Disclaimer: I wrote this story. But Stephenie Meyer came up with the characters in the first place, which is why she has a big house in the desert and I have a winter fuel bill which made me suck air through my teeth.

My undying gratitude goes, as ever to my beta EMCxo and to JAustenlover for pre-reading and giving me the arse-shot I deserved.

Dedications: Lemonamour of course and Allyinperth. And my daughter, who is taking me to see Tangled on Saturday.

~o0o~

Say Hello, Wave Goodbye Chapter 20

Eat, drink and be merry

~o0o~

From the WavesFansLondon website - Dateline Saturday, September 26: TOGETHER TONIGHT? We hear that it's gladrags and handbags for Waves stars and real life lovebirds Edward 'Dr. Dan' Cullen and Rosalie Hale tonight as they head for a star-studded bash to help Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital. How sweet is that? Dr. Dan helping the children! Anyway it's been too long since we saw our pair all dressed up and ready to party. If you spot them, please let us see your pictures. For more on Waves, follow us on Twitter...

BPOV

"I feel like Cinderella," Angela whispered over to me as she took a sip from her champagne flute. "I am going to the ball! Does that make you two my ugly stepsisters?"

Alice giggled as I forced myself to smile. Every time I relaxed and began to enjoy the moment, I remembered Edward was heading off in the opposite direction to get Rosalie and my heart fell.

I touched the heart on my new bracelet. It was becoming my talisman for the evening. My first thought was to turn Esme's gift down; I hadn't done anything to deserve it.

But then she said her mother-in-law had done the same for her and it hit me - I was a part of the Cullen family and this was her way of showing me. Just like Esme, my new bangle was effortlessly classy. I loved it immediately and unconditionally.

The car pulled to a stop in front of the Savoy and we all clambered out. There was a small gaggle of photographers, and a dozen or so fans, craning their necks to see who was coming out of the cars. I heard someone calling out and saw a camera flash or two before Alice and Jasper blocked me and we hustled inside.

Esme and Carlisle were waiting for us in the entrance lobby of the hotel. Esme took my arm and steered me to the ladies' room, with Alice and Angela in hot pursuit.

We stopped in an anteroom which was pure luxury with sofas on one wall and state-of-the-art granite sinks on the other. I had to fight against the mental picture of what Edward and I could get up to in this room and snapped to the present as Esme started to talk.

"I wanted to get you girls together for a little bit of a pep rally before we go in," she said. "You all look fabulous - no, we all look fabulous, thanks to Alice, who has worked like a trooper to get us ready. We all know it is going to be tough for Bella tonight. So I think we need to promise to look out for her. Agreed?

The others all chimed in and I blushed scarlet under my makeup. I fiddled with the locket on my bracelet again. I gathered myself together with a big sigh and put my shoulders away and my head high.

I felt the weight of the earrings, saw the diamonds glint in the mirror opposite, and smiled. Fuck the rest of the world; we knew Edward was putting on an act. We knew he was doing this under duress. He was paid a great deal of money to pretend to be someone else during the day, he could do it for one night.

We made our way to where Carlisle and Jasper were waiting with more booze. Carlisle leaned down to me and gave me a conspiratorial wink. "Just smile and sip, Bella. If some really old fart corners you, look out for me and I'll rescue you. Again."

He linked arms with Esme and they glided away into the crowd in the bar. I tottered along behind with Angela. Alice and Jasper, hand in hand, brought up the rear.

The Cullens were immediately swarmed by guests. It was obvious they were as popular with Carlisle's work colleagues as well as Esme's 'ladies who lunch' set.

Esme was swamped by the glamorous women she'd told me were 'stuffy', all chattering away about her dress and jewellery.

She was asked a dozen times who made her outfit and a dozen times she called Alice over and introduced her to another potential client. By the time we had made it across the room, Alice had scores of names and email addresses in her Gucci clutch; some from Esme's friends and several from people who had asked me where my dress was from. I had seven numbers from people who'd admired Alice's outfit.

Alice was a total pro at networking. I could feel a busy week at ABClothing coming on.

I was trying really hard not to stare at the entrance to the room, but every so often a hush would fall as another celeb walked in, followed by a murmur of voices as people returned to their conversations.

