The High Hopes of Carlisle Cullen

By: ciaobella27

Prompts: birthday, calendar, pantyhose

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There are days when I'm overwhelmed by my good fortune. It wasn't something I ever took for granted. Having lived such a solitary life for so long, I knew what we had was rare. Our family was a gift. It was during times like this, though, that I was able to truly reflect on how lucky we were.

I sat in our living room as the members of our family bustled through the house preparing for Rosalie's birthday. Our human birthday was not something we regularly celebrated, but this year Rosalie would be ninety-five and Edward decided it was a perfect opportunity to irritate her. He had been looking for a chance to retaliate ever since Rosalie wrote a rather embarrassing letter to Penthouse Forum signing his name. This resulted in Edward spending the next month proving to the world that he did not suffer from erectile dysfunction. Poor Bella, she had begun to limp by the end.

Normally, I would intervene when Edward and Rosalie battled. Their relationship was volatile enough to begin with and I knew Rosalie wouldn't appreciate someone calling attention to the fact that she was nearly a century old. When he mentioned the theme he had in mind for the party, I immediately forbid it. I didn't coddle Rosalie but I didn't condone provoking her either. But Esme, always persuasive, urged me not to get involved. At the time I remembered thinking that I couldn't just sit by idly and watch Edward channel his inner teenager but now I find myself strangely amused by his antics.

When I sat down on the sofa earlier this evening intent on setting Edward straight, it was Jasper that began distracting me with the most unusual conversation about the book he was reading. The Hippie counter-culture wasn't something any of was familiar with, having spent the bulk of our time in Alaska in the sixties. Hippies, apparently, were not fond of snow and were scarce in Alaska. I imagine it would have been hard to wear hemp and Birkenstocks in the snow.

As I listened to Jasper explain the effects of hallucinogens on thought patterns and emotions, I suddenly began to feel lighter...free...mellow. Could Jasper have...no...he wouldn't dare. I was about to question him to see if he was using his gift to affect my behavior when I was distracted. By his hair. Then I started laughing uncontrollably because Jasper was looking at me with those wide eyes. So serious. Make love, not war, Jasper.

So, instead of stopping the celebration the family was planning around me, I found myself embracing the tranquility, sitting back and reveling in the beautiful chaos. Going with the flow.

My eyes fell out of focus as I stared at the black and silver balloons hanging along the staircase. So pretty. The colors blended together, complimenting the stark white palate of our living room. Just like the makeshift family we have created. We complimented each other and that just blew my mind. Each of our weaknesses, reinforced by our collective strengths. Something so rare and beautiful for our kind. When Alice was confronted with a frightening vision, Jasper's ability to stabilize her emotions was paramount. When Edward would inadvertently hear an upsetting thought, Bella would reel him in. And when Emmett would begin screaming into his X-Box Live headset at some basement-dwelling adolescent, it was Rosalie that would step in and remind him how creepy it was. Perfect compliments.

Across the room, Edward was cursing under his breath as he struggled to gift wrap a "Year You Were Born" calendar he ordered online. He blamed the paper for his inability to wrap it neatly but it was clearly his lack of patience. After each failed attempt, he balled up the paper, throwing it across the room and moaning that it wouldn't cooperate.

That was something I witnessed time and time again. Cooperation. I watched as Jasper helped Alice hang the "Over the Hill" banner across the foyer. Emmett, looking unsure about the party's premise, rolled the wheelchair that apparently came from my office into the dining room. I sighed contently watching Esme and Bella string balloons along the chair and roll it over to the head of the table. Working together in perfect harmony.

Alice and Jasper had assembled a gift basket of items that would please any true Nonagenarian. I could see long johns and fluffy slippers, a house coat and a girdle. Tubes of Ben-Gay and Poly-Dent peeked out through the left-hand side of the cellophane wrapping and the support pantyhose through the right.

Support. That went without saying. Whether we were facing the threat of newborn vampires, the ire of the Volturi or the horror of a shopping trip with Alice, we managed through it together. As a team.

When I hear the car pull into the garage, I know that Rosalie had arrived. When she enters the living room and reads the banner, her eyes narrow murderously. She focuses on Edward, knowing instinctively that he is the culprit. With threats of torture and castration, Rosalie launches herself at him, wiping the cocky smirk from his face in the process. I watch from my comfortable place on the couch as my loving family scatters fearing for their lives. As Edward races off with Rosalie in hot pursuit, Bella follows swiftly behind intent on protecting the body parts she feels are rightfully hers with fierce determination.

And again, it reminds me that none of this would be possible if it weren't for the determination of the amazing individuals I am lucky to call my family. If Rosalie wasn't able to save Emmett from imminent death, if Esme had never fallen out of that tree, if Alice gave up hope in her search for a soul mate, if Edward had eaten Bella, we would not be the family we are today.

And family is important. Everyone wants to belong. To be part of a community. So when one of our own celebrates a birthday, it is important to reflect upon our good fortune. Because with support, cooperation and determination, as a group, we can accomplish anything. Once again, I am blown away by my depth. I should be writing this down because it is gold. But I'm distracted as I hear a yelp off in the distance and know that Rosalie has caught up with Edward.

I slowly stand up and stretch. From the sound of the ruckus I hear off by the stream, I think Edward could use my support. As I reach the door, I catch the sweet scent of a buck in the distance. I race off after it. Edward would be fine.

I suddenly had a terrible case of the munchies.

A/N: Happy Birthday, Nina! Popping my AU cherry just for you. Mwah!

Thanks to GiveUsAKiss413, WriteOnTime and NanMcCullen for helping me out with this badboy.