This turned out a lot longer than the last chapter... It's because of the angst; I can't help myself. XD

Carlisle's POV

Edward's been asleep on and off for almost a week now, which is normal for patients who lose a lot of blood. But I never thought I would be applying that to one of my children. Since we found him in the forest, I'm the only one who's seen him. Esme and the children don't want to see him so broken again, and I suspect the scent of his blood is hard on all of them.

"Oh my God," I turn to see Emmett standing in the open doorway of mine and Esme's room, staring down at Edward and I.

"Are you alright, son?" I inquire as he comes to sit in front of Edward, who is lying on the bed.

"Is he?" Emmett whispers, and I close my eyes, sighing softly.

"He will be," I answer, but I'm not so sure.

Emmett reaches out and runs his hand through his brother's hair gently, then he looks closer at his face. "Is he growing stubble?"

"Yes," I smile slightly, but it's sad. It's a sign of ageing, which means he might not have much time left. Luckily, he doesn't seem to be ageing any faster than a normal human.

"He looks older," Emmett comments, tilting his head slightly. "He looks like he's twenty now, and all because he has facial hair and bags under his eyes."

I nod, looking away from them. It's true; Edward does look older.

"Em'et," Edward sighs, opening his eyes slightly. "Wh't h'ppen'd?"

"You were attacked," Emmett replies quietly. "He turned you human and took your blood, but you're okay now."

"I'm human?!" Edward begins to sit up, but I rise from my chair and push him back down gently. He's no longer attached to any wires, so he could move if he wanted but he does need rest. "You need rest, son."

"No," He mutters, attempting to sit again. "I need to move. Everything aches. I think the last time I felt like this was when I fell down the stairs and hit my head at the bottom when I was fifteen. It's one of the one things I remember." He runs his hands down his face, then, and feels the stubble lining his jaw. His eyes widen as he looks at me and Emmett in turn, scraping his fingernails across his face. "Oh my God," He mutters, jumping up and running into the bathroom connected to our room. He limps as he does. "Oh my God!" He says a bit louder, and I hear a few pairs of feet making their way up the stairs.

Emmett gives me questioning look before we follow Edward into the bathroom. He's gripping the sink hard, keeping himself up right as his legs are shaking with the exertion, and he's staring into the mirror above the sink in shock. "Dude," Emmett laughs. "Did you never get facial hair as a human?"

Edward laughs a little bit too, not looking away from his reflection. "If I did my mother shaved it off in my sleep."

My wife smiles as she steps into the room and gently takes our son's face in her hands. "Are you okay, honey?"

He smiles as best he can, trying to look strong for us, but we can all tell he's not taking this well. "I'm okay, Esme. Or, I will be, at least. Right now I'm just trying to enjoy the quiet of my own thoughts, and no one else's."

Everyone chuckles at that, and Emmett leads his brother down the stairs. I have to leave for the night shift at the hospital then, but all day I'm distracted. "Cullen," Doctor Wells greets me at one point. "Are you okay? I've been trying to get your attention for a while. You're needed in A&E. One of your patients has just arrived. Her father says she's taken a turn for the worst."

"Sorry," I reply, making my way across the hospital to A&E. "I've just got a lot on my mind."

"Are you okay?" He inquires, actually looking concerned.

I sigh quietly. "Yes, but one of my sons had an accident when he and his brothers went hiking last weekend. They were just entering a town to stop for the night after calling us as they were a few miles out when he tripped and hit his head. He lost quite a lot of blood, but they didn't realise just how much blood he did lose and just went to a motel. I had to pick them up when he wouldn't wake up, but he's getting better. The rest helped him recover from the blood loss."

"You didn't give him a transfusion?"

"After we got some food into him he didn't need it. He lost enough that it made him drowsy but not enough that it was dangerous."

This is a lie. He lost a lot of blood. Luckily I could practically smell his blood type and had some in the store we keep for emergencies. He did need several transfusions.

"Which of your kids was this?" He inquires after a moment.

"My youngest," I answer. "Edward."

He inhales sharply as we enter A&E. "That must be tough. Micheal!" He greets his patient with kindness and walks over to him, while I walk over to mine, grabbing a stretcher with urgency as I spot her across the room.

"Here," I say to her father, and Charlie Swan quickly lowers his teenage daughter onto the stretcher. Some other doctors come over and help me wheel her away.

Bella Swan has had lung cancer since she was five. From what I've heard her mother left the state a month after she was diagnosed, claiming she 'couldn't handle it', leaving her husband to juggle being the police chief and looking after a terminally ill five year old who could honestly die any day, on his own. That was one of the few things that have ever made me genuinely angry.

Apparently Charlie calls Renee - Bella's mother - every time something happens but she never shows any interest. In fact I've seen and heard it happen. She even remarried a few years ago, and from what she told Charlie her new husband doesn't even know Bella exists. Renee doesn't have any trace of her in her house.

