Birthday

Birthday

It was the day before Elizabeth's seventeenth birthday and we were preparing for the occasion. Alice had sent out the invitations and Bella was going with Esme to get the menu ready. Luckily her birthday was on a Saturday.

I was at Carlisle's where the party was going to be held. Emmett and I were blowing up balloons that Alice had special ordered to match the theme of the party. Elizabeth loved the movie Phantom of the Opera so we based the party off of the masquerade.

Everyone invited to the party was to wear masks and at the end of the party they would be able to remove their masks revealing who they were. Alice had a vision that the party was going to be a success.

The back door opens and Elizabeth steps outside followed by Linx.

"Hey you two," says Emmett.

"How are the balloons coming?" asks Elizabeth.

"We're about finished," I say.

"Alice is sending me and Linx out to buy stuff for the party. She told me to ask you for some money," says Elizabeth. I pull out my wallet and hand Elizabeth my credit card.

"Have fun," I say as they walk back through the house. After Elizabeth drives away Alice skips out to the back yard carrying a large white box.

"Edward, I need your opinion on this dress. I don't want Lizzie to see it until tomorrow," says Alice. She opens the box and pulls out a red dress that looked as though it came straight out of the movie yet it looked modern at the same time. Elizabeth would love it, but she wasn't into dresses.

"It's great for Elizabeth, she'll love it, but she doesn't care for dresses," I say.

"I know, but she can get over it for a night," says Alice. Just then Jasper walks out carrying several boxes with different lights in each one.

"Alice, I got the lights, but I wasn't sure which kind you wanted exactly," says Jasper. Alice turns and looks at the lights and her face lights up.

"There all perfect! Thank you so much Jasper!" says Alice happily. She hugs Jasper nearly knocking the boxes out of his hands. I chuckle and go back to blowing up balloons. Suddenly Jacob walks around to the back yard with Midnight following him.

"I brought Midnight like I was asked to," says Jacob. Midnight walks over to me and licks my hand since she couldn't lick my face.

"Thank you Jacob," says Alice.

"Where's Lizzie?" asks Jacob.

"I sent her to the party store for some more decorations," says Alice cheerfully.

"She wanted to get rid of Elizabeth for a little while," I say.

"Well when you put it that way," says Alice sourly. Emmett and I laugh at her expression. Jacob laughs as well.

"Maybe I'll go find Lizzie and take her out to eat," says Jacob.

"That's perfect! She's with Linx though. I had to use Molly for something," says Alice.

"That's alright," says Jacob. He hands Alice Midnight's leash and turns to walk away.

The next day everyone-except Elizabeth and Alice-was in the backyard getting it set up for the party. Jasper, Emmett, Carlisle and I were setting up the circus tents we had rented for the party. We needed the large area to accommodate everyone. That and this was Alaska so it wasn't going to be very warm so Alice had some space heaters set up to warm the tents. She knew this would be a success.

"I thought the sixteenth birthday was the important one," says Emmett.

"Elizabeth is your niece, every birthday should be important to us," says Jasper.

"Alice would be upset if she was here and you said that," I say.

"How do you sand her, Jasper? She's a little control freak," says Emmett.

"She's not that controlling. She just knows what she wants and as her husband I'm going to help her," says Jasper defensively.

"You're totally whipped," says Emmett.

"What about you? If Rosalie told you to do something you wouldn't hesitate," says Jasper.

"Edward is the worst though. He has two women in his family and they're both able to order him around," says Emmett.

"Bella and Elizabeth are very important to me," I say.

"That doesn't really count as whipped though. Bella and Lizzie hardly ever boss him around. He does stuff for them because he wants to," says Jasper.

"If anyone has us all whipped it's Esme," I say.

"Esme is more like our mom though," says Jasper.

"Carlisle would do anything for her though, and she can be a little demanding," says Emmett.

"Esme is not demanding," says Carlisle defensively.

"You do know the girls can hear us, right?" I say.

"We're not talking bad about them," says Emmett.

"The only reason we're all 'whipped' as Emmett put it, is because we love them and just want them to be happy," I say.

"Exactly," says Carlisle. After setting up the tent we set up the lights and decorations according to Alice's instructions. After the tent was set up Bella meets me by the back door.

"The guests will be here in an hour and we still need to get ready," says Bella.

