Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or its characters

November 16, 1941…

Bella

If there was one thing to know about Pearl Harbor, it was that gossip traveled fast. Soon after it was known about Jacob's desertion questions started coming up as to how or why. I knew better than to insert myself into those conversations, especially knowing that the reason Jacob gave me was a lie. Why would he leave the harbor to go see his mother if he couldn't be bothered to write to her when Mr. Cullen informed him of her delicate state?

Some of the assumptions were that he owed money to someone and decided to jump ship. Others thought he ran away with a woman.

"He ran away because he is a coward," Rosalie said as we waited for our drinks. We sat at one of the high tables in Marty's Bar. It was oddly crowded for a Sunday night. "Emmett told me that there's been lots of talk of the US going to war, and according to him, it's no longer a matter of if, but a matter of when."

"So they think Jacob left the USS Arizona because he was afraid of going to war?" Angela asked.

"Precisely. Apparently, everyone on board knew he was a wimp. Can you imagine him on the battlefield? He'd get himself killed before the first bullet was fired," Lauren sneered, and the rest of our table laughed, except for me.

I was more embarrassed at the fact that I let that man fool me more than once.

"Oh, Izz, don't worry too much about it," Rosalie said, giving my arm a squeeze. "You didn't know any better about Jacob Black. The man is gone and we are all better for it, especially Edward."

"Amen to that," Angela said.

"I'm going to check on our drinks," I said, wanting a moment to myself.

"I'll go with you." Angela stood and hooked her elbow with mine before I had the chance to protest. Once we were out of earshot of our table, she turned to me and asked, "How are you doing, Izzie? You still look very sad and I don't like it."

"I'm fine, Angela. I've been mostly going over everything that has happened and… honestly, thinking about it doesn't do me any good. All it does is make me feel worse every time I realize how truly awful I've been."

"Oh, Iz, don't be like that."

"It's the truth, Angela, and the sooner everyone else realizes it, the better."

Angela twisted her lips as we got to the bar. Marty saw us and immediately gave us an apologetic smile, gesturing to the large crowd.

"Poor Marty. He should really hire more help," Angela said.

"He's too proud for that," I said, giving him a thumbs up as to signal everything was fine. "The man will rather battle this rush on his own than to have a little extra help. Come on, let's go tell the girls that it will still be a while."

We begin walking back to our table, making our way through the crowded bar. With my attention caught on the people dancing on the dance floor, I never realized Angela suddenly came to a stop and I almost ran into her. I gasped, grabbing onto her shoulders to steady us both and walked around her, but that's when I saw the reason for her sudden stall. Edward Cullen stood right in front of us with a very charming young lady at his arms.

I bit back my gasp, falling back a step at the sight of him. He was out of his usual military green attire, now wearing more casual clothing. His eyes immediately met mine and I was surprised at how soft they looked, and even more shocked when the corners of his lips rose to form a smile.

A smile?

"Angela, Isabella, it's really nice to see you," he said.

"Mr. Cullen," we both said.

The young lady next to him snorted out a laugh. That's when I finally took her in. She was taller than me. She reached Mr. Cullen's shoulder and had the same shade of bronze in her hair as well as the emerald eyes.

When Mr. Cullen noticed me looking at his companion, he quickly said, "This is my sister, Kate. Kate, this is Isabella and Angela. They work at the hospital on base."

Oh! His sister. That's his sister.

Kate's face lit up. "You're Isabella? You're… oh-" she stopped herself, seemingly swallowing her words and gave her brother a wide-eyed look before turning back to us. Mr. Cullen looked… embarrassed. "I'm happy to meet you two. I've been looking to make friends on the island since everyone I know is my brother, cousin and their dumb Air Corp friends."

I shook out of my stupor and said, "You're in luck because we also happen to be friends with your brother and his dumb Air Corp buddies. They're not as bad as you think."

"We'll see about that," Kate said with a chuckle. She eyed me up and down, shaking her head slightly and then said, "You are so pretty."

"Thank you, you're very sweet," I said, blushing.

A silence fell between the four of us. Well, as silent as it could be in the crowded bar. Angela's grip tightened around my forearm and when I looked at her, she tilted her head slightly toward the pair in front of us, almost as if signaling to say something. When I looked back at them, I noticed they were in a wordless conversation of their own.