We manage to remove a litre and a half of liquid from Bella's lungs, as she was brought in after being woken up by a raging headache which was too much for her to bear. The headache was caused by not enough oxygen going to her brain due to the liquid in her lungs. She's asleep now, and as usual, her father is at her side. But I'm not sure who's shocked more, me or Charlie, that a few hours later, a woman who looks quite a bit like Bella, runs into the hospital.

"What are you doing here?" Charlie hisses, standing to look at her.

She ignores him, instead turning to me. "Who are you?" She asks, looking a little but haughty, but her eyes are critical.

"Her doctor..." I say slowly, as if I'm talking to a child, which I feel like I am. I'm checking the wires attached to Bella, who is asleep, I'm wearing a white coat and I have a pin that says 'Doctor Cullen' on it. Who else would I be?

Charlie snorts, smiling at me slightly. I nod to him. "Doctor Cullen," Doctor Wells says, entering the room. "Your son - Jasper, I think? - is on the phone. He says he needs to talk to you... Renee!" He exclaims, spotting the woman standing next to me. "This is a surprise! What are you... doing here?"

"I'm here to see my daughter," She replies, sighing. "Charlie called and said she had another headache." She turns to her ex-husband. "And to tell him to stop calling me just because she has a headache."

"Actually," I interrupt. "It was more than a headache. We just removed over a litre of water from her lungs."

She sighs, and Doctor Wells grabs my shoulder and leads me from the room. "Best not get involved. I live near them; their arguments used to be messy, especially after Bella was diagnosed. I'll stay with them; go call your son."

Stepping away from the room I pull out my phone and dial Jasper's number. "You called, son?" I say.

"Oh Carlisle," He breathes, but his very breath seems to shake, as does his voice as he continues. "Thank God. Something's happened. Edward was just playing video games with Emmett and I guess Emmett forgot somehow but..." I'm already walking to my Mercedes, but what he says next makes me stop. "He clapped Edward on the back, like normal strength. I know it usually hurts a little bit for us but with Edward... He's hunched over, and he's breathing heavy. I think Emmett shattered the bone in his shoulder, and I can feel the pain coming from him. It's hard for him to move at all."

I stop, and I think for a moment. They will have to bring him to the hospital, as I don't have the equipment to treat it at home. But if they bring him to hospital they may need blood samples, or want them, and I can't afford to take the risk that his blood won't be normal. He has just been a vampire for almost a century after all. "Bring him to hospital," I decide, the thought of my son being in pain making the decision for me. "Don't let him sit back in the car, don't let him put any weight on his back."

I hear Edward moan in the background, and Jasper disconnects the call. "Doctor Wells," I say urgently, striding into Bella's room. Renee is gone, and I suspect she left before Bella woke up as the teenager doesn't seem distressed at all as she looks over at me.

"What's wrong?" Charlie and Doctor Wells ask in unison, and Bella looks up in alarm. I'm quick to calm them.

"You are okay Bella," I say to both her and Charlie quietly. "What's happened with you is just another thing. We can get through it. You're going to be on bed rest for a couple of days, but you're going to be okay. Doctor Wells," I turn to him again. "I called Jasper. Something happened at home and Edward has hurt it shoulder and he's finding it hard to move at all. Could you cover for me?"

"Of course," He says, looking slightly alarmed himself. "Are they bringing him in?"

"Yes," I answer. "They'll be here in a few minutes."

Just as I say this I hear someone say my name in the waiting room. Rushing out with Charlie and Doctor Wells, I see Esme and Jasper with Edward cradled in Emmett's arms, looking as though he is about to pass out from the pain. "We need to get him x-rayed," I tell them, taking Edward from Emmett. His shoulder is too far forward, and it looks as though his arm is at a strange angle.

The bone is shattered, and I'm sure even Doctor Wells can tell. "You'll probably have to take him to surgery," He informs me as I turn to him. I nod, carrying my son to a stretcher.

A few hours later, it's morning and my shift ended a while ago, but I find myself checking Bella's vitals. Edward has just come out of surgery, as the bone in his shoulder was completely shattered. I'm not allowed to see him yet as for him I'm classed as family and not a doctor, which is fair enough. After a moment I go and join Esme and my other two sons in the waiting room.

Luckily, however, Doctor Wells is Edward's doctor, and he's allowing me to see Edward earlier than most parents would. "Carlisle," He says softly, and Esme and I look up. "You can see him, but he's still asleep and will be for a while. I've also been asked to remind you that your shift ended a couple of hours ago."

I nod, standing with Esme's hand clasped in mine. "Stay here," I murmur to Emmett and Jasper. "I'll come and get you in a couple of minutes."

