A/N: This is my first attempt at writing fan-fiction, so please be kind. This story is dedicated to my friend, Lori (aka aidanmomma). She keeps me supplied with story recs, music, support, and love. This will be a short story, 6 chapters in all. I hope you enjoy it!

Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns all things Twilight. I spend many hours dreaming about her characters. It's a fair compromise.

Song rec and story inspiration (to be listened to while reading this chapter): www . youtube . com / watch?v=mikudzy6Ddo

Prologue

March, 1945

"It's going to be over soon," she murmured, her tears dampening his chest, their fingers twined together, resting over his steady heart.

"What's going to be over soon, Sweetheart?" he asked, tightening his arm around her, his nose gently nuzzling the hair at her temple, silently bidding her to lift her head.

"Our time together, in the blink of an eye, it seems. Oh, I wish we could stay here longer. Forever."

He could hear the heartache in her voice, and he longed to comfort her. "Oh, Darling," a sad sigh escaped his lips.

"I remember it all like it just happened, like it was yesterday," her voice softening to a whisper.

"Tell me about it, Darling. Tell me about our yesterday." He knew she needed him as much as he needed her.

"I remember the call to serve, the call that led me to you. Though it was horrible, I'm so grateful for it. I love you so much, my heart hurts. I never want it to end. I never want to spend a moment without you in my life."

"Our life," he gently reminded her, "and our time apart will go by in the blink of an eye."

"Yes, our life." She was buoyed by this fact. "It's not been a solitary life, since the moment I found you covered in sweat and dust and blood." Her sad brown eyes brightened with the declaration.

"Well, that paints an attractive picture," he chuckled softly. "But, a true picture, nonetheless. Tell me more."

"I remember how weary you would become, but you were determined. You would not rest, when so many lives were counting on you. I loved you in that moment," she responded, with new energy in her voice.

"Then you came and asked me to come away with you. 'Come away'…" he whispered, slowly, remembering.

"And you came with me."

He ran his nose along her jaw line, and looked into her eyes, "I had to. One look in your eyes, on your beautiful face, and I couldn't deny you anything."

Wrapping her arms tightly around him, she said, "You were so troubled. You knew; you knew that while you rested, they suffered. Some would lose limbs, some would lose their lives while you were resting. Such heavy burdens weighed you down."

"You eased my burden," he declared, simply.

"I tried," she stated matter-of-factly, placing a soft kiss on his forehead.

"You succeeded. You brought joy to my life, when there was nothing but suffering all around me," he said, gently cupping her cheek with his hand. "You gave me hope for a future, a brighter future that was just on the horizon. I knew then it was within reach."

"What was within reach?" she asked, perplexed by his choice of words.

"Our life."

She reveled in those two words. "What a gift you are to me. The words are too inadequate, but I love you."

"With all of my breath, and life, and soul. Sweetheart, our journey has not come to its end. There is more. There will be so much more for us." Of this he was certain.

"You still have hope," she stated, with a bright smile adorning her face.

His heart bursting full, he fervently whispered, "I still have you."

A/N: Thanks so much for reading. Let me know what you think!

~ Johanna