The Cullen Brood
Summary: The Cullen kids as…well…kids, and all the ups and downs of Carlisle and Esme trying to raise their five vampire children. Summary sucks. Will contain spanking of minor vampire children when necessary.
AN: This is my first story I've really ever become so dedicated to finishing. I don't really know why I wrote this but I've enjoyed it so far and already have the first seven chapters complete which are the stories of the kids if they were turned younger. This story does contain corporal punishment and if you don't like it don't read it. Please review, favorite, and follow!
Chapter 1: Edward's Story
Edward POV
It was currently December 24th, 1918, just one day before Christmas. Most kids would be thrilled to see what Santa was bringing them the next day. They'd be outside right now, playing in the Chicago snow with their parents. I'm only nine, I should want to be outside with my Dad, sledding and building snowmen, and then running inside to my mom when it gets too cold to stand and have some hot cocoa.
That wasn't going to happen though, it never was going to happen again because my father was dead, and my mother and I were dying. Father had died in the first wave of the sickness now called the Spanish Influenza and my mother and I had caught it during the second wave.
I felt miserable; part of me just wished I would go ahead and die. It was hard to breathe, I felt hot, weak, shaky. I just wanted it to end. Our doctor, Dr. Cullen, would hold my hand and sit with me. He'd comfort me because my mother was too weak to get out of bed. I really liked him.
I knew something was wrong when a nurse whispered in his ear and he immediately left my bedside. I was lonely, cold, miserable. I could literally feel myself getting sicker by the minute.
After a rather long coughing spell, Dr. Cullen returned, and rubbed my back a little. I was getting closer to dying, I could feel it, and I was sure that the doctor knew as well.
I was only vaguely aware when I noticed the doctor lift me in his arms and then I knew I must be dreaming when I felt myself flying through the cold air. The only thing making me think this was reality was my never ending coughing, which the doctor just kept apologizing for, saying we were almost there.
I only opened my eyes when I felt the doctor put me down and I felt the soft mattress underneath me. I watched, too weak to do anything but watch, as Dr. Cullen wrapped quilts around me and then rubbed my forehead with his thumb. Where were we? Why weren't we in the hospital.
"I'm so sorry little one, I'm so sorry." The doctor told me.
I was confused by this, what did he mean by that? Why was he sorry?
I felt him turn my head a little bit and then lean in. I could feel his cold breath on the side of my neck and was very confused for a moment but then the feeling of my skin being pierced startled me enough that I couldn't help but scream.
"I know, this is going to help you though." Dr. Cullen told me.
I wanted to beg him to stop as he took my arm in his hand and then bit again. He bit both of my wrists before he finally abided with my pleading for him to stop.
"It'll all be over soon, you'll see." Dr. Cullen promised me.
I simply nodded through my sobs and he gently pushed my hair off of my forehead, holding my hand in his. It was something my mother would have done, not my father, he wasn't nearly as affectionate, but something my mother would have done. I felt tears trickle down my cheeks, she was dead. My mother was dead.
"Just relax little one, just close your eyes. If you sleep it'll be over quicker." Dr. Cullen told me.
How could I sleep? It hurt way to bad to sleep. I managed to close my eyes but I was definitely not sleeping. I wanted to sleep. I wanted to sleep and never wake up again.
I fell asleep right around two days of the pain and then the next thing I remember is waking up. I remember I was first aware of how clear everything looked around me, the molding on the walls, the details on everything. I could even hear the cars on a nearby road.
"He must be thirsty, he needs to feed." I heard Dr. Cullen say.
"Feed?" I asked confused.
"Edward, did you hear that?" He asked curiously.
"Of course I did." I shrugged. "Why, should I not have?"
"I didn't voice it." Dr. Cullen told me. "I wonder if…I've never seen a mind reader like this though, Aro has to have physical contact but I guess it could be possible."
"Who's Aro?" I asked curiously.
"You heard that too?" Dr. Cullen asked.
"You didn't speak that either, did you?" I asked.
"No." He disagreed. "This is fascinating, very fascinating."
"So I can read minds?" I asked.
"I suppose you can." Dr. Cullen told me. "But we have an eternity to discuss that, first you must be thirsty and I also owe you an explanation."
"My throat burns." I admitted.
"That means you need to hunt." He told me. "You're a vampire Edward. I turned you because your mother begged me to do everything in my power to save you. As a vampire you are an immortal now."
"So when you say hunt….do you mean hurt people?" I asked nervously. I didn't want to hurt anyone.
