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.

"Shit! Shit! How the hell am I going to be able to explain any of this to any of them, especially, Alice and Mom and live?" Edward knew that his problem had just magnified to a whole hell of a larger scale. Now he had the additional problem of try to find a way out of the family having to be told about the mistake he had awakened to find in his bed and that his Bella may have walked in on to see it.

CHAPTER 26: KILL ME NOW

While waiting for the arrival of his family and friends Edward kept running over various different ways to try and explain the situation that would keep the approaching shit storm from hitting him over the head. However, no matter how many times or ways he thought of saying things it all still came out the same way: he screwed up big time.

As he was trying to figure things out in his mind he did go through the motions of starting a pot of coffee since it was later at night and he suspected that everyone's sleep or plans had been disturbed due to Alice's phone call to them. He knew that the women were going to be chewing on his ass once they heard the story and what he thinks occurred as to why Bella wasn't responding to their messages and calls. Then the men would be joining them just to stay on the good side of their women. All that is except his dad, maybe Carlisle would give him the benefit of doubt and see things in a more reasonable light than the others. But, as that thought hit his mind he knew that wouldn't be the case. Sure his dad was a bit more laid back, but, if something happened to upset his mom then he was a bit heavier handed.

As his thoughts reached this point in his thinking the sound of arriving vehicles bringing everyone to the house could be heard. So, giving himself a mental shake and a re shifting of his shoulders as if getting ready for the brick wall to fall, he moved towards the front of the house to greet all of them.

Of course, who was the leader of the pack, but, his sister, Alice? She marched right up to him and without any preamble asked, "Okay, what the hell have you done now?"

'Yeah, why is Alice calling all of us to find out if we've seen or talked with Bella?" Rosalie threw out her question. As did all of the others as they got closer and heard what Alice and Rosalie had asked. Everyone wanted to know what was going on and were all asking at the same time. It was enough to give a person a headache, or, rather worsen the one you already had due to worry; worry about what had or hadn't been seen, where your loved one was or wasn't, why no calls or messages were being returned or any sort of communication being given, even, if it's just to say 'go to hell'. At least, that would let you know that they were still alive somewhere and unharmed.

"Okay. Okay! OKAY!" Edward kept saying until he was nearly shouting the one word over and over. His yelling finally got through to everyone to where they hushed for the time being and with bated breath was waiting for more, but, it didn't come. The only thing after that that Edward did say was, "Everyone come in, get comfortable, coffee is made in the kitchen if anyone wants some and then we can discuss all of this in a bit more quietly, and, in a more rational manner."

Everyone did file into the kitchen since that was where the coffee was and made themselves at home around the table in the nook near the back door leading out onto the patio after getting the offered coffee. No one said a word, waiting for Edward or Alice to begin and explain why all of the panic concerning Bella.

"I know all of you are worried about what has happened to Bella and believe me when I say, so am I." Edward said. Then he continued, "I'm not sure what has happened to her and I don't know why I haven't heard from her. I don't know why she won't even answer Alice's calls or messages. If it wasn't for the fact that mom, you worked with her today, I would be concerned and worried that she had been kidnapped, or, something worse." It was here that he paused and wondered as to how much more he would have to reveal, however, he didn't have long to wait for an answer as Alice was like a bulldog once she got a hold of something she didn't let go until she had all of the answers she wanted.

"Edward, I know that you know more than what you're saying and we need to know everything to be able to help." She gently told her brother even though he could see that she wanted to say more and was trying her best to hold her temper under control as well.

"Alice, I really don't know what caused this silent treatment from her, if that's what it is. I know of a possibility, but, nothing definite."

"Maybe, it would be easier for all of us to understand what is going on if you started at the beginning, son, and told us what you do know starting with the last time you did talk with Bella and how well you two were getting along. After that tell us what you think might be having an influence on the current situation." Carlisle remarked to his son.

"Everything was fine while I was away; she was excited to share about how well things were progressing for the grand opening of the new gallery and how well she thought people would receive this new type of gallery. We talked on Skype for about an hour before calling it a night. I was due back the next day, but, she was aware that I had to go straight into a meeting concerning my new project, but, like I told her, I didn't believe that I would be too long. But, once they get started you never know how long you will be. I made sure that Bella was aware of these facts and she had experienced them herself with both of our businesses.

"It was a little later than I had thought I would be, but, Bella, I guess, was still a little later as I don't remember her being at home when the car was delivering me home and was to take Irina on home. I was so-"

"Wait just a minute there, Skippy, you said Irina was with you? Why was she still hanging around when she should have gone on home as you went to your meeting?" demanded Rosalie.

"The plane was a little late landing and time was running short to get to the meeting, so, the driver went straight on to the meeting to drop me off. I wasn't aware of Irina still waiting until I walked out of the meeting to be driven home. It seems that she had told the driver to wait until I was through and then he could take us both home."

