AN: Merry Christmas! Thank you to everyone who is following, reading, and reviewing this story.
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Edward watched from the living room window as Bella and Renesmee drove off to Costco, their car disappearing down the snowy street. He sighed contently, enjoying the brief moment of solitude. About an hour later, he was putting Jingles on a shelf in the living room where she would remain until her next adventure. His mind was on the carvings of butter he would have to accomplish as he turned on the AC so the butter reindeer wouldn't melt.
As much as he wanted to make his daughter happy by completing what she had in mind for Jingles to do, he was feeling a bit overwhelmed. He never carved such a big project before and wasn't sure how it would turn out. Nevertheless, he realized he needed to tell Bella they needed more supplies for the project than she was planning on buying. Standing in the living room, he pulled out his phone and sent Bella a text…
Edward: Hey love, I think we're going to need a cart full of butter and a case of food coloring for tonight's project.
"And a Christmas miracle." He amended aloud. His words were mumbled as he pressed send.
Two minutes later his phone buzzed; he received a text.
Bella: A cart full of butter? I'm sure I didn't read that right.
Chuckling, he quickly typed back.
Edward: Love, you read it correctly. We're going to need a lot of butter.
Bella: Isn't that a bit much? I mean, what are people going to think when I walk up to the checkout line with nothing but a cart full of butter and a case full of food coloring?
Edward: I have no idea. But who cares what people think, we're doing this for our daughter.
Several seconds passed, and then Bella finally sent another text.
Bella: Do we really need a cart full of butter?
Edward: Trust me, it's necessary.
As he sent his reply, Edward caught the familiar thoughts of his parents approaching the house. They were about a mile away. Out of all his family, his parents were the only ones who lived in Chicago. They lived half an hour away from Edward and Bella, where Alice and Jasper lived in Mississippi, and Emmett, Rosalie, and their 13-year-old daughter Bree, who they adopted the previous year, lived the furthest away in New York. Edward knew his mother didn't like her children to be scattered all over the US the way they currently were. Yet, this gave the illusion her kids were growing up while they went to college or worked until they all reunited and enrolled in high school in a few years.
Since his parents were a hop, skip, and a jump from his house, they visited often. It wasn't unusual for them to pop in unannounced, like they were today. Esme's excited thoughts made their way to Edward's mind as they got out of the car. He opened the front door just as Carlisle and Esme reached the porch.
"Edward!" Esme greeted her son warmly. She was carrying an overly stuffed tote bag. "We came to make gingerbread houses with Nessie."
Edward gave a sad smile. "Renesmee will love that but she isn't home right now. She went to Costco with Bella and won't be back for a while."
Carlisle looked a bit disappointed. "Costco is quite a drive from here."
Esme, unphased hugged her son a and walked right in. "That gives me time to make homemade gingerbread dough and have everything ready for her. You know I don't do the premade gingerbread kits."
Carlisle followed her inside and Edward shut the door behind her. He trailed them into the kitchen, where Esme suddenly gasped.
"What's wrong, dear?" Carlisle thoughts were immediately concerned, but Edward knew better.
Esme was staring at the butter reindeer on the counter. "These reindeer have so much detail, for a second I thought they were porcelain."
They are made out of butter and please don't touch them them." Edward warned.
"They're beautiful. Who carved these?" She asked, her voice filled with awe. 'I haven't seen butter carving in years.'
Carlisle turned to Edward, a knowing smile on his face. "Our son did."
Edward felt a bit embarrassed like a teenager caught doing something he shouldn't. "It's just a little hobby I picked up a very long time ago," He spoke in a rush.
"They are beautiful." She exclaimed. "How come you never told me you could caver butter?"
Edward rolled his eyes. "And what occasion –what conversation is butter carving ever going to come up for a vampire?" He wondered, sounding like a sarcastic young individual.
His mother ignored his sarcasm as she began pulling everything out of her tote bag and setting it on the counter. She was careful not to disturb the butter reindeer.
Carlisle eyed his son. "I'm sure your mother is curious about how you developed this talent. Would you like to tell her, or shall I?"
Edward knew his mother wanted to know more, yet, he was feeling stubborn and did not want to reveal anything. In one swift move, he jumped up on the counter by the sink and took a seat, giving his father a look and silently urging him to speak.
"Alright," Carlisle said as if he was the one who could read minds and knew what his son wanted. "It was the spring of 1919. Edward was just over a year old" - he was speaking about Edward's vampire age -"He and I were living in a boarding house in Canada at the time. Our landlords Don and Dolores believed Edward was my stepson with a medical condition that made him act younger than his age. Dolores used to keep an eye on him when I had to run errands."
"A human taking care of a young vampire?" Esme questioned as she lined up tubes of frosting on the island.
"He was very controlled and knew better than to act upon his urges. However, outings were not always his strong point." Carlisle explained. His thoughts were all on the past.
Esme frowned, showing her disapproval.
"In the early days, it was common for me to get sensory overload when I went out, "Edward chimed in. "So our landlady was appointed as my babysitter."
Esme nodded listening intently as her husband continued. "Dolores loved to carve butter into beautiful creations for the dinner table. Eventually, she taught Edward how to carve and he picked it up quickly. Sadly, after we moved from that boring house he gave up the hobby."
"There was never a need for it," Edward explained.
'I beg to differ.' Carlisle thought.
Edward rolled his eyes. Carlisle shook his head.
