So, a beautiful reviewer pointed out the symbolism in this story, which is pretty big. Since chapter two, I've been referencing history nonstop. This chapter touches in on the Opium Wars, one of my favorite parts of history. I know it's terrible, but it's interesting. So I hope this translates well into the story, because it's about time we had some Yao in here!
Hmm… actually, I think I sort of over-killed the part with Yao. But no matter- I had plenty of sadistic fun writing it.
This is also a super, suuuuuper long chapter because we've spent so many chapters on Christmas that we're catching up to the holiday! So Merry Christmas, everyone, and I hope you enjoy your long chapter from me to you!
NO DISRESPECT MEANT IN GILBERT'S CHRISTMAS STORY.
…AND BLARGH, I'M SUCH AN IDIOT. If any of you already read this chapter the first time I published it and were wondering what IN MANDARIN meant… well, just know that I'm seriously an idiot, alright? XD
Chapter 28-
You're really starting to grow up, Kiku! I thought you were getting too old for books and games, so I got you an apron for when you work in the store! I know Yao fixes mostly Chinese food, so I put your name in kanji on the corner. Don't you like it?
…I do. Thank you very much, Aunt Tohko.
See? You've grown up so much that you're calling me "Aunt" instead of Aunty, like you used to when you were a kid. Before long, Kiku, everyone will start calling Red Flower "Kiku's restaurant" instead of Yao's. I think you'll do a wonderful taking over the place.
Yes. I will… do my best, Aunt Tohko.
Kiku's eyes dully darted over the TV screen. The silver Playstation controller in his hands was a dead weight.
But I didn't just get you an apron- I got you this cookbook, right from China! It's written in Chinese, so you can practice that, too!
Actually, Aunt Tohko, I learned Japanese from Mother.
That's okay. Yao and I can teach you.
He let out a ragged sigh as Tidus lost the last of his HP to Seymour's final attack. All three of his characters, whom he had trained for hours on end, fell and GAME OVER popped up on the screen. "Perhaps I should use Yuna and Lulu, instead of Auron and Kimahri…," Kiku murmured to himself thoughtfully. He could barely hear himself over his father's laughter in the dining area.
Kiku frowned. The restaurant was supposed to be closed. Why had they chosen to meet Tohko in the mall as opposed to their house? Why had the mall staff even allowed the mall be open? It was Christmas! Kiku did not want to spend his Christmas at Red Flower!
It was like the restaurant was more of a home than his actual house! Almost every waking hour of Kiku's day was spent in Red Flower, either hidden away in the back room to hear Yong Soo and Xiao Mei's bickering or up front and making a fool of himself in front of his classmates. How could his father like doing this every day? How could Tao, or his mother, or everyone else who worked with them?
Kiku wanted nothing more than to spend his Christmas at home in peace.
He flinched when his phone began to ring at his side. Kiku blinked in confusion. Who would be calling him on Christmas? Another sigh escaped his lips when he saw it was Alfred. "Moshi moshi?"
"Dude, Kiku, you won't believe it, man!"
A weary smile mirthlessly spread out on his face. Despite this, his voice remained as polite and amiable as possible. "Oh? What is it, Alfred?"
"My mom, dude! She came by my house and gave me a scarf! She's HERE! MY MOM IS HERE IN HETA SOMEWHERE!"
"What?" he burst. Kiku blushed, lowering his voice. "Wh-what? Your mother?"
He could just see Alfred bouncing about, nodding his head excitedly. "Yeah! Remember how I told you she left me and Dad when I was a kid? Well, she's back! She's been looking for me, all this time! It's just like on those shows- where they hire a detective and find all these people? Except, she did it all on her own. But here's the thing, Kiku. I really need your help."
Of course.
"My dad sort of doesn't like her, so I can't let him know she's here. Well, he already knows, and apparently he's been a jerk and didn't tell me. Do you think you can possibly get your dad to come take me home?"
"Why can't you ask Matthew's father?"
Alfred scoffed. "Francis is probably sucking his girlfriend's face off. And Mattie kinda hates me right now. Long story. I tried calling Gilbert- uh, Ludwig's dad- but he sounded dead drunk. I can't call Lars because Alice probably told him I'm a jerk and he'd rather make me walk home if I made her angry. I can't call any of Tino's brothers either, because they're either babysitting my cousin right now or they'll tell Dad. Plus, Katyusha is an emotional wreck today- I've already had to witness her breakdown into tears five times today- and Lili's dad refuses to leave her side unless something big happens to pull him away to work. So you're really my last choice. Pleeeeeease ask him, Kiku?"
But it's Christmas. I don't want to have to chauffer you around today. Besides, if I step out of this room, Tohko and Father are going to gush over me for an hour and force me to learn Mandarin.