I recognised a couple of TV presenters, a newsreader and her toyboy boyfriend - they met on Strictly Come Dancing, I remembered - plus a pop singer or two. They were all milling round the room, air-kissing each other, being loud and utterly fake.

I wasn't too fazed by it after what I'd seen working at the cinema. We usherettes were silent but we took it all in; it had been such fun to sit and bitch about the stars in the break room. I wondered if the waiters at this do would be the same.

Angela and I stuck with Alice, who was a fount of information - aka gossip - about the famous faces. She told us about one starlet who preferred doing coke to eating and an actor who was sleeping with his kids' nanny. Jasper stuck by us, rolling his eyes at us, but joining in with the laughter.

Alice was in her element. She was regaling us with tales of award ceremonies and premieres she had been to and the things she'd seen and done. It was enough to make your hair curl, and, in this case, distract me from my maudlin thoughts.

Carlisle swung by at one point to check we were okay. "Edward's just texted me to say he is on his way; they'll be about 15 minutes," he said. "You're all doing as brilliantly as I thought you would. Would anyone care for a drink?"

He strode off through the crowd and re-appeared with a tray of G&Ts for us all, which we sipped as we people watched. Carlisle was mobbed by all kinds of people, surgeons, celebrities, wives - who flirted outrageously with him - and a few cancer survivors and parents.

Waiters had begun to circulate with appetisers on silver trays. We stopped chatting to grab some mini food. There were tiny little cones with mini battered fish and toothstick-sized fried potato sticks, and pint-sized burgers in buns. No cheese and pineapple cubes on sticks or mushroom vol au vents for this crowd.

Angela and I tried really hard not to gawp, but there were so many glamorous people around it was difficult not to. As we got more lubricated, we got more giggly, especially when Alice began to critique the more 'unusual' outfits.

After an eternity, the silence followed by rumble happened again. I looked over to see Rosalie's blonde and Edward's wet fox red hair over the crowd. I looked again to see a third figure, with blond cropped hair. Even from across the room I could see the swagger in his step - James was with them.

I heard Alice hiss. She leaned to Jasper and said something to him, then turned to me. "I didn't know that wanker James was on the guest list. Stick with me and let me know if he tries anything. I will castrate him if he smarms his way anywhere near you again."

Jasper was weaving through the crowd towards Edward, who I could see was scanning the room, looking for me. I stood on tiptoes and waited for our eyes to meet.

Jasper tapped him on the shoulder and spoke a few words to him. Edward's head snapped round towards us. Instantly, he broke into a smile and I sagged a little in relief, letting out a breath I didn't realise I was holding.

Suddenly the room was too hot; too full for me. I turned to Alice.

"I need some air," I whispered. "Can you stay with Angela?"

I turned and walked towards the fire exit at the side of the room, away from Edward. My mind was reeling. He knew about what happened with James and me. Did he know James was going to be coming? Did Alice really not know about this? Fucking hell, what a mess.

I scrabbled round in my purse for my cigarettes and lighter. I cornered a waitress to ask for directions to a private smoking area, saying I didn't want to be disturbed while I made a phone call.

I found myself on a tiny balcony with plastic garden furniture. It was strangely familiar and the memory of it made me smile. I pulled a deep drag on my cigarette and rubbed at the charm on my bangle again.

It was relaxing outside with the view over the river. It was darkening and I could see lights from boats on the river and hear the muffled roar of the city traffic.

The white noise gave me time to clear my head and calm down. There was no way Edward would have invited James. He must have been there on Volturi's dime. He was always there, catching the bit of limelight Edward and Rosalie left behind them.

My shock at James' sudden appearance was reducing with each drag on my cigarette. By the time I ground the butt out in the ashtray I was calm enough to go in again. I retraced my steps to the bar, which had thinned out considerably.

Alice was sitting on a stool holding a highball glass with ice rolling about in the bottom. She looked concerned again.

"Darling, I have news." She put her glass down a little forcefully.

"James is at our table for the meal. Esme's absolutely furious about it. They moved him at the last minute after he kicked off about being with 'the little people' at the arse end of the room. Said he knew me and Jasper, pulled rank. He was going to be put next to you, but we swapped him with Jazz so he's got some dull Deb on one side and me on the other."

