I've briefly mentioned my headcanon that Ian has a younger sister on Tumblr before. When I was first trying to name her, I had a little list that I was trying to narrow down. The name Alice was on it, and when I kept getting the image in my head of Alice Lowe as her faceclaim, I decided to go with it. I may or may not be consistent with my choice for Ian's surname btw, I used Taylor here, but I also like Miller, as suggested by simonfarnabyslegs and leftabit-leftabit

Fandom: Bill (Gabrian)

Day 16 prompt: Home For The Holidays

Ian didn't talk much about his childhood or his family, but in the almost two years she had known him, Gabriel had pieced together a few things here and there.

As a young boy living in Croydon, he'd been taken away to work for the earl, earning his family a small amount but leaving them behind. They wouldn't have done it if they weren't desperate, of course, but he still missed them, and it especially broke his heart to say goodbye to his little sister. Though Ian learned to read and write in preparation for his work, she didn't, nor did their parents, so they had no way to keep in touch. At first, he was granted the occasional day off to visit them, but these were few and far between, and only dwindled as time went on. The earl wanted to spend more and more time at his London residence, and eventually Ian was cut off from his family.

In all honesty, he had given up hope that he would ever see any of them again.

– THANKTIVAL –

It was their second Christmas together, and after his (and the children's) efforts to make her feel a little more at home the year before, Gabriel had finally figured out the perfect way to return the favour. When Bill heard her plan, he easily granted her some time off in mid-December; no-one would be working during the twelve days of Christmas anyway, so it wouldn't do any harm for her to start her break a bit early.

The only explanation she gave to Ian for her absence was that she would be bringing him a gift.

"You don't have to go so far just to get something for me, I'd much rather have you here. It's lonely enough as it is now Anne's taken the kids back home."

She just laced their fingers together and gave his hands a gentle squeeze.

"I will be home again before you know it."

With a kiss goodbye, and a tight hug for Bill, she was off.

To Croydon.

– THANKTIVAL –

She knew that there was no guarantee that this would work, but it was worth a try. Upon arriving in Croydon, Gabriel found an inn to stay at. She would give herself three days here to search as thoroughly as she could, then move on to the neighbouring towns for another day or two if nothing turned up. As long as she could be back home by Christmas Eve, she thought, she would be happy to keep going further.

Thankfully, though, she wouldn't have to.

It was her third and final day in Croydon and she had already made arrangements to leave in the morning. She spent the afternoon wandering around the local marketplace, buying some food for her journey and taking one last look around.

She was waiting for a baker to wrap a loaf of bread for her when she asked, "Would you happen to know a woman by the name Alice Taylor?"

She'd lost count of many times she'd asked the question. The baker took the coins she handed him and stopped to think but while he did, Gabriel felt a light tap on her shoulder.

"Excuse me?"

She turned to find a young woman, around her mid-twenties, she would guess, brown-haired and blue-eyed, staring back at her.

"Yes?"

"Did you say you were looking for Alice Taylor?"

"Yes!" Gabriel tried not to get too excited, "Are you she?"

"I am, but I've no idea why you would be asking for me of all people," she shrugged, "There's nothing especially interesting about me."

"You are Ian's sister, yes?"

Alice froze, her eyes going wide, "You know Ian?"

Gabriel grinned, "Very well, we shall say. My name is Gabriel Montoya, Ian and I are living together with a friend, and after all he has told me about you, I decided to come looking for you."

– THANKTIVAL –

Once the two had started talking about Ian, it seemed they couldn't stop, and they had ended up walking around the market together. He was the one thing they knew they had in common, and they were both all too eager to find out more about him, even on the more solemn side of things.

"So much has happened that he never knew. Our mother died some years ago, for one."

"Oh..." Gabriel breathed and took her hand in a show of sympathy, "I'm so sorry..."

Ian would be devastated...

"... Would you tell him? When you go back? He should know."

