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.
Chapter Two – Explanations, Smiles, and Punishments
The weeks had flown by and now Edward was a month old. The Cullens had the daily routine down of taking their turns of caring for Edward. Carlisle and Esme decided that the children would be considered home-schooled – That way their bonding time with their brother was not cut short. Esme was the stay-at-home mother while Carlisle managed a nightshift at the hospital from eleven to seven in the morning.
Edward was already showing who he preferred to be with for different activities. He preferred Carlisle to put him to bed, Esme for feeding him. Emmett was his favorite for bath time. Edward preferred Alice for entertainment while Rosalie was good for comforting when he had his spontaneous mood swings. Lastly, Edward preferred Jasper's comfort when he was ill or injured.
Edward was currently napping in his basinet in the family room and the Cullens were seated, ready to discuss what Emmett had witnessed the day of Edward's transformation and Carlisle's theory of what had caused Edward's change into a human infant.
"All right, Emmett. The day you and Edward were hunting, what do you remember that happened?" Carlisle asked sincerely.
Emmett took a deep, unnecessary breath and started the recollection, "Edward and I went to our local woods. We smelled many mountain lions and brown bears. We went our different ways; Edward hunted the lions, I the bears. I had gotten three bears within the two hours we had been separated when something flew by – too quick for even my eyes to see – and had an unrecognizable scent. It seemed like a minute later that everything out in the woods went completely silent. Minutes passed as I stood still, in shock of the creature I had barely glimpsed. A minute later I heard Edward's shouts for help and they soon turned into cries of agony. When I arrived I saw the creature with its hands on the sides of Edward's face; he was down on his knees, his head thrown back in agony and his body trembling violently." Emmett took a deep breath before continuing, "The creature disappeared seconds after I arrived but I caught a good glance of it and barely heard what it said to Edward."
"What did it look like, son?" questioned Carlisle.
"And what did it say to Edward, hun?" Esme asked softly.
"The creature was bluish with a white cloak flowing from it with a goldish band above its head. It sort of looked angelic. What it spoke to Edward was this: "Your life was stolen. You were cheated. You were a good kid. God is redeeming your vampiric sins. You are to be reborn and live life again." Then the creature was gone."
The family was silent as they took in the information Emmett had just shared. Carlisle was going over the information in his head, struggling to find an answer to the odd experience.
"How did the transformation go," asked Jasper.
"As soon as the creature spoke and left, Edward just shrunk right before my eyes. His painful screams turned into shrieking wails and I blinked for a second and – BAM! – Edward was a tiny baby. It was surreal."
"I think Emmett was correct. I believe the creature Emmet saw was Edward's guardian angel. Because his soul was tainted with vampirism, especially since he has drunk from humans consciously, the appearance of Edward's guardian angel was tainted, also, showing the sins and pains of Edward's soul."
"So this wasn't the work of evil?"
The concern in his wife's voice and expression made Carlisle hastily reassure, "No. No evil. This guardian angel is the work of God… goodness."
"So God is still looking after our souls?" Rosalie asked her voice cracking.
Carlisle knew this was an emotional topic for his family, "Yes, he still cares about us because we are good; we don't go around killing people."
"If God forgave Edward and he did kill humans, then he'll forgive me too, right, Carlisle?" Jasper looked at his father with frantic, desperate eyes.
"Yes. You are a good person, Jasper."
The blonde male nodded.
Emmett scrunched his brows in confusion, "Alice… how did you not for-see this happening?"
Alice shrugged, frustrated, "Probably because it was the power of God's doing. We can't for-see his decisions."
"Alice is correct. We can't interrupt God's work." Carlisle smiled when he noticed that Edward had woken up and walked over and picked him up. When he sat down he situated his son in his arms while speaking, "Esme and I are taking Edward with us to the hospital annual summer dinner-party so you kids have the evening to yourselves. Enjoy!"
"Nice!" Everyone gave Emmett an incredulous look, "What? I love the little guy but for the past three weeks we've had no freedom. I am going to enjoy this night!"
"It will be nice to make love with no restrictions," Rosalie added slyly.
Alice and Jasper smirked in agreement.
