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.

"Alice, try Josef's number again, please." Was all Edward asked after impatiently waiting a couple of hours for a return call from the last message left for him. And, since this was the third try he was fully prepared and expecting to hear the answer machine once more.

Neither he nor Alice were prepared for the surprise of Josef answering himself.

CHAPTER 25: A DECISION: RIGHT OR WRONG

"Hello." Answered the male voice on the phone at the number Alice had called.

"Josef, is that you?" Was the only thing that her mind could think to utter, that was how surprised she was after all of the misses and voicemails she had left. To finally have him answer wasn't what she had been expecting.

"Of course, it's me, Alice. This is Alice, right?"

"Yes. Yes, it's me. I've been trying to reach you for hours. Why haven't you called me back, or, at least, answered your phone?"

"I had my phone on silence so we could work and get everything finalized on the story. We're turning it in tomorrow." He explained to the slightly flustered sounding woman. "But, what has you in such a flutter that you've spent all of this time trying to reach me?"

"Is Bella there with you?"

"Not at the moment. She's left for the night and we'll be meeting up in the morning to turn in the story before she leaves."

"Can you tell me how I can get a hold of her? I need to talk to her and you about something important." Alice asked and then explained.

"No can do, little lady. She'll be in touch once she gets settled and ready to talk with you." Was the answer that Josef gave her in a tone that wouldn't bend to any sort of persuasion or whining.

"I really do need to talk with both of you together about something that is very important." She reiterated.

"Sorry, Alice, but, I'm not going to give up her number at the moment. I'm assuming that you've tried call her."

"No. Actually, the thought was to go through you first. But, I guess I could call her and see if I can get the two of you together that way."

"Won't do you any good, she's had her number changed. That was the first thing she did once we met up in Africa. She called her carrier and requested a number change."

"But, I know-" Alice began only to be interrupted by Josef.

"No, Alice, I won't give it to you. Once she's ready to talk with you she'll call and give it to you and anyone else that she wants to have it at that time. If this need to talk to us is so important why don't you tell me what it's about and I'll relay the information to Bella." Josef suggested in a very firm, no nonsense voice that proved he wasn't going to change his position in the matter. Then he continued, "If she feels that it's important enough she'll probably give you a call at that time."

Seeing the trouble Alice was having during her conversation with Josef, Edward held out his hand in a gesture requesting she hand him her phone. With a slight hesitation and then quickly complying without saying another word to Josef, Alice did hand over her phone to her brother.

"Josef, this is Edward Cullen and I have an exclusive story that only Bella and you can do. It is extremely important that you contact Bella and then you both get in touch with me or Alice." Edward explained to the man on the other end of the line.

"Edward Cullen, huh? Well, Edward Cullen, you're the reason things are going to happen the way they are. The reason behind certain decisions that has affected the future of several people. So, whatever it is that you have to say you might as well tell me now and then, only then, will I decide if it'll be worth the time to tell Bella." Was Josef's harsh response to Edward.

"I guess I can't ask for anything more than that." Edward conceded.

"No, you really can't." Was all Josef commented back.

So, without the slightest hesitation Edward quickly explained to Josef his idea of doing a story on corporate spying and the effects it has on the public in general; about how it does effect the cost of a product all the way down the production chain to the consumer themselves, about how it can affect the poverty stricken countries overseas and their inhabitants, and how most individuals are never brought to justice, even though, laws do exist governing this sought of thing and the penalties that could be given out for the ones that are caught and tried.

After listening to Edward's idea Josef was silent and Edward allowed him time to consider all that had been said. Then Josef commented, "It's an interesting concept and, of course, the fact that you're allowing yourself to be included in being duped by such an individual is indeed very tempting.

"However, I can't make any promises as I don't know how Bella will respond to this idea and the individuals that will be involved. I'll go along with what she decides." Josef told Edward, then he was silent for a moment before laughing and then snidely remarking, "So, it took the package I had sent you, and, I would be willing to bet some remarks from your family to bring you to the light of realization of how wrong you were. And I hope you do realize, also, that Bella is going to question how you came to the conclusions that finally showed you what was going on underneath your nose. She's no fool, Edward."

"I'm very much aware of this, Josef. But, I do hope that you both can see the necessity along with the merits, other than my involvement, in doing this story and getting it out to the public in general."

"Oh, it has merit, plenty of merit, and will be an eye opener to a lot of people that like to believe that these sort of things only happens from the imagination of Hollywood or mystery writers. This would be a way of proving otherwise.

"Edward, I promise only that I'll definitely present the idea to Bella, but, I will not do anything to try to influence her decision either way. It will all be her choice and we all will have to live with that choice. Do you accept my terms?"

"Of course, since I have no other option." Edward answered with a sigh of defeat and acceptance. And, with that he heard Josef disconnect the call, so, he handed Alice's phone back to her.

