Emmett's POV

France

June 30th, 1935


I was sitting on the ground in my cabin with five cards in my hand facing me. Four soldiers and I were playing poker with the coins we found on the ground as chips. Jasper was having his rendezvous with Alice, which I told him hours ago to meet her at the postal office (the usual spot). These meetings at the postal office grew more frequent due to the growing love they felt for each other. Well that's what I translated from the actions he showed me. Jasper once told me that he wanted to propose to her but felt cowardly to her response because of her father. It made me think of Rosalie and how close we were to be married but her parents didn't want to bail out of the business the Kings and her parents composed.

Edward was sent to the hospital in England, his hometown, to have doctors that were familiar with him check his foot. Commander Brandon felt generous and decided to let Edward visit his family for a week before he had to return back to France. I told him that if he ever found Rosalie, I wanted him to tell her that I loved her. I didn't know if I would ever have the chance to tell in her person before my time was up.

Puffs of smoke kept hitting my face from the man next to me, smoking his cigarette like there wasn't a care in the world. I said I was out because I had nothing in my deck and I didn't want to bet all my coins on a play that didn't exist. Two minutes later, a soldier won the game with a full house, grabbing the money with a smirk on his face. I groaned, placing cards down in frustration for loosing a game at poker. I lost the ability to see the one I loved, fight in an non-existing war, and now I loose a game of poker. What am I going to do?

We all got up, not wanting to play another round as we gathered our stuff to get to our bunks. I walked to my bunk as I sat down to my bottom bunk, not fatigue like the other soldiers were usually feeling. I picked up the picture Rosalie sent me of herself months ago, observing every detail like I usually did. The picture was black and white, showing where the obvious shadows were and where the light was hitting. Her eyes were solid black with her skin looking slightly grayish that somewhat blended with her dress. Her facial expression was serious, not seeing a hint a happiness I longed to see. Her hair was tied into a bun, hidden in her hat but a little curl was able to escape as it hung down next to the side of her forehead.

Jasper came into the room, swinging the door behind him to close it. He walked towards us with a wide grin that I couldn't help it but to chuckle. I remembered the time where I couldn't stop grinning. It was with Rosalie the first time we made love after she left the room, thinking that I was the luckiest man alive. Rosalie, I thought, frowning that I have four months left before I was able to see her again. God I missed her more than anything.

Jasper smiled as he parked his stuff on the bunk across from mine. "Well I had a good day."

"I could tell."

He continued to grin despite my response. "It's amazing that her father hasn't found out yet."

"He will though," I remarked, sorting items on my bed. "You can hide something like that forever."

"You're in the same situation as I am," he pointed out, trying to argue with me. "But Royce hasn't found out yet so what makes you think her father will find out about Alice and me?"

As much as I wanted to tell him he was wrong, I couldn't argue with him. Rosalie and I couldn't hide our affair forever from Royce or her family. It was amazing though that the secret still hasn't been revealed to hurt the ones we love.

Jasper somehow caught my expression by giving me a frown. "How's Rosalie, Emmett?"

"She says she's doing well. She's volunteering at the hospital as a nurse to occupy her time," I explained to his as casual as I possibly could without bursting into a deep sigh.

"Do you think Rosalie will ever divorce that man?" He asked me. That's something I haven't thought of.

I shrugged. "I'm hoping but it's unlikely because the Hales and the Kings are extremely successful no thanks to the marriage bond."

"Well it's probably the parents idea to have the successful companies be aligned. But you're still lucky, despite the forced marriage, to be alive from the boulders. I say that was a close call."

I looked at my diagonal cut that was covered with dry blood slide down my forearm. "Yeah, a close call."

"You saved Edward and I bet he will never forget about it."


Flashback: Early Afternoon

The soldiers and I were carrying yards length stack of wood to help build a hospital for the war we were about to have (or predict we will have). General Marcus was holding his clipboard, tallying the amount of wood we each carried with Commander Brandon next to him, inspecting our abilities.

"Time to impress the commander," I whispered in Jasper's ear, carrying a stack that contained ten flat sticks of wood. "Show him that you're worthy to take his daughter."

He hushed me, searching around him paranoid. "You know that he's not deaf? He's known for his ears."

We continued to carry the wood to the stack of pile miles away from us. I felt my biceps really doing its work, making it easier for me to have the endurance. I saw from Jasper's face that he was suffering but I couldn't offer to carry his wood or else he would get beaten. General Marcus's code of conduct states that it's every man for himself. I saw that he was about to fall down, faint from the dehydration that the sun caused.

Ignoring General Marcus' code, I walked slowly next to Jasper so I wouldn't be alone. "Do you want to slide a wood on top of mine?"

He widened his eyes. "Are you mad? Do you really want to die?"

"Everyone dies sometime in his or her life."

