Sorry everyone for the wait! As a reward this is an extra long chapter :)

Back by popular demand, (two reviews! *fist-pumps*) I present...an Edward pov!

We get to see a slightly softer side of Edward in this one *aww* so buckle up for the warm fuzzies.

Steph M owns.

~Epov~

"Oh baby baby, how was I supposed to know…"

I woke, once again, to the sound of Emmett screeching in the shower.

You would think that after countless mornings of wailing and chanting he would have improved his singing skills somewhat. However it was quickly proving not to be the case.

This particular morning it seemed that I was getting a private performance of Britney Spears's 'Baby One More Time'. Not one of my favourite songs it has to be said.

"HIT ME BABY ONE MORE TIME!" Emmett bellowed at the top of his lungs.

Oh for fucks sake.

Sighing, I rolled over to check my alarm. It appeared he was also singing earlier than usual which meant that there must be some sort of sports event this morning at Forks high school.

When we moved here from Alaska, Emmett had immediately snapped up a job being a P.E teacher and main sports co-ordinator at the school.

Getting the job so quickly was mostly down to luck as the previous woman in charge had just left, however the job suited him perfectly.

Emmett was a sports nut and had been one of those typical jocks all through high school. Now not only was he able to play and organise sport for a job, he could also inflict the torture on others through teaching it.

This was fine by me as it gave me a slight reprieve from his relentless gym excursions, ones in which I always seemed to be dragged along to.

I was already fully awake and decided that I may as well get up. Now that I was early I decided to stop off at a café and try and get a decent breakfast that wasn't purely sugar and preservatives.

Quickly getting ready I yelled through Emmett's bedroom door that I was leaving and then quickly slid into my car and sped away.

Driving down the empty streets of Forks I turned on the radio and a rendition of a Matt Corby song filtered though the speakers.

I let my thoughts wander and nearly didn't notice that I had pulled up behind a car at an intersection. Screeching to a halt before a rear ended it, I mentally slapped myself.

Good one Edward.

Shaking myself out of my thoughts I vaguely observed the jeep in front of me.

Smiling inwardly I noticed that the driver's head seemed to be nodding along to the beat of the song that I was listening to.

Ha. What are the chances of us listening the same song?

My stomach growled, breaking my train of thought and I wondered where I was going to get a good breakfast.

Starbucks? Na.

The bakery? Nope, closed on a Tuesday morning.

Maybe a café?

Aha! Edward my boy, you are a genius!

A few more minutes of driving and I was at my destination.

Managing to get a park directly out front due to the early morning I ran a hand through my hair before getting out, pulling on my trench coat and walking in though the doors of The Coffee Cure.

They had just opened judging by the emptiness of the place. Looking around I turned to the counter and spotted her immediately.

"Al!" I called but the blonde head didn't turn.

"Alicccceee" I tried again, this time smirking as her head whipped towards me.

"Hey what are you doing here?" Alice grinned as she approached. "There's a 'no service for idiots' policy you know."

I chuckled and ruffled her short, blonde hair and then sniggered as she scowled up at me, knowing she hated it when I did that.

"I'm sure you could pull a few strings for your big bro." I replied. "Maybe even a discount?"

"Don't push it buddy!" Alice laughed patting down her hair before squeezing me in hug. "How are you and Emmett? I haven't seen you guys for aaaages."

She pouted and I chuckled, " You saw us just last week!"

"I know, I know, but speaking of seeing people, have you gotten a call from mum? I shook my head.

Alice continued. "She wants you and Em to come over for dinner tonight. She seems to be missing you two for some reason, however I'm sure the longing will wear off in a few hours when you remind her of how annoying you both are."

"Nope I we haven't spoken for a few days." I informed her. "Which means I'm probably due for an Esme phone call soon."

Alice shook her head ruefully "I know what you mean, she was bad enough in college, so I can only imagine what she's like now that you and Emmett have moved out."

I grinned, "She's doing pretty well so far actually, but I think it's mostly thanks to Dad that she's not on the phone to us 24/7."

The bell jingled and Alice peered over my shoulder before checking her watch and looking up at me.

