A/N: So… still thinking about how I want everything to play out. So... update on drama. Lukily I didn't get jumped today at school. The girl who was talking crap about me came up to me in chorus and told me that I had "lost a friend" because my friends looked at her weird. Frankly she needs to get over herself!

Chapter 19

"I'll be back before you know it." I wrapped my arms around Edward's waist placing my head on his chest.

"Fat chance." I growled.

He brought his lips down to mine. Edward would be away for two months. Sixty days. Sixty long unbearable life threatening days. I stepped back running my eyes over Edward. There was just something about a man in uniform.

He grabbed my waist pulling me back to his chest. "We're leaving soon and I want to hold you for as long as possible." He whispered in my ear.

I marveled at how perfectly we fit together. "Remember your promise." I breathed in anticipation.

He chuckled and placed his forehead on mine. "Of course love."

He fished around in his pocket until he found what he was looking for. "Take care of it love." He handed me the keys to his truck.

"Aw, you're giving me your truck?" I giggled.

He shrugged. "If I don't use her for two months she might not run when I get back."

I hugged him tighter. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

"Alright men. We take off in five minutes." Edward's Sergeant came into the hanger with a duffle bag similar to Edward's slung over his shoulder.

I stood on my tiptoes to give Edward another kiss. This time the kiss was more urgent and needy. I parted my lips and Edward took full control over every inch of my body. He claimed me with his mouth. When he pulled away I was gasping for breath.

"My turn." Jake tapped me on the shoulder and I whirled around to give him a hug.

"Thanks for everything Jake." I stood on my tiptoes to place a kiss on his tanned cheek.

He squeezed me lightly and then stepped away. "By Bells."

I smiled at him. "Bye Jake."

Edward pulled me back into his arms. "So, I guess this is it." He placed a delicate kiss on my lips.

I sighed. "Yeah, I guess it is." I placed my head back on his chest and listened to his heartbeat.

"I miss you already." He nuzzled my neck and placed a delicate kiss on it. I rolled my head back at the feeling of his lips on my skin.

"Edward." I held onto him closer as I held back tears.

"My beautiful Bella." He whispered.

We were lost in our moment when I heard the shrill chirp of a whistle. "Load 'em up and move 'em out." The Sergeant barked.

Edward pulled away from my grasp placing a chaste kiss on my lips. "I love you Bella."

I looked into his green eyes as they bore into my eyes. "I love you Edward."

He grinned his crooked grin. "You won't have time to miss me." He walked backwards keeping his eyes on me.

I couldn't help but smile. "Fat chance." I yelled back.

Wind whirled around me as the helicopter blades started circulating. He hopped onto the huge machine as the wind tousled my hair about my face. The sergeant saluted me and the families of the other three men, and then he expertly stepped onto the helicopter closing the door behind him.

The blades picked up speed and then the metal lifted out of the air. I watched as the love of my life flew away to Afghanistan for the freedom of our country. A tear leaked from my eye and I stood there watching the helicopter leave until it was only a speck in the gray sky.

"Hey Edward." Jamie sat down next to me and shuffled through his duffle bag.

"Hey Jamie." I replied a little unenthused.

"Your girlfriend's a babe." He wiggled his eyebrow.

"Fiancé." I corrected.

His mouth hung open. "Dude, seriously? How old his she?"

"Seventeen." I answered mechanically.

"Wow, they sure know how to grow 'em in Forks." Jamie laughed.

I sighed. "Yup."

Apparently I wasn't as riled up as the others. Jake was talking to Chris about the latest game and all I could think about was Bella. I hated that she wasn't going to be able to see her for two months.

The cot I was sitting on sunk and I looked over to find Jake grinning at me. "Cheer up man. You've got two months of pure freedom. Come January you'll be reeled in until next December." Bella and I had decided on a Christmas wedding, Christmas Eve to be exact.

Sleep found me as I drifted into the world of Bella. I dreamed we were in the field and the sun danced on her skin as I ran my fingers along her arm. She was sleeping by my side and the wind was dancing freely in her hair.

"Dude! I win." Chris yelled.

I sat up to find the guys playing poker. Jake threw me a knowing glance. "You okay Edward?"

I nodded. "Not that dreams help much."

Jamie grinned. "Hey, if I had a hott girl like Bella I'd dream nasty things about her too."

Chris and Jake both slapped him on the back of the head. "Dude, that was rude."

Jamie glared at them. "Hey, you two must be curious too." He looked back at me. "So Edward, what's it like to tap that?"

I rolled my eyes at his petty comment. "If you must know… we haven't. Bella kind of wants to be wearing a white dress on her wedding day."

They all accepted my answer and went back to their game. "Such fools." I whispered under my breath.

"We will be landing in five minutes." The co-pilot entered through the cockpit and looked around. "Gracious, you all smell like pigs."

