Chapter 12 – Distance And Longing

Edward's POV

The house seems to be so much quieter since Amber left. The laughter doesn't seem to flow as easily and the sun doesn't seem to brighten up the house the same way.

I know that I am probably over exaggerating, but the family just doesn't seem to be whole without Amber. I know from everyone's thoughts that the sooner Amber gets home the better. Everyone seems to be missing her. I don't think we realized how quickly Amber seemed to cement herself into our family, without even trying.

It has been a long few months for everyone. Though, Rosalie of course has been the most effected.

Hearing Rosalie pace around in her room I'm reminded of a conversation that I had with Carlisle a month into Amber's deployment to Thule.

- Flashback –

"I just find it so odd Carlisle. How can Rosalie be fine with the distance? I know that mates don't have to be attached at the hip, but the mating pull with the distance?" I ask thoroughly confused,

Carlisle's thoughts betrayed him about how he was concerned about this as well.

My father puzzled over his thoughts for a few moments. "I have had concerns about this as well. Especially when we found out what Rosalie's mate's profession was. A lifestyle that has Amber not only coming and going, but also puts her in harms way on a constant basis.

I wish I had answers, but Rosalie seems to be handling the excess stress fairly well. I think that it helps that this time around Amber left on stable terms with Rosalie. If they are mates then they will be able to overcome any obstacle that Amber's job or any curveball that life will throw at them. I have faith in that." Carlisle says as he grips my shoulder in a reassuringly way.

- End Of Flashback –

I'm shaken out of my thoughts by my mother coming into the house with an arm full of groceries. I smile as I make my way to her and relieve her of her bags. She gives me a smile and a kiss on the cheek as a thank you.

I know by her thoughts that she plans on making some more goodies for the upcoming SERE Function.

I follow her into the kitchen where I see Alice already pulling out bowls and measuring cups. Tonight will be a family bonding baking night and I can't wait.

Rosalie's POV

Eternity. That's what these last few months have felt like. The letters that Amber and I have been able to exchange have been my only reprieve from the loneliness.

The last few weeks before Amber was suppose to be back home has been filled with baking for The Annual Sere Family Day. Now that the gathering is over it's back to pacing and re-reading all of Amber's letters and old text messages. Thankfully Amber is set to be arriving back at the end of this week. I have already pick out the perfect outfit, multiple times, and thanks to Alice I've also have the perfect accessories and nail polish picked out.

I'm broken out of my fantasies about my reunion with my mate by Esme's shout for the family to meet into the living room.

After explaining that Carlisle had called and that there was an accident and 3 Sere Specialists are in the hospital. That was all that she had to say before we were all gathered and headed to the hospital.

Sadly when we arrived no one knew any information about the condition or injuries of the 3 Sere Members.

The hospital staff ushered everyone into a big unused waiting room. The room was pretty full and the other Sere Specialist seemed to rotate with each other, that way the school was covered and that there were always Sere Specialists at the hospital.

Mike had sat down beside me and said what I knew had to be weighing on his mind.

"It hasn't gone unnoticed that your family has stuck around. I know that no one has said anything, but we all appreciate it."

"We may be new to this family, but Amber has become part of ours and all of you are important to her, so all of you are important to us." I simply say.

Mike smiles and says "Yeah, I figured it was something like that."

He glances at his watch and sighs. "It's been 2 hours and we still haven't been told a damn thing. I wish Amber was here."

At my confused look he continued to explain. "Amber has a way of getting information, even when no one else seems to be able to get any. Not to mention Amber's just…..Amber, you know? She has a way of making a situation bearable." He adds with a fond smile.

I can't help but return his smile as I think about how special my mate truly is.

"Amber is amazing. I can't wait till she's home." I sigh.

Mike opens his mouth to say something, but he doesn't get a chance to say whatever it is that he seemed to be mulling over, because it was in that moment that I had this feeling so we both looked up and we saw Amber running down the hallway and come to a halt into the waiting room doorway. Her eyes darted around the room before landing on Susan. Susan is one of the injured Sere Specialist's wife. When Susan and Amber's eyes locked Amber ran forward and embraced Susan. Susan who had been crying silent tears up until now and she finally let go and clung to my mate as she let loose all of her pent up emotions.

