Outtake 2
"Mom, I don't want to wear this stupid sweater!" Edward whined, waving the red, white, and black sweater in his hands in the air. Elizabeth smirked as she looked up from the dining room table, where she and Anthony were enjoying their morning coffee. "Don't smirk at me, Mom. I don't want to wear it."
"It's tradition, Edward. Put it on, son," Anthony said before Elizabeth could say otherwise. "Now."
Edward groaned, but pulled the sweater on over his head, down across the white T-shirt he'd put on that morning. The reindeer pattern was stretched across his chest. "Happy now?"
"Ecstatic." Anthony replied.
"This isn't fair. I look stupid," Edward muttered before he stormed out of the kitchen and a minute later they heard him stomp upstairs and the sound of his bedroom door slamming shut.
"I love the holidays. They bring such peace and joy," Elizabeth scoffed, laughing.
"The boy is sixteen, Elizabeth. Are you really that surprised? We lived through Carlisle, Jay, and Emmett at this age. I think we will survive Edward's teen years, too, sweetheart."
"With a lot more grey hair, my dear." Elizabeth stood up and walked around the table, placing her coffee cup in the sink. "Hurry up and finish breakfast. Carlisle and Esme should be here any minute. I'm going to go drag Emmett and Jay out of bed. I want this table full of food when we get back."
"Yes, ma'am." Anthony pushed himself out of his chair and rushed to her, sliding his hands along her hips. "I love you, sweetheart."
She smiled, her blue eyes sparkling. "I love you, too, dear. Merry Christmas, my love."
"Merry Christmas, sweetheart."
After kissing her with more passion that he had in a long time, Anthony released her. Elizabeth hurried upstairs to Emmett's room first, then Jasper's, knocking on their door, calling for them to wake up, to get dressed, and to hurry downstairs. She heard their muffled response before she stopped outside of Edward's room, gently knocking on his door.
"Come in, Mom," he called and when she pushed open the door, she saw him sitting on his bed with his favorite book propped on his knees. He was still wearing the sweater. "I'm sorry if I was being a jerk. I just hate wearing sweaters."
"I know." Elizabeth walked over and sat on the bed next to him. "What are you looking at?"
"The works of Henri Matisse," he said, turning the book so she could see. "His work is really good."
"What's so good about it?"
"I don't know. There's a rawness to his vision."
Elizabeth smiled. "Maybe we can find a museum that is showing his work, see it in person."
"That'd be really cool."
She reached up and placed her hand on the side of his face. "Breakfast is almost ready, and Carlisle and Esme should be here soon. Don't hide up here all morning, Edward. Family is important."
"I won't, Mom. I'll be right down. I promise."
"Good boy." She stood up and gave him a look before she picked up the clothes on his floor, tossing them into the hamper. "One day, Edward, I won't be around to clean up after you."
"Whatever you say, Ma," he laughed, but scrambled off the bed and finished picking up his dirty clothes. "I'm sorry. I'll do better."
"Yeah, yeah, heard that one before," she scoffed before she walked out of his room, running into Jasper, who was pulling on his Christmas sweater. "Good morning, Jay."
"Morning, Mom," he mumbled before he hurried past her with Emmett right behind him.
"Good morning, Emmett," she called after him, hearing a vague, "Yeah, morning," before the sound of him saying, "Don't you dare eat all the bacon, Jay!"
"Oy vey, these children of mine," Elizabeth mumbled to herself as she followed them downstairs just as the front door opened and Carlisle and Esme walked in, their arms full of packages. "Oh my, let me help you."
"Thank you, Elizabeth," Esme gushed. "Thought we could get them all ourselves."
"You're welcome, dear." She hurried over and relieved them of half the gifts, placing them under the tree before she wrapped them in her arms. "Oh, I've missed you!"
"You just saw us last week, Mom!" Carlisle laughed, leaning down and kissing her cheek. "Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas to you, too," she said as the three turned and looked at the stairs where Edward was now standing. "Don't move."
She turned and hurried into the kitchen, putting her hand up as Emmett reached for another pancake. "Not another bite, Emmett. I want a picture."
"Of me eating?" he asked. "Why would you want that?"
"No, silly," she said, shaking her head and giving him a look. "I think you've taken one too many hits during the game, kiddo. I was a picture of all of us together. You know, a Christmas picture."
Though Emmett and Jasper groaned, they stood up and followed Anthony into the living room. She grabbed two of the dining room chairs and carried them into the room. Carlisle and Edward were quick to help her with the chairs.
"Esme, would you take our picture?" Elizabeth asked, digging her camera out of the small side table next to the couch. "It's been a while since I've had a picture of just me and my guys."
"Of course," Esme replied. "Just let me know when you're ready."
Anthony wrapped his arm around Elizabeth as they settled in to the two chairs. Behind them stood Carlisle, Jasper, Emmett, and finally Edward. Elizabeth turned and looked at each one of her boys, her men. They were good men, strong men, who loved each other. Her perfectly family, she thought as she turned and looked back at Esme.
"Everyone say Merry Christmas!" Elizabeth cheered, laughing when the four boys behind her echoed her holiday cheer as Esme captured her amazing family.
Thank you for all the AMAZING reviews! Here is another fluffy one. Felt we needed a little Elizabeth and Anthony time.
