Alright so... I wasn't sure if people would want me to continue or not after 4 stories, but I'm glad to hear that people do! I love writing along this storyline and am excited to continue. Thanks all! :) That didn't take much convincing (P.S. - I will be constantly updating, but if I'm not quite as quick in the next couple of weeks it's because my boyfriend and I are in the process of moving). Thanks for your patience in advance!

Chapter 1

Summer had come and gone, as did the fall season. Everyone enjoyed celebrating Cassandra's first birthday at the end of October, which rolled into Halloween and the rest of the holidays. The winter chill was in the air and smells of firewood and baked good filled the house.

The atmosphere had gradually paced itself back to where everyone felt normal again. There were almost no talks of the Volturi, aside from a quick word from Luciana, or a joke here and there. Esme's teaching curriculum was an exception, as she had begun regularly gathering Alexandra, Michael, Luciana, William and Maddy in for classes. Nicole, too, had begun sitting in of more recent days and seemed to enjoy it. Almost every day upon returning to Alice and Jasper, she had something to say about what she learned, and usually with great enthusiasm.

Cassandra now looked younger than Nicole by a couple of years, despite being born before her, though she was still in her own unique rapid growth phase, not identical, but similar to Renesme. Esme had her own individual time with her granddaughter when it came to education, and truly enjoyed the extensive one on one time that she knew would soon fade as she got older.

The holidays, now, were upon their family and since Cassandra's birthday, everyone's attitudes gradually became happier as they rolled into the Christmas season.

Esme stood in front of the stove and removed a tin full of Christmas cookies, placing them on a hot plate on the counter. Rosalie quickly scooted across the kitchen with a small container of green and red sprinkles she had been waiting to pour over the tops of the cookies.

"I feel so left out," she said with a smile, "I wish we enjoyed these, they look so cute."

Esme nodded, "I know. I don't even remember what cookies, or cake or ice cream used to taste like."

Rosalie shook her head, "Me either."

Renesme and Jacob appeared in the kitchen, then smiled as Rosalie slowly turned to face them.

"They're not ready yet," she told them with a smile, then added, "Jacob..."

"I know, I know," he told her, "They just smell so good."

"Renesme," Rosalie turned to her niece, "Keep your husband's appetite in check."

Jacob waved off the comment and shook his head before towing Renesme back into the living room.

"Helloooo!" Masen's voice called as he entered the house, dressed fully in his police officer uniform.

"She's in the kitchen," Emmett called, referring to Rosalie, "And she's guilty officer."

Masen laughed and gave him a quick high five.

"Hey, honey," Esme greeted his with a hug and kiss on the cheek, "You look so handsome." She played with the top button on his collar.

"I know," he said with a sigh and smile, "You tell me that every time you see me in my uniform."

"Oh, leave her alone," Rosalie said, nudging him, "You'll appreciate it one day."

"I do now," he kissed Esme on the cheek to return the one she'd given him, "I love my mama."

She smiled, "Where's Leah and Cassie?"

"Her mother's," he responded, "I'm going to join them in an hour or so, but we're also going to stop by tomorrow. Leah said she's sorry she couldn't tonight, but she already made plans to eat at Sue's."

"Oh, tell her to stop being silly. No need to apologize for that. The three of you can come here whenever you'd like."

"I know," Masen said with a grin. He left the kitchen to hang out with everyone in the living room for a bit, "Merry Christmas... Eve."

"You too!" Nicole shouted enthusiastically, followed by everyone else's input.

"What'd you get her Masen?" Jasper joked, referring to his daughter.

"That's a surprise you'll have to wait for until tomorrow," he said, smiling over at her, "Where's my birthday present Jas?"

"It's out in the woods," he joked.

Masen snickered at sat beside Emmett on the couch.

"So, having fun with Charlie?" Bella asked Masen with a big smile.

Masen smiled back, "Yes. He's the best. I can't believe I got a job with the Forks Police Department."

"I never asked how you did on the physical assessment," Edward said.

"I dogged it," Masen told him, "Five-twenty mile. I got the highest scores you could get, but I didn't want to show off."

"Sounds like it," Alexandra rolled her eyes from across the room, then let a smile spread across her face.

"He has the power now, Alex," Emmett reminded her, "I wouldn't go starting something you can't finish. Check out the handcuffs."

"Like I can't break through those..."

"Punch her in the arm for me Michael," Masen told him.

Michael smiled and looked at Alexandra, who shook her head. He gave her a soft punch in the arm, then looked back at Masen and Emmett who put their thumbs down and gave a booing sound.

He snickered and shrugged.

"Did you just get off a shift?" Alice asked Masen.