Jasper's POV

Emmett and I watch as our parents disappear into the depths of the hospital. Guilt is radiating from my brother, and I gently send a wave of calm to him. "Thanks," He murmurs, but his guilt doesn't subside.

"You best call Rosalie," I tell him, patting his knee. "She'd like to know he's out of surgery. And get some sleep, we'll have to go to school soon."

The second part is just for show, as to everyone else we probably haven't slept for almost twenty four hours. As I say this, I pretend to let my eyelids droop slightly, leaning back in my chair. I hear Emmett pull out his phone next to me and text Rosalie before he too leans back. To the human eye, we're asleep in minutes.

A door opens down the hall, and Esme's scent wafts towards us. As she spots us - supposedly asleep - she chuckles softly before calling for our father too low for any human to hear. The door opens again, and Carlisle's quiet laugh greets our ears. "Shall we wake them?" Esme says so humans can hear. Always keeping up appearances.

"I'm sure they'd like to see Edward before they go to school," Carlisle replies, and he walks towards us.

"Son," He whispers, gently shaking my shoulder. I feel concern rolling off the woman sitting next to me, and I can tell she's watching us. "Jasper."

I groan softly and bat him away, trying not to smile. Carlisle chuckles, shaking me again. "Jazz, you need to wake up if you want to see Edward, and you need to go home and get changed anyway."

Moaning slightly, I sit up slowly, rubbing my eyes. I look over and I find Esme shaking with amusement as Emmett still appears to be asleep. As I begin to stand up he lets out a loud snore that rings throughout the waiting room. Those that were actually asleep wake with a start and stare at us. "Every morning!" Esme sighs for effect, and the lady next to me gives her a sympathetic look.

"Let's leave him for now," Carlisle suggests, laughing gently. "He can see Edward later."

"I'm up!" Emmett shouts suddenly, making every single person, including my parents and I, jump. He sits up quickly, stretching. "Where's Ed?"

"Down the hall. Room 211," Carlisle tells him, and immediately he is running down the hall. I get up as humanely as I can, and run after him. Our parents laugh at us, and allow us to have a moment alone with our brother. He's asleep the entire time, but I like to think that he knows we're there for him.

Carlisle's POV - 3 months later

After months of healing Edward's arm is finally almost completely healed, but recently he's been taking more time off school for another reason. He's tired all the time, almost as pale as us and feels aches in his joints. He bruises easier than a normal human and he keeps getting nosebleeds. I know these symptoms. The moment I discovered the extensive bruising down his back from when he'd been knocked down in gym (or so he and Jasper told me), I knew that it wasn't normal. I am hoping that it is just his body rebuilding an immune system after almost a century of not needing one. I hope that's all it is, but I am taking him to the hospital for blood tests, just in case. The others don't understand, and I don't explain. I don't want to worry them for nothing.

Because it is nothing. I'm sure.

"Its alright, son," I tell him as Doctor Wells inserts the needle to take the blood. As his father I'm not legally allowed to treat him, but thankfully Doctor Wells is his appointed doctor and has allowed me to sit with him.

"Why are we doing this again?" Edward asks, his voice quivering as he watches his own blood travel through the clear tube. Its a sight I didn't think either of us would ever see.

Doctor Wells chuckles. "Your overprotective, paranoid, dad here, just wants to make sure you're all okay, especially after what happened with your shoulder a few months back."

My son grins at me suddenly, and I lean further back in my chair. "Esme told you!" He exclaimed. "You're way too overprotective." He turns to Doctor Wells. "Did you know that he wouldn't let us get a dog just because Jasper sneezed after coming in contact with one in the park?"

Doctor Wells raises his eyebrow at me, while still monitoring Edward's blood loss.

This is partially true. I didn't let them have a dog because Jasper bared his teeth at one in the park, but I go along with it. "No," I tell him. "I didn't let you have a dog because I knew you'd lose interest in a week and Esme and I would end up looking after it." I look back at Edward, and decide to humour him. "Plus Jasper's eyes were irritated." Edward and Doctor Wells laugh as the needle is removed.

"We'll get the results to you as soon as we can," Doctor Wells tells Edward and me kindly. We both know this, but it's standard procedure. As it's a small town we don't get many blood tests done, so it shouldn't take too long.

In fact, it only takes two weeks.

I've been keeping Edward from school for the past two weeks. As much as Esme enjoys having him at home, she is concerned that I am keeping him home for no reason. She has visited me in the hospital, and is trying to ask me why. "Carlisle," She hisses as I continue down the hall. "You need to tell me what's going on!"

I don't turn to her. I continue walking. "I can't, Esme. I don't want to worry you."

"Well you are worrying me!" She cries, trying to catch up to me while looking human. "You're worrying all of us! What is going on?!"