"Well we should get going," Carlisle spoke as he stood up, adjusting Edward into a cradling position.
Esme grabbed the diaper bag and headed into the kitchen to grab the already-made formula bottles.
"You have everything?" asked the physician.
"I sure do," replied the woman. Esme turned to face her children, sternly instructing, "Now I do want you all to enjoy yourselves but stay in control. If anything is broken or replaced – and you all know I can tell the original from a duplicate – you all will be grounded for a week."
"We'll be back around eleven and I expect this house to be tidy, quiet, and peaceful." Carlisle noticed the scowl on his children's faces, "The reason I am requesting this is because Edward will be sleeping and I don't prefer him to be startled or frightened should he awaken."
Alice froze, her eyes blank as a vision empowered her. She sighed, "He will wake, three minutes before you arrive home."
"Damn that kid," muttered Rosalie.
"He knows just when to spoil the fun," declared Emmett.
"Don't worry guys. Go have fun! We'll have five hours to ourselves. Everything will be fine and in order when you get back," soothed Jasper sending out calming waves as he gracefully got his parents and Edward out of the house.
They listened as the car pulled away and rushed down the curved, dirt path before their chaotic party broke out.
-Emmett's POV-
Oh thank God – I so needed a break from that little rascal. How can babies look so adorable, but at the same time, be the largest pains in the butts? Edward has Carlisle and Esme so tightly wound around his fingers that if any other one of us gets out of line or does something wrong, we automatically get scolded now without our input into what happened. It's completely unfair! I feel like the older brother I was when I was human… Now I know we don't sleep, but the ungodly hours of the night when that kid awakens is absolutely insane. I don't understand how a baby, so tiny, has to drink a whole bottle of formula every three hours. How does Edward not get indigestion? Considering the little amount of waste he does produce when he goes to the bathroom, I just don't understand how his small stomach can hold the amount of formula that it does.
Now don't get me wrong, I love my little brother. Eddie is so adorable! Who knew Edward had such a cute, innocent side to him? I am so happy for Edward… thrilled he gets a chance at a better, non-cursed life; But a part of me is missing the old Edward. I miss our rough-housing and pointless arguments. I miss his concealed smirks that only his family could witness and I miss the sly remarks he would make while commenting on the ridiculous, hormonal thoughts the teenagers thought of in the schools we were attending. But I will secretly miss those memories because the power of happiness I feel for Edward's new beginning overwhelms that emotion.
Clapping my hands together in character, I shout as we hear the car drive away, "All right now! Let's party the way the Cullen family is supposed to party!"
I look over at my wife who has a wicked smile on her face and she replies, "I'll be waiting for you in our room, darling."
I return a dirty smirk and say, "I'll be up in a minute!" I turn to look at my brother and sister, "You might as well go enjoy yourselves too, because before long, the baby will be back."
"Oh trust me, we are…" Jasper replies in a deep, luscious tone, eager for what he and Alice are about to engage in.
"In three hours we should stop, wash up, and engage in something juvenile. That way Carlisle and Esme won't expect anything has occurred," warns Alice.
We nod at Alice's warning and disappear upstairs to our bedrooms and engage ourselves in some much needed sexual desires that we have been forced to limit due to having the young infant living with us in our house now.
-End of Emmett's POV-
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-Esme's POV-
Another year and another traditional hospital dinner feast that Carlisle just overly enjoys attending. It's become second nature to us now, filling up plates and ordering a glass of some alcoholic beverage while pretending to eat… This year is different though, it's no longer just Carlisle and I – no, it's Carlisle, Edward, and me. I can't help but smile as I watch my husband carry Edward and introduce everyone to his new son. Everyone, so far, who has come up to us and asked us who the child was, discovered that Edward was the most precious and adorable little baby ever. I must say, Carlisle and I couldn't agree more. Edward truly has been blessed with good lucks from the start and onward… Shaking my head, I let out a laugh as Carlisle goes up to his boss and shows off Edward.
