Gingerbread Love

Chapter-7: EPOV

A/N: Thank you for your massive response to the previous chapter. I will respond to your reviews shortly.

Shall we carry on with our tale for now?

Chapter-7: EPOV

When I step foot in Iraq, I feel optimistic, thinking of how the same time next year, I'll be home with my wife.

My wife.

My Bella.

The thought of my new bride waiting for me at home is what keeps me going.

In the army, the most unbearable thing is loneliness. Imagine patrolling miles across mountainous land or in the middle of the desert with no one but your comrades in sight. You start to yearn for the family you left behind at home. So when it's just us soldiers, the topic of our discussions naturally turns to who left whom behind and what are they planning to do to their girlfriends or wives when they get home.

I never take part in these testosterone-filled discussions, choosing to simply state that my wife is waiting for me and I missed her. However, when I'm alone with my thoughts, my mind always goes back to the days I spent getting lost in our own world in my Bella's arms. At night, when the air gets so chilly that army issued sleeping bags can't keep me warm, I try to escape the cold by imagining Bella's warm embrace.

When on Christmas day, we get to call our families, I call my Bella. Hearing her whisper my name with a mixture of relief and desperation fills my soul with the happiness I've only ever experienced with her. Bella sounds tired as she tells me about how she's glad to have the time off for holidays. I tell her to take care of herself for me. When we hang up, I have a smile plastered on my face that makes my comrades laugh and call me a love-struck fool. I don't really mind being a fool for Bella.

As the weeks roll on to months, the loneliness starts to get to me. I send Bella e-mails when I can, but her answers start sounding subdued. Working with the hot middle-eastern sun, my mind races wondering if something is wrong with my wife.

In the beginning of March, after getting a brief response from Bella to my lengthy e-mail, I decide that I need to check in on her. So I put in a request for a phone call home. Two days later, when Bella answers my call, her voice is barely recognizable to me.

"Bella? How are you doing, sweetheart?" I ask the moment she picks up the call.

"Edward?" her voice sounds alarmed at hearing from me. "What's wrong? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," I answer. "How are you?"

"Fine," she answers offhandedly. "Do you need me to send anything from home?"

I frown at the nonchalance in her voice. "Bella, is everything alright? You don't sound like yourself, honey."

There's silence from the other side before I hear a soft sob.

"Bella!" I call out, gripping the phone tightly in my hand as if it's my lifeline. "Baby, please, you're scaring me. Talk to me."

For a few moments, all I hear are sniffles from her end. Once she quietens, she says in a groggy voice, "I'm sorry, Edward, I'm always crying these days. I miss you like crazy and ..."

"And what, Bella?" I prompt when she doesn't complete the thought. "You sounded like you're mad at me."

"I am," she says immediately. "I mean I was. I know I shouldn't have be like this, but I need you with me. Now more than ever."

My heart feels like it's about to break in two as I close my eyes and lean my head back in dejection. "Honey, it's just a few more months, in nine months, I'll be home to you." I try to soothe her.

"And in six months, the baby will be here!" she snaps at me before starting to sob again. "How can I deal with him alone, Edward? We're supposed to do this together."

"Baby?" I choke out the word, positive that I've heard her wrong. "Do you mean ...?"

"Yes, Edward," she tells me. "I'm pregnant."

I take a few moments to process the news as a new ray of hope starts to spread in my heart. "No, sweetheart," I say to her softly. "We're pregnant, and I am so happy, Bella. This is the best thing in the world. We're going to be parents!"

My exuberance seems to alleviate whatever worries she had, and when we hang up, she sounds equally excited at the prospect of having our very own family.

When I lie in my sleeping bag that night, I dream of going back home.

To my wife and my child.

To my family.

A/N: So yeah ... a few of you guessed it right. :D

And just so you know, we're halfway done with this story.

Share your thoughts with me and leave a review.

Thanks for reading.

See you tomorrow.

Love,

Ann