Esme smiled, clearly impressed. "And how did you decide to cave reindeer all of a sudden?"
"It's Jingles the elf." Edward nodded to where the butter reindeer and candy sleigh were. "Today the elf turned butter into Santa's reindeer. Tomorrow she might build a whole city out of butter."
"You did this for the Elf on the Shelf?" Carlisle laughed. 'Of course!'
"Or did Bella talk you into carving these reindeer for the elf's shenanigan?" Esme wondered. She was thinking about all of the pictures both of her granddaughters sent her of the crazy things those cheeky elves did. One granddaughter was old enough to know the truth about the elf, the other was little and believed the elf was real. Nevertheless, both girls loved their elves and Esme was delighted to be informed of what the elves were up to.
"That's more accurate." Edward nodded. "Bella thought it would be a fun project to carve butter since she saw a picture of someone's butter-carved reindeer with their scout elf on a Facebook elf page. It was rather a cartoonish carving." He shook his head. "She liked it so she tried to replicate it, but couldn't. I ended up giving her a hand and she called it my hidden talent when she discovered how well I can carve butter."
Esme laughed softly. "I agree with her. You have a real gift, Edward."
"Aww, Mom, you're making me blush." He playfully whined.
Esme went over to her son. She patted his arm. "Now you and your father can help me make gingerbread cookies for Nessie to decorate later."
It wasn't a statement, it was an order. Edward knew this, he jumped off of the counter, ready to help.
Carlisle chuckled, ruffling his son's messy hair. "Looks like we're all getting into the holiday spirit. This makes me think of your first Christmas when I brought home a Christmas tree and we decorated it together."
"Actually, that was my second Christmas," Edward reminded him with a half smile. "My first vampire Christmas, I was an unruly newborn and didn't even notice the seasons changing, if you remember clearly."
"Aw yes." Carlisle sighed. "I remember."
They spent the next hour mixing dough, rolling it out, and cutting it into various shapes. Esme hummed Christmas carols as she worked and Carlisle shared stories from their past Christmases. Some of the stories were of just him and Edward and some of the three of them, and others included the rest of the family.
Just as Esme was putting the first batch of Christmas cookies into the oven, Edward's phone buzzed. He had received a text message. Thinking it was from Bella, he went into the living room. He quickly pulled his phone out of his pocket and sat down on the couch. He paused when he saw the message was from his sister Alice instead of Bella. He immediately unlocked his phone and read her text.
Alice: I had the strangest vision of my sister-in-law and my niece. You are going to have to tell me why they went to Costco.
Fearing the worst, Edward typed quickly.
Edward: Alice, this is no time to be mysterious. What did you see? Are they all right?
Alice: Don't be such a worrywart, dear brother. They are fine, but you will have to tell me why Bella is buying enough butter to supply a small town.
Edward felt relieved that his wife and child were okay. He was also surprised that Alice was in the dark about his need for butter.
Edward: Did you not have any visions last night?
Alice: No. Jasper and I went out last night…we…were busy.
Edward shuddered. He knew what she meant by "busy." Not sure what to say, he didn't type out a reply. His not responding left Alice eager to continue their texting conversation.
Alice: Oh good God! Please don't tell me it's a sex thing with Bella and butter.
Less than two seconds passed when another text came in.
Alice: If it is a sex thing, don't tell me. Keep it to yourself. I get enough horrible visions about Emmett and Rosalie and their sexescapades. It's horrible! Do you know what those two do with those long skinny balloons that clowns use for balloon animals? It's unnatural!
Edward: Wish I could be ignorant and say no, but sadly I do. Being a mind reader is more of a curse in the presence of those two than it is a blessing.
Alice: At least you don't have a visual of what they are planning tonight. Ugh! One would think being parents would interfere with their overactive sex life, but no. Tonight they are really getting into the Christmas spirit.
Edward: Please don't share anymore. Now, let's move on to this topic.
Alice: Gladly. One thing though, you didn't pick up any of Emmett's strange ways? Did you? Because with all of the butter Bella is buying, I think you and her might need an intervention if that's the case.
Edward stared at his phone screen. He didn't know if he should cringe or laugh.
Edward: It's not what you think. The butter is an Elf on the Shelf thing. You'll see when you come over for Christmas.
Alice: What?
Edward laughed out loud at his sister's one-word response. He could imagine the bewildered expression on her face. Just then Bella texted him and he opened her message.
Bella: We're on our way back, had to stop for gas. I got the ton of butter you asked for. I also got your case of food coloring, and people gave me the strangest looks at my purchase. See you in about 20 minutes.
Edward grinned, looking forward to the next part of their holiday adventure. He got up from the couch and walked back into the kitchen where his parents were sitting on the bar stools talking as the first batch of cookies cooled and the second batch baked in the oven.
"Bella and Nessie are on their way back. They'll be here in about 20 minutes." He announced.
Esme clapped her hands together. "Perfect timing. We'll have everything ready for them."
When Bella and Rensemee returned, the house was filled with the delicious scent of gingerbread. Well, delicious to humans, but not so much to vampires or hybrids. Edward went outside to help his wife with the groceries. His parents went out with him too. From inside the car, Rensemee's eyes lit up when she saw her grandparents. Esme went to the backseat and opened the door for her granddaughter.
"Grandma!" Rensemee happily through her arms around her before she was even out of her car seat. "We got a million pounds of butter for Jingles!"