Despite how quickly the first month has flown by since Edward was reborn, the nights make the time drag out. So it feels like it took forever for Edward to turn one month old. What Carlisle and I, even our children, are looking most forward to is watching how Edward develops and watching how his looks change overtime making him the handsome young man he someday will be… again. See, we all have an advantage: we know how Edward will turn out, physically at least. Carlisle and I both deeply agree on teaching Edward the values and lessons he was taught, during his first time as a human, that Edward Sn. and Elizabeth Masen preached to him. That way we can almost certainly guarantee that the Edward we all knew and love will come back to us, even during his second human life.
"Esme, come, I would like you to meet my colleague's wife. I think the two of you could become wonderful friends."
I nod, beaming at Carlisle's smile. I walk over to a table that's situated in the corner of the room and shake my head as Carlisle fails to hand Edward over to me. My heart would be warm and beating faster if it were alive at the love I see that my husband has for baby Edward.
"Esme, this is my colleague Dr. Jack Peterson and his wife Jewel."
I smile and shake both of their hands, "It's a pleasure to meet you both."
"Likewise," Jack replies, for a human he's got a firm handshake.
The woman reminds me of myself when I was human and I can feel I have taken an immediate liking to her.
She laughs light and apologizes, "I am sorry for my husband's lack of social pleasantries. He's not comfortable attending these events."
"It's perfectly fine. I got lucky," I grin at Carlisle proudly, "Mine is pretty sociable."
"Congratulations, Esme on your new son. Carlisle was just telling us how Elizabeth Masen agreed to you adopting her newborn son. You're very fortunate everything went smoothly, especially after her husband's untimely death."
I swallow unnecessarily and glance quickly at Carlisle with confusion, but turn back to the woman in front of me and go along with the story, "Yes, we are very fortunate, Jewel. Edward Sn. had caught a terrible bout of the flu and it just destroyed his immune system killing him. Elizabeth realized, being so young and all and just being out of school, that she could not take care of a baby by herself, so she placed the baby up for adoption. Seeing as I am unable to have children and she liked the fact that Carlisle and I already had four other adopted children, she said there was no other family she wanted to place Edward with. So a week later, Edward was in our home at last."
"That is so sweet. I am very happy for you and Carlisle. Jack and I were only able to bear one child, a son. They had to remove my uterus due to a complication during Phillip's birth. We had twelve, short wonderful years with Phil… he was killed when struck by a car… a drunk driver. That's why Jack is so bitter… the pride and love of our lives was selfishly taken from us. That was ten years ago, and we still haven't recovered completely."
I sighed knowing and understanding the woman's pain. I look over at my husband who gives me a small nod, eyes full of empathy, and I begin talking. "I know how that feels to lose a son. Before I met Carlisle, I had a son with my first husband. Bad relationship which ended quickly, but my son died days after his birth. I also had complications which is why I am no longer able to bear children. But you are right, that pain of losing a child never fades away. It's not as strong of an emotion but the pang of hurt never truly does leave your heart."
"It sounds like we've both overcome tragic losses."
"It only makes us stronger women," I reply giving her a small smile.
"Our husbands waited too long to introduce us to one another. Carlisle's been here, what – for about a year? We could've been friends from the beginning."
I give Carlisle a berated look and agree, "You're right. Carlisle always talks about Jack; they have been good friends. Well it's never too late to start. Why don't you come over to my house every Wednesday? That's the day I send our teenage children on a fieldtrip for their schooling and it will only be Edward and I at the house. We can go shopping or have tea, or whatever you'd like?"
She smiles cheerfully, "That sounds like a wonderful idea. A nice thing to look forward to every week... What time should I come over?"
"Would you be able to come over around ten and stay till two?"
"Absolutely."
"Perfect, Jewel. I look forward to Wednesdays now."
Jewel leans in and gives me a hug and I hug her back gently, thankful she cannot feel the coldness of my skin through my shirt.
"Well I am glad you ladies have connected. I know my Jewel is ecstatic to have a new female companion and is elated to get the chance to be around an infant again. But I think it's time Jewel and I headed out. I promised her a movie tonight."
Jewel smiles and nods, "That's right. We haven't been to the theatres in months with Jack's busy work schedule."
"Well you two enjoy yourselves," I say, wishing them a farewell.
