Chapter 12 – Reunion

As they were leaving, Bella took a head count and frowned. "Um... Where are Alice and Jasper?" she asked.

Everyone started looking around but the two were no where in sight. Just as Bella pulled out the tiny silver cell phone to call Alice, they spotted what looked like two mountains of shopping bags with legs.

"Before you call me, I'm right here Bella," the shorter mountain said.

"Alice, what on Earth did you do?" Bella asked in an exasperated tone.

From somewhere behind all those bags, Alice's eyes peeped out. Bella had no idea how she was able to maneuver like that, but wasn't about to ask. "What does it look like I did Bella? I went to Bloomingdale's," she replied, and Bella could see the smile in Alice's eyes. "Don't worry, I bought something for you too. And Nessie, and Edward, Jake, Rose, and Emmett. Oh and I didn't forget Carlisle or Esme either. Speaking of them, we need to get a move on. If we're late, Carlisle is likely to feed us to the sharks."

At the mention of the sharks, and being fed to them, Emmett started snickering, and from the taller mountain of shopping bags, more snickering could be heard.

"Emmett, you're driving, but we aren't racing," Alice said sternly as they all started toward the exit.

"Carlisle said to meet them at the Hilton in Bloomington. He was reserving a few suites," Edward spoke up. "Emmett, you know where that is?"

"Yeah, yeah, I know where it is," Emmett grumbled. He was still upset Alice said no racing. How was he supposed to get his $420 dollars back?

-

They all arrived at the hotel, and after dumping the packages in their respective suites, They all filed into Carlisle and Esme's room. They all stood there while Carlisle paced, looking to them. Esme just sat in a chair looking disappointed. They were both still dressed for antiquing in khaki pants and button down shirts. Esme had her hair in a ponytail.

"Honestly, I can't believe this!" Carlisle started. "Rosalie, what were you thinking?"

Rosalie had the decency to look ashamed. "I'm sorry Carlisle. I wanted to go shopping, but Emmett made me go to an amusement park. An amusement park of all places! So while they were all busy, I took his jeep, and decided the best shopping around was here at the Mall of America."

Carlisle didn't look appeased. "Rosalie Lillian Hale, we are now two states away from where we started! Do you even understand that? If you wanted to come here for shopping, you should have discussed it with the whole family. I'm sure Alice would have been more than happy to chime in on your behalf to come up here and shop for a day or two!"

Alice nodded enthusiastically but stopped abruptly when Carlisle glared at her.

"Perhaps we should pack up and go home right now," Carlisle said... then a grin spread across his face. "No... maybe not."

Edward started laughing, but he too was abruptly cut off by a glare from Carlisle. Apparently the head of the family wasn't impressed with them following Rosalie to Minnesota.

"Rosalie, I think... that we will continue this vacation. You're going to have to come with us wherever we choose to go. And if you pull another stunt like this..." Carlisle trailed off.

Rosalie's eyes bulged and she hung her head. "Of course Carlisle, whatever you say," she said quietly.

Carlisle looked at the rest of them. "You all should have just come back to the hotel in Chicago. Am I understood?"

"Yes, Carlisle," they all chorused.

Just then, Nessie wiggled out of Jacob's arms and flung herself into Carlisle's. "Grandpa Carlisle! We got to see the FISH!" she exclaimed. "And Daddy, Uncle Emmett and Uncle Jasper had to ride the tea cups, and Auntie Rosalie took me on the log chute ride at Nickelodeon Universe! And LOOK! Look at what Auntie Alice let me get!" she said, showing him her airbrush tattoo.

All of Carlisle's anger and tension melted away as Nessie told him all about the kid things she had gotten to do that day. "Well, at least you got one thing right," he said to them all. "You made her the happiest kid on the planet today!"

They all nodded and laughed as Nessie wiggled herself down from Carlisle, going to show off her tattoo to Esme, and continued on with the narrative of what they had done that day.


None of the characters in this story belong to either myself or my partner in crime. They belong to Stephenie Meyer. However, we had a great time trying to give the Cullens a "normal" family vacation, and we hope that you enjoyed the ride.

Thanks for reading!