Mr. Cullen finally cleared his throat and looked at us, the corners of his lips twitching but it wasn't a smile. It looked more like a grimace. When he looked at me, his shoulders dropped and he forced a smile.

"You ladies have a good night," he said, and walked away, tugging his sister along.

"You should've said something!" Angela smacked my arm once they were gone.

"What could've I possibly said?"

"Can we talk? I'm sorry? Something!"

"He clearly doesn't want to talk to me and I don't blame him, Angela."

Angela rolled her eyes.

"Will you stop being a baby and go talk to him? Make him listen if he doesn't want to listen."

"But-"

"No buts! You're not allowed back to our table until you've had a conversation with him." She crossed her arms over her chest and nodded her head in the direction they left.

She was right. I needed to at least apologize, and I didn't want to meet Angela's fury. As calm and quiet as she was, I've never seen her mad and I didn't plan to anytime soon.

I turned to go in search of Mr. Cullen and stopped suddenly when I realized he was walking back toward us. Angela and I shared a surprised look before he stopped in front of us, letting out a heavy breath.

"May I please have the next dance, Isabella?" He asked before I had the chance to say anything.

To say I was shocked was an understatement.

"Y-y-yes," I stuttered, my heart palpitating.

He nodded, looking unsure and… nervous? He turned on his heel and walked away.

I grabbed Angela's arm, pulling her far from where we were and into one of the alcoves in the bar. She started giggling as I grabbed her by the shoulders.

"Did I just accept to dance with Mr. Cullen, the man who told me he loved me just last week and who I rejected shamelessly?"

Angela giggled. "Oh, you most certainly did."

"This is absurd, why would he ask me after what happened?"

"Because feelings do not go away after a week, Izzy."

"I was certain that he was going to hate me for all of eternity!" I said, baffled.

But it was only a matter of seconds before we both burst out laughing.

Angela goes back to the table and I stay back, waiting for Mr. Cullen. I would've gone back, but if the girls saw him approach me, they would go crazy. I would rather wait until after the dance to deal with their questions.

Finally when the song ended, Mr. Cullen found me and extended his hand toward me. I took it with a trembling hand and let him lead me back to the dance floor. Just then the band started playing a slow song. Mr. Cullen groaned, turning over his shoulder to where the band was and where his sister was stepping off the stage. She gave us a sheepish look and shrugged.

When he turned back to me, he gave me an apologetic look.

"I'm sorry, my sister lacks decorum."

"It's okay," I said.

We started to sway to the music in silence. His hand gripped mine gently, his other hand high on my back as my other hand rested on his shoulder.

"How have you been, Isabella?" He asked.

I hesitated on a reply, my heart stuttering a couple of beats.

"It's been a really long week," I said, my voice tight.

"Yes. It has." He paused, looking over my shoulder. "Did you receive my letter?"

"I did."

"I've already apologized to your sister for the incident, I didn't mean to harm her in any way," he said. "And I'm sorry for any distress I have caused you."

He was apologizing to me? After everything that happened? He was apologizing to me? I was speechless. Tears clouded my vision and the shame I felt was too much to bear.

"I-I'm sorry."

"Bella-"

I pulled away and ran out of the bar into the cool autumn night. The cool breeze was a good contrast against my heated skin and I gasped, trying my best to control my breathing.

"Isabella, are you okay?"

I turned to find Mr. Cullen had come after me, his eyes wide and concerned.

"I'm sorry, I've been such an awful person," I cried.

"No, you haven't. You were persuaded by a very good liar like Jacob Black."

I laughed, humorlessly.

"Don't do that. Don't try to excuse my behavior and blame it all on Jacob. Yes, he fed me lies, but I made my own opinion without knowing you and I should've known better," I said.

"I know, but Jacob took advantage of the situation. Of your trust, Isabella. There is nothing you should apologize for."

He took a step toward me and I stepped back.

"There is," I insisted, running my hands through my hair. "This is probably not the best moment but I am sorry. I'm sorry for judging you, for insulting you for no reason even when I thought I had one. I shouldn't have let Jacob fill my head with all those lies and I shouldn't have… I shouldn't have said what I said last week. I'm so sorry."