For the briefest of moments I was upset and jealous that what I thought was going to be a special reunion with my mate was ruined and the embrace that should have been mine was now given to someone else. I snapped out of my thoughts fairly quickly after I started actually using my rational brain.

Jasper's POV

The oppressing emotions of the last few hours seem to have lessened with the appearance of Amber. I watch as I felt my sister go through an array of conflicting emotions.

I'm brought back to Amber and Susan as Amber holds Susan's face in her hands and tells her that she will get to the bottom of what's happening.

I think everyone could feel the relief that those words brought to the room. With those final words Amber darts back out of the room and goes to find out any information that she can,

About 20 minutes later I can hear Amber arguing with a man on the other end of the floor that we were at. I glance around the room at my family and I know that everyone can hear Amber and this mystery man's argument thanks to our super hearing.

- Down The Hallway Amber's POV –

"I'm warning you Phillip, you do your job and you fill the family member's in on what is going on with their loved one's or you and I will have another kind of discussion." I practically growl in his face.

Phillip gives me an evil sneer and says "I'm well within my rights as a medical manager to decided when I release any information about any and all patients. Though, if you want to sweeten the deal I might be persuaded to release the information now."

"What do you want?' I ground out.

"I want your KISS Concert tickets." He smugly says

"Why would you want them? You hate KISS." I confusedly ask.

"Oh I do, but it's sold out and I know how much you want to go. So give me the tickets and I'll tell you all of the information about your friends. Or I could wait another 24 hours. It's your choice." He says with such a sick satisfaction that I wish that I could just punch him in the face.

"So that's it huh. You just want to screw me over?" I clarify

"That's always a bonus, but I can sell them and make a decent profit as well. Since I know that the whole tour has been sold out for months and there's no way that you would be able to make the concert that's motive enough for me." He says,

I mull it over for about a minute then I finally say "Fine! But I don't have the tickets on me." I reply.

"That's fine. I know that if we shake on it that it will be binding enough for you to follow through.' Phillip says.

- Back In The Waiting Room Jasper's POV –

I grab Rosalie's shoulder to prevent her from attacking the douche bag down the hall. No matter how much we want to intervene we all know that it's better if we don't.

Edward, Alice, and Rosalie begin searching for Kiss concert tickets to replace the one's that Amber had to give up.

At vampire speed I try to explain that Amber made a sacrifice for her brothers and to try and replace that sacrifice might make Amber feel uncomfortable.

After A few minutes of arguing about it at vampire speed everyone relented and we all agreed that even though we didn't want to let Amber give up something that we could replace, it was a situation that we had to let happen naturally.

Amber's POV

After I got the information that I needed. I went back into the waiting room to inform everyone of what I found out.

I told everyone that a pick up truck rolled over after sliding off the road and that everyone was alright. 2 of the Sere Specialists would be released in the next hour and that they're wives are able to go and see them. The last Sere Specialist has a concussion and they are still performing tests to make sure that he didn't receive anymore head trauma and that his wife was able to wait in his room for him to get back. After a round of hugs everyone dispersed to go and find their loved ones I was left with the Cullens.

I can't help but smile as I lock eyes with Rosalie as we seemed to gravitate towards each other. After a long hug I exchanged hugs with the rest of the family.

Esme was the one to ask what I knew must have been on all of their minds. "When did you get back dear? We were under the impression that you would be back at the end of the week."

I inform them about an earlier flight being made available, so I jumped at the chance.

"Well then you're coming home with us so that I can make sure that you get a decent night's sleep and a home cooked meal." Esme told me more than asked.

I realized that I didn't really have a choice so I smiled and said "That sounds wonderful. Thank you Ma'am.

Rosalie and I share a soft smile as we all make our way out of the hospital. I'm not sure who made the first move but somehow Rosalie ended up with her arm around my waist and I had my arm around her shoulders.

I had only one though as we made our way to their vehicles. "It's great to finally be back home."