THAT'S MY WIFE

Disclaimer: The Cullens, the Swans, and most of the characters mentioned in the story that are known from Stephanie Meyer's beloved Twilight Saga, are all hers and hers alone. I neither have nor wish to pass them off as mine. I do appreciate the fact that she did bring them to life and allows us to play with them in our imaginations. The only thing I will claim is the current storyline.

This chapter has been beta'd by dowlingnana and her work is making the story flow more smoothly.

Jasper lightly laughed and agreed that that was typical Alice fashion. One of the airline employees that handle curbside check in took control of Alice's baggage to check it through while Bella oversaw to it and Alice was busy saying goodbye to Jasper; promising to be calling often and that they would be back in no time.

Waving goodbye, getting back within his car, Jasper left as both women breathed a sigh of relief that he hadn't asked any further questions. While walking inside, going to check in at the ticket counter and then heading through security they arrived at the gate just as their flight was called. Unknown to both women was the fact that Jasper had only gone far enough to park his car and then he doubled back to keep an eye on both women. He knew they had a certain destination in mind and wanted to know where they were going. It didn't take long for him to have that information and sense of worry started, but, he chose to ignore it for the time being. He thought he would surprise them in a few days by showing up after his Alice and Bella got settled.

CHAPTER 4: GETTING INTO POSITION

Bella and Alice boarded their plane which would be making a stopover in New York before they continue on to Morocco by way of Paris. After spending a few days in Morocco their journey on to DR Congo; the stopover in Morocco will be for the two to become accustom to the climate and to gather further information about their final destination, Kinshasa, the capitol city of DR Congo.

More research and certain decisions still needed to be made about how and what Bella would be doing her story about. It was definitely going to involve the conditions and the troubles that the inhabitants were facing. But, Bella needed to decide where and who she would be covering as this would let her know who she would have to be dealing with as well.

"Why are we stopping over in New York?" Alice questioned Bella as the plane was taking off.

"Oh, we aren't staying in New York except overnight. Josef will be meeting us there and then we will continue on to Paris where we change flights onto Morocco. That is where we will be staying for a few days."

"Paris?! We are going to Paris and not do any shopping? Are you insane? Paris! The fashion Mecca of the world and you don't want to do any shopping. How in the hell did you and I ever become friends? We don't have anything, fashion wise, in common. You hate shopping and I live for it." Alice continued on and on and at times repeating herself. Bella just smiled and let her friend continue while tuning her out. She had been prepared for this as she knew what Alice's reaction was going to be once she had learnt about their route.

Josef had been visiting with his family in New York when Bella had called to inform him of the upcoming assignment and wanted to know if he wanted to join her, or, if he could recommend someone to cover for him. He had quickly told her that under no circumstances was he going to allow anyone else to film her on assignment. That was his job and only he could get the shots that she needed to make her points of the story. "You knew better than to even suggest using someone else. We've worked together since the beginning of time and only I know what it is that you truly want and how to film it while making you look good while still being part of what you are covering." He told her seriously, but, with a touch of humor coming through his tone and in the words he spoke.

So, Josef was going to be meeting Bella and Alice at the airport to begin the next leg of their travel. Although, the DR Congo was peaceful for the most part, internal wars are still flaring and bringing hardship to its citizens. But, Josef knew Bella and her work well enough to know that that was just part of the story she would be going after. There was another layer to the struggles that hadn't been touched and that would be where she would be angling the story.

Josef was waiting at the gate as Bella and Alice exited the plane. He greeted both women with enthusiasm once they were standing in front of him. "All ready for the next part of the trip?" He asked just to get a rise out of Alice. Knowing the little bits was fashion crazy since the time she had become part of the team by doing the odds and ends needed and keeping Bella looking fresh at the same time. Not fresh in the sort of way that fashion models always appeared in film, on the runway, or, on the cover of a magazine, but, what was necessary for the subject they were covering at the time. Of course, she had never ventured out into the field when he and Bella had to travel a distance to cover parts of a story in the rough areas. At those times she had been left to her own devices which turned out to always be shopping for this, that or the other. So, he always thought of her as being a little flakey due to that obsession and her bouncing around the she was electrically charged all the time.

"Hey, flakey, how's it going? You okay with missing Paris this time around?" He asked knowing full well that she would have a lot to say or give him the death stare with the pouty silence. And, true to form, all he got was the glare and the silence. Raising an eyebrow in question he greeted Bella and she just chuckled while explaining why Alice was remaining quiet.

