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.

And that was when Edward told his parents that Mr. Winston had gotten an attorney for him and the man had already met with Edward. "And the man seems to be quite capable of doing his job. For what I've been able to find out, he is one of the best in Seattle."

This information surprised Carlisle and Esme.

CHAPTER 50: THE ENDING FOR THE BEGINNING

After Charlie had given his explanation to the Cullen's during lunch, he and Bella left to return to her house, but Bella was upset once more with her dad. "Dad, you left out some major information in your explanation to Carlisle and Esme. Why didn't you tell them that you had been to L. A. to see Edward and had introduced yourself as Sean Winston? Don't you think that they deserve to know that information as well?" She asked Charlie with disappointment sounding in her words and showing in how she was questioning her father. She was disappointed in him because he had failed to reveal that information.

"I didn't tell them about what I've been doing the last few days because I didn't think that it was necessary at this point. In fact, it might muddy the waters a bit where their opinion is concerned if they did know before I've had the chance to make sure that things are going to work out in the end." Charlie gave as the only answer for the questions that Bella had asked of him.

"Dad, I had expected for you to tell them everything so there were no surprises left. I still don't understand why you didn't!"

"Because at this point it would have served no purpose; it would only have created a situation that wasn't needed and might have hampered me in my attempt to get everything handled as what is necessary.

"Just imagine how they would have reacted if I had told them about my meeting with their son. I mean, especially, after informing them of the actions I had taken as a police officer and as a father.

"No, they wouldn't have understood any of my actions after turning Edward Cullen into the forces that be."

Bella remained silent during the rest of the drive home. She had no idea what to say to her dad that might convince him that he had made a mistake in withholding his further involvement with Edward's case. She had wanted or, at least, expected him to reveal everything to Carlisle and Esme.

She felt like she was caught up into a quagmire that was sucking her further and further under without her having to have contributed a damn thing in stirring up the mess.

Once they arrived back at her house, she and Charlie silently entered each locked within their own thoughts and no idea how to break the silence that had a hold of them.

XXXXXX

"You said that this Mr. Winston has already gotten you an attorney?" Carlisle asked of his son after both he and Esme had received the shocking news from their son.

"Yeah, Dad, and I've had the attorney checked out. Well, not checked out as I normally would check on something, but the other inmates here told me that Mr. Jenks was a well-known, successful attorney. That he never loses a case. So, with that information, I've been extremely comfortable with Winston's choice."

"Very well, son, if you're okay with this attorney, then we'll accept that for now. However, I'm sure that you won't mind if we check out this attorney on our own. Just so we all can be happy with this man's representation of you." Carlisle couldn't help saying. He wanted to make sure that Edward had the best representation that could be had.

During this whole conversation, Esme had remained silent. She had been busy listening to the exchange that was taking place between her husband and son. The one thing she was able to recognize was the blind confidence and acceptance that Edward was displaying in this Mr. Winston and the choices that the unknown man seemed to be making on behalf of Edward without any discussion with Edward or his family. She wondered about the motives behind such action and greatly desired to meet this man in person to be able to question why he was putting himself out to the extent that he had thus for a stranger; someone that he didn't know.

As the conversation between Edward and Carlisle was ending, Esme had a question to ask of Edward. "Son, do you know how to get in touch with this Mr. Winston?"

"No. However, I'm expecting to see him again soon." Edward had answered his mother.

"Why? Did he say when he would be back to see you?"

"Again, no, Mom. He just seems to know when I need to see him. I'm amazingly comfortable with him; he just has that type of air about him, you know what I mean. The kind of man that is full of confidence and knowledge of how to get things done within in the legal system."

"Of course, I do know what you mean. I've met men like that before over the years. Both your father and I know what you mean. You don't have to spend long in their company to feel completely relaxed and like you've known them for an awfully long time." Esme commented while trying not to show how concerned she was about the whole set of circumstances that seemed to exist between this stranger and her son.

