A/N: Hi! So in short, I'm blown away by the warm welcome from all of you. It's really good to be back.

Please note that the story is going to be told in alternating chapter names will let you know whose POV you're reading.

A quick shoutout to my muse (you know who you are) who inspired me to write this story. You, my dear sweet friend, mean the world to me.

Also, I'd like to thank my lovely friend and beta extraordinaire, Ashmerlin. A, it's a joy to work with you, girl. I love you.

Shall we move on with our tale? ;)

Chapter-2: BPOV

"Rose," I call out as I grab my trusty brown paper lunch bag. "Wanna take your break with me?"

Rose looks up at me from the stack of assignments she's been grading and grins. "Edward and Emmett said they'd come over to have lunch with me," she says. "If you don't mind waiting for a little bit, I think we can all have lunch together?"

I look to my wristwatch and suppress a sigh. Pasting a smile on my face, I say, "I have a class in twenty minutes. So I'll let you have some family time today."

She opens her mouth, looking like she wants to say something but then nods. "Thanks, Bell."

Taking my lunch, I walk out to the empty playground to enjoy my lunch in silence.

That's when I see him; standing a few feet away from the bleachers, he looks up at the behemoth school building.

I take my time appreciating his form. From his tall, muscular frame to the short cropped hair and eyes I know to be the most vibrant of greens. To any girl, Edward Cullen must be what wet dreams are made of. To me, he looks like someone I could never have.

Shaking off the wistfulness, I stroll up to him and then remark quietly, "If anyone saw you looking at a building like this, they'd think you were casing the joint."

A soft chuckle escapes him as he turns his head to look at me, piercing me with those eyes I dreamed of the night before. "I'd have you know, Ms. Swan, I'm a respectable Army Sergeant."

"Oh! So you're a soldier," I act all surprised before quipping, "And here I thought you were a sailor man."

His eyebrows pulls together in confusion for just a moment before it seems to dawn on him. "Haha. Very funny, Ms. Swan," he says, his eyes dancing with a mirth I haven't felt in some time. "Guess I owe my sister a noogie for that one."

I seem to ponder on it for a second before shaking my head. "Nah. As enticing as the sight of Rose getting a noogie sounds, let's not poke the slumbering dragon in the eye."

He chuckles at my words. With a nod, he concedes. "I'll let it go this time then … since you asked so nicely."

I open my lunch bag and offer him the extra sandwich I brought in case Rose forgot to bring her lunch—which happens on a semi regular basis. He takes it gratefully, and together, we head over the bleachers to take a seat.

Sitting side by side, I let my eyes take in the unusually sunny day we're having for Washington weather. Edward bumps my shoulder with his, making me look at him. "I'm sorry," I apologize for getting lost in my own head.

He shakes his head, letting me know that it's perfectly okay to do so. "So what do you teach?"

"Chemistry, but I also fill in for the Biology teacher from time to time."

"Figures," he murmurs softly, making me frown.

Was he questioning my ability to teach both subjects because I'm a woman?

"Excuse me?" I can't hide the sharpness from my tone.

He looks startled that I heard his barely audible words, and then looks embarrassed. "I meant that with your sense of humor it's not a surprise that you're a genius who is a maestro in the sciences."

There's a hint of wistfulness in his voice that I can't really place, and then I look at the time.

"Thanks, I think," I say to him. "I have to dash though. I've got a class in a few minutes."

He takes the wrappers from our meal and promises to drop them in the recycle bin. He stands up and holds his hand out to me. "Thanks for the meal, Ms. Swan," he says sweetly. "I thought I'd perish waiting for my sister and brother-in-law to get here. You practically saved me from starvation."

I can't help but laugh at his exaggeration. "You're welcome, Soldier Man. Thank you for keeping me company. As your reward, you get to call me Bella … if we meet again."

As I'm turning to go back in, I hear him say softly, "You're welcome, Bella. I think we'll definitely meet again."

A/N: So … that's your second day of Christmas, ladies and gentlemen.

I'd love to hear your thoughts. So share them with me and leave a review?

Thanks for reading.

See you tomorrow.

Love,

Ann