I took a deep breath and willed myself to stay calm. James must know better than to kick off here. To my surprise, it was easier to relax than I thought it would be.

I was glad that Alice had told me what to expect; I would have hated to walk in and find him there, grinning at me.

Alice and Esme promised they'd look out for me all evening, and they were keeping to their word.

I breathed out, took Alice by the hand and let her lead me to the dining room.

The guests still were milling about, still networking. There was a gaggle in front of the board with the table placements on it. I scanned the room and saw Edward already seated at the top table with Esme on one side and Rosalie on the other.

Carlisle was sitting to Esme's right with a society wife next to him. She was smiling like the cat who got the cream, eyeballing him and chattering away. Bless him, he was paying her polite attention, but his body language said something different.

Edward was talking to Rosalie, but he wasn't looking at her; he was twisting his napkin around in his hands, a sure sign of stress. A second after I started to look at him his head lifted and he looked straight at me.

He gave me a half smile and nudged his mum, who also turned towards me with a grin and a little wave. I was about to head over there when Alice appeared at my side. "Time to sit down," she whispered. "The fun's about to begin."

I followed her to a table one down from Edward's. I scooted around to find my name and slid into my seat, delighted that I was directly in Edward's line of sight. He was chatting to Rosalie still, but he only had eyes for me.

Somewhere in the corner of the room a voice called, "Ladies and gentlemen, dinner is served".

The final stragglers headed for their seats. James was, of course, the very last person into the room and made a big show of weaving past tables to get to ours. He worked his way around to his seat, ignoring the daggers Alice was staring at him.

He leaned over and addressed my cleavage. "Bella, how charming to run into you again. I've missed you. I haven't seen you since that night on the roof in Italy...before Edward had that little run-in with the press..."

My blood was running cold, but I held it together. "It's nice to see you too," I mumbled.

He was like a puppy with a bone: "How is that musician boy you were there with? Martin? Mark? No - Marcus, that's right, Marcus... He was in that story with Edward, wasn't he?"

Credit where it's due, he knew to aim for the jugular. I settled for giving him a look and realised

Alice was doing the same. I turned to Angela and started talking to her as the emcee began explaining the events of the evening.

Before the starters we played a game called Sit Down Bingo - we each had an envelope and a bingo card set out for us. We put a donation in the envelope which the waiters collected as they served our wine.. Then we all stood up and the emcee called out bingo numbers. We then sat down when a number on our card was called out.

James, of course, made a big show of putting £20 notes in his envelope. I had less but I put in what I could.

Alice sat down on the first number, Edward was next out, I made it about halfway, and Jasper fell towards the end. Angela, giggling hysterically and blushing furiously, was in the final three, and there were groans and laughter when she finally sat down.

The winner, some middle aged doctor type from two tables away, donated his winnings to the charity, to riotous applause.

The starter - asparagus with hollandaise sauce - was delicious, and as the wine flowed, so did the conversation. James was watching me eat and I blushed at the lecherous grin on his face.

"Enjoying those?" he said after I swallowed one particularly large tip. Alice saved me the effort of getting up by thumping his arm for me.

I turned my attention away from James to the young doctor sitting between Angela and me, a northern lad named Brady.

He was utterly charming to both of us; we'd both mentioned 'our boyfriends' early in our conversation early so he didn't get the wrong idea. James tried to talk to Alice, but she was curt with him and preferred to lean away from him to talk to Jasper and us.

In the end, ignored by Jasper, Alice and me, James had no choice but to talk to the girl on his other side. She was a total Deb, just as Alice described, with a braying laugh, who seemed quite starstruck and delighted to meet a star.

He layered it on thick with her, of course, and as the servers cleared the plates for the main course she was leaning in closer and closer. I couldn't help but watch James in full flirt/letch mode; it was like watching some kind of wildlife documentary.

Before the second course - supreme of chicken with green vegetables and new potatoes with a parsley and butter sauce - a second wave of fundraising began. This time we all had to bet on the flip of a coin for a £1 bet and again the last man standing gave the prize to the appeal.

As the meal went on I cast glances across at the top table. Rosalie had the actor who was shagging the nanny on the other side of her, and she was happily talking to him and his wife.