However, Kiku couldn't make the words come out of his mouth. He owed Alfred, didn't he? For being friends with him when no one else would? But then again, Kiku thought with a frown, he did pull him into crazy messes. Who's to say taking him home wouldn't throw him into another crazy situation?
In the end, it all fell down to how great of a push-over Kiku was. And he was the biggest push-over Heta had ever seen. "I will see," Kiku said. "I'll call you back in a moment, Alfred. I'm very happy for you, by the way. I hope you will see her soon."
"Thanks, Kiku! You're the best ever!"
Once Alfred had hung up, Kiku miserably groaned and dropped his head in his hands. This was certainly the worst Christmas he had ever spent.
He opened the door, and instantly his family's laughter slammed into his eardrums. Everyone was smiling and talking over one another, telling old family stories and gushing over presents. Kiku politely smiled and returned every ecstatic "Hello, Kiku!" with a small hello of his own. Once he had finally wriggled free of Yong Soo's clingy hug, he helplessly stood stuttering beside Yao. "U-um, Father…."
"Kiku!" Yao happily burst. He pulled him into a hug. "How many times have I told you to call me 'Dad'? You're so stuffy, being so polite all the time! Loosen up a bit! We're all family, here!"
His surrounding aunts and uncles nodded in assent. Kiku swallowed hard. "…Dad. I-I have a favor to ask of you, if it's okay."
At his imploring look, Yao's face fell. He quickly excused them and walked to the kitchen. "What's wrong?" Yao asked, picking at Kiku's hair worriedly.
"It's, um, my friend Alfred. He… desperately needs a ride home, and… doesn't want his father to know."
Yao's eyes lit up. "Arthur's boy? Let's go."
You decide just like that? Kiku inwardly burst. He blinked in surprise. Yao took hold of his wrist, grinning evilly. "Anything to get on that stupid Arthur's nerves. Where is he at?"
"D-don't you want to know why he needs a ride, Father?"
"Sheesh! Call me 'Dad', Kiku!"
Kiku sighed. "Dad?"
Yao pulled him into another smothering hug. "You're just so cute when you're flustered!"
Drunk or not, you really couldn't ask Gilbert to drive you? Thank you, Alfred. So very much. You truly are my best friend, you know that?
After a loud goodbye and several more bone-crushing hugs (along with a few "harmless" gropes from Yong Soo), they were gone. As Yao fiddled with the heat, shivering, Kiku uncomfortably shifted in his seat. He wasn't sure why, but being with his father was always so… awkward. Every time Yao popped up at his school for something, Kiku always wished him gone. He wasn't as embarrassing as Yong Soo- especially after his fiasco on the first day of school- but… he still was.
It didn't make sense. Everyone loved Kiku's father. They waved hello to him, and told him how much they enjoyed eating at the restaurant. Maybe Kiku was embarrassed about the fame his father brought him?
But maybe… it wasn't just that.
When Kiku was very little, he remembered seeing his father very rarely. He still worked at the restaurant, yes, but he disappeared into the backroom often and stayed there for a good hour. If Kiku was inside the backroom at the time, Yao would hold him close, like a child would to a teddy bear, and his hands would shake. Yao apologized over and over, always whispering in Mandarin, "Yào guài jiù guài yà sè."
Kiku hadn't understood it as a child, and didn't understand it now. The question popped up in his mind, bubbling his throat, wanting to come out. But Kiku held his tongue. It was so long ago that he remembered it happening, and thought it perhaps was nothing more than a child's fantasy. After all, Yong Soo used to have twenty-seven imaginary friends- exactly twenty-seven, Kiku vividly remembered- and gave them each very interesting names and personalities extremely similar to his family's personalities.
"What's bothering you, Kiku?" Yao asked, breaking him from his memory. He could feel his face flush. A frown spread out over Yao's face. "You know, you're always so quiet, Kiku. And you always stay locked up in the backroom. I'm worried about you."
"Sorry, Fa… Dad."
Yao turned back to looking at the road, but the frown didn't leave his face. "Is there anything you… um… want to talk about?"
Why did you act so weird when I was little?
"I… can't seem to figure out how to advance in my new game," Kiku said, once again stuffing the question back into the recesses of his mind.
"Oh," Yao blinked. "Well… have you tried Googling it? I'm sure Tao can help you figure it out."
Kiku nodded, inwardly pleased when silence fell over them again. This was how he liked it. No loud speaking, no annoying questions that would prove to be very impolite… just quiet. Peacefulness.
But, just his luck, Yao wouldn't have that. "Anything else you want to talk about, Kiku? You have a pensive air about you."
"Um…."
"Yes?"
Don't sound so eager! You act like we never talk! …Wait. We don't ever talk, do we…?
Kiku sighed. "I know it probably is not the time, nor is it my place, but… why did you act so… shaky… several years ago? I-I remember, and I've always wondered…."
A wave of shame fell over Kiku when Yao's face paled. His grip on the steering wheel tightened, and his knuckles turned just as white as his face. A shaky breath sighed from his lips. "That. You've been wondering about that."
