Prologue - November 1952

Army Sergeant Edward Colonna returns home after six years overseas, only to find the love of his life in one, Isabella Swan. Can their love survive the test of time when he is sent away again? (Set during the Korean War era; late 1940's to early 1950's). Originally written for the Christmas Wishes Compilation..This is an expanded version.

**** You Belong to Me ****

Disclaimer- Stephenie still owns the usual suspects.
I own my original characters and original story.

Many thanks to Cared Cullen for taking the time out, during the Christmas rush to help me with it. She designed the beautiful banner and beta'd the story which included assistance with the Gaelic. You are the best my dear!

At the end of the final chapter, I will reveal details of the true story which inspired this fiction.

Prologue***November, 1952***

"Your sister looks beautiful."

My mother's voice sounded softly in my ear as she took a seat in the chair next to mine.

I nodded, watching as my baby sister, her eyes shining, swept past us in Paul's arms, sharing this, their first dance as husband and wife.

November 1949

***Three Years Earlier***November, 1949***

Supper over, Alice and I were doing dishes when the front door opened with a bang. We knew who it was, before he spoke a single word.

Em never did anything quietly.

"Ma, your favorite son-in-law is here!" He bellowed from the parlor, causing the two of us to giggle.

Mom was laughing and shaking her head from where she sat at the kitchen table, enjoying a cup of tea during a rare moment of peace.

December 1949

***December, 1949***

The weeks leading up to Christmas were hectic, as always, even more so this year as we prepared for the arrival of Em and Rose's baby.

Strangely enough, I saw Ed quite often during that time. It all began when I was invited to Joe and Elise's house to play pinochle, and Ed was there when I arrived. After that, it seemed that every time Alice and I went to visit at Rose and Em's, he was either already there or arrived shortly after.

January to March 1950

***January, 1950***

Hurried footsteps along the hall woke me before dawn. Alice and I scurried out of bed, only to find both our parents dressed for the day and milling around the kitchen.

"What's happened?" Alice asked, her face a mirror of my worried expression.

"Nothing's wrong," Mom smiled, but I could see a hint of fear in her eyes. "I was just comin' to wake ya. Em's takin' Rosie to the hospital."

May 1950

***May, 1950***

For months, everything had been perfect.

Too perfect.

I should have known it was too good to last.

One Friday evening, when both Joe and Ed were required to stay late on base, Elise and I were invited to Vicky's for dinner. Vicky explained that Jimmy was working late as well, and the three of us could have a 'girls' night'. She was so intimidating, even over the telephone, that I didn't dare refuse.

June 1950

***June 1950***

The day after Ed's telephone call, the girls and I spent the morning at the beach. With nothing to distract me but the sound of waves crashing against the shore, and the occasional happy squeal of a young child chasing the surf, I was able to truly reflect upon the past few days.

Thinking about Ed, it was easy to forget the angry expression from the last time we'd been together. In my mind's eye, all I could see was his tender smile; the one he wore just before his lips would met mine in a tender kiss.

I sighed and closed my eyes.

I missed him.

July to September 1950

**July, 1950***

The following weeks passed in a flurry of activity.

Ed still had his job at the base and I still had mine at the mill, but we tried our very best to spend our evenings together.

Many of those evenings were also spent in the company of family and friends who had missed Ed for six long years, and were about to lose him again. I couldn't begrudge them their time with him, but I lived for those evenings that we were able to be alone.

January to July 1951

***January, 1951***

January 1, 1951

Dearest Bella,

First of all, let me thank you for the cookies. They were delicious, and arrived just in time for Christmas. I can't tell you how much it meant to return to my barracks on Christmas Eve and have a little something from home waiting for me. The fact that they were baked by you made them all the more special.

August to December 1951

***August, 1951***

I was seething.

It was the night before Alice and Jasper's wedding, and we'd just suffered through what had to be the most painful wedding rehearsal in history.

Even though Alice had hoped that Father Kucinski's attitude toward her marriage would change once her classes were completed, I hadn't seen any evidence tonight of that being the case.

January to September 1952

***January 1952***

After my accident, I'd made the decision not to mention it to Ed and I'd asked his family to follow suit. The way I saw it, there was no need to burden him unnecessarily, especially considering that letters from home took weeks to reach the soldiers, and I'd be back to my old self long before he'd get word of it.

Unfortunately, I'd neglected to tell Patty to keep the information to himself; the result being the arrival of rather an emotional letter from my Sarge.

Return to November 1952

***Return to November, 1952***

Needing a distraction from the sight of the happy couples on the dance floor, I went in search of my sister Rose. As soon as I found her, I snatched little Charlie from her arms, knowing that he would sit contentedly on my lap as long as I made sure to continuously feed him bits of wedding cake.

A short time later, his belly full of cake, he fell asleep in my arms. I brushed back the wisps of blonde curls and kissed his round, red cheek. I remembered Ed saying he'd been blonde when he was small, and I let myself daydream that someday I'd hold in my arms an angel very similar to this one, part of Ed and part of me.

Epilogue - December 1952

Disclaimer- Stephenie still owns the usual suspects.
I own my original characters and original story.

Thanks again to Cared Cullen for all her help!

(Very long author's note at the end)

************************YBTM********************

***December, 1952***

The next few weeks were the happiest I could ever remember, despite the fact that Ed and I had our second falling out during that time.

It all began as an offhand remark made by Elise while Rose, Alice, and I were visiting her one Saturday afternoon.

We all sat around the kitchen table while the men were down in the basement helping Joe install wood paneling, in preparation for the New Year's Eve party Joe and Elise were hosting.

"Really looking forward to Christmas this year," Rose remarked as we nodded in agreement, "Think about it, it's the first Christmas since Ed went away where all the family will be together."