Edward looked a little bit lost. For the first time I noticed the rings under his eyes. Again, it was as if he knew I was looking as his eyes raised to mine and he smiled a little bit. It brought my mood up and I think it did something for his, too.

I struggled to finish my food; it was delicious but the portions were huge. Brady was a growing boy and looked aghast when I put my knife and fork down with half the chicken and three potatoes left. "Help yourself," I said, laughing as he speared my leftovers. "I didn't realise the NHS starved its doctors."

Between the mains and the dessert the hard sell was for the raffle. The emcee promised it would be the last time we were required to cough up for the night.

There was a trio of desserts - Eton Mess, chocolate pot and lemon mousse. Brady puppy-dog eyed me until I gave my strawberry and meringue Mess to him, then swallowed it in one gulp.

I looked up to see Edward in conversation with his father, his dessert untouched in front of him, napkin twisting in his hands again.

With the coffee, the table-hopping began and I felt confident enough to go to the top table. Carlisle had moved away to talk to someone else, so Esme moved up one seat to let me in between her and Edward.

I gave Rosalie a small wave and a smile. She grinned and mouthed "hi" to me before turning away from me to the people on the other side of her.

"How are you holding up?" Esme looked genuinely concerned. "I apologise for dropping James on you so suddenly. I do hope he's been behaving." I heard Edward snort lightly.

I could feel his hand, warm as toast, brushing my thigh, under the tablecloth. I was a second away from moaning out loud and leaning in to him.

I kept my head firmly facing away from Edward. "He's been okay, I suppose," I said, brightly. "His usual charming self, you know."

I pulled my chair out and said loudly enough for Edward to hear that I was going for a smoke, swept the train of my dress over my arm, kissed Esme goodbye and headed towards the exit without looking behind me.

I paused in the hallway long enough to hear the door open and close then retraced my steps from earlier to the smoking area on the next floor up.

A waitress from downstairs was just putting out her cigarette as I walked out onto the balcony. She gave me an embarrassed smile and walked into the building.

I leaned out over the balcony, looking at the spectacle of London in the dark. The London Eye was off to one side, lit up like a beacon, and I could see the tail lights of cars on the bridges.

A warm buzz swept over me from my head to my toes. I could smell Edward's familiar spice and warm leather scent before he appeared in my peripheral vision.

I turned slowly, drinking in the sight of him in a dinner jacket, his bow tie slightly askew. He smiled and held up a zippo. "Light?"

I felt a wave of nostalgia and lust as he deliberately re-enacted our first meeting. The moment was silent, exept for the roar of traffic in the distance.

I raised my cigarette to my lips and he quickly lit it. As I took a drag, he watched my face in wonder and raised his hand to cup my left earring and brush his fingers down my neck.

"I feel as if I've just got my get out of jail card," he said, and leaned in closer. His breath was hot against my ear.

"I miss you. You are one fucking table away and all I can do is look at you. I watched that puppy help himself to your food. He's quite a charmer, that one. It's a good job Dad knows him or I'd punch his teeth in for looking at you..."

I gasped. Brady hadn't been anything like that!

"Relax, tough guy," I said, pulling away a little but not willing to break his contact with my neck. "He knows I have a boyfriend. He's been lovely all night, not said anything out of place. I promise..."

Possessive Edward wasn't done. "I have been watching all the men, looking at you, wishing you would talk to them, looking at your figure," he said. His hand cupped my jaw but I could feel tension in his fingers. He took a deep drag of his cigarette.

"I have never felt this... protective... of anyone before. It's new and I'm not sure I am enjoying it... And the asparagus. You don't know what watching you eat that did to me..."

I interrupted him by bringing my hand up to grab his and pulled his palm to my lips for a kiss. I folded his hand up and put it by his side.

"You do know I have only got eyes for you, Edward. If anyone has been staring at me, I've not noticed them. How could I, with you in the room?"

He sighed and looked out over the balcony. "I didn't know it would be this hard," he said with enough sadness in his voice to make my eyes prickle with tears. "I want to dance with you; to introduce you to my parents' friends; be proud of you. It hurts that I can't."

With a deep breath he pulled himself together. Boyfriend Edward vanished and Movie Star Edward bubbled back to the surface. "I should go. They want me to help call the raffle winners... then some dancing, and after that we can escape."

