Chapter 22 - Finding Meaning Beyond The Symbols

Jasper's POV

My head snapped up from the book that I was reading in the guest house's living room when I felt Rosalie's sudden burst of anger and frustration.

I glanced at Edward to see if he had any insight to give me about what was happening.

From the wincing that he was doing I'm going to take a wild guess and say that Rosalie was yelling her thoughts.

Emmett keeps looking between Edward and I waiting to be let in on what's going on.

Thankfully Edward fills Emmett, and myself in on what he was hearing. .

"Amber is cutting down that fallen oak tree." Edward says with a bit of exasperation.

"Damn, doesn't she ever sleep?" Emmett says with a hint of wonder.

"I think Amber wants to spend some quality time with Rosalie, and chopping up that oak is one of the last things she has to get done before her leave is up." I try to explain.

"Well we should go help her before Rosalie has a cow that her mate is overworking herself... again." Emmett suggests.

"Good idea" Edward and I reply at the same time.

The three of us took over for Amber so that they were able to go for a walk and spend some time together.

All three of us smiled at the retreating couple as we could all feel the gratitude from both Amber and Rosalie as they walked away hand in hand.

Rosalie's POV

The morning has been amazing. Although I would say that about any amount of time that I was able to spend with my mate.

After our walk we separated to go change our clothes and get ready for dinner at the main house with the family.

After a long shower and taking my time to pick the perfect outfit I made it back to the main house as Esme and Grandma Mags were starting to make dinner.

"You look wonderful Rosalie. Is there any particular reason that you decided to doll yourself up?" Amber's grandmother asks with a hint of a mischievous smile.

I know that I must have an embarrassed look on my face, but I try to cover it up by saying. "No particular reason." As I continue to subtlety look around.

I must have not been as subtle as I thought I was, because Grandma Mags must have sensed that was looking for Amber.

"Amber should be done with her light workout by now. You'll find her out in her cabin. Follow the trail to the right at the fork. Take your time dinner will be ready in a few hours or so." Grandma gives me a soft loving smile as she shoos me out the door.

I use my senses to locate where this cabin is. After a few minutes of walking I come upon this amazing outdoor cabin.

The time and care that it took to make this is evident with every new detail that I notice.

It has a wide open floor plan. With a curtained off room that I imagine to be a bedroom and bathroom area.

There seems to be several bunk beds in one corner. There is also a small kitchen area, a gaming area, and a large open living room area with lots of couches and chairs for seating. I also see a huge deck and dock area out on the side closest to the water. I notice that there are names, badges, and symbols impressed or carved into the railing.

A large pillar catches my attention and I can't help but walk closer to it. I softly trail my fingers lovingly over Amber's name when I see it. I can't help but smile when I also notice Mike and Clay's name beside Amber's. Mike and Amber have a SERE flash beside they're names, while Clay has a carving of a round bomb with a fuse next to his.

I'm so lost in my thoughts that I failed to sense Amber coming up behind me. I'm startled out of my thoughts when she gently places her hand on the small of my back.

"I'm so sorry darlin' I didn't mean to frighten you." Amber apologizes.

"It's not your fault. I was lost in thought." I reassure her.

"You did seem to be thinking awfully hard." Amber teasingly says.

"I was trying to figure out what the names and symbols mean." I reply as I run my fingers over Amber's carved name again.

Amber smiles as she places her hand on the pillar after giving it a few loving pats.

"I brought this from the ranch when my Grandparents sold it and moved here. Clay Mike, and I carved our names into an old pillar in the barn shortly after Mike and I had our Sere Graduation. We stuck a Sere Specialist flask into the pillar and Clay carved a bomb to represent his job working with bombs and ammo."

I smile as I lovingly place my hand over Amber's, who still has a hand on the pillar.

"Everyone else wrote on the railing over there."

Amber grabs my hand and pulls me over to the railing as I stare at the random names and symbols.

Amber continues to point out different people "Here is Wendy's brother Bobby's carving." I couldn't help the small laugh that escapes my mouth as she points to a carving of a Lego piece of all things.

"He's an Army Engineer so he decided to carve a lego piece." Amber explains with a great deal of amusement in her voice.

"Wait I thought Wendy's brother's name was Mario." I confusedly say.

Amber smiles as she explains "I called him Bob The Builder, you know from the children's cartoon, one day jokingly and it kinda stuck. I call him Bobby or Bob most of the time. Wendy's name is on here too."

Amber points to a carving of a book with the title 'Fairy Tales' on the cover.

The more that I look around at all the different names the more details I notice. I'm amazed as I take in all of the different carvings. Most of which are very colorful and uniquely interesting.

"Have you seen the rest of my little getaway?" Amber asks.

"No, how about you give me the tour?" I ask and I grab her hand as she gives me a smile.

As my love shows me her space I can't help but dream of all the intimate moments that we will hopefully share in my mate's sanctuary.

