A/N: I am so so so so so sorry that this chapter has taken so long to update, life have been 100% crazy lately. I'm working alot of the summer - and my work is just taking absolutely everything out of me at the moment! (Really not use to manual labor!)

Here's the next chapter, so please review and let me know what you think! (Motivate me to write more!!!)

STEPH'S POV

I jumped out of my car having parked it in an area I was fairly sure was labelled staff only. I didn't really care at the moment. Looking around me frantically I tried to locate the main entrance to the children's hospital. I knew it was off Sunset Boulevard, so I headed that direction.

After I found the entrance I walked up to the lady at the front desk.

"Excuse me," I started. The lady behind the desk looked up at me briefly and started talking, I assumed to the headpiece she had on. She held her hand up at me, signalling for me to wait.

I almost growled in frustration. My best friend and her daughter, a girl who had become like a niece to me, were somewhere in this hospital. The worst reason was that I had absolutely no idea why.

Bella had been worried this morning when she had called me asking for a doctors number. What on earth could have happened in such a short time frame for her and Emma to wind up at the children's hospital?

I prayed it was something minor and that Emma and Bella were only here for the afternoon. Maybe an infection and the meds worked better through an IV. I didn't have much hope in that scenario.

Bella never would have told Imajane to tell me to come to the hospital because it was an emergency if it wasn't something serious. Only something very major would have made Bella take that course of action, anything less Bella would just have told Imajane to tell me she had called and she would try again later.

I knew how much Bella hated disturbing me at work, which worried me even more. What was wrong with Emma?

I was so annoyed with Imajane at the moment that I was really not funny. Bella had called, told Imajane that it was an emergency, and that since my meeting was just wrapping up could she please pass on to me that I was needed at the hospital asap. My meeting, which had been wrapping up at the time, managed to prolong itself for another hour.

Why Imajane not come in and whispered the message in my ear I had no idea. She should have let me decide whether to wrap the meeting up right then and there or wait and then go to the hospital.

I tapped my fingers impatiently on the reception desk, waiting for the lady to get off the phone. I wasn't trying to annoy her, but I just needed to know what was wrong.

I had left a message on Bella's cell phone as I had left my offices, she must have had her cell turned off while she was in the hospital. Since then I had tried her three more times, in the small hope that her cell might be on at one stage. Every time the phone had gone straight to voice mail.

"What can I do to help you today?" Asked the receptionist. Good, she was finally off the phone.

"I'm looking for someone, a patient here by the name of Emma Swan."

"One moment please," said the receptionist and turned towards her computer to start typing things in. I knew deep down that she was probably going as fast as she could, and telling her to hurry was not going to make matters any better, but I couldn't help but be impatient. I felt as though she was purposely trying to frustrate me.

"I'm sorry," she replied after a couple of minutes. We don't have anyone under that name registered at the moment. The system can sometimes take a while to update. It is possible the paper work just hasn't caught up to the computers yet. Did you know why she was here or which department she is in? The receptionist of the department will probably have a much better idea if she is still here or not."

I shook my head dejectedly. How on earth was I going to find them now?

"I don't have anything. All I know is that she is here." I replied. "Wait a moment, actually, I do have something. I have a name of a doctor. Would you be able to tell me which department the doctor is in? Maybe I could find her that way."

"We can try, it may work."

"Dr. Allcott."

"One moment please."

I was started to get really frustrated with the whole computer thing. I didn't have a moment to waste.

"Found him," the receptionist replied. "I'll just print you off a map and a visitors pass." She walked over to the printer behind her. "You have to wear this visitors pass at all times when you are inside the hospital. Here is a map of the ambulatory outpatient tower. Dr. Allcott is situated in the haematology-oncology clinic on level five. Have a nice day."

I stared at the lady, about to say more when the phone rang and she started talking into the headpiece again as though I was no longer standing in front of her.

Oncology. Cancer. Surely not. There had to be some other reason they were there. Maybe I had the wrong doctor. Maybe she had looked up the wrong doctor for me. I prayed that there were two Dr. Allcott's on the staff at the Children's Hospital LA.

Spotting a sign for the outpatient tower I took off in a fast walk.

Once I stepped out of the lift on the fifth floor I consulted the map the receptionist had given me. According to my map, the haematology-oncology clinic was straight to my right.

I walked through the doors embossed with the words I was trying so hard to ignore and straight up to another reception desk.

"How may I help you today?"

Good, at least this one was able to say something to be before I stoke to her. She wasn't on the phone, good sign.