He shook his head, "About to go one one actually... at midnight."

"Will you be home for Cassie to open presents?"

"Yeah. On Christmas everyone works short, four hour shifts so no one gets stuck having to do a full day. I work midnight to four, so it's perfect."

"Aww, good."

William and Madison came down the stairs together with their arms full of presents, placing them under the tree that was set in the corner of the room like every year.

"Whoa," Nicole said, "Where'd you get all those?"

"Santa," they both said at the same time.

Nicole titled her head to the side and looked at Alice and Jasper, "Mom... I know there's no Santa."

"How do you know that?"

"I just know."

"I've seen him," Emmett said.

She laughed, "No you haven't."

They could tell she was slightly past the age a typical child would believe in Santa Claus, and each of them accepted that she wouldn't be falling asleep regardless, so there was no use in trying to continue playing it off.

"In this crazy world, I wouldn't doubt it if there was a Santa Claus," Bella said.

Carlisle entered the house, leaving a trail of snow stirring on the doorstep as he entered, "Snow's starting," he informed everyone as he made his way toward the living room.

Masen stood up from the couch to greet him, "Hey, Dad."

A smile spread over his face at his son's attire, "Hey Masen. Just getting out of work?"

"Going in from midnight to four. Everyone's rotating on short shifts because of the holiday."

"That's good," he told him, patting him on the shoulder once, "You look good."

"Thanks," Masen smiled, "How's everything down at the hospital?"

"Fine," Carlisle said, "Everyone's getting the Christmas spirit down there. I suppose they have been since Thanksgiving ended, though."

"Hey Dad," Alexandra called from her seat with a wave.

He smiled again and waved across the room, "What are you guys watching?"

"Elf," she told him.

"Of course," he said.

"I know, we've watched it a hundred times this month."

"Cookies are ready," Rosalie said, bringing in the small plate she and Esme had prepared.

Jacob and Renesme stood up from where they sat on the ground, "Thanks," they told Rosalie at the same time before Jacob sat back down.

"I'm going to get us a couple drinks," Renesme told him, "Coke okay?"

He nodded, "Sure. Thanks."

Carlisle smiled and wandered past Rosalie into the kitchen to greet Esme.

"Hey," she said with an ear to ear smile.

"Hey," he said back with a similar expression before giving her a quick kiss.

Esme pulled him back in for a second one before straitening up the stove area and realigning the towels so they were evenly draped through the handle of the oven.

"We all get to open one gift tonight," Emmett's voice came from the living room, "The rest tomorrow."

"That's right," Rosalie concluded.

Carlisle and Esme both smiled, "Let me give you one tonight," he said.

She laughed, "If you insist."

"Come on," he motioned for her to follow up him upstairs.

"I have something for you, too," Esme told him.

He turned and flashed a smile as they walked through the open door that lead to their bedroom.

Carlisle flipped on the light switch and put his bag down before making his way to his closet to remove a small box wrapped with snowman decorated paper.

Esme smiled and accepted the gift, "I can open it now?"

"Sure," he said with a shrug.

She tore open the wrapping paper and opened the square, gold box that was beneath it.

"The stone on the bracelet is suppose to protect you, and the little symbol on the charm there represents serenity," Carlisle told her, as Esme removed an elegant white, gold bracelet from the box. There were a number of small diamonds surrounding the tiny stone that he had just described.

"This is beautiful," she told him, shaking her head, "It's perfect. Maybe the serenity part will help me ease my mind." She gave him a big smile.

"Who knows if it works, but I figured it couldn't hurt."

Esme placed it around her wrist and Carlisle fastened it before she kissed him, "Thank you."

"You're welcome," he smiled.

"I'll be right back," she told him, disappearing out of the room before returning a few seconds later.

Carlisle laughed, "Did you hide that in my office?"

Esme laughed with him, "Yep. I figured you wouldn't go looking around in there."

"Sneaky," he teased her with a grin, before opening the box that stood about the same size as the one he had given her.

Inside was a gold locket style watch a little bigger than a half dollar. Carlisle smiled and clicked it open, revealing the tiny face of the clock on one side and a picture of Cassandra on the other.

"Wow," he said, "This is so nice."

"You like it?"

"I do," Carlisle nodded and smiled at her, "This is so great. I'll keep it with me everywhere I go."

"There's a picture of Masen and Alex together underneath the picture of Cassie," Esme told him, "I couldn't the pictures in there side by side."

He continued to admire her gift for him before nodding her over in his direction for another kiss, "Thank you."

"You're welcome," she kept her nose against his until he snuck another kiss, "Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas," Carlisle said back.

The two of them shared a few seconds alone before joining the rest of the family downstairs.