"I've probably got to start helping Ben out the back, but are you going to come to dinner tonight? If you and Emmett are both coming I've got to start mentally preparing myself."

"I'll have to see, I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to." I replied, thinking about work and feeling guilty that I was forced to be so vague. A few weeks ago and I wouldn't have had to hesitate. As much as my family bicker and tease each other, they will always come first.

My guilt deepened as I saw Alice's face fall. "Hey, hey, hey, I'll be there ok? I backpedalled frantically. "I've been working late for weeks now so I'm sure they could spare me one early evening, how does that sound?"

"Ugh, if you must, I suppose." Alice sniffed before flashing me a happy grin and dashing off to find 'Ben'.

I turned to leave wondering about how I was going to get off early before I realised that I hadn't gotten what I had came for.

"Alice! Wait up a sec! Do you guys sell bagels or anything? I haven't had a proper breakfast since mum kicked us out!"

"Look at the menu Dumbo, some of us have got to work you know!" Alice called back not turning around as she disappeared behind the counter and through a door.

Grumbling about the ungratefulness of younger siblings I slouched over to the display cabinet.

Five minutes later I had a BLT in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other. Eating while I drove to the hospital I ran through my plan of attack for the day.

Today was an important one, after nearly three months of being the lowest on the ladder; I was finally assisting in one surgery and starting to venture into the radiology/oncology department, which, mostly thanks to my dad was my field of 'speciality'.

Because of this, in a week's time I would be moving to a bigger hospital in Seattle that had more extensive oncology and radiology departments. I had found myself a nice, reasonable sized apartment close by and the rent was good which was a bonus.

When I moved out the plan was for Alice to move in with Emmett in order to help pay for rent and other necessities. I wasn't 100% sure if Esme had been told about this but I sure as hell wasn't going to be the one to break it to her.

The first part of the morning flew by. The surgery was simple enough stuff, and as I was the new assistant I did fuck all. After that I took a quick break, which I used to call Esme and tell her I would be coming to dinner.

It was then time for my first radiation session. The plan was for me to 'shadow' an experienced doctor who was going to carry out an MRI scan on a patient with suspected spinal inflammation. Just the usual textbook stuff I had studied in med school.

Piece of cake.

Huh. Famous last words. The first half of the procedure went smoothly and we were just bringing the patient out of the scanner when my phone started burping angrily indicating a new text message.

Shit.

So not professional.

I thought I had put it on silent.

I am so going to murder Emmett.

These thoughts all rushed through my mind as I scrambled to turn off the noise. I just knew this was Emmett. He was the king of annoying practical jokes and a favourite pastime of his was changing my ringtone and message alert sounds on my phone hence the 'burping'. He had probably recorded it himself.

His proudest moment occurred half a year ago when he changed my ringtone to Kings of Leon 'Sex on Fire' and then rang me in the middle of a lecture.

However this moment probably came close. The doctor I was assisting was Dr Scarlinsky, an old, uptight codger, who made it his personal challenge to make everyone else a miserable as he was. I'm surprised he was able to look down his nose at people; his head was so far up his ass.

Right now he was giving me a look that could only be described as disgusted. I groaned inwardly. He would definitely be making sure that Dr Roberto heard about this.

Twenty minutes later we finished with the MRI patient and I was able to take a look at my phone. Flashing on my screen was the announcement that I had a new message from Alice.

A: OMG just met ur soulm8!

I sighed. Alice always took it upon herself to play matchmaker for me. It wasn't that I was shy around girls or anything, hell, living with Alice and her infinite gaggle of girlfriends that constantly tried to hit on me cured that, I just found that bachelorhood suited me, or as Alice called it, 'my playboy life style'.

According to Alice I only thought this way because of bad experiences, the incident with Tanya only fuelling her theory. I had had a very bad episode with a girl named Lauren a year or so ago and I thought that I had gotten over it when I met Tanya.

It turned out Tanya only added to my already strong view that you should never ever commit to a relationship.

This then meant that Alice had decided to become cupid. Ridiculous if you ask me. You only have to look at her and Jaspers relationship to be weirded out.

To start off with Jasper has a bizarre obsession with dressing up in confederate costumes and kilts to name a few, which Alice adores, and if this wasn't bad enough they spend the rest of their time together reading each other horrific poetry.

