I DREAM OF RAINBOWS

Disclaimer: The Cullen's, 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.

The awesome and talented dowlingnana searched out my errors and corrected them.

To his way of thinking, by asking questions through this method he thought that it was likely he would be able to have honest answers from the individual he was determined to see and talk to.

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"Cullen, you have a visitor. Come to the door and stand ready.

CHAPTER 42: DECISIONS!

Alice got downtown to her boutique before her two employees arrived, determined to get a hold of Rosalie before the day got started. She and Rosalie needed to talk and decide how to handle the new information that Bella had communicated to Alice that very morning.

Alice was completely stumped as to how much she should or shouldn't say to Jasper. No, this was something that needed to have a united front.

So, entering her office, she sat down and dialed Rosalie's cell number and then waited for an answer. It didn't take long for Rosalie to ask Alice what was happening? "I don't have long since I've got to be in front of the camera in just a matter of minutes, Alice. So, I hope this is urgent."

And, to answer her cousin's questions, Alice launched into the reason of her call. She told Rosalie all that Bella had told her and as she finished speaking there was total silence on the other end. It lasted long enough that Alice had to check her phone just to make sure that she hadn't lost connection with Rosalie.

Finally, with hearing an intake of breath, Rosalie begins speaking, "Oh, shit, hell, damn, what a damn mess Uncle Charlie has created." She commented rather quickly. "Does Bella know how or what Uncle Charlie is going to do next to be able to correct this entire mess?"

"At the time that I spoke with her, the answer is no, she didn't. She was hoping to be able to talk with him before she had to return to Seattle later today."

"Okay. Look, Alice, they're calling for the shoot, so, I've got to go, but once you hear something from Bella be sure to let me know. As to what we need to do about the Cullen's, I would say that we should be honest and tell them what you found out.

"I mean we all three have a working relationship that is beginning with their company. Then add to that you and I are personally involved with Jasper and Emmett. It wouldn't be fair to any of them to withhold this information."

"Okay. I have to agree with you, but can we tell them together instead of leaving me to do it by myself?"

"Of course, we'll do it together. Until later today, I've got to go. I'll give you a call as soon as I'm through here." Rosalie finished the call with agreeing with Alice and then stating that it would be later that day.

After hanging up, Alice heard her employees entering the shop, so, her day began and turned out to be a busy one. That was a blessing since it kept her mind from dwelling on Bella's reveal from that morning.

XXXXXX

After the disappointment of being told that Charlie had disappeared for a few days, Bella was absolutely livid. How dare he take off without talking to her and reassuring her that he was going to take care of the mess he had created.

Bella had talked with Alice before coming into the station and filled her in upon all that Charlie had been up to without her permission. And, during the conversation Alice had informed Bella of all that was taking place in L. A.

However, Bella decided that since her dad had pulled a disappearing act, she would go back to Seattle immediately.

XXXXXX

As Edward reported to the main door, he was handcuffed. Next, he was escorted down to an interrogation room. Along the way, Edward kept asking who his visitor was but received no answer.

Once Edward and his guard were completely in the room, the guard unlocked one of the cuffs around Edward's wrist and then attached to the bolt that was anchored in the center of the table. After that was accomplished, the guard left, closing the door behind him. However, almost immediately the door opened once more, and Edward was confronted with a tall, older looking man with greying hair and a moustache. To Edward the features of this man was somehow familiar, but he couldn't quite place where he might have seen the man before.

"Mr. Cullen, my name is Sean Winston, and I'm here from Seattle to ask you a few questions in regard to helping you with your case. With that being stated, are you willing to answer my questions honestly and without hesitation?"

"My parents acted damn fast after I had talked with them." Edward commented aloud while still trying to puzzle out where he had seen this man before.

"Mr. Cullen, you didn't answer my question. Are you willing to talk with me openly and answer my questions with all honesty?"

