To Meet a Cullen

Alice insisted that we leave right away or we were going to miss the chance to join up with the family. I agreed, of course, to make her happy. We left all the clothes there in case we ever returned. After we arrived on shore of Florida, Alice took my hand and started running. No one would see us since we came back in the middle of the night. She ran us up into Canada, and then into Alaska.
Suddenly, Alice stopped abruptly.
“They’re moving,” She whispered.  She grabbed my hand and took off again. She headed us into Canada. We ran through a very beautiful spot, and then we came upon a hidden location. I would never have found it unless she would have led me to it. There, a man and a woman were entering a beautiful mansion.
“Wait!” Alice called.
She stepped out of our watching place and pulled me along with her. I heard the woman gasp, and I realized I was in only wearing a t-shirt. My scars were very distinct and easy to see. I looked down from her terror-filled eyes.
“Carlisle, I am Alice,” Alice said.
“How do you know me?” Carlisle asked.
“You see, I can see the future like your son Edward can read minds. I saw your family and knew you would take us in. This is my mate and husband Jasper,” Alice explained.
Carlisle extended a hand, and she shook it gracefully. He did the same to me, and I took it as she did.
“I suppose this is your wife Esme?” Alice asked.  
“Yes, that is me,” she said tearing her eyes from my scars.
“It is honor to meet you, Mrs. Cullen,” Alice said politely.
“Oh, please call me Esme,” she replied offering her hand to Alice.
She did the same to me, and in my time it was polite to kiss a woman’s hand. I did out of habit. Carlisle’s arm wound around her waist, and I did the same to Alice as I straightened back up.
“Why don’t you come inside and tell us about yourselves?” Esme asked.
“Thank you,” Alice replied.
I followed her inside, and the room was gorgeous. Alice pulled me to the couch. I sat first, and she took a seat on my lap. I wrapped my arms protectively around her waist.
“So, Alice, tell me about yourself,” Carlisle insisted.
“Well, I don’t remember much,” Alice began, and she dove into the story of her human years.
“What about you, Jasper?” Esme asked when Alice had finished.
        “I was born in 1843. My name was Major Jasper Whitlock Hale,” I began. I told them about the army and explained the scars. I lift out the details about the wars and battles. I soon got to the part where I met my angel. Alice snuggled into my chest as I told them of our travels. I informed them about the wedding, but I left out the honeymoon details. Nobody wanted to hear about that! As I told them about our meeting, Esme sighed in pleasure and leaned against Carlisle’s chest.
When my story was finally done Carlisle looked shocked, but Esme had a grin plastered on her face.                                   
“Well, it seems that you two really belong together. It’s so romantic. You two are welcome to stay with our family as long as you like. Rosalie, Emmett, and Edward are off hunting,” Esme said with pride.
“Thank you so much, Esme,” Alice said.
“Oh, and I suppose you two are going to try our way of living. I see you, Alice, have already begun.”
I was about to reject to that, but then I realized that the blood from the man that had touched my Alice was still flowing in my eyes.
“Jasper has done wonderfully,” Alice objected. She jumped into the story of the creature that preyed on my wife.
“Oh, my!” Esme exclaimed. “Well, Jasper, I’m terribly sorry that I misunderstood.”
“It’s a natural reaction. Don’t worry yourself about it,” I soothed.
“Esme, we should be leaving here in a few days. Where should we have them stay?” Carlisle asked.
“Edward’s room has the best view, so we’ll move his things out for a while. He won’t mind since we are leaving soon. Where are we going next?” Esme asked.  
“We will be heading to Washington. There is a town named Forks. It is the dampest place in the continental U.S. The sun doesn’t shine much, so it will be a wonderful place to live until the kids graduate,” Carlisle mused.
Carlisle and Esme shot up the stairs to move Edward’s things. Alice jumped in my arms and held tight to me.
“I was almost dead,” She whispered, “but then you found me.”
When she said that, for the very first time I felt hope.