Yao suddenly pulled off to the shoulder of the road. "Do you think Alfred will mind if we're a bit late?"
Kiku mutely shook his head. Yao sighed yet again, crossing his hands in lap. "Yào guài jiù guài yà sè," he muttered. "That's what I used to tell you, wasn't it? Do you know what that means in English? Haha… of course you don't. You never wanted to learn Mandarin. It means 'blame Arthur'. Although… in hindsight, I suppose I should have been thanking him."
His father swallowed hard. "You won't hate me if I tell you, will you?"
Hate you? Never!
"I will respect your decisions no matter what they may be," Kiku said with a nod. Yao weakly smiled at him and pulled him into yet another hug. It was a long while before he let Kiku go, and even then he was hesitant to do so.
"You see, in our senior year of high school, I did some very foolish things. Arthur bailed me out, so to speak. Well, after getting me into the mess, mind you…."
"You're taking this too far, Yao. You need to stop."
The Chinese boy didn't even hear him. He sat huddled in the corner of the janitor's closet, head dropped on his crossed arms resting on his knees. Arthur frowned at the empty pill bottle at his feet. The blonde sat down, crossing his legs. "Can you even understand me? Hey, you didn't overdose, did you?"
Of course, there was no compassion in his voice. Why would there be, seeing as how he had been the one to introduce him to the drugs? Yao cocked his head, exposing one bloodshot eye. "Shut up," he mumbled.
Arthur yanked him to his feet. Yao tried to push him away, but only stumbled and fell into a stack of mops and brooms in the corner. "You better be glad Mrs. Pruitt doesn't have a class this period, or else she'd come in here and see you dead high."
"You think I like this?" Yao hissed, folding in on himself once more. "Wǒ hèn nǐ, Arthur. Wǒ hèn nǐ, wǒ hèn nǐ, wǒ hèn nǐ ."
The Brit shrugged. "That means 'I hate you', doesn't it? You're not the only one. But I feel a certain responsibility for you, Yao. You're my friend after all."
"I'm not your friend- I hate you!"
"Why?" Arthur asked simply. "Because I gave in to your wants? You told me you wanted something to take you away from your responsibilities at home, so I did. I told you to be careful that you didn't get hooked. If you took it too often too many times, that's not my fault at all."
Arthur didn't move when Yao's shoulders began to shake with silent sobs. "M-my father hates me now. He wants t-to give the restaurant to Tohko. I'll be causing him to br-break tradition. He and Mom will never forgive me for that."
"You told me you didn't want to take the restaurant."
"But I have to!" Yao burst, his head lolling up. He hazily locked eyes with Arthur. "Tohko… Tohko wants to act. She's already been accepted by an Arts college in California. She'll hate me too if I push the restaurant on her. It's your fault, Arthur. It's your fault!"
For a moment, Arthur's somber expression molded into one of worry, but it instantly snapped back. "I'll help you get off the addiction, then. Give me the rest of the pills, Yao."
His hand flew to his jacket's pocket. "I-I can't, Arthur."
Arthur scowled. "Do you want to stop this mess or not, Yao?"
"I can't!"
"I'll tell Umeko!"
Yao froze. Umeko… couldn't know. She was the only one who hadn't given up on him. Didn't get angry when he escaped into the shadier parts of town after school instead of reporting to the restaurant. Umeko… that beautiful Japanese girl wouldn't give up on him. There were no questions or angry outbursts when Yao didn't show up for their dates. She'd simply tell him to feel better soon, and let it slide.
Yao couldn't let her know the truth.
"I'll get off of it on my own," he whispered. He didn't look up and meet Arthur's disappointed gaze. Instead, Yao wrenched himself to his feet, leaning on the wall for support. "I'll… take it little by little."
"If you pass out, I'm dragging you to the nurse."
After a curt, dark glare, Yao stumbled out to the hall. "Wǒ hèn nǐ zhème duō, yà sè."
Two months later, things were slowly better. Prom came with little incident- aside from Gilbert's breakdown into tears when Elizabeta kissed Roderich. Graduation, however, had been livelier than prom. Roma came home from Massachusetts and nearly crushed Antonio Fernandez-Carriedo in a bear hug when he learned he was the sweet boy dating his daughter. Samantha Jones and Arthur enacted their annual fight with Francis Bonnefoy, which Gilbert and Elizabeta luckily broke up before the police could be called. Francis left with a black eye, courtesy of Samantha's fist after he called Arthur a few choice words.
If Yao didn't hate Samantha just as much as Arthur, he would have cheered her on.
Three years later, after Yao and Umeko had gotten married, things were much better.
Yao wasn't nearly as dependent as he was in high school, and Umeko still hadn't caught on. Neither had his father, of whom Yao thankfully had reconciled with. Things were absolutely perfect.
