Day 25: Hestia's Family

Hestia looked down at the final quilted square. She was trying to think of what other tale she could tell, to try and make it whole, but she was still distracted by the emptiness in her home. Her Familia had moved on, it seemed. They had found other people to spend the holidays with and couldn't visit her. Which she was ok with, really! That meant that everyone in her Familia had moved on to have happy, successful lives.

It was also kind of Hestia's fault, and she knew that. She had never properly reached out to her children. She felt kind of bad, expecting them to come back and answer to her every whim. They had families of their own now.

So, Hestia had distracted herself instead. She had thought of imaginative scenarios for her children. They involved far-out futures and other Familia. This quilt was the final product, but there was nothing left for her to do now that it was done. Hestia was alone, and it was Christmas day now.

That was when there was shuffling outside and a knock at the door. Hestia blinked, about to go check, when there was the sound of a key. The door was thrown open, and children came rushing in.

"Hey!" said Bell, running after a little pair of blondes. "Get back here, you two! Can't just run inside!"

Ais followed behind quietly. A little baby with Bell's snowy white hair was tucked into her chest. She smiled at her children before nodding at Hestia.

"The others are helping with the bags," she explained.

Hestia sat there in confusion, a dumb look on her face. As she sat there, more people came through the door. Welf and Hephaestus came through, hands clasped. Behind them were Haruhime and Mikoto, their newly adopted daughter between them. Then it was Lili, alone and happy, and then people from the Hostess. Next came Loki Familia, Miach, Takemikazuchi, and on and on, the people came. Hestia blinked as they entered and started to serve food and drink.

Soon, the empty manor was in full party mode. There was music and merriment, and Hestia didn't know what to do about all of it. Finally, Bell found her.

"Sorry that we weren't here earlier, too much snow," he said. "Merry Christmas, Hestia!"

Hestia smiled, tears rapidly falling.

"Merry Christmas, Bell!"