OK – some answers to the many questions.

No vamps

Mostly EPOV – a little BPOV

Not a drabble- the chapters get longer. I just like starting slow. Kinda how my brain works

3 updates a week for now. Tues Wed Thur Once I finish writing I will update more.

And to the team that seems to have assembled around me? Thank you so much. Your encouragement and support means so much. Your friendship means the world.

Thank YOU for reading this and reviewing. I appreciate you taking the time for both.

And we carry on…

"Remind me again, just why the fuck am I doing this?" I groaned as I listened to the incessant chatter coming from the other room.

"Because it's for a cause near and dear to your heart, you ass," came the prompt reply from Carlisle as he straightened the shoulders of my jacket, dusting off what I assumed was some lint at the same time.

"My heart. Yeah, I don't have one of those," I shot back. Even I could see the sadness on his face as he replied.

"Well my friend, you used to."

Unable to think of an adequate reply, I shrugged off his ministrations and turned away. As I was stepping further out of his reach, the door opened and Emmett stepped in.

"Ok, everything is all set, just as we talked about Edward. The area has been cleared and your path is set. Keep to it and everything will be good."

"Right. Fucking brilliant. Carlisle, go over this one more time please? How many questions? Have they been screened? Please tell me they have been fucking screened." I turned to my manager and friend, hoping he would at least confirm that fact.

Hearing his chuckle, I already knew the answer. "No, Edward. Charity, remember? Five winners, each get to ask the question of their choice. They were, of course, given parameters. Nothing about your personal life. What they have come up with outside of that, we'll all find out soon enough. Please, for the love of God behave yourself. Act charming. Remember charming?"

I shook my head and heard him sigh. Stepping forward he placed a hand on my shoulder, then spoke in his low voice, no doubt meant to soothe me.

"Edward, it's one event. One afternoon. A few questions from some fans. You know the signal if you're uncomfortable. I'll pull the whole thing if I have to, but I really don't want to. Please. Tomorrow will be a few interviews, and the gala. Both you and Sebastian will perform individually, and then do your duet and it's done. We go back home to Vancouver. We talked about this, right?"

I drew in a deep breath and nodded. He was right. I had agreed to do this for charity. And to help a friend. What had started off as working on a piece with a fellow musician I admired, had led to a friendship and a shared desire to give something back. Sebastian LeRoux and I had written and performed a composition together with the plans to release it and have proceeds go to charity. But then Sebastian had asked me to aid him with this event and I couldn't find it in me to refuse. A small amount of my time would help raise a huge amount of cash to help fund research for eye disease. It included a thousand dollar a plate dinner tomorrow night. Lots of rich people to rub elbows with, talk to, and listen to as they fawned all over me. And today, a meet and greet with some fans. More fawning and no doubt stupid, poorly thought out inane questions I would have to smile through and answer. Without cursing or telling them off.

For charity, I reminded myself again.

Fuck. I hated this.

Poor Edward…