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.

He wasn't stupid enough to think that the women would remain behind. This was one of those time when the women would follow if the men didn't allow them to go at the same time.

With that said everyone went their separate ways to get ready to meet at the airstrip.

CHAPTER 14: CHANGES AND DECISIONS

"We need to find another location. Then figure out a way to move the kids with the least amount of problems to them or us. We need to keep them alive until the Cullen's finish doing our bidding since those kids are our security blanket." James told V.

Victoria couldn't understand why he was still insisting on using only one letter to refer to each other. She assumed that it was to try to keep their names away from the kids in the other room.

"Okay, so we need another location and how are you going to find such a place, or do you already have such a place in mind?" She asked with a bit of sarcasm.

"You, my dear, are going to be the one to go out and find us a place. With your knowledge it shouldn't be hard to find such a place that we'll need." James simply told her before turning back to the piece of paper that he was writing out different items on.

It was at that point that Victoria knew that he was dismissing her, but she had one more question that she wanted answered. So, she decided to ask him, "Why do we need to move to another place?"

"Simple. The Cullen's were probably tracing that last call as I'm sure they have the ability to do and will try to take the kids without following through with our demands. They're no fools and neither am I. It wouldn't be a good idea to underestimate them for a single moment." He answered without taking his eyes off what he was doing. Then as he took a moment to look up, he saw that she was still standing there as if expecting to hear more. "I need for you to go find that location NOW not later."

With a huff Victoria turned, snatched up her coat and left slamming the door behind her. She paused once outside and gave some thought about what she should do and wondered just where she should find another place for them to hole up in.

She decided to go to her father first and to let him know about the mess she has ended up in because of her decision to choose James over her dad. She just hoped that he wouldn't throw up his hands and turn his back on her like she had done to him.

Victoria got into the old beat-up junkier and drove off. She was trying to think of a place that would be a good location for them to move but kept coming up empty with any ideas of where to go.

Before she realized where she had ended up, Victoria was surprised to find herself outside of her childhood home. So, she sat in the car for a few minutes hoping that her father was home. However, she knew that if he wasn't she could give him a call and that no matter what he would answer her call, or at least he always would in the past before she chose James over him and his advice concerning what James was in his opinion.

That was why she prayed that he would listen to her and offer some advice of what she should do about the whole situation she has found herself in.

Getting out of the car she walked up to the front door and let herself in. After looking around and not seeing her father in any of the rooms nearest her, she walked down the hallway to his office. Opening the door, she looked in to see him seated behind his desk looking over some paperwork of some kind.

A sense of being watched came over the man sitting behind the desk, so he looked up to see his daughter, Victoria, standing in the doorway watching him. Rising and moving around the desk to move toward her, he couldn't resist asking rather sarcastically, "What did I finally do right to have the sudden pleasure of your company? You've ignored me for these past several weeks and you just appear as if by magic in my office doorway!"

Victoria looked at her father briefly before launching herself towards him with tears starting to pour down her face. "Daddy, I need help in the worst way."

Despite all the angry words that had transpired before this moment, he was a father first and was having a hard time seeing his little girl so distraught; he didn't hesitate to open his arms wide to receive her. Once she was near enough, he enfolded her in his arms and quietly asked what had her so upset.

"Torie, what has you so upset? If it's that thug, James Stevens, then ….."

But before he could continue with what he was about to say, Victoria interrupted him with confusing motions of her head. She started with a nod and then with the movement of a no.

"Little girl, you're confusing me with whatever you're trying to indicate. Is he responsible for this upset or not?"

With how caring her father was being, Victoria broke down completely and began babbling incoherently about all that was troubling her. The whole time he didn't say a single word; all he did was hold his daughter closer and let her get everything out of her system. He knew that once she was at a point where she was able to be more composed then he would be able to understand what she was saying and what had her so upset.

Finally, after what seemed like forever, Victoria was able to speak more coherently and explained what her current dilemma was. Then after she finished both she and her father sat quietly while he took the time to think about all that she had told him.

"My child, I have a house that would probably work very well for the purpose that your asshole is needing. As for the rest of the situation would you be willing to trust your old dad to handle everything that is left where the children are concerned?"

