A/N Okay, so I just moved cross-country and don't have internet in my apartment yet. I'm actually uploading this at a Starbucks, but because of that it's not 100%, meaning the ending sucks, but I wanted to get something up so you knew I wasn't just putting it off or something. So here you go. I hope it isn't too bad.

Chapter 19

Avery and Rachel had arrived and Alice was playing hostess, literally playing…as in acting how she thought a hostess would act, which, apparently, was like a slightly less dramatic Tallulah Bankhead. Thankfully, once Emmett and Rose had been introduced to Avery, Rachel quickly pulled Alice into one of their usual high-energy conversations. The others found their exuberance quite entertaining, if the grins around the room were anything to go by when I took a seat next to Rose.

Not two seconds after I sat down did the doorbell ring.

"I'll get it, Bella. You just relax." Alice said, surprising me. Usually when she was in full-on mode with Rachel, nothing could tear her away. She leaned down to give me a kiss on the head as she walked passed towards the door.

"Looks like you're having an influence on our little Alice, huh Bella? She seems…well maybe not more mature, but definitely a little more tame." Rose commented, wrapping an arm around me and pulling me towards her for a hug.

A scream caught everyone's attention and we all turned towards the door just in time to see Alice lunge for a very surprised Jasper.

"Maybe I spoke too soon." Rose said chuckling as she stood with me to greet her brother.

Jasper was laughing as he carried Alice back over to the couches, setting her down next to me.

"Sorry about that Jazz. She's been so excited to meet you…" I started to say, pulling a now sheepish looking Alice into my arms in front of me.

"Bella told me so much about you! I feel like I know you already!" Alice said, regaining her grin. When she started to bounce a little, I breathed a few words into her ear to calm her, much to the amusement of everyone there.

"It's fine. Actually, it was nice to have such a warm welcome!" Jasper laughed, giving Alice a wink. She blushed a little, looking adorable as usual, and shuffled out of my grasp while I moved to give my friend a hug.

"Jasper, this is Avery and his girlfriend, Rachel. He's one of my highlighted artists and Alice works with Rachel at the theater." I introduced, taking a step back to allow the customary shaking of hands. A knock on the door caught my attention and I turned to see a shy looking Gemma standing there, holding the hand of a fairly tall brunette, who I assumed was Melanie.

"Are we late?" Gemma asked worriedly taking in the group of people before her.

"No, no, come on in!" I called, moving to greet them properly. I was surprised when Gemma threw her arms around me in a friendly hug.

"Thanks for having us over Bella. I'm so glad everything has worked out for you and Alice." She said quietly, moving back to stand with her girlfriend. Melanie didn't say much, but held herself with confidence, but not in an arrogant way. I guess that made her a good match for my timid ex-cook.

Alice sidled up to me and I wrapped an arm around her waist. Her body next to mine provided comfort and I risked starting a conversation with the two women in front of me.

"So... I heard you're working for Rose now?" When she nodded, I smirked, glancing back at my friend who had looked up at her name. "How's that working out?" I asked, then leaning forward, mock whispered, "It's okay, you can tell me if she's a bitch. I already know."

Gemma laughed nervously, shaking her head, while I was quickly assaulted by my bestfriend, who shoved me, huffing. Mean while, Jasper and Emmett were practically falling over laughing while everyone else tried to hide their amusement.

"It's actually been great." Gemma interrupted softly, smiling. "It's different than working for you, of course."

"Oh? How so?" I asked curiously, and Rose snorted beside me.

"Well for one, I actually talk to her!"

"More like gossip." I muttered, ignoring my friend's glare. She decided to pretend I hadn't said anything.

"AND TWO…" Rose paused, smirking at me and glancing towards Alice, "She doesn't need to worry about walking in on me with a girl in my bed." I gasped, scowling and turning to glare at Gemma, who was now hiding behind Melanie's tall frame.

