Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Twilight. Stephenie Meyer does and she is oh so very awesome for letting me play with them. Thank you.

Assignments

"Knock Knock, anyone home in here?"

"OH, hey Jasper…what's up man?"

"Oh the usual, did you hear…we are pulling out of the war?"

"So, what does that mean for us?"

"It means that we get to help bring troops home I guess, I don't know we should find out our assignments soon."

"Oh well, I guess that's cool. Alice will be happy to hear that."

"Will she? Speaking of your sister Alice, is she coming today for the family visits?"

"Yes, I am supposed to be meeting up with her in a few minutes, why?"

"I thought I might tag along, meet her and hang out with you guys."

"Isn't your family coming to see you?"

"Yea right, like they would give a shit man."

I shrugged my shoulders at Jasper and stood up taking a long drawn out stretch before being smacked in the stomach with a pillow by Jasper. I didn't mind him coming to hang out with Alice and I, especially if his family didn't give a shit to come and see him when they had the chance. I just hoped that he didn't hit on my sister too hard, he was a good guy, but she had a way with being not so polite to guys when she met them…who knows maybe they'd hit it off.

A Private came to my room. Jasper had left the door wide open for anyone who wanted to walk by. He approached with light steps and handed papers over to Jasper and I, we didn't really speak to the guy, normally they carried bad news but these papers didn't seem that offensive. I glanced down at them and realized that this was my first assignment and I was to fly Dr. Cullen over hostile territory to pick up some troops and bring them back. It sounded pretty simple if you ask me. Jasper shrugged his shoulders and plopped down on the bed next to me.

"Finally we get to go do something. So when do you think they'll call the cease fire?"

"I have no idea how this stuff works man, I just do as I am told."

"Huh…I guess that's all we can do then."

He laid back with his arms folded behind his head on my bed and began whistling a tune that sent an eerie chill down my spine. It was the same tune that Bella had been whistling the night I met up with her for dinner. The only night I had her beauty in my presence. I stuffed the papers in my dresser drawer and walked towards the door, with a wave of my hand Jasper stood up to join me.

"So Jasper, you never told me you listened to classical music."

"I don't."

"But you were just humming Claire De Lune."

"Is that what that was? I thought I made it up, it just kind of came to me."

We had reached the outside doors so I pushed them open letting the warmth of the sunlight cascade over my face and blind me temporarily. We walked the long white side walk next to the perfectly manicured grass towards the quarters where visitors where allowed to sit and wait for us. Civilians were not fully allowed to all areas on base, especially when training was going on. Alice will probably be disappointed that she cannot see my room and redecorate.

"Hey boys, are you heading to meet your family?"

I smiled at Dr. Cullen as he met up with us on an adjoining side walk and began to keep a light paced walk along the side of Jasper and I. He was much like a father figure to me now; he had even been one of the main people that I would talk to when I was going through my hardest time due to losing my mother and father. His father was a very religious man leaving him also a very religious man, the things he knew would take any normal person centuries to learn. He sometimes spoke about revolution and wars like he himself had lived through them.

"Actually, Jasper and I are on our way to meet up with my sister Alice. Is your family visiting you today?"

"Yes, my two children and my wife."

"That's cool, what are their names again?"

"Rose and Emmett, they are adopted and my wife Esme."

He had a blinding white smile that sparkled in his eyes slightly reminding me of Bella yet again. I could not get her out of my mind, it had been two almost three months and I could still picture her long brown hair flowing around her naked body every time I closed my eyes. I couldn't wait to find her, and something told me deep in my gut that I would come across her again.

Jasper and Dr. Cullen had maintained a subtle friendly conversation about family the entire walk, once we reached the big metal double doors we parted ways but not before promising to meet his family, and for him to meet Alice. There was no doubt in my mind that she wouldn't almost immediately fall in love with Dr. Cullen, I do not think that there really is a woman on base who has proclaimed their undying love for him. Esme must feel like a lucky woman, but Alice wouldn't love him for those reasons. I had told her through our letters about how much Dr. Cullen had been a help to me while I am here and for that she seemed grateful to him in her letters. Though, I had never really relayed that message.

"Oh my god, there you are! What did they do to your hair? When's the last time you had it cut right? It looks like they butchered it when you first got here? Look at this mess; you have hair sticking out in every direction!"

