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.

When he was at a point that he couldn't take any more and was opening his mouth to speak Bella looked him straight in the eyes and uttered the words "I accept your conditions" that stopped his breath altogether due to the shock. Once his stunned state began to allow his brain to process her words a huge, sunshine blinding smile lit up his eyes as it appeared on his face. He gave a shout for joy, grabbed her securely as he jumped up from his chair to begin spinning her around without thought as he was so overcome with happiness that he had the chance he wanted to have her securely in his life forever and a day.

CHAPTER 23: SOME THINGS ARE HARD TO ACCEPT

From the moment that Bella and Edward came to their understanding of what each were wanting in the kitchen time seemed to fly back on swiftly moving wings. They were really more relaxed and comfortable around each other and acted more as a married couple, newly married, would be expected to act.

Alice was good to her word and had contacted her mother about taking on the job of working with Bella in regards to decorating her newest art gallery. There were many phone conferences between the three women discussing everything about the place and how Bella envisioned it along with what she wanted to accomplish. Esme said she would be returning to L A with designs of how she would suggest doing the interior and Alice said she would meet with them with color suggestions. The one area that all three were especially excited about was the area that was being set aside for the children. This was what Bella had wanted to try from the moment she had met with Eloise and her classmates not long ago; no gallery has ever set aside a single work space just for the creative side of the children as a way to encourage the future artists.

Add to all of this workload was the filming to finish the Team Challenge Finale. Everyone was under strict orders to remain quiet about who was the winner of the show as it was planned to have them all live on the finale show to help reveal the winner and to be there as the checks were presented to the winners' chosen charities. So, to say that Bella's time was kept filled from the time she got up to almost the time she went to be would be an accurate statement.

Of course, Edward's schedule wasn't much different or better than what Bella's was; he was preparing for his next project and getting ready for a Premiere appearance in four cities which he was hopeful that Bella would be joining him. Their relationship had gained depth and the fire burning inside each of them for the other was building to an increasingly higher degree as they spent more and more time together. They enjoyed the nights they were able to exercise all of the benefits of married life; Edward and Bella made every effect to make sure of that.

With the conclusion of the filming each of the teams returned to their normal lives and picked up what they needed to do to return to getting the work back on track. With Jacob there was several actions coming to the floor of the House of Representatives that could affect the lives of America's Native Americans. That was the line of work he was known to be effective lobbyist when it came to protecting their rights regardless of his other more private pursues.

Irina Starlyon was busy trying to obtain a leading role in another film, but, any that were worth trying for were also seeking Edward and word had already made the rounds that he refused to work with her for any reason. The reasons of the situation remained lost in limbo, but, Edward was more of a box office draw alone than Irina would ever be.

Alice was kept busy with creating her new clothing designs and working with her mother and Bella to design the interior of the new gallery. While Rosalie had returned to her office to continue with her work on handling cases for the abused and battered women and children.

XXXXXXXX

The powers that be that had conceived, produced and then pulled together the idea of what they wanted their finale to be, sighed a breath of relieve as everything finished on time and came together with no serious injury to their chosen celebrities. In fact, it surprised them that they had been able to contain the fact of all of the problems that had continued to plague the filming of the final show.

Of course, they had been wise enough to take full advantage of the fact that on team had developed feelings for each other and had married. The news and publicity that surrounded this event made a good story for the show. They hadn't released anything concerning that angle since the plans were to use the event to its fullest once they began advertising the show's finale and revealing all of the facts of the celebrities participated in order that the money that would normally be given to the winner would in this stead be given to the winners chosen charities.

Plans were swiftly on the way to being completed for the presenting, showing the finale and then have all of the celebrities present for a live section to discuss and then receive the prize. It had been planned as the show was being filmed that the celebrities, themselves, would also be given a surprise at the last moment. That information was a closely guarded secret that only management knew about.

All these plans were being made without anyone being aware of the storm that was brewing in the very near future.

