Hello all! Thanks for such positive feedback. Makes writing this story so much fun. It might sound like there are gender stereotypes in this chapter of who is into fashion and who is playing sports. I am sorry! It is just how I envisioned them spending the afternoon. Gender doesn't dictate what you can and cannot do. I hope everyone is staying safe!
Also mini poll, I know that Carlisle and Hermione haven't been intimate really at all but would the readers want more intimacy between them? Just light kissing or heavy petting or a sex scene. I was kind of waiting to do a honeymoon scene but it's done a lot so I was avoiding writing it. But let me know if you guys want that. Make a comment to let me know your thoughts!
Everyone sat in the living room. Alice and Jasper on the beautiful white wicker chairs with decorative soft pillows. Emmet and Rosaline snagged the cushion loveseat that was a warm brown tone. Hermione and Carlisle grabbed the couch that was facing the family's stone fireplace. Edward was about to go sit on the piano bench when Hermione caught him by his hand and drew him in to sit with them. She put her arm around her first son. A smile graced her face as he relaxed into her embrace on the couch. Carlisle looked at the scene in front of him and thanked whatever gods he could for having such a perfect family and how fortunate that Hermione came into his life. Rosaline and Emmet snuggled into each other's arms, a small peck was placed on Emmet's cheek. Alice and Jasper basked in the warmth of the family's closeness. They could see this truly was a family. Jasper felt the love of family, love of each other and such joy and happiness it was almost intoxicating. Edward smiled some more as he read what Jasper was thinking. They were home. It didn't matter the location, just the people.
Still as lovely as the feelings and atmosphere were. Jasper still had questions. And Alice, ever curious, also wanted knowledge.
"How did you start to become a family? Why is Hermione so comfortable with you guys? What makes a blood pop? Where do you buy them? I've never seen anything like it. Are you sure you are okay with us living here?" Jasper went rapid-fire almost like a drill from his time in the military.
Alice chimed in "Why can't I see Hermione's future?"
Emmet laughed at the questions being thrown at them. His deep rich rumbling voice spoke up "We are family because Carlisle saved most of the people in the room. Besides Hermione and I and now you guys. We love each other since we are forced to spend so much time with each other. So don't mind when Rosaline is being a bit cold, she needs to get used to you and Eddie gets moody like a regular teen even though he has been here the longest outside of Dad."
Rosaline shook her head a bit in disbelief with the description her love provided. Edward rolled his eyes but smiled a bit. "Carlisle did save most of us in one form or another. He saved Edward and me but I saved Emmet from a bear." Rosaline's light airy voice contributed to the answers.
Edward answered the "Hermione question". Hermione has always been in our lives so she was here before I was turned. Dad and she have become our parents since day one. Never asking for anything but always open to listen and guide while allowing experimentation." He sheepishly looked embarrassed and would have blushed if he could. Hermione and Carlisle pat him on the shoulder and back. "It's okay son, we've tried letting you be who you needed to be at the time. Thank God Hermione kept us sane." Carlisle chucked.
"How has Hermione been alive for so long? How'd you meet her?" Jasper asked.
"Well, for starters it's fate because they are soulmates but it is also that Hermione's a witch," Rosaline replied with a grin on her face. She loved her parents no matter what facade she put up.
Hermione smiled and looked at Jasper and Alice and then Carlisle. "Everything the family has said is true. I am soulmates with Carlisle. I am a witch and to explain the age length, I am a time traveler from the future. I took a potion that allows me to travel through time to find my soulmate. I jump forward through time until I get to my present. I still won't share that time frame because I am not sure if that affects the experiment or not. So no one knows except for me. Edward can read minds but he can't read my mind due to Occlumency which shields my thoughts from him. And I bought you blood pouches and blood pops from the wizarding store. The family doesn't use it fully as they do enjoy the urge of the hunt, but it is a light supplement and the blood pops allow everyone to feel just like a kid again. After all, there isn't sugar in them and I grew up in a Dentist's household where we limited it."
"Jasper, you don't look like you believe her." Emmet crowed. He was excited because this meant he could see the magic again and experience what he had when he was first told about magic.