"Doctor Cullen!" Doctor Wells calls, saving me. "Thank God you're both here," He says, smiling at Esme. "I need to talk to you."

Despite his smile, he is troubled, and I'm sure it's not good news. We follow him to his office, and sit in the two chairs in front of his desk. He stands in front of us, leaning against his desk. "Carlisle," He says softly, and my shoulders slump. It's bad news. I know what news it is. "I think you know."

Esme looks between us with a confused expression. My jaw sets. "No," I say stubbornly. "I don't."

Doctor Wells is pitying me, I can tell. He knows I know, and he knows I don't want to believe it. "Carlisle," He repeats, leaning forward slightly. Then, he says three words that I never thought I'd hear in relation to one of my children. "Acute Myeloid Leukemia."

"What?!" Esme exclaims as I close my eyes and rest my elbows on my knees, burying my head in my hands. I want to cry, but I can't. Not now. Not here, at least.

I look up, and they're both staring at me with concern. "This is what you were hiding?" Esme whispers, looking as though she is about to cry.

"I didn't want to worry you," I tell her, trying to bite back a sob. I can feel it rising in my throat. "In case it was nothing." I lower my head into my hands again. "I wanted it to be nothing."

"I think you should take today off, at least," Doctor Wells tells me. "I'll explain the situation. Go home. Tell Edward. We'll talk about treatment another day."

Esme nods and pulls me from my seat, and the next thing I know we are in my Mercedes and she is driving us home. I can't process anything. I can't remember getting here. My son is dying. My son is dying. We are pulling up at the house. We are getting out the car. My son is dying.

The other kids are already home, and even Esme is surprised as I walk straight past all four of them and go straight to Edward's room. He is sitting at his desk, reading. I have to tell him now, or I won't tell him at all. "Son," I say quietly, and he looks up, frowning at me.

"You're too quiet," He tells me, placing his book down on the desk. Esme comes in behind me, and shuts the door with a soft click.

"We need to talk to you," I say, trying not to let any emotion other than calm leak into my voice. Esme and I take a seat on his bed.

"Is it about my blood tests?" Edward asks, spinning around in his chair to face us. We stay silent, and I know Esme will be unable to tell him without breaking down.

But I'm not sure I can tell him, either.

Edward's face pales even more than it already has over the past few weeks. The silence grows until Esme bites her lip and looks down, biting back sobs. Edward nods to himself, and reaches out to take her hand. She looks up at him, sadness clouding her eyes. "I'm dying?" Edward guesses and we both let go of the breath we didn't know we were holding, but everyone else's breath catches as they sit listening downstairs. "Aren't I?"

"Acute Myeloid Leukemia," I tell him, and he nods, seeming to acccept it. He lets go of his mother's hand and leans back in his chair, a strange calm settling over the room as, finally, the truth is out.

It doesn't last long.

"FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!" Edward roars suddenly, standing abruptly from his seat and sending it flying towards the wall behind him. His breathing is heavy and no one dares to breath until he does something. Esme and I are frozen.

"Edward..?" I ask quietly, as not to startle him. He turns to me then, and his eyes are wild.

"It's not fair," He hisses, standing over me. "It's. Not. Fair. I was meant to get eternity, Carlisle, eternity!"

"I know, son," I whisper, but he doesn't listen, and only continues.

"No, you don't know," He reassures me, and I grimace. "I was meant to get forever! You don't know what it feels like to be promised an eternity, only to be told by you, again, that I'm dying of an illness, again, and there's no way to save me, again!"

"We don't know if it's terminal-" I begin, but he interrupts me.

"Yeah, but what happens if I do get cured? What happens then? Because there is no way in hell I am staying here once I look older than Esme. You can't turn me into a vampire Carlisle! What happens if I get hit by a car?! Or struck by lightning?! Or the cancer comes back?!" He stops to take a breath, and for a moment he is silent. But then he turns to me. "Snap my neck," He demands.

Esme is horrified, but she has nothing on me. "What?!" I splutter.

"Go on," Edward encourages, standing in front of me and exposing his neck to me. "Snap it! I thought vampires weren't afraid of anything! Or maybe I should just slit one of my wrists and go downstairs! I'm sure Jasper would help me out." He is standing straight now, and pacing. Only we can see that he's already wearing down the carpet. "Or maybe even Emmett or one of the girls if there's enough blood, because I am sick and tired of being the one who dies because of some illness. It's not fair. It's not fair. It's not FAIR!"

He reaches out and punches the wall, and we all cringe as we hear his knuckle crack as it comes in contact with the plaster. I stand then, pulling him towards me to stop him hurting himself more. As I turn him around he has tears in his eyes, and suddenly he is hiding his face in my chest as I hug him to me. "It's not fair," He sobs. "It just not fair."

"I know, son," I sniff back, trying not to cry myself. "And I cannot tell you how sorry I am."