"Alice, calm down, I have been sneaking around avoiding a haircut. So has Jasper…oh by the way…Alice this is Jasper Whitlock."

Alice stopped bouncing and peered around me to get a better look at Jasper who for some odd reason was standing shyly behind me. It was freakishly strange how calm she became just by seeing him. I would need to bring him around with me more often. Jasper stepped around me and shook Alice's hand, I felt really out of place as they stared at each other in what looked like amazement, was that how I looked when I first met Bella?

I rolled my eyes and took a seat on one of the military issued metal benches waiting for them to even notice I was still here. Jasper whispered something to Alice, she whispered something back and then giggled. I cleared my throat twice before I was even acknowledged. Alice took a seat next to me and Jasper immediately flanked to her side, I was going to need to have the brother to boyfriend talk with him soon…I could feel it coming and I guess it's better if I just get over with, even if they don't have anything official going on.

"Gah Edward, it feels like it's been forever!"

"I missed you too Alice."

"I would have brought you some things from the house but I didn't know if you could take anything with you."

"It's ok, how are things back at home?"

"Stressful, like I told you in the letter, we've lost the house but I was able to secure an apartment with some of the insurance money until I can find a job, the money your sending me really does help out a lot."

"I wish I could be there to take care of you."

"Oh don't worry about me, I am managing. I still haven't found anything out about that Bella chick for you."

"Who is Bella?"

Jasper turned his head sharply at me with a quizzical look in his eyes. I had not yet told him or Dr. Cullen about Bella and I had forgotten to tell Alice to keep her mouth shut on the topic around them, oh well what's done is done right?"

"Jasper, she is a girl I met before I came here…I have been looking for her."

"Oh, and you didn't tell me you guys lost your house…anything I can do to help out?"

Alice leaned a little closer to him and even I must admit that they would make an attractive couple, too bad I had a pretty strict friends don't date sisters policy. I guess it wouldn't hurt too much to let them flirt a little as long as he kept his hands to himself.

"All I need help with Jasper; is keeping my brother in line and making sure he comes home safe, although I am sure he'll survive this place."

She smiled at me and nudged my shoulder with her index finger, I smiled back at her and shook my head; she was something else. I watched as her gaze drifted over the tables and the plain white walls where 'Be all you can be' posters littered. The administrative people were not much for decorating, especially not to my little sisters standards.

"What are you looking for Alice?"

She looked at me and shrugged her shoulders before taking another look around the old building familiarizing herself with the area like she would be coming to see me here often. I didn't plan on being here very long, which brought my attention to the orders we had received this morning.

"Hey Alice, I finally got some orders. I cannot tell you the details, but I promise to write or call as soon as I get back."

"Why can't you tell me the details?"

"Because it's classified."

"But, I am your sister."

"The army doesn't care that you are my sister."

"That does not seem very fair, what if something happens?"

"Nothing will happen…it seems like a pretty simple mission."

"Nothing is simple when war is involved Edward."

"Jasper, help me out here? Tell her there is nothing to worry about."

Jasper turned his head in my direction and smirked, what was that about? He picked up one of Alice's hands in his and laid his southern accent on thick. Is he thinking that I gave him permission to touch my sister? I grumbled to myself as he promised Alice to take care of me and personally escort me back home when we got out of here, he just wanted to see her again. It had nothing to do with me making it home safe. I rolled my eyes and held back the urge to act childish and making gagging noises when she responded to him shamelessly flirting with her.

"Alice there is nothing to worry about. I promise to bring him back alive."

I stifled an argument over who would be bringing who back alive. I was faster than he was and I have proven to be smarter; he had tactics down and was able to manipulate a room with just blinking. I say, we'd keep each other alive, but no… to save face in front of my little sister he had to go and act all high and mighty. Jasper is lucky I think of him like a brother or we would have problems.

"Edward…Jasper; there you are! This is my family."

I turned my head around as Jasper and Alice looked from each other past me. I knew the voice; it was Carlisle and standing next to him was a tall statuesque blonde wearing a fierce scowl; this had to be Rosalie although I did picture her looking a little bit more pleasant but the apple obviously fell far from the tree.

