WHY?
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.
All of the chapters of this story has been beta'd by the lovely dowlingnana and the chapters with mistakes are being replaced.
"Will you do it?"
"Of course. When?"
"Now, tonight. No delays"
"Okay. Let us get packed and off we go."
"Thanks. Just tell them when you get there that things are really bad and this is the only way I could protect my children."
CHAPTER 7: THE POT CALLING THE KETTLE WHAT?
"I am going to write a letter that I want you to give to the person that you will hand the children over to. It will give all of the instructions that need to be said at this time.
"Ang, where do you keep pen and paper?"
Her friends get the necessary instruments and then leaves to get packed.
'Sorry, for the way things are and the way I had to leave, but, no option was left open to me. I am not going into everything that happened as it doesn't matter at this moment. The only thing that does matter is that the children are kept safe.
The situation has escalated to the point that I need to separate them from me and from each other. So, I am writing to give you this much knowledge to keep them safe from harm. Please believe in the seriousness of my statements. I would not be saying this if I didn't know these things for a fact.
Do not contact anyone in the Seattle Police Dept or the FBI, as I am sure you had them involved. There is someone in these areas that pass information along to the wrong people. These are persons that mean us harm, even death if need be.
It would be best to separate the twins and not let anyone know that they are back. Place each with someone that will care for them until this is over. Do not make a habit of going back and forth to see them.
Know that in spite of appearances or mistakes made I still love you, but, I am doing what has to be done. And, no, I cannot say more than what I am saying at the moment. If I never see you again, please, protect my babies, know that I will always love you, and I will be with you forever.
Love forever and always.
She places the letter in an envelope and seals it.
Angie and Ben return with their luggage into the main family room.
"We're ready. What is it that we need to know and to whom do we take the twins?"
"Ang. Ben. Thanks for doing this. Let me just say that I received some information a while back that necessitated in my taking the twins and leaving for the safety of all. I have been on the run ever since. But, with the twins getting older, it is getting harder to just pick up and move without drawing attention to the fact, especially when it has to be done at a moment's notice.
"And, we stand out more now, with them being older and more active than just as babies. With that it can make it easier for someone to track my movements or to locate where I had been. They will have an idea of the stops I need to make for the sake of the children. That is why I have had to make this decision, no matter how much it hurts me to be separated from them. I have to put them first in all things," she finishes explaining while quietly wiping the tears flowing down her face from her eyes.
"Okay, what is the plan?"
"I will leave with the twins and meet you at the airport. Meet me in the first women's restroom closest to the ticket counter as you enter the door. Ben, you go ahead and purchase the tickets for all four of you while I give the kids to Angie. She will meet you at the security gate and all of you will leave together."
"What about baggage for the kids?"
"What you will need, I will have ready at that time. There will be no check through for them. All of it will be strictly carry on."
"Okay. So where do we take them?"
"Take them to Rosalie's. Give her this and then leave. Answer no questions, say nothing other than my letter explains things and just leave. Come back home and pick up your lives as though nothing happened."
"Now, you know that is not going to happen. But, you are going to stay in touch. I don't care how you do it or when you do it. Just do it! That is what we are demanded for doing this for you."
"Okay, Ang, but, no promise on how often."
"Fine. I can live with that as long as it is not once every six months."
"Agreed."
"Now, let's go."
XXXXXXXXXXXX
Everyone's nerves were on edge waiting for the phone call that will give further instructions as to what was to be done with the woman and her brats. No one was completely informed as to the reason for snatching the three, but, they knew not to ask too many questions at any one time. It just wasn't healthy, especially if you enjoyed living and hoped to see a ripe old age.
As time stretched into hours with nothing, but, silence, so, the nerves, the tension, stretched tighter and tighter and became more intense. It would not take much to set off the barely held in tempers of some of the party.
XXXXXXXXXXX
Alice put the final touches to her makeup, trying to down play the bruise that was on her face. She knew that Jasper was going to get apeshit once he saw that. She tried to come up with a good excuse for how it happened, but, decided that the truth was probably better. Hopefully, she could play it off as a minor thing, which of course, it was. At least, it was to her in comparison to what she had found out.
