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SORRY IT TOOK SO LONG , New Year and snow got in the way. I hope you all had a great Holiday and New Year.

So this is the longest chapter and I really don't like it but I promised I would get something out on Sunday and this was the best I could do. I hope you don't all hate it.

Thank you thank you thank you to all of you who have added this story to your favourites, alerts and took the time to review. I WILL get back to all of you.

Sorry if there are mistakes, I did not have the chance to check it all. Enjoy!


Forever Bound

Chapter Thirty Four – Run

Three days had passed since Edward had received that fateful letter and yet he had not said a word to anyone.

He had returned to Ali's party and tried to appear calm and collected. Although Bella had questioned Edward about the letter he had received, Edward simply passed it off as Jenkins sending his best wishes to the family on Alicia's first birthday. No one saw through his fake smiles or downtrodden mood.

The day after Alicia's birthday, Edward had jumped onto Theodore and raced towards Jenkins' house, and begged him to say that he had sent the letter to the wrong person, that the letter was wrong and there was no war at all. Jenkins had seen the anguish in his eyes but could do nothing to remove it, as he regretfully informed Edward that there had been no mistake. Edward had returned home slowly, his thoughts wondering to the way life would soon be changing in ways he wished it never would.

Yesterday had been the worst day, it was his twentieth birthday. Edward had been showered in gifts, love and smiles, yet he found it hard to return any of them. Little did they know that in less than a week their lives would be changing; Edward would not be able to see them each day, he would not be able to simply smile at them or talk about inconsequential events.

Looking into Bella's eyes that day, so full of life and happiness, caused Edward to hate himself. Yes he had willing signed up to serve as a medic if the country was ever to go to war but that was before he had Bella. Granted, he still planned to go to war to escape his marriage when he first discovered the betrothal, but since falling in love with Bella, Edward could not believe he had not withdrawn his offer.

He wanted to help people more than anything, to ease the suffering of one family and village if he could by allowing them to keep their town doctor in exchange for he himself going up to serve; but the thought of leaving Alicia and Bella made his blood turn cold.

Whenever Edward had attempted to broach the subject with Bella they were always interrupted; Alicia needing attention, family entering the house or striking up conversation and the fact that Edward could not muster up the courage needed to tell his beloved wife that he was throwing their close to perfect life up in the air.

Edward took a deep breath, causing the bed sheets that were resting on his chest to rise as he waited for Bella to join him. The moment she stepped out of the bathroom and smiled at him caused Edward's heart to speed up, as it always did whenever he was around her. Bella's beauty shone from the inside out; causing everything she touched and looked at to become beautiful.

As she slid into the bed beside him and wrapped herself up in his arms, Edward felt something bubble at the bottom of his stomach and it was not a pleasant sensation; it was the sensation of guilt. He had to tell her and he had to tell her now.

Bella could clearly feel his tension as she turned her head to face him, a worried look placed on her face, "Edward, what is the matter?"

"I have something to tell you," Edward whispered, not too sure how to approach the subject matter.

Bella turned in his arms until they were face to face, the worry and mild panic clear in her expressive eyes.

"Is it bad?" she asked nervously. Edward simply nodded. "Oh God Edward, please do not tell me you are leaving me, that you do not love Alicia and I anymore. Please!" Bella instantly began to sob and buried her head into Edward's chest, as he pulled her as close to him as humanly possible, kissing the top of her head in an attempt to calm her.

"Shh Bella my love. Of course I still love you and Alicia, how absurd of you to believe anything different after the hundreds of times I have told you how much you mean to me." Edward whispered into his wife's hair, noticing that Bella's sobs began to lessen at his words. It was now or never.

"However, due to events out of my control, I have to leave you and Alicia for a while," Edward stated quietly, hoping that easing Bella into the situation would make it easier for the both of them.

Bella pulled her head back and stared at him, her eyes still bloodshot, "Why do you have to leave us?"

"Because the war against Germany has begun." Edward explained slowly.

"But how does that affect you?"

"Do you remember what we spoke about during the first dance we ever had on our wedding day?" Bella nodded slowly, as she allowed the memory to fill her mind, "I told you that day that if a war were ever to occur then I would be sent to the country to help as an army medic." Edward whispered, hating himself more and more with every word he spoke.