"No" He disagreed "most vampires do drink from humans but I've learned to live off of the blood of animals."
"But how do I…" I trailed off, confused by this.
"It'll come natural. We should go." Dr. Cullen told me.
"Dr. Cullen?" I asked.
"Please Edward, just call me Carlisle." Dr. Cullen corrected.
"Okay um, Carlisle, is my mother…did she…?" I trailed off wanting confirmation on what I had assumed.
"I'm so sorry Edward, she didn't make it." Dr. Cullen told me softly.
"Okay." I agreed trying to comprehend this.
"It'll get better with time." Dr. Cullen told me softly as he placed a hand on my back. "We should head to the woods to hunt."
Dr. Cullen led me outside and to the backyard of his home before taking off running. I hesitated. He was so fast, I didn't understand how I was supposed to keep up with him.
Dr. Cullen returned quickly and crouched in front of me. "You're just as fast, try running after me." He directed.
This time I took off running after him, surprised by how quickly my legs took me. I couldn't help but start laughing as I ran. It was remarkable, how fun this was. I found myself passing Dr. Cullen and turned to see him but then heard a loud thud and realized I had run full on into a tree, completely knocking it over.
That didn't even hurt though, I didn't even trip and fall. "How?" I simply asked as Dr. Cullen came to a halt beside me.
"You're more indestructible than almost everything on this planet. The only thing that can cause harm to you are other vampires." He told me.
I watched Dr. Cullen literally pick up the large fallen tree and move it off our path. How did he do that? I couldn't help but try to lift it as well, finding it as light as a feather. I could get used to being like this.
"Here, stop." Dr. Cullen directed me as he stood beside me. "Close your eyes and tell me what you smell."
"It smells…sweet…good." I told him.
"Listen, what do you hear?" He asked.
"Footprints, a heard maybe? Deer?" I asked.
"It's a heard of elk." Dr. Cullen agreed. "Now just let your mind tell you what to do."
As the scent got stronger, I couldn't help it. I ran towards the heard and jumped on the closest one, finding myself biting into it and drinking it dry. It tasted, well, good. I didn't understand why I knew how to do this or why the blood tasted good to me.
I still felt that burn in my throat so I quickly chased down the under and drained it as well, followed by a third. I stood up and looked at my clothes, now covered in blood.
"You'll get better at staying clean with time." Dr. Cullen told me. "Does your throat still burn?"
"Not as bad." I told him.
"For your first few months we will hunt at least every other day. You won't need as much blood once you mature some but for now, you're going to be thirsty more than you're not." Dr. Cullen told me. "I'll go into town in the morning and get you some new clothes and then you and I are going to relocate."
"We're moving?" I asked.
"It would be dangerous if someone recognized you. Our existence must stay a secret; it is one of our most important bylaws." Dr. Cullen told me. "Let's get back home and I'll tell you more about us."
I found myself in new clothes and running alongside Dr. Cullen the next night. He told me we were heading to Ashville, North Carolina where we would be able to stay for a few years, until someone noticed that one of us looked too young for our age.
The first year with Carlisle was mostly just us at our new home. He stayed off the radar quite a bit, as did I, because he wanted to make sure I was alright at home in my "newborn" stage. When 1919 rolled around he began picking up shifts at the hospital.
During the day, I'd study. Carlisle had set up a few lesson plans for me to read up on while he worked. Once I finished with my daily lessons, I only had one rule: stay in the house. I still wasn't allowed out on my own, mostly as precaution.
I blame it on being eternally nine, that I suddenly thought it would be a good idea to disobey my ever patient coven leader, no, he was more than that to me, he was more like a father? I hoped he could one day be my father, he certainly acted more like a father than my biological father had.
Today I had decided to go into town. I'd been to town with Carlisle a few times and had done fine. I would go to town and have some fun and return home before Carlisle returned from work. No harm done.
I ran to town and then began walking near the shops. I had some money, I decided to head into the toy store. "Oh aren't you just the most adorable thing. You're Dr. Cullen's boy right?" The older southern woman asked.
"I am." I agreed.
"What are you looking for dear?" She asked.
"Just looking." I told her.
She nodded and I looked around the store, settling on the set of three bird whistles and a Tom Tinker. I took them up to the cash register and placed them on the counter.
"That'll be 78 cents dear." She told me.
I counted out the right amount of change and pushed it towards her which she recounted. "Thank you Miss." I told her.
"You're very welcome honey." She told me.
I allowed myself to breathe for the first time since I had entered town and was overwhelmed with her scent. So sweet, so much more intoxicating than even the sweetest of mountain lions I had smelled. I literally felt my mouth water as I turned and quickly made my way out the door.