Until Kiku was born.
It was impossible for Yao to look at his son without guilt crashing into him. He had nightmares of Kiku one day walking into his father's room, finding him laying limp on his bed, staring up at the ceiling in a haze. What would he say about that? Yao stopped taking the drugs, cold turkey. It didn't work. He'd mess up on orders at Red Flower, too distracted with the insatiable want to focus on work.
He was still taking the horrid mess when Kiku was four years old. Yao had three other children, by that point. Beautiful Xiao Mei and the polar opposite fraternal twins, Tao and Yong Soo. It was nearly impossible to look at any of them when he felt the weight of a pill bottle in his pocket. It was even worse when Tohko flew in, showering her beloved brother with extravagant gifts. She always thanked him for taking the responsibility of the restaurant off of her shoulders. Yao took it all with a smile and a lie. "You don't have to thank me, Sister Dear. I love this restaurant."
He didn't. It reminded him of too many bad days when he'd run away and get high.
Then, to further cripple him with guilt, he and Umeko were invited to Heta High's ten year reunion. Everyone was so happy and healthy and untainted by the terrible guilt Yao was forced to live with. Francis had somehow found a beautiful French girl. Arthur was humbled, for once, and had a bright and happy son.
Yao wasn't jealous of Arthur's happy smile. No, he was saddened. Yao had so much more than the blonde who had condemned him. He still had his wife, more children, and a business that flourished. Yao had a perfect life compared to Arthur's.
He did stop after that day. Yao was determined to smile as easily as Arthur could. He wanted Kiku to look up at him with respect the same way Alfred looked up to Arthur.
It turned out to be the worst mistake of his life. Yao felt absolutely horrible. He could never focus, and always escaped to the backroom for hours on end, just shaking from the withdrawal. He would grab Kiku or Xiao Mei or the twins and simply cry and blame Arthur over and over again. He hated Arthur more than ever- for giving him the drugs, for not getting over them sooner.
But things invariably got better. Yao could focus better, push the want to the back of his mind. He could look on and love his children without shame pushing him away. When Tohko made her annual trip to town, Yao could hug her without doubt.
Things were finally as perfect as they seemed.
((((()))))
"Alfred, I am very sorry we are so late," Kiku burst the instant he stepped inside the hospital. He bowed low, lips trembling. "There was a terrible traffic jam, which caused us to-"
"Kiku, dude, chill! It's okay! I swear, it's like you think I'm going to shun you because you didn't instantly pop up. It's okay," he repeated. Alfred turned to Yao, still pale, with a smile. "Thanks for coming, Mr. Kiku's Dad!"
Yao sighed. "That makes me feel old, Alfred! Call me Yao."
"Sure thing, Mr. Kiku's Dad!"
Alfred was just as chipper as ever, practically skipping to Yao's car in excitement. After they were in the car, he bounced in his seat. Kiku couldn't help but smile at his friend's behavior. To use the very appropriate metaphor for this situation, Alfred was like a kid at Christmastime. His excitement seemed to rub off on Yao, bringing color back to his cheeks. "I can't believe it!" Alfred gushed for the umpteenth time. "My mom is here!"
"I can't believe I didn't hear her annoying accent a mile off," Yao joked with the roll of his eyes.
Suddenly, Alfred's eyes went wide. "You know my mom?"
"Of course. She used to butt into everyone's business just to make sure they knew her. I was no exception, unfortunately."
A smile quirked up on Alfred's face. "Could you tell me about her?" he asked, unaware that he was echoing Matthew that day at Tavian's coffee shop.
Before Kiku could politely change the subject to prevent any discomfort on Yao's part, Yao snorted. "You haven't heard about the absolute monster Samantha Jones was? She was horrible- had ten times the sarcasm Arthur had, and was the only girl Francis refused to acknowledge. That was some talent, on her part. And I remember the day Mr. Pritchard gave her the driver's test, too. She failed it seven times before he finally passed her simply because he was worried about his blood pressure every time he saw her get near a car. Samantha only drove like that to grate on his nerves, of course. She was just as good a driver as anyone else at sixteen back then. Ugh, and at our Junior prom…."
((((()))))
"And you're sure Arthur isn't home yet?" Samantha worriedly asked, wringing her hands. "Wh-what if Alfred drove home with him- oh, Lord, what if Alfred isn't home yet? I can't bloody well burst in there!"
Alice smiled and calmed her down, soothing her frazzled nerves. "It's alright, Samantha. Do you want me to take you home first, Matthew?"
The blonde boy blinked, shaken from his blurred stare-down with his sneakers. "Wh-what? Um… yes, please. I-it'll be alright, Samantha. Alfred really does want to see you. I promise."
Samantha crushed them in one final, fleeting hug, before turning back to the door. She took a deep breath. "You can do this, Jones. You can do this."
