Despite current events, Christmas came and went for the Phantomhive household like usual. Not much had changed aside from minor details and the feeling that they were running away from something big by celebrating. Still, they couldn't simply cancel the holiday. Luka was too excited for it as always, and the duo had already made preparations, themselves.

The family looked like any other as everyone gathered around the tree on Christmas morning and opened presents. Luka was extremely impressed by the new toys he acquired and Revy was too. Sebastian obtained several new ties and a cat pillow, although he prayed that this would be the year that his master finally permitted him to have an actual cat. Despite his knowledge, that idea was flirted with while the duo were shopping, but Ciel held fast and stubbornly refused.

Alois was actually wearing one of his gifts already, which ruined the image he and his spouse had before. There was a moment where they looked like parents watching their children opening presents, but the blonde had acquired a onesie that looked like a lion. He was extremely taken and impressed by it and had to put it on immediately. So, as he snuggled up against his beau, the man was warm and cozy. It didn't help him as everyone had gotten up especially early that morning, and Alois wanted to take a nap.

"These cups are so cheesy..." he snickered, staring into the mug that he was drinking tea from. It, too, was a gift from the bluenette, and it was part of a matching pair. Ciel had gotten them both matching mugs that both say "Mr." on them, knowing that his beau would love them, if he didn't eventually get them himself at some point.

"You love them." Ciel answered, taking a sip from his own. As soon as Alois laid eyes on them, he needed to have tea served in them right away.

"I do. I'm actually surprised that you got these. I didn't think you were the kind."

"They're not for me. They're a present for you, and I know you're into cheesy stuff like this, which is why I bought them."

"I am." grinned the menace. "Merry Christmas." he added, pecking his husband on the cheek.

"Merry Christmas, dear." Answered the Watchdog, putting an arm around the man's shoulders and pulling him closer. The two of them simply sat like this for a while and watched the younger Mackens. Even Ciel had to chuckle when Luka repeatedly used his Hot Wheel set to launch small toy cars at Revy's back while the revenant tried to read instructions for his new game.

All was well in the Phantomhive household. Later in the week, the Phantomhives, Hellsings, and Midfords would get together and exchange gifts for the first time. The idea was courtesy of Elizabeth and Alois, but the rest of the extended family thought that it was a nice idea.

It was peaceful, although Ciel and Integra felt a tad out of place by the normalcy of it all. Revy and Geraldine caught up and hung out together, and Elizabeth talked with pretty much everyone. Alois somehow managed to sneak his husband away from it all so the man could recharge his energy. It was difficult for him to be around people and socialise for too long, even if they were people who he liked! In addition, it was a good excuse for Alois to get the Watchdog under the mistletoe.

Christmas for the Phantomhives had come and gone, leaving the duo with nothing else to do. The menace was still on break until January, so he had plenty of time to play, still. Unfortunately, he and the bluenette had run out of places to go. Then again, Alois didn't seem to mind. He seemed content with a few quiet nights in. Somehow, they felt as though they were going to need it soon. It was important to savour the moment when they had it.

Despite the holiday, the Scarlet Order was still out there, building their forces and otherwise being up to no good. Preston was spending Christmas without his family for the first time. He had his crew, but it would never be the same. Mister and Missus Omid were heartbroken, of course, having Christmas without their only child, knowing he was out there doing god knows what. At least, they assumed he was still alive at all, although they were somewhat doubtful. They knew that he was never coming back.

Everyone knew that Preston wasn't coming back. The only way that he would is in a coffin, if enough pieces of him could be found. Several of the order's ships had been sunk by British and Scandinavian forces as soon as they were positively identified based on the turncoat's description and vague coordinates. H.E.L.L.S.I.N.G. still hadn't been given confirmation on whether or not they could work together on land, however. Even if they did, they didn't know where to start.

Time would change this, however, as another letter came in. This time, the letter contained a description of the turncoat's ship, saying that they were almost taken out by mistake. The ship had a red flag like all of the others, but the symbol on it was specific to that vessel. It was the silhouette of a heart with a dagger through the sides. In addition to this, there was a specific radio frequency that would prove immensely useful in the future.

It was the frequency used by the Scarlet Order to communicate. The H.E.L.L.S.I.N.G Intelligence Department almost couldn't believe that they were given this. Immediately, they tuned in, but they needed confirmation as to whether or not it was truly the order. For this, they called upon coworker Audrey Baines to listen in for a bit and tell them whether or not Preston was speaking.

Audrey had to listen for a while. He wore a pair of headphones, and so did a few others. He wrote down what he was hearing along with them as well. The order gave each other geographical coordinates that described villages that they had been to and were on good terms with, as well as many new recruits they came across. They also described their current situations.