Before I had the chance to run home though I smelled an even stronger scent than the woman's had been and my instincts took over and I found myself running towards the scene.
I found a young boy, probably just a few years older than me, sitting in an ally with a cut arm. His blood smelled so good, I couldn't resist. I found myself leaping on top of him and was about to sink my teeth into him when I felt my body get snatched backwards, halting me. I fought at first but the arms were too strong and my small body couldn't break free.
"Easy Edward." I heard Carlisle tell me.
But I couldn't help it, I wanted his blood. I tried fighting even more but then felt Carlisle completely lift me and take off running, his grip tight around my body.
I was finally set on my feet once we were inside the fight and Carlisle sighed. I tried hearing his thoughts but he was thinking in German, so I couldn't hear them. He hadn't done that before.
"Carlisle I…" I began.
"Just, give me a moment." He told me as he ran a hand through his hair, trying to calm down.
I sighed and studied my shoes. I had disappointed him. I felt horrible. "I didn't mean to…" I began.
"Edward, just give me a moment to calm down." He told me calmly. I nodded as I continued studying my shoes. He was angry, livid I assumed if he was actually trying to force himself to calm down. "What were you thinking?" He finally asked.
"I just…" I began "I was bored."
"You were bored?" He asked. "Edward do you understand what would have happened if I hadn't happened to be on my way to a house call at that moment, if I hadn't picked up on your scent?"
"I didn't want to hurt him but he smelled so good and…I was trying to get home. I just wanted to get away from their scent." I told him.
"You are still new to this lifestyle. While you are no longer a "newborn" you are still very new to living like this. I know your control has been getting better but there is a reason I insist on you staying home and inside unless I am with you." I told him. "Why don't you just tell me what all happened today?"
"I was bored so I thought I'd just take a trip into town. I bought some things from the toy store but then I allowed myself to breathe and the store owner smelled so good. So I left and was trying to get home but then I smelled him and it was like I couldn't stop myself." I sighed.
"I don't have very many rules for you Edward, the ones I do have are for your own safety and for the safety of those around you. Do you understand that boy would have died had I not pulled you away? Do you really understand that you would have been in control of his life in that moment? Do you understand that we are going to have to relocate tonight because that boy saw your face?" Carlisle asked me.
"I'm in trouble aren't I?" I asked.
"Well I'm certainly not pleased with your behavior." He sighed. "Had you broken one of the rules in your human life, what would have happened to you?"
I hesitated. I looked down at my feet. If I had broken a rule in my human life my mother would have sent me to my room to wait on my father and then he would have come up to spank me. I didn't want Carlisle to spank me though.
"I would have been in trouble." I mumbled.
"What would have been your consequence?" He asked patiently.
"I would have been spanked." I admitted.
If it were possible I would have turned red with embarrassment but it was not possible. There wasn't blood that could flush to my cheeks.
"Alright. I'm going to punish you Edward but I want you to understand why. It is not because you almost lost control. Mistakes happen and I understand that. I am going to punish you for blatantly disobeying me. Once this punishment is over, all is forgiven and we never have to bring this up again." Carlisle told me.
"But…but…."I trailed off. "Please, I won't do it again."
"I know you don't believe this Edward but this will be unpleasant for both of us. You need to understand that your actions have consequences." He told me. "Let's go up to my study."
I felt my feet trudge behind Carlisle upstairs to his study; I was taking as long as possible to get there. I was nervous. I didn't want to get a spanking. When I finally did arrive in the study, Carlisle took a seat on the couch and motioned for me to come to him.
I felt myself suddenly feel glued to the ground. I couldn't move from the door. "Edward, please come here." Carlisle told me softly.
I studied him and shook my head. I couldn't walk to him; I was to overcome with fear.
Carlisle stood up and gently took my arm, not seeming in the least bit angry that I was disobeying him again. He stood me in from of him and held onto me, probably ensuring I couldn't make a run for it. His hands quickly undid my belt and the button on my pants before pulling me over his lap.
If it were possible I knew my heart would be beating rapidly. I was afraid of what was to come. I felt Carlisle pull my pants down to my knees, leaving my underpants intact, and then adjusted me a little better across his knees.
"Why are you getting this spanking?" Carlisle asked me.
"Because I…" I choked a bit on my words. "Because I disobeyed you."
"That is correct." Carlisle told me.