"You mean that you had no idea that she had stayed behind and waited with the driver?" Esme asked of her son.

"No, Mom, since I had told the driver to drop me off, take her home and then come back to pick me up. You could have knocked me over with a feather as that was how surprised I was to see her still sitting in the car waiting.

"I started to ask why of the driver, but, Irina quickly jumped in and explained that she thought it would be better this way. It didn't take but a moment for her to explain that it saved time, her words not mine, and because once he dropped her off he would be completely through for the day. Needless to say, at that point I was too tired to argue with her.

"It's from that time onwards that I'm a bit fuzzy as to what all transpired. I remember that for some reason both of our luggage was unloaded and placed by the entryway and our ride left without a word. Due to that I seemed to have said something about Irina staying and told her to choose a bedroom as I was going to bed since Bella didn't seem to be home.

"That really is the last I remember until the next morning." Edward paused as he knew that someone would be making some kind of comment about what he had just told them. He was very hopeful that no one would question him any further about the incident. However, he was realistic enough to know that wasn't going to happen in this lifetime.

"Are you telling us that Irina stayed here in the home that you and Bella share?" Demanded Esme with shock and anger sounding in her words. While at the same time Rosalie and Alice were each asking their own questions, "What did Bella say when you told her?" "Is that what caused Bella to be so upset with you?"

Edward sat forward resting his elbows on the table while his hands held his head and from time to time his fingers would gently rub his temple trying to relieve the tension that was causing his headache. And everyone else sat quietly waiting for Edward to answer the questions. As yet, none of the men had asked a question or made a single comment since Edward had started giving them the details of the events leading up to the current situation.

Finally, Emmett broke his silence with the comment, "Edward, I love you like a brother and we've been friends for a long time, but, if you have hurt that little girl of yours, I'll hurt you." And with that said Jasper added his vote of helping Emmett to perform the task and that coming from Jasper got Edward's full attention since his brother in law was the more peaceful one of the group.

"Edward, this what has your wife upset with you and ignoring your calls?" Quietly asked Carlisle.

But, looking his father directly in the eyes he answered, "I'm not sure, Dad." And with that answer Edward could see the freight train heading straight for him as he knew what the next question was going to be.

"What do you mean by that, Son?"

"It means that I haven't spoken to Bella since my return. I'm not fully aware of what she does or doesn't know." He told his family quietly.

'Here it comes' his mind told him as he heard the indrawn breath by a number of those gathered around the table.

"Edward, how the hell can you not know? Surely, you spoke with Bella once she came home and told her about Irina." Came from his mother.

But, before he could answer Esme, Alice jumped in with, "There's more that he hasn't told us."

"Is there more that we need to know, Son?"

"Unfortunately, yes, but, I really would like to leave it unsaid." Was Edward's remark.

"That isn't an option, Edward. Might as well get it all out there and then we can help you to deal with it and know what we need to do about helping Bella to understand your actions." Rosalie told him.

Edward quietly muttered while looking down and not daring to look at anyone, "I woke up the next morning to find Irina in mine and Bella's bed with me."

"I'm sorry, I'm not sure that I heard you properly." Was said from someone, Edward wasn't sure who.

Raising his head to look at everyone, he repeated what he had said, "I woke to find Irina in bed with me. It was such a shock that I ended up on the floor looking over the edge of the bed at her. Then after demanding an answer as to why she was there she informed me of the events of the night before saying that I had invited her to stay and the bed she had chosen was mine.

"We had further words and then she commented that she thought my wife had seen us and left, or, words to that effect. I can't remember the exact wording and then she departed with that insane cackle of hers."

It didn't take long before Alice pounced upon the last bit of information given. "If Bella walked in and saw that scene you can bet that she won't talk to you, but, why won't she talk with me?"

"Working with her at the gallery getting the final touches in place, she never said or acted like something was wrong at any time." Commented Esme. "I do know that most of the day she had her phone off to stop the insistent ringing for this or that from her other managers. And from time to time she would turn the phone back own to check messages, both voice, text and email, before turning it back off.

"Any time we needed to have information from you, dear," she said talking to Alice, "I was the one to call and ask."

"The problem as I see it at this point is to know what Bella did or didn't see, or, know. Next, where she's staying and what is she going to do." Supplied Rosalie with her remarks.

A/N: Okay, so now the family knows what kind of screw up Edward is in regards to Irina. What can they do? How can they get a hold of Bella to get her to listen?

Your reviews are always welcomed and I will be updating this story every three weeks due to the number of open stories I have going at the present time.

Thanks to all of you for the well wishes and the prayers. My recovery from my cancer surgery is going well and I'm starting to feel better each passing day.