Tissues? CHECK! Reading-buddy? CHECK! Then you're all set for chapter twenty.
Chapter song: Say Something by A Great Big World & Christina Aguilera. See you at the bottom.

^^TotS^^

EPOV

Another sleepless night passes, with Bella curled up on the other side of the bed. She may as well be on the other side of the Pacific, for all the distance I've put between us. I think she stole my pillow before I got home tonight, but I don't mind. She stole my heart all those weeks ago; my pillow is of little consequence at this point.

Every night, after she's fallen asleep, I spend hours just trying to get up the courage to find the right words, the ones that will keep her by my side, that won't send her running, that won't let her know how weak, how terrified I am. That is— if she hasn't figured it out already. I'm pretty sure I should win the asshole award for least communicative person on the planet right now.

I've never felt this way about any other woman. I can't imagine her not being next to me for the rest of my life…but what if?

I inch as close as I can without disturbing her, running my fingers through her hair, watching her chest rise and fall with each breath.

Thanking God, or whoever is listening, that she's still breathing.

Then I think about Riley, who's alone in his bed. Nalani was ripped away from him forever. All he's been left with are memories and her little sister to raise on his own. I hadn't realized that they'd made provisions in their wills immediately after getting engaged that if anything ever happened to Nalani, Riley would be willing to keep Kalia. It's a noble thing he's doing, but I also think he's very thankful that at least he gets to hold onto a piece of his fiancée, even if it is through her ten-year-old sister.

Next, my thoughts swing to accepting that, maybe, it's better that Bella and I are going to two different duty stations. Maybe I was right all along to opt to never truly commit to anybody. Maybe it was better before Riley settled down with Nalani. We were happy bachelors, I think. He'd be upset that Nalani died, of course, but his whole future wouldn't be completely up-ended. He wouldn't be sobbing, staring at her engagement ring and the wedding rings they picked out for each other.

My mind shifts again, and I think about the confrontation I had with Emmett earlier tonight at my office.

"Hey. What're you doing here? Is Rose with Bella?"

He shakes his head and sits on the chair in front of my desk. "No, Rose isn't with Bella. She's passed out at the hotel after the busy day we all had. Just like I'm sure Bella's asleep in your bed…which begs the question, why the hell aren't you asleep in your bed? It's after eleven."

"I had some FitReps to get done."

"Until this hour of the night? Don't bullshit a bullshitter, Edward. You've got Bella by your side for less than two weeks before she leaves for Korea. FitReps get done during the daylight hours. What the fuck are you doing?"

I glare at him, 'cause he knows he's pushing my buttons. "Don't worry about it."

"Fuck no! You're not gonna tell me to not worry about it," he snaps, sitting forward in the chair. "You're my best friend, goddammit, and I'm watching you throw away the most sensational fucking thing that's ever happened to you."

I stack my papers on my desk and start to close my docs on the laptop.

"I'm not throwing her away. We're about to be stationed in two different countries, Em. The chances that we'd have survived a long-distance relationship are slim to none." The blatant lies taste sour on my tongue, but I make no move to rectify my words.

He straightens up, brows cocked and arms crossed. "Really."

"When have I ever been relationship material?" I shrug. "I'm not cut out for the drama."

He explodes. "What fucking drama? All you've EVER said about Bella is that she's the most intelligent, funny, sexy, sassy woman you've ever been around, and that it was going to be impossible to let her go! Jesus Christ," he continues to bellow, "you fucking proposed, or did you forget? Now you're backtracking because you're scared!"

"I'm not scared. I think I'm just ready to admit defeat."

"Well, I can see that, but what's defeating you? 'Cause from where I'm sitting, the only thing defeating you is you and your mental road block."

"Look…just…let me figure it out, Emmett. I don't want to hurt her, and I definitely don't want to get hurt. I've had enough of that in my life."

I look up at him, and his angry expression softens slightly.

