Chapter Five: A Familiar Face

APOV

Monday dawned too quickly for Alice, her dreams a mix of the past dark and frightening and a future that seemed to warm and wonderful. Ollie was excited to get ready for school, while Alice was trying to remind him that Jake might not be back at school today and not to get his hopes up.

"Morning Alice" greeted Esme, smiling from her desk up at them.

"Hi Esme, how is Bella?" she asked as Ollie saw Violet and ran over towards her.

"She's fine so is the baby" said Esme smiling again at the thought of her new grandchild.

She smiled wide, glad "what did she have in the end?" she asked relieved to hear that Bella was fine and so was the baby.

"A little baby girl" said Esme "she named her Renesmee, after me and her own mother".

"That's a very pretty name" look over she could see Ollie was already talking with Violet. They sat a little while longer talking about how Bella would be going home that week and that little Renesmee would probably wrap Edward around her little finger when she was a couple of months older.

Glancing at her watch she saw that she needed to get a move on, quickly thanking Esme for the chat and saying goodbye to Ollie who barely paid her any attention as he was already wrapped up with his friends.

The morning was gruelling, customers where pouring through the door, and another applicant had decided that the job just wasn't for her and left in the middle of the rush. The day quickly picked up from manageable to hectic mid afternoon, with mothers coming to pick up the prom dresses their daughters had put aside that weekend, while taking the time to make sure they weren't too revealing and she just wanted them to pay the things and move on.

She smiled as she followed the last customer out of the shop, locking it up and hurried across town to pick up Ollie, she walked through the door and noticed that she was late enough for most of the parents and children to be gone already.

"Hi Esme, sorry I'm late, the shop was just too busy then the traffic was the worst" she said smiling.

"Not a problem Alice, Ollie is having fun anyway with Jake and Violet" said Esme walking around from the desk.

"Hey mom, sorry I'm late I didn't want to leave while Bella was asleep" said Edward walking in.

Alice looked up at him blushing again at the embarrassment that he caused her with his harsh dismissal.

"Come on Ollie" she said walking over and picking up his coat, helping him put it on, and "you'll see Jake and Violet tomorrow".

Ollie got up slowly with a pout on his lips at having to leave but waving goodbye to his friends and Esme never the less as they went.

"See you tomorrow Esme" she called heading for the door quickly, hoping to just leave without Edward causing her more embarrassment.

"Alice" called Edward, grabbing her before she was in the clear.

"Yes Edward" she replied, hoping he would just thank her for the other day and leave it at that, if he brought up the whole thing she thought she might die.

"I just wanted to say thank you again for the other day at the hospital, and I wanted to apologise I realised after I told you Jasper and Rosalie could look after the children how that sounded, but I was just worried about Bella and our child" he said looking down at the floor.

"Its fine Edward" she just wanted to leave quickly she could just be thankful that no one else had been there to hear this, she left before he said anything else, driving the back streets to her home quickly wanting to get in and put the whole day behind her.

She went to bed early almost as soon as the dishes had been done, the day had drained her and she just wanted to relax and hopefully dream of Jasper again.

"MOM" screamed a Ollie from down the hallway, shocking Alice out of her sleep, she sat bolt upright on the bed, quickly pulling on her robe before opening the door and running to Ollie's room.

"What's wrong?" she asked, running to him, crashing to the ground and checking his body quickly for any damage, seeing none her eyes frantically searched the shadows for strangers and her own nightmares made flesh.

"I had a nightmare" he said tears and fear still in his eyes.

All at once her heart stopped pounding with terror and she looked back to him her held breath leaving in a rush, "Oh sweetie" she softly pulled him towards her and hugged him tight trying to dispel the worry that clung to him. "Do you want to tell me about it?" she asked voice barely above a whisper, he shook his head. "OK, you don't have to, do you want to come and sleep in my bed tonight?" she already knew the answer. He nodded shakily, before clinging to her neck again, and she slowly drew his arms away from her neck and gently led him back to her room. He soon settled down once he was tucked up next to her; she lay awake for a while, making sure he was OK before sleep claimed her as well.

Alice placed Ollie's sandwich in front of him, listening to his story of how another small child at his school had gotten his head stuck in the bars around the playground yesterday, and they had to get an ambulance out to help the poor boy.

She smiled down at Ollie's big eyes as he told her about how the boy had cried; she made a note to herself to get Ollie to make the boy a get well card later.

The doorbell interrupted Ollie's tale, Alice looked up sharply at the sound before getting up and heading towards the door, looking through the small peep hole she was met with a familiar face.

