Nice To Be Loved: 32 Chapters, 77 Reviews

The Files of Kazdan Kalinkas: 34 Chapters, 42 Reviews

Legends of Chaos: 19 Chapters, 10 Reviews

Weird that The Files has (and will have) more chapters than NTBL but NTBL is kicking it's butt in the reviews department. X3 Win.

The Files of Kazdan Kalinkas

Book Two: After the Storm

Chapter Eighteen: All I Want For Christmas

"Did you ever notice that life seems to follow certain patterns? Like I noticed that every year around this time, I hear Christmas music." –Tom Sims

I could see the snow covered hospital parking lot from my window.

I had been almost four days since the police had tried to get a report out of me and while Rick tried to work on me every so often, I kept my mouth shut firmly. Except when I let loose the sarcasm and anger at his attention. It was unwanted.

I wasn't going to tell them anything.

I leaned my head against the cold glass of the window, looking down at the snow. I wished I could be outside. I wanted to be outside. I wanted to get out. I'd walked around on my own a bit but Abby was always there to drag me back to my room before I could get far. It was irritating.

My parents had come to see me every day and, on occasion, so had Tom and his parents. It was nice to have some friendly faces around but they didn't stop the nightmares. I slept about three hours every night, if that. My past in Perim was catching up to me, however much I'd tried to run from it.

One afternoon, I'd managed to haul myself out of the bed and walked to the chair by the window. I was a little worn out because of the drugs that were still in my system but I had wanted to look outside at the snow. The only problem was that I'd forgotten to bring a blanket along and the chill from the cold glass was making me shiver.

The door opened with a bang and I looked around to see a Christmas tree walk in. It jingled with multi-colored balls and strings of unlit lights.

"Where am I supposed to put this?" Asked the Christmas tree in the voice of Tom's father.

"Uuhhh…how about the corner over there." Mrs. Majors pushed past the tree and pointed to the spot across from.

"Merry Christmas Eve!" Tom shouted, exploding through the door behind his parents. He paused when he saw the empty bed, "Kaz? Where's he gone?"

"H-h-hey." My voice shook as I shivered. Tom jumped around and saw me sitting by the window.

"Holy crap, Kaz, your lips are blue!" My best friend leapt to my side as I stood up shakily. He grabbed me under the arms and practically threw me back into bed. I pulled the blankets up to my chin and willed myself to warm up. It had been stupid to move around when I was bogged down by the drugs meant to keep me calm. Like I was going to freak out anymore. It had been a one time thing. Stupid drugs. Stupid hospital.

Stupid everything.

"Kaz, get that silly pout off your face." Mrs. Majors nudged my shoulder, "This is Christmas Eve, you should be smiling and having fun!"

"Yes, being stuck in the hospital for Christmas is so much fun." I said sarcastically but I smiled anyway.

"Ha! Got it!" Mr. Majors appeared from behind the Christmas tree as its lights flickered to life. He pushed a lock of black hair from his face as he stood up and stepped back to survey his work.

"Where are my mom and dad?" I asked, looking around at Tom who was bouncing up and down in the chair next to my bed like a little kid.

"They're coming in a few minutes." Tom replied, grinning, "With a surpriiiisseeee!"

"Speaking of…" Tom's mom glanced at Mr. Majors who nodded and they hurried out of the room.

"Where are they going?" Tom shrugged at my question. Then he stood up and walked to the door. He stuck his head out in the hall, looked left and right, and then backed into the room again, closing the door behind him.

"I told Peyton and Sarah you made it home okay." He said, taking his seat again, "They say hi."

"Heh, I get home and all they can say is hi?" I laughed a little bit, "What about H'earring? Is he okay?"

"I ported to Garv's yesterday day during school—I hope you're happy about that." Tom said, giving me a look that made me chuckle, "He's doing okay, he's been helping Garv out. If I didn't know any better, I'd say he was an OverWorlder." We both laughed.

"Tell him I said hello." I twisted the blanket around my fingers, "What about the rest of Perim?"

Tom shook his head, "I don't know. It's a complete mess."

"Is it Chaor? Is he destroying everything? Is he still looking for me?" I couldn't keep the panic from tracing my voice.

"That's the weird thing," Tom replied, "No one's seen head or tail of Chaor for almost a week. Ever since you escaped the UnderWorld, he's been looking for but a few days ago, Sarah gave me a call. She told me she'd been talking to an UnderWorlder friend of hers who told her that Chaor disappeared."

"Disappeared?" I repeated, "How could a Creature like him just disappear off the face of Perim?"

"I don't know." Tom lowered his voice, "But as soon as Chaor vanished, Lord Van Bloot started showing up. He's been seen all over Perim. Nobody knows what he's up to but a lot of people think he's making sure Chaor isn't going to show up again."

"All over?"

"Well, mainly around the OverWorld but yeah."

"What if…he's looking for me too?"

Tom stared at me, "You're just being paranoid. Van Bloot doesn't even know that you were Ghost. Hardly anyone knows. Just the me, Sarah, and Peyton."

"And H'earring." I added.

"And Chaor and Takinom and…Agitos…" Tom frowned, "And Garv and Najarin and Maxxor and Hifdan and…also Gespaden…" He laughed weakly , "Alright so quite a few people know but what I'm trying to say is that—."

The door opened again, stopping Tom from finishing his sentence, and the next thing I knew I was being smothered in hugs. I heard Tom laughing at me and recognized the voice of my mother screaming Merry Christmas in my ear but it wasn't until I gasped for air that they all backed up and I could see them.

