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.

"We were looking for her also for the same reason, Edward. Since she isn't here maybe one of the stage hands might be able tell us where she went."

And, with that Rosalie went over to ask the one person she saw that was near the exit and questioned him if he had seen Bella leave. He confirmed that she had left while everyone was still arguing on stage, but, he didn't see how she had left.

CHAPTER 30: COMING FACE TO FACE

Bella took her time before beginning to speak as she was pacing back and forth, deep in thought and looking once or twice in Esme's and Carlisle's direction. Finally, she seemed to have come to a decision and turned to speak to Esme. "You know, Esme, I just had a thought of what needs to be done. However, to do it I'm going to need yours and Carlisle's help." She said in a voice full of strength and determination.

"Whatever it is that you need all you need to do is tell us and we're there to help." Carlisle stated without hesitation even though it had been his wife that Bella had addressed. But, Esme was quickly to back up what her husband had told her.

"My thought is that I need to talk with Edward about all of this. I need to compare what I've seen on more than one occasion to what he can tell me from his side of the story. It seems that from what was revealed this evening has more to it than what first appeared to be the facts and it is the facts that I need before I can move forwards; before Edward can move forwards; before we both, maybe, as a couple, or, as singles, can move forwards.

"There are so many questions that's running around in my mind than what any of the three of us can provide answers. It seems that Edward would have those answers and I need to be able to hear them. But, the one thing that I find that is holding me back is the question of will he be telling me the truth?

"Yes, I see that each of you want to answer that for him, but, there's no need. I am reasoning it out in this manner; that if he can answer Irina's statements as he did live on national television then he will more than likely answer me honestly when I talk with him." She finished speaking her thoughts quietly.

"I have to agree with you, my dear. My son will answer with honesty regardless whatever the outcome might be. Just tell us what you need from us." Esme told her as she rose and walked over to put her arm around Bella's shoulders.

"What I need is for you to keep Alice, Jasper, Rosalie and Emmett out of the way."

"That I believe we can do." Carlisle assured her with a smile.

"Tell us what you're planning to do and we'll aid in helping you to achieve it." Esme told her.

"I'm going to return to the house and wait for Edward's return and I'll talk with him there. But, as I said I need the others away from there."

"I think we can take care of that now. That is if you're wanting to do this while everything is still fresh and out in the open?"

"I most certainly do." She answered and then with a smile she said, "Thanks. Thanks for not commenting or trying to offer any advice."

"No problem. We told you that we would help in the manner that you needed and we meant that. The one thing you don't need at the moment is someone else telling you what to think or not think. Only the facts of things can help to make wise decisions."

"Esme, Carlisle, whatever you can do to get the others away from Edward would be appreciated. I'm ready to go to the house and wait for Edward, but, I really don't want the others showing up at the same time with him.

"As I said, I do need to talk with Edward. I need to be able to sort fact from fiction; to know the truth of what I've seen and to be able to put everything into prospective."

"It sounds as if there has been more than one incident that has brought you and our son to this point." Carlisle made the observation.

"You're correct and other than making that statement I want to talk everything out with Edward. I don't mean any offense, but, I need to do this my way. Please understand?"

"We do, dear, we do. Carlisle and I will make it a point that the others aren't with Edward so you can have your discussion."

So, after a bit more discussion and a phone called made by Esme to the four individuals that needed to be waylaid and pulled away from Edward. It was arranged that the four would meet her and Carlisle at their hotel for dinner. And, to keep it from appearing as if it was a prearranged setup, Edward was invited, but, he refused saying he had something that had to be taken care of immediately. Of course, his parent were sure they knew to what he was referring, but, said nothing since they were playing the innocent card.

With telling Edward they understood, but, asked no questions as to why he had refused they told Bella good luck and left to go get ready to meet Alice, Jasper, Rosalie and Emmett for dinner. Both Esme and Carlisle were very much aware that pretty much the whole conversation during dinner was going to center around the Team Challenge program and what had happened during the showing. And, someone might casually touch upon the fact of why Edward was absent and how he might be doing at that time.

XXXXXX

"Hey, Edward, you sure you don't want to join all of us at dinner?" Jasper asked of his brother in law.

"No, I really need to do some thinking and see how I can locate Isabella. I need to find her and try to talk to her about what Irina did. A lot of the responsibility has to rest upon my shoulders for the hurt I caused her and I need to try to correct that and get her to understand that I didn't betray her trust in me.