"We've all had a lot of hurt in our lives, man. My real dad skipped town when I was a kid and left my mom alone to raise me until she found Dan. A year later, I get a new dad and a baby brother out of the deal. Mom gets breast cancer, but she survives. Then, when we're all celebrating for Lauren and Eric and Bay, Eric gets sick and is dead within a month. Not to mention the Marines I've lost in Iraq and Afghanistan over the years. Life sucks…but isn't it better to live the life we have while we still have it? Why are you going to piss it away worrying about everything that could go wrong, when you have something right now that's going SO right?"

Emmett's on target, but it doesn't change the fact that I don't know how to stay with her without it killing me. I feel so emotionally out of control. I don't have the right answer. I've come to realize that U2 knew what the hell they were talking about when they wrote "With or Without You."

I do know that what I've been doing— which is nothing but avoidance tactics— is getting me nowhere fast, and I've never been more miserable.

^^TotS^^

"Hey, didn't mean to wake you," I whisper as Bella picks her head up off the pillow.

She looks around the room before answering. "I didn't really know I was sleeping until I woke up around three and you were here. When did you get in?"

"Close to midnight. I was busy trying to finish up the paperwork that has to be done before I start my check-out procedures next week."

She sighs and flops back on the bed. "We were up at Nalani's place yesterday. We packed up everything except the furniture, which'll be moved by some of Riley's Marines in a few days.

I nod, taking in what she's saying as I pull my dog tags down over my head and unplug my cell from its charger.

"I called you for dinner— a few times throughout the day, actually— I…I missed you. I thought it was important for all of us to be together. Y'know, for Riley and Kalia…at least while we're all still here on Oahu."

"Yeah, I'm sorry about that. Like I said, I was just swamped with paperwork and this deadline looming over me."

She tucks her hands under her face and continues to watch me move around the room.

"I've gotta run. I'll try to make it home for dinner tonight." I turn toward the bedroom door and hear her call out to me.

"Riley was going to have us all over because Emmett and Rosalie have to leave in a few days…kinda like a "goodbye-for-now-slash-thanks-for-your-help" dinner.

I nod. "Yeah, I'll definitely try. It'll all depend on the workload."

"And what about us?" Her voice gets quiet. "What will we depend on?"

I glance at my watch and see that I'm running late. "What do you mean?" I huff, but I don't mean to.

Still lying on her side, now with her eyes glistening, she clarifies. "I mean you and me, Edward. What will you and I depend on?"

"I'm really not sure I understand what you're asking, but I have to run…can we talk about this later?"

She closes her eyes, nodding curtly.

I decide to stop being a pussy and give her a kiss, instead of sneaking out like I have been for the last few days. I take a few quick strides back to the bed and give her a peck on the lips. As I stand up, I see her touch her fingers to her mouth.

"I'm outta here. Give me a buzz later, if you want," I call out over my shoulder, halfway to the front door, my self-loathing and sheepishness not allowing me to stick around for her reply.

^^TotS^^

"Colonel? Major Masen's here to see you."

"Send him in."

I square my shoulders as First Sergeant Matheson holds the door open for me. Walking up to my commanding officer's desk, I stop a few feet in front and announce myself.

"Major Masen, reporting as ordered, sir." I stand at attention until he makes eye contact.

"Have a seat."

"Thank you, sir." My stomach is in my throat with nerves, but I sit down and try to force my knees to stop bouncing.

"I'll get right to the point, Edward. You look like shit."

"Sir?"

He holds his hands up in surrender. "No personal offense intended, and it's certainly not your uniform I'm judging…but, I know my men. I make it my business to keep my eyes out for those who work for me. You and I have managed to follow each other to different duty stations over the last ten years. I've watched you change. I've seen what your collateral duties have done to you. Ever since I called you for that CACO a couple weeks ago, I've seen your demeanor shift again. Then Major Bier's fiancée was killed, and I know she was your friend as well…I just…I need you to know that it's all right to contact someone at Tripler."

"You want me to see a shrink?" I try to keep my voice steady; this is still my commanding officer I'm speaking with.

"Look, you and I both know there's a politically correct response to dealing with psychological issues after combat, PTSD and such…and then there are the unwritten rules that say we're Marines, and we should be able to handle this."

