It was the 22nd of December and there was a party going on. There were only five people though, and of them, three were vampires. Rowan and Kestrel were fiddling with the sound system, Jade and Mark, were sitting together, happy to just be together.
Mary-Lynette was curled up in the single chair, eyes closed. Without opening them she spoke;
"Remind me why tonight is so special?"
"It's the Winter Solstice. The witches will be celebrating and it's part of our bringing up. Last year we were little busy trying to stay under the radar. This year we can celebrate" Rowan said, turning and smiling calmly.
The mother figure of the three sisters, Rowan was always calm. Well, unless she was in an organizing mood. Or angry. Or hunting. But around people, she was calm.
Mary-Lynette stood up as Kestrel reclaimed Rowan's attention. She moved quietly out of the room, outside on the wooden porch. The girls had learnt to be careful now but when they first arrived, it had caused them some sore shins and elbows. Half smiling, she remembered when Ash has fallen through the floor of the porch. That had taken several days work to repair.
Think about Ash saddened her. She knew why he hadn't come; she kept the letter, his letter, nearby at all times. And she was proud of him in a way. But she still missed him.
Looking up at the sky, she thought of the last thing he had said to her. And now, she hoped he remembered.
And maybe, just maybe, he would be looking up, and thinking of her too.