XXXXXX

Edward was all packed and awaiting for his car and driver to come pick him up. He was upset because Bella wasn't able to travel with him since she had to handle some details concerning the new gallery and still make trip to Richmond for a special opening she has taking place there of a very young and newly discovered artist she has been working with; it was his first showing and to say the least, the guy is nervous as hell. He needs his mentor to stand with him to help see him through this. Edward understands this, but, it doesn't stop the disappointment he feels about his wife not being able to be with him like she had been when the movie premiered here in L A.

Everyone was excited to see her and once they understand the undertaking she was doing in town they became even more interested in hearing about her work even to the point of offering their help if she needed it. Bella had graciously thanked them for the offer, but, assured them that she had everything under control for the moment, "However, when it comes think for the opening I'll expect to see you there and helping to promote the gallery just with your presence." She would tell each one. They all smiles and assured her that if that was what was needed then she could count upon them.

Of course, Bella wasn't happy, and neither was Edward, about the fact that Irina was going to be available at the openings and that Jacob was going to be her date, but, she did have her own obligations and those had to come before any personal misgivings. Hers and Edward's relationship had developed and deepen so much and so fast over the short period of time since they had first been introduced, she was amazed at how much she truly did trust him. He had proven his trustworthiness in so many ways that she had no fears of him attending the same events with her since they were both needed to promote the film and worked together.

The car arrived just as Edward deposited his luggage down in the foyer right by the door for easy pickup and loading and Bella walked through from the back of the house as well. While Edward was heading for the airport she was expected down at the new gallery for a business meeting. As much as she would like to see him off he vetoed it due to the fact of all the press as well as she really didn't have the time before her meeting.

XXXXXX

Everything had gone well at the gallery and the showing in Richmond, in fact everything was going so well that Bella had decided to join Edward on his press junket and to be with him at the next premiere red carpet event that he was doing for his new movie.

Arriving at the hotel and telling the staff not to alert him as to her arrival as she wanted to surprise him, she wasn't paying much attention to the nervous gestures and tense, questioning looks of the ones she spoke with. Maybe, if she had she might have been more prepared for what she was about to find.

Opening the suite door Bella encountered bodies throughout the place and she had to watch where and how she stepped to avoid everyone. Making her way towards the master bedroom the door opens suddenly and Bella watched as Irina exited it rather slowly and quietly. Turning she saw Bella standing there stunned into a motionless position. Irina just smiled, waved and then continued on her way towards the door and left the suite.

At that moment Bella decided that she didn't want to continue with her surprise since she had been the one to receive the surprise. What she had just seen with her own eyes caused her to reconsider all of the stories she had been seeing in the paparazzi tabloids about Edward and Irina reigniting their on and off affair and that Edward is cheating on his new wife with his old flame. When those stories first hit and the questions started flying at her she ignored it all, but, "should she have" she wondered to herself. And it was just as she had that thought that the reality of what she wasn't paying any attention to earlier, the staff reactions, begin to register and make some sense.

Bella left just as quietly as she had arrived and left for the airport to return home to L. A. She managed during the hours before arriving home to convince herself that she was judging a book by its cover instead of the story inside as she hadn't seen Edward with Irina, only Irina and anyone could have been in that room with her. So, with that thought she felt a bit silly for not staying and seeing Edward; she had misjudged him.

Bella returned home and never said a word to Edward about what she had seen and assumed; he never said a word about her arrival, either, so evidently, the staff hadn't said a word about her showing up and then leaving just a quickly.

Life resumed with each person continuing with their work projects and moving forwards with their married life. Bella felt silly still each time she thought of how she assumed that Edward was cheating on her and lying to her about how much he cared about her. She was totally invested in him both physically and emotionally and felt comfortable giving him her full trust.

It wasn't long after Edward had returned home that Bella received the shock of a lifetime. She had returned home early from the final meeting about the new gallery knowing that Edward was still in his meeting about his upcoming new film and she wanted to surprise him with something special. So, going upstairs to the master suite they shared and opening the door stopped dead in her tracks. For there sound asleep in their bed was her husband and Irina. Bella closed the door, left the house, and went to the nearest hotel, checked in where she took up residence from that time onwards.

A/N: It seems that Irina accomplished what she set out to do; she's with Edward.

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.