"Yes, sir."

"I'm telling you that I wouldn't ever want your job, Edward. I'm telling you it would take a toll on me and my personal choices in life, if I consistently brought horrible news to spouses and parents of Marines."

I listen respectfully, my face devoid of emotion, but my stomach continues to twist and retch in its current state of turmoil.

"I'm telling you I'd need to unload on somebody, eventually. Even shrinks see shrinks sometimes, son."

"Is this a direct order, sir?"

He shakes his head. "No, it's not. It's an observation and a suggestion. Your personal life is your own, until it starts to adversely affect your job. I say with confidence that you're a stellar Marine, and your job performance has never been in question."

I look down at my folded hands and nod. My mom sent me for counseling after my father died all those years ago, but I haven't spoken to a professional since I was twelve years old. I know I'm losing Bella. I could see it in her eyes this morning before I left for work. I have to make this right. I have to show her I can change…or at least show her I want to and I'm trying.

"You're headed to Okinawa next, right?"

"Yes, sir. TMO packs me up on one August."

"Well, I won't be following you over there. I've already put in my overseas time. I'm headed to the Pentagon in January." He pauses, tapping his pen on the desk. "I just wanted you to keep this in mind. I know our time together is running short, it was important to me to say this to you."

I stand and lean over his desk, extending my hand. He grasps it firmly, responding with a strong shake.

"Thank you, sir. I'll certainly think about what you said."

"Good. I think you owe it to yourself. And if you don't mind me saying so, perhaps you owe it to that young lady you've been spending your free time with. You don't pick just anybody to pin on an oak leaf."

I smile and huff. "No, sir, you don't...at least I don't."

"My point exactly," he chuckles. "Take care, Edward."

"Thank you, sir."

^^TotS^^

I arrive home around six with a renewed sense of semi-confidence. Between the two talks I had in less than twenty-four hours with Emmett and then Colonel Cullen, and my heart's bottom line, I want to believe I can make this work…we can make this work. Bella means the world to me. That's all there is to it.

When I open the front door, the smell of Bella's homemade pasta sauce overwhelms me and my mouth instantly waters. But as I'm calling out for my girlfriend, my eyes find her two red suitcases, her matching laptop bag and purse sitting next to the dining room table. Max is on the floor next to the bags with a pitiful look in his eyes. He barely raises his head to acknowledge my entrance.

A flush of heat rises up my back and over my shoulders as I try to ignore what this could mean. Seconds later, Bella walks out of the kitchen.

"Hey."

I stand stock-still before I realize she said something, and I respond. "Hey." I pull my cover off and put my keys inside it, before placing them and my shopping bag on the table by the door.

"I didn't know when you'd be home, so I went ahead and made manicotti for you anyway. It's in the oven, ready to eat with some garlic bread warming…salad's in the fridge."

"Didn't you say Riley was going to have everyone over for dinner?"

"Yeah, he called earlier when he couldn't get in touch with you again and said the dinner was postponed until tomorrow because Kalia's having a really tough day."

I nod, hearing her explanation, but that still doesn't clue me in as to why she looks packed and ready to hit the road.

I take a step toward her, as I throw my thumb to the side. "What's...umm... what's with the bags?"

She fidgets with her necklace, her fingers dragging the pendant back and forth along the delicate chain. It's funny…I don't recall seeing her wear it for the last several weeks.

"Can we sit?" she asks, her voice strained.

I follow her over to the couch as a million thoughts run through my head, but my mind is so scrambled, I can't gather my wits to sort through them. Before I sit, the only thought, the only fear I have is the one I blurt out.

"Are you leaving?"

She looks me in the eye and breathes deeply before her chin dips. "Yes," she whispers.

Trying desperately to drown out the chorus of screams that suddenly erupts in my mind, I shake my head, my eyes closed, not accepting this.

"But when…why? Please just—"

She puts her hand on mine to still my nervous fidgeting.

