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.

Bella did place her pieces in a guest bedroom across the hall from Edward's room while he continued on in, dropping his luggage and headed into the bathroom to take a shower. Bella did enter the bathroom in the guest room to use the shower as Edward was doing. But, she did have a plan in mind as to why she was using the guest room as well; one that Edward isn't aware of as yet, but, is about to receive a surprise.

Once the showers were completed, Edward entered the bedroom to find that he was alone and thought that Bella was going to use the guest room to sleep in, so, he went on to bed, getting comfortable and was reaching to turn off the light as he heard the door open. Looking towards the door his mouth fell open from shock and surprise as he beheld the vision standing in his bedroom doorway.

CHAPTER 19: TALKING OF THE PAST

As Edward turned over onto his side he reached out an arm to pull the vision that had spent the night with him closer at the same time he was starting to doze back into the land of beautiful dreams. He didn't want what he had experienced and then it carried over into his dreamland, to disappear just yet. But, when his arm encountered empty space he began to search around only to encounter nothingness again and again. It was at that moment that the temperature where his vision should have been registered as being cold as if no one had been there at all. That thought caused a quick snapping open of his eyes as he looked around for some evidence that she had been in his room and bed and it wasn't all a part of his imagination once again. But, nothing could be found; no clothing tossed, no impression on the bed or pillow, nothing out of place, but, as a groan was starting to make its way out of his mouth due to his disappointment he spies something that stops him cold. Caught between the two pillows were strands of long, brown hair with slight reddish highlights, barely reflecting from the light streaming through his bedroom window. It was then that a slow, room brightening smile started making its appearance and was at the same time being reflected in his eyes; that is until he heard a loud crash and a scream of, "Damn it to hell!"

He quickly jumped out of bed only to be stopped short as a fact that he hadn't paid any attention to earlier became apparent; he was nude, not a stitch on at all. That wasn't his normal sleeping habit and if he had taken the time to realize it, all of the angst from earlier would never have crossed his mind, Edward scolded himself with that thought.

Looking around he didn't see any of his clothing from last night, so he made a beeline to his dresser to quickly step into his boxer briefs, ran to the door and out into the hallway, only to be pulled up short once more at the sight he beheld before him before bursting out into gut retching laughter. In front of him was Bella sprawled out after taking a face plant into a tray of food that she must have been bringing upstairs. Eggs, pancakes, syrup, juice and coffee were everywhere and splattered onto the walls and dripping down her face from hairline to chin. It appeared as if she was coming up the stairs and tripped only to pitch forward into the food.

She looked up at him with a dirty look while he was trying, without much success, to get himself under control enough to at least help her up and then to clean up the mess, but, it was more difficult than he realized. The look on her face as he had rushed out into the hallway and then the look she is currently giving him with everything dripping from north to south gave him a release that he hadn't known in sometime. He was happy, at peace and in love with a beauty that was worthy to be placed so far above him and all he wanted to do was worship her as she had allowed him to do last night, if his memory now serves him well. Those thoughts were helping to get his laughter under control and bring the smile back to his face and eyes as he began walking over to her to help clean up the mess and suggested, "Why don't you go jump in the shower while I deal with this?" She just looked at him for a long moment before reaching out to accept the hand he was offering to help her up while making his suggestion.

But, as she was rising she had grabbed a hand full of the mess and threw it at him then took off while saying, "Thanks for everything and next time wait before laughing at me." Edward's laughter was cut short into a stunned silence which allowed Bella a head start down the hallway before he pulls himself together enough to take a step toward her direction. He noticed that she had entered his bedroom, well, their bedroom, he hoped, so, taking his time he starts towards that room before remembering the mess he was going to clean up.

Getting everything cleaned up and back in order down in the kitchen Edward paused long enough to take a last look around before heading back upstairs and hoping as he went that Bella was still in the shower. As he entered he realized that his prayer was answered as he could still hear the water running and Bella seemed to be softly humming a tune slightly off key. He smiled to himself as he swiftly stripped down to nothing as he moved forward to the bathroom door which was still slightly ajar due to her entrance. Stepping through the door he walked over to the shower, slid the door forward just enough for him to enter and then closed it again.

Bella was so lost in her own little world that she never heard or was paying attention to what was happening around her. She suddenly jumped as two hands, one on each side of her body began to make a slow reach around her and stopping once they each had reached their target; her breast and each hand began a slow massage while cupping each breast and using first finger and thumb to pinch and pull on each nipple. Leaning back against the body she knew could only be Edward's she raised her arms to reach behind her to circle his neck while a small moaning sigh escaped through her lips. And from that point on it didn't take long for things to become very heated in the shower even though the hot water was changing to cold.

