A/N: After an epic one for year nine, I figured something small and sweet between the sister would be good for ten. Enjoy!
The night is cold, the sky is just visible through a layer of clouds, and a dog barking breaks the silence of the neighborhood.
Inside, the Ross house is silent. The master bedroom is dark and quiet. For the first time in a long time, Doug and Carol sleep without cell phones ringing and work calling them in. In the kitchen, water drips from the tap hitting dishes left in the sink from a nighttime cupcake making session. A handprint turkey hangs on the fridge next to a shopping list and schedules for dance, sports, and choir and theater rehearsals. A purple raincoat hangs off one of the chairs at the breakfast bar, and underneath the counter, a pair of black ballet flats lay forgotten.
The clock on the stove changes.
11:57
On the wall up the stairs hang photos of the family taken over the summer. They are all standing barefoot in a meadow full of flowers, the blue sky bright with sunshine. Doug is in a grey t-shirt and jeans, Carol is wearing a white and yellow flowy sundress, her hair braided back to match her daughter's style. The girls are all in sunny yellow dresses, hair braided under white flower crowns. It's clear, even in the photos, that Kate is still the taller of the twins.
11:58
The first pink-walled bedroom on the right, a little girl, just turned six-years-old, sleeps in the twin sized bed. Snuggled deep under the covers, arm curled around her prized kitty stuffed animal. A princess night light brightens the room just enough to keep the monsters away.
Down the hall, the guest bedroom sits full of junk and old toys forgotten with time. The bathroom in-between is dark, save for a small night light plugged into the wall. A Disney Princess towel hangs off a hook; bath toys sit in a basket next to the tub.
11:59
Across the hall in the purple-walled bedroom, a young girl is sitting up in bed. Only a small light clipped to the headboard behind her illuminates the book in her hands. Harry Potter in the graveyard with Voldemort. She's almost done. She has to finish. She flips another page when the blue glow from her watch shines and the beeping alarm has her stopping mid-sentence.
Tess looks at her wrist, and her eyes widen.
12:00
Midnight.
It was November 25th. Their birthday.
They were ten-years-old. Their days as little kids were almost behind them; toys were replaced with electronics and friends (except for a select few that were hidden away in dark closet corners).
Kate is sassy and sarcastic; friendly, and kind. She was the more sensitive of the twins and takes everything to heart. She was quick to cry, but also quick to snap if someone hurt someone she loved. She loves history, and is currently really into the 1970's. She loves playing volleyball and was just starting her second year on a club team. She has lots of friends, some of which she shared with her twin, that came over to the house a lot
Tess was as loud and fiery and dramatic as ever. Everything was a big deal, and if it wasn't she would make it one. She's silly and goofy, with a great sense of humor. She is quite popular and student council representative of her fifth-grade class. Tess loves to dance- tap, jazz, and musical theater best-and takes every opportunity to be on stage. She is in her school choir as well as a youth theater troupe and auditions for community theater production whenever she could. Tess is a total bookworm, and loves English class.
Tess places a bookmark in her page, kicks back her blankets and gets out of bed. She crosses her room, through their shared bathroom and into her sister's bedroom. The only light in the room is the moonlight coming from behind the closed blinds. Kate is laying on her back, mouth open as she breathes loudly, one arm over her head and the other lies across her stomach.
Tess tiptoes closer and pokes her twin's arm.
"Kate?" she whispers. Nothing. She tries again, speaking louder this time. "Kate?"
Kate stirs in her sleep, shifting under the covers.
"Kate. Wake up."
At her sister's voice, Kate sighs, letting out a whine.
"Katie."
"What," she groans, opening her eyes to look at her twin.
"It's after midnight. It's our birthday. We're ten!"
"Good for us," Kate murmurs, still not awake.
"Happy birthday, sissy,"
"Happy birthday, Bear," Kate says before rolling over and falling back to sleep.
Tess leaves her sister's room, smiling. It was their birthday. She climbs back into bed, putting the covers back on and dives right back into her book, not sleepy at all. Completely ready to find out what happens to The Boy Who Lived and the Dark Lord.
