A/N: I do not own Twilight, SM does. I am just having fun with my own ideas for these characters. Thanks to my lovely Beta Gooseonline. Mistakes are my own 'cos I like to reread and tinker. Please note that I am Australian and sometimes we speak our own brand of English.
Thanks for the follows and the reviews. I am posting two chapters tonight - first is dinner with the family where we meet the Cullens and the second is Edward's confrontation with Tanya. I couldn't get them into the one chapter and I didn't want to leave you hanging so that's why I am posting them at the same time. Okay - here we go!
Chapter 4: homemade cookies and a hug
Family dinners are a weekly Cullen tradition. My brother Emmett, my sister Alice and I all went our separate ways for College we have each returned to Seattle and each maintain almost daily contact with each other. Emmett and I work together so of course we see each other every day but there is barely a day goes by I do not speak with Alice on the phone or at least swap texts back and forth. We are a strange pastiche of diverse individuals but we have two things in common. Firstly, our fierce loyalty to each other. Secondly, our deep gratitude and love for our adoptive parents Carlisle and Esme Cullen.
I was their first addition, though I am not the eldest child. It sounds like a riddle doesn't it but it is simple really, Esme and Carlisle were unable to have children of their own. Esme had what she always describes as (though we never believe) an accident when she was pregnant to her first husband, who was by all accounts a complete bastard. Unfortunately as well as losing her baby she also lost the wherewithal to have another, yeah he was a piece of work. She started divorce proceedings while still in hospital.
Some months later Carlisle was the attending physician in the emergency room the night she was brought to the hospital after she'd accidentally overdosed on sleeping tablets. Yeah don't believe that story either. The way Carlisle tells it she was closer to death than life but luckily she'd been found by her best friend Elizabeth, my mother, in time and rushed to hospital thus saving her life. He talks about how he kept visiting her during her stay in hospital and continued to visit her even after she was released to my mother's care. Carlisle patiently grew his relationship with Esme for two fucking years before he proposed and then he took another year before they got married. Esme just needed time and Carlisle just wanted Esme. Man, I have no idea how he did that but there is something very special about the way Carlisle and Esme love each other. It is calm and constant, they understand each other without words; they are solid. That's the only way I can describe it.
Carlisle always tells me that he feels there was a sort of kismet at work in our lives with Elizabeth saving Esme and then them adopting me in when my parents died. A life for a life kind of deal.
My birth parents were another couple who were totally in love with each other but where Esme and Carlisle are quiet and calm in their love for each other my parents were passionate and possessed in their love. I was a product of that love and they loved me, no doubt about that, but even as a little one I just felt like I was intruding. They loved me but they just loved each other more.
Oddly enough that's kind of why they died and I didn't. Every year my parents would take off for a two week annual honeymoon where they would take their love fest on the road and I would stay at home with a nanny. That year I was at home torturing the nanny with evil pranks and general pain in the ass behaviour. Sue me, I was 12 years old and what almost teenage boy wants a fucking nanny. My parents had gone for a Caribbean cruise. While there they'd hired a car to go sight-seeing in the Cayman Islands and apparently dear old Dad was driving their hire car on the wrong side of the fucking road. Honestly, they were probably making out at the time because that is the thing I remember most about them - they were always kissing. When I was really little and they were kissing all the time I used to grab one or other of them and shout 'my turn, my turn', they'd laugh as though they'd forgotten I was there but then they'd cover me with kisses.
They left me well taken care of financially as both my parents came from 'old' money plus dear old Dad was quite the business man so there was a sizeable inheritance which I've barely tapped since I was unable to access it until I turned 21.
It is thanks to my parents clear instructions in their Wills that I found a home with Esme and Carlisle. They got temporary custody of me as they were my god parents and my mother wanted me to live with them. Both my parents' Wills stipulated very clearly that I was not to go live with either of my mother's brothers Aro or Marcus although they could have visiting rights. There was a bit of fighting back and forth over it, thankfully it didn't go to court or anything but it soured things for a while between the adults concerned. I was too busy feeling miserable that my kissing obsessed parents were gone and I would never see them again.
As it turned out Esme and Carlisle were already registered with the appropriate agencies and approved for adoption and they were just waiting for a child. So my transition from Masen to Cullen was pretty slick. They called me their little blessing and I called them my god send. Esme was my mother's best friend and I had known them both all my life, they already loved me and I already loved them. We're not overly religious people but I honestly think a higher power was watching over me when they brought me into the Cullen household.