Carlisle smiles and shakes Jack's hands, "I'll see you tomorrow night at work."
We watch as Jewel and Jack walk away and smile contently as Carlisle wraps his free arm around my waist and pulls me into his chest.
"I knew you and Jewel would hit it off."
"Thank you, Carlisle. It will be nice having a female friend that isn't just Alice and Rosalie."
Carlisle nodded then grinned mischievously, "So how are you going to break it to the kids that they must leave the house every Wednesday from ten to two?"
I stop and ponder for a second then I respond, "We'll have them run errands for us that day. It will be their personal chore day."
Carlisle chuckled, a wide smile spreading across his angelic face, "I love the way your mind works!"
I laugh in return and rub my finger down Edward's soft cheek, "He's going to be out soon."
"I know. He's been up for roughly thirty minutes now. His eyes have been drooping for the past couple of minutes."
My nose scrunches up as an awful smell erupts in the air; Edward needs his diaper changed.
"I will go change Edward," Carlisle began, "then I will come back and let you handle him for a while. I need to go socialize with a few more of my colleagues. By the time I'm done, it should be time to go home."
I nod and watch as Carlisle and Edward head off to the closest male restroom.
-End of Esme's POV-
Carlisle pushed the door open that led to the men's restroom and headed over to the baby-changing table. He quickly unfastened the buckle and unfolded the table. He reached into the diaper bag and pulled out a cloth and laid it on the table. Esme despised the idea of Edward being laid on any public, unknown changing table due to all the germs that Edward could pick up, and Carlisle had to agree; he didn't want Edward getting sick if unnecessary. He then gently placed Edward on the table and slid off the pastel yellow shorts he was wearing and followed up by unbuttoning the light-red, baseball onesie that Edward had on. Once Carlisle had the new diaper open and ready, he undid the dirty diaper and wiped Edward clean, finishing by powdering the tiny baby butt to stop any chance of a diaper rash that could form.
"I bet that feels better, now doesn't it, buddy?" Carlisle said as he slid the new diaper under Edward's bottom and fastened it up. "It amazes me that something so disgusting can come from a little guy like you," Carlisle joked. Carlisle couldn't resist the little tummy that was calling to him and he gently tickled the belly and was shocked when Edward cooed and smiled. Pride swelled in the father's heart, "Edward! That was your first smile and baby… laugh, I suppose!" Carlisle smiled as he put his son's clothes back on. Zipping up the diaper bag and lifting his son into his arms, he bent down and kissed Edward's soft lips, "Son, you amaze me. I love you so much." Edward stared into his father's eyes and smiled again making a sound that Carlisle couldn't comprehend. "Let's get you back to mommy. I know she's missing you."
Esme noticed the proud expression that Carlisle wore as he placed Edward into her arms, so she asked, "What's got you so happy?"
"You'll never believe what Edward did!"
Esme's eyes lit up, "What did he do?"
"I tickled his tummy and he cooed and smiled. It was a beautiful sight and the most darling sound."
"And I missed it," Esme sighed in disappointment.
"I bet you'll get a few more smiles and coos out of Edward before he falls asleep. Try. I'm sure he'll do it." Carlisle saw his wife nod then said, "I'll be back in an hour then we can head home."
"Sounds good," Esme replied as Carlisle headed off into the crowd. She returned her attention to her son and pleaded, "Edward… please smile for me and coo. It's not fair only daddy got to see it. I want to see it too!"
Edward stared at his mother and started squirming around in her arms. He let out a few whimpers and she propped him up against her folded leg on her lap supporting his head. He started jerking his head back and forth and opened his mouth wide in "O's". Esme continued to watch her son's movements and felt her cold heart flutter when he let out a happy coo.
"Oh Eddie, you cooed for mommy. What a good boy! Now can you smile just once… for me?"
Edward fixed his eyes on his mother's face and studied her before his mouth broke into a toothless, crooked grin.