"You might tell him yourself," Gabriel suggested in a gentle voice and Alice cocked her head slightly, "I actually came here in the hopes that you might spend Christmas with us. Ian misses you terribly, and I'm sure he'd love to hear all he's missed from you. Even such sad news."

"Go to London for Christmas?"

"If you'd like."

"I-I wouldn't want to impose. Would this friend of yours be alright with me coming?"

"He is more than happy. He does love to entertain. In fact, you may recognise his name," Gabriel raised an eyebrow, "William Shakespeare."

Alice's hand clapped over her mouth in shock, "Shakespeare? The playwright?"

"The very same."

"Oh, my...! I mean, living with the Earl of Croydon as a servant was one thing, but my own brother living with William Shakespeare as a friend?" she shook her head in disbelief, "He's done well for himself, hasn't he?"

"He has, indeed," Gabriel smiled back, then she lowered her voice, "Though I must advise you not to mention the earl to him, should you come. Especially not his execution. He finds it quite upsetting to think about."

"Of course. So, when do we leave?"

"Tomorrow morning."

– THANKTIVAL –

When they arrived back at Bill's house, they found him there alone. He jumped up as soon as he heard Gabriel call out and rushed to welcome them.

"You must be Alice, eh?" he offered her his hand to shake, flashing his usual friendly smile, "I've heard a lot about you from Ian. It's good to finally put a face to the stories."

"Yes!" she beamed back at him, clearly more than a little starstruck, "And thank you so much for letting me stay here, Mr Shakespeare, I-"

"Please," Bill interrupted, "Just Bill is fine."

"Bill. Right," she nodded, still smiling giddily, "You're sure it's alright that I stay through the holiday?"

"Of course! We have a spare room now since Ian moved into Gabriel's, so you can stay as long as you like."

Gabriel held her breath when Alice's eyes widened.

"Oh," her eyebrows shot up, "Oh...!" then she grinned and Gabriel relaxed, relieved. Until she saw a teasing glint in Alice's eye that made her just a little bit nervous, "I should've guessed! So not only has Ian gotten in with a famous writer, but he's also got himself a girlfriend, has he?" she quipped and Gabriel smiled, a light blush dusting her cheeks. Alice quirked an eyebrow, "Or, might it be... a wife?"

Gabriel shook her head, still smiling, "Well, we have spoken of marriage..."

"Oh, I can't wait to see him!" Alice said with a mischievous giggle, "I'll have to scold him for running off and having a life without me. Where is he, actually?"

"He just went to the market," Bill said, "He should be back any minute now. Just imagine the look on his face when he sees both of you here!"

Right on cue, they heard the front door open and close, and Bill motioned for the girls to step back, so he wouldn't see them straight away, then he popped his head out of the kitchen to greet him.

"Alright, Ian, how was the market?"

"Not too bad," he made his way over and spotted Gabriel first. A grin broke out on his face and he surged forward to envelop her in a hug, "Gabriel! I've missed you!"

She just smiled, "And I missed you. But," she gently turned him around, "You have missed her more."

He stopped still, staring. He squinted briefly – it had been a long time since they'd last seen each other – but it didn't take long for him to recognise her.

"Alice?"

"Ian...!" she opened her arms and he ran to throw his arms around her. Even when he finally pulled away, he a tight hold on her, as though she could disappear out of his life again at any moment.

"How on earth..." he looked to Gabriel, "Is this where you've been? Finding my sister?"

She just gave an innocent shrug and let her eyes wander around the room, "... Perhaps..."

Shaking his head, Ian released Alice and walked right up to Gabriel to kiss her. And as he did, Alice bit back whatever quick-witted comment she was going to make and glanced away, her hands clasped behind her back while she rocked back and forth on her heels. All the while, Bill sat by and watched them fondly. Ian whispered a heartfelt 'thank you' into Gabriel's ear as he held her close, then returned to Alice.

As they watched the siblings together, Bill patted Gabriel's arm. She looked at him and he gave her a proud smile.

"Good work."