Chapter 17 – Don't Live In The Past, Learn From It And Move On

Amber's POV

I'm checking my watch on the inside of my wrist for what felt like the hundredth time as I waited for Alice to come down the stairs.

After our heart to heart last night she told me that she would be coming with me to the lawyer's office so that I had some support for whatever he had to tell me.

If I'm being honest I'm pretty nervous, because I have no idea what awaits me and I'm grateful that Alice offered to be there to be my support. I'm ashamed that I didn't actually think of asking her or any of the Cullen's to accompany me.

It's hard to remember that I'm not on my own and that I can ask others for their help or their companionship. It's not an option that I've ever really had. I guess it's because people perceive me as 'strong' so no one actually thinks to offer me help or take the time to check in with me.

I look up as I hear someone coming down the stairs.

I'm surprised to see not Alice, but Rosalie coming down the stairs. In my shock I almost forget to hug her back.

"Alice is still sleeping off her drunkenness from last night, but before she passed out last night she told me what you two talked about last night. I hope that you don't mind that I'll be going in her place." Rosalie informed me as she held out her jacket for me to hold so that I could help assist her with getting it on.

"Not at all, I appreciate the company. I'm a little nervous about the meeting to be honest." I admit.

"Not at all. We're all here for you." Rosalie softly says as she turns around and gently fixes my t-shirt's collar.

- Time Skip –

Amber's POV

The lawyer Mr. Shacklebolt had just gone over Cody's will. He handed me a letter that was obviously from Cody judging by the handwriting on the envelope and a key to the metal lock box that sat on the table. He told me to take my time and that I could have the room for as long as I needed. He excused himself and told me to come find him when we were done.

I decided to open the box first.

I was speechless when I opened the box to find roughly ten pictures, the same pictures that I told Cody to hide and bury all those years ago.

I gently lift the old photos out of the box as I slowly inspect each one. Even though the faces staring back at me are strangers, I can't help but feel connected to them. I reverently hand them to Rosalie as I grab the letter with shaking hands as I tried to read it out loud through my teary eyes.

Dear Amber,

If you're reading this that means that something happened to me. I know that we didn't have a lot of time together and that most of the time we did have we both would rather forget.

I know that you think I don't know what you did for me that night all those years ago, but I knew the sacrifice that you had made for me. You lost what was most precious to you at the time so that you could give me a chance to hold on to mine. I kept these buried until I knew that I could keep them safe. I had dug them back up when I was finally adopted.

I know that I could never possibly replace what you lost, but I want you to have my photos. They are the most precious thing that I am able to give and I can't think of anyone else that I would trust to keep them safe.

I will never be able to formulate words to be able to express the gratitude that I have for you always looking out for me like making sure that I had food, even when you didn't. The number of times that you would cause a scene so that you would take the beating that was meant for me. The list goes on and on. You showed me who I wanted to be, a protector. Because of you I was able to find my way and make this world a better place and to try and make a difference instead of just feeling sorry for myself.

Thank you for that and for the million other things that you did for me.

I love you and I will miss you. Till we meet again.

Cody

I sat there speechless as I stared at the final departing words from my brother. I stared until my tears made it impossible to see the words anymore.

I cried for the loss of someone that I had shared so much with. I cried about the tragedies that we shared and the stolen life and memories that we should have been able to make, but I mostly cry over the fact that Cody and I never got the chance to feel free and just be a family without the demons and horrors that seemed to rob us of not only our childhoods, but of an opportunity to build a life free from the chains of our pasts.

I had vowed years ago to never let the assholes from my past steal my future. That's why I've worked so hard to make my future into what I wanted despite all of the bullshit in my past.

Rosalie must have pulled me into an embrace, because at some point I register the softness from her shirt on my cheek. Eventually I'm lulled into a calmer sense of grief as I start to come back to reality as I begin to smell the intoxicating fragrance of her perfume and I can hear the softness of her voice as she caresses my back and gently strokes my arms and cards her hands lovingly through my hair,

I begin to feel a little embarrassed as I sit back straighter in my seat. Rosalie must have sensed my hesitation, because she chose that moment to place both of her hands on my face as she stared into my eyes as she spoke with such conviction that I couldn't help but believe her.

"You are one of the strongest people that I know. You amaze me everyday with your ability to still live and love especially with everything that you have experienced in your life. You don't need to worry about showing me every side of you." Then she leaned in until our foreheads were touching.

We slip into almost a trance like state that is until we're broken out of it by my cell phone ringing. Rosalie seemed to take a deep breath to center herself as I answer my phone without looking at the caller id.

"Hello…..No Sir, what happened?….Yes Sir,…No, I understand, the mission comes first….Yes Sir I will be there….Thank you. Goodbye Sir."

Rosalie's POV

The rest of the morning flew by and it seemed like no time that we were walking up to our private jet to head home.

