Roy slowly walked out to the empty sitting room, relieved that no servents had spotted him on the way.
With a smile the child seated himself on the couch and took a peice of chocolate that his grandmother had left out, after all it was almost the new year and he needed something special to eat before he rung it in.
Silence fell, as Roy munched on the chocolate, knowing in the morning Eleanora would be quite cross with him for eating it, but he would give her that puppy dog stare that always seemed to work well on getting out of things.
As Roy thought it over he barely heard the sound of footsteps or even noticed his mother Ninian poking her head in. "Roy, what are you doing up so late?" Ninian asked, shutting the door behind her as she walked in .
Roy looked over, his blue eyes wide with shock as he held a piece of chocolate just outside his mouth. "Why are you up so late?" Roy replied.
Ninian shook her head, as she seated herself beside Roy. "Cause I heard something pounding through the castle and thought we were being raided by bandits" Ninian replied, her eyes bright with amusement.
Roy smiled as he rested on his mother's lap. "I was being really quite though! You must have great hearing" Roy said, as Ninian ruffled his hair.
"Are you staying up to ring in the new year?" Ninian asked.
Roy nodded. "Are you going to stay up with me?" Roy asked, in a cute child way that nobody could say no to.
"Will you can't ring in the year alone, so I may have too" Ninian replied.
Roy reached for a piece of chocolate. "That's a snack before the new year" Roy said, popping it into Ninian's into mouth.
"And your gonna buy grandmother a new box for the new year right?" Eliwood asked, walking in , causing both Roy and Ninian to turn around in shock.
Without a word Roy jumped down from the couch and ran to his father. "Daddy, daddy your up! I thought for sure you would miss the new year" Roy said, wrapping his arms around Eliwood's leg.
"Not a chance of that, not when I have the best family to rung it in with" Eliwood replied, lifting the child into his arms.
A smile curved Ninian's lips as Eliwood sit down beside her. "Perhaps this will be the first year you stay up all night lord Eliwood?" Ninian teased.
"What do you mean by that love? I stayed up plety of times" Eliwood replied, as he ran a finger through her hair.
"That's not what grandmother said and you fell asleep by the fireplace last year" Roy piped up.
"I'm sure I managed to stay up one year, all night" Eliwood replied, as he held Roy tightly. "And I do remember you were pretty close to sleeping when I dozed off" Eliwood teased.
"I never fell asleep daddy, but I'll wake you up if you do" Roy replied, shiffling a yawn as he rested his head against his father's chest.
After awhile Roy fell asleep on the couch while Eliwood and Ninian danced gracefully around the room, only stopping when Eliwood pulled Ninian over until his lips were tuching her's.
"The first kiss of the new year is supposed to be the best, love" Eliwood said, before kissing her on the lips.
After a few seconds Ninian pulled away, a smile curving her lips. "And all the better shared with you" Ninian replied, as dawn light filled the room bringing out the new year.
"Is it New Year yet?" Roy asked, as he stirred lightly on the couch.
"It sure is and it looks perfact for a snowball fight before breakfast" Eliwood replied.
"Or just cold enough to sit by the fireplace and eat chocolate" Roy said.
Eliwood and Ninian both nodded, as there was no better way to spend the new year then cuddled up with family.
The End and Happy New Year to all.