"I think you should help Edward. He looks like he's suffering," Jasper pointed out, panting. "More than I am, at least."

I looked behind me to see that Jasper was right. Edward looked like he was about to collapse with the amount of wood he was carrying, squatting down to maintain his balance. His eyes looked drowsy, looking like he was fighting with himself or debating either to quit or keep going.

I dropped my stack of wood, running towards him. I ran past other suffering men that were groaning, hoping that I would save Edward before it was too late. I also hoped that Commander Brandon and General Marcus wouldn't be able to see me. Some confusion of my actions were revealed by the questioning looks went onto their faces. No one would expect me to die for another man because the rate of my surviving was low.

I finally made my way to Edward seeing that he was behind the crowd of people. "Edward!"

He looked up at me, panting as he was making his way towards me. "Tell—tell Bella I love her."

"Edward, you're not going to die. Give me the stack of wood."

He pulled off the same look Jasper gave me. "Emmett you can't be serious."

"But I am. Give me the stack," I repeated to him.

"You're going to die if I do," he pointed out. "I can't have you die for me."

I lifted the stack off Edward's arms. "I don't give a damn anymore. Hide in the crowd with the others so the general doesn't see you."

Edward obeyed, running as fast as he could while I continued to walk with the stack of wood that almost seemed effortless. I jogged with the stack of wood towards the crowd to retrieve my other stack of wood. Men were continuing to pant and groan with their stack when I ran through them, seeing Edward slightly relieved about not carrying the wood.

I found my stack on the dirt path next to Jasper as he was waiting for me. I lifted up the stack, feeling effort coming out of carrying twenty flat sticks of wood. We continued to walk; having a pant escape my lips but ignore my desire for a break.

A rumble echoed through the mountains, making everyone pause. I searched around me, seeing if there was any evidence to the thunderous noise, but there wasn't anything. I heard a man scream behind me, immediately turning around to see what happened. A boulder was rolling away, seeing the man flat on his back dead. Where did the boulder come from?

Suddenly two boulders were rolling down towards us as men dropped the sticks of wood to run for their lives. I dropped mine too, standing still in shock over what happened. Was this the end for me? Was this meant to be?

"Jasper, keep running with the others! I'll meet you by the cabins!" I ordered and without arguing back, he quickly obeyed by running with the other men. I knew that I had to find Edward for Bella or else she would be in mourning and I didn't want Rosalie to think I was dead as well. I ran away from where I was, looking for him to make sure that he wasn't dead yet. Boulders continued to roll past me, quickening my heartbeat to know that I could have possibly be the man dead on the ground.

I found Edward being stuck with thirty sticks of wood being caught on his feet. "Oh shit," I muttered, running towards him to help him. I knelt down next to him, pulling the wood off him as fast as I could. Edward was groaning in pain, gasping for breath but he was inhaling the dirt he was lying on his back.

I saw that a boulder was coming our way, rolling faster than I would ever imagine. I slid the wood off his feet faster, throwing Edward away from the boulder. I leaped up but the boulder still hit me but not enough for me to collapse to the boulder's will. I landed next to Edward, seeing my arm gushing blood.

I got up, groaning about my wounded arm. Edward was still alive, slowly standing up with his legs shaking rapidly. We walked slowly with Edward limping and I was slouching, burying my arm in my jacket.

"You saved my life," he panted, trying his hardest to keep walking.

"You would have done the same for me," I pointed out in a pant. "Don't worry about it right now."

He exhaled. "I think my foot is broken."

"That wouldn't be the worst thing," I reminded him. "At least you weren't that man who was squished by the boulder."

He nodded. "Yeah, luckily."

Flashback ended


I sat up in my bed grabbing my paper and pen. Even though I wrote to Rosalie earlier today, I felt lucky to be alive and survive from the attack. I glanced at my scar, debating whether or not to mention it to her. She'll find out about it, I thought, closing my eyes in reluctance.

My precious Rosalie,

A lot has happened to me today that made me more attentive than ever. I almost died today saving Edward's life from the boulders that were rolling swiftly down the hills. I haven't entirely figured out if that was set up for us by the commanders or it was an accident, but that doesn't matter now. Edward had been sent to England to have the doctors look at his foot. You'll probably be able to see him there and when you do, make sure that he and Bella would be able to be together.

I have a scar from the boulder, but I assure you it's nothing too serious. I'm happy for you to be volunteering at the hospital to help others, especially the wounded soldiers.

Please take care of yourself at the hospital. It's a good deed to help others from a certain death but you may never know what is contagious that might put you in risk. Just remember I'll be here soon.

Take care,

Emmett


A/N: Here's the last chapter in 2010! WOOT! Happy New Year's Eve!

I hope you enjoyed it! I would love to hear from you :-)

MS~