Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight, I just enjoy playing with the characters.

Chapter 1

"Edward was two days old when he was brought to The Island at Mount Bonnell Shore," Elizabeth began. "And his tiny footsteps immediately made a place in all our hearts. He became Esme's lifeline and Carlisle's dream of a son was fulfilled. Twelve years later you came along. The doctors said you fought to be born, but we all knew you would be this family's strength."

"Did Edward know he was adopted?" Jasper asked, without looking up from the floor.

Lizzy sighed, losing herself in the memories. "He was eight when he found out. Edward was admittedly upset at first, but only because he wished he could have been Carlisle and Esme's real son. That was when Carlisle decided that the matter of his adoption would never be raised again. He was Carlisle's oldest son. Never would the truth be questioned, but suddenly it was brought up again and after that, he never came back. That was his last Christmas with us!" she cried before breaking down into tears.

December 24, 1999 – 10 Years Ago

The Cullen mansion was filled with people. Laughter bubbled up from the main ballroom, glasses clinked against each other, and the music flowed evenly through the crowd. From the balcony, Carlisle looked down at all his friends and family with a soft smile before turning to search out the man he urgently needed to talk to.

"Look at this room, it's a filthy mess!" cried Siobhan, picking up a pile of dirty laundry and depositing it in the hamper where it should have been.

"Yeah, yeah Sivvy, but you love me anyway," smirked Jasper.

"Jazzy, I can't keep picking up after you! You're 13, almost 14 now and when you go off to boarding school next semester, you are going to have to keep your own room clean!" As the large Irish woman became further and further worked up over the state of her young charge's room, the southern accent slipped away and her Irish brogue became more pronounced. "Now come on, everyone is downstairs at the Christmas party and you are still up here doing…what exactly are you doing up here anyway?" Siobhan peered out of the walk-in closet with shirts in her hands, trying to see what the little rascal was up to. "VIDEO GAMES?"

Jasper jumped from his seat on the bed. His controller slipped from his hands and landed smartly on his foot. "OW! What the heck, Sivvy! You can't just screech like that in a man's ear!"

"Jasper, I am a good 10 feet away from you so I can hardly be shouting in your ear and you should mind your langua–"

"Yeah, yeah, okay." Jasper cut her off, hoping to avoid one of Siobhan's long-winded lectures. "Besides, this isn't just any game. Its Madden 2000!"

"Madden, Schmadden. I don't care. You were supposed to be dressed and downstairs half an hour ago. And if you really care so much about football why don't you get off your chubby rump and run about outside and play the real thing, instead of staying holed up in here pretending to."

Siobhan proceeded to tug Jasper's t-shirt off his head and struggled pull a proper undershirt on. "Gosh, Jazzy, are these clothes getting too tight as well?"

" 'S not my fault Sivvy," he wailed. "Edward used to be around to play with me, but he's been gone so long, I have no one to play with. I want to get in shape again, I swear I do. And I really want to play football at school… But I don't wanna go to Riverside. Georgia is so far away. Why can't I stay here with you and Mom and Dad? Why do y'all try to get rid of me?" Jasper began to sob.

"No. Shhh Jazzy, no. We aren't trying to get rid of you. Why would you think that sweetie? We just want you to grow up and be responsible and Riverside will turn you into a fine young gentleman just like your brother." She gently wiped away his tears with her thumbs and began buttoning up his red shirt for the party. She smoothed down his blond curls, patted his cheek gently and then handed him the dress pants she had picked out. "Now I'll leave you to finish getting dressed. I trust that you will do so quickly and join all of us downstairs for the party without returning to your games, alright?"

"Yes ma'am," Jasper sniffled. He picked up his controller and tossed it onto his bed before heading to the bathroom to finish getting ready.

Siobhan gently shut Jasper's door and headed towards the stairs, knowing that Esme could likely use a hand in bringing out the ornaments for the Cullen family's annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony.

"Oh, Siobhan, thank goodness you're here. Thank you so much for getting Jasper ready, he really only listens to you these days," thanked Esme as she rushed into the living room carrying a box of carefully packed ornaments.

"Of course ma'am, that's what I'm here for," Siobhan returned with a smile. "Now how can I help you?"

