DICLAIMER: I do not own ''The 39 Clues'' This is a story that I started to write on the Cahill Message Board, as and since I have left for the holidays, decided to continue here.
Dan picked at his roast that Nellie had made and glanced over at Amy. She was doing a little better than Dan was.
They had just barely, barely made it through Thanksgiving without shedding any tears. Instead of giving thanks this season, they'd been thinking about all they'd lost. First their parents, then Grace. They weren't thinking about these things on purpose; they just couldn't help it.
Before the Hunt, the holidays had always been tough, watching all the other kids go out of town to see their families, while they only had one person that cared about them. They had always had a feast with Grace for thanksgiving, and she always knew how to make them happy.
But when they went back to their apartment, they would do something that they never talked about, or acknowledged. They hugged. It was something they just, did. They wanted to make their parents proud, and it also helped each of them know that no matter how much they teased and annoyed each other, they still loved and cared for each other. This Thanksgiving, they'd had a feast with Fiske, and Nellie had had another feast with her family. But Fiske didn't know them well, and he wasn't much of a social butterfly, so you can imagine how that went.
Both of them were unconsciously picking at their dinner, lost in thought.
"C'mon, kiddos! This is a new recipe I'm trying. You have to tell me how it tastes!" Nellie said, watching them, and trying to get them into higher spirits.
"I'm just... not really hungry." Amy said and stood.
"Me neither. I... had a big lunch." Dan excused himself. They had lost their appetites days ago.
Nellie knew how they were feeling. After all that had happened, she couldn't blame them. Their lives had been changed forever in just a couple of weeks, and that Beatrice woman had just abandoned them. Not that their lives would have been any better with her around, but she could see how it had affected them. After facing tons of life-or-death situations, this lady had left with a huff and even dared to try to steal money from them. Dan had caught her, of course, but that didn't make it any better.
"Alright." Nellie said, sighing. "I guess even a ton of food couldn't raise your spirits. Good night." The siblings just nodded and went to their rooms.
The next morning, Amy woke up early to make breakfast. Dan woke up later, and came down the stairs, wearing snow-proof everything. Their eyes met, Amy finished breakfast, and got on her winter gear. Together, they walked to the Crestwood Cemetery, at a nearby church. Soon they were there, and they walked slowly through to their parent's and Grace's graves and stood in silence.
Amy sat down and the tears came out. A minute later, she was sobbing uncontrollably, and hugging Grace's gravestone. Dan slowly reached out and touched Arthur's grave. Hot, salty tears emerged from his eyes. He stood there for a few tender moments, and then walked to a maple tree, all the while, looking at the graves. He slid down and sat. He put his hands to his face, and his shoulders shook in a silent cry.
When Amy recovered, she came over to comfort Dan. But he was too far away to receive her help. She still tried. Dan felt her hand on his shoulder.
"It's okay, Dan. We can't change what happened. We just have to get on with our lives," she said.
Dan stood up with a sad face, and said, "That doesn't mean that I don't miss them," then he looked up to the sky, now his face a mask of pain and anger, "Why? Why did this have to happen to us?" Dan screamed, hoping that somewhere, anywhere, anyone, would know. He just needed an answer.
When no response came, he punched a branch, and it broke off. Breathing heavily, he stormed off toward the mansion.
Amy looked up into the early morning sky, and asked, "Mom, if you can hear me, please help Dan. Or ask Dad. Please." Then she turned and ran to follow Dan, tears once again filling her eyes.