"Edward, I've watched you pull away from me…from us…since the moment Emmett arrived on your doorstep last week. The CACO call was bad…and I did everything I could to hold onto you before you got swept away in the flood of your fears. But when Nalani died…"

She gets choked up and trails off, but I don't interrupt her. For as quiet as I've been for the last week, she deserves to say whatever she needs to say. I owe her my silence in this moment.

"When she died, it was like a light switched off inside you, a light behind your eyes. And no matter what I did to try and get to you, to try and pull you back from that darkness, it proved to be an impossible task. It's just too strong for me," she whimpers, helplessly.

"Bella, please let me explain."

She holds up her hand. "I don't need you to explain. I know you better than you think. This is who you are…who you've always been for the last twenty-some-odd years. It was selfish of me to think that dancing and making love and sightseeing our way through the islands would be some miraculous cure for what's plagued you for so long."

My chest constricts, and my palms get sweaty as I still listen, but plan to interrupt when I think my argument might hold water.

"I shouldn't have tried to change you," she sighs. "You're a beautiful, intelligent, incredibly giving man all on your own. You didn't need me to try to make you better. Ultimately, the blame lies with me."

I squeeze my eyes shut, shaking my head. "What? Bella how can you possibly say that you hold any blame for what's transpired here?"

She swipes the moisture from her cheeks and then under her nose with a tissue. "It was never fair of me to try to tell you how to think or feel... how to live your life. You were doing fine before I ever walked into the picture."

I stand up from the couch and clasp my hands over my head. I can't believe this is happening.

"I know how the tragedies in your life have shaped you. And I know that you've always believed that it's just safer for everyone involved if you didn't give your heart away. Clearly you knew a lot better than I just how much you could handle when things take a terrible turn. I was wrong to try to force you to look at life differently. It wasn't my place, and I'm sorry."

"Bella, wait a second." I stop my pacing to face her. "I'll admit I was a tough nut to crack when we first started hanging out, but you didn't force me into anything I didn't already desire. I fell in love with you all on my own, how could I not? You didn't bewitch me and leave me no choice. You didn't cast some kind of evil spell."

"But you're unhappy and you're scared and you're questioning things…and I told myself a long time ago that I didn't ever want to be the reason for you to feel such turmoil. The distance you've put between us in just the last week alone is proof that you don't know what the right thing to do is."

"But I'm trying!" My voice gets louder and she flinches at the change. "I want to see somebody…maybe talk to a counselor. I can't keep living like this."

Her face shows a spark of hope even though her tears still run. "I think maybe that'll be good for you, but I don't want you to get help because of me. I can't be responsible for your happiness or your unhappiness, and right now, I feel like I'm the reason you don't come home at a regular hour anymore. I think you'd absolutely be spending this time with Riley and Kalia, helping them through as only you can. You'd want to hang out with Emmett and Rosalie before they take off. But I'm there…I'm the common denominator in all those instances. I won't chase you out of your home or away from your friends."

I scrub my hands over my face and around my neck. I'm losing her. I'm losing her and I don't know how to fix this. Just then, I remember what's in the shopping bag I brought in from the car.

"Look…look what I got for myself." I dig through the bag and find the new Tangled DVD I bought from the PX before I came home. I hold it out and drop to my knees in front of her on the couch. "It's so I can have a copy when you come see me in Japan…so that you won't have to bring your own. I can perfect my smolder while we're away from each other."

Bella buries her face in her hands and her shoulders shake. I feel my eyes well up as I watch my girlfriend dissolve in tears.

"Baby, please…please don't go. I can fix myself. I can be better for you, Bella."

She lifts her face and cups my cheek. "That's just it. Your smolder doesn't need perfecting and you shouldn't fix yourself for me…you've got to be willing to do it for you. You have to come first, Edward."

I close my eyes feeling drops of moisture coat my eyelashes. We're both silent for a few minutes.

"What do I tell Bailyn?" I croak out, maybe trying to play a guilt card in my last moments of desperation, but even I know I don't want to face that little girl without delivering her princess.