Right as she poised to knock, a loud, obnoxious laugh filled the air. "You've gotta be kidding me, Mr. KD!"
"'Mr. KD'? How many times do I have to tell you, Alfred-"
Her heart froze. Her entire body stiffened. Samantha's wide, frightened eyes locked onto the stairway, just down the hall. An Asian boy's head popped up first, hiding his chuckle with his hand. Next popped up a man that was undeniably Yao Wang, fussing at the boy behind him.
A fourteen-year-old boy popped up last. Alfred Kirkland let out another laugh, grinning widely enough to show off each and every one of his pearly white teeth. His bright, deep cerulean eyes sparkled behind a pair of brown framed glasses that sat askew on the end of his nose. The bottom of his jaw was slightly swollen and red.
Yao abruptly stopped, causing his son (Samantha correctly guessed) to also pause. Alfred ceased his laughter, locking eyes with her.
She couldn't tell who made the first step, but suddenly she was sobbing, pulling the boy as close as possible to her. "Alfred, Alfred, Alfred," she cried brokenly. He was completely still, shocked into a statue by the sudden course of events. "Alfred, I-I'm your mother," Samantha said. "I'm your mother. I'm y-your…."
A whole new round of sobbing and hugging began the second tears spilled over in Alfred's eyes. Behind the two, Yao sadly smiled and took Kiku's hand. "Our work is done," he announced quietly, leading him away. "Goodbye, Alfred!"
Alfred didn't hear- or rather, didn't acknowledge that he heard. He was too busy soaking in the feeling of his mother- his mother! Samantha, his mother, right here, hugging him, in his arms, in front of his house, in front of Tino, Berwald, and Peter peeking out the door with quiet smiles on their faces. She was here!
They both pulled back at the same time, wearing identical grins on their faces. "This is just like those detective shows," Samantha thickly said first.
Alfred laughed. "I just said that earlier."
He was instantly met with another embrace. Samantha shook her head, laughing in disbelief all the way. "Alfred!" she burst again. "You're Alfred! After fourteen years, on Christmas Day, no doubt! I just…!"
"I can't believe you're finally here," he cried for her.
"S-S-Samantha?"
Alfred and Samantha pulled apart.
Francis stood gaping, face melded into one of horror. His eyes flickered between her red, teary face to Alfred's. The Frenchman threw up his hands. "You know what? I'm just going to go back inside my home, and pretend you're not here. Matthew!" Francis called, instantly spinning on his heel away. "How about we skip bothering Arthur this lovely Christmas and spend it together drinking hot chocolate and talking about cute girls?"
"But I thought you were madly in love with Therese?"
Samantha worriedly turned back to Alfred at his sharp gasp. "Oh, crap, I forgot about Mattie," he breathed. His eyes flickered back to Samantha. "M-Mom, I'm a terrible person, and I have to go apologize to Mattie because he hates me now, 'cause I'm a hypocrite, standing out here with you because I said horrible things about his mom and… and…!"
She pulled back into the hug when he broke down into tears. "Calm down, calm down," she murmured. "Matthew's not angry with you." She cut him off when the teary protests sprang forth. "Shush. He's not. He said wonderful things about you on the way over here."
Alfred looked at her in confusion, still hiccupping. Samantha smiled and put his head back on her shoulder. "We met at Tavian's coffee shop- you know him, didn't you? Wonderful person. Feliks, too, once you get past his absurd accent- not that I should be talking." Her grin widened when Alfred laughed. "Matthew is a wonderful boy. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be standing here right now. I'd probably be back at home, fretting my self to death over whether or not you hated me."
Samantha suddenly frowned. "You don't hate me, do you?"
"Not a bit," Alfred grinned.
"Then you're obviously not very bright, but I love you anyways."
They both shared a laugh at that one. Alfred finally saw the trio of blonde heads poking out of his door. "Gonna let us inside, guys?"
Peter nodded excitedly, opening the door wide. "Come on! Hurry, before mean ole' Uncle Snooty-Pants comes back."
"Nice nickname, kiddo," Alfred congratulated him. He practically dragged Samantha inside. "Okay! This is Peter, my cousin. Uncle Achaius- Dad's brother, although I'm pretty sure you already knew that- is crazy and sent him to stay with us over the holidays. These two are Tino and Berwald Vainamoinen- Tino's the short, smiley one; Berwald's the tall, scary-looking one. They're my neighbors. They live next to Antonio and Lovino with their other three brothers, Emil, Nikolaus, and Abel. Antonio and Lovino- well, I guess you already know Antonio, but Lovino's his son- lives next to Francis- whom you probably know too- and Mattie. Then there's me! Alice and Lars live down the hall. Alice was blonde girl with Matthew. Lars is her older brother who takes care of her. He's always stuffy and hates spending money, and he smokes all the time."