Jasper walks in a little wary, not sure of his wife's temperament after her tone from their earlier conversation. She was not in a very good humor at that time, but, also, clueless as to what kind of altercation had taken place at Jenkins's office. His wife had a bad habit of reacting before thinking and letting her mouth write a check that one of these days her ass would not be able to cash. But, that day hasn't come yet that he knew.
"Baby, where are you?" he asked as he was walking through the house looking for her.
"In the bedroom and I'll be out in just a minute. Quit shouting," laughingly admonished him.
Walking out to where he was she quickly gave him a lovingly, long-lasting, really missed your touch, devouring type of kiss. Long, slow and all into it type of kiss.
"Hell, hon, what a welco… What the hell happened to your face?" he growled as he grabbed under her chin to turn her face towards the light for a better look.
"Not… Shit! I need….." holding her hand up to her husband while moving towards the phone. "Wait! I have to call Rosalie quickly."
"But…."
"Wait, I said. Please."
Quickly dialing her sister-in-law, she waits for an answer. As soon as she hears "Your dime, my time, speak."
"Rosie, I need for you to stay home for tonight. No, I will need to have you on the phone for the meeting so you will hear everything. But, you need to be at home for something. Don't know. Just know that you need to be there," she informs her.
"Alice, what the hell is going on?"
"As I said, I don't know. Just a feeling I have that you need to be included in the meeting by phone and be available at home. I can't tell you any more than that."
"Okay. I'll stay here, but, make sure I can hear what is said. I want to know what Jenkins had to say and what the sleazy, slimy, sleep in a ditch bitch had to say."
"Will do. Now I have to get the computer ready to Skype Renee and Phil in Florida."
Jasper just looks at his wife and shakes his head. "Now, tell me what happened to your face. And, I noticed that you avoided telling Rose about the bruise that is covering the left side of your face."
"Tanya was there and we had words. She didn't like what I had to say and expressed her opinion at my choice of words."
Jasper and Alice lived in a gated area just outside of Seattle. Their home was quite elegant and decorated in a European style influence. It was comfortable with a welcoming atmosphere to it without being overpowering or flashy, broadcasting lots of money. It would accommodate a growing family with no stress.
Everyone else arrived at just about the same time. The driveway was full of the different choice of vehicles each member of the family preferred to drive. Carlisle and Esme arrived in a Mercedes, while Edward's was a Saleen, and since Emmett was the only one to show, he was driving his Jeep 4x4. Alice's Porsche and Jasper motorcycle were parked to one side in the garage with the door open.
Jasper opened the door to let everyone in and motioned for them to go on to the living room. Esme was the first one to enter the room as Alice looked up and smiled in greeting. She quickly noticed the bruising on the side of her daughter's face.
"Is that the result of the Tanya incident earlier that you told me about?" she asked with little concealed anger.
"Yeah, but, don't worry about it. It looks worse than it really is," she utters while waving her hand to her mother to stop any further questions. "We have more important things to deal with tonight."
Oversized, grizzly bear Emmett comes in wanting to know why Rosalie was staying home and participating over the phone. Everyone looks at him like he has lost his mind.
"What do you mean Rose is not coming?"
"Mom, I will explain after everyone gets seated and Charlie should be here at any time. I really do not want to start until then."
Just about that time a knock is heard and Jasper goes to open the door. Of course, it is Charlie Swan with Jacob Black. As they enter the living room Alice gets a horrified look on her face.
"Charlie, I think you had a very bad idea. Very bad, indeed."
"Why, Miss Alice, what would that bad idea be? This is a meeting to hear what that investigator has found out since the last report."
"Okay. But, you stay close to Jacob and Emmett you sit next to Edward. I don't want my house torn apart by those two getting into it."
Alice sits down in a chair next to an end table and asks, "Renee, can you and Phil hear okay at your end?"
"Yes, everything is loud and clear." She picks up her cell phone and ask, "Rose, I am putting you on speaker, so let me know if all is clear at your end."
"I am hearing you clearly."
"Okay, I guess the best way to do this is to just begin from the moment I walked into the office and fill in from there. But, before Emmett jumps at me again about Rosalie not being here, I had a feeling that she needed to be at home this evening while everyone was here. But, she also, needed to hear the report. That is why I called and set it up this way. Don't ask me why it needs to be this way; it just does."