Bella began to shake her head as she pulled away from Edward even more, "No. No. You cannot go Edward, you cannot! You said that day that you were only doing this so that a village did not lose a doctor and a family did not lose a husband or father, but you are all of those things! We need you here, the town needs you to be their doctor, I need you here to be my husband and Ali needs you here to be her Papa."

Edward tried to reach for Bella once more but she kept pushing herself out of his reach. "Bella please," Edward began to beg as he tried to hold the tears at bay, "please understand that I want nothing more than to stay here with you and Alicia but I volunteered and I have to go, they are not giving me any other choice."

"Why did you not go down and take yourself off the voluntary service list the moment Alicia was born?" Bella demand, pulling herself out of bed as she wrapped her arms around her middle.

"I did not think about it. I know it was idiotic of me but I was too overjoyed with Alicia and yourself that it did not cross my mind. I am so sorry Bella." A sob escaped her lips. "I will not be gone for long, six to eight months at the most." Edward tried to shed some light on the situation as he untangled himself from the bed sheets and made his way over to his shaking wife.

"That is too long, it is too long," Bella kept repeating as she began to rock to and fro.

Edward pulled Bella into his arms and run his hand up and down her back. "I know, I know it is my love but there is nothing I can do about it. I would do anything to get out of it but I simply cannot. Six months is not too long," Edward attempted, "I have no doubt that you will be fine without me or six months, you are so strong Bella."

Bella began to beat his chest, tears streaming down her face, "You cannot leave me for six months, and you cannot leave Alicia for six months! By the time you return she will be walking and talking and you will miss it all. I need you Edward; I cannot be without you for six months."

"You do not need me. Remember how strong you were at the start of our marriage?" It was becoming extremely difficult to keep the tears at bay but Edward needed to be strong for the love of his life, "Simply act the way you did back then and you will be fine."

Bella looked Edward straight in the eye and although tears were still pouring uncontrollably from them, Edward had never seen such fury on his wife's face, "I will alwaysneed you Edward, especially now."

"What do you mean especially now?" Edward questioned, quite confused.

"Especially now that I am pregnant once more," Bella hissed and with that she yanked herself out of his arms one final time, running into the bathroom and locking the door before Edward had a chance to react.

Bella was pregnant once again? Bella was carrying their little child inside of her right now?

Edward knew they had been trying hard for a baby but right now the timing could not be any worse, but that did not mean in any shape or form that he did not already love the child his beloved held within her.

Edward made his way to the door that stood between him and Bella and knocked gently. There was no response. "Bella?" Edward called through the wood, no longer able to hold his tears at bay, "Bella please, please come out here." He pressed his ear to the door and heard sobbing come from the other side.

Sliding down the door until this bottom hit the floor; Edward buried his head in his arms, sobs now shaking his own body.

The husband and wife sat there with the door dividing them for countless minutes, as each of them tried to get themselves under control. Finally Edward managed it, "Bella please. Let me in. I am so sorry that I have to go and leave you at a time like this. It is not my choice, can you not understand that? I want nothing more than to stay here with you and Alicia while we watch our new child grow within you but I just cannot." Edward's voice broke on the last word as emotion overcame him once again.

There was no response. Edward began to silently curse within his head. He cursed the two countries for starting a war with one another, he cursed Mr Jenkins for encouraging him to sign up and for telling him there was nothing he could do to preceding the events that were about to occur but most of all he curse himself, for being stupid enough to forget what he had signed up to and for having not rectified the situation immediately after the moment he realised he was in love with Bella.

Slowly, the door behind Edward opened and he quickly stood up, taking in the sight of Bella. Her eyes were red and puffy, her cheeks were tearstained and her cheeks flushed pink. Although he was aware it was utterly the wrong time to be entertaining such thoughts, Edward could not help but admire the beauty that stood in front of him, upset or not.

Slowly, Edward opened his arms and Bella fell into them, sobbing once more as Edward encased her in his arms, never wanting to let her go. "I am so sorry Bella, I am so sorry," Edward sobbed burying his head in her hair, the tears pouring from his eyes causing it to dampen.

The pair of them fell to the floor, wrapped in each other's arms, sobbing at the loss they were about to suffer.

"W-when do you h-have to go?" Bella managed to get out in between breaths.

"Two days," Edward mumbled into her hair, not wanting to upset her any further but knowing the closer his deployment, the worse it would be. Bella began to sob in earnest once more, and it was then that Edward remembered about the child she was carrying and attempted to soothe her.

