A/N This is a pretty downer start, but it is sort of necessary. I am not a great speller and because im using WordPad i dont have spell check (that i know of), so sorry about this, i try to look up words im not sure about, but who has the time to do it for every word just in case? A beta would be appreciated ;) I don't own Twilight but you know that, so i wont be saying it every chapter. First FanFic, i'm so new i don't even know what all the slang is, like ooc? Or AH? Or AU? If some one wants to explain that would be great! I know absolutely nothing about adoption in the states, so we are playing by my fantasy rules. I like to think that this will get better as we go on, so keep on with it, i know this isnt the greatest of first chapters. Enjoy... Review nicely please.
Esme Cullen wiped a tear from her eye as her brother in laws coffin was lowered in to the ground. Not moments before her sisters coffin was laid to rest in the same deep, large rectangular whole as a result of a tragic car accident.
Esme bit back sobs as she held on to the hand of her two year old nephew Edward, maturely watching in silence as his parents where put to rest. Carlisle had Edwards other hand while holding year old Alice, their neice.
People gave their condolences to both Esme and the children, but Esme just wanted to get home and put this behind her. She was sad for her sisters death, but they where never close. The eight years between them meant that they never really shared interests, being at different stages in their lives. The physical distance of two thousand miles between their houses added to the emotional distance between the sisters.
Esme was only left the children since she was the last family member capable of taking them. The car ride was silent, Edward and Alice fell asleep in the back, while the couple held hands thinking over the responsibility placed on their shoulders.
Just as tears threatened to spill over again, Alice began to mumble in her sleep, her head flooping to the side and her arm flailing around with a cute frown on her face. Edwards eyes flickered open, meeting Esme's watery gaze before he picked up the worn bear on his lap and handed it too his sister.
She craddled it in her arms, sighing happily. Upon seeing this, Edward drifted back too sleep quickly, even at two he knew his sister slept better with her bear. Esme realised that that was all the reassurance she needed to be strong. They were so innocent, so caring and so cute. They needed her and after loosing her sister, Esme needed them just as much.
Two weeks later, Esme was laying baby Alice down for a nap when Carlisle burst into the bright pink bedroom. Edward looked up from his blocks, surprised to see his new father home earlier from work than normal.
"Esme, i found them" He gasped, smiling wide at his wife. The 'them' he was referring too was the niece or nephew he knew he had, but had lost when his sister put them up for adoption. Furious with her inconsideration the choice had for Esme's lack of ability to have her own baby, he devoted every spare minute he had into finding this baby to bring it back with family. "His name is Jasper, he was admitted into the hospital yesterday with minor injuries, but he is going to be fine"
"How did you know?" Esme asked, scooping Edward in to her warm arms "Have you done some kind of test?" Her husband nodded frantically, taking Edward from her and kissing his head.
"I have and i know its him. You should see his eyes Esme, they are just like mine and my sisters." Carlisle explained, turning his attention to Edward "They said i could take him in, that he was still up for adoption, Edward, do you want a new baby brother?"
Edward just nodded, not fully understanding the situation of course, but happy his daddy was happy. Esme had tears steaming down her face at the thought of a new baby, only a month ago she never thought she would have her own family, but now she was being blessed with three children.
That afternoon, Esme brought a freshly napped Edward and Alice to the hospital to visit their father and new brother. Edward looked around in awe at all the busyness in the hospital, Alice was whining because of the constant noise around her, but Esme soothed her with her gentle humming.
"Esme" Carlisle greated her, opening the file he was holding. Without another word he presented her with a picture of Jasper, who was with no doubt his nephew with those bright blue eyes. "You should be able to find him, he is in the ICU. Take this pass and you should be let in."
Esme nodded, silently handing him Alice's baby carrier with a bright smile. He pointed her in the right direction, and she all but skipped to meet Jasper. With a glance over her shoulder, she saw Carlisle was perfectly capable of taking care of her children for a few minutes.
After showing the pass too a few people, she was finally permitted to see Jasper. From across the room she knew which baby it was, since he was by far one of the largest compared to all the premature babies. He was also one of the only awake, his bright eyes scanning the room with a small frown on his adorable face.