"Isabella, I don't want your apologies."

"Then what can I do?" I cried. "This guilt is eating me alive. I've never been so-"

"Isabella, stop." He closed the distance between us and placed a finger over my lips, stopping my rant. He looked… amused, very amused and the fact confused me even further. "Isabella, I understand. I'm not judging you. I did not make a good impression of myself the day we met or any day after that." He dropped his hand. "I doubt that gave you any reason to try to see the best of me."

"Why did you say that about me? Why did you behave that way?" I asked, remembering that awful first night.

"I told you that day at the hospital that it was nothing personal, and trust me, Isabella, it wasn't. I'm not very…" he paused, looking for the word. "I'm not the most approachable person. It's hard for me to get to know people and, frankly, when all your friends keep pushing women at you, you get to the point where the only way you are left alone is by being a complete asshole." His mouth twitched in distaste. "Which is not the best tactic, but it's what worked for me at the time. Once Jasper saw me dancing with you, he started talking about the possibility of dating you and I was tired of the conversation so I said what I said in hopes that he'd drop the subject. I never wanted you to hear that and… well, that's not exactly what I thought about you that night."

I swallowed, my mouth suddenly dry.

"What did you think?"

His eyes searched mine and the glimmer in them was too dazzling.

"That you were the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen. Then I got to know you and your beauty was just one of the many reasons why I…" he shook his head, looking away. "That doesn't matter.

"My mother always told me I had to marry a girl in the same social class as me. We had a name and a reputation to uphold. I knew even before my father died that my life was already decided for me. I was going to join the force regardless of what I wanted, marry to keep our social status and have children who would follow the same path as I had. All I've done ever since I left home is to make sure I don't follow that path and the only way I saw out of it was by refusing to abide by those expectations, and it has caused me more problems than anything else."

"Is that why you think love was a waste of time?"

Seeing it from his perspective, it made sense why he would think that way. Marriage was transactional where he came from. Love played a very little role in it.

"Yes. Don't get me wrong, I've seen love. Like the one my uncle has for my aunt - Seth's parents. But I never thought I was meant to experience that kind of love…" he took a moment, taking me in. "I felt vulnerable for the first time with you. I did not know what was happening to me. When I met you, I saw you as innocent, as someone in need of protecting, but you proved me wrong very quickly. You showed yourself as a fierce young woman and it shocked me. No one had me as compelled the way you do. I've never desired being with someone just as strong as you are. Even after, every time we met, I unconsciously longed for you more."

Mr. Cullen took my hand, softly running his thumb over my knuckles. My cheeks burned with heat and I knew he could tell. I didn't know how to take his words, what to think of what he was telling me. But one thing I was sure of, I didn't feel the same way I felt a week ago. His words didn't anger me, but only made me think… What if?

"We didn't start off on the right foot when you and I met," I said, looking down at where he was caressing my hand. I looked up at him and he looked at me with… with hopeful eyes. "And we've both made mistakes these last couple of months. I cannot say that I return those feelings for you after spending so much time antagonizing you, but… I wouldn't be opposed to starting over and maybe with time-"

"I wouldn't be opposed to it either," he said, quickly. "I'm okay with starting over."

"Okay." I bit my lip, trying to control my breathing. I took a step back, slipping my hand out of his grasp and offered it to him again. We were starting over and this time, we would do things the right way. "Hello, my name is Isabella Swan."

He smiled and took my hand in his, giving it a light shake.

"Nice to meet you, Isabella. I'm Edward Cullen."

"Likewise, Mr…" I cleared my throat. "It's nice to meet you as well… Edward."

His eyes widened and his grip tightened around my hand slightly. He let out a shaky laugh and said, "I think that's the first time you've ever said my name."

"Well, we've called it a truce right? I think it is only appropriate to refer to you by your given name."

Edward smiled and that smile gave him an almost boyish look.

"Does that mean we're friends? I can refer to you as Izzy?"

I thought about it. It did mean he could call me Izzy, the same way all my friends did. But then I remembered the times he's referred to me as Bella and honestly I think I liked it a lot better. And the idea that only he would call me that was somewhat appealing.

"Bella," I said. "You can call me Bella."

Author's Note:

They finally called it a truce! What did you guys think of their conversation?