"Sorry." Chris laughed.

Jamie pushed him off the chair and Jake stood up laughing to take his place next to me. "So, what exactly are we supposed to be doing when we get there?"

"Um, some kind of top secret stuff." Jamie inserted.

"Oh great! Just what we need." Chris groaned picking himself up along with their card game.

The helicopter started to shake violently causing us to fall back into our seats. "Hold on, we're landing." The co-pilot called from the cockpit.

I clutched the seat to keep from falling and then the plane went still. The door opened with a hiss and the pilot and co-pilot exited the cockpit and filed out the door into the hot air that I could feel radiating through the air.

"Follow me men." A guy with identical clothes as the others, and mine walked into the helicopter and signaled us to follow him.

I stepped out into the bright sunlight and shaded my eyes with my arm. Beads of sweat formed on my brow as soon as I wiped them away. I looked over to Jake who was in the same predicament as I was. He was constantly wiping away sweat.

We followed the man into a tin building and the air conditioning hit me with a wave of relief. "Welcome to Gwanglecemo soldiers." He paused to stand in front of us with his hands clasped behind his back. "You four men are key players to our mission here. You will each be given the password to our databases and logbooks. You must swear on your lives to never tell a soul."

I felt the tension around me and then we all answered. "Sir, yes sir." We saluted.

"Very well. I hope you are up to this mission. By giving you these passwords, you four are on the top hit lists of every terrorist in the country." He saluted us back. "Follow me."

His lines were swirling around in my head. Every hit list in the country? Why don't they just put us on the front line? At least doing that would guarantee a fast death. If we got caught we had promised not to give anyone any information. I knew I would stay true to my word. The information that I was about to get could very well determine the safety of every American citizen.

We walked into a cold dark room located in the back of the room. The door closed behind us and we stopped in our tracks. "Do you have any questions before I tell you the code?"

I looked around and then raised my hand. "You soldier, step forward and sate your name." He pointed to me.

I did as I was told. "Edward Masen Sir."

He nodded. "Proceed."

"Sir, will we still be endangered after we leave? Are our families at risk?" I wanted to clear all passages for Bella.

I stepped back in line and he watched my face carefully. "You're wise for your years Masen. But I assure you, as soon as your time is up the code will be changed. This is done to assure your safety as well as the rest of the country's."

I nodded. "Thank you sir."

"Very well. If that is the only question I am prepared to give you the information." He pulled out an envelope and opened it. "The code is 31423. Got it?"

We saluted. "Sir, yes sir."

He nodded. "Very well, now let me show you four around the rest of the camp."

We trailed out of the room and back out into the unbearable heat. He led us into a white tin building with one of those red crosses on the front. We walked into the building to see a line of cots down each side of the wall. Thin curtains separated the beds.

"Ah, Dr. Cullen." The man pulled an unbelievably perfect man into view. He has blonde hair and he had on a white lab coat. He looked too young to have a medical degree. "My dear men, this is Dr. Carlisle Cullen. You see Dr. Cullen was recruited into the Marines when we heard of his skill. He had a rare skin disease that prohibits him from going into the sunlight. When he does go out he has to have every inch of skin covered."

Dr. Cullen watched every face with fascination. I could see the wisdom in his unusually colored eyes. They were a light amber color. I couldn't imagine not being able to go out in the sun. It didn't rain much in Forks so I guess you could say I was a little sun deprived.

"Very well, let's move on." Our guide moved us on out of the room.

Dr. Cullen's eyes met with mine again and he seemed almost shocked. He walked to me and stuck out his hand. "It was nice to meet you." He grasped my hand and I couldn't help but feel how his hand was cold and stone like.

I let go of his hand as Jake pushed me toward the door. Our guide showed us the mess hall, then bathing areas, and finally our bunks.

"Rest up men. You have a full day ahead of you tomorrow." The man left and I fell onto the bunks. The doors opened and I looked up to see Sergeant Grey entering the room that held only four beds

"You all have it nice. I remember my first war I was in the room with sixty guys." He chuckled. "Well, good luck guys. I'll be sleeping in the sergeant quarters." He left out the door and I started getting unpacked.

I couldn't help but think why Dr. Cullen had picked me out over all the others. Why had he made a point to contact me? My eyes grew heavy as I twisted the thought around in my head. As always, my last thought for the busy day was of Bella.

A/N: A day early. You should be proud of me. I can't promise an update tomorrow or even Wednesday though. I have church on Wednesday, which means if I don't update tomorrow I probably won't till Thursday.

Also I'm going to put of pictures of Jamie and Chris on my website picture gallery for "Just a Dream". Be sure to check them out!

Anyway Review! Virtual Bojangles for all who review! (Had Bojangles for dinner.)

Kayla