"Love, you need to calm down. Think about our child." Edward whispered, pulling his head away from hers and wiping away the tears that fell from her eyes.

Bella began to control her breathing, hiccupping every so often as she placed her hand on her still flat stomach. Edward could not help but stare at it; his child was in there, gaining life.

"When did you discover you were pregnant?" Edward asked quietly, unable to tear his gaze away.

"The day a-after Alicia's birthday. I thought p-perhaps I might be, so the afternoon you went out I called for A-Aurora and she confirmed it. I am a month along." Bella replied, just as quietly as she rubbed her stomach in a comforting motion.

"But what about your monthly course? You had one last month?" Edward questioned, slightly confused. Although he was a doctor, he was not too familiar with all aspects of pregnancy, due to the fact he was training for war and all soldiers were men. Jenkins had made sure he had a basic knowledge and that was all.

"Aurora informed me that it is quite normal to bleed in your first month." Bella explained, gazing up at Edward, her eyes reflecting the love she held for the child within her and himself.

Edward slowly reached out his own hand and placed it on top of Bella's, wanting the comfort she provided and to show the love he had for their growing child. They sat there, silent and unmoving, until time had no meaning.

-o-

When the sun began to rise in the sky, Edward decided it was time to move, for he had lost the feeling in his limbs hours ago. He looked down at the sleeping angel in his arms and a sad, small smile graced his lips. His wife was the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on, and in forty eight hours he would not be able to gaze at her beautiful features or hold her perfect weight in his arms for at least six months.

As gently as he could, Edward lifted Bella off the floor and carried her across their room before placing her in their bed, wrapping the bed covers securely around her. Placing one last kiss on the top of her head, Edward silently left the room.

Walking down the hall quietly, Edward entered Alicia's chamber, and found her wide awake, babbling away quite happily to the teddy bear that had been placed in her crib. Edward smiled at the sight and continued to watch his daughter from the doorway. She continued to babble to the bear but every so often she would gather it up in her small hands and bury her face in it, placing slobbery kisses on the top of the bear's head.

Alicia never went anywhere without that bear. She had been given it almost three months ago and Edward had yet to see it out of her reach. Although Edward found the attachment his daughter had to the bear utterly adorable, he slightly resented the fact that the bear had been given to her by Thomas, whereas the bear he had provided her with had been tossed to the side almost instantly.

Making his way into the room, Edward caught Ali's attention and she instantly smiled up at her father, while stretching her hands out so that he would pick her up. Edward instantly complied with the little girl's will.

"Good morning my sweetheart," Edward cooed, rubbing their noses together, causing Alicia to burst into a fit of giggles. God he would miss her.

Lowering her down to the floor, Edward took Ali's two hands in his own and they slowly, ever so slowly, made their way down to the dining room, where breakfast was already waiting for them.

Placing Alicia in the highchair Jake had made her and putting a bowl of mush bananas in front of her, Edward quickly grabbed a sheet of paper and pen, composing a letter to his parents and informing them of the situation, inviting them over to spend the final afternoon with him before he was shipped away.

Just as Edward was sending the letter off to his parents with a member of staff, Bella made her way down the stairs. Edward simply stared at her, he could not believe that he had not realised she was pregnant, she was glowing.

Once she had reached the bottom of the steps, Edward swept her off her feet and into his arms, much to Bella's dismay. "Edward, what on earth are you doing? Put me down!"

"No." Edward stated simply as he made his way to their daughter once more. "I will not be here for most of your pregnancy, but when I am here, I am going to make sure you relax every second of every day, never overworking yourself." And with that, Edward placed her gently on a chair while she glared up at him, her arms crossed. Edward ignored it and placed a bowl of sliced fruit in front of her.

"What if I do not want fruit?" Bella asked, stubborn as ever.

"Bella, you have fruit every morning," Edward explained slowly, as if he was talking to a three year old, "And even if you did not want fruit this morning, our baby does because they need to grow nice and strong." Bella grumbled under her breath but began to munch on the fruit anyway, pausing every once in a while to talk to Ali, who was attempting to communicate back but in a language that no one could understand.

The moment Angela entered the room to clear away the plates from the table was the moment Esme burst into the room, pushing the door so hard as she flew past it that it bounced off the wall. She threw herself into Edward's arms and began to sob, mumbling incoherently.