Probably into all that kinky shit too.

I don't even want to know what those two get up to behind closed doors.

Bleugh! Cullen, don't even go there…

Shaking my head in disgust I methodically went about the rest of my afternoon jobs until it was nearly time for me to leave to go to dinner that evening.

I had checked in with Dr Roberto this morning and he had confirmed that it was ok for me to leave an hour or so earlier, which meant that I was going to be a little late but would probably get to the house in time for the food.

I was walking back into Dr Roberto's office to get my stuff as the staff on nightshift started their work. The hallways were hushed and the lights were dimmed. Family members who had stayed with loved ones during the day were leaving to go home for the night.

I entered Dr R's office and packed up my briefcase and jacket. I was just stepping back out into the hallway and closing the door behind me when I saw said doctor barrelling down towards me.

Dr Roberto was a fairly big man, in the sense that he was tall and in pretty good shape for his age, which I guessed was around mid to late forties. His immense size only made the small child he was piggy backing seem all the much smaller.

"Hey doc R! What's hanging?" I asked as the young boy he was carrying swung of his arm.

"The only thing hanging around here is this monkey!" Dr Roberto joked but I could see his eyes were clouded with pain.

The boy that he was referring to giggled, a small, childlike sound that seemed so out of place in the sterile corridor, along with the oxygen canisters and cannula tube that Dr Roberto was now replacing under the boy's nose.

The kid seemed about six or seven but it was hard to be certain, as he looked somewhat ageless thanks to his baldhead and eyes that seemed too big for his tiny face.

"Hey Edward!" Dr Roberto addressed me, straightening up once the tube was in place. His eyes were pleading. "Would you possibly be able to do me the biggest favour? Young Ethan here would really appreciate it, wouldn't you buddy?"

The boy, Ethan, nodded enthusiastically.

"Uhhh sure I guess…" I trailed off, thinking about the dinner I was meant to be attending in less than half an hour.

"Well Ethan's mommy is out of town at the moment, and I need someone to look after him for a few hours until his next check up." Doc informed me keeping his voice light while his eyes conveyed the importance of this favour.

"Sure I would love that!" I said, making an effort to sound cheery. I gave Dr R a look that told him I would need the full story later, before squatting down to Ethan's height.

"Hey buddy, my name's Edward!" I stuck my hand out and stifled a laugh as Ethan shook my hand with a serious solemnity that made me smile.

"Is it alright if I leave you with Edward for a bit?" Doc asked Ethan, "I'm sure you two will get to be great friends!"

Ethan beamed up at me and I stood frozen for a minute, stunned by the angel-like quality this small, bald little boy had.

A small, cool palm found its way to mine and I grinned as I stood up holding Ethan's hand.

"Right doc, me and Ethan are off to get some grub, we'll meet you back here in a few." I informed him.

"Great! Sounds good! Call me if there is any problems, which I'm sure there won't be!" Then he was gone, already calling out to a nurse down the corridor about a job that needed doing.

The reality of the situation began to sink in as I discreetly looked down at the tiny wisp of a human at my side.

My hand dwarfed his and his head barely reached to the top of my thigh.

What on earth am I going to do with a six-year-old cancer patient?

"Edward?" a small voice broke me out of my frantic thoughts.

"What's up bud?" I asked squatting down again so I was his height. I remembered reading something about it being less intimidating for the kid.

"Does your name start with an 'E' like mine?"

"It sure does pal."

"Can I call you 'E' then? 'Cos Edward is quite a long name." Ethan looked up at me nervously.

"Of course buddy! You can be little E and I can be big E! How does that sound?" The joy in Ethan's eyes nearly brought tears to my own.

"Come on little E, how about we get ourselves a bite to eat? I'm starving!" I exaggeratedly rubbed my belly and winked at him, laughing as he copied my actions.

Internally I was a mass of worry.

Oh god, I am not good with kids.

How do I talk to him? Like an adult?

I don't want to patronise him!

Just breathe Edward.

Talk to him like you talk to Emmett, minus the swearing. That should work.

