Carlisle and Esme

50. The Cullens

Chapter Fifty

Once Edward and Rosalie had graduated, Alice was the only one still in school. Rosalie and Emmett had a smaller second wedding but it was still grand despite the lack of guests. The only difference had been the change of season and the help of an eager Alice.

A year later, Alice left the local high school too and we knew it was time to move again. We had kept permanent settlements in so many places for so many years but all of us were really eager to move back to Forks. Forks, Washington was just different to any other place we had been before. It was more of a home to all of us. So we were set to move back there. It had been years since we had last lived there and Edward was quite confident that the line of shape shifters had died with it. However there were a few things that had to be addressed before we left.

"What's going on?" Emmett asked. We were all sat around the dining table. Edward of course, knew what was going on. He knew what lay in the box placed on the table in front of me. And Alice knew too. But the rest of my family didn't know just yet.

"We're a family. Vampires that stay together like us are usually called covens but I don't think of us as a group. I think of us as one. We're all a family and I want others to know that too. When people see us, they should loyalty, strength and the bonds of family because that is what we are. WHO we are."

"What are you trying to say?" Esme asked gently, reaching over and taking my hand. I smiled at my wife and squeezed her hand lightly.

"I want to give you all a little something that will represent us and what we stand for as a family." I pulled my hand away from Esme so I could open the box and reveal the contents. Everyone but Alice and Edward leaned across the table to get a better look.

"What is that?" Jasper asked.

Inside the box, on velvet cushion was a block of black marble which was no bigger than my palm. However, emblazoned on the marble block was a lion standing on a plinth with three clovers on it and a hand above the lion. The Cullen Crest. Around this block were pieces of jewellery; a ring, a bracelet, three wrist cuffs, a necklace, a choker.

"This is the Cullen Crest. By taking these, you are becoming a Cullen. Or a Hale." I winked at Rose. She smiled at me.

"Do we only get to wear these?" Alice asked, eagerly.

"Of course not. You can go to a jewellers and have the crest put on a different piece of jewellery if you so desired. But these are yours to keep." I turned the box round to face me and took out the bracelet.

I took Esme's hand and stretched it out. I placed the bracelet on her wrist. I then took one of the wrist cuffs out and turned to my right so I could fasten it to Edward's wrist. I placed the choker around Alice's neck and the pendant necklace around Rosalie's. The two other wrist cuffs were tied to Emmett and to Jasper.

Esme took the ring out and placed it on my finger with a smile. I smiled back at her.

"We're family. Bound together. Loved and cherished. We are loyal, strong and we are a FAMILY. Forever and always."