My Son

June 12th 1918

The full moon shone brightly in the night sky, a million perfect stars scattered endlessly above me. Snow covered every inch of the dark forest, brilliant icicles hanging from the bare branches of the trees, glinting in the moonlight. Snowflakes drifted down from the topmost branches in graceful spirals, and ice-capped mountains toward over the forest. The only sounds for miles were our own footsteps.

Edward ran ahead of me, his bare feet skimming the soft snow, leaving no trace that he was ever there. His bronze hair standing out against the night, his pale skin shining slightly in the moonlight.

It had been almost three months since I had created him and he had taken to this new life remarkably well. Almost three months old and he was yet to slip up. Not that I gave him any opportunity for a potential slip up. His newborn strength was starting to fade, as was his speed. Soon we would be able to venture into public together. We had moved from Chicago a few days after Edward had awoken to this life. Although he had no family left there, some people still remained that knew him before, and would no doubt, recognise the change in him.

We where currently living in a small, two bedroom cottage in the woods of Maine. I was due to start work at the local hospital in a few days. It would be the first time that I would leave Edward for more than an hour or two. I had been with him near constantly since I had escaped from the hospital with him.

Edward laughed gleefully, dislodging snow from low branches as he ran. I smiled at the boy in front of me. This boy, because that's what he was, too young, too pure, to be a man, had changed my existence so dramatically, so beyond recognition, in such a short span of time. This wonderful being had obliterated the crushing loneliness that I had once consumed me, once compelled me into dragging another into this life. His beautiful mind held no grudge over my doing so, he truly was the purest of people I could have turned.

This boy was not just my friend. No he was much more than that. He was my son, and I loved him more than I would have ever believed possible.

Edward suddenly stopped running. His feet planted to the ground. Snow flew up around him in protest. I automatically stopped as well, frowning as Edward spun around to face me. His face was unreadable, his still red eyes boring into my face.

"What's wrong?" I asked, slightly panicked. What was ahead of us? What danger could I not yet see?

"Do you really think that?" he asked after a long moment of silence. Ah, it wasn't something ahead of us that had coursed his change. It was me. I quickly flicked through my last few thoughts, settling on my calling him son.

"Yes, I really do" I said softly. Edward looked down at his bare feet, shuffling them uncomfortably. "To me, you are my son. I understand that you probably do not think of me as your father. I don't mind. I won't force anything onto you, but I do think of you as my son. And I always will." I said softly, smiling gently at him. I hoped the honesty and purity of my thoughts would ease his discomfort. He was silent. "You are my son Edward and I love you. Even if you do not see me this way."

Edward remained silent, his eyes briefly flicking to my face as I spoke. It was then that I understood. He was uncomfortable because he didn't feel the same, he was unsure. Not of the son aspect, well not completely, but of the love one. It was suddenly crystal clear.

"No-ones ever told you that they love you, have they?" I said quietly. Edward shrugged, suffering his feet. He still wouldn't look at me.

"I think my mother did, when I was a young child but." he trailed off. I reached out, placing my hand on his shoulder, waiting until he met my eyes. I smiled at his young face.

"Your parents did love you Edward, even if they didn't say it. You where their whole world, their reason for existence. Your mother begged me to save you. Not herself, you. An act of unconditional love. And I know that if your father had lived to see you fall ill, he would have done the same. I promise you Edward, every person that you have ever met, love you. It is physically impossible for anyone not to love you." I told him, my voice soft but sure. "And you are now to me what you where to your parents". He looked into my face for a long minute before he suddenly sup around and started running again, the snow swirling around us once more.

"Catch me if you can Dad" he shouted over his shoulder at me, laughing joyfully again.