A/N: Okay… I said I wasn't going to skip boot camp… but I've changed my mind. It's chapter 16 and we haven't even gotten to the climax yet… Okay so here it goes.

Songs for Chapter

Your Guardian Angel- The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus

Wake Me Up When September Ends- Green Day

Chapter 16

EPOV (9 weeks later)

I remember the day oh so clearly in my head. It was a usual rainy Washington day and I was sitting in my office going through paperwork on the new platform. Jake was working on the other side of the room and was now heading over toward me to take our lunch break. Sergeant Grain walked through the door holding a neatly folded piece of paper with the president's emblem in gold at the top.

"Men, we've been summoned to war." That's all he had to say. I felt the color drain from my face as I though of having to tell Bella. War was something we had not planned for.

"When?" I asked the question as if I were asking what time a party started.

"We leave in two weeks." His face showed no emotion for I knew he had a wife and two little girls to leave behind.

"The week before Thanksgiving." I flipped through my calendar on my desk.

"Yes." He replied plaintively.

I habitually ran my fingers through my hair but since it was all gone I settled for pinching the bridge of my nose. This was completely unfair. Why now? Bella and I had just been reunited two weeks ago and now I had two weeks with her before I had to leave?

"I know this is not exactly expected, but they need assistance with the planes and with logging. I understand that you all were heading off to classes in Seattle next week but plans were changed. By sending you four we're going to be able to take out around thirty men who haven't seen their families in six months." He read through the big paragraph. "You may take the rest of the day off to spend time with your families."

It was Friday and I would have to tell Bella. I didn't think either one of us could handle it right now. My watch said it was 12:00 exactly. I headed for my truck with Jake trailing along behind me.

"What are we going to do man? I don't think I can handle war." Jake was obviously upset as was everyone else.

I climbed in the truck scooting over to unlock the door for him to get in. "I don't know. I don't think I can leave Bella again."

We mostly sat in silence the rest of the ride home. I would need to pick up Bella from school and then somehow man up to tell her. She would cry, and then I would cry. Yes, the one thing that I feared most was about to happen.

When I pulled up to the apartment complex where Jake had left the rabbit I turned to look at him. "Can you actually believe that we're going into potential danger within two weeks? We might never see Forks again."

Jake shuddered. "I know, the thought of actually killing someone."

I cringed. "Or someone killing us."

He shook his head. "But, that's nothing to think about now."

I nodded in agreement. "You're right. I got to marry Bella… and you have to find that special someone!"

He sighed. "Yeah, maybe one day."

I punched his arm. "Hey, maybe I can hook you up. I heard Bella has some pretty wild friends in Phoenix." I chuckled at the memory of the conversation Bella and I had had over tattoos months ago in the restaurant.

Jake burst out laughing and without a reply hopped out of my old truck. I left him as I pulled back out onto the road. I took my time getting to the school; it wasn't like I could help it if I wanted to go faster. My truck insisted on driving at exactly 55 and no faster.

I pulled into the visitor parking in front of the Forks high office and got out of my truck. I walked into the front doors as Mrs. Cope summoned me into the office.

"Well hello Mr. Masen. How can I help you today?" Mrs. Cope smiled at me.

"Um, I'm here to get Isabella Swan." I hoped she wouldn't ask many questions.

"Does Chief Swan need her?" She eyed me warily.

I shook my head. "No ma'am. There's been an emergency and she is greatly needed."

I was still clad in my work uniform that I wasn't supposed to wear off base. Mrs. Cope watched me as if she were debating on whether or not to believe my story. "Very well."

She picked up the phone receiver and dialed a couple of numbers. "Mrs. Marden?" I could hear her talking into the intercom.

"Yes?" A lady asked back.

"Can we have Isabella Swan come to check out?"

"Um, yes." I heard the lady answer as she quickly told Bella the homework assignments that were due for that day.

I didn't have to wait long before Bella was in the office. She signed herself out and then turned to me and grabbed my hand as I offered it to her. When we had gotten outside the worried expression that I had expected was on her face.

"What's going on?" She looked up at me and I took her books from her walking across the deserted parking lot.

"You look pretty today." I told her avoiding the question.