She flung open the door, and was immediately enveloped in a large bear hug by her visitor.

"Emmett put me down" she laughed, thumping his back lightly to get him to realise her.

"Uncle Emmett" cried Ollie as he ran the kitchen to greet him.

"Ollie" boomed Emmett, setting Alice down carefully before picking up the small boy in his massive arms and hugging him tight. Emmett quickly placed Ollie back down and grabbed his bag before he was tugged inside by an excited Ollie as she followed behind laughing at the image before her.

"We were just having lunch. Do you want some, I've got a chicken sandwich" said Ollie in a rush.

"Uh lunch would be great" he said looking at her eyes pleading, she could only roll her own and move towards the fridge.

"One chicken sandwich coming right up" she said, grabbing a plate of chicken and the butter from the fridge and the bread.

"How long are you here for Uncle Em?" asked Ollie looking up at his large uncle.

"A week little man, so we can have fun and I can help your mom around the shop" replied Emmett.

"Cool, I can't wait to introduce you to Jake and Violet, they are my best friends at school; they'll like you" he said grinning before taking a bite of his lunch.

She watched as the two ate their sandwiches and Ollie filled her brother in on all the details of his school and friends.

"So I have closed the shop for today I thought we could all go to the park and you could play football with your uncle" she said as she placed the washed dishes back in the cupboard.

"Can we Uncle Em?" asked Ollie, hope shining in his blue eyes.

"Of course Ollie, let's grab your ball and put your shoes on; then we can get going" said Emmett as he helped Ollie down from the table before Ollie raced to his room

She smiled as she headed to her own room, grabbing her bag and boots, listening to Ollie show Emmett his room and all his new toys and books, while Emmett made suitably impressed noises.

"Ready boys" she asked from the hallway listening as she heard running footsteps head towards her.

"Yeah" said Ollie, stepping out of the house and laughing as Emmett swung him up onto his broad shoulders.

They walked the short distance to the park, Ollie laughing all the way while Emmett growled like a dinosaur and stomped about causing her to smile and laugh as well.

The game was fun; Emmett let Ollie win, but they all laughed as they tried to get the ball through the goal. They set it up with stones and she was the goal keeper.

The walk home was quieter but with no less laughs and smiles; then later, they sat around and ate dinner together before they popped on a DVD to watch.

Emmett helped her put Ollie to bed, still smiling and telling him he couldn't wait for tomorrow as they planned a trip to the zoo.

"Tink, how are things really?" asked Emmett as they both sat down on the couch that evening.

"OK I guess" she replied honestly, looking down at her mug "It's a lovely place and Ollie has made great friends, the head mistress is wonderful and her family is so lovely. I just still feel a bit jumpy and nervous about the new place. I had a nightmare the other night it was all dark and scary left me feeling all twitchy and I don't know what to think".

"I promise you Alice I'll keep you safe" said Emmett his tone serious " I miss you back home, and it's lonely without you and Ollie only ten minutes away but I understand the reasons behind your move and I can still come visit so it will be OK" his voice was earnest.

She hugged him quickly as she had always felt safer with her big brother close by " You promise me nothing has happened" she said serious, praying that Emmett hadn't lied and that this was just a social visit.

"I promise, he is still in jail where he will rot for the rest of his life," replied Emmett "He won't get near you again".

She nodded and took a sip of her hot chocolate, wanting to believe those words with every part of her being, she hugged him good night and felt more relaxed than she had in a little while as she crawled into bed.

"Come on Ollie it's time to get up, you've got school today and you wouldn't want to miss taking Uncle Emmett with us to introduce to your friends would you" said Alice from his side.

Ollie sat up quickly, a smile on his face, before running off down the hall, shouting his uncle's name, causing her to laugh as she heard the broken off curse from her brother's room and walked into the kitchen to start on breakfast.

They all walked into the main school building, and they were a little early, but Jake and Violet where usually early too so she wasn't worried about Ollie being on his own for too long.

"Morning Esme" she greeted as she walked into the room, smiling at the woman who had become closer than the acquaintance she thought she would be.

"Good morning Alice" replied Esme looking up from her note book and taking in the both of them.

"Esme, this is my brother Emmett, Emmett this is Mrs. Esme Cullen. She runs the school and is Ollie's teacher"

"Nice to meet you" said Emmett, shaking her hand.

"Like wise" replied Esme, smiling at the two.

"Emmett's in town for the week to visit me and Ollie and me. He will also be helping out at the store, so he might be coming to pick up Ollie a couple of times this week" she said "so I wanted to introduce you two so you wouldn't call the cops on him".