"I'm looking for an Emma Swan. Is she registered here, or is there another way of checking if she is here? I asked at the front desk but the lady couldn't find her on the computer system."

"One moment then, I'll just look through the papers that haven't gone in yet," replied the receptionist. "Ah-huh, here it is. Emma Swan. Yes, she is here. Patient of Dr. Allcott at the moment."

"Right, and Dr. Allcott is a…" I trailed off, hoping it would serve as an invitation to the lady to tell me Dr. Allcott's profession. I couldn't bring myself to ask if her was an oncologist. She picked up on my silent question.

"Dr. Allcott is a haematologist."

I felt a small wash of relief cover me, but it only lasted two seconds. I was still in the oncology clinic. That meant odds are the two professions were linked, so Dr. Allcott being a haematologist really didn't mean much.

"I need to see Emma Swan, or her mother," I said quickly.

"I'm sorry, unless she is in the waiting room at the moment, you will have to wait for her to return."

"Wait for her to return?" I asked in a dangerously low voice. "And what happens if she doesn't return to the waiting room? What happens if she stays wherever she is? I need to see my best friend and her daughter and I would greatly appreciate it if you would tell me where they are."

I knew the receptionist was going to become defensive at the sound of my tone. I would have become defensive if someone was talking to me like that – but truth be told I was beyond caring. I wanted to know where Bella was, I wanted someone to tell me that everything was a big mistake, that Emma isn't sick.

"I'm sorry, but I don't know where they are at the moment. It is their first visit here, they could be anywhere at the moment. I assure you they will return to the waiting room sooner or later," the receptionist said in a cold, haughty tone. That tone was just not going to work for me.

"Fine," I replied and took off through the waiting room. I heard the receptionist jump up behind me, but I didn't care. I had a head start. I went straight for a corridor I had spotted earlier which was lined with doors. Upon closer inspection I saw that each of these doors had a name on them. Good. Now to just find Dr. Allcott's.

I was vaguely aware of the receptionist behind me saying something in a raised tone which was not quite a yell.

"I can't hear what you are saying and quite frankly I don't really care," I called over my shoulder.

Suddenly the receptionist was in front of my and standing in front of a door. Damn her for knowing already which one belonged to Dr. Allcott.

"You can move, it you can open the door and introduce me, your choice," I told her in a dangerously low voice. "But either way, I am going into that room."

She turned and glared at me before knocking on the door and apologising to Dr. Allcott about me.

I rolled my eyes and walked toward the room.

"Oh save it," I said irritably. "My best friend and her daughter are here and since you wouldn't tell me where they were, I took matters into my own hands."

I walked around the corner of the door and saw Bella sitting in a chair opposite who I presumed to be Dr. Allcott.

"Bella, I came as quickly as I could. What are you doing in the oncology clinic? Where's Emma? Is she okay?"

Bella looked at me with an odd look on her face, and I thought I saw a fleeting glimpse of laughter pass through her eyes. But just as soon as it was there the happiness was gone, making me wonder if I had even seen it at all.

"I don't know. Steph, this is Dr. Allcott. Dr. Allcott, this is my best friend Steph," replied Bella, giving a blanket answer to all of my questions. I just stood there, unable to move. Bella had always been so strong, especially when it came to all things Emma-related. And now she looked so broken.

I wanted to move to comfort her, but my brain was not properly communicating with the rest of my body, leaving me standing statue-still by the door. I watched in gratitude as Dr. Allcott moved from behind his desk to place a reassuring hand on Bella's should.

As Bella looked up, alarmed by the sudden contact, I saw a wave of confusion cross her face.

"Bella, you're doing extremely well given everything you and Emma have been through today," stated Dr. Allcott in a kind voice. I decided I like this man a lot. He seemed to know exactly what to say to comfort someone, especially someone like Bella.

I saw Bella nod her head slightly. I suppressed a giggle, noticing that Bella was sceptical of his recent comment. It wasn't an obvious form of scepticism, but I had know Bella for long enough to be able to read her body language when others couldn't.

"Where is Emma?" I asked in a less demanding voice than the one I had previously been using with the receptionist.

"Tests," Bella muttered in reply. "Dr. Allcott was just explaining some things to me."

I felt my face immediately flush. I had barged in here, not even thinking about what it was they were talking about. The one thing Bella looked like she needed right now was answers, and I had interrupted.

"Shoot, I'm sorry B, I'll just be outside in the waiting room."

