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.

"All of us here in the station wish these two the best for the future. Way to go Edward and Isabella."

And, with that final statement Edward had pulled into his parking space, got out, walked around to open Bella's door to assist her out for them to both walk into the studio together.

They entered to find a beaming crew, happy producers and delighted staff members all around. They good naturedly received the well wishes of everyone and heard how the publicity was doing wonders for the show. Everyone was beside themselves with joy over what had transpired. But, finally, all of the excitement settled down so everyone could get back to work and the next stage was explained, positions assumed from where they all had last been and the filming began.

CHAPTER 11: WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT?

If any worries or doubts existed about the amount of personal PDA or professionalism that would be display between Bella and Edward by the production staff were soon laid to rest. The couple kept everything moving in the same vein as when they had started the show. Both the Blue and Green teams had been caught and had to be escorted back to the containment center while they would have to make good their escape again, cover ground all the way back to the area where they had been caught, retrieve the gear that had to be left behind at that point and then proceed on to the next point in the challenge.

Meanwhile, as the Blue and Green team were competing against each other to be ahead, to reach their dropped items and move on to the next point, Irina and Jacob both at the same time finally figured out what their drink name was telling them to collect; things that had to do with a vineyard. Once they had that worked out it didn't take long for them to move forwards and be at the next challenge ahead of the other two teams.

Edward kept slowing down every so often as he would end up getting lost in his thoughts of the events from the day before. The fact that Isabella and he had gotten married, he had dealt with Jacob Black, had the press conference and the studio seemed to be pleased about the publicity the program was getting from the romance end of things. He knew if they could that would be played for all it was worth and then some. The one thing that he was disappointed about, though, was the fact that they hadn't had a chance to really discuss things. Edward did need to fully tell Bella all that he had told his family instead of a condensed version so she wouldn't say something to the opposite and the whole thing was exposed as a sham. The guilt that he hadn't made the time to really talk to her about their arrangement was eating at him slowly and interrupting his performance as a teammate. They needed to be fully into this game to win and have the donations sent to their charities. That was the whole purpose of going through this whole mess. But, at this point, Edward had to admit to himself that if it hadn't been for the show and his agreeing to do it, he probably would never have met Isabella.

Since that happened his whole outlook has done a complete turnaround. And, he has found the one woman that he wants to spend the rest of his life with. The only problem was getting her to realize it also. She has such an aversion to marriage, or, having someone permanent in her life as a partner that it is a hell of a mountain that he is going to have to conquer.

During all of these thoughts racing back and forth through his mind Edward has slowed his team down which allowed the Green team to advance ahead of them while the Red team was already approaching the next challenge point and was ready to begin. This gave them the lead which wasn't acceptable in Edward's mind. He had to get his head back into the game. Never before has he allowed personal things to interfere with his job while filming and this wasn't going to be the starting of such shit.

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Jacob and Irina had spent the better part of the night planning, plotting only to discard nearly every idea either had suggested. There had to be some way to get Bella separated from that asshole actor and back in line with what he wanted and needed. Needed desperately, or, some other people were going to be doing a serious number on and about his body parts. Not to mention that an established business was needed for various other outlets to be made to look legal. To give an outlet for running certain amounts of cash through the business that wouldn't draw attention. Well, cash and people that needed to be shifted from place to place without raising an eyebrow.

Finally, the decision was made and Jacob told her, "Irina, I really think at this point we need to step back, resume where we left off on the show and see where everything stands. Once we get a feel for things between them that will be our indicator as to where they will be the weakest. Also, once we see what the next challenge is going to be we can find a way to interfere there with both teams as well. Make them look like fools, hopefully."

Irina just laughed, but, had to agree since nothing else seemed possible at the time being.