All three move towards the gate where their flight to Paris is waiting to be boarded by its passengers. And conversation flows freely as they discuss what concepts Bella wants to cover and the types of issues she wants to bring to light. Then he asked, "What is Flakey going to be doing during the days we're out in the field?"

But, before Bella could answer Alice responded, "I'm going to be with you this time. It's time for me to become a more seriously productive member of the team, so, I'm going with you." Bella just smiled, looked at Josef and remarked, "I guess that solves that issue."

It seemed like no time had passed before their flight was called for boarding and a short time later they were in the air. Once they landed in Paris there was a small problem of Alice wanting just a twenty four hour layover, but, she got vetoed quickly. Bella reminded her of her promise about Paris, so, Alice, with small grace, gave up and went along with the others quietly only mumbling under her breath now and again about barbaric heathens.

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Jasper shrugged as he found out Alice's and Bella's destination in Africa, but, a small nagging feeling began, but, it wasn't any one fact that he could bring to the forefront above any other that would explain why he was feeling that something was a little off about this trip. He was fairly sure that it involved a bit of a story from Bella's side while Alice was trying to get ideas for a clothing line. It was known by all of them that she was developing a line of clothing that she was wanting to project in hopes of becoming a better known designer. That was her dream that family and friends encouraged her towards.

After leaving the airport Jasper decided to go to his office and get some work done. He had his own investment company which dealt strictly with his different projects of which he had funds involved. It all grew from very early to the present that he had to open an office and hire people to help him keep up with the changing circumstances of this changing economy.

He had to admit that even though he had had a nagging feeling like something being out of place or about to happen, not knowing any other way to describe it; he soon shrugged it off and forgot about it. That is except for the decision to clear his schedule to join the party in the next few days. He wanted to surprise her. Then he changed his mind and thought better of the surprise. It would be better to let her know he was coming and when once he got his schedule planned. Alice liked, in fact, she loved surprises more than anyone he knew, but, not if she felt like he was trying to catch her doing some wrong. That angered her to no end and he would pay for it in the long run. Her memory was longer than he enjoyed at times. And, as that thought came to mind he smiled thinking of some of the times her memory had made him very uncomfortable.

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A certain assignment had come across Edward's desk that he wanted to have Bella cover. He felt it was the type of story that Bella had a flare for doing and doing it well, but, it gave him a peace of mind since it was safe and held very little, if any, threat to her safety. It had to do with possible corruption in the area of some officials in the foster care system. She would have a better chance of rooting out the necessary facts of the story where others wouldn't even know where to start.

He was starting to get a bit concerned since he had been trying to call her several different times of the day for the last few days. Leaving messages and sending texts resulted in no results, no answer from her in any form. But, this wasn't unusual for her to be this way when it came to him and his trying to contact her. When she wasn't in the office she refused to talk with him unless he left the message about an assignment. Then and only then would she call him back, but, as yet, this time, she hasn't responded. Maybe, he should go by her place just to check up on her. Or, it might be better to call Alice since she was in communication with Bella all the time about everything under the sun, and, maybe, above it also.

He knew that he would get through to her quicker if he could change his attitude about some of the stories she wanted to cover. The overseas, hard hitting, in depth stories about the injustices done to the people that have no control over what is thrown at them, or, the story about government corruption that causes harm to others. These types of stories bring a certain amount of danger and threats that he found it hard to handle. He tried in the beginning, but, found it very difficult to stay quiet and let her go over to cover them.

But, this not calling him at all really got on his last nerve at times, but, he knew that if he just left the message about the story she would call back immediately. However, he just had to try to see if she would call back just to talk with him, but, it never happened. She had told him that it would be that way as she was tired of the constant arguing and she had held to that.

He tried calling Alice, but, there was no answer there, either. But, that didn't set off any warning bells since she was always off doing something that had to do with fashion and designing her own line of clothing.

At this point, Edward decided to call it a day, but, decided that he would give it another day before going back to talk with Bella. She needs to realize that he still loved her beyond reason, but, only wanted her safe. It would kill him if anything ever happened to her.

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Bella, Alice and Josef landed in Morocco, gathered their bags and rented a car. Loading all of their things into the trunk they headed to their hotel to get some much needed rest before starting their research tomorrow. The plan was to be here only three days before heading to their final destination so they could acclimatize themselves.

A/N: Okay, we have Bella and party nearing their final destination to start working on the story. We have Jasper planning to join them in a few days and Edward not even aware that Bella and Alice were heading overseas was unaffected by their plans.

Hope you will enjoy the new story. Give me your thoughts and I'll be glad to answer back.