He commenced dragging her to the living room, where he sat her down on the couch. "Do you want me to fix you anything to eat? Ugh, you don't like tea, do you? Dad does, but I think it's nasty. Especially that Earl Grey stuff. But hey! I think I still have some Starbucks in the fridge. It's the stuff you can buy in Wal-Mart."
"No thank you, Alfred," Samantha chuckled. "Lord, you're nothing like Arthur, are you?"
"Nope!" he said happily. "But seriously, I can make you a sandwich if you like…."
Tino and Peter gasped in horror at the notion. "NO!" Peter yelled frantically running over. "Ms. Pretty Lady, don't do it! He's horrible at cooking! Ugh, I was sick for days when he made me a sandwich!"
"Hey!" Alfred burst indignantly. He glowered down at his cousin. "I'm an awesome cook, thank you very much! Mattie and Alice love my cooking!"
"They're only lying to make you feel better!"
"Nuh-uh!"
"Uh-huh!"
"BOYS!"
They shied back at Samantha's shout. She cleared her throat. "I'm sure you're a wonderful cook, Alfred, but I just ate."
He sighed. "Aw, well. And she totally agrees I'm an amazing cook. So go away, you annoying little booger."
Peter scowled at him. Then he ran over to Berwald and Tino, whining to "Mum" and "Dad" all the way.
Alfred plopped down on the couch next to her, instantly unleashing a bombard of questions. Samantha had yet to answer any of them due to his rapidly changing mind switching topics far to easily when Alfred's phone began ringing in his pocket. He pulled it out, not bothering to look at the caller I.D.
Samantha and the others present in the room could hear the other person's shout as plainly as if he were in the room with them. "WHERE THE BLOODY HECK ARE YOU, ALFRED FINNIAN KIRKLAND?"
Said boy yelped, dropping his phone. He gingerly picked it back up, wincing all the way. "S-sorry, Dad, but I had to get home quick! Mattie and Alice got a ride already too, so-"
"OH, I'M WELL AWARE OF THAT! WHERE ARE YOU, ALFRED?"
"I'm home! Geez, Dad, breathe a bit, will you? You're gonna make your head explode in a minute!" Alfred scoffed. "Ugh. If you're going to be on one of your Old Man rants again, just stay at the library."
"DON'T GIVE ME THAT, ALFRED FINNIAN KIRKLAND. WHERE IS SHE? DON'T EVEN TRY LYING ABOUT THIS ONE, ALFRED- I HEARD STRAIGHT FROM TAVIAN AND FELIKS THAT SAMANTHA IS THERE."
Alfred smirked rebelliously. "Why, I'm sitting next to my mother, Dad. And might I take the time to thank you for TELLING ME SHE WAS HERE." He blinked, pulling his phone out in front of him. "He hung up on me! That stupid jerk hung up on me!"
Samantha paled a considerable amount. "H-he's on his way, isn't he? Oh, he's going to absolutely flay me."
"Don't worry about stuffy ole' Dad," Alfred instantly said. "I'll take care of you, alright, Mom?" A grin spread out on his face. "Mom. Mom!"
She shook her head in amazement. "How on earth do you change the subject so fast?"
"Years of dealing with Dad."
"Ah. I see. Well, Alfred, if you need me, I'll be hiding in a closet. Mind directing me to a comfy one?"
He didn't have time to. The front door slammed open. Arthur's entire appearance was disheveled. His hair was even messier than usual, his green eyes wide in a mix of fury and terror. He gaped open his mouth, scrabbling for something to say. Finally, out came a mangled shout, "Get away from her, Alfred!"
Alfred did no such thing. He jumped up in front of Samantha, blocking her from Arthur's view. "No! I can't believe you, Dad! Why didn't you tell me Mom was in town?"
His face lost every bit of its anger. "Wh-what did you call her?"
"Mom," Alfred repeated. "'Cause, you know, she kind of is? And you know, most kids would like to hear from their dads if their mom was around."
Arthur ignored the remark. "Peter, would you please leave with Tino and Berwald?" The boy looked like he had a few choice words for Arthur as well, but, at seeing Alfred's imploring look, huffily stepped outside, dragging Tino and Berwald out behind him. Arthur quietly shut the door behind them.
Alfred's determined look faltered just the tiniest bit when Arthur walked into the living room. Samantha stood.
The three of them simply stared at one another for what felt like hours. There was no doubt Tino, Berwald, and Peter were leaning on the door, listening to everything- likewise was Francis and Matthew, listening through the thin wall separating their apartments. Arthur spoke quietly, allowing their audience nothing. "Why are you here, Samantha?" His voice was broken, unlike that of the first time she appeared on his doorstep so very long ago.
Samantha took Alfred's hand. Both he and Arthur instantly looked down at the gesture. "I told you before, Arthur. I wanted- needed- to see my son. Fourteen years was far too long to be away from him."
"You left us." Arthur's quiet voice now held no emotion.
