Disclaimer: Anything to do with Twilight is the sole possession of Stephenie Meyer..No copyright infringement intended.

AN: I am overwhelmed the number of reviews and support I am getting from this story. Your comments have touched me. I have family serving and I just felt that this would be a good story to tell. Please keep your reviews coming.

On a different note, this story will be jumping through time a little bit every chapter now. One letter takes almost three weeks to get to the soldiers. I prefer to send care packages as they only take 10 days.

Now on with the show...

To say she was surprised at the response from her classes regarding their new assignments would have been an understatement. She had never seen her students so excited. Once she explained what was expected they all began writing. Every class the same enthusiasm. Every student writing away. She should have started this project earlier. By Wednesday she had copies of all the letters to grade and the originals were sealed in envelopes waiting to be mailed.

On Friday morning, Bella used her free period to go down to the post office and mail all the letters. On the recommendation of the post master she put them all in a box with her letter on top. Once she filled out the required custom forms and paid, she drove back to the school, satisfied that she was doing a great thing.

Once back in her class she graded a lot of the 'letters' and put notes in the margins. She wasn't reading them for content specifically, but if she did find any inappropriate material she was highlighting it and writing a 'See Me' on the paper. She had only come across that in a couple of letters. When she was satisfied that all were graded she put them in her bag and continued her classes.

The mail ship crossed the ocean slowly. A box full of letters from high school students making its way to Company # 106, posted just outside of Kabul. Stationed there was First Sergeant Edward Cullen. He was out on maneuvers having no clue that words from a stranger were on their way to him. His only focus now was keeping the eyes of his men open and alert.

"Eyes on the horizon, men. Keep in mind that these bastards hide well."

"Yes First Sgt." Their voices echoed.

He had two years left on this tour and then he hoped to take a nice cushy desk job. His brother had gone back home and according to his last call had met the perfect woman. Edward only hoped he lived long enough to be that lucky.

As they finished their rounds, Edward made one last sweep and came across a person sitting in the sand. "Eyes up!" He shouted to his crew.

The persons' head popped up and Edward notice that he was a pale white man, about his age. He noticed also the blood soaked rag wrapped around his shoulder. "Medic!" He called. Edward knelt down by the man and lifted his canteen to his mouth. "Slow sips. That's it. You got a name soldier?"

The man licked his dry lips and hoarsely stated, "Corporal Jasper Swan, sir."

Edward had unknowingly found Bella's missing brother. The medic came over an assessed Cpl. Swans injury. "He'll be fine, sir. We need to get him back to camp. He needs fluids."

"Load him up boys." They loaded him onto a stretcher and jumped in their Humvee and took off toward base camp. Once the medical personnel had taken over the Corporal's care, Edward reported to the Captain.

Renee Dwyer was sitting in her living room in Florida when her husband, Phil walked in with a telegram. He handed it to his wife and watched as she read it. She fell to her knees thanking God that her son was safe, before getting up to phone Charlie. Phil picked up the telegram from the floor and read it.

Mom. stop.

I'm fine. stop.

Will contact you soon. stop.

Please tell Bells. stop.

Jasper.

Phil let out his own sigh of relief before he joined his wife on the couch. "Charlie, I just got a telegram from Jasper. It says he is fine. Can you please call Bella and tell her? Thanks." She disconnected the call and turned to her husband. "I had to leave a message." She laid her head on Phil's shoulder and cried in relief.

Bella had barely walked in the door from school when her phone started ringing. She rushed to answer it. "Hello." She said breathlessly.

"Bella?"

"Dad? What's wrong?" Bella panicked.

"Nothing Bells. Your Mom called. She got a telegram from your brother. He's fine."

Bella sagged against the wall in relief. "Oh, thank God! When did she find out?"

"She must have got it today. I had the message waiting for me when I got home." Charlie was just as relieved as his daughter.

"Thanks for calling Dad."

"You're welcome baby." She hung up the phone and walked to the living room. She sank onto her couch and prayed that whomever had found her brother knew how grateful she was.

Emmett Cullen had just sat down to dinner when his phone rang. "Dammit." He got up from the table and retrieved his phone. "Sgt. Cullen." He barked.