Esme chuckled slightly "well it's nice to have visits from your family", she nodded

"Mom, sorry I'm a little late, Edward dropped Jake over late because of traffic this morning so I don't have time to have coffee" said Jasper, rushing into the room and stopping before her.

"Oh Alice, sorry, it's nice to see you again" he said smiling.

"Jake, Violet" said Ollie running up to the two children "you have to come meet someone" he quickly pulled them over to Emmett.

She saw Jasper look over to where the children where heading, a frown appearing on his features as he took in Emmett standing there.

"I'll see you later mom" said Jasper already turning to leave "again nice seeing you Alice" he said before he rushed off.

She watched him go; slightly confused at his hurried departure and more than a little upset that she didn't get to spend more time with him.

"Come on Emmett, you can see Ollie later, I've got to get the store open" she said over to her brother.

"OK, well see you later Ollie, nice to meet you Jake and Violet" he said before nodding to Esme and following her out of the school.

EsPOV

She looked at the way her son watched Emmett, the frown that graced his forehead before he dashed out of the room and off to work. She noticed that he was confused over who this large man was and maybe even a little jealous. She couldn't help but smile at that thought; Jasper and Alice, well she always wanted a big family

APOV

"Hey Tink, do you want me to pick up Ollie tonight and head back to the house so you can finish up here?" asked Emmett from the doorway of her office.

She looked down at the drawings in front of her, she really needed to finish these soon otherwise they wouldn't be ready for the store next month.

"If you don't mind Em, yeah that would be great I really need to get these finished" she replied her concentration already slipping back to the paper in front of her.

"No problem, I'll pick him up and feed the little monster and put him to bed if you aren't home by then" he said.

Alice nodded and listened to Emmett shut the door, locking up with the spare set of keys she had given him, and bent her head back down continuing on with her work, happy as the ideas began to come together and the skirt finally took shape.

She looked up at the clock, her desk now full of drawings and half formed idea's; it was past seven, definitely time for her to get home, and she might even be in time to tuck Ollie up. Tidying away the drawings and placing them in her desk, she turned off the lights and locked up before making her way to her car, and drove home, feeling light and accomplished.

"Hey guys," she called, putting away her coat and taking off her shoes, the delicious smell of bolognaise filled the air. She walked into the front room, and found Ollie and Emmett crashed out on the couch.

"Ollie" she called softly "it's time for bed sweetheart", Ollie woke up, his sleepy features creating a smile as he saw it was her.

"Mom?" he asked before a wide yawn split his face, she helped him off the couch and walked him to his room, tucking him into bed and kissing him goodnight.

"Emmett" she called, walking back into the living room to find her brother already awake.

"Hey sorry, Ollie wanted to stay up for you to come home but he fell asleep and then so did I" he said a bashful look on his face.

"It's OK. So did you make enough food for me, or did you eat it all?" she asked laughing.

"No I saved some for us" he replied rolling his eyes, pulling himself off the couch and making his way into the kitchen. He grabbed two plates out of the fridge and placed them in the heated oven, and placed a bowl of salad on the table and put down the cutlery and mats.

"Did you get everything finished?" he asked as they sat down to eat.

"Not everything but most of it yes" she took a bit "this is really good Em" she complemented, smiling and helping herself to another forkful. Emmett nodded at the compliment and ate more "Was Ollie OK?"

"Oh yeah, he was good as gold. I picked him up on time, we stayed a couple of extra minutes, Ollie wanted to finish talking to his friends, then we headed home and began cooking" he took another bite of his meal "Esme seems really nice, we talked a little while Ollie finished talking" he said

"Oh yeah Esme's lovely, I couldn't think of a better person to be teacher" said Alice.

Emmett nodded "I also met one of her kids briefly" said Emmett "had bronze hair".

"That's Edward, it was his wife that went into labour the other day" said Alice, Emmett nodded a dawn of recognition spreading across his face, they fell into a comfortable silence as they finished their late meal.

She slowly stood up, picking up the plates as she went and popped them into the sink, she grabbed the washing liquid and ran the water quickly cleaning them, while Emmett helped dry and stacked them back in the cupboard.

"Thanks for today" she hugged him tightly and headed to bed, feeling safe with Emmett being down the hall.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to read and review the previous chapters. I hope you enjoyed this one.

Disclaimer: all the adult Cullen's, Brandon's, Nessie and Jake belong to Stephanie Meyer; the other kids are all my own imagination