A/N #1: Thank you again so very much for the reviews. We love & appreciate every single one of them! Just to reiterate what we put in the author's note for chapter 1... We are taking several liberties with this story – especially when it comes to the military stuff. The biggest thing? In real life, soldiers are NOT allowed to tell their loved ones where they are going and when. In real life, if Edward had told Bella they were leaving for Kandahar? He'd have gotten in majorly major trouble. But...this is fiction. ;) It wouldn't make for as good a story if he said, "Okay, I'm going away. I'll be back when I can," or even just diappeared. So thank you to everyone who mentioned that or offered their military knowledge. We appreciate it, but know that we're okay with taking those liberties. ;) Now, on with the story!

~oOo~

From: Bella Swan
To: EAMasen
Date Sent: Fri, Apr 16, 2010 at 4:30 P.M.
Date Received: Sat, Apr 17, 2010 at 4:30 A.M.
Subject: I'm so sorry...

Edward,

I was so sorry to read about Carlos. Loss of life is always a hard thing, but to know he has a baby that will grow up, never knowing him? That's heartbreaking. Please know that everyone in your squad and Carlos's wife and family are in my thoughts and prayers. He died a hero, and while that is probably no consolation now to his loved ones, in time, I hope it brings them comfort.

Losing both your parents in such a short time at such a young age must have been rough. Both my parents are still alive, so I consider myself lucky. Even though I'm not close to my mom anymore, I know I'd miss her if she were gone. Consider me your pseudo-substitute family, then. No one should be alone in this world – especially not over there.

Now, on to more pleasant topics!

I'm glad you made it back safely from Kandahar. I was worried. I've kinda become attached to your emails – or at least to your praise for my cookies! That's great that you enjoy the peanut butter ones as much as I do! Please let me know if there's another kind you would like, or if I should just keep surprising you. I have a few others up my sleeves you might like, or I can just stick with what we know you like.

I had a fellow teacher recommend the coffee since I don't drink the straight stuff. I'm glad it was the right choice!

If I'd know I would get THAT reaction to the music sheets, I'd have sent them sooner! *ponders what I'd get if I sent a whole piano* ;) In all seriousness, I hope you can put them to good use. I know having a creative outlet can help overcome a world of negative emotions. Of course, I expect a song of my own now: Isabella's Overture in A Minor sounds about right, does it? LOL

Speaking of my students... There's a little boy named Christopher. He's shy, quiet, and seems afraid of his own shadow sometimes. He's so thin, it worries me. Earlier today, I saw a bruise on his arm when his shirt sleeve moved up as he put on his backpack to leave school. I'm going to keep a close eye on him, make sure he has enough to eat at lunch, that sort of thing. If I see anything else to raise my suspicions, I will speak to the principal and call Social Services. I hate to think that he is living with abuse, but I'm worried that is what is happening.

Then there is a little girl in my class – her name is Jessica – who has a crush on a boy named Eric. She's always doing the cutest thing with her hands, turning one upside down and holding it against her eye like the lens of a camera, while using the other hand to make it look like she's taking a picture. He pretends to his friends that it bothers him, but I've seen him ham it up for her several times. Kids these days start so early! I swear, I didn't start stalking – erm, paying attention to – boys like that until high school! *grin*

Oh man... I have the TV on in the background, and a commercial just came on for Red Mill Burgers. That's a local place, so I doubt you've heard of it, but they have THE best burgers on the planet. In fact, that's where Alice, Rose, and I are going for dinner tonight. I try and eat healthy most of the time – otherwise, I couldn't afford to enjoy everything I bake! – but when I go to Red Mill, all bets are off! They have a Bleu Cheese N' Bacon Burger, which is what I usually get, although if I'm REALLY hungry, it's the Double Bacon Deluxe with Cheese. That's in addition to the to-die-for fries and onion rings (the girls and I usually get some of each to share between us) and the Truffle Mint, Creamsicle, or Butterscotch shakes. Mmm! If you ever make it out this way, I'll have to treat you to lunch there. No burger will ever be able to match it after, I promise you!

Well, now that I've made you insane with jealousy over my next meal...it's time to sign off. I need to get ready to meet up with the girls. We're going shopping before (and after, if Alice and Rose have anything to say about it. *sigh* LOL) dinner.

Til next time,
Bella

P.S. I watched Stripes last night when it showed up on cable as I was flipping through channels – I love that movie! – and I kept picturing you as Bill Murray's character, giving this puffed-up speech. Would you be my Big Toe, Edward? (And if you don't get that reference...well, that's it for this friendship. *grin*)

~oOo~

A/N #2: Many of you guessed that Bella would declare herself his family after hearing about his parents. :) I hope you enjoyed! Please review & let us know, and then turn the page, so to speak, & read Sarge's reply. He's delicious. ;)

One last note... Deb wanted me to share this story with you guys. I've been married for almost 16 years now. This is the story of how I met my husband, which is kind of what we're basing Bella & Edward's relationship on. My first semester of college in Oklahoma, I got an email chain letter from a friend. You know...the ones that say "Read to this cute story and then forward this email to 10 friends for your wish to come true" or some other bullsh*t like that. I never forward stuff like that, but I was bored that day, so I decided to read through the previous recipients. I noticed one guy with the name of Scott with an email address for K-State, in Kansas. I thought, "Oh, that's a cute name, and he's right near me. I'll send him an email and say hello!"

My first email went to him on November 13. He emailed me back 2 days later. We started talking via email and then eventually the phone, sending hundreds of emails, I'm sure, and by December 3, I told him I loved him. He told me he loved me two days later. We made plans to meet in person just after Christmas (I was going out of state with my family for Christmas but would be home the 26.). He came to visit me in my hometown on December 27, and that's when we saw each other for the first time. We hadn't even exchanged pictures up to that point. We kind of knew what the other looked like, but... He stayed in Oklahoma for a few days, met my family, spent lots of time with me, and then we decided I would go up to Kansas, back to school with him, for the rest of the holiday break. I came back to Oklahoma and went straight back to school.

We visited almost every weekend, splitting our time with me going up to see him or him coming down to see me. He proposed the weekend after Valentine's Day, when he came to visit. It wasn't two weeks later that I'd had enough of the saying goodbye, so I left school and moved up with him. At the start of summer, he went back to his parents' house, I went to mine, and we both worked to save money and planned the wedding. We got married in August of 1996 and had our son in January of 1998. So to everyone who says you can't meet the person you'll fall in love with online or know within a few weeks that you love someone, I am living proof that you can. If Bella & Edward's relationship seems to move fast, yes, it does...but when you spend all of your time talking via email and phone, you learn so much more about someone than if you were dating like in a normal dating relationship. So really, it's not implausible. Just keep that in mind going forward. ;)

*hugs* Jen