"Edward, has anyone told you about when you would be going to court concerning this mess?" Esme asked.

"Mr. Jenks is checking into it and trying to get a definite date set to get me to court within the next few days." Edward answered and then added, "I'm expecting to be hearing something from him soon." Edward remarked, but before anyone could saying anything else the guard stepped forward to inform Edward that his visitation time was up; that it was time to return to his cell.

So, Edward quickly said goodbye to his parents after reassuring them that everything was going to be okay.

Both Carlisle and Esme watched until Edward was led out of sight before they left. Esme was keeping a tight hold on her emotions so she wouldn't break down crying after seeing one of her son's having to contend with such circumstances.

She knew that Edward had brought this upon himself, in a manner of speaking, but still it was distressing for the whole family.

XXXXXX

Jason Jenks, attorney at law, was in the D. A.'s office during the time that Edward's parents were visiting with him. Jenks was doing everything he could to find out all that the D. A. had against his client and checking to see what kind of deal can be made on Edward Cullen's behalf.

Once he knew what all the evidence might be and who the D. A. was planning to call as witnesses, then he would be able to form a defense on his client's behalf. By having that information, he would have a better indication as to when this case would be coming to trial.

From all the information that Charlie Swan had given him and then Edward Cullen, this case was a slam dunk of a winner. It wouldn't take that much to get it dismissed as a misunderstanding of Edward Cullen's intentions towards Ms. Swan.

Charlie had made sure that Jason knew exactly how his daughter felt about this whole mess. He went so far as to state that Bella would refuse to testify for anyone if it was demanded of her. In fact, as far as Jenks was able to discover, Isabella Swan had even refused to give a statement to the police when she was informed about the investigation the police were conducting and that they had tried to question her.

Charlie had mentioned that Bella had told him that once she heard from her agent and then the police directly about the situation, that she had gotten up and left the police station without saying one word to them about the charges or taking the time to answer a single question. That she had gotten into her car and driven to Forks to question Charlie about the whole thing. Then once she arrived at her dad's place, Bella demanded to know exactly what was going on and then told him to fix it. To make things right before this whole mess ruined a working relationship for the family.

Jenks wasn't quite sure what was meant by the term "family", but he was sure that once his client's point of view was explained then the whole mess would be dismissed.

XXXXXX

Finally getting in to see the ADA that was handling Edward Cullen's case and learning more about what evidence they had against the young man, Jenks was confident that he could get the whole situation resolved by just getting the case on the docket within the next day or two.

He felt that once the whole misunderstanding was presented that the judge would dismiss all charges. However, he was as equally confident that Mr. Cullen would receive a strong lecture from the judge about how to conduct his behavior in the future when interacting with the opposite sex.

With this plan in mind, Jenks didn't see the need to return to the jail to speak any further with his young client.

XXXXXX

For two days Carlisle and Esme came to visit with Edward and for two days they would always ask if Edward's attorney had been to see him to let him know about a court date. The answer for those two days was always, "no, Mr. Jenks hasn't been by to see me or let me know what has been happening."

Of course, this answer didn't set well with the older Cullen's. They were ready to hunt down this man and rip him a new one, especially, Esme.

However, by the third day, the guard called Edward's name to inform him that he was due in court. Edward wanted to make a phone call to inform his parents but was denied. The guard handcuffed him and led Edward out to join the rest of the prisoners that were scheduled to court as well for that day.

After what seemed like hours, all the prisoners were loaded onto a bus that would take them to the courthouse. Then once there, they were led to the holding cells to await their turn before the judge.

Edward was a bit confused as to why he was here without any warning from his attorney. In fact, he was confused as to why Jenks hadn't been back in touch with him before now and was worried that Jenks wasn't even aware of the fact that Edward was being taken before a judge. All he could do was hope that somehow Jason Jenks would be waiting for him in the courtroom.