There wasn't much more warning after he said that. I heard his hand whisk up in the air before crashing down on my behind. SMACK. I practically jumped in the air at the sting his hand caused. SMACK. SMACK. SMACK. SMACK. SMACK. SMACK. SMACK. SMACK. SMACK.
The first ten smacks were all hard, and they stung, and for the first time since my change I actually felt like crying out of the pain.
SMACK. SMACK. SMACK. SMACK. SMACK. Five more landed right in quick succession and I whimpered a bit and tried to reach back to stop the attack on my rear.
Carlisle simply took my hands in his left hand and pinned them to my back as he continued with his right hand.
SMACK. SMACK. SMACK. SMACK. SMACK.
"STOP!" I cried. "I'm sorry! Please!"
SMACK. SMACK. Two more landed on my sit spots.
"Carlisle please!" I sobbed.
SMACK. SMACK.
"DADDY!" I cried, not even fully aware of what I had just called him.
SMACK.
The last smack made twenty five in all and then I felt myself be pulled upright into Carlisle's lap as he cradled me a bit.
"I'm so sorry little one, I know that was unpleasant." He told me quietly as he rocked me back and forth.
"Are you mad at me?" I asked hesitantly.
"I told you as soon as you were punished all would be forgiven." He told me softly.
"No, not about that, I mean, I called you Daddy." I whispered.
"Oh little one, I could never be angry for you for calling me that." He told me with a smile. "It would be my greatest joy if you would accept me as your father and not just an authority figure."
"I do think of you as my father. Edward Sr., he was not as kind as you. He was always working but you, you spend time with me. You teach me things. You act like I'm important." I told him.
"You are important. You are very important to me." Carlisle assured me.
"I'm sorry we have to move again." I mumbled.
"That's alright, I wasn't a big fan of Asheville anyway." He promised.
"Um, do you think that maybe…well, do you think it would be alright if…" I hesitated, biting my lip. What if he said no? What if he didn't want me to call him Dad more often?
"What is it little one?" He asked.
"Can I maybe call you Dad more often?" I asked hesitantly.
"Of course you can." He beamed. "I'd like that."
"Alright…Dad." I smiled testing it out. It felt natural to call him that.
"Are you alright little one? I need to get our things packed and ready to go. I was thinking that maybe Columbus, Ohio, would be a good place to move." Dad told me.
"I'm alright." I assured him.
"Alright little one, pack a bag of things you want to take with us and we'll be on our way." He told me softly.
When we had lived in Columbus for two years, in 1921, Dad gave me a wonderful gift of a mother. Esme was beautiful, with caramel hair and a heart shaped face. You could almost feel the love radiate off of her when she was around. She took to me just as quickly as she took to Dad. I think it was because she had lost her son and then was given a child to care for.
I had no reason to leave home, none at all, but in 1927, I did. I just up and left, yelling at Dad for not letting me live how I wanted to live and I told him I didn't need him. I almost instantly regretted the decision but I was afraid I wouldn't be accepted back with Dad and, well Mom at this point, so I just followed through with leaving.
During my rebellion I spent my time killing criminals, draining them. I never killed an innocent person. I started with Charles Evenson, the man that had hurt my mother. This period of slaughtering criminals lasted for four years, and in 1931, the loneliness finally overcame me. I wanted to go home.
It took some time to track down Carlisle and Esme but I found them, just having moved to Rochester, New York. I listened to their thoughts for days before returning, never catching a negative one directed towards me. They were always just concerned when they thought of me, Mom desperately missed me and wanted me to come home so eventually, I went up and knocked on the door.
Mom literally lifted me off of the ground as soon as she saw me and hugged me so hard if I were human I was sure I'd have broken bones. "My baby boy, you're home." She smiled, practically crying tearless cries as she held me. "Come inside; let's get you into some different clothes. Your father is at work but he'll be home soon."
That was the reason I had chosen this specific time to return home. I couldn't stand the thought of Dad seeing my red eyes. "I'm sorry." I choked.
"Oh my darling little boy." She whispered as she held me tight again.
"He's going to hate me." I told her. "I've killed people Mom. He's going to be so disappointed in me."
"Oh baby, he's just going to be glad to finally have you home. We've missed you so much baby, so very much." She told me. "You need a bath. There is a room set up for you upstairs; we had it ready just in case. There are also some clothes. Go bathe and then get into some new clean clothes."
So I did as my mother said, I took a bath and then quickly changed into the button down shirt, pants, suspenders, and shoes that I had found in my dresser and then made my way downstairs to Mom who wrapped me in her arms again, pulling me onto her lap in the couch.