Esme laughed at the sight, "You smiled for mommy, Eddie! What a handsome boy you are! And even at a month old, you still have your crooked grin we've all come to know and love. I love you, Edward. Now my sweet, it's time for you to get some shut eye," announced Esme when she saw the big yawn Edward gave. She cradled him in her right arm and rubbed soothing circles across his chest while singing his lullaby softly. By the time the lullaby was over, Edward was out. Esme leaned her head down and gently placed a kiss on her son's forehead. "I love you, my Edward." Esme relaxed, back, against the chair she sat in and contently watched her son's face as he slept peacefully and smiled when Edward's arms and legs jerked out as he dreamed and slept.
Carlisle returned an hour later, as he'd promised, and smiled at the sight of his son asleep in his wife's arms.
"If only we had our camera…" Carlisle sighed.
"We do," Esme whispered, "It's at the bottom of the diaper bag."
Carlisle nodded and fetched the camera. He called over the head nurse that worked in the Emergency Room section of the hospital and asked if she would mind taking a picture of him and his wife and child. The nurse complied gladly and captured the lovely moment of the small family.
"That was a perfect idea; a picture of just us with Edward," Esme commented.
"I thought you would appreciate it," Carlisle replied with love in his voice. "Now what do you say we get our son home? He's had a long night for someone so young."
"Agreed. I'm ready to get home."
Carlisle and Esme walked out hand-in-hand with Edward tucked safely against Esme's chest as they headed to their car ready to make the adventure home.
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Emmett and Jasper were outside wrestling one another as the thunderstorm rang out. Rosalie and Alice cheered their husbands on as the match continued to drag out.
Jasper ran right into Emmett, knocking him to the ground, as he pinned him.
"That's it, Jazz! Keep it up!" shouted Alice in joy.
"What the hell are you doing, Emmett? You're strong than he is. Get up this instant!" shouted Rosalie.
Emmett shoved Jasper off by using his feet as a springboard and Jasper flew ten feet in the air and landed gracefully on his feet.
"I will show you that strength has nothing to do with power! It's all got to do with the technique," declared the blonde male.
"That is where you are wrong, my dear brother. Strength is the overall power. You will never beat me!"
"Wanna bet?"
"Is that a threat?"
"You bet it is!" exclaimed the former confederate soldier.
"Bring it on!" Emmett shouted, overjoyed and eager for a competitive battle.
"This could get ugly," Alice whispered frantically to her sister.
"It could," agreed Rosalie. "But just remember, it was your own husband who brought this on."
As Jasper and Emmett battled it out and Rosalie and Alice cheered, all four vampires were so caught up in the match that Alice failed to vision the homecoming of their parents and Edward. It was the sound of the Mercedes winding up the pathway and the headlights that shown through the trees that caught the young vampires' attentions.
"Guys! Stop! They're back and Edward's awake! If you're making thunderous sounds it's going to frighten him," shouted Alice hysterically.
The four of them ran into the house, flopped themselves onto the sofas, and turned on the television. None of them bothered risking to change clothes because they knew it was too late… the boys were muddy and the girls were soaked. They knew they were in trouble. A minute later Carlisle and Esme entered the house, Carlisle carrying Edward's car seat. Esme made her way throughout the entire house checking to see if everything was in order.
"How was your evening?" asked Emmett weakly.
"It was very nice. As a matter of fact your mother made a new friend named Jewel."
"That's wonderful! Esme's always happier when she has a friend," Jasper relied meekly.
"How did Edward do?" questioned Rosalie.
Carlisle smiled, shaking his head at the failed attempts his children were doing, trying to act innocently. When would they learn that parents know everything? "He was very well behaved."
"Not hard to believe, he's only one-month-old," muttered Emmett.
Carlisle chose to ignore his son's sarcastic comment, "He actually smiled and cooed for the first time tonight! Esme and I are so proud of him."
"I wish I could have seen that!" Alice pouted.
"Don't worry, Alice – I'm sure he'll be doing that every day now," Esme said as she re-entered the family room. "Well I'm shocked; everything in the house seems to be in order despite our now ruined sofas that are muddy and soaked. Nice try guys, but you know what I said before we left. Why couldn't you just behave yourselves? Now you're grounded."
They whined and Carlisle smiled, glad that the children respected his and Esme's authoritative roles as their parents.