I didn't have long to dwell on the loss of my parents because just three months after my arrival the call finally came from social services that a child was available for adoption. That's when Emmett McCarty joined the family and became my brother. At 13 years of age he was only a few months older than me but he looked more than that since he was already fucking huge.
Emmett was loud where I was quiet. He was huge where I was lean. He was demonstrative where I was reserved, despite my very kissy, huggy parents. We were so different but Emmett and me, we became brothers and were joined at the hip from day one.
He arrived all full of piss and wind. After having been bounced around foster homes for a few years he thought he was pretty tough. He was tough actually and when we started playing football that year in school he got to show just how tough he could be. I took up residence in the position of quarterback and he settled right beside me as left tackle. We kept those positions right through high school. He's always been my wingman.
Emmett's mother relinquished her parental rights after her third arrest on drug charges, which is why adoption was an option. He hadn't actually lived with his mother for years and practically from birth he'd been in and out of foster homes.
When the formal adoption papers came through we both decided to take the name Cullen but keep our original family names as middle names. I became Edward Anthony Masen Cullen and he became Emmett McCarty Cullen.
Esme and Carlisle basically went from zero to 60 in a matter of months as parents. They went from childless to the parents of two teenage boys. We were like non-identical twins. We were in the same year at school, although I was in advanced program classes and Emmett needed tutoring, which I was more than happy to help with. We played the same sports and we got into the same trouble. Black eyes, dirty clothes, detention, study sessions and church. Life was good. I still missed my parents and Emmett still suffered bouts of depression from years in the social system but all in all we were happy, we were loved and we were grateful.
The testosterone in the house was almost palpable. Poor Esme. Then just over a year after Emmett arrived another call came and Alley Cat joined the motley crew. Her parents were dead like mine and she'd been living with her grandmother for a few years. When her gran died she needed a home and quite frankly Esme needed a daughter. Mary Alice Brandon Cullen was two years younger than Emmett and I.
So to add to the drama caused by the excess of testosterone Alice brought teen girl hormones to the mix. Emmett and I adopted Alice just as Esme and Carlisle did. We were incredibly protective of our little sister and any fucker who tried to mess with her at school had us to deal with. Alice would've been an easy mark without us because she was fucking tiny. Feisty but tiny. As she got older she was feisty, tiny and drop dead gorgeous, so Emmett and I had a hard time keeping the horny toads away from her. We insisted Esme enrol Alice in martial arts classes which we went to as well. We knew eventually we'd be heading off to College and we wanted to make sure she could protect herself. Our little Alley Cat grew some claws then because she became a black belt in Karate. She and I do cardio kickboxing together twice a week at Cappy's Boxing gym and she has kicked my arse on more than one occasion. My little sis is tiny but she is scrappy!
While we protected Alice from the bitchy teen girls and the horny teen boys, Alice in turn protected Emmett and I from teen fashion suicide, which according to Alice is a thing. She bought our clothes and made sure we were dressed in the latest whatever the fuck fashion look that was trending. God forbid we wore last season's jeans! Sometimes it drove me crazy, I'd just get my jeans to the point where they were broken in and she'd steal them out of my room and replace them. I took to hiding my favourites in the oddest places and sometimes I'd forget where they were. I'm sure Esme has found them over the years and wondered what the hell my jeans were doing in her linen cupboard.
I loved growing up in the Cullen household. It was loud and it was loving. Esme believed everything could be solved with homemade cookies and a hug, Carlisle believed everything should be talked through. So that was how we survived every teen drama and there were plenty of them. Esme would hug us and give us cookies and Carlisle would reason out the problem. When we each left for college Esme wept and Carlisle gave us condoms (even Alice)!
As close as we are and as loving a group as we are I've grown increasingly distant over the last few years. I'm sure a therapist would tell me that is has something to do with fear of intimacy or some bullshit. The people I loved the most died and left me behind and I'm afraid to get that close to anyone again, it's not rocket science. I am sure that my having the worst taste in women probably hasn't helped with that. Apparently I can pick for beauty but not for character - go figure, I am a guy! My selection of women in the past has led to some fucked up situations which is why I had my arrangement with Tanya and even that whole plan has blown up in my face.
Anyway, I've been a little delinquent in my duties with the family of late. I've skipped more than a few of our weekly dinners making them more of a monthly dinner for me, which I feel kind of guilty about but there it is.
Realising I was at risk of cancelling again because of my late night rendezvous with the not so lovely Miss Tanya Denali, Emmett called everyone and arranged for dinner to be moved to forward so I had no excuse.