"But I regretted it," Samantha just as softly said back. Her tight grip on Alfred's hand turned shaky. "I regretted it the very next day. And… and no matter how hard I tried to forget, I… I couldn't. I couldn't." Her voice cracked, and Samantha bit down hard on her lip. "I looked for you two for fourteen years. I went all over the country; met so many different Arthur Kirklands and Alfred Kirklands." A dry laugh. "You have no idea how each and everyone of them broke my heart more and more when I quickly learned they weren't you."
Arthur shook his head. "Don't talk about broken hearts to me, Samantha."
"All that happened in the past," Alfred finally put in. He squeezed Samantha's hand. "It doesn't matter what happened fourteen years ago, because that was fourteen years ago. You have to learn to leave things in the past right where the are: in the past. Wow, I have never been this philosophical. I'm doing pretty good today with this stuff. Anyway, Dad, don't you think Mom could have changed during those fourteen years? That she really is sorry for back then?"
"She isn't," Arthur snapped. "She isn't, because she came here dead drunk just a month ago, spitting and screaming fire. She's not the least bit sorry, Alfred. She just wants to take you away from me."
"Then let her!"
Arthur flinched back.
Alfred shook his head, aghast. "I seriously can't believe you, Dad. What happened to back when I was a kid; when you used to tell me to forgive and forget? To be nice and polite to everyone, no matter how they act or look? To be a perfect little gentleman, always so courteous? What happened to the days when you were like that?"
He broke his scowl away from Arthur. "You know what, Dad? I give up. I'm sick and tired of this. I'm going to live with Mom."
"What?" Arthur and Samantha both burst.
"You don't mind, do you, Mom?" Alfred asked, sounding just like lonely four-year-old, desperate to see and be with his mother. "Just for a few days? Um, maybe until school starts?"
Arthur's strangled cry broke through this. "Y-you can't just up and leave, Alfred!"
"You think I can't?" he spat back, reverting back to being angry. "I'm serious, Dad! Dead serious! I refuse to stay here where you lie to me all the time! Besides, she's my mother. That's just as much parental guardianship as you."
When he turned to leave, Arthur grabbed his arm. "No! You are staying here, Alfred!"
Alfred wrenched his arm free. "Shut up! I don't care anymore! I hate you, Dad! Think I'm kidding? I'm not. I hate you more than anything." He turned and stomped to his room. Not even three minutes later, Alfred reappeared with a suitcase. "And if I can't stay with Mom," he said, "I'll find someplace else."
"No! No," Samantha burst. "You're not going out on the street."
"I'm not letting you take him!"
Samantha threw up her arms in exasperation. "Really, Arthur? After all that, and you won't even allow him one day with me? Just to cool off?"
"I'm not changing my mind," Alfred stated.
"Shut up, Alfred, you're not setting foot out of this apartment."
He bolted to the door, yanked it open and defiantly set foot into the hallway. "Really? Because I just did. I'll be down in the lobby when you come, Mom."
"Wait!" Arthur screeched. He pushed Samantha out of his way, taking off running after him. Arthur slipped on his reckless turn into the hallway and fell flat on his face. "Alfred! ALFRED!"
Samantha picked herself up off the couch and walked out. She knelt down next to Arthur, sobbing into the carpeted hallway, and pulled him into a hug. "I'm sorry," she said. "I truly am."
He threw his arms around her, crying harder. "Why did you leave?" he thickly cried. "Why?"
"I'm sorry, Arthur. I'm so, so sorry…."
"I loved you, Sammy. I loved you."
She choked on her own tears.
"I-I still love you, S-S-Sammy."
I still love you, Arthur, she mouthed.
((((()))))
Natalya sat at the dining room table in Katyusha's house, forehead rested against the cool glass overlooking the quiet suburban neighborhood. This quaint little huddle of small, comfy homes was where she lived, now. Neither she nor her mother had gone back to their house after the incident, and neither felt the need to do so. Staying with Katyusha was fine. Perfect, even. Natalya didn't have to hide away when she wanted to listen to music, and wasn't cautious with her words.
She was free.
But also, so very, very alone.
Natasha had been working with the police ever since Ivan went missing. She was searching all over the place, making desperate phone calls and pleas. Natalya hadn't seen her for days. No, Natalya hadn't even moved from this very spot, and didn't want to move from it. She was always looking, always hoping for that rickety old car to pull up in the driveway with her brother sitting in the back, smiling at her.
More than anything, she needed her brother.
"Natalya, come in here, quick!"
The blonde released a sigh, fogging up the window before her. No dreams coming true today, it seemed. Sluggishly, she walked into the living room. Katyusha was still garbed in her winter clothes from her earlier visit to the hospital, her nose red from the cold. She sat down on the couch, eyes lit up with glee. Katyusha patted the spot beside her. "Antonio is on TV!"
