A little story about mayhem when the Cullen kids are left on their own for a week.

The Cullen are Stephenie Meyer and we are eternally grateful

This is set around the time of Eclipse so all normal couples apply – thanks :D

Chapter 1 – A break

Esme's POV

I tried to concentrate on my latest renovation drawing really hard, I honestly did, but all I could hear was the kids fighting downstairs. Count to ten Esme I told myself calmly. But it didn't last, before I heard my pencil drop onto the desk I was standing in the centre of the living room with Emmett's ear in my hand.

"Ow, stop it Mom!"

"Not till you say sorry to Alice, Emmett," I instructed calmly, "And Rosalie I want you to go get Bella some new sandwiches, I'm disappointed in you, spitting is unladylike. Edward please don't cheat on your brother. Jasper was good to agree, last time you played chess you didn't give him one minuet peace inside his own mind."

They all chorused sorry. Not surprisingly Bella was loudest, although as usual she had absolutely nothing to apologize for. I looked around at their faces, they all seemed to mean it... although Emmett was still smirking at Alice; he caught me looking and his eyes shot straight down to his feet with the rest.

"You really all need to learn to behave yourselves. I don't know what to do with you – 56 times to high school and you still behave like kindergarten!"

Jasper was first to respond this time, sending a wave of smugness over them all, "And that's just Edward!" Soon the room was in a situation much like it was when I entered. Edward was on Jasper and it seemed Emmett had joined the fight so he wasn't left out. Bella had perched nervously back on the sofa and despite my best intentions was automatically nibbling on the lunch Rosalie prepared whilst Rosalie and Alice snatched the remote from each other and the wide screen was flicking from shopping channel to soap and back again.

"Stop it! Stop it! STOP IT!" I yelled, this time they really did all go silent. I didn't get mad much, and they knew that when I meant it I really meant it. "I'm sorry Bella, I do try with them but..."

Bella smiled timidly seeing as Jasper was sending powerful guilt waves over the room.

"Jasper stop it. I think you should all be guilty enough, Alice go down to the shops and get a new TV remote please, Rosalie, make Bella lunch, Emmett, fix my table, Edward clean up the chess and Jasper please go up to the hospital and tell Carlisle to take the afternoon off."

There was a surge of "Mom, why do I have to do this..." but I ignored them and went and sat next to Bella on the sofa. Luckily the TV was stuck on a renovation channel without the TV remote so Bella and I sat quietly together and watched whilst the others grumbled that life wasn't fair. By the time Edward was finished it was the adverts and I sent him to go and play us some tunes.

"Esme?" Bella asked quietly. She never talked a lot without Edward around, but even less so to Carlisle or I directly.

"What is it sweetie?"

"I think you and Carlisle need to go away for a while, you know, spa week or golf, I'm not really sure what you find relaxing..." She trailed off and flushed a little in embarrassment. A week ago I wouldn't have really considered it. I couldn't remember ever leaving my little vampires, but all of a sudden...

"You know what Bella? I think that might be just what I need," I paused again, "But do you really think they would survive a whole week together?"

"Actually Esme – it might be just what they need too – it could be really fun."

"I never thought of it that way Bella and I'm pretty sure you're right. If we left you all for a week then you would have a chance to really get to know each other. I'm not saying that 80 years has made Edward and Rosalie strangers, but we've always been there and nobody's ever bonded. It's like you were made for this family." Bella blushed intensely and I could hear Edward miss half a note in my favourite tune.

"It's OK now everyone, you can come back." I knew perfectly well that the whole of the family would be waiting somewhere close to the house, at least within easy hearing distance and they were all seated within seconds. Carlisle bent over to kiss me, Edward tucked Bella onto her lap, after depositing the new TV remote Alice curled into Jasper's waiting arms, Emmett came in a little glue-y after his chore and beckoned Rosalie over to his lap on the arm chair as she passed Bella the new spit-free meal.

I looked around at the faces of my expectant family and felt more reluctant to leave; but I knew if we didn't go now I would never get the chance. Then Alice started to grin, Edward groaned and I realised it was too late to turn back.

"Carlisle and I are going away for the week. You will all be good. I don't know if Bella can stay al week but I'm leaving her in charge. The rest of should take notes on her behaviour. We aren't taking any phones, but..." I stopped myself, "nothing will happen, so there will be no need to contact us. We will be leaving in 10 minuets."

"It's OK Esme, Charlie's on a course this week so I can stay." The rest of them were too dumbfounded to speak so for once I could hear Bella without having to strain over the background noise.

Alice drew a long breath next, "Oooh, Mom! This is SO exiting – where are you going? - can I help you pack?"

I cut her off, "I don't know where we are going yet and you can't help me pack. I don't have hours."

"Well that's fine with me long as she doesn't get in the way." We all knew what Rosalie meant by this. Bella kept on smiling, she was just far too kind for my bunch.

"Are you sure you want to stay Bella?" Edward asked softly, simultaneously Emmett chimed, "Rose, I'm sure a little girl like Bella wouldn't get in the way of our fun."

I felt another wave of calm come from Jasper, "Sure Mom, but you're not going to make us eat with her again are you?"

Carlisle and I chuckled softly and I shook my head as I ascended the stairs to pack. This was it. I was really leaving my babies for a whole week.