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.
As Bella and Edward entered the saloon, the cameras swung to capture the approach of Rosalie and Alice and then caught the red team leaving the containment area. It was at that point that the word, "CUT!" was yelled by the director and everyone relaxed. It was time to call it a day until the area was set up for the next segment.
Jacob and Irina were heard complaining about what happened to them as Alice, Rosalie, Edward and Bella all were discussing the different aspects of the game. They each were sharing their impressions and thoughts as to how they felt about the action thus far. They all had a good laugh about what had happened to them all and no one had any idea that things had been tampered with in any manner.
"What are we going to do this evening?" Alice asked.
But, before anyone else had a chance to say anything, Edward spoke up, "Pixie, you are going to allow me time with my team mate. He then asked Isabella, "Would you join me for a nice relaxing evening at my home for a cookout and then a dip in the pool?"
Looking at her brother, Alice clapped her hands and said, "What a brilliant idea. What time do you want all of us over?"
Edward slapped his hand over his face trying to think of some way to tell her she wasn't wanted without hurting her feelings. He wanted to have the time with Isabella alone.
"Well, brother?"
"Alice,-"he started before Rosalie interrupted him.
"Alice, I think it would be a good idea if you and I got together to work on our strategy for the next stage. If we want to win this thing then we need to work out how to get ahead of the blue team." She said with a smile.
"I guess you could be right." Alice agreed.
CHAPTER 5: ONE FORWARD, TWO BACK.
Bella stood off to one side watching the interaction between brother and sister. It was funny watching these two faceoff against each other when they both wanted something that the other was going to be denied. As they, and then Rosalie, all continued the conversation, Bella quietly turned and left. She was feeling the strains of today's activities and all she wanted right now was to soak in a tub of hot water to ease away the aches and pains. It wasn't until Alice agreed with Rosalie about planning their next steps that any of the three realized that Bella wasn't there any longer.
"Damnit, Alice, I love you dearly, but, learn when to back the hell off." Edward quietly, but, sadly told his sister. "I am trying to get to know this woman for a reason. I feel like we have a connection and I want to explore it further. However, I can't if you want to keep monopolizing her time."
"Shit, Edward, I'm sorry. I had no idea; well I did, but, didn't know that things could head in that direction. I had a feeling that something could click between you two if it was given time, but, this quickly I didn't see coming. All you had to do was say something." Alice told him with sadness sounding in her voice as she explained to him.
Reaching out Edward gathered her close to him giving her a hug and a kiss on the top of her head before releasing her and stepping back. "Don't worry about it. Not all is lost. I still have time, but, it would have been easier if I could have had tonight. Maybe, it's better to wait, but-"Edward paused as he got lost in thoughts of where this strange connection could be going. He wondered if it was something that he was really ready for. There was only one way to find out and that was to follow it through to the end whichever way that would lead.
"Edward, what is it? You just stopped mid sentence. Why do you think it might be better to wait? Wait for what?" the pixie questioned him while Rosalie stood by waiting for brother and sister to conclude their conversation and all could see about leaving for home.
"Alice, I have some questions floating around in my mind that I don't seem to have any idea of the answers. It makes me a little nervous and is causing me to question if I'm in my right mind to think that something more could be between her and me." He tells her with a slight shake of his head.
"Edward, Alice, I know that I'm not quite sure what all is going on and that I probably should keep my mouth shut, but, what has you in such a state? It isn't like you to be so undecided about anything." Rosalie commented.
"I'll explain everything in a bit, but, Edward, you need to go after her and get an answer for tonight. I really don't think you should wait." Alice advises her brother.
"No, pixie, I'll deal another day. See all of you tomorrow for the next challenge." And with that Edward walks off towards his car and once he's inside starts the engine and leaves.
"Well, missy, you want to explain exactly what all of that was about and what is going on?"
"Edward feels a connection to Bella like nothing he has ever experienced before. He knows who she is and what she does, but, he has never encountered anyone like her before. She doesn't fall at his feet, but, maintains her individuality around him, and, it has him puzzled, interested and a hunger to find out more, to want more from her. That is the only way I know to explain it.