After Amber enthusiastically shows me every detail that she had painstakingly added to her dream living quarters we decide to watch some TV and cuddle up on one of the couches.

Even though we have been spending a lot of time together these last few days we haven't able to spend any quality alone time together.

After an hour or so of a few shared kisses, but mainly consisted of us relishing in being in each others arms cuddling together, we hear my brothers and sisters coming down the trail towards us.

I groan at the thought of being interrupted from the quiet little bubble that Amber and I have created.

I look at Amber and I can tell that she feels the same way as she gives me a small smile as she grabs my chin softly and pulls me in for a kiss.

That's how my siblings find us cuddled up and sharing a kiss.

We would have stayed kissing for at least a few more minutes if it wasn't for the shout from Emmett that had both of us jumping at the sheer volume.

"Wow! This place is beyond amazing. Why haven't we been hanging out here all along!" Emmett said with his usual booming voice.

"Well that's because we have all been preoccupied utilizing all of the fun places around here. Boating, water skiing, jet skis, atv's, just to name a few." Amber replies with a smile as we both stood up off the couch.

"What exactly is this place?" Bella asks as she looks around.

"Well this is my place. My getaway cabin of sorts. My grandparents wanted me to be able to have my own space or sanctuary so to speak. So I built this." Amber explains as she hold her arms out in a wide ta-da kind of gesture.

"You built this?" Edward asks with a lot of amazement in his voice.

"By hand?" Alice adds with wonder in her voice.

"Well I did have a lot of help. But yeah we built it by hand." Amber says with a lot of pride in her voice.

After a small tour everyone heads back to the main house for dinner.

Dinner was filled with conversation mostly revolved around Amber's getaway cabin.

Amber promised to give Esme and Carlisle a tour tomorrow.

The rest of us 'kids' headed back to the cabin for a movie night after dinner while the adults decided to indulge in some wine.

After a few rounds of pool and a movie my siblings decided to call it a night and bid my mate and I a goodnight.

I was reluctant to leave my mates presence so I boldly grabbed my loves hand and let us to the back of the cabin and pulled us into bed.

I shivered, but I couldn't help the smile on my face as I felt the smile on Amber's face as she kissed my neck as we quietly bid each other goodnight.

I fell deep into a meditative state as I heard Amber's breathing and heartbeat slow.

Amber's POV

I woke up feeling so calm and relaxed. I can't help but smile and tighten my arms around Rosalie's waist.

I wish that I could stay like this all day, but knowing that I have to leave tonight I want to be able to spend as much time with my grandparents that I can. So with a soft sigh I untangle my self from Rosalie after I give her head a soft kiss.

I try and not make any noise as I make my way to the edge of my dock overlooking the water.

I stretch out my arms and neck for a few seconds before I swan dive into the lake.

As I break the surface I can't help but relish in the feeling the water gives me.

It's been a tradition as far as I can remember that the first thing in the morning I jump into the water. At least it's a tradition that I've followed whenever I've lived around water.

As I'm making my way back to the dock after swimming a few laps around I notice Rosalie standing on the dock waiting for me.

She looks like a dream standing there in the early morning rays of the sun with a blanket wrapped around her shoulders smiling at me.

I swim over as she sits on the edge of the dock putting her legs into the water.

"Dear, what exactly are you doing in the lake so early in the morning?"

"Well I always jump into the water first thing after waking up. The place I had before the one I live at now in Washington was by the lake and I would jump into the water every morning there as well." I explain.

"Even in the winter?" Rose asks worriedly even though I'm pretty sure that she already knows what the answer would be.

"Of course." I reply like it's a given.

"How about we start a new tradition?" Rosalie asks.

I gives her a confused look so she adds "How about you get out of there and give me a proper good morning greeting to start the day."

Obviously she didn't thing things through because the next thing she knows I wrapped her up in my arms, but the problem was that I was completely soaked as I did so.

I'm pretty sure that I was forgiven when I was pulled her into an earth shattering kiss.

-Time Skip-

Rosalie's POV

Our time in Texas was amazing and my family and I had such a great time.

The best part was that my love and I are finally together and we will be having our fist date on Friday night.

We made it back home Sunday afternoon and I hated to part from Amber, but I knew that she had to get ready for work early Monday morning.

Thankfully Amber would be coming over for family dinner Monday night.

I spent my time from Sunday and all day Monday thinking about what my date on Friday night with my mate would be like.

Amber's POV

"Where is Rosalie?" is the first thing that I ask after I'm let into the Cullen's house.

"I'm right here sweetheart, what's the matter?" Rosalie answers walking into the room.

Everyone knew that there was something wrong by the look on my face.

Rosalie walks right up to me and puts her hands onto my face as she gives me a worried look.

