THE MISFORTUNES OF BEING A WOMAN

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.

"You know, I keep getting the feeling that I should know you. Almost like I have seen you before, but, I can't quite place where." Bella said in a quiet voice kind of like she was thinking out loud.

"Where are you going to be staying while in Chicago?" Esme asked.

"No where. It is just a quick stop over and then on to Seattle and home. I will only be in Chicago about an hour or two at the most."

"I can offer you a place to stay if you would like to rest a bit." Esme offered her.

"No, thank you. It won't take me long to do what I need to do and then I'm out of Chicago on my way to my home."

And as they finished their conversation, Jasmine had finished eating only to doze back off as the plane was preparing to land. Once on the ground Bella called for two taxis to meet them and both women went on their way. As Esme pulled away she sent a text to her husband of her location and what was going on.

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The Swan and Cullen families took off from the private landing strip in Charleston to meet in Chicago and hopefully catch up with Bella before something happened to her.

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Meanwhile the men Jacob Black had sent to Savannah were boarding a plane to return to Chicago and getting themselves mentally ready to deal with a pissed off boss. They hadn't been able to come up with anything about the woman or her kid.

CHAPTER 14:

Esme, not truly knowing what Bella's plans might be, was a bit worried and hesitant as to what her actions should be. Her choices were very limited; however, she did know that she needed to keep Bella and Jasmine here in Chicago until the families could arrive and safe at the same time. It was going to be a bit difficult since Bella wasn't very forthcoming with her plans.

With no other idea of what to do she decided to have the taxi take her to where their cars were parked at the landing field where their plane was kept. From there she would head over to Edward's and keep a watchful eye out for Bella. She was planning to contact the father so that would be her destination. And, Esme thought that would be the best place to be. Starting there it would be easy enough to follow and be on the watch to make sure both mother and child remained safe with Black's bunch running loose all over town.

While Esme was busily putting her plans into action Bella was rethinking her plans of action. Due to the early morning hour and the effect traveling could be having on Jasmine she decided to check into a hotel for a few hours. They both could use the rest and she would be able to give further thought as to how to approach her baby's father. Not that it really made any difference as to whether he believed her or not. The baby was here and he either wanted to know or didn't. It was that simple to her.

By nightfall she planned to be in Seattle to get both herself and Jasmine settled in their new home. At that point she will call her family to inform them of changes in her life, but, she hadn't quite thought out how she was going to approach that information. To say that her dad would go ballistic would be an understatement of the first degree. Her mother would gush about Jasmine and then start demanding answers of a different kind, but, similar in nature to what her father would be demanding. And the final two members of the family, her brothers, would be ready to head out loaded for bear. They would mess up anyone that messed with their little sister. But, after all was said and done, the fact would remain that they would want to meet and welcome the newest member of the family into the household.

It didn't take long for Bella to get them checked in and up to their room. She then called her pilot to let him know that he could get some rest since they wouldn't be leaving until late this afternoon. With that news he was thankful and agreed to meet his passengers back at the hanger at five in the evening ready for takeoff.

That taken care of, Bella followed Jasmine's example and dozed off to sleep for a while before heading over to the apartment where her baby had been conceived.

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Charlie was fully prepared for a showdown once they got to Chicago. For he knew he was about to learn the identity of the man that fathered Bella's child. Once he had that information that person would no longer see the light of day. He would see to that. Of course, he knew Jasper and Edward would want a piece of him as well. That wasn't something he could promise his sons, but, he would try. Never once did Charlie consider that Edward might want to have a say in what would happen to the man that dared to touch a woman he want, but, he would have to find his place in line which at this point was at the end.

As Charlie's thoughts reached this point he paused to reflect upon what he hadn't taken time to think about while looking for Bella. Once the two families joined forces, sort of, anyways, Jasper and Emmett had been quietly, but, busily, eyeballing the two Cullen daughters, Alice and Rosalie. Now, he could say that the signals coming from the two ladies were had to misunderstand. They seemed too interested in his two boys as well. Then he wondered if Renee had noticed anything? Should he ask her or ask the boys what was going on? He decided to discuss it with his wife once they had a private moment, but, would wait to see how things played out between the four people.

