A/N: I know this kind of story has been done before but I can only hope that mine has its own originality to it. I know that we all love our Edward angst and tend to really enjoy stories where Edward gets a second chance at humanity. So please give this story a chance. This is just a simple prologue, but future actual chapters will be LONGER. And I hope to update weekly, but with college, you just never know…
Summary: By an unknown force, Edward is given a second chance. He is allowed to start life over. The Cullens raise him but problems do arise threatening vampirism again. Will Edward accept the Cullens once he knows what they are?
Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Twilight. Stephanie Meyer is the genius who does. This story is for non-profit and simply enjoyment.
Prologue – A Second Chance
Carlisle cradled the infant in his arms and continued to stare in awe at the child. Only two days old and the baby had managed to wrap himself around the entire Cullen family's fingers. This boy had been given the ultimate gift. A fresh start… a new beginning, a second chance at the life he deserved for nearly a century. The life he had been destined to live if he hadn't been struck down with Spanish Influenza in 1918. Edward Anthony Masen Cullen had been reborn on June 20, 1987; two days ago. Carlisle and Esme agreed that it would be best and safest if Edward spent his first week, back as a human, in the hospital so Carlisle could monitor him and make sure his health was excellent. So now, on his break, Carlisle held his son and was struck with all the possibilities this child possessed. Glancing at the clock on the wall, Carlisle sighed, realizing he had only fifteen more minutes of his break before he had to start back on his rounds. The door of Edward's private nursery room crept open revealing his lovely wife Esme.
Esme sighed in contentment as she stared at her husband holding the greatest gift the Cullens had been given, "You two look so darling together."
Carlisle smiled but said nothing as he stroked the child's cheek.
"I know that look, Carlisle. Do not think about past regrets. I know while Edward was still, well… a vampire until recently you were second guessing whether your choice of turning him had been correct… well the answer is in your arms right now. Fate had it so you changed him and then it decided to give Edward a second chance."
The doctor nodded and sighed, "I just want to know how this happened. Emmett said they drank from the usual animals and no one else was around. So how did Edward go from being a creature of the dark to this tiny, helpless infant?"
"A miracle; that's all there is to know. We will just take full advantage of the situation and raise Edward to be the proper gentleman he used to be. All the kids are excited for what's to come. This is a blessing."
"What happens when we all begin missing the old Edward? It's bound to happen."
"Then we'll hold family meetings sharing stories about Edward. What we can do now is give this child all our love and support and continually teach him manners and lessons all about life. He's a child again, Carlisle… a real child. We need to let him be little, grow, and make mistakes. But the one thing he needs the most is our love."
The young doctor smiled brightly, "Oh we won't have to worry about that one. There will be no child loved more than he is. He's already going to be spoiled."
Esme and Carlisle smiled. Carlisle's pager went off and he sighed. Gently, he placed the sleeping child into the crib.
"There's an emergency coming in. I've got to go."
"Once the others are out of school they are coming straight here. Will you have dinner with us?" smirked Esme.
"Absolutely, at 6'o'clock sharp!" replied Carlisle with a chuckle. "I'll see you guys then," Carlisle promised as he rushed out of the room.
Esme shook her lightly at her husband's antics and laughed. Picking up the stirring infant from his crib, Esme spoke softly, "Your daddy is something else, sweetie."
Slowly, the infant's tiny eyelids fluttered open and Edward revealed the black irises that were slowly turning into a gorgeous deep emerald color. Esme was taken aback as she breathed in her son's beauty. She could hardly believe that two days ago Edward had been a seventeen-year-old vampire and now today he was a two-day-old human newborn. Whatever powers had given Edward Anthony a second chance, Esme was forever grateful. Edward had always despised the soulless creature that he had become and never once appreciated the never-ending life he had been given.
At least you get to live again, my son. We will take care of you and protect you and raise you right. We will teach you the values your parents originally preached to you. Appreciate the life you've been given, Esme thought as stroked Edward's soft, velvety cheek.
Edward stared up at her with barely any focus but a small sigh-like sound escaped his throat. He scrunched his eyes closed and began to let out a whining sound and wiggled in his mother's grasp. Esme felt the small vibrations tremble throughout Edward's small body and heard the growl erupt from his stomach.
Esme chuckled, "You must be hungry, right, little guy?" Esme leaned over and grabbed the bottle of formula that Carlisle had left on the metal tray. She gently maneuvered the bottle's nipple into Edward's welcoming mouth and sighed with pride as she heard him suck the liquid down. After having lost her infant son at eight weeks and then jumping off a cliff – never had she imagined the possibility of ever becoming a mother to an infant child again. She loved her children who were eternally teenagers: Emmett, Rosalie, Jasper, Alice, and Edward, but now that Edward was starting life anew, Esme was going to cherish every day that he was little. The sound of light voices brought Esme out of her reverie and she looked up smiling as her other children entered the room.
Alice came rushing over beaming as she announced excitedly, "So this was no flaw. I had a vision and Edward is going to grow up like any other human child! We've got so much to look forward to!"
Smiling warmly, Rosalie walked over to her mother and hesitantly asked, "Do you mind if I take over?"
Esme shook her head and she gently placed Edward into her daughter's arms. Rosalie then resumed the job of holding the bottle as her baby brother continued to feed.
"In another minute, Rose, you'll have to burp him. You must tap his back very lightly. None of us can forget that we must be extremely gentle with him or we could kill him."
Rosalie nodded. Emmett smiled as he watched his wife naturally put the baby against her shoulder and burp him. He smirked when he saw the spit-up Edward had spat and mentally stored the memory so he could use it as blackmail against his brother when he was older.
Esme noticed the small grimace that crossed her son's features and questioned with concern, "How are you holding up, Jasper?"
Jasper smiled back warmly and shook his head, "Don't worry guys. Edward's too small so his blood isn't calling me. And besides, Alice has already seen some of his future and she knows I will grow accustomed to the scent and he will be in no danger at all from me. The only thing that's going through my mind is how odd this entire situation is… I mean come on – Edward's a newborn! This is crazy."
"But he deserves this… more than any of us."
All of the Cullens gazed intently at the blonde-haired girl wearing shocked expressions.
"Oh come on guys, don't give me that look. I am not cold-hearted." Chuckles erupted at that allegory. "I just mean, for almost a century Edward's been alone with no mate. He was just barely seventeen when he was changed by Carlisle. He always was the baby of our family. Out of us all, he deserves this second chance. In this life, we can only hope that he finds happiness."
"All it took was one child and my Rosie turned soft," Emmett grinned, rubbing his head after Rosalie smacked him upside the head.
Jasper sent out waves of hope among his family members and they all turned their focus to the child in Rosalie's arms.
"He will get happiness. There is no doubt about that. If it kills me – in the end, Edward will be happy," promised Esme as she leaned in and kissed her son's forehead, her children nodding along with her.
A/N: Well, what did you all think? Good start? Worth continuing? I need feedback so I know how to make this story better or more interesting. And if any of you have suggestions for the story that I might be able to put it, please let me know! All I ask, for my own inspiration, is REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW! It can be positive or helpful criticism… but all I ask is PLEASE REVIEW! Thanks, -Stacey-