Amber ever the sweet and chivalrous one was carrying my bags as well as her own.

When we finally board the plane we can't help but laugh at the sight that greets us.

"I take it they had a little too much fun at the reception last night?" Amber laughingly asks. As we both spot her fellow sere specialist's face down and completely knocked out from last nights drinking.

"There was some sort of drinking competition going on between them and a few of the TACP guys. I'm pretty sure they won" Emmett informs us as he sticks his head into the open area of the hallway that leads up to the cockpit.

"Of course they did" Amber replies with a bit of pride.

We all settle into our seats with my obvious seating choice being right next to my mate. Of course my preferred seat of choice would be my mate's lap but at the present time I have to settle for sitting as close to her as I could get.

After we're in the air, conversation seems to flow around the airplane.

I watch as my love seems to fit in seamlessly with my family. Alice and I share a small smile at how well our mates get along. They really seem to be 2 peas in a pod lately.

It's when Amber hits the plastic of her arm rest with her ring that has Alice asking a question that we all were wondering over the course of the funeral.

"Amber, why was everyone banging their rings on things during the reception?"

Amber tries to explain by saying "It's a military tradition. When someone says something and the group agrees, everyone hits their military rings onto something. Like for instance if I said that the Air Force is the best branch, since everyone on the plane is Air Force of course everyone would agree and they would tap their rings on something in agreement. But since these stooges are passed out that won't happen." Amber says with a smile.

"If it's tradition to have your military ring on especially for ceremonial occasions such as Cody's funeral, why didn't you wear yours?" Carlisle asked with his overly analyzing doctor's perspective.

It felt like the temperature inside of the plane's cabin dropped about ten degrees as Amber took a shaky breathe in an out to steady herself. She glanced at her fellow sere specialist's for a few seconds, presumptively to make sure that they were still passed out.

When Amber turned her head back she didn't look at Carlisle or any of us as she seemed to stare straight at the wall in front of her without actually seeing it as she said. "By now I take it y'all know about what happened to my father's Air Force Ring." There was a pause as a few of us nodded and the rest of us solemnly said "Yes". Amber continued to explain by saying "Well after my father's ring was stolen from me I didn't have the heart to get another one. It never felt right to just go any buy another one, especially when my father wanted to pass down his to me when I finally joined up. I knew that any other ring just wouldn't feel right and would just leave me feeling hallow, so I never bothered with buying one."

We're all a little speechless so there is a stretch of time where no one says anything. I had grabbed Amber's hand and had begun to play with her fingers and caress her hand during her story. It seemed to help anchor us both while our emotions seemed to spin around.

We're over half way home when Esme asks, "What would you like for dinner Amber?"

"I'm sorry Esme, but I won't be able to make it to dinner tonight. I have to report in as soon as we land." Amber replies.

"Surely they will be giving you some time off since you just had to attend a funeral?" Esme worriedly asks.

"Under normal circumstances probably, but there's an emergency in Michigan. They have had some really bad flooding and they're predicting that their dam is going to fail so there will be a substantial amount of flooding. They've started their evacuations, but we're going to be needed to help out, Especially if they are unable to get everyone evacuated in time." Amber explains.

"Well surely they can send someone else?" Bella confusedly asks.

"It's the job and the mission always comes first. Before personal comforts, self needs or wants, or anything else, because the mission is to save lives. We do these things so that others may live." Amber says with such conviction.

Jasper has to expand on that at vampire speed about how a military member's job must take precedence especially when they have a job like Amber's where they are literally putting their lives on the line to save others.

I can tell that my family still would rather have Amber at our house were we can look after her, but I can also see the admiration and affection that they have for my love when they see how truly unique and special my mate genuinely is. I couldn't be more proud to know that my mate is such a loving and caring individual. Of course I don't like that my mate's job will be taking her away from me, but the same reasons why she's leaving are the same reasons why I can't help but love her.

Mike's POV

Thankfully I woke up with enough time to drink almost all of the coffee on board the plane before we touched down.

I had a hell of a hangover but I would be alright to get on the flight that would be taking Amber and I to Michigan to help with the flooding situation going on over there.

I can't help but smile when I saw the Cullen's fawning all over Amber before we left. I think Amber might have truly found the family that she has been searching for her whole life.

Edward and Emmett had made a fast food run so that Amber and I had some food and snacks for the flight, which helped immensely with my hangover.

What we had thought would be a week or two turned into over a month. We not only had to deal with the flooding and dam breaking in Michigan, but Virginia had massive flood and as a result they had a dam break as well.

In a way working for over a month straight was very therapeutic for both Amber and I. It was a great way to help us deal with our grief and to be able to pick up the pieces after Cody's death.

We were able to save a lot of lives and at the end of the day that's what it's all about. I'm thankful to be headed back home to Fairchild though. As I look over and see Amber asleep in the seat next to me I know that she feels the same way.