I ground my cigarette into the ash tray and pulled him by the hand until we vanished into the shadows by the door. I tiptoed up for a kiss, putting as much passion into it as possible, under the circumstances.

"I may not be able to dance with you, my love," I breathed. "But I get to go home with you." I spun round and headed out, allowing myself a head start, head up and heart considerably lighter.

~o0o~

From the WavesFansLondon website - UPDATE! Saturday night is for lovers - and co-stars! The Waves people gave us three for the price of two tonight with a surprise appearance from co-star James Royce-King out for the exclusive London fundraising gala to help Great Ormond Street Hospital. Not that we're complaining - two hot men in tuxes is better than one... For more pictures when they arrive, follow our Twitter feed.

EPOV

I was in some deep circle of hell. I had to restrain myself at the beginning of the evening when James pushed his way into the car ahead of Rosie, grinning and posing for the photographers as they hustled all three of us for pictures.

The fucker settled himself in the car then pulled out a hip flask and waved it at me with a quirked eyebrow. I shook my head. I didn't want his germs and I didn't trust him not to put chilli vodka in it to see me cry.

Rosie knew better than to try and smalltalk in the car. We chatted about the scenes we had coming up and about her schedule for the next few weeks - her birthday was coming up and she had plans to invite some people over to celebrate.

We studiously avoided talking about Bella, my move or the gossip about us. I was uneasy about talking too much around James and I hoped she was too.

James was glued to his phone, laughing from time to time at joke emails someone sent him. He was a total narcissist, checking his name on Google or Facebook or wherever 100 times a day. All I could hear was tap tap tap as he scrolled though his phone.

My mood didn't improve when we got to the Savoy and were greeted by more cameras and a gaggle of screaming females. The only thing that cheered me up was seeing how little attention James got from the fans.

Rosie and I plastered on pretend grins for the paps and real ones for the fans - especially when one of them asked James to take a picture of her with us. After a few minutes I spotted one of mum's charity fundraiser friends and wandered over to her.

She ushered the three of us into the hotel and showed us where we were needed briefly for some press. The three of us posed for more pictures with posters for the Great Ormond Street appeal and said a few words about how important the hospital's work was.

When we finished we were lead down another hallway and followed the crowd to the bar, where it didn't take long for a waiter to pass by with some wine. While I knew better than to get rat-arsed, I was sure as hell not going to have something to drink.

I scanned the room, wishing Bella was a tiny bit taller and thus easier to spot, when Jasper appeared like a fucking genie at my side, making me jump. "Message from Alice," he mumbled. "She says 'She's over there by the door'."

I craned my neck and saw what I had been looking for - even from this far away I could see the diamonds glinting in her ears. She was staring straight at me. I couldn't help the smile which slid across my face.

I watched her return my grin, then turn and speak to Alice before heading out of the room. I was all set to follow her, but Jasper stopped me. "She'll be back, man."

Rosie, James and I of us wandered over towards the ballroom. We stopped once or twice to say hello to people I vaguely recognised, as well as a couple of kids, who wanted pictures. James disappeared while Rosie and I played nice for a surgeon friend of Dad's.

Alice cornered Rosie and me before I could go and hunt for James. I was half afraid he'd gone to look for Bella, who hadn't come back in yet.

"Rosalie. You look nice," Alice said, entirely unconvincingly. "I see The Dickhead is here. What's the deal with that?"

Rosie smiled thinly and looked embarrassed. "He just sort of turned up. First I knew about it. I think it's something to do with all that Volturi crap," she said, doing her best to dismiss Alice, but she was having nothing of it.

"C'mon Rosalie, he is always whispering something in your ear. Surely he said something about coming?" Alice was like a dog with a bone. "Really? You didn't know?"

Rosie genuinely looked confused. "Really, Alice, I didn't know he was going to be here."

I shrugged. "He told me Aro got him in, that's all I know," I said. "Now if you'll both excuse me, I have to go and find my parents."

I headed away from them and was about to go outside for a smoke when Mum appeared looking furious.

She kissed me, but I could tell she was distracted. "Darling, I don't think that James is very polite. He's just really upset Jennie, who has gone to a lot of trouble with the table plan. We've had to move him to Bella and Alice's table, I am so sorry... he would not shut up about it so we moved him. I thought Jennie was going to headbutt him."

