TEAM FOREVER

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.

My stories are being beta'd by dowlingnana and she is doing an awesome job. Thanks so much.

"Our winner of Team Challenge is-" Mark paused for effect before continuing, "No winner. The producers and studio heads have decided that each charity that our celebrities were playing for will each receive a check in the amount of $250,000.00.

"So, with that being said, I see we're out of time and I wish everyone a farewell and hoping to see you come next year. Farewell!" He said while waving goodbye along with the six persons on stage with him.

CHAPTER 29: WORKING TO CLEAR THE CONFUSION

It was during all of the commotion and confusion that was taking place after the signing off of the air that Bella used to her advantage. She had a lot to consider and think about and her head felt as if it was full of facts that made no sense at the moment. Time was needed to try to make sense of what Edward had revealed to everyone while they were live on the air. Why would he do such a thing like that? What was he hoping to accomplish? Come down to it what was Irina hoping to accomplish by telling the world what she did? Where did Jacob fit into all of this? Was he the one that had put Irina up to do things in this matter thinking that no one would dare to contradict her during a live broadcast? Just so many questions and not the time at the moment to put anything into some sort of order. She had to get off by herself to the peace and quiet to think.

All of the uproar over Irina's attempted reveal and Edward outing her with detailing the true facts made it extremely easy for Bella to exit the building without anyone noticing, or, so she thought. The person that was staying in the shadows watching everything happening around him, watched the lone woman leave quietly while she was watching to make sure she didn't draw any undue attention to her departure. This person was very much aware of who had just left and what connection she had to Jacob Black. His bosses had told him to keep a close eye on Black and to aid him without his knowledge to land the woman he sought, if it was possible to reasonably do so.

The problem was that the person had no idea how to do this or what he should be doing. But, he had his orders and they would be carried out when the opportunity presented itself: if it did present itself. Like now, instead of waiting around and watching all of the confusion he decided to follow Jacob's object and see what she was up to. He knew that knowing where she was stay might come in handy so he followed behind her at a distance.

Bella went to the hotel where she was staying. It happened to be the one she had used at the time she had discovered Edward and Irina together in bed. And once she got to her room she silently closed the door before moving over to the couch, reached into her purse and pulled out her cell phone. And as she waited as she heard the phone ringing before it was answered with a hesitant, "Hello?"

As she heard this quietly calming, but, gentle voice Bella quickly said, "I need to talk to someone and knew of no one else to call that would just listen. Please, can you meet me at my hotel room?"

"My dear, just tell me where and when and I'll be there. Right now after what I observed on the show you need to try to get your thoughts together and to make sense of what you've heard. Am I correct?"

"Exactly, Esme. I don't need anyone trying to take sides or tell me what they think; I need to sound everything out, try to get a prospective of what's going on and make decisions by what I can truly believe. Alice and Rosalie, although, wanting to help, wouldn't be able to keep their own ideas out of the mix and I don't need any more confusing things thrown at me for now."

While waiting for Esme's arrival Bella decided to get into something more comfortable. She found herself thinking again about the entirety of the show and what all had come out during the showing, especially, the latter part that was totally live. Bella's mind reacted once again the same as it had the first time upon hearing all of the details coming forth from both Irina and then Edward. She was very much aware of what Irina was after in her chase of Edward; she didn't hesitate to keep her desire for all the benefits his name would bring her. However, he seemed sincere in every declaration he had made both to Irina, his family and friends as well to her of exactly what his feelings were where Irina and her desire was concerned.

After what she had found the time she had arrived home to discover Irina in bed with Edward she questioned the truth and the validity of his statements about his feelings towards Irina. Bella felt a deep sense of betrayal in that moment of discovery which caused her to question everything that had transpired between her and Edward from the moment they had met and then married. Even to the point of questioning the value of his true feelings he had confessed to having for her and his disdain that he proclaimed to feel towards Irina. She was still finding it hard to believe that Irina could do all that Edward had said during the show and he not have knowledge of what she was doing.

Bella had been so wrapped up in her thoughts that she didn't register the passage of time until she was jolted back to the present by a knock at the door. She rushed to answer it knowing who was on the other side, but, still taking the time to look through the peephole to make sure. There stood Esme as elegantly dressed as always, but, in comfortable looking clothes. Bella smiled as she opened the door and moved to one side to allow Esme room to enter, but, was met with a surprise that had been standing over to one side. Carlisle followed his wife into the room after which Bella closed the door and then turned towards the couple to indicate for them to take a seat.