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Following the clues each team ended up at Boot Hill. The instructions read, "This is your stopping point as light has left the eyes, but, to begin the journey to finishing here you must walk the path and take all the steps to arrive. Gain the correct size which will give the accurate combination, apply the necessary equipment to achieve the correct shape, convey all to the finishing point and put a period to the closing of a chapter. During each step of this path you will be able to collect your treasure that will be waiting for your win and the next challenge."

"What in the hell are they trying to say in this message?" Irina was asking Jacob. They were the first to arrive, so, they had time to work out the meaning of the clues and begin to achieve their goal in this challenge.

"Shit if I know. Read the damn thing again and let's see if we can work it out." He tells her.

They had wasted too much time trying to work it out only to stay stumped that it seemed as if in no time the Green team, Alice and Rosalie, arrived and they too got busy with locating their instructions and reasoning out its meaning. Then arrived the Blue team, Bella and Edward, to do the same as the other two teams.

All three teams are busy reading the clued instructions, but, two teams aren't getting too far along. Red team has now lost its edge since the other two teams arrived and they are all even for starting the next challenge. After two reading through the clues twice Bella begins to laugh and remarks, "Of course, it's so simple." And with that she grabs Edward's hand, looks around for any lurking guards in the area and then rushes them forward as what sounds like gunshots ring in the air. This gives each team pause with a questioning look and then Bella begins with laughing once more as she commented, "You can't do anything without one." This caused five people to look at her as if she had lost her mind. Once more grabbing Edward she put them into motion again.

"Sweetheart, where the hell are we going? You seemed to have understood what was being instructed when none of the rest of us has a clue."

"The instructions are so simple, but, I didn't want to give a helping hand to the others. We were behind and now is our chance to move ahead again." she explained to him as they were still watchfully being caution to duck out of sight at the first sign of a guard appearing while moving towards the town once more.

"Okay, I can understand that, but, please, Isabella, tell me what we are about to do and where we are going?"

"We are going to the front of the saloon and then move towards the livery stable and the undertaker's place which are next door to each other. On the way we will see what will start the challenge which will be a body."

"A body?" Edward quizzes with confusion and puzzlement shown on his face before he reaches out to stop Bella from taking another step. A guard's shadow appears suddenly in front of them so he moves them into a shaded area behind some wooden crates. After the guard comes into sight, pauses while looking around before moving on out of sight, Edward asks, "Please, while we have some cover and a bit of privacy before the others arrive, tell me what the instructions are telling us to do?"

"Oh, sorry, right, you need to know so we can work together. I thought you had it worked out." To which she looks up at Edward to see him shaking his head no. "The beginning which is Boot Hill is the actual stopping point of the challenge, not the beginning. We have to go through the motions of what takes a person to boot hill.

"We have to collect a body which was killed in a gunfight; that is the sound we heard." She tells him. "Then we take the body to the undertaker's where he has to be measured to know how big to make the coffin we will have to build at the livery stable which contains the tools we will need to put it together. That is the correct shape the instructions are referring to.

"We will have to put the body into the coffin and then take him to boot hill to be buried. That is what is being referred to as putting a period to closing the chapter and our stopping point of when the light has left the eyes and we are finishing the path we must walk to that point.

"Our clues are at each point, but, the true treasure will be the safe and opening it. And we use the combination we received from the measurements of the body.

"The safe is buried where we are to bury our body, so, that is where some of the tools we collected in the saloon and at the livery stable will come into play."

"I be damn! Once it's explained you feel like a dumbass not to have caught on sooner. It really is evident once you look at everything in prospective after looking around where you are standing at the time. Okay, partner, let's get busy. We have a body to collect and then measure, a coffin to build and then a burial to take care of." He said with a sparkle in his eyes, a smile upon his lips and a mind that was trying to understand why he had been so stupid as not to understand the instructions from the beginning.

It wasn't long before the other two teams arrived after having worked out what was needed to be done.

Red team still wasn't quite sure what they were doing, but, from all indications the Blue and Green did, so, they just followed their examples until understanding decided to reinstall the blown light bulb in Jacob's and Irina's brain.

