Wow…it's been two months. I'm sorry about that, but it took that much time to even get this chapter done. Thanks for sticking with me, though, and I really appreciate it. If you look at my page you'll see that I have several new stories out, so if you have some free time take a look at them. They include 'The Spectrum' and 'Divine Mercy' and 'Eye of the Beholder'.

So, uh, I hope you like this chapter, and please review. That's all I have to say.

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BPOV

It was already late when we got off the plane, and Alice was asleep in my arms. Emmet was tired as well, and was clinging to my side sleepily. Edward directed us towards the baggage claim, where we waited for our bags in mostly silence. Alice stirred as we waited, and looked around in confusion. "Where are we?" She asked, twisting around in my arms, confused.

"We're at the airport." I said softly, setting her down on her feet. "Remember? We're going to spend some time at Grandpa and Nana's house." Alice just nodded, and then we were silent again. By the time we got our bags off the conveyor belt, Alice was asleep again. Edward left Emmet and Alice and I sitting on a bench so that he could go pick up our rental car, and then we would be able to leave.

Emmet sat at my side, fidgeting restlessly. After a few minutes, he looked up at me with wide eyes. "Mom, why are we staying with Nana and Grandpa?" He asked curiously, and I smiled at my son, running my free hand through his curly hair. Emmet was always so innocently curious, even now as he was growing up. He had been my first baby…I didn't want to see him changing and growing up.

The answer to Emmet's question was more complex than his young mind could understand, so I had to give him the watered down, simple version. "Dad and I have a party to go to at our old high school, and Nana and Grandpa are going to watch you and Alice for us." I explained. "Also, it's been a long time since you've seen your grandparents, and they love you so much." I added, and Emmet seemed content with my answer. But I could tell there was something else on his mind. "Baby, is something else bothering you?" I asked, and Emmet furrowed his eyebrows, looking up at me.

"When are you going to get better?" He asked, and my heart caught as I saw his eyes fill with tears.

"I don't know, Em." I said softly, wiping at my own eyes and tightening my grip around Alice, who was still sleeping. "Soon, I hope." I murmured, and Emmet nodded his head again.

Then, his eyes darkened slightly. "Don't tell dad I asked you." Emmet said, and I frowned at him. "He told me not to bother you about it anymore…he said it might hurt your feelings." He explained, and I only frowned more. I knew that Edward had our best interest at heart, he always did, but could he not see that Emmet was simply scared?

"It's fine, Emmet. I promise." I told him, and then planted a kiss on the top of his head. "I love you."

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The car ride to Forks was long, and seemed even longer when I was so tired and uncomfortable. Edward drove while Emmet and Alice fell asleep in the backseat, but I wasn't feeling well enough to fall asleep. Once we finally arrived at Carlisle and Esme's house, I was so tired that I could barely walk, let alone hold Alice. Edward used his spare key to get into the house, and we tried to be quiet, but that was impossible with two children under the age of ten. The second we got into the house, which was dark and cold in the night, Alice woke up and started crying softly. She was tired and confused and scared of the dark, a terrible combination.

Emmet then started complaining about having to share a room with Alice, and despite our attempts to quiet them down, Carlisle soon appeared at the top of the stairs, wearing his bathrobe and frowning in confusion. He flipped on the light switch, and Emmet and Alice instantly quieted down.

"Sorry." I said weakly, blushing as my father in law came down the stairs. "They're tired-"

"It's fine, Bella." Carlisle said easily, taking Alice from me and kissing her on the forehead. "How's my girl?" He asked her, and Alice smiled bashfully, burying her face into her grandfather's chest. Carlisle greeted Emmet and Edward and I as well, and then directed us upstairs. "Edward, you and Bella can sleep in your old room, and Alice and Emmet can sleep in the spare room." He said, and then looked down the hall towards the master bedroom. "And please try and keep it down…you know how your mother can be." Carlisle said, and I couldn't help but smile. I definitely 'knew how Esme could be'.

Finally, we were able to get everyone situated and into bed. But even as I lay in the soft, comfortable bed with sheets with an incredibly high thread count, I could not fall asleep. Edward's steady breathing told me he had already drifted off, but I could not. It was no secret that my mother in law disliked me. Edward knew it, Carlisle knew it, and I knew it. And tomorrow, I knew that she might hate me anymore. I was going to ask her for money…and Esme believed in pride and honor.

Would she frown upon Edward and I asking for money?

I asked myself that question over and over again, even though I already knew the answer.

Of course she would. She was Esme Cullen.

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The next morning, Jasper came over to pick Alice and Emmet up to take them over to his house for the morning, so that Edward and I could have a word with Carlisle and Esme. My in laws knew something was happening, because as the four of us sat around the kitchen table, Esme pursed her lips and Carlisle crossed his arms across his chest. "What's wrong?" Carlisle finally asked, and I took a deep breath and chose to speak first.

"You know that I have cancer." I started, and Edward gripped my hand tightly, keeping his hand ducked. "And…we can't exactly afford everything." I said softly. "The bills are really piling up and things are getting harder and harder to manage…" I looked up, meeting Esme's eyes. "I don't want to see my children suffer because of my cancer. And they will, if we can't pay for the things that they need-"

"How much?" Esme asked, cutting me off.

Edward cleared his throat, picking up his head and looking at his parents. "Ten thousand." He said softly, and I heard Carlisle suck in a quiet breath. Esme opened her mouth to say something, but Carlisle beat her to it.

"I'll go get my checkbook." He said softly, and I exhaled heavily in relief.

"Carlisle!" Esme hissed, and he shook his head at his wife.

"I'll go get my checkbook." Carlisle said again, his voice steely. "Esme, why don't you get Edward and Bella some breakfast?" He added, and Esme huffed indignantly. She stood up and walked towards the stove, but then turned around as soon as Carlisle was out of the room.

The look in her eyes was fiery, but I wouldn't exactly call it anger. "You stay strong for them, you hear me?" Esme hissed, and Edward and I gawked at her. "I won't have my grandchildren suffer either."

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Esme is a complicated lady, no? Well, please review and tell me what you think!

Xoxo- Melodyella aka Mellie