Laughter greeted him. "Well what has your panties in a twist little brother?"

"Well, First Sgt. I just sat down to dinner. What can I help you with?"

Edward smiled on his end. "Do I have to need something to call my favorite brother?"

"Ahh, but I am your only brother. How the hell are you Edward?"

"I'm fine Em. How are the 'rents?"

"They're good. Dad has decided to retire. Mom is thrilled. She is planning a long vacation."

Edward decided to ask Emmett about the letter that he had received. "So, bro. My company received this box of letters from a high school in San Bernardino. I had a letter addressed to my rank, saying that you had given the teacher our specific address. What do you have to say about that?"

"You should see the teacher. If I didn't have my Rosie, I would totally tap that. Makes me wish I was back in high school. Why? You don't have to write back. I think she even told you that."

Edward sighed. "I do have to write her Em. I found her brother. I would feel bad if I didn't at least write her and tell her about it."

"Edward, I think she knows by now that he is okay. I'm sure he would have gotten word to his family by now." Emmett hadn't talked to Bella for a couple of weeks, so he wasn't sure if she knew Jasper was okay or not.

Edward wanted to tell Emmett that he wanted to write to her. He wanted to have contact with someone other than family. He wanted to be able to tell someone his dreams and fears. Perhaps this Isabella Swan was his saving grace. Be an ocean away from everything and everyone that means something to you can be depressing and that is trouble. If you get to down, you lose your focus. When you lose your focus, you lose your life.

"I think I'll write to her anyway. If nothing else than to have a new friend."

Emmett smiled. This is what he had hoped for. "Do what you gotta do, bro. Talk to you soon. Love ya, man."

"You too, bro. You too."

Bella was decorating the outside and inside of her house preparing for Halloween when the postman stopped at her box. She immediately went and got her mail. For a month she had been checking to see if perhaps the soldier had written her back. And she never received anything. Until today. She flipped through bills and junk mail until she came across an elegant script that she didn't recognize. She tore into the letter and soaked up every word. She cried when she realized that this was the man who had rescued her brother. She was finally able to calm down enough that she sat down and read the letter again. Slower, so as not to miss a word.

Dear Isabella,

Thank you so much for your letter. To often people at home don't take the time to acknowledge us since we are a world away. They watch the news and eat their dinners and then turn off the TV. Reality can sometimes be too harsh.

I did as you asked and made sure that those men in my company that generally don't receive mail got your students' letters first. It was amusing to see the reactions of some of them when they realized that they were from high school kids. They showed me some of the writings and if I may say so, you must be an excellent teacher. The letters were so eloquent and well written. I never knew that teenagers had the potential to write like that. Although it makes sense since it is advanced English.

So.. A little about me. I am 29, one of the youngest First Sergeant's that I know. I have green eyes and bronze hair. I say bronze because it isn't red and it isn't brown, so bronze describes it best. I am about six-foot-two (so way taller than you, LOL!) I also have a potty mouth although that shouldn't be a surprise as most of us do out here. I am not really a football fan, but give me basketball and I am Celtics all the way. (Do you know how the fared this past season?)

You asked me if I knew Sgt. Emmett Cullen? Asa matter of fact he is my brother. I called him and gave him hell for giving you our address. No offense to you or your students but I am sure he has an ulterior motive. He is happy with his girlfriend and I think he is hoping that maybe strangers will find a connection in letters. Strange, huh?

You also asked me about Cpl. Jasper Swan. I do know him. I am, well my crew, well, we found him. I am not sure what you have been told and I don't know what is classified information so all I will say is that he is fine and he is currently in my camp. I will make sure that he writes to you and tells you all about it. Anyway..Thanks again for your letter. I hope that you will write again as I would love to hear more about you . Until then..Keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

Sincerely,

Edward Cullen, 1SG.

Before she could change her mind, Bella got up and went to her laptop and composed another letter. She was definitely going to give Emmett a piece of her mind about his brother. Once her letter was written and printed she immediately sealed it in an envelope and rushed it out to her mail box.

Across the ocean a man dreamed of a brunette whose face he had never seen.

AN: Thank you again for the response to this story. It is incredibly encouraging. I may have another update up today. Depends on if my kids take a nap..Here's hoping..Til next time.