So there I was at 5.30 pm outside my family's beautiful home in Denny-Blaine, Seattle. Before I had a chance to turn my key in the front door it was flung open and Esme pounced on me. I just barely managed to rescue the box of petit fours before I was gripped in an almost strangling momma bear hug from Esme. I had brought the treats as a sort of peace offering for missing so many dinners but Esme's hug showed me all was forgiven.
"I am so glad you're here tonight." she said dragging me into the house. "Carlisle is out at the grill with Emmett and Alice is helping me with the salads in the kitchen. We thought we'd grill since we're eating so early. How are you dumpling?" I cringed, Esme always called me dumpling. I loved it really but always pretended not to, "Ma, I'm 27 years of age you can't keep calling me dumpling."
"You'll always be my dumpling. Can you lay the table please dinner's almost ready," she called over her shoulder as she headed back into the kitchen.
I loved this house, it was big but tasteful so it wasn't ostentatious like so many houses in the area. It was full of memories happy and sad but mostly happy.
I went to the linen cupboard to get a tablecloth and while I was there I checked the top shelf to see if my old jeans were still there, I smirked to myself, yup still there. Ha, Alley Cat hasn't found them yet.
We always had a full setting for dinner when we were all home, tablecloth, cloth napkins, silverware and good crockery. It was nice, solid and it was home.
"Hey son, when did you get here?" Carlisle came in carrying a large platter covered in steaks and beef patties.
Before I had a chance to answer Alice was hugging me. "Good to see you big brother. I like your suit, very GQ."
"Thanks Alley Cat," I said as I hugged her back. "Stop calling me that." She punched my arm but she loved it really.
"Oh you finally decided to join us!" Emmett bellowed as he came in carrying wine and beer for the table.
After the salads were placed on the table we all sat down and settled into a natural moment of quiet. Carlisle never said grace as such but he always said something to symbolise the beginning of the meal.
"I am so pleased we are all here together tonight. Thanks everyone." We all muttered our agreement that it was good to be home and good to see each other, then the noise began. Passing the food around the table we all shared stories of what was latest in our lives.
Alice worked with Esme in her events business, "The Hot Ticket". Esme's speciality was weddings, parties, celebrations, large and small for society's elite. Alice's speciality was fashion events and fundraisers. Alice told us about flying to Paris next week for talks with what she called a boutique independent designer to discuss the possibility of Alice designing and running their Fashion Week events. This was a pretty big deal. I was impressed and very happy for her and told her so.
Esme was working on a wedding for a celebrity couple, it was all very hush, hush. Apparently everything about the wedding had to be kept secret or the paparazzi would overwhelm the event and it was very challenging but you could tell she was having a good time with all the drama.
Carlisle told us about the new batch of interns at the University Washington Medical Centre where he is head of emergency care. Carlisle is a great mentor by all accounts but he loves to test the mettle of his new interns and messes with them every year. A baptism of fire he calls it. I am so glad I didn't follow him into medicine.
Emmett and I shared a look and we knew it was time to bring up the issue with my cousin James.
"I fired James today," I said flatly. "He's been leaking information to a private investment group about where we are investing. And he's also been sleeping with Tanya behind my back." Okay I think that should stimulate some interest.
There was a moment of silence and then everyone spoke at once. Esme came over and hugged me, Emmett was spitting profanities and threatening to beat the shit out of James, Alice was cursing up a storm about what a bitch Tanya was and Carlisle shook his head mumbling to himself about Aro. This wasn't the first time we'd had trouble with Aro's part of the family.
The family knew I'd been seeing Tanya for a while, hell all of America knew I was seeing Tanya, our photo was in the tabloids and on all the gossip sites. On top of that I actually met Tanya when she was modelling at one of Alice's fashion events. But they didn't know that my relationship with her was more contractual than emotional. So Esme was thinking I was broken hearted. I could hardly tell her the truth, that would upset her even more.
"Have you spoken to Aro yet?" Carlisle asked.
"No, I suspect he may be behind the whole thing so until I know more I'll wait until he comes to me."
"Oh, Dumpling! What are you going to do about Tanya?" Esme asked, still hugging me.
"Kick her to the curb man, once a cheater always a cheater," Emmett declared.
"I really hate that bitch, Edward, I always have but I put up with her for your sake. Can I please stop inviting her to my events now?" Alice pleaded. It was no secret that Alice and Tanya did not get on, but my alley cat is loyal so she invited Tanya to her fashion shows even when Tanya wasn't modelling. There was definitely no love lost between Alice and Tanya. Alice would be catty with Tanya and Tanya would sneer at Alice. It was fun to watch actually. What? I needed something to amuse me at those damn fashion shows. The women are all stuck up and never eat anything, while the men are either really into the fashion, which I am not, or they are bored and looking for the open bar.
