WRONG DECISIONS

Disclaimer: The Cullen's, 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.

The awesome and talented dowlingnana searched out my errors and corrected them.

"Yes, I do, and the boys keep saying never bet against Alice. So, what you are trying to say right now is that trouble is heading in Bella's direction."

"Yes. Bad trouble, but I don't know what. However, I can say that it is going to be really bad. I mean really bad.

CHAPTER 8: THE THREAT IS NEARING

After Alice's dramatic declaration to Esme she was worried like any mother worries about any of her children. She was concerned about keeping this type of information to herself, even though she really had nothing solid to tell anyone. But then who should she tell: Carlisle, Edward, Charlie Swan, or just keep quiet unless Alice is able to tell her any more about what the problem might be that could be a threat to Bella? Then her whole family kept saying 'don't bet against Alice,' so Esme felt lost as to what she should do.

'Even if I mentioned it to any of them would they take me seriously or even believe me?' Esme thought to herself as she continued getting the meal ready for her family.

XXXXXX

At her own home getting the meal ready for her family, Alice was still deeply worried about what she was feeling. She couldn't understand why she was having such feelings about Bella after all of these years, however, as the hours ticked away the stronger the feelings got. They were getting so strong that she almost felt ill. She didn't know what to do since Esme wasn't able to get anywhere with Bella's father. Somehow, they had to get through to Bella and alert her to a possible danger. 'Yes, that was what this feeling was, a definite danger to Bella.' She was thinking without realizing that her husband had returned home.

Jasper got home and found his wife staring off into the distance and as pale as a ghost. He knew immediately what her problem was, that she was having a vision about something, but with her being in a sort of a daze he was worried about disturbing her until she came back to normal, or what was normal for Alice.

When she did, she never told Jasper what her vision had been about.

XXXXXX

Charlie wasn't sure what to make of the phone call he had received from Esme Cullen, but he was anxiously waiting for Bella to return his call. There was something sounding in Esme's voice expressing some kind of concern that had Charlie worrying about why she would need to talk with Bella. He had the thought that maybe he should call Mrs. Cullen back and ask why she was needing to talk with his daughter so urgently. At least he had the feeling that she was wanting to talk with Bella due to some kind of urgent upset.

Before he could act upon that thought, his phone rang, and the ringtone told him that it was Bella returning his call.

"Hey, Dad, Irina told me that you called and needed me to call back. She got the impression that it was rather urgent and extremely important. So, what's the rush?"

"I'm not sure, sweetheart, but I had a strange phone call less than an hour ago. It was M…." He didn't get to finish before Bella interrupted him by asking what he meant.

"What do you mean by strange? What calls you get are usually important and urgent? In your line of work don't you deal with the strange, important and urgent every day?" She asked with a chuckle.

"Bells, this isn't the time for levity. Esme Cullen called me wanting to know how to get in touch with you."

"Esme? Esme called you, but why?" That information surprised the hell out of Bella since she hadn't heard from any member of the Cullen family in nearly five years

"That's what's I'm trying to tell you. I don't really know why she called. She just said that she needed to get in touch with you but gave no explanation.

"I let her know that I wasn't going to give her any information and that if you wanted to talk with her, you would have called her yourself some time over the last few years. Then with that said, I hung up."

"I wonder what she wanted. Dad, did you happen to notice if she sounded upset or anything of that nature?"

"To be honest, she did sound a bit out of sorts. But after I had refused to tell her how to get in touch with you, she made no further comment, and we ended the conversation as I told you." Charlie told her.

Bella was silent for a moment or two before saying, "I have to give this some thought, but if she was that determined to get in touch with me after all of this time then it sounds like I need to give her a call. Something could be wrong with Edward and she's trying to let me know."

"Be careful, Bells, when you call her. It might be nothing more than a ploy to find out where you are." Charlie warns her.

"I will, Dad. Don't worry. I'll let you know what's going on once I've talked with her."

Charlie didn't say anything to Bella's last comment; not even asking how she was going to prevent the Cullen's from finding out where she was living. That didn't mean he didn't wonder or worry about it though, but he knew his daughter well enough to know that she would find a way.

So, each expressed their love and hung up without further discussion.

XXXXXX

Paul has always wanted to advance his position with the Volturi's but seemed to miss out on the opportunity each time the chance arose. However, he figures that he has found a way to be able to branch out on his own without needing anyone. In fact, if what he was thinking of doing worked out, he could disappear, drop out of sight and never be heard from again.

The one thing he wasn't thinking about is how he might have to continue to watch his back forever. And he didn't think of the fact that he would need someone else that would collaborate with him. That person alone could prove to be a hazard later.

XXXXXX

Bella got off the phone with her father and immediately informed Irina all that her dad had told her. "Wonder if I should give her a call? I mean something could have happened to Edward and it just not be in the papers or on the news networks as yet." She worried aloud.

"Bella, don't you think that you're jumping to conclusions without any evidence? Besides, Esme trying to reach you might be nothing more than a ploy to give Edward any information of how he can find you. Stop and think about your actions before doing anything.

