Chapter Three – Home Welcoming

After ten years together, eight of which we had been married, you would think that by now, we would have no problem thinking of things to say to the other. However, here we both were, our mouths opening and closing, but not a word was spoken to each other after our initial hellos.

I let my eyes roam over her face for a second. She was still as beautiful as the first day I saw her, standing at the office admin desk at school. But the dark circles under her eyes let me know how tired she looked. Reminding me of why Bella was starting to hate this life.

Bella's eyes did the same as mine, roaming over my face and body, looking for wounds or anything that wasn't there before I left. This had become a habit of hers over the years. She would look for any kind of change in me, that had occurred while I was away on duty.

My finger came up to trace the dark outline under her eyes.

"You look tired, Love" I said, sliding her body closer to mine.

"The kids haven't been sleeping well lately and I've been doing more hours at the library" she replied, while burying her face into my shoulder.

Bella worked part time at the on base library. A couple of years ago, Bella had noticed a vacancy on the library window and had come home all excited about it. I hadn't wanted her to work. It might be old fashioned of me and maybe a little bit selfish, but I had hoped she would stay home and take care of the kids and me, just like my mother did. I knew of her dream to be a teacher, but I had hoped once we had kids her dreams would change. I had mentioned to her my hopes of her staying at home, but she said that she was going to do it whether I wanted her to or not. That she too deserved to have something that was just hers and not about the kids and me.

In some ways I could understood her wanting something for herself, but at the same time I wanted her home. The kids and I needed her. But as much as Bella was a giving person, she was a stubborn one too. And it was hard to argue with her, when in a couple of months I was deploying. I really couldn't do anything about it while I was going to be a thousand miles away.

"Why haven't the kids been sleeping? Is something wrong?" I asked her, starting to panic. I may not be around much for the kids, but I still loved them and wanted them happy and safe.

"No, It's nothing like that. Anthony and the twins have been sick with the flu and have been up most nights throwing up and Billie has been having nightmares lately" Bella explained to me, and my heart ached at the thought the my children were sick and scared and I wasn't there to do anything about it.

"Nightmares? What about?", Billie was an easy going kid and most things tended to roll right off her back.

" Some kid from her school, his father was killed in Iraq and now she's scared that the same thing is going to happen to you" Bella looked away while telling me this. I didn't understand why she looked away. " You may need to have a talk with her about it"

"You didn't say anything to her?" I didn't understand why Bella wouldn't have reassured her that Daddy would be coming home, no matter what.

"I did to a certain extent, but there's only so much I can say, I think she needs to hear it from you" Irritation laced Bella's voice. I knew why, but I wanted things to be nice for a little while before things went back to the way they were. I was only on a short two week R and R, I would be returning back to duty after that. And I knew that was not going to go down well with Bella.

"I'll speak with her about it in the morning, but until then I want to spend some worry free time with my wife" I promised her, while rolling over so that I was resting on top of her. Bella tried to push me away and she opened her mouth to say something, and I knew exactly what she was going to say. But now was not the time for it. I had been away for a long time and right now I needed my wife. I brought my fingers up and placed them over her lips.

"Shh, Love. Not now, there will be plenty of time in the morning for talking. Right now I just want to feel you" I said with authority, while staring into her depth less eyes.

And I spent the rest of the night showing her that I had indeed missed her.

That I had missed her mind, her voice, her body and her heart. But I new that this peace wouldn't last once morning came. She would want to talk and things for me hadn't changed. So I spent what time I had, being with her. And prayed that the morning wouldn't bring the fight that I knew was coming.

Hi guys, I'm hoping you guys are liking the story so far. I know these first couple of chapters have been really in depth, but I had to set up the background of the story. I'm a big fan of Army Wives and this is where this story has come from. It's been an idea that's been floating around in my head. I noticed that there weren't really many stories about Edward in the army and I thought I'd write my own. This is one of the many ideas that are in my head. But I really only want to write one story at a time, so I can put everything into it, without being distracted.

Now I have some ideas how I want this story to go, but really I'm writing it as it comes to me. And since I'm a team person I would love for you guys to give me your opinions on what you would like to see happen and I may add your ideas in to the story. I really want you guys to feel that this is your story, as much as it is mine.

But for me to do that I'm going to need some more reviews. The more reviews I get, the more inspiration I get to write. And if I've got inspiration than the faster my updates will come.

So let me see some love!