XXXXXXX

At the studio things for the next challenge was progressing quickly and everything was coming together; all was in readiness for the celebrity contestants and all the staff needed to do was keep watch over the setup to insure no one was able to tamper with anything.

It was early afternoon when one of the staff noticed a man wandering around the studio looking around at different things, but, acting as if he might be trying to find something in particular. So, he was asked what his business was, only to be told that he was trying to see what the next challenge was going to be.

"Sir, I can't let you know that as it's considered to be classified until revealed for the contestants."

"You stupid fool; I am one of the contestants. My name is Jacob Black and Irina Starlyon is my partner."

"Sorry, I didn't recognize you, but, I still can't let you know anything about the next challenge, or, even where it is located. That information will be given when everyone has returned for filming and not before."

"Surely you can make an exception since I'm already here? I mean really what harm could I do with you being with me?" Jacob gave a slight laugh as if trying to make a joke while trying to get all of the information he could, even, if he couldn't get to the sight. But, so far, nothing was working. So, after a bit more talking Jacob gave up and left. His mood was soured because he hadn't been able to gain any information, let alone been able to get near the equipment concerning the challenge. They were at the halfway point and Jacob had to do something to slow things down a bit further to throw the company into over budget and time. Also, now to get rid of that damn pretty, good looking asshat that has attached himself to Jacob's prize cow was the main theme running through his head.

XXXXXXX

Edward and Bella had taken their time finishing their shower together and then went to the kitchen to fix breakfast once more since Bella had taken a nosedive in it earlier as she was bringing it up the stairs. Of course, during this process Edward still couldn't completely control the escaping chuckles that burst forth from time to time as the picture of how Bella looked at the top of the stairway face down in all of that food.

Each time Bella would attempt to jab him in the side, but, he always managed to side step the elbow she directed towards him. "You do realize that laughing at someone that has fallen isn't being very nice, let alone being much of a gentleman." She admonished him while trying to hide her smile and the twinkle in her eyes.

"Sorry, sweetheart, but, it just can't be helped. I do try, but, you do have to admit that it was comical." He replies back. Edward is in such a good mood, but, knows that things could change in the blink of an eye once he began to ask why last night became a changing point in their relationship. Not that he was complaining in the least, but, he was hoping that it was good and permanent instead of just a spur of the moment situation and not had changed really at all.

As the food was finally ready and plated for each to take a seat at the small table in an alcove adjacent to the kitchen, each individual seemed to be lost at the moment with their own thoughts. However, it didn't take long before Edward decided it was time to get everything out into the open. After all it was better to know what he was going to have to overcome to get Bella to agree to their marriage being for real. But, he reasoned that he would have to go slow while leading up to the subject where he mostly had questions.

So, with that in mind he started with, "In all the time that we have been in each other's company I realize that I know very little about you. I do know how you feel about marriage and relationships of that type in regards to yourself, but, you haven't ever discussed or revealed anything about your family. I'm very curious to know more about them." He ended speaking on a soft note not wanting her to feel pressured to talk about her past or anything else.

"Edward, I don't talk about my past too much because it's still painful even though, it's been years since all of the events happened." She told him before continuing to tell him more of the details about how her mother and father divorced when she was a small child. Then described the events of how even separated and living hundreds of miles apart the warring of words and accusations continued. "That is when I decided marriage wasn't for me since the example of my own family and then other families as I became an adult seem to follow the same path."

From that point she quietly and lovingly described her life with her father, the fact that her mother did remarry and was finally happy and then apparently without her realizing it tears were gently falling down her face as she described how everyone had gotten together, at least, once peacefully, for her birthday only to be in the same car when a semi tractor trailer truck driver had lost control and hit their car straight on killing everyone. Insurance and everything, even from her mother's new husband, had been left to her in the event of their death as the only living relative. "So, that is how I gained the finances to be able to start my galleries. My reputation as an artist and a critic were already established, but, I was able, after inheriting everything, to help other young, talented artists to get a start they deserved." As she finished talking the quiet hung heavy between the man and woman, then she rose and walked out of the room without uttering another word.

Edward felt like something had just destroyed the most precious thing imaginable. He wasn't quite sure how to handle this, but, he got up, cleaned up and placed all of the dirty dishes into the dishwasher before going to find her. He didn't have far to go before finding her as she was leaning against a wall close to the stairway sobbing. Slipping his arms around her and turning her to where she faced him he gently rocked her and held her until the tears were spent. Edward knew that the moment wasn't the right time to continue asking questions about their future or the events of the night before. Instead he held his silence and gave comfort to his love.

A/N: Bella's past came out and was probably not what Edward was expecting. Did he make the right decision not to continue seeking answers at the moment? What do you think Jacob was up to at the studio?

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.