"Gate B14 now loading," the scratchy intercom crackled. If it wasn't for vampire hearing, they might have missed the announcement. Being in JFK on Christmas Eve was Hell in a hand basket. It was a Christmas miracle in and of its self that they were able to get plane tickets the night before. Alec triple checked the tickets in their hands. They were flying to London Heathrow and then catching a connecting two and a half hour flight to Rome. The fake passports that Demetri had made claimed that both were eighteen. But they also said that Alec had brown eyes and Jane had hit five- three in height. TSA luckily never questioned them. And even luckier, one of the dhampir kids was able to forge a passport for Donovan. Even if TSA checked the numbers in a computer database, it would still come up as valid. It was remarkable how attuned the dhampirs were to twenty first century-technology. Maybe the Volturi could update some of their methods? The three of them stood, ready to get in line with the many others who would be share the cramped space for the next seven hours. Already the colored contacts were starting to itch as if the plastic film over their eyes wasn't annoying enough. They wouldn't last the entire flight and would need to be changed during. But that was no biggy, they would just pretend to use the washrooms like normal humans. It was a good idea that they had fed before embarking on their trip back to Volterra. Planes were hard for vampires. Tight, inescapable quarters that allowed you to feel the pulse hiding beneath the fragile flesh, heart the pounding of hearts race in anticipation at the slightest turbulence, the aroma of rich, hot, thick, salty blo-. Alec forced the thoughts away as he handed his boarding pass to the flight attendant.
Tiago felt like he should say something. Any damage that had been done physically had healed. But the two boys had been avoiding each other like two north magnets. Tiago felt like he should say something because Marina wanted him to say something. With her sapphire eyes and pearly white smile, she had reminded him that, "Yes, he might have antagonized you and could have been more tactful in foretelling the news. But you were the one who over reacted and attacked him with a knife. You stabbed him, while he only left a bruised ego. Just apologize. For me at least? I hate seeing you two fighting." Although Tiago didn't know what some of the bigger words meant, such as "antagonize", but he got the greater meaning of what she was trying to say. He knocked on Damien's door. A moan of a mattress, the sound of something being set on a table, pitter of feet, and creak of a door. The shorter boy poked his head and only half his body out, like he wanted to shield part of himself behind the safe confines of the door. Damien had to look up to make eye contact with Tiago. Tiago realized that Damien's eyes were bloodshot with dark circles and face void of emotion. The taller boy opened his mouth to speak, but couldn't find the words to say. Tiago had slowly forgiven Felix for not telling him, but understood why. But he still had his Dad, just not his father. And once he thought about it, he couldn't really miss someone he never even met. Damien had lost both Jane and Alec. The only person he sometimes had was Joan. She was just a lousy human who would die in a couple decades or so, while the rest of them would remain youthful forever. Tiago still stood there, opening and closing his mouth, undecided what to say. "It's okay, Tiago. I am sorry too," Damien slinked back behind the door, but Tiago quickly stopped the door with his hand. Damien jumped a little at the quick movement and let go of the door like it was on fire. Tiago's forehead creased, "How did you know I was coming to apologize? How do you always seem to know everything?" He took a step forward, Damien took two steps back holding his hands up signaling he didn't want to fight, but also ready to block if it came to that. That was the million dollar question that nobody could answer. "I don't know. I am just really good at reading people I guess." Yeah right, Tiago thought. Tiago also noted how Damien backed up, keeping his back to the desk, almost guarding it or defending it. There stood the notebook Damien was always drawing in. "I want to see what's in that book. Does it have like all the secrets in the universe or something? A detailed log of what everyone is thinking? Magical prophecies? What do you SEE?" Tiago's voice sped up with every word. It went from aggressive to excited and curious. He wanted to see what was in the book. "If I show you, will you get out of my room?" Damien growled. Tiago nodded. Keeping one eye on Tiago, he reached for the book, flipping to a page that wouldn't scare him. Many of the things he drew were gory and disturbing. He didn't want people to think he was crazier than he already was. He flipped to a rather innocent picture of a girl. A ballerina to be exact. She looked no older than ten, yet she was able to artfully dance with the grace of an adult, not a small child. The girl spun in a room full of mirrors, eyes closed. It seemed like a happy scene, except in each mirror behind her stood a dark figure watching her spin endlessly. When he handed the picture to Tiago, his eyes went wide. "This is Marina. But who is the figure behind her?" "Only time will tell," Damien said cryptically. "Is she in danger?" Damien didn't know but said, "Do you trust me?" Tiago didn't know.