I must have looked like thunder because she kissed me again and leaned in to speak quietly. "I know this is horrible for you, darling, but Bella is behaving heroically and it's best you don't make a scene. She has Alice to look after her and I have fixed it so we can keep an eye on them too. I put James next to Jemima Smyth, she's an airhead who will definitely flatter his... ego..." she giggled, and I joined in. Give James a slapper to sit by and he won't worry Bella too much.

"Mother, you're a genius, an evil genius." I gave her a peck on the cheek and took her arm. "Let's find Rosie and take our seats."

We walked in and settled at our table. I had Rosie on one side and Mum on the other. Rosie was on her best behaviour, chatting with everyone at the table, laying on the charm.

The first course was asparagus. I sneaked a peek at Bella only to see her sucking the sauce off a green tip, and my mind descended into the gutter.

The only thing keeping me sane when James started eyeing Bella was that she ignored him and after Alice hit him for whatever he said, he spent the entire meal leering at that toff bint Jemima and not Bella.

But then I saw how the boy sitting next to her was looking at her as if she was something to eat. I think I actually growled when he speared her chicken off of her plate and ate it in two bites, while she laughed at something he said.

When he stole her pudding, Mum had to hold my elbow to hold me down in my chair. I watched his face as he ate the strawberries and cream in her Eton Mess. My own tasted of straw, not berries. I couldn't eat it. I could feel my teeth grind. Even Rosie could tell something was off.

Eventually, Bella came over to talk to us and informed me she was going 'for a smoke' before slinking off. With the train of her dress over her arm, I had a great view of her legs and her dark blue heels.

"Just follow her," Mum told me. "But watch your step. You're doing brilliantly. Don't blow it now..."

I was out of my seat before she'd finished speaking. I patted myself down to check I had my lighter this time and made it out of the room at a nearly inhuman speed.

I saw her blue dress ahead of me in the corridor and followed her at a safe pace as she climbed one flight of stairs. I put my head down as a waitress passed me.

I stepped out onto the balcony to a surge of deja-vu, my dick squirming and stiffening in hope and memory. I walked up behind Bella, inhaled her essence, and offered her a light.

Of course I had to blow it and rail at her about how jealous I was that she shared her dinner with someone else, but she took my hand and assured me he was being a gentleman.

Then she kissed me. Somehow I managed to avoid stripping her and taking her right there as the cold anger of my jealousy vanished.

She wiggled her arse deliberately at me as she went on ahead. I waited a half minute or so - until my hard on felt like it wasn't actually trying to unzip my dress pants - then followed after her.

To my surprise she was still in the corridor. She looked nervous but giggly as I approached.

"I think some people are having fun in the disabled toilets. I was about to nip in the ladies when I heard them," she said with a giggle.

I stopped and listened. Yes, unmistakable sounds of sex, definitely. The woman was a shouter.

"Oooh my God... yes, yes... that's it, just there!" Her voice was as clear as crystal even through the closed door.

I started to giggle. Bella's enjoyment was contagious. The man was only managing grunts and the odd moan, but the woman was getting louder and louder to a staggering peak. "James! Fuck! James, don't stop, don't you DARE stop! Fuck me properly, mister movie star..."

I looked at Bella and she looked at me, wide-eyed. Holy fuck.

~o0o~

A/N Thanks for being so patient with me. I think I've been a bit faster this time but not much.

There will be a bit of a delay before the next chapter because I have signed on to write a story for Fandom Fights the Floods to help the people in Queensland who lost everything. All I am saying about it for now is that it will be a 'crick-fic'. To see it, you must donate Aus$5 to the Aussie Red Cross or the QLD Government appeal. If you have Facebook, have a look at www(dot)facebook(dot)com/pages / Fandoms-Fight-The-Floods / 155157931200341 for more information.

One rec this time (dot)net/s/6483877/1/Dear_Mr_Masen

Thanks to everyone who has read/reviewed/pimped out Sins of the Piano Man after my last update. There is a #readalong planned for Twitter, which I hope to co-host. Watch this space for dates/times etc.

Thanks for reading and being so patient with me and for your good wishes for my Dad, who is home from hospital, where he belongs.

AFMxx