A/N Emma is an OC mentioned in chapter one. She is a very minor character, and the person who helps guide them through the adoption system. She is talked about in this chapter, so if you were wondering who she was…

I know I'm being vague on locations. Just imagine any old town/city. I'm not American, so don't know anything about American places.

EsmePOV

Three days later, I was sitting on one of the sofas in the lounge when the phone rang. I looked up from my book, and met Carlisle's gaze.

'Who would be calling at one o'clock?' I asked, sounding a little confused.

'You don't think…' Carlisle said, shifting anxiously. It was his day off this week, so he was at home. He always got the weekends off, and once a month an extra day.

'It's probably just another wrong number.' I muttered. 'Someone asking for Martha Bronson again or something.'

'Yeah,' Carlisle agreed. 'Probably.'

The phone continued to ring. Carlisle moved away from the bookcase, and then rushed over to it. I chewed on my lip as I waited for him to come back from the kitchen with the phone.

A few seconds later, Carlisle strode back into the room. He held the phone away from him for a moment. 'It's the Phillip Clive Adoption Centre, Esme.' He whispered. 'They're coming round for a home inspection.'

'When?' I asked, my heartbeat picking up. This was it. One step closer to adopting children.

'Tomorrow, Thursday.'

'Oh,' I said nervously.

Carlisle went back to his conversation. I put the novel I was holding on the coffee table. I was unable to concentrate. When he had hung up the phone and joined me on the sofa, Carlisle looked the happiest I had seen him in weeks.

'Do you want to call Emma?' I asked. Emma hadn't contacted us in a few days, and I was still really confused about the adoption system. When did we actually adopt the children?

'That was Emma. She will be coming on Thursday, along with Mr. Parker, who is a social worker, and Ms. Jones, the actual inspector.

'That's a lot of people.' I whispered nervously.

'It's only three,' he said. 'Besides, this house is spotless.'

I played with my hair, 'But what if they don't think this house is appropriate for raising three children? I mean, it's not very big, and the backyard is only thirty meters by twenty, I mean…'

'Esme?'

'Yes?'

'Shut up. You're making me nervous.'

'Hey! Don't you speak to me like that, young man.' I said.

'See? You'll make a great mother.'

'Oh, shut up.'

'Hey! Don't you speak to me like that, young lady.' Carlisle was clearly trying not to laugh.

'See? You'll make a great father.'

'Oh, shut up.' He said, repeating me.

'Hey-'

'No, Esme, I meant it.'

I giggled, and he cracked up laughing. After I regained my composure, I sat up. 'Right, let's get this house spotless.'

000

Children's home.

Emmett POV

'I can't believe you're going to be adopted!' Phillipa squealed.

'We don't know yet, Phillipa, they might send us back like the other couple did.'

'Don't think so, Em, I think you're lucky. I slammed into the man when he walked through the door, and he didn't even frown at me. I think they're a very nice couple.'

'Yeah,' Eliza Afern agreed. 'Mr and Mrs Cullen seemed really kind, you're very lucky, Em.'

Just then, Antonia poked her head through the door. 'Emmett, sweetheart, your brother's awake if you want to go see him, dear.'

Phillipa and Eliza stared at me for a moment, Eliza looked sympathetic, but Phillipa was just curious.

'Yes, Antonia.' I mumbled. She grabbed my wrist and gently towed me over to the wooden staircase.

'Come down at one thirty.' She said.

'When's that?'

'Half an hour, no, twenty five minutes. Off you go, Emmett.'

After climbing the stairs, I hesitated in the doorway, it wasn't that I didn't like seeing my brother; it was just that it hurt to see him like this; it brought back a whole lot of unpleasant memories.

He was sitting up slightly awkwardly in his bed, the curtains that hung around it were pulled back. He smiled at me as I entered, and it only accentuated the scar on his cheek even more. I smiled timidly back, fighting to keep my mind off how he got that scar. The screaming... the blood, the snapping noise… the crunch.

I felt slightly dizzy, and knew I'd be going pale, so I focused on walking forwards.

'Hey, Edward.' I said, grimacing rather then smiling. He didn't seem to notice, he didn't really seem to notice much at all these days. He looked as though he was focusing on not being sick just as much as I was.