"I was running a little late getting to Jenkins office, had a hard time finding a parking slot. Anyways, as I open the door I see Tanya standing there and we, of course, had a few words which she took exception to and voiced her opinion in a more physical manner. An associate of Mr. Jenkins took her off into another office to speak with her while Jenkins remained with me.
"He mentioned that he had just gotten back into town after checking out some lead that had taken him to New York where Bella and the children had stayed for two months right after disappearing. After that time frame they just left without anyone seeing them go and no word left as to where they might be going.
"One of the messenger services that had delivered one of the packages that week before they went missing has been located, but, the person that actually left the package quit the service and they are trying to find him now to question him.
"Next, he said he had found out something about you, Edward, and you, Jacob Black. But, before he could continue we were interrupted by his associate a Mr. Locke.
"I can, also, tell you this, before Edward interrupts, that Bella and the twins were alive and well during this time, but, kept strictly to themselves. Never going out unless absolutely necessary and speaking to no one. "
Before Alice can continue, Renee asks her, "You said that my daughter and grandbabies were alive and well at that time?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Okay."
"Edward, Jacob, I do not want any questions, statements or excuses issued until I have finished. Is this understood?" They both nod and stay quiet.
"Good. Now to continue with the report. Jenkins said that from the facts they have been able to gather from the located agency and from what the sender of the package indicated, the package was sent from Paris which supposedly contained some pictures of Edward and some woman he knew or knows in Paris. The package was simply labeled 'Cullen' with the address and nothing else."
As she was speaking Edward went a deathly white. Everyone turned to look at him, but, it seemed no one could formulate the words to ask him what the hell was going on. Demanding for him to give an explanation. At the same time Jacob started to rise, but, Charlie grabbed his arm, forcing him to stay seated.
Alice caught the movement from Jacob and looking him straight in the eyes, said, "I wouldn't be so quick to take umbrage on someone else when you are guilty in this as well, Mr. Black." With her saying this everyone looks to Jacob, including Charlie Swan.
"Jacob, is there something you want to say before she continues," asks Charlie.
He just shakes his head no and stays silent.
"Very well. It seems that Mr. Jenkins had located evidence that Mr. Black here helped Bella to disappear along with the twins and eliminated the clues afterwards."
"You m-fucking bastard." Edward yells while making a lunge for him. Emmett quickly grabs him and sits him back down. "I don't think that will accomplish anything, Bro. You both have some questions to answer and they had better be truthful and damn good answers as well."
"Now, it seems that Tanya may have been able to provide some information as towards motive of why Bella took the twins and left, but, Mr. Jen….."
"Alice, hold that thought. I need to answer the door." So, everyone goes quiet while Rosalie goes to see who is at the door. All of a sudden they hear her in the background yelling, "OH MY GOD. OH, MY GOD. OH, MY GOD." That seems to be all she can get out. They hear other people, a man and a woman, speaking in the background, but, can't understand what is being said.
After a few minutes Rose returns into the room and can be heard to say, "Put them down gently on the sofa and thank you so, so much."
"Rosie, what is going on?" Emmett shouts into the phone at her.
"Em, I…. Edward…Esme, Carlisle, Alice, I…. I….I…"
"Rose, darling, what is it?" Esme asked of her daughter-in-law.
"Esme, the children have just been delivered to me with a letter from Bella. She gave explicit instructions that no one was to be told about the children or where they were and that we were to read her letter before taking any action. That no action was to be taken other than what she states in her letter."
The whole room has gone shell shocked quiet. No reaction, no muscle moved. Not even a breath drawn or exhaled.
A/N: Hope you are enjoying the story so far. Now, you know where the children are went. What do you think the reaction will be? What do you think Edward did in Paris? What do you think is going to happen to the woman and her children? How is everyone going to react to Jacob's involvement, especially Charlie and Renee? What will Tanya's friend do?
I would like to thank all you have read my story so far, as there have been a good number of hits and alerts, even though, I have not received many reviews as yet. I welcome your comments of both good and bad as they show an interest.
I will try to update again next Saturday. Please review the story and let me know what you think.