Her face fills with a look of remorse and she looks off to the side before responding. "Tell her to keep believing in happily ever after…'cause it'll find her. Just like I know it'll find me, too."

"Bella—"

She shakes her head and leans in to kiss me. Her petal-soft lips graze mine for the last time. I feel like I've stopped breathing. This can't be it.

Bella pulls her mouth away from mine slowly and our eyes lock. "I'll never forget you, Edward Masen." Her chest shudders, trying to regulate her breathing after such a steady cry. "You were the best surprise of my life."

I no longer try to find words to stop her. Maybe she knows better for both of us. My heart is so fucking ripped to shreds right now, I don't know which end is up. I'm simply helpless and no longer able to fight this battle.

She stands from the couch and moves across the room to collect her bags. I turn toward the bay window and see a cab parked in my driveway.

I'm paralyzed, still kneeling on the floor where I made my final plea, the movie still in my grasp. She holds her hand up, high-fiving the air as she opens the door and walks down the path to the waiting car.

I don't know how much time passes before I pull myself up from the floor and collapse onto the couch. I turn the movie over in my hand and am reminded of the scene at the end. Clear as day in my mind, I can hear Flynn Rider whisper his dying words to Rapunzel:

"You were my new dream."

And she was. Bella was my new dream, yet my stupidity and inaction just forced me to wake up to the lonely reality I've always known.

^^TotS^^

Almost three days have passed since she walked out my door. I've jumped every time I heard my cell phone, and almost broke my neck twice trying to get it before the ringing stopped, but never had the desire to answer it when the screen revealed it wasn't Bella calling.

My emotions continue to ride a wild roller coaster. I fluctuate from feeling sorry for myself and wallowing over the loss of her, to complete self-loathing at my apathetic mindset, then onto irrational anger that she walked out so easily. I'm not a fucking mind-reader and neither is she! She never gave me an opportunity to explain. Never stayed to hear what I was trying to work through. We buried Nalani and two days later she was packed and out my door.

At least, with the CACO call she gave me several days to be quiet and sullen and work through my demons. I buried one of my closest friends and she didn't think twice about walking away from all of us. To say nothing of the fact that Bailyn will be destroyed when I get back to California and don't have Bella on my arm.

I don't know what's right…what's fair…or even what's real anymore. Our love couldn't have been that strong for her to give up on us so easily, that much I know. Maybe I should've listened to her more closely in the beginning when she said this trip was just about making memories and having fun. Toured the islands, had a fling and fucked up my life for good.

Oh yeah, this was loads of fun. Thanks for the ride, lady.

Emmett and Rosalie didn't bother coming over to say goodbye. I got a text message yesterday that they decided to get a jump on their trip and head out a couple of days early. I imagine they already know that Bella left me, so they left bad enough alone.

I'll see them in two weeks in Okinawa anyway.

Things have been quiet where Riley's concerned and again, I'm an epic asshole. I know I should be over there every day after work, but I can't seem to move from the couch when I come home. I put in my time in the office and barely make it through the door before throwing myself on the sofa and mindlessly flipping through the channels.

Somewhere between Friday night reruns of King of Queens, a pounding at my front door has me leaping to my feet.

I yank it open to find Riley looking worn out, and rightfully so. He barely acknowledges me, simply pushing past me in the doorway. I close the hatch behind him and fall back on the couch, assuming he'll say something when he's ready.

I hear cabinets opening and closing in the kitchen before he comes back out to the living room with two Old Fashioned glasses and a bottle of Patron. I cock one eyebrow and mute the television when he sits.

"Something on your mind, Ri?" I figure I'll take the bait.

He glances at me briefly before directing his attention back to the bottle. Pouring at least three shots worth into both glasses, he slides one across the coffee table for me. He chugs two thirds of his tequila, then reclines back on the other couch watching me watch him.

I do a shot and wait for him to speak.

"Somethin'on my mind? Yeah...yeah, you could say that."

"Okaaaaay." It's going to be one of those chats. "Where's Kalia?"

"Her best friend's mother and I convinced her that she deserved to attend a friend's birthday sleepover tonight. I just dropped her off about a half hour ago."

