Summary: After splitting up in 2007 to avoid the attention of the Volturi, the entire Cullen family reunites for Christmas, much to the surprise of Carlisle.
A/N: A very late Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to my Secret Santa @mcbenson25-blog and thank you to @twilight-secret-gift-exchange for arranging this! I wrote this first and then decided to be ambitious and started writing more to make it part of a larger body of work, the rest which will be posted mid to late January. Truly a gift that keeps on giving. Anyways, here's the part that showcases the Cullen family dynamics the most imo. 🎅🎄
Masterlist
2022 – Alpine, New Jersey
Carlisle could sense something was amiss when he drove home from the hospital that evening and smelled gingerbread cookies baking in the oven. He parked his car in its respective place in the garage, wondering if there was a charity function Esme was participating in that had slipped his mind. Although his undead heart ached at the thought of leaving his beloved wife alone on Christmas, Esme insisted he work during the holidays this year, and so marked yet another Christmas spent saving lives.
Becoming physically exhausted was impossible for a vampire, yet holiday season in the hospital always drained Carlisle mentally. He looked forward to sitting in front of the fire with a good book in hand and Esme by his side, but what he wanted most was to spend time with his entire family. Ever since dispersing to avoid the Volturi’s scrutiny following Renesmee’s defense in Forks, it had been increasingly challenging to get everyone back together, and luck had it that none of the kids would be able to make it to their New Jersey home this year. Carlisle figured he would count his blessings and be grateful his family was still alive and not torn to pieces and thrown into a fire by the Volturi.
Carlisle exited his car and inhaled the aroma of cinnamon and nutmeg in the cookies. There was more hidden underneath the layers of the confection though… something his sense of smell sought out, and that was when it hit him. Even shrouded by gingerbread cookies, he could discern the subtle scents of each member of his coven.
His ears focused on filtering out the ambient noise that came with living on a property surrounded by forest on nearly all four sides, homing in on the voices he realized he took for granted the more time apart went by. Edward, Bella, Alice, Jasper, Emmett, and Rosalie… he even heard Renesmee’s distinctive heartbeat. Carlisle’s heart swelled. His family was finally whole again.
“Merry Christmas, Carlisle!” everyone shouted when he entered the kitchen. What he didn’t expect was to be tackled by Emmett and Jasper. His sons’ bodies collided with his own, and Carlisle found himself on the floor before he could comprehend what was happening.
“Not in the house!” Esme scolded from behind the island counter, elbow deep in a mixing bowl. Carlisle broke into a grin, now knowing how much he missed his children’s antics. “Honestly,” his wife exasperated, “I let you in for less than a day and you’re already trying to bulldoze the house. C’mon, boys, let’s give Carlisle some space.”
It was his youngest son that gave him a hand when Jasper and Emmett got up. Edward, it’s good to see you again. Edward smiled crookedly, offering a slight nod of wordless acknowledgement that Carlisle translated into meaning with ease. After a century, the two could understand each other with a single glance and nothing more.
Carlisle grasped Edward’s hand and picked himself off the floor only to be attacked by a warm hug. He didn’t need to look down at the mass of bronze ringlets to know it was Renesmee’s arms wrapped around his torso.
“Grandpa! I’ve missed you so much!” Renesmee looked up at him, astounding Carlisle at how much she’s matured since the last time they saw each other a few years prior. My word, has it really been that long? Of course, she physically stopped growing around 2014, but there would always be minute changes to her features that only someone with an acute vampiric vision would be able to notice.
Carlisle hugged her back even harder. “And I have missed my favorite granddaughter as well.”
“Grandpa, I’m your only granddaughter,” Renesmee pointed out, giggling, and pulled away.
“The statement still stands – in fact, I’ve missed you all incredibly. Why did no one tell me everyone would be here tonight? I would have taken the day off otherwise.”
“Because that’s not how surprises work, duh,” Alice said from her place at the kitchen table next to Bella. “You have Rosalie to thank for this, by the way. This was her idea!”
Carlisle looked over to his other daughter, who suddenly took an interest in the dough Esme was kneading.
“I may have said a thing or two about it,” Rosalie remarked offhandedly, but there was no hiding the bashful smile she adorned.
“Well, I appreciate the sentiment, nonetheless. Truly,” Carlisle responded and turned to everyone. “Christmas has not been the same these past years without you all here.”
In the nearly 400 years of existence, Carlisle has never requested anything for Christmas. How could he, when he was always fortunate enough to have a roof over his head and a means of feeding himself? But over the years, the holiday had grown meaning to him. Family became his very own definition of Christmas. Carlisle may not have requested anything this year, but his wish was fulfilled, and he couldn’t have asked for more.
After a long night of catching up and partaking in a Cullen Christmas tradition of hunting and exchanging gifts, Carlisle still found his original plan satisfied by the end – in front of his bedroom fireplace with a book in hand and Esme by his side. Couch cushions had been scattered across the floor to provide comfort, and a thick blanket draped across the couple, enveloping them in a world of their own. In the background, the honeyed melodies of a sonata Edward was playing from afar was heard gliding throughout the house, and a hint of gingerbread could still be detected in the air if one looked for it.
Esme, with a book of her own, nestled deeper into her husband’s chest and the arm around her tightened. “I haven’t seen you this happy in a long time,” she said.
Carlisle put his book down. With the corners of his lips upturning and his eyes sparkling, he leaned his head down and pressed a kiss into the crown of Esme’s head. “Spending Christmas with the kids tonight was most definitely a surprise to say the least, but it’s the type of surprise that will always be happily welcomed.” He heard her hum contently, the soft vibrations of it filling him with warmth. “I do recall, however, you saying they would be in Europe for the holidays though.”
“I may have lied,” Esme admitted sheepishly, putting her book down to the side and adjusting herself to look up at him.
“Oh, is that so, Mrs. Cullen?” At his tone, Esme smirked. Rearranging the blanket, she shifted around until she was straddling her husband. She placed both hands on Carlisle’s shoulders and pushed him back farther against the couch he was already leaning against.
The two of them burst into laughter when they heard the piano playing stop and Edward groan.
Merry Christmas indeed.
XX
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