"Thanks for coming over at short notice. I apologize for intruding on your time with Carlisle. But, I didn't know who else to call."

"Don't worry about it, dear. Carlisle understands that when one of the family needs help we will always be ready to be there. That's why we both came since he was caught off guard with what was revealed during the program this evening."

"Caught off guard isn't the way I would word it, but, for right now it will do. It seems my wife has known about this within forty eight hours of its beginning when my son was frantically trying to contact you.

"From what I understood once Esme explained everything just before your call to her, she wasn't aware of the problem until no one was able to find you and he was worried out of his mind.

"Bella, I do need to say this one thing; my son loves you beyond what you will ever know and he wouldn't betray you or your love, knowingly, for anything in the world.

"But, I and Esme want you to know that we want to help in whatever way we can. From what I understand from what Edward said tonight on the program and from what Esme told me to fill in the blanks, my son was a contributor to the circumstances that took place, however, he is still a victim at the same time. True of his own making, but, still a victim." Carlisle told Bella while still trying to reassure her.

"What we're telling you is that we aren't taking sides. We'll help both of you anyway we can without choosing who was wrong or right. But, to be perfectly honest with like I've been with Edward, both of you chose unwisely in the course of action you took.

"Now, I think it's time to let you vent and get some sort of order to your thoughts after what occurred on the show tonight. But, before you start let me ask you just one thing; do you want Carlisle to stay or would it be better just the two of us?"

Bella looked from Esme to Carlisle and then back to Esme without answering straight away. She was taking her time to see how comfortable she might be with Carlisle being present while she was ranting and trying to get things in the correct order in her head. At the same time she would be speaking about her feelings and the way things playing out made her feel at the time they were happening and being discovered; both then and now.

With the silence that ensued and the apparent look of hesitation that Carlisle and Esme thought they saw upon Bella's face Carlisle made to rise in preparation of leaving. Seeing this Bella enquired as to the reason at which he explained that he could understand why she might be more comfortable speaking to another woman without a male presence.

"I appreciate your understanding of the situation, Carlisle, but, you can stay. In fact, I might be able to gain a better in sight hearing a male's point of view that could help me make a better decision." And with that statement he resumed his seat and waited. What was going to be discussed had to be started by Bella since she was the one that needed to reason things through.

XXXXXXX

The individual that had followed Bella back to her hotel had seen Carlisle and Esme enter knowing that they were possibly there to see Bella. It was at that point he knew that no one would be able to help Jacob Black to win Isabella Swan. He was too jaded for her to be happy any length of time with him and he was too conceded to really care about how miserable he was making her.

He had been told to help where or if he could to achieve the goal and to use his own judgment concerning the whole affair. His decision was that it was a lost cause. And with that decision made he pulled out his phone, dialed a number and gave his report. His orders then were to return home and let things work themselves out however it was going to work out.

They were paid in full and really had no invested interest in Jacob Black any more.

XXXXXXX

As the uproar began to settle and the questions were stopped Edward looked around to try to locate Bella's whereabouts, but, couldn't see her. He walked to what was designated as her dressing room and knocked on the door. Receiving no answer he tried again, but, again the same results: no answer. Opening the door he saw that the room was empty, turning he ran smack into Alice and Rosalie. Reaching out to try to keep them from falling on their butts he apologizes for knocking into them.

"Didn't realize that either of you were that close behind me." He tells them as his eyes continued to roam around backstage trying to locate the one person he's truly wanting to talk to. "I was just looking for Isabella to see if she would be willing to discuss the situation with me, yell at me, anything would be preferable than the silence and being ignored as if I didn't exist."

"We were looking for her also for the same reason, Edward. Since she isn't here maybe one of the stage hands might be able tell us where she went."

And, with that Rosalie went over to ask the one person she saw that was near the exit and questioned him if he had seen Bella leave. He confirmed that she had left while everyone was still arguing on stage, but, he didn't see how she had left.

A/N: Will Carlisle and Esme be able to help Bella put things into prospective enough for her to talk everything over with Edward?

Thanks to everyone for your continue support of my story and for taking the time to review.