Life has terrible timing and I can't say anything for a few seconds as I realize that what I'm about to say will most likely shatter what Rosalie and I have finally made after so long tip toeing around each other.

I hold onto Rose's waist as I take a few deep breaths as I try to hold onto all of the what could have beens or the life that Rosalie and I could have made if I was just given just a little more time.

"I'm deploying. In less than 72 hours." I blurt out.

I hold Rosalie's gaze as I wait for the inevitable.

It has never been easy loving a military member or trying to keep any kind of relationship with one. There are a few times where you think that it will work out. Like with Mattie, it worked for awhile, but it always ended the same. They said it was the job, or the loneliness of being separated more often than not, or a million other reasons, but they all meant the same thing. That the job and the lifestyle was too much.

It was the same old song and dance that every military member knew by heart.

Maybe we could have made it work if I had more time to lay more of a foundation with Rosalie before I was called away for who knows how long.

"Dinner's ready." Esme announces as she makes her way into the entry hall followed by the rest of the family that wasn't already in the entry way.

"What's wrong?" Carlisle asks after he takes in the faces of most of his children.

I release Rose and take a step away from her. I'm not able to look her in the eyes as I explain the situation to the rest of the family.

"I'm deploying. I'll be gone before the end of the week." I explain with a stoic expression.

There isn't any movement or reaction for a few moments. So I continue to explain. "I don't know where they are sending me, but I do know that it is a blackout base. That means that while I'm there I can't send or receive any mail or have any commutation to the outside. No phone calls, no internet, nothing. I've had a few assignments like this before so at least I know what to expect."

I chance a look at Rosalie as I say guiltily. "I'm sorry. I'm going to have to cancel our date. We can reschedule for when I get back." The look on Rosalie's face tells me that my thoughts are right that we'll never get that first date.

I'm resigned to the fact that my fears are about to come true.

"I understand if you just want to forget the whole thing. It probably would be easier."

I dejectedly say.

Rosalie's POV

That sentence has me snapping out of my thoughts.

"What?! You've changed your mind...about us?" I heartbrokenly ask.

"No! I...just thought that you wouldn't want to. Or that you would want to stop (Amber gestures between us) since this isn't what you signed up for."

I marched right up to Amber so that we are face to face.

"What I signed up for was to be with one of the most incredibly sweet, lovable, and fiercely protective people that I have ever known. This little separation isn't going to change that."

I say as lovingly grab Amber's face as I stroke her jaw throughout my little speech.

Amber gives me a breathtaking smile right before she surges forward and gives me a bruising kiss that has us melting into each other.

After we break apart I say "I only regret that we won't be able to go out on our date and that we'll have to wait who knows how long before we will be able to do anything about it." I longingly say.

I know that my face was full of disappointment but it quickly turned to confusion at the growing smirk on Amber's face.

"Well if you have your heart set on having our date before I leave, then I think I can make that happen" Amber informs me.

"I mean if you want to that is. It would have to be tonight since I won't have any free time starting tomorrow morning. I'll have to do all my paperwork, pack my equipment, and I have to help out at the schoolhouse." Amber continues to ramble.

So I do what has become my favorite thing.

I lean in and kiss my love silent. After a minute or two, but who really knows we break apart.

"Have I told you that I really am loving the way that you shut me up?" Amber says with dazed look on her face.

I can't help the smug feeling that Amber's reaction leaves me with as I say "I would love to have our date tonight."

"Awesome! Ok, so it's about 4pm right now so let's say I'll pick you up around 7pm? That should give me enough time to set everything up. Wear something warm and comfortable." Amber informs me.

"So I take it that it's a surprise? Alright darling I'll see you soon" I give Amber another kiss and continue to say "I can't wait." As I put in an extra sway to my step as I walk up the stairs. I can hear my sister's squeal as they hurriedly follow me up the stairs to help me get ready. As we close my bedroom door the noise from downstairs fades thanks to the soundproofing.

I can't wait see what my mate has in store for us tonight.

Amber's POV

"We will be able to spend some time with you before you have to leave?" Esme asks me hopefully.

"Yes ma'am. Tomorrow morning I'll have to start my paperwork and everything, which will take pretty much all of tomorrow. It's also a busy time at the schoolhouse so I will need to help out there as well, but I should have at least half a day free." I inform the rest of the family.

"Well I will expect you to be over at the house to say goodbye. And please let us know if you need any help." Carlisle tells me.

I can't help but smile as I reply with a "Yes Sir."

"So what do you have planned for tonight?" Emmett asks knowing that I would at least have an idea.

"That I do Em. I could use everyone's help to pull it off though." I look around hopefully.

I can't help but the smile or the laughter that escapes me when Jasper, Emmett, and Edward all tackle me into one big group hug.

The last thing I see before I'm swarmed by the guys is the smiles on Esme and Carlisle's face at the sight of us and our roughhousing.

I really am loving becoming apart of this family.