"A lot of things need to be discussed and I hope that I can get her to understand the situation and agree to overlook my mistake and forgive my stupidity.

"I need her! I can't explain it any other way. I JUST NEED HER! She's everything that makes the day brighter and give me purpose for breathing as I awake to begin each new day. She makes me feel blessed and able to accomplish anything I choose to do because she's in my life."

"Maybe, we should tell Carlisle and Esme that we can't make it and help you locate her. Hopefully one of us can get her to talk to you, even, to do nothing more than to tell you to go to hell." Emmett said as he wasn't happy to see how much pain his friend was enduring.

"No, man, I need to do this alone. I'm the one that screwed things up and I have to be the one to get everything straightened out. I appreciate the concern, but, please, go ahead and meet Mom and Dad. Give them my love and all of you enjoy yourselves tonight.

"Don't forget that we have the gallery grand opening coming up in a couple of days, so, if I have to wait until then to be able to get a chance to talk with Isabella, then so be it. I do feel that the time is coming for a meeting to take place between the two of us and it has to be just the two of us to work all of this mess I've created out." Edward told them.

"But, we could he-" Emmett began only to be interrupted by Alice.

"No, Em, my brother's correct; this is something he needs to handle on his own and in his own way. He was the one that got himself into this situation and he is the only one that can get himself out of it if possible.

"I do admit that there were extenuating circumstances surrounding things that Irina took full advantage of, but, when all is said and done, it was Edward that got himself into this problem because of his inattention to what was going on in the moment.

"We need to allow him to do what he can on his own and the rest of us to go ahead and meet my parents for dinner. We all have made an attempt to get a hold of Bella and she hasn't replied to any of us even earlier today before the show when we tried to talk with her at the studio."

"I have to agree with Alice on this point, Emmett. He has to be the one to get this done on his own terms." Rosalie told her husband with an agreement coming from Jasper as well.

"I still feel like we're throwing him to the wolves by not being there for him." Emmett moaned. His imagination had already given him a mental picture which had affected him emotions as to what his friend was feeling. He had seen what it would be like in his mind if his Rosie left him because of one of his screw ups.

So, after a little further reassurance from Edward his friends and sister left him to his own devices while they headed out to meet his parents for dinner. Edward was getting tired of watching the subtle looks of sympathy everyone was giving in his direction when they thought he wasn't looking. He knew he had screwed up the best thing in his life and he knew he was going to have to be the one that got it all righted and back on track. Hopefully, with what had come out during the show tonight had helped to give Bella a better understanding that he didn't lie to her, or, cheat on her with Irina thus betraying her trust in him and their love for each other.

Edward didn't have an idea one of how to begin his search, but, decided that it would be better to head home, change clothes and to start calling hotels to see if he could locate the one she might be staying in. It would be safer with the news storm that was happening at the moment after what had been revealed on the Team Challenge program tonight. He knew it would be difficult to move around to try to find her with the press watching his every move and following after him wherever he went.

Pulling into the drive and up to the gate to enter the code that will open them, Edward waited impatiently as they slowly swung open so he could continue, but, eventually, they were open, he drove pass them and they closed to keep the press that had followed him home out. He came to a stop at the front door and wasn't really paying any attention to anything else around him as he walked up to the front door and entered the house closing the door behind him. It was then he came to a complete stop as certain smells hit his senses. Swinging around he marched towards the back of the house where the kitchen was and as he entered the picture that he beheld brought him to a complete, frozen halt.

XXXXXXX

After Esme and Carlisle left to go meet everyone for dinner Bella quickly got ready to head for the house. She thought that would be the best place to give them some privacy to have the conversation that needed to take place between the two of them.

Once she got there she had parked her rental car off to one side in the shadows and then used her key to enter the house. It didn't take long for her to realize how hungry she was and then the thought came that maybe Edward might be hungry as well. So, without hesitation she began getting a hardy meal put together for the both of them to share.

She was concentrating on getting everything ready and trying to keep it all warm until Edward came in. But, it was the indrawn breath that caught her attention and spinning around she saw Edward standing frozen in the doorway to the kitchen with an absolute look of puzzlement and astonishment all rolled into one stare on his face.

A/N: Well, they are both in the same place and each is ready to talk; to ask questions and to give answers. Will this conversation reunite them as a couple or draw them further apart?

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