Chapter Text
Edward Masen had always been his mother’s treasure. Elizabeth Masen had kept her son close, shielding him from the harsh realities of life, because Edward had always been... fragile. His health had been precarious since birth, leaving him pale and thin, his constitution too weak for the robust adventures of boyhood. But none of this dulled his charm. His gentle smile and soft-spoken nature endeared him to everyone, and his mother doted on him endlessly.
But it was 1918, and the influenza pandemic cared nothing for the love of a mother or the charm of a son.
Elizabeth Masen’s final moments had been spent pleading with the kind, gentle-faced doctor who had been tending her family. Save my boy, she had begged. Do whatever you must. Save him.
Carlisle Cullen had done just that, though not in the way she might have imagined.
The transformation had been harrowing. Edward’s frail body had been overtaken by the venom, his screams echoing through Carlisle’s modest home. The boy’s voice, already soft from years of weakness, broke into terrified sobs as the pain consumed him.
“Mother!” he cried, his hands clawing weakly at the bed he lay on. “Please, where’s my mother? I’m scared!”
Carlisle’s heart ached at the sound. He had long since grown accustomed to the clinical detachment required of a physician, but this was different. This boy—barely more than a child in Carlisle’s eyes—was now his responsibility.
“She’s not here, Edward,” Carlisle said softly, sitting beside him and placing a cool hand on his forehead. “But I’m here. I won’t leave you. I promise.”
Edward whimpered, his emerald-green eyes glassy with pain and fear. “It hurts… it hurts so much.”
“I know,” Carlisle murmured, stroking Edward’s sweat-dampened hair. “I’m so sorry, my boy. But it will pass. You’re strong—stronger than you know.”
“I’m not,” Edward whispered. “I’m not strong. I want my mother.”
Carlisle felt an ache in his chest that he hadn’t thought possible for someone as old as he was. “I know you do,” he said softly. “But you’re not alone, Edward. I’m here. I’ll take care of you.”
The words seemed to soothe Edward, even as his body continued to writhe in agony. Carlisle stayed with him through every second, murmuring soft reassurances and holding his hand when the boy reached out for comfort.
When the transformation was complete, Edward awoke to a world sharper and more vivid than anything he’d ever known. His frail body was gone, replaced by a form of inhuman strength and grace. But the fear lingered.
Carlisle found him curled into a corner of the room, his knees drawn to his chest and his arms wrapped tightly around them.
“Edward?” Carlisle called gently.
The boy flinched, his wide, golden eyes darting to Carlisle’s face. “What’s happening to me?” he whispered.
Carlisle knelt down slowly, making himself as unthreatening as possible. “You’ve changed, Edward. You’re... like me now. A vampire.”
Edward’s face crumpled, and he buried his head in his knees. “I don’t want to be a vampire,” he sobbed. “I just want my mother and father.”
Carlisle’s heart broke all over again. He moved closer, cautiously resting a hand on Edward’s shoulder. The boy didn’t pull away, so Carlisle gently guided him into his arms. Edward clung to him, trembling, his sobs muffled against Carlisle’s chest.
“I know it’s scary,” Carlisle said softly, stroking Edward’s hair. “But you’re not alone. I’ll take care of you. I promise, Edward. You’re my son now.”
As the days turned into weeks, Carlisle began to see the nuances of Edward’s personality. Despite his newfound strength and speed, Edward remained timid and unsure, his demeanor shaped by years of being overprotected.
He smiled easily, a sweet, almost bashful grin that made Carlisle think of a boy much younger than seventeen. He was endlessly curious, asking questions about everything he saw and marveling at the world with wide-eyed wonder.
But he was also insecure. The trauma of his transformation and the loss of his parents weighed heavily on him. He often sought out Carlisle for reassurance, looking up to the older vampire with a mix of awe and dependence.
“Do you think I’m... good?” Edward asked one evening as they sat together in the living room.
Carlisle looked at him, puzzled. “Good? What do you mean, Edward?”
Edward fidgeted, staring down at his hands. “I’m a vampire now. Does that mean I’m... bad?”
Carlisle’s expression softened. He reached out and placed a hand on Edward’s shoulder. “You’re not bad, Edward. Being a vampire doesn’t define who you are. Your choices do. And I can already see that you have a kind and gentle heart.”
Edward looked up at him, his eyes shining with relief. “You really think so?”
“I know so,” Carlisle said firmly.
Over time, Carlisle grew to cherish Edward’s presence in his life. The boy’s laughter filled the house, a light that Carlisle hadn’t realized he’d been missing. Edward would often burst into Carlisle’s study unannounced, his face lit up with excitement over some new discovery or thought.
“Carlisle!” he exclaimed one day, holding up a book he’d found. “Look! It’s about knights and dragons!”
Carlisle chuckled, setting aside his work to listen as Edward eagerly recounted the story. The boy’s enthusiasm was infectious, and Carlisle found himself smiling more often than he had in decades.
But Edward’s timid nature also meant he needed constant reassurance. He was easily frightened by unfamiliar situations and often sought out Carlisle’s comfort. Carlisle didn’t mind in the slightest. He was more than happy to offer the hugs and soothing words that Edward craved.
“You’ve brought light into my life, Edward,” Carlisle said one evening as he tucked a blanket around the boy—an old habit Edward seemed to find comforting, even though he no longer needed warmth. “I didn’t realize how much I needed a family until you came along.”
Edward smiled sleepily, his head resting against Carlisle’s shoulder. “I’m glad you’re my father now,” he murmured.
And Carlisle knew, in that moment, that he would do anything to protect his new son. Edward had given him purpose, and in return, Carlisle would give him the love and care he deserved for eternity.