Ethan held my hand as we walked out into what served as the café. It was closed up and dark. The florescent lights behind us made our shadows stand out. Three silhouettes outlined on the tiles, mine, Ethan's and Ethan's oxygen tanks, that were trundling along beside us on its wheels.

I flicked on the overhead light bulb, walked behind the counter and grabbed a pottle of 2-minute noodles. "Do you want me to make you the best 2-minute noodles you will ever eat in your life?" I asked him.

Ethan's eyes were like twin beams of light and they practically glowed with excitement.

"Yes please!" He squeaked, before adding almost ashamedly, "I've never had them before."

"Well it's your lucky night! We can have a midnight feast!" I said optimistically, choosing to not bring attention to his last comment.

"Even though it's not midnight?" Ethan asked.

"Even though it's not midnight." I confirmed popping the pottle into the microwave.

Forty minutes, two chocolate bars and three pottles of 2-minute noodles later Ethan was buzzing.

"What can we do now E? " He asked squirming around in his chair.

Maybe we should have given the chocolate bars a miss.

However the problem was you just couldn't say no to him. This was serious as I was an expert on saying 'no' having grown up with Alice and her world famous 'puppy dog eyes'.

The next few hours past in a blur, Ethan's body clock was on a completely different schedule to mine so we ended up playing Mario kart on the Wii (Ethan bet me much to his delight) and a few other games on the Xbox.

After that we settled down to watch some T.V. We had just started a new cartoon series when I realised that Ethan had somehow managed to worm his way on to my lap, had snuggled himself under my arm and wheeled his oxygen canisters between my feet.

So sneaky.

I grinned and relaxed back into the sofa.

In the ad breaks we argued about who we thought was the better comic book hero.

Mine was 'The Flash' as not only would it be awesome to be so fast you could run on water, but you would be able to run away from any sticky situation therefore 'The Flash' = invincible.

Ethan said 'Superman' was his favourite because "he has a pet super-dog and he is really strong and has black hair like me." At this he went quiet and I quickly changed the subject to favourite foods while inside my heart shattered for him.

Doctor Roberto found both us an hour later, me dozing on the sofa with Ethan fast asleep in my arms.

"Look at the pair of you!" he chuckled, gently lifting Ethan from my arms and waking him from his slumber. My lap felt strangely empty without his warm little body in my arms.

"Come on champ, last test and then you can go get some proper sleep." He told a bleary eyed Ethan. "Say goodbye to Edward and if your lucky you might be able to see him tomorrow! How does that sound?"

Unfortunately the sugar high had worn off and obvious lack of sleep was setting in.

"No!" Ethan screamed, reaching for me as Dr Roberto held him. He started twisting and kicking his little feet and I could tell Doc was struggling to hold on to him without tangling Ethan's oxygen tube.

The fight lasted a few seconds until Ethan's body went limp, his energy spent. I spoke as soothingly as I could.

"Hey little man, I'll see you tomorrow ok? Maybe you could hang out with me for a wee bit? Be my assistant?"

Ethan nodded as he listened until Doc R turned to go and then the tears started flowing again.

"Nooooooo Eeewarrrrr!" He cried, almost nonsensical through his sobs.

I waved goodbye as Dr R carried him away but his howling echoed in my ears, haunting me all the way to the hospital's exit.

It was pitch black outside and I didn't have to check my phone to know that I had well and truly missed Esme's dinner. Oh well, I couldn't bring myself to care at the moment. I would just have to answer for it tomorrow.

My breath fogged in the air but I didn't feel the cold. I sat on the steps leading up to the entrance and put my head between my hands, letting the cold leach into my bones. I couldn't get Ethan's face out of my head.

His fragility and delicateness was almost unnerving, yet when he cried I wanted more than anything to make him happy again.

The numbness I was feeling was beginning to scare me and I roughly scrubbed at my face with my hands.

Take a deep breath Edward.

I let out a long exhale and closed my eyes, only to see the image of Ethan's huge ones staring into my soul.

Pull yourself together man.

I'm trying!

What has this boy done to me?

_o0o_

A/N: Sooooo there we have it...

*Stretches out cramping fingers*

As usual, please let me know what you think! :)

xx