Carlisle entered the room at a much slower pace than his wife but the look of devastation in his eyes caused a hole to form in Edward's chest; as if it would not be hard enough leaving already.

"Oh Edward, why do you have go?" Esme cried, her tear filled eyes coming up to meet his.

"I promised I would mother," Edward explained quietly.

"But why?" And for the next half hour Edward explained the choice he had made, the mistake he had made for not resigning and the reason he was being sent away in the first place.

It was almost as if the entire family could sense something was wrong, for when Edward had finished explaining the information to his weeping mother and depressed looking father, Alice flew into the room, with Jasper, Emmett and Rosalie close on her tail.

"I felt that something important was happening so I called everyone over," Alice explained as everyone in the room threw her confused glances due to her entrance. Alice took in all the distresses faces before her, "Okay, someone explain what is happening."

And so Edward began to retell his orders once more.

Yet again, by the end of his tale, the women were in tears as their husbands did their best to comfort their distraught wives, while they tried to hide their own emotions.

Alicia was the one who broke the moment, banging her hands against the chair, clearly not liking the silence that had fallen upon the room. Bella quickly disentangled herself from Edward's arms, which he had pulled her into the second he began to relay his instructions to the Hales and Swans. In one fluid motion, she had gathered Ali from her seat and swung her up into her mother's arms before she turned to face her family.

"Would you all like to spend the day here? I am sure none of you want to miss any of the time we have left with Edward," Bella asked quietly, to which each person, sans Edward, nodded to in answer. "I will go and clean this little madam up and then I will join you." Bella smiled weakly at their family before she quickly left the room, as Edward simply watched her motions.

"Son," was all Carlisle had to say before Edward quickly followed his wife from the room.

He found her in their bathroom, attacking Alicia's face gently with a cloth while tears streamed down her own face.

"Love, what is the matter?" Edward cried, pulling both his wife and his daughter into his arms.

"I-It is nothing, it is n-nothing," Bella stated, but her sobs begged to differ.

"Bella tell me what is wrong," Edward ordered softly.

"It i-is just the fact that telling o-our family that you w-were leaving made everything real. It made me r-realise that you will not be here every day. I will not be able to wake up in y-your arms or watch you play with Ali. You will not be here for most of my pregnancy and that scares me Edward. I do not think I can do it alone," Bella cried, burying her face into his shoulder. At the sight of her mother's tears, Alicia began to whimper, meaning Edward had to comfort two sobbing girls.

"We should probably go back downstairs," Edward whispered into Bella's hair five minutes later. She simply nodded and began to wipe her eyes. "We will see you down there; I will just change Ali out of her pyjamas." Edward nodded and with one last kiss, left his wife and daughter alone.

The day was enjoyable but the thought of Edward's departure loomed over everyone like a dark cloud throughout the day. Edward made sure to spend time with each member of his family, but spent more time with Alicia and Bella, knowing those two girls that meant more than the world to him were the people he would miss the most.

The Hales, the Swans and the Cullens had all agreed to spend the night at Bella and Edward's home, wanting to be there at six hours past midnight tomorrow to see Edward off. After assigning each of the couples a room and bidding them goodnight, Edward was finally able to retired to his own chamber and his waiting wife.

Closing the door quietly, Edward's mouth dropped open in shock at the sight before him. Bella was lying nude on the bed cover simply staring at him, a small smile playing on her face.

"Err...W-what is happening?" Edward's face flushed with embarrassment due to the fact he had stuttered and allowed his voice to break in the same sentence.

"It is your last night here for a while, and I want you to remember it," Bella explained softly as she rose from the bed. Edward was powerless and allowed her to drag him across the room to the bed, pulling his shirt off as she went.

They spent the rest of the night and well into the morning making the sweetest love known to man. God his wife was amazing.

-o-

Strapping the final bag on to Theodore's saddle, Edward turned around to face his family. Even the men had tears running down their faces.

Edward made his way over to Rose first and pulled her into a hug, "Look after my little niece or nephew for me," he whispered into her hair. Rose simply nodded as her warm tears hit his neck, placing a kiss on his cheek when they parted. Emmett was next.