An hour later the first of the guests arrive and are led to the back yard by Midnight. Somehow Alice had managed to dress Midnight in a red mask and a red and black joker costume as well as teach her to escort the guests to the backyard all in a day. I had to admit that I was impressed. Then it was time for Elizabeth's entrance. The DJ we had hired for the night cuts the music and everyone looks around.

"If I could direct your attention to the front of the tent," the DJ begins. Everyone turns to look at the entrance and I began to wonder what Alice had planned that she wasn't telling Bella and I about. "I'd like to introduce the star of our party! Elizabeth Esme Renee Cullen!" he shouts cheerfully.

Everyone cheers and Bella and I chuckle as first Emmett and Jacob come into view wearing joker costumes carrying what looked to be a large and extravagant throne with Elizabeth sitting in the chair waving. By the look on Elizabeth's face I could tell this wasn't her first choice for an introduction. Like Bella, she didn't like to bring attention to herself. Then Carlisle and Jasper come into view carrying the back end of the platform. They too were wearing joker costumes.

None of the men were very happy about Alice's idea, but they did it because Alice threatened them in some way or other. Then Midnight follows wagging her tail. I had a feeling she wasn't part of the introduction. When the get to the end of the carpet they put the platform down and Jacob holds his hand out to Elizabeth. She takes his hand as he helps her down. Everyone cheers and claps again including Bella and myself.

After about an hour it was time for the family to give Elizabeth a gift. Carlisle, Esme, me, Bella, Alice, Jasper, Rosalie, and Emmett all go over to the DJ stand. The DJ cuts the music again and Carlisle takes the microphone.

"Elizabeth Cullen, could you please step up to the stage? We have a gift for you," says Carlisle. Elizabeth walks up to the stage and the DJ hands her a second microphone.

"I thought I had to wait until the party was over to open gifts," says Elizabeth. We all chuckle and Elizabeth blushes.

"That's true, sweetheart, but this is a special gift," I say. Carlisle holds out a small rectangular box. Elizabeth opens the box and gasps. She pulls out the necklace and holds it up for everyone to see.

"This is the Cullen Crest. We've been holding onto it until we felt you were old enough to handle such a responsibility, you have proven over the last year that you could indeed handle this responsibility," I say. By now Elizabeth was in tears. She always loved looking at the ones we wore and would ask when she would get one.

Carlisle walks over to Elizabeth and hugs her followed by the rest of the family.

"Jacob Black, can you come up here please?" says Bella. Jacob walks up looking confused but willing. He stands next to Elizabeth.

"Why'd I get called up?" asks Jacob.

"You have been like family to us for the last 17 years. It wouldn't be right for us to ignore that fact. You're not a Cullen yet, but you will be soon so we'd like to present this to you," says Carlisle as Bella holds out a square box. Jacob takes the box and opens it to a black leather wristband with the Cullen Crest on it.

"Wow…this is…pretty awesome. Thank you," says Jacob. Elizabeth buries her head in Jacob's chest and continues to cry. She was happy though and it made us happy to know that. Jacob hugs her and begins to rub her back.

"Welcome to the family," says Carlisle. Everyone cheers and claps. Elizabeth pulls away from Jacob and takes the microphone.

"You all suck for making me cry in front of like three hundred people," says Elizabeth jokingly.

"We only did it because we love you," I say.

"I got it all on tape!" says Alice cheerfully.

"We'll be sure to watch it later," says Emmett teasingly. He begins to laugh boisterously.

Soon the party was over and Elizabeth was exhausted. Jacob ad his arm around her waist trying to hold her up as she continuously nodded off and woke back up on his shoulder.

"For a bunch of bloodsuckers you're pretty cool. Sam is gonna flip when he sees this wristband," says Jacob with a grin.

"We meant every word. You really have become part of the family over the last 17 years," I say.

End Chapter

(A/N: Okay, y'all probably think I'm crazy and wondering what the heck I'm talking about with the Cullen Family Crest stuff at the end. It's in the Twilight movie. I was on today and they had this link about the Cullen Crest and I thought, why not? So get on sometime this week and look into it. It's on MTV's website somewhere, I'm sure you can figure it out. It's kinda weird, but it's pretty cool at the same time. Thanks for all the great reviews! Sayonara.  )