Jasper shook his head. "Magic doesn't exist. Nor do witches."
Hermione smiled, "There was a small riot against us in the States if I recall its the Salem Witch Trials. Though none of those poor people were witches, pure lies. But come, let me show you some real magic, not illusions or tricks, real magic." Hermione pulled out her wand. "Accio tea set and sandwiches." The tea set and tiny finger sandwiches floated from the kitchen, down the hall and landed gracefully in front of Hermione. She then said, "Wingardium Leviosa" and the teapot levitated as she manipulated it to pour tea. She had gotten better at the domestic spells after the Horcrux hunt because she never wanted to struggle to survive like that again.
Jasper was a bit shocked and instinctively went to touch it. He could not feel any ropes or think of a way to trick them. He could feel the honesty flowing through her. Alice also felt very surprised by her new mother's abilities. She asked how she knew she was a witch. Hermione grinned widely and said "Well it all started when I accidentally floated the books that had been placed up high away from me during dinner time down to the kitchen table. My parents were so alarmed but there was a knock on the door and a woman in a funny outfit came in. She told my parents not to worry, but that I was a witch and I should go to school to learn to control my magic at age twelve."
Her family was enthralled as they had only heard bits and pieces of the story. They had heard generic things but never the full story. Hermione felt in her gut that this was the last of the children that were going to be Cullens for a while. Maybe it was instinct or maybe it was part of the potion but she just knew. So she sat and told the whole story, every last detail. There were laughter, sobs, anger, joy, love, sympathy and compassion. It gave everyone in the family a new perspective of the amazing human they were in the presence of. Carlisle held her closer during her torture and starvation of the hunt. Edward held her hand at the werewolf attack but smiled at her when she mentioned her love of libraries. Rosaline and Emmet cuddled during the Yule Ball and Rosaline smirked at the Canaries. Jasper laughed at poor Neville's fear, and admired her mentors saying of "constant vengeance." Alice smiled as Hermione described her lack of style and gasped when everyone joined the Defense club. Everyone gasped when Harry was attacked during the Triwizard Tournament and smiled when he rose from the dead during the Battle of Hogwarts. Felt mixed emotions during the trials of the Malfoys who were bullies but scared. They saw a little girl turn into a bright teenager and general, a boss, a caretaker, a fighter and soldier but also saw how much she believed in humanity in the end. They realized that this was her life and she lived so much in so little time. She smiled as she ended her story she missed everyone but knew she would see them soon. The family was processing and she realized that so she gave them time before she talked. She had been using her wand to project pictures of her adventures which brought her story so much more depth and reality that when she looked at her family's faces they looked like they aged ten years. It was just a light trick but it made her want to hug everyone at once.
"I think that is it for the night. If anyone has any questions I'll answer in the morning. I am so tired. I love you all. Good night." Hermione said, covering her mouth with a small yawn. The evening had quickly passed to about 4 in the morning and she was mentally, emotionally and physically drained. Carlisle nodded and said he would join her.
The rest of the children sat there for a few minutes still processing. "I can't believe Hermione lived through that," Emmet said in awe. Edward felt a little ashamed when he heard her talk about defending the Lupin fellow. If Lupin was a monster in their society but she claimed he wasn't and didn't hurt a fly if he took his potion then maybe he wasn't either. Rosaline chuckled a bit at the thought of sweet Hermione being vindictive towards Ron and Marietta Edgecombe. Jasper thought that the tiny little human couldn't possibly be a general and a soldier but she had proved him wrong. Alice was in awe of her new mother and hoped that she could talk to her about why she couldn't see her future. Potentially it was because she wasn't a witch but her friend, Luna sounded like she had the gift of sight.
Hermione and Carlisle were laying together in bed. He kissed her forehead. "I am still processing what you had to go through mi amour. I can't imagine, there were good times and bad. I hope you never have to suffer like that in my lifetime again."