"Jasper" Esme breathed when she reached his crib in the small sectioned off corner of the room. "Im going to be your new mommy" She cooed, Jasper gave her a grin, showing his two teeth sprouting from his pink gums.
At eighteen months old he had alread been in three homes with three different families, and in each they gave him up once they found he was not a cute and cuddly baby. Jasper hated to be held or touched and it bothered all his new parents. The more they tried to comfort him to more he screamed.
Esme was more excepting after finding out this information from her husband, just speaking to him in a soft voice while he stared up with a smile on his face.
Within a month, Esme had all three children sitting in highchairs around her dinning room table, each digging into a bowl of pasta, completely comfortable in their new home. She was tiered and sure she was loosing the social skills she had by not being around adults much, but she was happy.
Jasper had fitted in well with Edward and Alice. He shared well, not wanting to upset anyone, so most the time he and Edward were giving Alice what she wanted. Jasper and Edward shared a dislike for being touched most the time, but even Edward enjoyed a hug from his mother at bed time.
Alice was never happy unless she had someones devoted attention, but luckily between her brothers and parents, someone was always there to give her that attention.
That was Esme's biggest worry when she came across Rosalie. The five of them were at the park, when Esme discovered a crying girl under the climbing frame, she looked about five years old. After scanning the park for a parent who ressembled the girl in any way, she found no one.
"Are you okay, sweetie?" Esme asked tentatively offering the girl her hand. The child took it, sobbing uncontrolably. "Where are your parents?"
"I don't know" The girl cried, throwing her self into Esmes arms, Esme carried the child the short distance too the sandbox where she had left her own children. "Daddy said he wanted to be with Mommy then he tooked me here now i'm lost"
"Where is your mommy?" Esme asked, fearing the worst. The little girl looked up to the clear sky and Esme felt terrible before she even spoke.
"Heaven" The girl replied, Esme was trying to help the girl but she had to stop Alice from eating sand. "Whats your name?"
"Esme, Dear" Esme replied, guesturing to her children "This is Alice, Jasper and Edward. What is your name, sweetie?"
"Rosalie Hale, I'm five" The little girl whispered, tucking her blonde hair behind her ear shyly. "My Daddy isn't coming back for me, is he?"
"I don't think so sweetie" Rosalie just nodded at Esmes responce, silent tears falling down her rosey cheeks. "But we can find you some where to stay, maybe with us, if you want?"
And in no time, Rosalie was part of the Cullen family, much to baby Alice's delight. Every day Rosalie would dress Alice up in pretty clothes, and they got along great. Esme was glad that her children got along so well, since they had too share rooms it was a real blessing.
"Carlisle, would two more kids be pushing it?" Esme mused one night while they were in bed, cuddled up next to each other "We could get a bigger house, i might have stumbled across a nice one on the internet the other day. It is closer to your work, and the school is great in that area!" Carlisle smiled, dropping the book he was reading to pay more attention.
"I think that Rose could use some one her age around, she only has the babies too keep her company. And one day Edward is going to get sick of playing with Jasper, because a year is a lot when you are a child" Esme continued, placing small kissed along her husbands neck "Say Something"
"I want Two more kids, and a bigger house" Carlisle said, much to Esme's excitment. "I want what you want, and i have also been thinking about more kids for a while now, since you found Rose at the park, since i found Jasper, since Edward and Alice became ours. Every time we have another child, everything just gets better"
"It really does" Esme agreed "I will look into it tomorrow morning, as soon as i get up"
Within a week, Esme had organised an interview at the Washington State home for children aged 3-8. It was one of the shabbier orphanages, right in the center of seattle, in an area known for criminals and outstanding rates of homelessness. The building was grey, small and uninviting.
The social worker they were meeting with was middle aged and very in-your-face. Upon meeting the Cullen family, she stared at the children like they were diseased rats, but gave Carlisle a very meaningful smile. Esme bit back a comment, ushering Edward and Rosalie inside the grey brick building.
Inside was no better than the outside. Walls were covered in marker, fingerprints and mould. Esme made sure Edward and Rosalie stayed near her, while Carlisle clutched the babies closer to him. They balanced on his hips wairily taking in their surroundings.