"What's he going to do?" Everyone asked in turn. So, Edward took the time to explain to them all that Josef had told him and what terms he accepted for Josef presenting the idea to Bella.

"So, now, the ball will be in Bella's court and we'll just have to wait and see what she will decided to do." Edward gave them the only answer he could, even with all the lack of confidence he was feeling due to the conversation he had had with Josef. Edward was as sure of Bella's answer as he was when the idea had come to him. He had been sure then that his Bella would jump on such as story and it gave him a chance to prove that he was changing for the better.

It's at this point that Edward is truly realizing and understanding what Alice and his mother had been trying to tell him about how far away he had pushed the love of his life. Showing him how much damage had truly been done and now leaving a question in his mind of if he would be able to mend all of the damage he had done to their relationship and love. Was she really through trying to get him to see the reality of what Maria was and was doing, or, would she see this story as one last chance to prove her point to him and take it?

For a man that always confident in having all of the answers Edward was finding that he wasn't as sure of what his wife's, he still refused to acknowledge that she wasn't still his wife any longer as she would always be as far as he was concerned, decision was going to be. It was the unknown that was starting to erode his confidence in how well he thought he knew his Bella. He needed desperately for this to work, so, he would be able to get his life back; for that's what she was: his life, plain and simple.

"So, we're all, more or less, in a holding pattern waiting for Bella to make a decision once Josef lays the idea out before her. Did he happen to voice an opinion one way or the other that might give you some indication of what she might do?" Carlisle asked of his son.

"No, Dad. All he said as I mentioned was that he wasn't going to try to influence her decision one way or the other; that the decision was going to be her choice and her choice along. The only time he made any sort of comment about the story was went he spoke about the influence the items he had sent and my family had on getting me to this point.

"He did warn me that Bella was likely to be allowing those facts to influence how she saw my overture of asking her to do this story and how sincere I might be in what my true opinion might be."

"Well, Bella has always been reasonable and kept her personal feeling out of her profession. She is a true professional when it comes to doing a story of any kind. It's never nothing less than her best."

XXXXXX

While the Cullen's and friends were busily discussing how they thought Bella would decide and how she would approach the story, seeing the opportunities it presented all the way around, Josef kept his promise to Edward. He called Bella and told her about the phone call she had just missed that had come in from Alice and then about the conversation he had with Edward.

So, after filling her in on all of the details of that discussion and the whole concept of the story, Josef asked, "What do you think? You want to do the story? Do you think that he has really woken up to the fact of what Maria is and is doing?"

"Whoa, slow down, my friend. I don't know what all went on to get him to this point and why he's insistent about me doing the story, but, I bet I can guess some of the influence that went into the wakeup call. Just how much of an influence I can't say, but, this is what I tried to explain to Alice back in Africa before I sent her back.

"I don't want to keep hoping and waiting that Edward will see the truth on his own and it really isn't him coming to the realization of what Maria is if he has to have others show him the truth.

"I'm tired of following that dead end. There's more to life than stagnating in a pool of wishing, hoping and waiting, so, I've decided from what I saw with the nomads that it's time to accept the truth of the situation and move on. That's what I'm going to do."

"Then you don't want to do the story?"

"The story is intriguing and the pull to be the one to expose her and others like her is tempting, but, no, I'm not going to do the story. However, I do believe that Alice, working with you, of course, would be the one to get the facts. Do that and send daily research to me and I'll help put it together, but, it's Alice's time to shine and to show her family that she's capable of doing this work when she wants to."

"Alice?! Do you really think she can do this?"

"She helped me with the refugee camp and with gathering the facts with the nomads. So, yes, to answer your question, she's more than ready. Alice is wanting people to see there is more to her than just fashion and designing, although, those are her first loves. The young woman has brains for other things and is wanting to branch out to do them, but, no one has taken her seriously enough to allow it or to believe in her.

"It's her time to shine, but, I'll help polish it up for her, if she wants, but, only if she wants.

"Other than that, I'm going to continue with my plans to move on to other places and things."

"If that's what you really want then I'm backing you all the want and I'd be happy to work with Alice and help her out with things. Do you really think she can handle this?"

"I know she can and she'll have the best working with her: you."

"What about Edward?"

"Edward can stew in his own juices. He made this mess and I know that he's using this as a means to get back in touch with me. Not going to happen, at least, not right now.

"If and went I decide to communicate with Mr. Cullen again it will be on my terms; not his."

And with that said the two ended the discussion and broke off the call. Josef was satisfied with the decision his friend had made and happy that she was still taking a break from all of the drama that surrounded Edward Cullen and Maria.

A/N: Well, Bella has made her decision. What did you think of it? Has she chosen correctly? Or, is she making a mistake by not doing the story?

Give me your thoughts and I'll be glad to answer back.