"I've been waiting far too long to hold you again darling, I refuse to put you down until your father arrives home." She smiled.
I was okay with that. I just took in the always comforting scent of my mother and allowed her to hold me for another hour before I heard a car pull up and Dad's thoughts invaded my mind. He was thinking about how surely he was mistaken but he swore he could smell me.
He quickly entered the home and paused as he saw me in Mom's arms. I looked away, I couldn't stand for him to see my eyes.
"Edward." He choked out.
I buried my head into my mother, to ashamed to look at my father.
"He's afraid you'll be angry with him." Mom clarified.
"My adorable little son" Dad told me as his fingers pulled my chin to look at him "how could I be angry with you when you've come home?"
"I killed people." I choked out.
"I know." He told me.
"I did things you taught me not to." I told him.
"I know." He agreed.
"I ran away from home." I whimpered.
"I know." He nodded.
"I'm sorry." I sighed.
"I know." He told me as he took me from Mom's arms and held me close to him.
I felt my body relax as he held me. I had my Dad back. "I'm so sorry!" I sobbed tearless sobs.
"It's alright son, you're forgiven." He promised me.
"Punish me, please Dad!" I begged. The guilt was eating me alive; if he'd just punish me I'd feel better. I'd feel like I deserved his forgiveness.
"I'm not going to punish you for this." He disagreed as he held me tighter.
"Please Daddy; I need you to forgive me!" I cried.
"You're already forgiven sweet child." He promised.
"You don't understand, I need you to punish me so you can forgive me!" I sobbed.
"Carlisle, maybe…" Mom trailed off
"Is that what it's going to take for you to believe you are forgiven?" Dad asked. I nodded and he sighed. "Alright son, let's head up to my study then."
Dad didn't even go through the normal lecturing, he simply pulled me over his knee, undid my suspenders, pulled my pants down, and began.
SMACK. SMACK. SMACK. SMACK. SMACK. SMACK. SMACK. SMACK. SMACK. SMACK.
The first ten smacks were hard and I found myself having to hold onto his legs, gripping fairly hard to help from crying out. I wouldn't cry, no, I had no right to. I had abandoned everything I had been taught, I had left home. I didn't have a right to cry.
SMACK. SMACK. SMACK. SMACK. SMACK. SMACK. SMACK. SMACK. SMACK. SMACK.
The next ten stung even more and the pace was increased. I wouldn't cry, I wasn't going to cry. I just clutched Dad's leg even harder.
SMACK. SMACK. SMACK. SMACK. SMACK.
That was usually it. I usually got twenty five smacks and then it was done. Usually by now I was sobbing but I had yet to even whimper.
SMACK. SMACK. SMACK. SMACK. SMACK.
The next five shocked me simply because it wasn't over yet and I gasped a tiny bit. "Edward, cry. That's how I know you've had enough, just let it loose son."
I wouldn't cry, I had no right to.
SMACK. SMACK. SMACK. SMACK. SMACK.
Thirty five later, I still had barely whimpered.
SMACK. SMACK. SMACK. SMACK. SMACK.
I still stayed brave, that was forty.
SMACK. SMACK. SMACK. SMACK. SMACK. SMACK. SMACK. SMACK. SMACK. SMACK.
That was officially twice what I usually got and I refused to cry. I wouldn't cry.
"Edward, I am not going to continue." Carlisle told me as he allowed me to res across his knees, as he rubbed my back a bit. "Little one."
I finally sobbed. Why was he being so kind to me? He must be disgusted with me.
"I'm sorry!" I sobbed.
"Buddy, you're alright." He told me. "I'm not angry with you."
"I'm sorry!" I sobbed. "I'm so sorry!"
Carlisle sighed as he pulled me up into his lap. I tried to fight his comfort, break his embrace, but he simply held my head to his chest, not allowing me to break the embrace. "I am not angry."
"You're probably so ashamed of me." I sobbed.
"No, never, I could never ever be ashamed of you." He promised me. "Don't think that, not even for a second. You are my son, nothing you could ever do would make me ashamed to call you my child."
"I'm so sorry." I sobbed again.
"I love you Edward, I love you so much." Dad told me as he rocked me a bit. "Nothing in this world could change how much I love you. You could slaughter an entire town and I would still love you just as much."
"Really?" I asked hopefully
"Really." He agreed.
Maybe he did forgive me? Maybe even with my horrid behavior he still had it in him to love me. How did I possibly manage to find a perfect mother and father? I didn't deserve them, not in the slightest.
"I love you too Dad." I finally said.