XXXXX

Charlie had received a call from Jenks the night before to let him know that both Charlie and Bella needed to be at the courthouse at nine in the morning. And from that phone call, after Charlie had informed his daughter and they had a few words, Bella called the older Cullen's to let them know that Edward was going to be in court the next day and at what time.

She was quick to try to reassure the older Cullen's that although normally this would be nothing more than a hearing of the charges and then a court date would be set, that from what she understood from her father, that Edward's attorney was going to try to get everything handled all in this one court appearance.

XXXXXX

Prisoner after prisoner was called to go before the judge, but Edward was being left behind. It was as if someone had forgotten that he was there for his hearing. During the whole process, Edward had been trying to figure out in what order people were being called.

Then surprise of surprises, Edward is called to go for his hearing to face the judge. As he walks into the courtroom, Edward noticed several things all at once. He saw Jason Jenks seated at a table that Edward was being led to; he saw Mr. Winston, Isabella Swan and her agent, as well as his parents. It took a moment for it to register that Sean Winston, Isabella Swan and his parents were all seated close together.

Once Edward was seated next to Jenks, he made a move toward his attorney to ask about why his parents, Winston and Isabella Swan were all sitting together. He also wanted to know how his parents knew to be here for his hearing. However, before he could ask any questions the judge called the hearing to order.

The ADA was the first to present his case which made Edward look like a habitual stalker and an abuser, both mentally and emotionally, of women that he desires to have sexual exchanges with. It was then that Isabella Swan was called upon to testify to which she refused.

She rose from where she was seated, faced the court, and said, "I told the police that I refused to be a part of this farce and now I'm telling the court that I still refuse to be a part of this nonsense." With that said she sat back down while a silent courtroom waited for the judge's reaction.

"Ms. Swan, why did you bring this to the attention of the law if you refused to carry it through?"

"I didn't. While my father and I were on a mini vacation I told him about all that had been happening in my life since the last time we had spoken, and he was the one that took it upon himself to contact members of the SPD to tell them about what I had told him in private.

"My father being a police officer thought that he was doing the right thing and now here we are trying to get this mess figured out. I refuse to participate in these proceedings and have not been quiet in letting everyone know that fact."

"Young lady, I'll decide what to do about you at the end of this hearing. But just to let you know, you are in contempt of this court."

Next Mark Strollman was called and he like Bella, refused to testify. This caused the judge to look strangely at the ADA before he asked, "Why haven't you prepared you case better? Why take up the court's time with this case if you don't have any witnesses that are going to back up your case?

"This sort of nonsense I will not tolerate. Don't do it again." He then turned to Jenks and asked, "Do you have anything to say concerning this case before I make a ruling?"

Jenks responded by saying, "I do your Honor, but only because I want the defense's response to be on the record." From that moment on Jenks laid out all that Edward had told him and mentioned the lesson that Edward felt he had learnt because of this experience.

The judge remained silent for several moments as he looked at all that had been presented in the files that both the sides had given to him. A time or two he was seen shaking his head before he looked directly at Edward.

"Mr. Cullen, in the state of Washington we take stalking profoundly serious and frown upon anyone that does it. However, I can see how your action could be mistaken as to believe that you were committing a crime. I do caution you to think about what you are wanting to do and how your actions might appear to others before you follow through with your plans.

"If I should hear of even a hint of you pulling something like this again, I won't be inclined to overlook it the next time. I will enforce the law to its fullest extent.

"Consider yourself lucky this time but know that I will be forwarding a record of these proceeding to your law enforcement agency in Los Angeles.

"Get out of my courtroom and don't let me see your face in here again. Case dismissed this time. You're free to go, Mr. Cullen, this time. You'll be taken back to the jail and will be released from there." With that said the judge brought down his gavel and dismissed the court.

A/N: Okay, Edward has had his day in court and the judge wasn't very impressed with how the case was presented by the D. A.'s office or by what the record reflected of Edward's behavior. What do you think will be Edward's and his parents' response when they find out all of the details of Charlie Swan/Sean Winston?

Thanks for reading and looking forward to hearing from you.