"Consider the consequences of your actions and how it might come back on the children and yourself." Irina warned her. Then she continued by saying, "Don't you think Charlie would have told you if something had happened to Edward? After all he is in a position to know, isn't he? I mean being a police officer and all that kind of thing is pretty much known across the country when an organized crime member has something serious like arrest or being seriously wounded."

"Yeah, I guess you're correct about that, but still, it might be something that wouldn't concern the police. You know like an illness or something of that nature." Bella replied and then continued to consider what she should do while worrying with biting her lower lip.

"Okay, if this is really worrying you and you are really needing to know why Edward's mother had called Charlie, why don't you let me call Esme and find out what she is needing to tell you.

"Once we find out why is she trying to reach you then you can decide if you want or need to talk with her directly. How does that sound to you?"

"That's perfect." Bella agreed.

"I can use my phone and put it on speaker so you can listen to what she has to say."

"Even better. That way they would have no way of gaining information as to where I live because it would lead back to you."

"Why don't we do this in a quiet place that isn't at either of our homes? That way there will be no chance of a surprise visit of any kind suddenly showing up at either home."

Bella gave Irina's suggestion some consideration before agreeing that once again her friend was making sense. She asked, "When and where do you think this should be done?" Bella asked.

"I think we should leave it for a day or two before calling her. Don't give them the idea that you're anxious or they will have you at their mercy. You need to keep control of your life like you've been doing since leaving the Cullen family behind you." Irina was advising Bella.

"Okay. You get everything in place 'the where place and the time' then let me know. That way I'll make sure that the twins are taken care of while we're making the call. We definitely don't want them to be overheard while we're on the phone." Bella commented as she put the planning into Irina's hands.

XXXXXX

"Where the hell is Paul?" Aro was shouting to his brother, Caius.

"I don't know. I know that he received the message to report back here because you wanted to talk with him personally because he responded back to say that he would be on his way." Caius replied to his brother.

"He has exactly fifteen more minutes to get here, or you are to put out a hit on his ass. I won't allow anyone to disobey my orders. I don't give a damn who they are." Aro was yelling. "From now on if someone doesn't do as they're told their life will be forfeited."

"Aro, you can't…" Caius started only to be interrupted by Aro.

"Don't tell me what I can and can't do. Do you understand me? You may be my brother, but that will make no difference to me if you decide to disobey my orders. You got that?" Aro was still yelling as he grabbed Caius by the front of his shirt and was beginning to shake the man when the door opened, and Paul walked in.

Both men looked to see who had entered the room which caused Aro to release Caius as he charged the newcomer. "Well, it's about damn time that you got your ass here." Aro growled at Paul as he grabbed Paul and started shaking him like a ragdoll before releasing him as Aro returned to his chair as if it were a throne to wait for Paul to come forward to answer his questions.

"I want to know in detail everything that you have found out about the relationship of these children and who the parents are.

"Although, the pictures seem to confirm that they are the children of Edward Cullen, I need to know exactly which woman is the mother. Next, I want to know the precise location of where they reside.

"After you have answered all of that to my satisfaction, you can then tell me why you have no clear pictures of the mother and children together and what has taken you so long to get back with me.

"Finally, you can tell me what was the need for the clean-up crew and just how much might have been reported back to the Cullen's from this person that you killed." Aro rattled on and on in what appeared to be a seamless speech without drawing a breath, or that is what it seemed to be to the other two men that were in the room.

XXXXXX

After dinner when Jasper had left to go meet Carlisle, Edward and Emmett, Alice decided that she needed to talk with Chief Swan. She didn't fully understand what she was seeing in her visions since strange individuals that she had never met kept appearing in and out of them, but the feelings that were steadily increasing of danger to Bella was of a definite concern to her.

She refused to talk with her husband when he did ask what her vision had been about. Alice knew that if she told him he would immediately tell Edward and then everyone would be reacting in a manner that could prove to be more harmful than helpful.

Dialing the number Alice had looked up for Esme, she waited for an answer to her call. Once the dispatcher answered announcing Fork's Police Department, Alice asked to speak with Chief Swan. She was told to hold on a moment while they checked to see if the Chief was available.

It didn't take long before the same person came back on the line to tell her that the Chief had gone home for the evening.

"It's really very important, urgent in fact, that I get a hold of him immediately."

"May I ask what this call concerns and if there is any way that someone else could help you?"

"No, I have to talk with Chief Swan personally and it concerns the fact that his daughter is in danger."

"Hold, please, while I see what I can do to get the message through to the Chief." And, with that said Alice was put on hold for what seemed to be forever before the dispatcher came back on the phone to tell Alice to please call back within an hour.

Alice thanked her and hung up.

AN: Bella has asked Irina to make arrangements for her to call Esme back without giving away their exact location. Alice is still trying to get a hold of Bella to let her know about being in danger. Paul is up to no good behind Aro's back. Aro is just being his crazy ass self. What will Charlie have to say once Alice does get to talk with him?

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