"Oh and your mother has something to tell you about what you'll be doing every Wednesday while her friend visits weekly!" Carlisle exclaimed clapping his hands together in mock excitement.
The children turned to their mother waiting to hear her explanation.
"Everyone in town knows that you all are home-schooled. Well I explained to Jewel that on Wednesdays you guys have a fieldtrip that I send you on for school. So every Wednesday from now on, you four will be running errands for your father and me from ten to two in the afternoon."
"NOOOOO!!!!" They all shouted simultaneously.
"You can't be serious!" Emmett exclaimed.
"I am not a slave!" shouted Rosalie.
"From the calmness I feel radiating from Esme, it's not a joke," voiced Jasper.
A quick vision flashed upon Alice's mind and she hung her head, "It's very true." She stated, subdued.
"You all quit your complaining right now! We're a family and families help each other out," scolded Carlisle.
"Now for your punishment, I will let Carlisle do the verdicts," stated Esme as she stared at her four older children.
Carlisle had picked Edward up and held him so Edward faced his brothers and sisters. "Let's see," Carlisle paused, stroking his chin, mulling up their punishments. "Emmett, no sex with Rosalie and no self-pleasure for one week."
"That is so not fair!" retaliated their strongest son.
"Rosalie, no self-pleasure and no fixing up the cars in the garage for one week."
"You really must hate me," muttered their oldest daughter.
"Jasper, no telling of Civil War stories and no reading up on any battles of the Civil War for one week."
"How can I disgrace my pride in my confederacy brothers who died?"
"Would you rather also have no sex with Alice for a week, also?"
Jasper glanced down and nodded, "No Civil War anything. Scouts honor."
Esme and Carlisle chuckled at the guilty expression on their blonde son's face.
"And Alice, no shopping at stores, mall, online, or from the television for one week."
"Yes, dad," she mumbled knowing Carlisle was not kidding around.
Edward was looking at his siblings' expressions and cooed each time they complained about the punishment that they were given. Edward was in a happy mood and excited to see them which was why he cooed but his siblings did not seem to appreciate this.
"I can't believe it!" started Rosalie.
"Edward just laughed at our despairs," Emmett finished his wife's thought.
"And here I thought he was on our side," Jasper grunted.
"Oh people – he's a baby! He's got no clue what's going on," Alice exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air, in disbelief, at her siblings' childish behavior.
"Now that your father has given you your punishments, upstairs all of you; now! You are to stay in your bedrooms until morning. And do not try to wiggle or sneak your way around your punishments, Carlisle and I will know!"
Carlisle and Esme watched in amusement as their children flew up the stairs and heard their mumbles of dissatisfaction and unfairness concerning their punishments.
"Edward, nice timing with the coos," Carlisle laughed as he embraced his infant son.
"That was perfect and quite adorable, them, blaming Edward for taking our side," agreed Esme.
"Well, why don't you feed Edward his bottle and when you're done I'll tuck him in upstairs," Carlisle offered as he placed Edward in his wife's arms.
"This turned out to be an amazing evening and outing with you, Edward, and me. I love you, Carlisle."
"And I love you, Esme."
Carlisle and Esme kissed and then Esme headed into the kitchen to make a bottle of formula for Edward as Carlisle headed upstairs to his son's nursery, getting the crib ready for Edward when Esme brought him up. Both Esme and Carlisle smiled as they heard the mutterings of complaints still coming from Rosalie, Emmett, Alice, and Jasper.
***NOTE: I will have chapters covering ALL of Edward's infancy, but each chapter will alternate with Edward spending it with a different family member. This way you can see how he bonds differently and specially with each family member of the Cullen's. I really am hoping you are enjoying this story. The next chapter will still be of Edward in his first month with the entire family involved, but several questions should be answered like what Emmett witnessed while Edward transformed and what happened to make Edward turn into an infant.***
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 in it, please let me know! If you have questions, please feel free to ask. I do get back to all those who review me! All I ask, for my own inspiration, is REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW! It can be positive or constructive criticism… but all I ask is PLEASE REVIEW! Thanks, -Stacey-
