Beyond Sight.
Chapter Ten:
"Merry Christmas!" Everyone screamed at midnight on Christmas Eve. Snow fell silently outside the large chalet Hitome had rented for them all to celebrate the human festival and give Jessica a chance to relax. Chase, Daren and Cassidy had stayed back in Anaheim to keep an eye on things and respond to any drake one alerts that may or may not happen whilst the ducks were away. As soon as they finished cheering they realised the babies were crying and Wildwing and Candy picked them up to shush them. They had finally been named Toby and Sara, Sara was turning out to be the quiet one who spent most of her time sleeping and Toby was the one who screamed for attention twenty four hours a day. Candy handed Sara to Jessica and went over to talk to Nosedive and her uncle. Whilst Wildwing stuck to his new kids and Jessica like glue and the others proceeded to get very drunk, although Grin just sat in the corner and meditated occasionally joining in a conversation here and there.
"Can we play a game?" Talia asked very loudly to anyone within earshot, in other words the whole room.
"Like what girly girl?" Dive asked looking over. Talia thought for a moment.
"Truth or dare." She said smiling maliciously.
"Oh I haven't played that game since I was in j . . . junior high?" Tanya said excitedly.
"I'm in!" Duke said instantly after looking Tanya straight in the eye.
"Sounds cool to me." Candy said. They all sat down around the fire, save Grin, "You not joining us big fella?"
"I would prefer to watch." He replied.
"Awe come on Grinster, what's the matter," Dive said and grinned, "you got a big dark secret you don't want us knowing about?"
"I simply wish to meditate on more important matters." He told them, Dive shrugged and they got on with the game.
"I'll go first." Talia announced, "um, Jessica truth or dare?"
"Truth."
"Okay, uh, how old are you?"
"You know how old I am." Jessica protested.
"I do but they don't and I want the exact date in their years." Talia grinned.
"If I ever get my powers back," she muttered then thought, "Let's see, um I was born back when the Polaris computer had just been built, it's been upgraded every ten thousand years since so that would make me forty thousand nine hundred and sixty three years old." When the room stayed deftly quiet she went red and squirmed a little, "What? I'm only twenty three in our years we just live a little longer where I come from."
"A little!" Duke scoffed.
"Oh hush," she said folding her arms getting grumpy, "it's my turn now right so, Duke Truth or dare?"
"Okay Dare."
"There's a surprise." Mallory said teasingly.
"Hey!" Duke threw a chip at her.
"Okay I dare you to . . . ask Tanya to marry you already!" Jessica had an evil grin on her face and Duke felt all eyes on him and Tanya, well she made a very good impression of a robin red breast, "Come on I know you've got the ring, what're you waiting for? Oh and I want it done properly please. You know down on one knee and everything!" Talia squealed with excitement as Tanya flushed an even deeper shade of red and Duke glared at Jessica then took a deep breath. He got down on one knee and pulled out a small velvet box.
"How long has he been keeping that in his pocket?" Canard asked Jessica.
"Oh at least three weeks if not longer!" Jessica chuckled, "Well?"
"Alright!" Duke said then looked at Tanya a slight flush visible under his own dark feathers, "Will you marry me Tanya?" Tanya just screamed and leapt at him kissing him over and over.
"And there folks you have your answer!" Candy said smiling. Duke and Tanya pulled apart and he placed the ring on her finger then turned to his niece.
"My turn ain't it?" Duke said and Candy looked nervous, "What'll it be Candy truth or dare?"
"You know I'm tired maybe I should just go to. . ."
"Oh no niece of mine I got it so you can get it too." Duke interrupted her.
"Um . . . Dare no truth! No wait!" Candy made a face.
"She said dare first so she's got to do a dare!" Talia yelled.
"No please don't he's so mean he'll make me do something really nasty!" Candy whined.
"I dare my darlin' niece ta go on a date with," he paused for suspense, "Nosedive." Nosedive, who had been taking a sip of his soda spat out the contents of his beak and looked at Candy.
"You're kidding right?" He said to Duke.
"What's that suppose to mean?" Candy turned on him.
"Nothing I just thought." Nosedive sputtered.
"Awe, he's blushing." Wildwing chuckled receiving a cushion in the face, "Hey! Watch the kids!"
"Sorry," Nosedive said sheepishly then yawned, "You know I'm going ta bed." Nosedive made a quick exit and ran up to the room he was sharing with Duke.
Two days later Talia was playing in the snow with Tanya when Nosedive, who was beet red walked out of the door with Candy and the two of them took a duck cycle and headed into the small town at the bottom of the mountain where Duke had kindly booked a table for them at a restaurant and given them directions to a hotel that had a night club. Candy had great pleasure in getting Nosedive very drunk, although as far as he knew he was only drinking soda and orange. They finally arrived home at four in the morning, they'd lost the duck cycle and had somehow managed to find their way home to find Wildwing waiting for them.
"Are you two drunk?" He crossed his arms and glared at the two teens.
"Not me!" Nosedive slurred and nearly fell over if Candy hadn't caught him, "I only had orange in my soda."
"Candy." Duke growled from the doorway.
"What? I only gave him a little bit I didn't know he was such a light weight!" Candy propped Nosedive up on her shoulder.
"The kid ain't from the brotherhood or the guild," Duke told her talking of her parents and others like them; "I doubt he's ever had a drink in his life of course he's a light weight!"
"Well how was I supposed to know that," she whined pouting innocently, "We were only having fun."
"We'll talk about this in the morning," Wildwing rubbed his eyes, "let's just get you two to . . ." He looked up when he heard a scream from upstairs. They looked at each other before running upstairs to see what was wrong, even Nosedive had come too enough to run up with them. They found everyone else up and Jessica ignoring her now screaming twins and comforting a sobbing Talia.
"What's wrong?" Wildwing asked.
"They're coming!" Talia sobbed into Jessica's chest.
Well not a particularly long one but I am meant to be revising so that's your lot. Please review. Toodles Angel xxx.