"YOU TOLD HER ABOUT THAT!" I had specifically left those embarrassing details out of my retelling the next morning when Jasper and Rose came over. I knew they'd hold it over me for ages. Alice was giggling next to me and I bumped her with my hip, causing her to quickly sober up and give me a half-hearted look of empathy.

"It's not her fault, Bella. I made her think you'd already told me. I knew you were holding out details from Jazz and I because you were blushing like crazy that morning."

Jasper's eyes lit up in remembrance.

"The day with the panties?" He asked, looking between me and his sister with a grin.

My face was definitely bright red by now, and was about to get worse when Melanie, or all people spoke up.

"If it helps Bella, Gems definitely didn't mind walking in on you two."

"MEL!" Gemma shrieked, trying to cover her girlfriend's mouth and failing.

"All she could talk about when she got home was how hot you both looked curled up together."

Emmett's laughter boomed over everyone else's at this proclamation and poor Gemma stared at the floor, her face now as red as mine, while her girlfriend leaned in to whisper something which caused a giggle. Alice decided that now was a good time to divert the attention away from us.

"Okay, enough embarrassing the shy ones. Bella worked on dinner all afternoon, so let's not let it get cold." She said, giving my waist a comforting squeeze with her hand. I smiled down at her gratefully and she winked, leading us towards the table.

Thankfully, dinner went over well and talk was directed more towards the gallery and Alice's play. It was relaxing and just what I needed to sink into my state of mind for this evening. As Alice was leading everyone down the stairs back towards the gallery, Jasper softly held me back with Rose.

"How are you feeling Bells? Nervous?" He asked, smiling at me proudly.

"A little," I confessed, "But mostly excited. I've been looking forward to this for a while."

"It's going to be perfect." Rose assured me, grinning and pulling me into a hug. "Now come on before Alice misses you."

An hour later I found myself in whirlwind of people. The gallery was packed with groups of mingling and taking in the art. I could barely manage two steps before I was accosted with another question or compliment.

"Bella!" I turned to see one of my old neighbors, Jacqueline Porter making her way towards me with a glass of champagne.

"Jackie!" I called with enthusiasm. I wouldn't say we were friends, but I couldn't deny her taste in art. The few times I had been to her house I stood in awe at the beautiful paintings and sculptures littering the interior. Her husband was a diplomat or something, so she travelled a lot and brought home various types of art from all over. She also got extra points in my book because, to my knowledge, she never slept with Alice.

"Your gallery is wonderful." She said leaning in to peck both my cheeks in an extravagant greeting.

"Thank you."

"Do you, by chance do appraisals?" She asked, getting straight to business and catching me a little off guard. It took me a minute, but I eventually nodded. "Excellent. I normally go to Gerard…you know Gerard right? He had the affair with Cecilia's husband?" She didn't wait for a response by went right into a story about how some friend of a friend had a falling out with this Gerard guy and now she couldn't see him any more out of loyalty for this friend's friend. Basically it was a convoluted tale of he said she said which I patiently listened to, waiting for her to get on with it. "…Well of course this couldn't have happened at a worse time, since I'm looking at buying a few new pieces from Loretta, poor dear is having to sell off everything after her husband got caught up in that laundering scheme, anyway, I need someone with a keen eye to have a look at them." She finished her long winded explanation.

"Of course, I'd be happy to help you. Here's my card. Call me and we'll schedule a time." I told her, handing her the last one on me. I'd have to go grab some more in back. I squeezed passed her looking around to see where Alice had gone off to. I spotted her in the corner with Esme and Carlisle, and Rachel and Avery. She caught my eye and smiled brightly, giving me a small wave, as I continued to weave my way through the crowd. Maybe I'd find Jasper or Rose on my way.

Unfortunately, that wasn't the case and just as I slipped behind a screen hiding the door to my office a strong hand grabbed my arm from an alcove, pulling me into the shadows. I gasped taking in the appearance of my former husband. He looked disheveled, despite his wearing a nice suit. His eyes were blood shot and tired and he didn't look like he'd shaved recently. However, the most disturbing thing was the strong smell of alcohol wafting off of him.