Hermione grinned at him. She gave him a peck, "My love, you are dead, your lifetime goes on forever." Carlisle smiled at her. His face hitting the moonlight just right with his hair falling attractively over his eye slightly. "I know." Hermione whispered "I love you. It is in my future but it is in my past too. I never have to live through bigotry in that extreme again or I will die fighting for it to cease to exist." Carlisle nodded. They hadn't talked much about her dying. Hermione read it in his face. "I know that me dying is almost inevitable unless you turn me. But witches age a lot slower than humans so we will cross that bridge when we get there. If anything I live to be ripe and elderly then I drink a de-aging potion and you turn me. I love you and I want to be with you forever, till the end of your lifetime." Carlisle kissed her hand and drew her close. The blanket layer gave her some warmth and it allowed for the physical connection they needed in the early morning light.
The next morning she woke up alone. Carlisle had gone off to the hospital. The children she could hear downstairs. While she did not have a vampire hearing, the pots and pans were loud enough. She smiled and got dressed for the day and went down to the kitchen. Hermione went into the kitchen to see the rest of her family attempting to make a full English breakfast. She laughed from the kitchen doorway. It looked like everyone was having a rough time. She smiled and thanked everyone for their attempt at cooking. Rosaline and Alice presented the dish with fresh flowers and on a beautiful tray. Edward and Emmet and Jasper had gone to the woods and brought down a boar. They had made blood sausage with it and some lovely toast with eggs and even baked beans. She figured it was a good new sibling bonding and was grateful for the food. Hermione made sure to compliment them all on their fabulous choice at breakfast.
She spent the rest of the day getting to bond with her kids by reading outside while Jasper and Emmet played football, the European kind, Edward was playing the piano inside. She had silenced the area around the house so they could play without disrupting the surrounding area. While the girls talked about the latest fashion and begged Hermione to reveal some of the futuristic clothing they would get to wear. Hermione obliged their requests.
Carlisle came home from a relatively short shift. He smiled at the sight in front of him. His family on the lawn enjoying themselves and his soulmate smiling radiantly. Hermione greeted him home with a kiss and ushered everyone inside to clean up so they could have dinner. She had a steak and potato dish while the rest of the family split up the Elk and Boar blood.
Carlisle looked at Jasper and Rosaline. He spoke up as he took in their physical features, "I think Jasper might want to change his surname to Rosaline's. They look very alike and can pose as twins if necessary in the family. That way when we move it won't look suspicious."
Hermione nodded, "If Jasper says yes then I think that's a smart idea." Jasper nodded in agreement and asked if Rosaline was okay with that. She too accepted it and therefore Jasper became Jasper Hale.
"What about Alice and Jasper getting married so it is less odd when we move towns?"
Alice nodded with her head practically snapping off at the idea. Hermione laughed lightly. Perfect then it is settled. Alice and Jasper marry. Rosaline was a bit jealous about that idea as while she had been married to Emmet and they lived with and without the rest of the family, though never far, she wanted another wedding. Hermione could sense that and so could Jasper, but before Hermione said anything, Emmet chimed in. "That is a perfect idea. Maybe we can have a party. You two can go on a honeymoon, Rosaline and I have a cottage you can borrow. I am taking her on a get together in soon but it's a surprise for our anniversary." He didn't mean to take the shine away but also wanted Rosaline to realize she was being jealous. That was all it took. One look and she felt better again. She loved him and he loved her. That was all that mattered. She wished she could have a baby but she couldn't which was her only burden of this life. She wished she had the same ease that the rest of the family had. She felt Hermione's hand on her shoulder and relaxed to her mother's embrace. While it wasn't her birth mom it was her mom who cared very little about looks but more what was in the inside.
Hermione knew Rosaline struggled but she still wanted Jasper and Alice to have the spotlight. She smiled and said aloud "When do you want your wedding?" Alice immediately said "Spring." Jasper only nodded along. Edward grinned when he saw what he was thinking. Jasper got down on one knee, "Alice Cullen, I have known you for what feels like centuries, and have loved you even more. I have been carrying this ring with me since we started this crazy journey and couldn't be happier where it has led us. Will you do the honor of being my wife." Alice knew this might happen but she had seen so many different proposals, and this was her favorite one she had seen. "Yes Jasper Hale, I will marry you. I love you." With that, the ring was slipped on and everyone was bubbling with happiness and plans.