My heart constricts in agony thinking about Kalia. And like the shit I am, I've been unavailable to her, too.

"How's she coping?"

He finishes his drink and starts to pour another. "She's devastated. We try to get through each day minute by minute…can't even stretch it to an hour yet."

He throws another gulp down his gullet. I take a sip of mine as well.

"And how are you?"

He levels me with a challenging glare. "You ready to do this?"

"Do what?"

"That's fine, Edward. You play dumb here. But you and I both know what I'm about to say to you. I'll gladly say it out loud even though I KNOW you know what's about to go down here."

He slams his glass on the table, and some liquid spills over the edge.

"Nalani's gone. It took me over two years to realize it, but she was the love of my life and she's fucking gone. I have her ashes sitting on my nightstand." He points off in the direction of his townhouse.

"Riley, I—"

"No! You're gonna listen to this shit or I'm gonna fucking knock you around until I have your attention. You! Let! Bella! Leave! You fucking let Bella WALK OUT YOUR GODDAMN DOOR because you're feeling sorry for yourself and you're scared."

I take a deep breath and a swig of my tequila.

"You love her. You love her, and you still let her walk away. Why? After all you've been through, WHY would you do that?"

My anger rises. "It's because of what I've been through that I let her walk away! Maybe she knows better! She deserves to protect herself!" My emotions shift from defending Bella to questioning her authenticity. "She knew I was a lost cause. That's probably why she never fuckin' invited me to meet her family, ohhh no!" I take another gulp, getting more pissed by the second. "I was the dick who put himself out there for her, and she just stayed quiet. Every time I told her I was willing to work on things, willing to make more of a commitment, aim toward the future…she stayed suspiciously silent."

He huffs, shaking his head at me.

"I fucking invited her home to California, Riley! When have I EVER done that? Has my mother EVER met a girl I've been involved with?" I'm so mad I can feel the tears stinging at the corners of my eyes. "I let her in! I let her into my life and into my heart and she shredded it! She hung out with me for a while, got her rocks off and jetted when things got a little sticky!"

I fold myself over and bury my head between my knees, letting out a roar.

"Do you have any idea what it's like to put yourself out there like that?" I scream at him. "After everything I've gone through, do you have ANY clue what it's like to be left completely alone after pouring your fucking heart out to a girl only to have it thrown right back in your face with a big 'Fuck you'?"

"No," he says quietly. "No, I don't know what that's like Edward, but here's what I do know. I know what it's like to pledge my love to someone, have her reciprocate it, start to map out our life together only to WATCH HER DIE so that I'm left with NO chance of ever being near her again!"

He jumps up and whips his glass at the fireplace; the shards fly everywhere. He reels back around and starts screaming at me. "She's dead! Gone from me forever! If my head hadn't been shoved so far up my ass, I would've known two and a half years ago that she and I were meant to be together…but I took my sweet time because I was afraid of settling down. Fucking worrying that I wasn't enjoying everything life had to offer me."

Tears of frustration, anger, and heartache are spilling from his eyes. "Why did I wait so long? Why didn't I take advantage of every fucking day? I have a lifetime to regret my slow-ass decision in making things official with Nalani. I will never, ever get that time back and I will never, ever get another chance to hold her hand or kiss her goodnight, or even see her across a room flashing me that secret smile she saved only for me.

"Those opportunities are gone forever! But you," he growls, pointing at my chest, "your chances are still there. You had her…you had Bella in your grasp and you let her walk away."

I scrub my hands over my face. "I'm sorry," I grumble, feeling like a complete heel for comparing Bella's exit to Nalani's death.

"You found love in an unlikely place and time…why the fuck aren't you holding onto it? I don't care if you're scared. I don't care that you've been hurt. What I do know is that you've never been as happy as you were for the last couple of months.