"Why isssit, that everyone I know isss here clelebrating with youuuu, azzif they were your family and not mine?" He slurred. The stench of his breath made me cringe away from him, despite his firm grip on my arm.

"Edward, you're drunk!" I whispered harshly, trying to pull away. I wished someone would come by and help me, but at the same time, I didn't want anyone to see Edward like this.

He laughed bitterly at my comment, squeezing my bicep until it started to hurt.

"And whoooooose fault is that?" He said, starring at me pointedly…or as pointedly as one can when their eyes are going in and out of focus. His voice was getting louder and I quickly shushed him, but he ignored me. "It's yours!" He exclaimed loudly. "You did this to me!" I turned away, then. I couldn't look at him. The noise and music hadn't quieted, so there was still hope that no one heard.

Apparently, however, someone had.

"Get your hands off of her!" My very pissed off girlfriend growled, pushing him away as hard as she could which, in his drunken state, actually made him stumble. I took the opportunity to pry him from my arm and swiftly swept over to Alice, but she wasn't quite done with the stunned man in front of her.

"How dare you come here! How DARE you ruin this night for Bella!" She whispered harshly, giving him another shove, but this time he was prepared for it.

I quickly pulled Alice out of the way of my ex-husband's advancing form, daring him to try something. I put myself between the two of them, trying to hold them back from one another, because the anger in Alice's eyes and hatred in Edwards wasn't something I wanted to see played out.

"Get away from my wife, little girl!" Edward snarled.

"Edward…"

"She's not yours anymore! Or was her sending you divorce papers and moving out too subtle for you?" Alice bit back, cutting me off.

"Alice, don't…" I warned, barely able to hold back Edward as it was. After that comment I needed both hands and my full weight to keep my ex-husband at bay. He barely seemed to even notice my presence now as he looked at Alice like she was a disgusting bug to be squished.

"You stupid slut…"

"EDWARD ANTHONY CULLEN!" Esme's shocked voice interrupted, knocking Edward out of his blind fury. I couldn't be more thankful to see her and Carlisle there when I turned around. "Look at yourself!" She said, sweeping passed me and pulling Edward down to her level by the ear. She scowled when the odor of alcohol hit her nose. "And drunk, too! I couldn't be more ashamed of you right now if I tried." Esme scolded, but Edward wasn't going to go willingly, and wrench himself from her grasp.

"I'm not a child, mother!"

"Which is exactly why we wouldn't expect this from you." Carlisle put in, coming up behind his wife, disappointment clear on his face.

"You want to discuss expectations!" Edward ranted loudly. "How about the expectation that family actually means something! I'm your son, for God's sake, and you're here supporting the bitch who ruined my life!"

Esme gasped at Edward's language, too shocked to do anything. Instead it was Carlisle who stepped in front of his son.

"That's enough, Edward." His father told him sternly. Edward opened his mouth to protest. "ENOUGH!" Carlisle repeated, cutting off any arguments. "Keep your mouth shut and follow me to the car." His voice was low, but when Edward made no movements, it rose in volume. "Now!"

With a nod in my direction, Carlisle marched my ex-husband back out into the throng of oblivious people. Although, I suspect that they soon may be wondering where their host went.

"I apologize for my son, Bella. I hope he hasn't completely ruined your evening." I forced out a tight-lipped smile for my pseudo mother and she returned a sad one of her own. "Your gallery is lovely, dear. I'll stop back in next week to have another look." With one last hug, Esme followed her husband to the exit.

That left Alice and I standing in the, now silent alcove. I was speechless, trying to take in the mini-drama that just happened. It caught me completely off guard. How did he even get in here without being noticed?

"Bella? Are you okay? Did he hurt you?" Alice asked, tenderly examining my abused arm.

"I'm okay." I assured her, pulling her into a hug. "Now let's get back out there so I can show you off some more." I said, trying to lighten the mood. Alice rolled her eyes, but let me pull her back into the party. I put Edward out of my mind, knowing that if I dwelled on it, I wouldn't make it through the night.