corner, just staring at each other. I was loath to interrupt, preferring to turn a blind eye but felt that an apology was prescribed on my part. Now that I no longer believed that he was trying to string along Bella and Alice, I decided I could try to be friendly towards him so I cleared my throat loudly, breaking them out of their reverie.

They both swivelled their heads to look at me, not moving away from each other, and when I looked down I noticed that their hands were intertwined. Deciding to ignore that fact, I awkwardly began, "Jasper, I feel as if I owe you an apology."

Jasper shook his head but Alice nodded fervently, a small frown creasing her forehead.

"My behaviour towards you was inexcusable and I'm sorry; I should have taken the time to get to know you before I judged you. I would like it if we could start afresh, what do you say?"

Jasper nodded in agreement and stood up, proffering his hand for me to shake.

"I'm Jasper Whitlock. How do you do?"

I smiled at him and his face crumpled into an answering smile, causing Alice to bounce up and down in her seat with satisfaction.

We were soon joined by both my parents, and the next hour saw the five of us talking and laughing together, getting to know each other. I watched him as we conversed, noting the gentle manner he adopted with my sister. She barely took her eyes off his face, smiling adoringly, and his gaze kept sliding back to her no matter how hard he tried to direct it elsewhere. There was a certain warmth and element of comfort to their relationship and when their eyes met briefly, I saw such a look of tenderness on his face that I felt I should look away.

Glancing over at my parents, I saw that it had not gone unnoticed with them either, and they exchanged a secret smile next to the young lovers. Suddenly, I felt very alone and wished that I had asked Bella to stay, but resolved against running off to find her. I felt that I owed this to Alice; I wanted to be reasonable and to give Jasper a fair chance as she did seem truly enamoured by him.

The conversation drifted naturally as the time passed, not delving deeply into any topic but skimming lightly through many in a casual way.

"I hear that you're the local schoolmaster," I remarked to him and he nodded in confirmation, smiling as the talk turned to his work.

"That's right, I love teaching and the children are wonderful to work with. Their energy and enthusiasm are infectious," he joked, and we smiled along with him.

"I'm really going to miss it while I'm away," he went on, and my ears pricked up as I digested the fact that he was planning on disappearing, probably leaving my sister heartbroken behind him.

"Where are you going?" I asked him sharply and he met my gaze, recognition flaring in his eyes.

"Jasper's going to be a soldier," Alice cut in, sniffing slightly, and he patted her hand comfortingly, soothing her with a touch and a gentle smile.

I relaxed slightly as I considered this information; I could not fault him with going away to fight but I could only imagine the effect this would have on Alice. She would be inconsolable if anything were to happen to him, a possibility that I could not dismiss, and I hated to see her upset or distressed.

"When are you leaving?"

"In about a week," he coolly replied, not looking at Alice as she bit her lip beside him. I was affected by the way he seemed genuinely moved by the thought of being away from her, and slowly I was forming the conclusion that this was a man who could be trusted.

"I'm really a pacifist," he informed me detachedly, "but I feel that I cannot sit here while other men risk their lives in this war. It is our collective responsibility, and I must be a part of it."

I was impressed by his honesty and sense of justice, and decided that Alice could do a lot worse. Of course, I would have to keep an eye on him; he was still several years older than her and she was innocent and guileless, but I would not spend too many sleepless nights worrying about her with him.

When the time came for him to depart, I heartily shook his hand and shared a smile with him: one of two men who had a common goal and purpose. We were the last to leave the room and as we did he murmured to me, "I, too, have a younger sister back in Texas so I understand how you feel. Just know that I would never do anything to hurt Alice, you can be sure of that."

With those words, he left, courteously thanking my mother and father for the lunch and coffee and politely and warmly taking his leave of Alice. He turned and ducked his curly blond head as he left, his manners impeccable as always. My lasting impression of him was one of a man who was hardworking, just and dependable, one in whom I could trust without fear of being let down.

I was reluctant to admit it but he had impressed me, and when it came to my little sister, that was not easy to do.

OK, so we had a bit of Alice/Jasper love in this chapter as well. What did you think?

Don't forget, I really want 100 reviews - although I wouldn't say no to 200 or 300 if you guys feel up to it ;)

Thank you!

RosieWilde