Now, if Charlie had been present for the conversation taking place in the Cullen plane, things might have been headed in a different direction. But, that could possible make a lot of decisions and relationships move on to a more slippery slope of affairs.

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"I would sincerely like to know how the hell your mother managed to pull off getting that close to Bella and the baby." Carlisle was telling Edward. The two women were listening, but, said nothing. Each member of the family knew that Esme had a way of doing things that surprised them all the time since they were unable to find a way to manage what she does without causing problems.

"Dad, all is well and good about Mom finding a way to be with Bella and the baby, but, how the hell are we going to be able to catch up with them before she leaves Chicago? I want to know my daughter as much as I want her mother in my life."

"Son, you do know that Charlie is going to be hard to contain once he finds out that you are the father and he wasn't told?"

"It's a chance I have to take. I'm sure in the long run things will work themselves out once I can get to Bella and talk with her."

After that everyone was silent for a while until Edward decided to question his sisters about the Swan brothers. Both Alice and Rosalie admitted to a strong interest in the two, but, wouldn't add anything further to the conversation or answer any more questions concerning Edward's interest in their personal affairs. Just like a brother to get involved at the wrong end of the moment. And, although, he hasn't said anything as yet, both girls fully expect their father to comment somewhere along the line about what he has observed. It would be very unlike him if he didn't.

"Dad, how do you feel about the Swans and the two families now being combined?" Alice asked in a mild tone.

"I would have no problem with it whatsoever, as long as my children were happy and safe in the relationships they formed with them." and with that being said in such a manner as to let everyone know that he was aware of all of the undercurrents that had been passing back and forth between the Swan boys and his two daughters.

"Does that mean we won't have to sneak around to see them? That you would approve?"

"For now. It seems that I have no chose since they are already connected to the family due to your brother's relationship with their daughter and we now have a new member to the family."

"I am eager to see my little niece. And, then to get to go shopping for her." Remarks Alice. Rosalie agrees with her sister wholeheartedly. She wanted to hold the baby and make a fuss over her as well.

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Both the Swan and Cullen planes were getting ready to land as the commercial plane coming into landed at the public airport carrying the three men working for Jacob Black. These three were not looking forward to facing their boss. His temper when any of his men failed at doing their job as ordered was well known to lead to permanent damage to the ones that failed.

It wasn't that they didn't try, but, the information they had led to nowhere and they couldn't find any way to discover this young woman. She just managed to drop completely out of sight. Neither idea nor any information could be discovered to indicate where this woman was hiding or what her plans might be.

They needed to find her since she was able to hang all of them if the FBI managed to get a hold of her and she told what she had seen. But, she was also a way to have a hold over the Cullen family since they seemed to be involved with her. The big question was why was a family from the northwest becoming involved and allying with the Cullen bunch.

Time to check in and then get some rest if they survived the coming meeting with Jacob and Sam.

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Esme had been outside her son's apartment for the better part of the morning waiting for Bella and Jasmine show, but, so far nothing. She was starting to get very worried that she might have encountered some problems on the way. Esme knew she should have stayed and insisted that they all stay together.

Several difference types of individuals had come and gone during the morning hours and she was about ready to try to find Bella when a very familiar car pulls up. Edward and the rest of her family were back before Bella arrived.

A/N: Well, we all are back in Chicago, but, in different places getting ready to head for one center location; Edward's apartment. It seems that time was moving forward for the true to be determined. How will everyone react? Will Jacob discover that Bella is back in Chicago? If so, what will he do?

Hope you are still enjoying the story. Please take the time to review and let me know your thoughts. I will definitely answer back.

NOTE: The date for my eye surgery has now been set and will happen on June 11, 2012. I do thank all of you for the many well wishes that you have sent and don't doubt about the stories as they will be kept up to date. I just might be a little slow for a day or so.