"Well, let's see. I brought up our family ornaments, and we readied the tree this morning, so really all I have left to do is make sure everyone is here to add their ornament to the tree, and then we can plug her in!" Suddenly, with a gasp Esme continued, "Oh, but you know what I did forget! The gingerbread cookies need to be taken out of the oven in a few minutes. Could you please be a dear and take care of that please Siobhan? I need to make sure everyone has plenty to drink, and then the musicians will take a break, and we can add the decorations, light the tree, and oh, where is Edward! Rosalie, can you come here please? I just need your help with…" And with that, Esme had already whirled out of the room to take care of the fifty other things that had popped into her head.

"Of course ma'am," Siobhan muttered. Sometimes I just don't know how that woman keeps her cool and runs everything in this huge house so well.

Siobhan hurried to the kitchen where all the dishes were already laid out and ready to be carried to the grand dining room. Only the Cullens would have three dining areas, one where the family eats casually adjoined to the kitchen, another one for when the whole family is together or when we have guests, and finally the grand room which seats about 50 I'm sure! Siobhan thought with a smirk. She moved to the oven where she checked on the cookie trays and saw that they were done. Just as she pulled them out and set them on the counter, a chubby hand reached out and snatched one of the tray. "Jasper Lee Cullen! Could you not have waited even a minute for them to cool down, never mind waiting for them to make it off the tray and onto a plate. Sometimes I'd swear you are more of a three year old than a thirteen year old."

"Shorry Sivvy. They shmelled way too gooph."

"Honestly, boy, at least chew and swallow the darn thing before you try to talk," Siobhan sighed resignedly. It was Christmas Eve after all.

Happily munching away, Jasper strolled out of the kitchen with his lucky acquisition. He celebrated too soon though. Jasper moved up the stairs in search of his father just as Renee was walking down them. As the two passed, Renee's hand darted out, yanking the half-eaten cookie from his grasp.

"Heyyyy Nay-nay!" he complained.

"It's quite clear you've eaten far too many already my chubby Jazzy," she called out over her shoulder.

Grumbling to himself, Jasper continued on upstairs. He reached his father's study where the door was open just a crack. Peering in he saw his father stand to pour drinks before offering it to a man just outside of his field of vision. Knowing better than to interrupt, Jasper chose to press his ear to the crack. He recognized the voice of his 'uncle' Peter as the other man in the study with his father. Straining to hear the conversation over the noise of the guests downstairs, Jasper caught bits and pieces of the discussion.

"Peter, we've been friends since we met at Riverside…planning this since they were born…"

"chance meeting at Stanford…see that they obviously enjoy each other's company… has become a fine young man…"

"Rosalie is refined, polite, beautiful, educated…understands our family's traditions and values…"

"…I agree and think they will too…"

"…For her to be a part of the family is my greatest wish…"

"Alright Carlisle, a toast then! To our children and soon to be in-laws!"

Their glasses clinked. Jasper snickered as he thought of his father and his uncle Peter planning out Edward's marriage to Rosalie like two old matchmakers. Who wouldn't want to marry Rosalie? he thought. She's like perfect in every way. She's the perfect Southern girl for my dad to add to the family, everyone loves her, she's really sweet and kind, and she's hot! Oh yeah and Edward is totally into her, so there's no problem there. Jasper then noticed the sound of a chair being pushed back on the hardwood floors and heard his father's voice nearing the door. "Well then Peter, now that this is decided let's go back down and join the party. I'm sure Esme is waiting for all of us at the tree…"

Jasper scurried away from the door and back downstairs, the overheard conversation already forgotten as he focused on making a plan to score another cookie.

"Oh Rosalie, you really are a godsend. This year we have so many more people over for dinner and I'm surprised I haven't gone mad yet!" Esme said.

Rosalie's tinkling laugh came from behind the tree where she added the final strand of tinsel. Her golden head popped out from the branches as she replied, "Oh Aunt Esme, I'm sure that's impossible. There seems to be nothing that you can't manage. I always pray that I'll be able to run my own house and entertain even just half as well as you do!"

"Oh you flatter me, Rosie! And don't worry, you'll have plenty of time to learn from me, although, the day that you run a home may come sooner than you think," Esme said with a wink.