Everyone worked quickly and quietly to achieve what needed to be done so they could move on to the next phase of the challenge. But, never once did any of the teams forget to stay on the lookout for the roaming guards. If just once they forgot that bit of important information it would delay them moving on and finally winning the game by being the first to finish all of the challenges. Positioning was critical and speed was the factor that would help decide the winner.

Edward and Bella worked well together. She got the body ready and supplied the necessary information to Edward so he could finish building the coffin, place the body inside and move on to take it to boot hill.

Alice and Rosalie were having a bit more of a problem since it was two women having to handle the building, lifting of a dead weight and moving it towards its final point.

Jacob and Irina were running in between the Blue team and Green. So, they were close on Edward's and Bella's heels at all times even though they had been last to get the clues to a certain extent. But, what had them puzzled was where were the treasures they were supposed to be receiving? All they could do was watch and follow the Blue team while leaving the Green team dead last at this point. Once they understood where the treasure was they would see about moving ahead someway.

Blue team arrived back at their original starting point, Boot Hill. Looking around they located the recently placed headstones, selected one and began to dig a hole to bury their body after discovering the safe. Both persons dug together working as a complete unit; a team. Red team arrived shortly afterwards and observed what was being done. They selected the next headstone and began to dig while the whole time Irina was complaining about how this was messing with her nails and hair. Green team arrived as the Blue team was nearly done, Red team was a little over a quarter of the ways, to begin digging at the last headstone left to them. They, like the Blue team worked as a team and soon was caught up and then passed the Red team.

It wasn't long before a clang was heard as a shovel hit something metal buried in the ground. Blue team knew they weren't far from unearthing their safe to retrieve the second key piece and the tools for the next challenge. Green and Red teams sped up their efforts and it wasn't long before they were also working to get enough dirt moved to try and open their safes.

Blue team and Green team, both, were having problems getting the dial on the safe to move smoothly so they could open the safe. Red team had no problems at all and got their safe open in no time to retrieve the key piece along with some other items that would be needed in the next stage. They looked at the map and headed off to the third challenge while Blue and Green were still hard at work trying to open their safes.

Finally, Green team got theirs open, retrieved all that was inside and moved on to the next challenge. And, finally, Blue team got into their safe and followed after the first two teams.

"Cut! That's a wrap for today."

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It had been a hard day and emotions were still running high after everyone had arrived back at the studio to clean up as best they could before going home for the evening.

Jacob and Irina were trying to find a way to get a hold of Bella and Edward, separately, so, they could talk with them. Find a way to cause trouble between the newly married couple, if possible.

After Alice and Rosalie were cleaned up they stopped by to talk with Edward and Bella to let them know that they all were to be meeting with the older Cullen's at the hotel for dinner and drinks. That wasn't what Edward wanted to do, but, what choice did he have, they were his parents. He just wanted to go home with Isabella and they talk, spend the evening quietly together and get to know one another better. At the same time he wanted to alert her to the entire conversation that had taken place with his family while she had been unpacking. It seemed like every time he was planning some alone time with her someone else made plans or interfered with what he wanted to do.

At the same time he wanted to discuss Bella's idea for her new gallery and see if he could be allowed to offer help to move it along. This was his way of making sure she would stay in Los Angeles for a while so he had time to let her get to know him better and possibly, grow to love him. Give him a chance to let her see that marriage was a worthwhile union and that theirs was definitely one that needed to be permanent.

A/N: Did you figure out the instructions before the teams? The studio and powers that be are happy about the marriage. Jacob and Irina are back to scheming again. And, Alice is being herself by making plans for everyone. What lies ahead for the couple and the next challenge? Will another problem arise from a staff member that wants to cause the show problems? Or, will the trouble come from Red team?

Your reviews are always welcomed and I will be updating this story every two to three weeks due to the number of open stories I have going at the present time. As each come to completion then updating will become more frequent once again.