"I am heading over to her place after we finish dinner so I can break it off with her," I announced. "I won't stay with someone who's cheated. Tanya and I were really more convenient than a real relationship anyway Ma. It was time to break it off even without her cheating on me."
I tried to sound emotional but I don't think I succeeded. Fuck it. I never brought Tanya around for family dinners as she wasn't really my girlfriend she was more of a rent-a-date. As well as that, Alice really did hate her and I wouldn't make Alice uncomfortable at home.
"Okay, I'll get the coffee." Esme said as she headed into the kitchen. "Oh and Edward brought some petit fours to have with coffee tonight isn't that nice." Esme was trying to cheer me up, she was so sweet.
As I laid the box of pastries on the table, Emmett pounced immediately, "Edward are these from the bakery that did the catering at work today?"
Before I could reply Emmett became very animated. "Dad, Mom, you should've seen Edward today, he actually growled at me." Damn it I knew I wouldn't get away with that. "And he wouldn't share his croissant from this bakery that makes the best food."
He was telling on me in this kid voice which made me laugh my arse off.
"Honestly Dad I have no idea what came over me. Emmett reached for the croissant and I turned into a caveman. It was weird, but y'know it was a really good croissant," I confessed trying to sound contrite and failing.
Everyone was laughing as we passed around the bakery box to select a pastry each.
"Are we safe Edward? Or are you going to snatch the food from our plates?" laughed Alice.
"Taste it Alice and you tell me if that isn't a pastry worth fighting for," I defended.
At that point the room went quiet except for small moans of pleasure as each person ate their mini pastries. Mine was a small eclair and it was fucking delicious.
"Oh God… not again. So delicious." I moaned louder than I meant to. Everyone looked at me and burst out laughing.
"Edward," Esme admonished, "No sex noises at the table." They all burst out laughing again and I blushed. I fucking blushed, but I couldn't help it, it just tasted so good.
Alice grabbed the business card that was still attached to the box. "All kidding and Edward's sex noises aside, Esme, we have to go to this bakery." She passed the card to Esme.
"Oh yes, good idea Alice. I need a new supplier. I wonder if they do wedding cakes. Edward, dumpling, how did you find them?"
"Ma, you'll love the bakery, it is a cafe too. Bella smells amazing and she bakes it all herself. The coffee is great too." I rambled.
The table went quiet again and everyone looked at me.
"Bella smells amazing?" asked Emmett.
"What? No, I said the shop smells amazing," I protested, emphasising the word shop. I did say shop didn't I?
"No you didn't," said Esme smiling her knowing smile, "you said Bella smelt amazing and you said she does all the baking. Who's Bella?"
At this point Alice pointed to the name on the business card where it listed Bella's Bakery's contact details.
"I don't really know Isabella. I only met her this morning. After firing James," and punching him in the face I thought but didn't say, "I went for a walk to calm down. I'd walked quite a few blocks and while I waited for Tyler to come to collect me I went into this bakery cafe and Bella was there. She had a tray of freshly baked chocolate croissants and her apron was covered in flour, she even had some on her cheek." I was smiling and rambling like an idiot. I just couldn't seem to shut the fuck up. Finally I put a stop to my word vomit when I noticed the whole family was looking at me with these bizarre smirks on their faces.
Fanning herself with Bella's business card Esme said conspiratorially, "Yes Alice, we definitely need to go to this bakery and meet this amazing smelling Bella." I think my mother was about to stir up some trouble.
"Ah Esme, I… I'm not sure….if you should….well, I only met her once.. there's nothing…," but before I could finish my ridiculous stammered protest Carlisle leaned over and patted my forearm. "Give it up Edward, you won't stop them, you just made this the most exciting game ever, they won't stop so you might as well leave them to it." He was smirking at me like I was an idiot. He was right I should have kept my mouth shut. I sighed heavily and slumped back in my chair.
"Alright everyone. Time to stop teasing Edward. C'mon bro' you can drop me off at my apartment on your way to Tanya's," Emmett said as he slapped me on the back.
"And in the car you can tell me all about this Bella," he said and waggled his eyebrows.
Fuck my life.
A/N: So that was the Cullen family - I love them - how about you? Now Edward is off to Tanya's. I know quite a few people have been very keen to see how Edward handles the viper Tanya. May I say that Edward is a very naughty boy and has come up with an interesting way to deal with her….. want to know more? Just click next. Thanks for reading everyone :)