"Yes, sir, I am. I most definitely am, especially if it will help to get me out of this shit!" Edward replied without hesitation.

So, the conversation began between the two men. It didn't take long for Sean Winston to be able to gauge the full caliber of the young man sitting across from him.

The questions had ranged from Edward's upbringing and how he felt about his parents, covering Edward's education and how Edward had interacted with his classmates which included the female species. And, as Edward talked, Sean Winston learned more about the young man before him and was able to form a solid opinion.

He realized that Edward wasn't a bad person nor a criminal, but just some one that had gotten spoilt by all of the male and female attention his good looks and charismatic personality drew to him.

As the questioning progressed, Isabella Swan became the main topic of conversation. Edward explained how he had first spotted Ms. Swan in Seattle without knowing who she was and then how later in the day he had accidently come across her in a crowd at Pike's Place Market and had followed her for a bit hoping to be able to have her companionship for the whole evening.

Next, he explained how he had once again met Ms. Swan while not knowing still who she was. "From that moment onward, everything started going downhill. I was determined to teach her a lesson, but as the saying goes, "the best laid plans of mice and men…..", and that's how my planning went, totally in the wrong direction."

Edward was even honest enough to tell this man that was going to help him how he had accidently bumped into Ms. Swan and what he had done to assure that she would be okay. "I didn't know that she had been hurt enough to be admitted to the hospital until later. My parents, brothers and I visited her at the hospital and that was when she informed me that she knew it was me that had backed into her.

"It was after that that I began plotting how I would teach her a lesson. I became even more determined to do so. She was making demands without wanting to compromise and that pissed me off more than anything." Edward concluded with his statements as he waited to hear if this man was still inclined to help him.

So, with that information firmly implanted, he told Edward, "Mr. Cullen, you have given me all of the information I need to make the decision that I'm going to help you. It won't be long before these charges are dropped, but a word of warning, if you don't mind.

"Learn how to start treating others, women in particular, with the proper respect that you've told me your parents had taught you to do and that does include one Isabella Swan. That way you shouldn't find yourself in this type of predicament again in the future." And, with that being said, Mr. Winston left without another word.

The guard came back in and escorted Edward back to his cell area. And, as he walked, Edward had a spring in his step due to having a lighter heart because of the relief he was feeling.

Edward immediately called his parents to thank them for such prompt action in getting him help. He never thought that they would be able to move that quickly was his thought as he waited for someone to answer the phone, Edward was beginning to look forward to getting the hell out of here.

Just as he was beginning to think no one was going to answer, Carlisle did, and Edward immediately launched into his 'thank you's' without giving his dad a chance to speak.

Then finally, after Edward had stopped to draw a breath, Carlisle said, "Son, I have no idea what the hell you're talking about. Your mother and I are still researching attorneys in Seattle to try to get one of the best for you once you are sent there."

"Dad, what do you mean? Mr. Winston told me he was from Seattle and was here to talk with me and afterward has assured me that he's going to help me get all of these charges dropped.

"Of course, I had to endure what I guess you would call a fatherly lecture about how I should be conducting myself in the future. But, Dad, he was sincere about saying he was going to help me.

"If you and Mom didn't engage him, then who did? Could it have been someone that Emmett or Jasper knows?"

"I don't know, son, but I'll find out. Whoever it was we all will be incredibly grateful for his help." Carlisle remarks, still surprised by the information that Edward has passed along but was grateful to have such a person that was willing to take an interest in Edward's situation.

Then Carlisle continues speaking, "However, I do believe that in case things don't go exactly as this Mr. Winston hopes, that your mother and I should continue to get you an attorney on standby in Seattle." And, with that being stated, Carlisle and Edward move on to speak of a few other matters before hanging up.

Edward, like his father, was a bit puzzled about what or who Sean Winston was? Next, he began to wonder about how Mr. Winston was going to be able to help him and have the charges dropped. And that was where Edward made another mistake.