'Emmett.' He replied eventually, finally acknowledging my presence. He didn't say anything more, but I knew that was because he was having trouble speaking. He smiled gently again, and patted the bed beside him. I climbed up. My feet dangled over the edge.

'How was… your day, Emmett.'

I pretended he hadn't paused in the middle of his sentence, he was always so embarrassed about it. 'It was okay. I bet Phillipa at monopoly, chess and scrabble. But I came last in Ludo. She and Eliza both bet me at that, and Alice, Alice, bet me at noughts and crosses.'

Edward laughed, but it sounded like the action came with a lot of pain. I shuddered. 'Emmett,' he said. 'Alice bet you! At noughts and crosses.'

'Yes,' I mumbled sulkily. 'But I bet her at chess as well as Phillipa.'

'I didn't know you could even play chess.' Edward snickered.

'I can't,' I said, grinning. 'But Phillipa can't either, and Alice just knocked the pieces over. Annette Young, she can play chess, she killed herself laughing when she watched our game.'

Edward smiled, and I grinned back, swinging my legs of the side of the bed. Suddenly, I lost my balance and fell backwards, slamming into Edward's chest. He hissed in pain.

'Oh my God!' I said, horrified. His fingers were digging into the sheets. 'Edward, are you okay?'

He was concentrating on breathing in and out, so he didn't answer.

'Edward? Edward?' I was panicking, he looked like he was in agony. 'I'm so sorry!'

'Not your fault.' He choked out.

'Do you want painkillers?' It wasn't like I had any, but it was all I could think of to say.

'Please,' he gasped.

'I'll go get someone.' I said, leaping off the bed. I raced down the stairs.

000

Antonia POV

'Phillipa, if you're finished with the board games, you must pack them up.' I scolded, waving around the Ludo instruction manual. The playroom was a mess. I heard the sound of someone hurtling down the stairs, so I spun round.

It was Emmett. It was only quarter past one, so he'd only been up their ten minutes. 'Emmett…? What's wro-'

He cut me off before I could finish my sentence. 'It's Edward. Hurry!' He looked frightened, so, dropping the Ludo manual, I rushed upstairs, Emmett hot on my heels. Edward was sitting up in bed, gasping for breath. He was staring straight ahead. His fingers were clenching the sheets so tight I though they'd drop off. He began to shake.

He turned his head slightly when he heard me enter. 'Please,' he whimpered.

'Oh, God.' I whispered. Emmett was hovering by the door. 'Emmett!' I yelled.

'Yes?' he said, looking rather sick as he watched his brother convulse.

'Emmett, call an ambulance.' I was panicking majorly, and seeing this seemed to scare Emmett even more.

'You sure?' He asked.

'Yes.' I said. 'NOW!'

He nodded, scuttling off.

Carlisle POV

'Do we have to clean the house up?' I moaned, glaring at the feather duster I'd been handed.

Esme laughed for a second, before, as she saw me attempt to sidle out of the room, stopping and glaring at me. 'Yes.'

'What time is it?' I asked.

'You have a watch, now stop delaying and start dusting.' Esme said, 'I'll vacuum.'

I checked my watch. It was half past one. I sighed, and waved the feather duster around aimlessly before walking over to the bookshelf. Just then the phone rang.

'Again?' Esme said. 'I never knew we were so popular.'

I smiled. 'It's my cellphone.'

EsmePOV

He answered the phone, and his face paled. He asked a couple of questions. Then hung up. 'Sorry, Esme, but this is an emergency. The onsite surgeon fell down the stairs, Mrs Clerk, so I have to go in. They've got an emergency case; the ambulance is pulling in now. I've got to go. Apparently the patient is unconscious, poor kid.'

'Kid?'

'Yeah, apparently only fifteen. Anyway, I've got to go.'

'Okay, I think I left the car keys on the bench.'

He nodded, before leaning in and kissing my cheek. Then his phone rang again. He rolled his eyes and picked it up.

'Yes?' He said. There was a long pause as he listened, and his face drained. 'Oh my God…' His hand flew to his mouth, he looked horrified. 'I'm on my way to the hospital now… yes, I'll take Esme.'

'What is it?' I blurted out the second he hung up.

'It's the boy… the kid in the ambulance… he's Edward.'

Yeah, so that's chapter five. Please review. Pretty please. –sniffs-