Rosalie blushed but she turned her face down to the last box of ornaments to hide it. "Well, where do you want the family ornaments? I suppose y'all will be coming down to add them yourselves before we light the tree."

"What do you mean 'y'all' Rosalie?" Esme asked sharply.

"I-I'm sorry, Esme. I just thought that, that well you, I mean." Rosalie stuttered shocked by Esme's tone.

Esme burst out laughing at Rosalie's flustered speech, "I'm just teasin' you Rosie! But surely you knew you'd be hanging your own ornament with us this year! You're part of the family, unofficially for now of course, but you and Edward have been together for over three years now. I think of you as my own daughter already. And Carlisle and your father have been like brothers since prep school. Here." Esme pulled out one of the ornaments from the box and gently unwrapped the paper from around it. She held it out to Rosalie. "I had this one made when you and Edward came home from Stanford for Thanksgiving."

"Ohhh Esme it's beautiful!" Rosalie carefully took the blown glass globe into her hands. She noticed her name painted in gold along the bottom in a beautiful script. Her fingers traced the spirals of blue that swirled around the sphere, stopping on the flaxen-haired angel in billowing white robes, basking in the spotlight of a full moon, an ethereal smile painted on her face, eyes closed. The details on the ornament were painted on so daintily, Rosalie could make out each rose that made up the angel's halo, and she admired the lines of gold that streamed through the hair that flowed down the angel's shoulders. And the full moon, it reminded her of the night she met and fell in love with Edward Cullen. "I remember the Full Moon on the Quad. Edward was such a gentleman. He truly made it one of the most special nights of my life." she said softly.

"Well I knew how much that night meant to you, so when I went to get your family ornament made, I knew exactly what I wanted to put on it. I just wanted you to know that you are a part of the Cullen family. Come here Rosie." Esme embraced Rosalie tightly, smiling softly to herself. I just hope that this girl makes my Edward happy. He really does seem to love her.

Rosalie drew back as she heard Esme sniffling. "Esme, what's wrong? Oh are you alright?" she said, concerned by the tears collecting in Esme's eyes.

"It's just, I miss Edward so much…and-and he's not here yet and we've never lit the tree without him here to put his own ornament on...and this is your first year adding an ornament and he has to be here so you two can hang them next to each other…I just hope he's alright. It's not like him to be late!"

"Shhh, shhh, Esme. I'm sure Edward's fine. His flight just probably got delayed, airports are so busy at this time of year. And he's just finished his MBA so I know he had a couple of loose ends to tie up. That's all it is. He's just so busy, but I know he wouldn't miss this for anything!" Rosalie said, trying to comfort Esme.

"You're right, Rosie. You're right," she sighed. "Well give me a minute to just freshen up otherwise everyone this side of the Colorado River will be able to I've been bawlin' my eyes out," Esme said with a shaky laugh. "Just gather everyone up so we can get started. Thank you, sweetie."

Rosalie looked up at the grand tree, the centerpiece of the room, and smiled at the thought that she would have her very own Cullen ornament to hang on one of its graceful boughs. She thought about the best place to hang it.

Hmm somewhere in the front, so it's noticeable. Somewhere that everyone can see my name and how I have a place on the tree... But there has to be enough room that Edward's can be right next to it…oh and I can't take away a spot that Esme or Carlisle might want! I'm sure I'll be able to figure it out when the time comes…I just hope Edward makes it in time. It's been a while since I've seen him. My work hours and his work hours just haven't been matching up so we rarely get free time to spend together. Well hopefully we'll find time for each other now that we have both moved back to Austin for good. I'll miss Stanford and the Main Quad, but I hope that Edward and I will be making new memories together…here…

A loud peal of laughter from the ballroom broke Rosalie from her thoughts. Remembering the task she had been set, she stepped into the other room, and quietly told the musicians that they could take a break and have their dinner in the parlor. Stepping up to the microphone, she announced to the guests that the time had come for the lighting of the Christmas tree and that their presence was requested in the other room.