Next to her with his arm wrapped around her waist stood a tall large man. He had dimples the size of craters and short curly brown hair. The entire family had those same golden looking eyes and pale skin, and being that Carlisle said he adopted I wondered how long it took him and his wife to find children with the same eyes.

"This is my wife Esme."

A woman with shoulder length red hair stepped out from behind the rest of the family, her smile was blinding as she extended her hand in greeting. I could see Alice's smile and Jasper slight nod of recognition from the corner of my eye as I took Esme's hand and shook it lightly. Her fingers were just as cold as Carlisle's and I knew she wasn't a doctor but a stay at home mother.

"Poor circulation?"

She quirked an eye brow as the big kid next to her shook with laughter that he was holding back. The girl I assume to be Rosalie slapped him in his stomach and the laughter stopped.

"No dear, I'm just naturally cold all of the time."

Now it was Jasper's turn to laugh on my behalf but I didn't care I was genuinely curious in anything that could or would remind me of Bella. The larger man leaned over and whispered into Rosalie's ear as she peered down at me and forced a fake smile. What was with this chick?

"I'm Alice, Edward's sister…it's nice to meet you."

Alice stood up with Jasper quick on her heels and moved in front of Carlisle extending her dainty little hand, I watched as Carlisle took in her tiny presence and shook her hand shortly before releasing it and pointing to the rest of his family.

"This is my adopted children, Rosalie and Emmett."

Emmett, the name fit the over grown grizzly bear well, he smiled at Jasper a very knowing yet playful smile before nodding his head politely. Rosalie didn't offer a comment until she noticed my sister's shoes. To which she only commented that she liked them under her breath.

"You two look awfully close for brother and sister."

I noticed it, but it took Jasper to point it out; and I'm almost positive with the way he was standing next to Alice that he wouldn't have said anything if Rosalie hadn't been looking at Alice the way she was.

"We're not blood related, and we are old enough to make our own decisions."

"So you two are a couple?"

Oh come on…Jasper just drop it. I sighed mentally and shook my head offering Carlisle the most polite frown I could at Jasper's behavior. Emmett shrugged his shoulders but I could see the smile that played at the corners of his mouth. He must have been through this line of questioning more than once because no one in the family seemed to be concerned or offended at Jasper's rude behavior. But then again, no one seemed apologetic for Rosalie's behavior, what kinds of people see this stuff as normal?

"Well, time's almost up…we really must be going…it was lovely to meet you Edward."

Esme gave a gentle wave of her hand as Carlisle wrapped his arm around her and the family left. Chit chatting time was just about over and after that awkward introduction I was kind of relieved. I waited for everyone to walk away and Jasper and Alice to sit back down to let my real mood show.

"Dude, what's wrong with you?"

"What are you talking about? Tell me that those two being brother and sister and lovey dovey wasn't weird man."

"I'm not saying it wasn't weird. I'm saying it's not our business to question Carlisle's family…that was rude man."

"That chick was a bitch dude."

"No shit? Well you were being an ass."

Jasper rolled his eyes and tucked a stray strand of his blonde hair behind his ear. Alice sat quietly staring off into space before she turned and looked at me with a smile on her face.

"Oh leave him alone Edward; we'll get along better someday."

There she goes again with that cryptic 'I know the future' crap. Now all I needed was too find out that vampires and werewolves existed and my strange life would be complete.

"How much visiting time do we have left?"

"Not long Alice, they'll be ringing the bell soon and we'll be taking off. I'll call you when we get back to the states."

"It's going to change you."

"What's going to change me being stuck with Jasper on a long ass flight or apologizing to Carlisle the whole way for Jasper's behavior? I never really took up groveling as a profession."

"No Edward, shut up. Going over there, something's going to change you."

"Alice, nothing is going to happen…we'll be fine and home safe. I promise I will call you."

"You always just push me aside Edward and I don't like it."

"I'm not brushing you off Alice, I will call you I promise, and could you keep looking for Bella?"

"Sure whatever."

"I love you little sister."

"You're not that much older than me Edward."

The bell rang sounding the ending of our time to visit and the beginning of our first mission. I stood up and pulled Alice into a tight hug before setting her down on her feet and turning to leave. I said good bye, but I wasn't planning on sticking around to see Jasper in his last moments of ogling my sister. That was not going to help me gather my focus and get my head in the game.