"I have a better idea," said Dr. Allcott. "Steph, why don't you head to the recovery room that Emma will return to after they are finished with the tests? Bella, I know you were anxious about Emma being alone, this way, on the off chance that she beats you back to the recovery room, there is someone familiar there waiting for her."

I looked at Dr. Allcott in astonishment, he really was more perceptive than I had originally given him credit for.

"Yes please Steph," Bella added, her eyes pleading.

I nodded, there was no way I wanted to sit in the waiting room and do nothing at the moment, and Bella looked as though she was considering tearing herself down the middle, so that she could be both listening to Dr. Allcott explain what was wrong with her baby and waiting for Emma so she could hug her as soon as the medical staff were done with her tests.

I turned to the receptionist, who was still standing behind me with a sour look on her face. If there was one thing I had perfected during the years I had spent as a lawyer at one of the highest recommended law firms in LA, it was how to butter people up to get what I wanted.

And damn, I was good at it.

"I do apologise for earlier – the shock of finding my best friend and the girl I see as my niece in the oncology wing made me rather abrupt. I didn't mean to take it out on you. Would you please be able to show me the recovery room that was mentioned?"

I could see the receptionist considering whether or not to forgive me for my earlier actions. She must have decided that I was just stressed and emotional, because she nodded slightly and motioned for me to follow her as she walked out the door and down the hall. I wondered briefly just how many crazy relatives and friends she had to deal with every day, each demanding to know what was going on, and where their loved ones were.

With once last glance at Bella, just to make sure she would be okay, I followed her toward the recovery room.

After following the receptionist, who had eventually told me her name was Joanne, down a number of different corridors and through various doors she finally came to a halt outside one.

I was glad she had decided that I might not be as bitchy as I had initially appeared, because there was no way I could ever have found my way to the recovery rooms by myself. The oncology wing of the hospital was like a labyrinth.

"Here you are," she said quietly. "Just pop in here." As she started to walk away, she turned, and added as an afterthought, "just make sure you wait quietly."

I chuckled to myself. Obviously while she had chosen to overlook my former behaviour, all was not forgotten.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath as I placed my hand on the door handle, ready to open the door. I knew that once I opened this door and went in to wait for Emma, all of this would seem really. Everything that had happened so far today in regards to Emma had a surreal feel to it at the moment. I knew that seeming a hospital room would poke a hole in the illusory feel of the situation and make it blatantly clear. Emma was sick.

Stepping through the door I continued to attempt to brace myself for what was happening. I had no idea how on earth Bella was still in one piece. I knew for sure I wouldn't be. Emma was only my niece, and godchild, and I was about to fall apart. I couldn't even begin to imagine how a mother must feel in this situation.

"Aunty Steph," shrieked a cheerful and elated voice. My eyes popped open. Emma was already done with her tests?

"Em," I started to reply, trying my best to keep a jovial look on my face. Suddenly I froze as I looked up at Emma and the man standing beside her. I could feel all the blood rush from my face. Surely not. It couldn't be… but he looked so similar to the pictures Bella had. I shook my head, trying to convince myself it was just a coincidence.

I think I had almost managed to do just that, when the man, who I assumed must have been a doctor, as he was wearing a white lab coat and had a stethoscope slung around his neck, turned to look at me. Staring back at me were a pair of eyes so similar to Emma's that they was almost chilling to look at.

"Aunty Steph," called Emma again, somewhat impatiently this time. "Come and meet my new friend."

I tried to smile, knowing I didn't quite succeed. I was fairly sure the uneasiness I was feeling was extremely apparent on my face.

"This is my new friend Edward. He's a doctor," Emma added wisely at the end, nodding her head. Had I not been so caught up with the appearance of the man in front of me I would have had to laugh at the look on Emma's face, and the apparent wisdom in which she had spoken.

"Hi," he replied, turning to me and extending his hand. "I'm Dr. Edward Cullen. It's very nice to meet you."

I just stood there in shock and stared at him. This was not good, not good at all. I realised I was standing statue-still again as I had done earlier in Dr. Allcott's office. I willed my brain to do something, anything.

"Holy Shit," I croaked, finally regaining control of my voice. Damn it, I thought silently reprimanding myself for the way I was acting and what I had just said, anything BUT that.

A/N: So, once again, I am sorry for the extended period of time it took me to update this story - I meant to have it up much quicker!

I am going to aim for weekly updates, but I just moved away from constant internet access, so I'm going to have to figure out a way to jump that little hurdle!

As per usual, anyone who reviews will recieve a sneak peek - sorry if I missed any one last chapter, my head has been all over the place lately...

Avery xoxo