By the time everyone was settled in the living room, Esme had fixed her makeup and was already in her place by the tree with all the ornaments unwrapped and set carefully in order on the table. She asked Rosalie to lead the guests in some carols as they hung the ornaments. As "Deck the Halls" rang out in the room, Carlisle moved forward, took his ornament carefully from his wife, kissed her softly, and then hung it on a branch high on the left hand side of the tree. Esme picked up her glass globe and quickly placed it on a branch next to her husband's before calling Siobhan up. As the large Irish woman gave Esme a hug, Esme paused, ears straining to hear a faint noise…is that the beat of helicopter blades in the air…? over the chorus of "Jingle Bells." Sure that she was imagining things or hearing things because of wishful thinking, Esme then spotted her mother and beckoned her forward. Renee nodded and turned to help Elizabeth out of her seat. The two women made their way up to the tree and proceeded to hang their ornaments as well, Renee's under her daughter's and Elizabeth's under her sons'.

One by one, Carlisle and Esme's siblings came forward, each adding their personalized ornament to the tree. Peter and Rosalie followed suit. Rosalie could barely contain her excitement when she stepped up to the tree, ornament in hand. She turned to thank Esme once more for the honor, only to see her disappearing from the room.

Esme could ignore the tugging in her heart no longer. She felt a twinge of guilt for leaving the room when all the guests were there, especially since Rosalie was about to hang her ornament for the first time, but Esme was sure that her instinct was not wrong. With only one ornament left, Edward had to be here to hang his ornament last. She could almost feel Edward's presence, and surely he would be here by now. She moved through the ballroom, past the kitchen and past the grand dining room before stepping out onto the balcony overlooking the garden. She peered out into the falling snow, trying to spot Edward…

But she had no such luck. After a minute, she realized that there was no one out there in the empty night. A tear slipped down her face as she turned to head back inside. I must have been wrong. There's no one here. I suppose we'll just have to light the tree without hi-

The sound of footsteps on the gravel cut into her thoughts. Spinning around, she saw Edward running up the driveway and up the stairs. Dropping his bag, he shook his finger at his mother, a crooked smile on his face, and then moved forward to pull his mother into a warm embrace. She always knows... he thought.

"Hey mom, how is it you always sense my presence before I even arrive?" he asked.

Just smiling up at her son, she just pulled him back inside, led him to the tree, and silently handed him his ornament. He noticed Rosalie's name on an ornament and raised his eyebrows at his mother before hanging his own near it with a small smirk. He joined the rest of his family to the side of the tree, hugged his father, and ruffled his brother's hair in greeting before moving to Rosalie's side. Wrapping his arm around her waist, he dropped a kiss on the top of her head, and watched as Carlisle pushed the plug into the final socket, illuminating the tree, the room, and everyone in it. The guests cheered and applauded before moving on into the grand dining room for dinner.

"Hey baby," Edward said as Rosalie turned in his arms and rested her head on his chest.

"Hey, yourself. You know poor Esme was in tears, worried that you weren't gonna make it tonight," she said.

"You know I'd never let mom down like that. Tonight is too important to ever miss, I know that." Edward moved them closer to the tree. He gently fingered Rosalie's ornament. "Congrats on finally making it onto the tree," he teased.

"Yeah, well thanks for finally making Esme think that you were serious about me!" Rosalie retorted, rolling her eyes and pretending to shove Edward away.

"Hey, Rosie, you know I love you. I have since the first day I met you, angel," Edward said, watching Rosalie blush. He pulled her back towards him, resting his cheek on her hair.

Rosalie wrapped one arm around Edward's waist and ran the other through his beautiful bronze hair, turned darker from the wet snow. She looked back towards the now glowing tree. "It really is beautiful, Edward."

"Yes, you are," he murmured before tilting her chin up, and kissing her softly on the lips.

As the couple's embrace became more heated, Carlisle stepped back from the doorway where he had been watching, giving the two some privacy. With a smile on his face, he returned to the dining room.

"Perfect. Merry Christmas indeed," he whispered to himself.

Author's Note:

Yay, so Edward finally appears! Don't worry Bella will too, soon. Please, to whoever is actually reading this, it would really help if you left me a review. It honestly would be great to know what you think of this story so far, how it can improve, anything! :) Also, I was thinking about writing a little outtake of Edward and Rosalie at Stanford, the Full Moon on the Quad, and how they met. I've started it already, so if about 5 people review and say they'd like to see it, I'll put that up with the next chapter. I know, I'm bribing, but I'm really begging here to know what you think. Thanks again for reading!