"Children" The social worker, Elaine, called sharply. Within minutes, about eight small children had gathered in a line, looking fearful and hopeful at the same time. Carlisle noted they all looked slightly malnourished, their skin sunken and grey with wide eyes. Most the boys had brutally shaved heads, the girls had their long, unkempt hair scrapped back into pony tails. "This is Mr and Mrs Cullen. They are looking to adopt, go back to your duties while i interview them" The children scutled off, apart from two with particularly pretty brown eyes.
Elaine lead the family too a meeting room next to a shabby kitchen. Esme lingered behind, allowing her older children to follow their father. The boy, who looked about six tugged on her floral skirt.
"Mrs Cullen?" He whispered, eyes watching Elaine's back carefully as she flirted with Carlisle
"Yes, sweetie?" Esme asked, bending down to his level. The small girl hid behind her brother, she looked to be about four and was terrrified. "What is it?" She kept her voice kind, not wanting to scare them.
"Can you please adopt my sister, Bella?" He begged, pushing the girl forward with a pleading look at Esme "She isn't no trouble. She is real quiet, but she is hungry and we don't get much food and she needs a home, Mrs Cullen" Esme's heart broke, she couldn't help but throw her arms around the two children. When she pulled back, she saw Bella was crying, for a second she worried she was like Jasper, who had improved since living with the Cullens.
"Emmett, i don't want to go without you" The girl whispered, her voice was rough, unlike a little girls should be "Adopt Emmett, he is really nice and the best big brother in the whole world"
"Oh, sweetie, i can't seperate you" Esme said, tears forming in her own eyes as she used her thumb to clear the tears from Bella's face. Her mind was made up about which children she wanted. These two where willing to give up all the family they had for the sake of the other. "But do you want to hear a secret?"
They both nodded frantically, holding each others hands tight "I have two spare seats in my car, so i could take you both, if you would like that?" Bella looked up at her brother, waiting for him to tell her if it was okay or not.
"Yes please!" Emmett yelled, throwing him self at the woman he had just met. Elaine had noticed Esme's absence, and was frowning as she strutted towards them. "Oh no" Emmett said, pushing Bella back behind him with a glare towards the horrible lady.
"Mrs Cullen, you are not supposed to talk with the children, and they know that" Elaine hissed with a glare towards the siblings "I am going to have to ask you to go wait in the office while i punish them" As soon as Elaines hands touched the collar of Emmetts shirt, Esmes own hand reached out and stopped her with more force than needed.
"That won't be needed, i have decided i want these two, if that is okay with my husband." Esme explained, shooting a look to the husband in question. He nodded with a grin, happy his wife had excused him from having to sit through more flirting.
"Well" Elaine hissed, releasing Emmett's shirt, he tried to sooth a scared Bella, Esme's heart ached for them again "I will draw up the paper work"
"Yes" Esme replied simply, leading the newest members of the family towards the office, holding each of their small, bony hands. "Then we can get out of here, and get these two some ice cream"
Later that day, the eight of them where crowded round a table in the ice cream bar, everyone had their own cone, enjoying it while Emmett pulled faces to make the babies giggle. Esme let Bella sit on her lap, soothing the terrified child by rubbing circles on her back. That was Bellas first hug that she could remember, but she knew that life was going to be better from now on.
Emmetts words about them being hungry were very true, Esme fed them the biggest meal of their lives that night, unknowling since she gave them the same amount as she would anyone else their ages.
Esme sighed happily at her family that night in bed. Carlisle knew how she felt, since meeting Emmett and Bella this morning, their family suddenly felt complete. The need for more was gone, and next week they would move to the new house where they could start their lives as a complete family.
So there we go. Chapter one. I find it hard to start of stories, so this is literally my best go at it. Don't worry, i have some good things planned! Some of you may have noticed Bella and Edwards age gap, that will cause some issues in future! So come back again, put this story on alerts so you know when the next chapter is up, leave some ideas bellow, and bear in mind i wrote this at three in the morning because i am now nocturnal.