"Don't you think I'd do anything, ANYTHING to get more time with Nalani? I'm not going to stand here and listen to this shit from you. It doesn't matter that Bella left the island. You're a fucking Marine Corps officer who's ready to PCS, you have nothing but time on your hands. You need to get your act together and go find her. Talk to her…tell her you're terrified, tell her she hurt you, but at least give her all the facts, everything that's on your mind and in your heart. All you gave her was silence. I've been caught up in my own tragedy for the last week, but even I could see how you purposely ignored Bella as a way to avoid your own anxieties."

A raging headache comes on out of nowhere, and I rub my fingers at my temples in an effort to find relief.

"You owe me, Edward. Wait, fuck that, I'll do you one better…you owe Nalani."

I look at him like he's sprouting a horn from his forehead.

"We all sat there at dinner that night on Maui, and you listened to her tell you she's prayed for you every night since she met you. She prayed for you to find someone who'd be the perfect match for you. We all know you found her…Nalani knew it was Bella you'd been waiting for. After everything Nalani prayed for and wished for you…you owe her the effort of laying everything on the line with Bella. Even if things fall apart, there's no reason not to try. She's alive and she's out there somewhere. You might be mad, she might be mad…you might need time apart to figure all your shit out…but fuck, man…don't let this be the end."

Emotionally eviscerated, Riley collapses into a dining room chair and covers his head with his arms. While my head continues to pound, I wipe the tears from the corners of my eyes, making my way over to my friend who needs me. I put my hand on his shoulder and he grips it like he's holding on for dear life…which, presumably, he is.

It's time to man the fuck up. My shit aside, I owe him and Kalia my time, friendship and love because I've been unconscionably self-absorbed for the last week, hell, since the CACO call.

I don't know what the future holds for me or Bella or us as a couple, but I do know that I can be the best friend I want and need to be for Riley now. Once I'm back in California, I'll figure out the rest.

This can't be the end. This isn't the end…not by a long shot.

Military Terms:

FitReps- Fitness reports. Proficiency reports given to all Marines to evaluate every aspect of their performance, both physical and on the job within their MOS. Every Marine, no matter the rank, receives FitReps by their commanding officer. These also weigh heavily when it comes time for promotions in the ranks.

TMO- Traffic Management Office. Office that coordinates a Marine's move to a new station. For overseas moves, they pack up your house into three categories: long-term storage, household goods and express shipment. When you go from the states to Europe or Asia, your space significantly decreases, so you make decisions on what you can live without for three years and put them in storage (eg- car, furniture sets {because many places are furnished for you}). Household goods shipment often takes several weeks to arrive overseas. (eg- pots, pans, out-of-season clothes, things you don't NEED every day) The express shipment will arrive when you arrive at your new duty station. These are your everyday necessities. (eg- sheets, clothes, towels, a pot, a pan, etc.)

"one August"- Marine Corps-speak for August 1st.

A/N: Yep, she New Mooned him. Aside from the picture I wanted to paint for you in the prologue, it was this chapter and break-up scene I had most-rehearsed in my head. #evilangstyYummy. Anyway...I'll ask you to kindly stow your tomatoes and rotten eggs, and don't hurl them at me just yet. Clearly Edward ended this chapter as a man-ready-for-a-mission. *winks* Trust in Yummy...good things are on the horizon.

Much love and thanks to LaMomo, Cejsmom, Born and Jules. Their input is invaluable. And to my Major, who corrected my scene in Colonel Cullen's office, because "No, Jen, Marines don't salute inside of a building because they're not wearing their covers." Sigh...it's the little details that he remembers. He rocks my world.

Love and thanks to all my wonderful readers and those who take the time to leave me their thoughts. I so appreciate it. Again, I apologize for the lack of review replies. It's been so difficult vacationing, taking care of my three little ones and writing all at the same time. Life will be more normal once I'm back in GA. Less than two weeks till that happens.

For those of you who donated to the Fandom 4 Oklahoma fundraiser, I hope you enjoyed the Riley POV outtake. For those of you who didn't get the chance to donate, the chapter will post here on September 1st. Would love to hear your thoughts on that outtake either via PM here or on FB if we're friends there!

Off to do some more writing!

xo, Jen