Edward stuck out his hand but Emmett ignored it and pulled him into a bone crushing hug. "Look after her for me please." Edward requested while Emmett nodded; there was no need to state who they were talking about.

"You better come home unscratched Edward or I may have to kill you for worrying my little sister," Emmett threatened half heartedly.

"I will do my best." And with that Edward moved on to Alice.

Before Edward had a chance to react, Alice had thrown herself into his arms and began sobbing into her neck. It was clear she was attempting to tell him something but Edward could not figure out what due to the frequency of her sobs. "Goodbye little sister," Edward whispered into her hair, causing more sobs to wrack her petite body.

As he lowered her to the ground, Jasper wrapped a comforting arm around his wife's waist, while sticking the other hand out for Edward to shake. "Look after your goddaughter Jasper; she needs a male role model in her life while I am away." Jasper nodded solemnly.

"Of course. Good luck Edward."

"Good luck son," Carlisle said as he wrapped his arms around his only child. "We are all so proud of you. Promise me you will keep safe and write to us often."

"I promise. I love you Father." Edward cried into his father's shoulder, there was no point trying to hide the pain her felt at leaving his family anymore.

"I love you too, son," and with that Carlisle released him.

Esme was a mess, there were tears streaming down her face and she could not contain her cries. "Do not cry Mama," Edward spoke tenderly into his mother's ear as they hugged one final time. "I will be back before you know it." They both knew this was not true; his presence would be missed every second of every day.

Esme pulled away and took his face in her hands, looking him straight in the eye, "Promise me something Edward. You are not a soldier, do not act like one. If you are ever in trouble do not try and be brave. Just run, do you understand me? Just run away. You have a wife and daughter to get home to."

"Okay. I love you Mama."

"I love you too Edward." With one final kiss to the forehead, Esme released her son.

Now it was the hardest part, he had to say goodbye to the love of his life and his daughter.

Standing in front of her, Edward noticed that Bella's eyes were red and swollen with tears, although she was trying to hold them in for the angel she held in her arms.

Edward spoke to Alicia first. His arms ached to hold her but he knew that if he did he would never want to let her go. "Bye bye Ali, be a good girl for Mama okay?" Edward took one of his small daughter's hands into his own. Being too young to understand the significance of the conversation, Alicia just grinned her beautiful smile up at her father. "Papa loves you, never forget that baby girl." As he placed the last kiss his could bestow on his daughter for some months, Edward vaguely noticed that his family had entered the house once again, allowing Edward to say goodbye to his wife and child in private.

Raising his gaze, Edward looked Bella straight in the eye, the tears she had tried so desperately to hold back flying free.

"I love you Bella Cullen," Edward whispered, smiling slightly at the beautiful vision that was before him.

"I love you too Edward Cullen," Bella managed to choke out, before she carefully threw herself at him.

Edward kissed her more passionately than ever before, trying to show her how much he loved her and how much he would miss her in that single kiss as the tears mingled together.

Once they had drawn apart, Edward bent down onto his knees and kissed Bella's stomach. "I love you too little one. I cannot wait to see how big you are in Mama's belly when I get back." He heard Bella hiccupping from above him.

Edward stood on his feet and placed one last kiss on Bella's lips. "Goodbye," he whispered, unable to raise his voice any louder, afraid it would cause him to finally crack if he did.

"Goodbye Edward," Bella sobbed, before she looked down at Alicia, "Say goodbye to Papa Ali."

Alicia raised her hand and shook it from side to side, the closest she would do for a wave. As she waved it, "Papa" slipped from her lips, causing both her parents to stare at her in awe.

Edward lowered his head and placed kisses all across her little face, causing Ali to giggle and repeat "Papa" over and over again, as if to prove that she could. Edward had never felt so proud of his little girl.

Edward spun on his heel and marched over to Theodore, jumping onto his back and gazed at his family one last time.

"Go boy." Edward ordered and with that Theodore broke out into a canter, leaving Alicia and Bella in the dust.

Edward did not look back, knowing that if he did, he would never be able to leave.

---

Like/Hate it?

Okay, so this is a fake war. It IS NOT WORLD WAR ONE, I just picked a random country, that was next to one which spoke French so that I could use my French in the future if needed...

Their night will be included in a future chapter...

Sorry if the next update is slow. If it takes a while I will explain on my profile so you can check that out...

There is a quote from my favourite movie in there, spot it?

Until next time :)