"The whole family has hoped and prayed for him to find someone that was real instead of all of the fake Hollywood glitz, but, as time passed our hope began to fade into the background and we coped with the women he chose to be associated with at the time.
"Now, it seems that maybe, fate has taken a front seat and Edward is going to be in for a very bumpy ride since Bella is her own person and doesn't get frustrated being around high profile people. She is one within her own right."
"Shit, you mean Edward has finally met his waterloo," Remarks Rosalie with a chuckle. "Wait until I tell Emmett. He is going to get a kick out of this. We all will be paying closer attention to their interaction from now on. Are you going to let your parents know?"
"Of course, this is something they are going to want to see and to meet the person that is bringing the great Edward Mason to his knees, figuratively of course." She spoke with a smile appearing upon her lips to be reflected in her eyes also. Alice was on cloud nine about the coming events. Isabella Swan was going to become her best friend and her sister in law. Of that she was absolutely certain of if Edward had his way about things. No one had ever refused him anything once he had set his mind upon obtaining it. And, Bella was his ultimate challenge and desire. He wanted her as his forever. She could see that and rejoiced about it. She knew that their parents would feel the same along with Rosalie and Emmett who were close friends of the family, almost like brother and sister.
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Edward got home in record time considering all of the traffic, but, the whole time his mind had been centered upon his team mate, Isabella Swan. The spark, the electric current that ran between them when they touched, the way they worked together as a team, even when the odds were against them today and the easy companionship he felt with her. She was what he had wanted his entire adulthood, but, had never known it let alone found it.
He was going after what he wanted and that was to have this woman at his side, in his life for longer than forever. Finally, his other half was next to him and he knew it beyond a shadow of a doubt. "Get ready, Isabella, for I am declaring war upon your heart. I intend to conquer it as I will your body." He declared to the heavens. Then he reasoned that maybe it was a good thing that Alice had interfered like she did. It had helped for him to become more focused on what was staring him in the face. The uniqueness of the woman meant for him. He had been drawn from a maybe mentality, to a definite in realization of facts.
So, Edward spent the rest of the evening finding out everything he could about Bella and Jacob Black since she had recommended him to come into the challenge. They had to be close in some sort of relationship and he wanted to know and have it defined in hard facts so he could dissolve it away from her.
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The crew was busily setting up the necessary props for the next stage of the challenge so the teams would have everything needed. Ropes for the repelling lines were strung as well as the lines needed to move from one place to another. The entire scenery was being used for the challenge.
Testing and retesting was done to make sure the lines were fastened securely and would be able to hold the weight of the contestants. This was normal procedure for each show, but, with this finale having all high profile names involved, exact care had to be taken above and beyond normal. It had to be right.
After everything was tested and then retested, all items checked to make sure everything was in its rightful place, the ingredients for the drinks were placed just so, everyone left satisfied they had done all to ensue good filming for the next day. However, a head count wasn't done so no one realized that one person had remained behind. That someone was messing with the different ingredients that were going to be used the next day.
After he was satisfied that all had been done to his orders he left unobserved by anyone and no one the wiser as to his actions.
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Irina and Jacob had gotten together to hatch their plans for the next stage or two, but, there wasn't much they could really do at this point since they were behind everyone else at the moment. Their main plan was to get caught up and then ahead without getting caught again. Know the saying about the best laid plans of mice and men? Well, let's say that no truer words could go any further south then what these two might be up to. But, they were prepared for whatever they had to do.
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Alice, Rosalie and Emmett had spent an evening gossiping about Edward after a call had been placed to Carlisle and Esme Cullen. Alice quickly explained why she had called and then continued on to fill in the details. That was all it took for mom and pop to decide to catch the next plane out so they could meet the lady that was about to become their future daughter.