She turned on me and I knew she had caught on to my plan. "Seriously Edward, what's going on?"

I grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her toward the truck but she planted her feet firmly on the ground. "Let's go Bella."

She shook her head stubbornly. "Not until you tell me what's going on. You're here in the middle of the day to pick me up from school. You have on your work clothes, and I think you owe me some explanations."

Knowing that with Bella I would be waiting there for an hour arguing with her until I got her to move I decided to take the easier route. I walked calmly over to her and scooped her up in my arms. Before she could scream I covered her mouth with mine and kissed her lips. At first she tensed but then she relaxed and wrapped her arms around my neck begging me for more.

I pushed her up against the truck just enough to grab the handle of the door. I quickly climbed into the truck and laid her on the seat crawling over her to get to the driver's side of the truck. She groaned and shut the door while shooting daggers at me.

"I wish you wouldn't do that." I whispered almost inaudibly.

"What?" She growled.

"Nothing." I replied. I'm sure my voice sounded plaintive, and I'm sure that I gave away everything just with that one word.

She tensed up and an awkward silence emerged which was rare for us. I could do nothing to stop it and I still didn't know how to tell her. We had not planned for this. Why me? Why did it have to be my squadron to go? Why couldn't it be someone else? So many questions were left unanswered and I'm sure I looked pained as my eyes intently watched the roads as we passed.

BPOV

I was really starting to get worried. At first I just thought that Edward was getting me out of school so we could spend the day together. The distraught look on his face told me different. I was really starting to get worried. What did he have to worry about? He loved his new job. He was starting college in Seattle next week and we had even started talking about our wedding.

At first I thought he wanted to break up with me. Why else would he have such a look on his face? Had I done something to provoke him? I started asking myself various questions in my head as the too green trees passed by. We turned onto the familiar dirt path of our meadow and he had yet to speak.

When we had reached the meadow he quickly hopped out of the truck and walked around to my side opening the door. I saw something the emotionless face that always masked his fear. I hadn't noticed I was shaking until I had jumped into his arms and he was rubbing soothing circles in my back. For that moment I didn't care if I looked desperate, I needed him.

He grabbed the blanket out from behind the seat and took it over to our tree. We spread it out and he pulled me to him hesitating to say the unspoken words. It felt as if the words were spoken then everything would come crashing down. I wrapped my arms around my waist and buried my head in his stomach wishing that he would just let me down easily. I didn't understand it. I thought we were in love…

Tears leaked from the sides of my eyes and I tried to subtly wipe them from my eyes without him knowing what I was doing. Of course though… he's Edward. He caught on to my charade and wiped the tears from my eyes. He placed delicate kisses on my face and then lifted my chin so I was looking into his eyes.

"Bella, don't cry." The words worked just as reverse psychology would for the tears seemed to be spraying out of my eyes now.

"How can I not cry? Why do you have to leave me? I thought we were in love." I'm sure that I looked like a tortured soul now.

His eyes held hurt, pain, and unbelief. "Bella, you silly girl." He reached for me but I pushed him away.

"That's all I am to you isn't it? I'm just a silly girl of no worth." I started to get up not really knowing where I would go.

He grabbed my wrist and pulled me back down to his lap and his kisses turned feverish and needy. It was then that I understood what he was implying. He kissed me as if he were never going to see me again. He acted as if time were running out and as if he were claiming me as is own.

He pulled back from lack of oxygen and his eyes bore into mine. "So I'm not a silly girl?" I asked a little lightheaded.

The grief was back in his eyes as they portrayed the image of a warrior, someone who had to be strong for others, those of a guardian angel. "Bella, I don't know what to say."

I watched the emotions play across his face. All I knew that his hurt was my hurt. Just watching him was killing me softly.

I knew one thing was for sure; the doubt was once again plainly on his face.

A/N: Ah! Okay go ahead and cut my head off with a toothbrush. I'm sorry I had to send him to war. It was the flipping 16th chapter already. Anyway I hope you don't hate me too much. Trust me I'm not into the whole Shakespeare tragedy thing. Only on occasions when I'm feeling less than ostentatious. (Had to throw my favorite word in there!)

Review! (Update in a couple of days!)

Kayla