I OWN NOTHING. ALL CHARACTERS BELONG TO THE VERY TALENTED STEPHENIE MEYER.

I want to say a great big THANK YOU to all our military personnel active or otherwise. If it wasn't for you our lives would be so much more complicated.

Okay I got a little carried away with this one; it's just a little longer than the others. Enjoy!

My Friend

Chapter 21

Driving through the main gate to the base made Edward even more anxious. He didn't know what to expect when he saw Jasper. Alice tried her best to keep him distracted but the closer he got the harder it got. Alice rode with Edward while Rosalie and Emmett rode with Carlisle and Esme. Edward's parents decided to get him and Jasper a car as their graduation gift. It was intended to make their commute to one another easier. Edward would be the one on the road since Jasper would be on base with everything he needed nearby. That was before Jasper signed up for Special Forces. But Edward was determined to make the best of this situation.

"ID, insurance, and invitation." The soldier at the gate said in a tired voice. Alice handed Edward the insurance from the glove box and Edward handed all the papers to the soldier. "Go ahead, just follow the signs."

"Thank you." Edward was shaking now with anticipation.

"Calm down Eddie, it's going to be okay." She tried to soothe him.

"Yeah, easier said than done, I wish I could just stop and make my brain relax and enjoy the fact that I'm going to see him again. But I just feel like we're on borrowed time."

"Well I think you need to take a chill pill and enjoy the ride. You only live once so my motto is 'live, love and shop'; the rest can be worked out later," She assured him.

Edward parked his car, and he and Alice waited for the rest of the family to catch up before he called Seth to see if he was there yet.

"Seth we just got here, where you at?"

"Come to the entrance and I'll meet you there."

"Okay, bye." Edward's hands visibly shook as he closed his phone and Rosalie wrapped her arms around him. "He said he'll meet us at the entrance."

Together they walked to the entrance of the visitor's center where Seth was waiting at the top of the stairs.

"Hey guys, we're on the left by the exit, they had a designated spot for Billy's wheelchair."

For two hours they sat through an orientation. Then they were escorted out to a designated area to see their cadets on an early morning run. Edward was so excited to see Jasper; he almost ran in hopes of getting the perfect spot. Alice followed close behind as did the rest of the family.

"Edward?" Alice called before the cadets appeared. "I had this made for you." She handed him a small bag he hadn't noticed before. Edward pulled out the small bundle inside and extended it to reveal a T-shirt. On the front it had Edward's favorite picture of Jasper and the words 'I love my soldier' in bold letters.

Edward couldn't hold back his enthusiasm and huge Alice as tight as he could.

"Can't… breathe…"She coughed when he released her.

"I love it Alice. Where did you get this from?"

"I ordered it on line. I thought you might like it." Edward was about to answer when he herd Emmett's excited hoot.

"There they come!"

Alice pulled her camera out and started to take pictures of the crowd and the cadets as they passed by. Edward tried so hard to find Jasper in the rows of cadets that passed by but they all seemed to blend in together.

He was starting to worry when he felt the pull; he turned to the far right. There in the front row was the most beautiful man he had ever set eyes on. Edward's heart skipped a beat at the sight of Jasper leading his group on the run. Just as Jasper was about to pass him, he turned and winked at Edward. Edward thought his heart was going to stop and he would gladly die now that he had gotten at least a glimpse of his cowboy.

The speaker announced that they would now have a silent run in honor of the fallen soldiers. The cadets now came from the opposite side only this time they were silent. Edward eagerly looked for Jasper and found him easily this time. Edward was able to mouth an 'I love you' to him to which he responded 'me too'.

For the next three hours that would be the extent of their contact. The families were all escorted back to an enclosed area with bleachers so that they could sit while they waited for the ceremony to begin.

"Did you see him?" Emmett asked Edward as they all took a seat near the bottom of the bleachers.

"Yes, he looked… good," Edward said with tears in his eyes.