There was mom alright, and my dad, and…

"H-Husky!" I cried and threw myself into the arms of my favorite cousin, "I don't believe it!"

Husky was two years older than me and from my dad's side of the family which meant he was a full blooded Irish. Tom said we looked alike but I didn't see the resemblance. Husky was taller and lankier than me and while our hair was (usually) the same length, his was such a deep red it was almost brown and his eyes were hazel.

"Kaz! I'd heard you'd gone and vanished, boy-o!" Husky looped an arm around my neck and rubbed his fist into the top of my head. I struggled, shouting playfully at him, and he released me, "'Tis a right miracle you came back! I was all 'in set to come over 'ere and search you out, see!" He flicked the silver ring in his right ear with a grin, "Knew you wouldn't stay missin' for long. No cousin o' mine's a pansy enough to hide in the shadows!"

I laughed. I couldn't help it. Husky always knew how to make me laugh.

Well, except for that time during my fifth birthday when he'd put the frog down the back of my shirt.

But that was different.

Suddenly, it didn't feel like I was in the hospital anymore.

"We brought presents!" Mr. and Mrs. Majors had come back with arms full of packages, "Happy Christmas Eve, Kaz!"

Husky plopped onto the foot of the bed as my parents helped the Majors set the presents under the tree. Tom remained in his chair beside me, shaking his head and smiling.

"That's a shocker of a scar there, Kaz-o." Husky said, pointing at my neck.

"You think that one looks bad…" I muttered but didn't elaborate. Husky looked at me expectantly but when I didn't say anything, he reached into the pocket of his jeans and pulled out a slightly bent clover. He reached past me and stuck it in the vase of flowers. It had four leaves.

"May the sun always shine on your window pane." He said serenely, laying his hand on my head and mussing up my hair affectionately, "May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain. May the hand of a friend always be near you. May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you."

"Thanks, Husk." I said in a strained voice, "Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas, Kaz." He paused and then said, "Now hold on just one bloomin' second. This is Christmas Eve, isn't it?" I nodded, "Then you're supposed to be happy! Buck up!" He tapped the side of my face with his fist and I grabbed his wrist in my hands, yanking it down and to the side so that his arms were crossed awkwardly across his chest.

Everyone stopped for a second to stare at me.

I released Husky, a lump swelling in my throat.

I'd reacted like I'd been trained to.

And I was suddenly terrified of myself.

"The things you pick up from the local bullies…" Tom said uncomfortably, trying to break the silence.

Husky chuckled and the ice cracked.

The adults went back to fussing over the presents but Husky's smile dropped as soon as their backs were turned,

"Seriously, where have you been? I only heard you'd vanished a couple of months ago and it took all my beggin' just to get my parents to let me come over here to see you." He eyed me carefully, "And you don't pick up quick moves like that from no local bullies, boy-o."

"It doesn't matter where I was." I said in a low voice, "I don't want to think about it. I don't want to remember it. What happened is over. I'm just glad to be home." I smiled at him, "Alright, Husky?"

"Alright, alright, sorry." Husky apologized, "You're right, this is Christmas Eve. We're not supposed to think about darkness and that stuff right now." He stood up on the bed and raised his arms over his head, his fingertips almost touching the ceiling, "WE WISH YOU A MERRY BLOODY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY DANDY NEW YEAR!"

"Harold-Lee Thineus Mc'Dembers you get down off the hospital bed this instant young man!" My mom screeched and Husky was off the bed faster than Xearv on a good day. He scuffed his boot on the floor with a sheepish grin. Tom hid a laugh behind his hand.

I didn't.

I let everyone know I thought it was funny.

"I didn't know your full name was Harold-Lee…" Tom sniggered and Husky shot him a glare.

"It was his mom's idea, believe it or not." I said and Husky directed his glare at me, "What? It's not like it's a giant secret or anything."

"Well it was." My cousin muttered, crossing his arms like he was angry at me. But I could see him grinning.

"Are you guys staying here all night?" I asked, changing the topic. The Christmas tree was wonderful and sent a happy bubble of nostalgia through me.

"We talked to the doctors and it took some convincing," My dad said with a smile that made me wonder what sort of convincing had been done, "But they eventually agreed to let us all stay here with you as long as we keep it quiet." He looked pointedly at Husky who smirked and turned away.

"This is going to be the best Christmas ever!" Tom promised, leaning forward in his seat, "Because it's Christmas, your birthday, and a semi-Welcome Home Party all at the same time!"

I didn't say anything.

I just sat there soaking it all in.

This was what I had wanted. My family and friends. Next to me.

In my own world.

I lost track of the time.

We joked and laughed and acted as through we weren't in a hospital and I hadn't been missing for almost a year.

And I loved every second of it.

I'm pretty sure that I fell asleep with a smile on my face.

This was longer but the scene that happened after this just took a lot away from this chapter so I moved it to the beginning of the next chapter.

Well, I hope you enjoyed Kaz's little family/friend reunion. I know I liked writing. Husky's something of a cameo right now, he'll have to go back to Ireland soon. And, yes, it is my fangirl—I mean—it is my personal opinion that Kaz's father's side is originally from Ireland. Speaking of which, what Husky says to him after he gives Kaz the clover is an Irish Blessing. Look for Husky in the future. Maybe not in The Files but in something I will post soon after…