One group was in a near panic as they had come across a village that they had previously sent a scout troop to, only to find that the entire first group had been killed by a particularly nasty group of elves somewhere deep within a remote forest. Audrey wrinkled his nose at the description of the place. Their troops had been stripped and had every last thing stolen from them. Their lifeless bodies were carefully placed in a seated nearby to scare away intruders. One body in particular was especially disturbing. It was that of a werewolf that had been skinned. Part of the head was missing, leaving only the lower jaw. Audrey had no idea that elves could be capable of this. All of the ones he had seen were so mellow!

It took a while, and everything seemed to add up, but they still needed to hear from Preston. Audrey wasn't complaining. He thought the order's conversations were interesting, but even more than that, he was afraid. He didn't want to hear Preston's voice because he was afraid to hear how much he changed. What if Preston was injured? What if his health was finally falling apart? What if he was dying? What if he simply wasn't the man that he used to be?

No, Audrey knew that he wasn't. The Preston that they knew was long gone. In his place was something else. A monster with black armour and a scarlet banner. Still, part of Audrey really didn't want it to be true, despite knowing that it was an undeniable fact. The time eventually came, however. Audrey's heart fell as he heard the voice.

"We don't need to worry about the hud tyv village. Just stay away from there. It's not worth it." he had said. Preston's voice was more gruff than Audrey remembered, but that was still Preston. That was exactly what his old friend sounded like, despite minute differences.

In a flash, Audrey remembered how they used to go over to each other's houses and play video games, and how they used to talk about what shows and movies they were into lately. Out of all of the members of the original sensational seven, it was Preston who he was most familiar with. It was Preston who was his best friend. He almost couldn't speak to point out that the Omid's prescence was confirmed.

"That's him..." Audrey forced out, wanting to take off his headphones, but his body being too numb to do so. "That's Preston..."

Once it was confirmed, the task force sent a delegate to Lieutenant Chu's office, who then passed on the information to Sir Hellsing, herself. Then, Audrey was thanked for his help and was sent back to his desk. Just like that. It had been approximately six months since Preston left, and it had been approximately six months since Audrey had heard Preston's voice. Just like that, he was gone again, and he wasn't permitted to participate in the investigation any further due to his personal involvement with the man. His best friend was gone, even though he was so close.

It simply wasn't fair. Audrey knew Preston better than anyone, so surely he could have been at least some use to the team. His skills at information gathering were some of the best in the entire department, so he certainly would have been useful in that aspect! But no, he wasn't allowed. Lieutenant Chu had banned him from the investigation due to his personal involvement with Preston Omid, fearing that Audrey might want to find him for the wrong reasons. Preston was not the man he was, and he never will be again. Audrey knew that. Even still, there was part of him that thought that he could be saved. He knew it was because of this that he was barred from the search, and while he thought that was wise, it was still horrendously frustrating.

He wouldn't be stopped, however. He wanted to know more. He wanted to know everything! The order wasn't gone. It was still out there. Preston was still out there! And Preston needed to be stopped. If anyone was going to do it, however, Audrey firmly believed that he should be at least a part of it. Bones felt as though it was simply his responsibility. It felt as though it was partially his fault for not helping him when he needed him most. Just like the other members of the original sensational seven, Audrey thought that there should have been at least something he could have done to prevent this before it started.

The fire was raging out of control now, however. It couldn't be stopped unless it smothered itself or was extinguished. There was no undoing the damage. There was no taking back the past. All that they could worry about now was the future, starting with the present. The Scarlet Order would fall. It would fall if it were the last thing that Audrey did.


A/N: I can finally use the site on my computer again! Lots of plugging and unplugging things...

I have no idea what I need to do for the next chapter. I wonder what I should do? I'm out of notes. Or am I? No, it definitely am...

Maybe I could do a chapter checking up on what Scarlet Order is up to? What do y'all think?

Mmmm... I think I'm gonna do it anyway, regardless...

I think we're out of Character Shet questions? Guess there won't be any this time, either...

I got a question, though:

"Hate, I think I already asked this on Tumblr, but can't remember if you did answer or nah, so I'll ask here again for the readers may want to know too. Do you still draw for this story? Where do you post?" by Guest

I actually did answer this on Tumblr, and the answer is that I do post artwork on Tumblr! I just don't draw a lot, is all. I either don't have ideas, or don't think anybody wants to see the same headshots and poses again and again. Don't wanna be boring, y'know? If you have a request, though, I would be happy to draw it! Just send me an ask on Tumblr. Same username. Can't guarantee anything fancy, though.

Until the next chapter, my duckies~!