They wanted to see personally their entire son's maneuvering to capture this woman. It sounded to be quite entertaining to them as it was about time someone made him work for what he wanted. And, if he wanted her as badly as what Alice described then he had a job coming his direction and his payback at the same time. Most everything had been handed to him because of his looks and personality; he never had to really put much effort into getting his object until possibly now.
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All three teams had arrived to resume the challenges from their respective stopping points yesterday. The blue team, Edward and Bella, had located the saloon and was about to enter. Green team wasn't far behind and closing fast nearing the Western front. With the red team, Irina and Jacob just leaving the containment area to head towards the Western front and the challenge that awaited them.
The filming began and each team took a moment to read their map instructions for this section in completion. The challenge was to gather the ingredients for a well known popular drink, name the drink which the name would tell them where to look for the necessary equipment that needed to be used for the next challenge and the first part of the location key.
Edward and Bella quickly duck into the saloon after seeing a guard turn the corner, but, who hadn't seen them as yet, to keep from being caught. Once inside they quickly begin looking for the ingredients they would need. They were just gathering the last of their ingredients when the green team, Alice and Rosalie, entered and they too begin to look for the ingredients.
"What do the instructions say once again, Bella?"
"Mix the drink and name it. For the name will tell you the location of tools needed and the first key part times four. From where you are you will need the assistants of the overhead ropes to go from place to place as needed. Once the stage is completed repel down to ground level to continue on to stage three." She read aloud with the green team also listening to what she was reading while they were trying to get all of their ingredients together.
Red team, Irina and Jacob, quickly entered and they started with their search while stopping from time to time to read the instructions. As the drinks were mixed by blue, then green and finally the red team, they each were stumped for the moment while trying to identify the drink.
Suddenly, Bella yells, "Sex on the beach." Edward looks at her with a smirk before saying, "Anything you want, Baby, but, let's win first."
Bella reaches out to slap him up the side of his head, but, before she could say anything and retort a remark back at him, Alice yells, "Screaming Orgasm," as Irina tells Jacob, "Champagne cocktail."
"Oh shit, Bella, sorry, I though-"
"Yeah, you let everyone know what you thought, fool. Now, get your thoughts above the shoulders and help me reason what this drink name is telling us."
All three teams seemed to be at a standstill until something caught Bella's eye and then she knew what they needed to be doing. "The beach! Look around on this floor and the second for any and all things beach related." Edward looked at her with a surprise and then a twinkle in his eyes. "Of course. Let's go, partner." And they began their search.
Alice and Rosalie were still trying to discover the answer to their drink name riddle as well as were Irina and Jacob. Suddenly, Rosalie says, "Bed. It is telling us to look for bed related items to discover what we need."
So, the Blue team is looking for all beach related items in the saloon while the Green team is looking for all bed related items. The Red team was still puzzled as to where they needed to look.
After searching all of the ground floor it was time to climb the ropes to the second level and begin searching the rooms there. The stairway leading up to the second floor was nonexistent so the teams had to climb ropes up and then use ropes to cross over to the other section of the upper level to search in that area.
The Red team was the only ones to see the guards coming so they ducked out of sight behind the bar. The Green team started to cross from one side of the ropes to the other as the guard walked in. Looking up he informed them they were caught. The Blue team heard the commotion, but, they had found all of their items and were quickly repelling down when they met a guard just coming around the corner of the building behind them.
Both the green and blue team had to drop all of their items where they were captured except for the maps and be escorted back to the containment area. Once there they were confined once more. Meanwhile back in the saloon the red team was still working out what their drink name was trying to tell them.
"CUT! That's a wrap for today."
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and as they gathered before calling it a day, some surprise visitors materialized upon the scene. "Mom, Dad, what are you doing here?"
A/N: Okay, we have parents converging, family and friends gossiping, and individuals plotting. What is going to happen next? What stunt do Irina and Jacob have in mind while Edward, Bella, Alice and Rosalie all have to get released from the containment area? Will Irina and Jacob realize what their drink name is telling them? Have you?
Your reviews are always welcomed and I will be updating this story every 7 to 10 days.