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.

Edward fell like something that has 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.

CHAPTER 20: ENLIGHTENMENT

Edward was unaware of time passing, slipping back as the minutes ticked away as he continued to hold Bella as her grief held onto her tightly as if an under toll had her in its clutches, refusing to let go as it was tugging her under while never allowing enough time for a life sustaining breath of air to be drawn into her lungs before going under the water line. But, never saying a word to her, he just held on to her as she did to him as if her life depended upon that contact with him. He held his silence and just rocked her back and forth, back and forth, letting his closeness and warm give her the comfort she seemed to need from him at the moment.

During the whole time Edward held her with her body shaking and racked with sobbing so heavily and seemed to be barely drawing a breath, he felt and overwhelming sense of guilt since it had been his questions that had set her upon this path they both found themselves at the moment. It was his stupidity and determination to have answers as to why the changes and his lack of consideration as to how to ask the right questions to seek those answers that had caused him to stumble and fall into this pit causing her such pain; the one thing he never wanted to do. In his mind the best way to lead up to what he wanted to know was to ask what he thought were simple questions and to get her to talking about her youth; problem was he didn't stop to think that the reason why she didn't talk about her past was due to the pain that resided in the memories of it.

After a while as Bella began to sag and Edward's legs seemed to be constantly on fire from the pain of standing for so long, he bent and picked her up then walked up the stairs to the master suite where he deposited her onto the bed with him following her down. It was then that even though she was still sobbing somewhat she had fallen into a disturbed sleep. But, he continued to hold her, keeping her in close contact of his body, as she drifted into a deeper sleep and her sobs became less and less, but, with a few hiccups thrown in for good measure.

Just as Edward began to think that he could get up to quickly shower and take care of other business, Bella began talking in her sleep. What was revealed came as a total shock to him as he learned how Bella came to know Jacob Black and just what he meant to her.

XXXXXX

Jacob stormed out to the studio in a rage which he was barely able to conceal as his control was quickly slipping. How was he going to do his job and create the problems needed if he was no longer able to get to location or any of the equipment that was to be used? It didn't really matter which team he interfered with as long as the problems continued causing time and costly delays.

Hailing a passing cab he gave instructions to be delivered to his hotel. Once there he grabbed the next available elevator and went straight to his floor and his suite to call certain people. They would be interested, no matter the reason, about the changes taking place at the studio; at least, he thought they would be.

And his assumption had been correct as it indicated that the problems being caused were achieving the consequences and having the desired effects that were wanted.

Having just hanging up the phone, he jerked around to the noise of the door to his suite being slammed closed and the cussing that was coming out of the heifer that had just entered.

"What in the hell is your problem today?"

"Nothing, but, everything. The film that I wanted to do next with Edward is going through some decisive changes. One of those changes is their consideration in offering me the female lead. It seems they have received word from an unnamed source of what Edward had told me a few days ago." She answered his question, then noticed a raised eyebrow before she continued, "You know, when he said he wasn't going to work with me any more just before he married the skimpy little cash cow that you're trying to rope in so you can bleed her dry of her money."

Hearing Irina speak of that situation made Jacob's blood boil and he strongly wanted to kill the woman that was spewing his desire in such crass terms. Jacob knew deep down that it wasn't just Bella's money he wanted; he wanted her also. He wanted to own her, control her, and have her at his beck and call always. In his own fashion he did care for her, but, his needs ruled him more than his heart ever could and his needs were of a more earthly nature.

"Irina, you really are a bitch with a foul mouth and no concern or consideration for anyone else, but, yourself and your needs. But, let me tell you something that would benefit you in any of our future associations together to heed; don't ever talk about Bella the way you are. Or, you might push my temper too far and wind up face down in the gutter someplace staring blankly at the earthworms." And with that warning issued he walked into the bathroom, slamming the door after him.

XXXXXXXX

Bella was dreaming about the first time she had met Jacob Black when they were children and then from time to time as she had watched him change from a sweet loving child to an almost uncontrollable teen involved with the wild side of life and friends that seemed to enjoy the more brutal side of life. But, no matter his age he had always been totally intense with a heavy handed, rough and ready method of dealing with things.

As they reached graduation from high school he started pushing her to commit to him as his girlfriend with the determination that they would eventually become more, but, Bella didn't want that. The example of her parents and others around her didn't give a good image of married life to her. In fact, she felt that that kind of commitment gave someone too much control over you and she refused to allow it for herself and her plans for the future.

She remembered how her parents, regardless of their personal issues, were always encouraging her artistic nature and her sensitivity to create beautiful things with her art. But, as Jacob had grown older he changed from being one of the ones that were encouraging to one that was always telling her to find better things to do with her time. To find a career that would produce money enough to allow her to have her art as a hobby.

Little did anyone know what the future really had in store for any of them? How well her art would propel her into recognition shortly before graduation and her work was in great demand. Only fueled Jacob's behavior to a greater depth and demands that she refused to give in to; she went to university and got her degrees in business and art, got a job as an art critic due to her own renowned works and became successful doing that.

Fate still wasn't through with her or Jacob, but, as he gained in maturity it seemed that his wild side began to become muted and corralled. He went on to further his studies in the political field more in the area of defending the rights for the Native American. In fact, he became very active in that field that he became well known and made a career of it.

His pursuit of Bella seemed to wane a great bit until after the accident that killed her family and led to her inheritance. But, Jacob had learnt in the meantime to be more subtle about his method. Bella had kept up and in touch with her long time friend as their lives took different road, but, they always managed to meet from time to time for brief periods, so, she wasn't blind to the whispers concerning her friend. Also, time had taught Bella very valuable lessons when it came to people approaching her for whatever reason. She learnt to become cautious and to weigh facts before allowing anyone close; anyone that might cause her any emotional pain, that is.

But, her dreams were drifting from point to point and she was quietly sharing these facts with Edward as she talked in her sleep. It gave him a greater understanding of why she reacted to things the way she did and how her opinions of things had been formed.

True, she didn't cover all of her life during her sleep, but, she did hit the high points and it was enough; enough to help Edward begin to formulate a plan to achieve his goal of both finding happiness with each other and having a future together.

Then just as Edward thought her sleep talking was finished Bella began talking again, but, this time she covered all of the questions he wanted to ask. It was as if she was weight all of the do's and don'ts of the actions they had enjoyed the night before; the reasoning as to why she was considering that course of action and then how she planned follow through.

Listening to her talk had Edward smiling from ear to ear as he felt reassured that what they had shared was done because she was starting to have some feelings for him. He realized that she was trying to find a level of comfort to be able to accept her changing feelings and how she was fighting to still maintain her beliefs that had been formed in her youth due to the circumstances of things from her past.

He leaned down to softly kiss her forehead before settling down beside her and whispered just before dozing off himself, "A lot of things are now clearer to me and I will find a way to help you feel more comfortable and accepting of your feelings towards me."

XXXXXXX

Emails were being sent out from the studio office reminding all of the contestants to be ready to start the next challenge first thing Monday and be prepared to continue straight on to the conclusion without any further breaks being planned.

A/N: Bella's sleep talking gave Edward quite a lot of insight into her past and why she has certain opinions about things. And Jacob seems to be getting fed up with Irina. What direction will Edward take to help Bella become more comfortable with him? What actions will Jacob be driven to take in regards to Irina?

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.