"You saw him?" Seth asked sounding sad. "I thought I would be able to recognize Jake but they all looked the same to me."

"Yeah, I was looking for him but couldn't find him and then he was just there." Seth noticed Edward's shirt.

"Oh man I love your shirt where did you get it?"

"Alice ordered it for me." Just as he was about to say something she presented him with a similar parcel.

Seth wasted no time in pulling out his shirt with a similar slogan only with Jacob's face on it.

"Thanks Ali I love it."

"No biggie" Alice was happy to see her two best friends happy.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the cadets will be coming here soon. Please be seated and clear the center court. After the cadets are in their assigned positions the ceremony will begin. The cadets will remain in their assigned position until a family member or fellow cadet comes and taps them out. So please if you see a cadet that has not been tapped out extend a hand to show your support. Okay ladies and gentlemen please be seated so that our cadets may proceed. Thank you and enjoy the ceremony."

The man on the speaker announced every platoon, and their commanding officer and the best cadet in each platoon.

Jasper's name was called and was awarded two medals, one for the best leadership skills and one for top cadet. Edward's chest felt like it would burst with pride. When the ceremony was finally over Emmett was the first to jump off the bleachers and almost trampled the surrounding people to get to Jasper.

Edward's nerves got the best of him and froze on the spot. He could hear Emmett loud voice getting closer to him but he couldn't move from his spot. Esme came to his side and held his hand to help him relax. Almost like the red sea, the crowd seemed to separate for Jasper and Edward could see him there at the end of the tunnel.

Everything slowed down as Jasper walked with slow calculated steps as if not to scare Edward away. Edward felt the wetness running down his cheek but couldn't move is hands to wipe it away.

"Hey," Jasper said in a soft voice.

Edward's breath caught in his throat, and Jasper smiled his special Edward smile.

"Ed…" Jasper didn't finish because Edward flung himself at the love of his life. "I love you so much baby," Jasper whispered into Edward's neck.

"Ivove mhuto" was Edwards muffled response. Edward felt another pair of arms around him and he knew his mother was behind him. The announcer had asked that PDA be kept at a minimum. Edward stepped back and held on to his mother for dear life. Jasper then opened his arms to his sister who was also in tears.

"Oh Jazzy baby you look so handsome, I'm so proud of you."

"Thanks Rosie." Then Carlisle stepped up.

"Jasper, you have no idea how proud of you we are son."

"Thanks Carlisle, I'm glad you could all make it."

Then he turned to Alice and hugged her and kissed her cheek.

"Thank you," he said as he stepped back next to Edward.

Alice looked confused about Jasper's comment.

"For keeping my boy from losing his mind." He looked over to Edward who was wiping his face on a napkin his mother handed him.

"Oh, it was no biggie, anything for my bestie. And it was great to hear about all the crazy things you two got into," she said and snapped a picture of Edward and Jasper looking at each other.

"Whitlock, hey man I want you to meet Seth." Jasper turned to see his new friend with a much smaller shy looking boy at his side wearing a similar shirt to Edward's.

"Seth," Jasper stretched his hand out to him but Seth hugged him instead. "Whoa, good to meet you too, buddy." When Seth stepped back Jasper looked at his shirt. "Were they having a two for one sale or something?"

"Uhm, they were a gift from Alice. But thank you for looking out for Jake, he told me how much you helped him."

"It was nothing; he looked out for me too."

"This is my dad Billy." Billy wheeled his chair closer.

"Jasper Hale Whitlock, it's a pleasure to meet you sir."

"Billy Black, the pleasure is mine and thank you for standing by his side."

Jasper nodded and turned back to Edward.

"Okay, we have until ten tonight. Let's make the best of it. But first we need to show you our dorms and then we can take off." Edward stepped closer to Jasper but wouldn't dare take his hand; he had to settle for brushing his hand against Japer's.

He had to wait at least until they could get to the hotel. He had waited six months, an hour or two was nothing. Edward just had to keep it together until then… easier said than done.

Thanks for reading, please leave some love.