Returning Day

In 2012 they were supposed to return to us; all of them.

2012

It had been a whole year since they'd left and today was the day they'd finally come home. Rose, Alice and I were waiting at my apartment all week, getting ready for when the boys returned home. I couldn't wait to wrap my arms around him and kiss him so hard to make up for the year we missed.

It was half ten when we got into Rose's BMW and headed for Seattle. I managed to get the day off from teaching so I could go. Alice owned her own clothes company and Rose was one of her models so they were fine. Rose also owned her own garage and fixed up anyone's car that happened to pass through. She loved speed so we got to Seattle by half one. We had half an hour till our boys returned to us. We met up with the other families who were waiting for their soldiers to return. Everyone was extremely anxious.

Luckily the plane landed right on time and at exactly quarter past two the departure doors were opened and out came their Lieutenant Colonel. One by one, men departed the gate with a bag on their back. Families embraced each other, cried and kissed. It seemed as if everyone else had come out apart from Edward, Jasper and Emmett.

Just as I thought this Emmett walked out. Rose ran at him and crashed her lips to his. It was their private moment that I didn't want to intrude on so looked back at the doors. Jasper was next to emerge from the doors but his eyes held a dead tint to them. That was until he saw Alice, who ran at him just like Rose, and crashed her lips to his. Again I looked away and back at the door to see the Lieutenant Colonel standing in the middle of the doorway. I didn't understand what was going on. Where was Edward?

"Can I have everyone's attention please?"

He said sombrely. People quieted as they heard his voice. All the soldiers stood to attention. I didn't get it.

"I'm very happy to see my men returned home. However, I'd like to address one man. Major Edward Anthony Mason Cullen was a remarkable man. He is the only man to become a Major after six months of serving. It takes most men at least nine years to reach that level, but Major Cullen was the best of the best and had the drive to protect what he loved. He was awarded the position of Major six months ago. He took to the role with amazing skill and grace. I had never seen anyone like him before. Most people become hard and cold when given the responsibility of men's lives. He didn't, he cared for us all and protected us all till the very end. I'm afraid to say Major Edward Anthony Mason Cullen has gone missing in action. We don't know how, where or why but we are doing the best we can to get him back. We stand here today saluting his sacrifice for those he loved and cared for."

All the soldiers saluted. I couldn't care less what was going on around me. Edward was gone. I ran at the Lieutenant Colonel.

"What do you mean he's missing? How could you lose a person? Who do you think you are? It's your job to protect them."

"I'm guessing you're Bella. I'm so sorry. Edward loves you so much Bella where ever he is. He never shut up about you. I'm so sorry."

"He's gone. He's really gone."

"Hey Bella, he's not gone for good. At least not yet. Hold onto that and never let go. Edward was the best fighter ever. Never give up hope."

Present day

I cried for weeks after that. I went to work, did what I had to then curled up in our bed for the rest of the day just holding one of his shirts.

Jasper had blamed himself for Edward going missing. See Jasper's foot got stuck in a hole as they were being chased. They didn't have any weapons on them at the time so had no way to fight back. Edward was in charge at the time and had the choice of leaving him or helping. He sent the rest of the squad on and he dug Jasper out. They both ran for it. Edward had always been the fastest but seemed to be behind Jasper. Jasper never stopped running until he was safe behind the line of armed soldiers a good few miles away. He never saw Edward again. No one knows what happened to him but they heard gun shots in the distance. Without a body or solid evidence it was declared that he was missing in action.

Since then they spent a year trying to find him until they found traces of his blood along the trail of where Jasper and he ran. That's when they declared him to be dead. His funeral took place in Forks. The week leading up to the funeral Forks was packed. Soldiers from all over the country were here. There was even some higher up soldiers from England. Everyone kept saying that he was the best soldier that had ever been seen, but if that were true he would be here with me.