"Antonio?" Natalya asked, curiously peeking over to the TV. Sure enough, the Spaniard sat in a window display of a music shop, playing the guitar and singing. Feliciano was cheering for him, jumping up and down and practically bubbling over with excitement, in the back. Lovino stood beside him, mouth in a frown and grumbling something that the TV couldn't pick up. Finally, Aria was behind the two boys, arms draped over their shoulders, wryly smiling at Antonio's show.
"What a brilliant display of Christmas spirit by local legend Roma Vargas's son-in-law, Antonio Fernandez-Carriedo, at the Natick Mall in Boston, Massachusetts. Father of the ten-year-old Feliciano Vargas in the recent child abuse case and hero of the case Lovino Fernandez-Carriedo, Antonio promotes the local music store, saving it from bankruptcy this Christmas season. Owner of the store says he and his family popped in for a visit and nearly bought his entire collection of Meatloaf CD's. Upon hearing the store was having a going-out-of-business sale, Antonio picked up a guitar and has been playing to attract customers for more than four hours now."
Natalya cocked a disbelieving eyebrow. "Four hours? How are his fingers not bleeding yet?"
"He's Spanish," Katyusha explained, as if that were all that was to it. She sighed. "Doesn't he just have the most amazing voice, though?"
"Whatever."
((((()))))
"Hey, Kuzyn, think we, like, did a bad thing, telling Arthur where they went?"
Tavian didn't even look up from his book. "I figure that it was about time Samantha had something go right for her. And what were we supposed to do, tell Arthur that Alfred was magically going to lock him out of the house for a few hours for no good reason? They'll be okay."
Feliks wasn't so sure, but shrugged anyway. He propped his chin up on his elbows, staring at the light snow drifting softly to the streets outside. "This has been the most interesting Christmas in America yet, you know?"
"Beats hanging out with Grandpa and singing off-key, doesn't it?"
The two cousins looked away from their points of interest to exchange a smile.
((((()))))
"Are you sure you don't want some of this chocolate, Vati? It's very good," Lili offered, grinning to expose chocolate-coated teeth.
Vash smirked at the sight, focusing on the mess around her mouth rather than the scarf on her head. He pulled out a few tissues on the table beside him and wiped her mouth. "You're so messy," he jokingly chided. "Have some lady-like manners, will you? It's unbecoming to eat like this."
Lili let out a twinkling laugh, lighting up the entire hospital as she did so. "Aw, but it's Christmas, Vati! Ooh, look, here's a cherry cordial, you're favorite!"
With a dragging sigh, he accepted the round piece of chocolate and ate it. After swallowing the deliciousness, he poked at the box. "Hmm. It appears you were right. This is very delectable."
"Another, Vati?"
"If you insist, Lili."
He loved her laugh.
((((()))))
Heilrich knew the instant that the soft hum of his new violin resonated through the house that it was finally tuned and ready to be played. A light in his eyes, he flew downstairs to the living room. The rosewood violin was perched on Roderich's shoulder as he pulled the bow across the strings, erupted forth new sounds that graced the room's air. Roderich smiled at Heilrich's silent excitement. "Tuned and ready," he announced, presenting the violin and bow.
The blonde boy's face lit up with a smile as he adjusted it on his shoulder. Roderich strayed over to his piano. "Care to come sing with us, Elizabeta?" he asked. At her nod, Roderich spread out the sheet music to where Heilrich could see it. "Silent Night is easy," he suggested.
He frankly didn't care what song they did, so long as he could finally play. Heilrich had been wanting his own violin for years now, learning the chords on the old ebony violin Roderich sometimes played.
Elizabeta cleared her throat and began to sing. "Silent night, holy night. All is calm, all is bright…."
((((()))))
"…and then, after the angels left these poor shepherd guys, they all decided they were going to go see the baby Jesus in Bethlehem. They rode their little donkeys as fast as they could, braving sandstorms and blizzards and boa constrictors-"
"Vati, that is not how the Christmas story goes."
"Shut up, Luddy. This is my version."
Ludwig sighed. "But there aren't any boa constrictors in Judea. Especially back then."
Gilbert closed his bible and scowled up at Ludwig behind a thin, pretty much useless pair of reading glasses. "How do you know? Where you in Judea when Jesus was born? I think not. Now stop interrupting, I'm getting to the part about the kings!"
"You know, if you actually read Luke in the bible, you'd know that the three wisemen didn't come to see Jesus until he was three, after Mary and Joseph took him and fled to Egypt to escape King Herod's wrath."
"Psh, but everyone says the wisemen were there. It proves that poor people and rich people alike have Jesus as their savior."
"But it's not correct…."
"Who cares! It's the meaning that counts! So, back to the story! After the shepherds barely survived a daring attack by pirates, they finally came to the stable where the baby Jesus was…."
Translations-
Mandarin-
Wǒ hèn nǐ zhème duō, yà sè- I hate you so much, Arthur.