"What do you mean? What are you planning to do? Daddy, I know that James isn't the greatest choice that I've made but I do love him. Please don't kill him?" Victoria pleaded with her father.

"Okay, I won't kill him but I will make sure that he understands that what he has involved you in isn't to my liking and never will be. Do you understand what I'm telling you?" He looked Victoria straight in her eyes to make sure she understood just how serious he was being about what he was saying. He didn't want any misunderstandings as to what his intentions were where James was concerned.

So, after searching her face for a bit of time he did see that she had a full understanding of what he was telling her. And, seeing how determined her father was about how he would be dealing with James all she could do was nod in acceptance of what she had been told and about what her father was planning to do to James.

"Daddy, are you going to try to protect everyone?"

"Yes. Yes, I am going to try to the best of my ability, however, what your uncles are wanting to do and what James is wanting to do, they are all making it very difficult to come up with a workable solution. Everything is going to have to be handled with finesse. However, my biggest fear is that someone is going to be hurt or killed after all the dust has settled. But be assured that I will do everything within my power to try to keep anyone from being hurt too badly. That's all that I can really promise you, Torie.

"I need for you to know that I'm not happy about everything that James is demanding from the Cullen's. I feel that he is playing a dangerous game that is going to get some people killed if it isn't handled in the right way.

"The Cullen's aren't someone that you play games with. They are deadly and don't hesitate to deal with business of any kind."

"Do you know what you're going to do to keep it all from becoming a bloodbath?"

"I do have some planning to do but nothing solid at the moment. You go on back to James and then get all of you moved to the place I suggested. You should be safe there.

"Also, you might suggest to that asshole to stop making calls from where he's staying. It might also be of benefit to have a different burner phone to where it will be harder to trace where you all are staying.

"Daughter, that piece of trash that you have chosen to give your heart isn't showing any common sense at all. At this point I would say that a damn gnat has more sense than James is dealing with.

"You need to start trying to direct him into a more cautious direction than what he's following.

"I need time; time to figure a way out of this mess and then to be able to put it into action. And, at this point I am assuming that time is extremely short considering the stupid action of your asshole.

"Torie, you really should just leave him or let me kill him for the danger that he has put you in, but don't worry I won't kill him, I'll keep my promise. I'll let him live at least until the next time he does this to you and then all bets are off. Do you understand me?"

XXXXXX

Bella was worried about her children, confused as to why she was being treated as the enemy and wondering if she had done the right thing in coming to the Cullen's. No one seemed to understand that she was only doing what she had thought best for Anthony and Annabella and their safety.

Her precautions had worked for four years until suddenly, her children were no longer safe. Why? What changed to cause everything to go so wrong?

She had been left all alone while everyone else was getting ready to leave. The men doing all of the planning and the women getting things packed. No one was taking any time to consult with her or to tell her what they were planning. It was as if she was a fifth wheel and wasn't considered important enough to have any say or to be able to offer any input into whatever their plans might be.

It was really starting to drive her up a wall. Carlisle ignoring her and then barking orders at her; telling her what she will and won't do. Anyone who didn't know anything about them would assume that she was mentally disabled by the way she was being treated and spoken to.

She wondered how much longer it was going to take before they would be leaving to head for Seattle.

XXXXXX

"Where the hell is Marcus? I need for someone to tell me where he's at and why he all of sudden is refusing to help us to get those damn brats? We need them to strengthen our hold on our area and to be able to expand it." Aro was busy yelling at anyone and everyone who were close enough to hear him.

"Brother, Marcus told us that he refused to have anything to do with this plan that you're wanting to put into action. However, if you really need to speak with him, he's at home." Caius remarked only to see the disgusted look her Aro's face.

"Someone go and see about bringing him here. He's needed to help plan this since he is better able to see any flaws in our plans."

AN: Any idea who's Victoria's father? Do you think that her father will be able to come up with a plan to be able to keep things under control? Will James be wise enough to listen to the advice that Victoria's father gave to her about their situation?

Looking forward to your comments.