The first one was made when he first met Sean Winston when he assumed that his parents had engaged Mr. Winston. Sean Winston never said anything about Edward's parents being involved with his presence to question Edward about his case.

Then the second mistake that Edward made was in thinking that Mr. Winston was going to have the charges dropped immediately. The only thing Mr. Winston had said was that it 'won't be long before the charges will be dropped'. Edward never stopped to think about how this was going to be accomplished or when, let alone where.

But this young man was feeling a sense of relief because of Mr. Winston for the first time since he had been arrested.

XXXXXX

Rosalie did get through with her modeling shoot and called Alice to arrange, as promised, when they would be able to get together. It was decided that since Alice couldn't leave before closing the boutique because of the amount of customers, that they would meet up at Rosalie's.

However, later in the day, after giving the matter more thought, Rosalie called Alice back and told her meet everyone over at the Cullen's. That it would be better to rip the band-aide off all at once. By doing that the story wouldn't have to be repeated over and over.

Alice agreed after giving it some thought. She was a bit nervous about doing that, however, she did agree with Rosalie that it would be better to say it once than two or three times.

XXXXXX

After getting off the phone with Edward, Carlisle informed his wife all that their son had told him. Esme was just as surprised as what Carlisle had been. "Who in the hell could this man be?" She questioned aloud.

"Dear, I don't know, but is it possible that Jasper or Emmett could have mentioned the situation to one of their friends who had this man offer to help?"

"No, I don't think so because they would have mentioned it before now. Also, the reason why I say no is because the man told Edward that he was from Seattle. With that information about him being from Seattle indicates that it would have to come from either Rosalie or Alice since they are familiar with Seattle.

"I would suggest Isabella Swan, but to our knowledge she isn't even aware of what is happening here."

"With using that reasoning, I would have to agree with you."

With that being agreed upon, husband and wife went back to their business of trying to find a good attorney for Edward in Seattle. Little realizing what bombshell was about to be dropped by Alice and Rosalie later that day.

XXXXXX

After a long drive, Bella was finally back home and feeling exhausted as well as totally upset with her dad. She had tried before leaving Forks, and then again when she had stopped to get a bite to eat to call her dad, but to this point no answer and no return call.

She couldn't understand why he would just take off like he did without saying something to her. He knew that she wanted to know what he was going to do to right the mess he had created. He also knew that the longer she had to wait, the more upset she was going to become.

After getting settled once more into her home, Bella decided that she would wait until later that evening to try calling her dad once more. Also she was going to call Alice back just to talk a bit to try to make sense of the whole situation.

XXXXXX

Charlie was back at his hotel room and checking his phone saw where Bella had tried calling a few times. He wasn't ready to tell her just yet what he was doing and the course he had decided upon. All he knew after considering what course of action he should take, Charlie was comfortable with his decision.

In fact, even more so, since his discussion with Edward Cullen. The young man was not what he had expected to discover; he seemed to have gotten spoilt due to all of the attention he received over the years from his peers. He excelled in all that he did and that just added to his charismatic air. So, because of that Edward seemed to have lost his sense of consideration for others along the way.

Now, Charlie knew that he needed to decide about whether to let Edward be shipped to Seattle and then have the charges dropped to let that act as a reminder of how he should treat others. Or, should he take a chance that by making a phone call to have the charges dropped from here would act as reminder to Edward to consider others before acting upon his own wants and needs.

A/N: Bella's upset with Charlie because he took off without talking with her about his plans. Bella told Alice all about the mess Charlie had caused for Edward Cullen. The family is trying to get a good attorney for Edward. Alice and Rosalie are going to face the Cullen's to let them know what Bella has relayed to her cousins. And, then Charlie has talked with Edward, but now is trying to decide how to go in getting all of this mess cleared up. Which way should Charlie go? What are the Cullen's going to say once they find out that it was Bella's father that had caused the who mess?

Thanks for reading and looking forward to hearing from you.