Donovan was on mental overload. So many people crammed into such a tight space. The low demonic grumble of the engines turning on. How everyone's luggage seemed to fit into neat little bins. Although he had the aisle seat, he still fought to try to see out the tiny window that Alec had his face plastered to. Alec had always planes and flying. He wanted to one of these days get a piloting license just so that he could fly. But Aro said no. Both boys watched out the window as the plane was taxied to the runway. When the engines grew louder suddenly, Donovan found himself quickly gripping Jane's hand in suspense. He felt the plane lurch forward and the entire cabin shake. Was there an earth quake? His heart skip several beats as he tried to relax himself. Looking out the window, everything became diagonal as the plane stopped shaking as much. His stomach flip flop and somersaulted as the plane's wheels left the runway for the sky. "Just breath counting backwards," Jane whispered in his ear kissing his cheek. He hadn't realized he was hyperventilating and gripping the arm rest so tight they looked like they were about the break. There was a painful feeling in his ears that felt like balloons were being blown up inside while was very painful for his still sensitive ears. Eventually they popped, leaving him with the paranoid feeling something had ruptured. How could Alec stand this? The vampire's face was glowing with excitement. Watching the aileron, spoilers, and flaps on the port wing go up and down as the plane banked over the Atlantic. His child-like eyes wide like saucers taking in the shrinking city below them. The freedom of the air. Alec had made a morbid promise to himself that if somehow he had become mortal, he would die by falling. The idea of just free falling seemed exhilarating. And at worse, when he hit the ground, the pain would be momentary and death quick. It seemed like the best way to go. Donovan promised himself that as soon as the stewardess came around, he was getting a strong drink to try and ease the excessive adrenaline in his blood stream that was making him shake like the cabin had during takeoff. Even the slightest amount of turbulence causes an eruption of curse words and prayers. Flying was not what it was cracked up to be.
Damien was use to dressing up and looking nice. They had to everyday as children of the Guard. Joan looked rather nice also in her red dress with black jacket. Living with vampires had rubbed off slightly on her fashion choices. In her hands were a tray of cookies and a small cake, a boche noel recipe, for the DeLeale's. She had seen Eliza at the market the other day and that had invited Damien and her to Christmas Eve dinner since her parents were unable to make it this year and their house was still one person short saddly. Eliza's sister was still missing and the police had now declared her legally dead. Originally Joan was planning on going the closest church. But Eliza informed them that Mass was better at Santa Maria Assunta, the Cathedral. She vowed to show Joan what a real Italian Christmas was. Plus Enzo had been missing his play mate. Apparently her Lorenzo had a hard time fitting in with kids his age and was often bullied at school. It was rare Enzo made friends. Joan said it was a similar situation for Damien, but didn't specify. So here they were, knocking on the door, already smelling Eliza's home cooking. Tommy opened the door, trying to hold back Kisses the Hellhound from attacking Damien. She still hated the boy for some reason, maybe she could sense he was a vampire. As long as the dog never told anyone, Damien could live with that given the hatred was mutual. Tommy welcomed them in and politely took the things from Joan's arms, setting them on the kitchen counter with the other holiday goodies. "Wow, look who's grown? You must be at least three centimetres taller!," Tommy joked. The comment made Damien feel self-conscious and worried. Did he really grow that much since he last saw them? Would his fast-paced growth make them notice he wasn't human? Enzo was helping to decorate a Nativity scene over the fire and immediately ran to where their dinner guests were standing. "Damien! Damien! Merry Christmas!" He screamed bouncing with energy. "Do you need help decorating?" Damien asked his secret cousin politely. "That would be lovely. Thank you, Damien," his secret Aunt Eliza shouted from somewhere in the kitchen. So he helped his cousin stay on task with decorating. Popcorn ribbons, tinsel galore, holly, homemade ordainments, and school projects adorned the small apartment. There were four of the same one. A reindeer made out of brown handprints labeled "Enzo", "Elizabeth", "Thomas", and shocking above all "Katherine". Damien placed his hand over his mom's handprint and held it there for a second. It was cold and dead. She was scared when she made this. Something was not right at home. Her parents were scaring her, threatening her. His grandparents. Quickly Damien dropped the piece of paper. Enzo looked at him concerned. "What's wrong?" the small boy asked concerned. Damien had gone still and rigid for a couple seconds and looked like he had seen a ghost. Snapping out of his trance, Damien lied, "Oh, sorry just spaced out for a second. Can you please pass me the tape?" They finished the living room and moved onto the dining area. After that Enzo, hands full of glitter, started running down the hallway pasting decoration on all the doors. Being short and small he couldn't place them that high. "Here, let me help you. Promise not to tell anyone," Damien whispered, looking to make sure Joan wasn't looking. Putting the ball of holly in his mouth, to keep his hands free, he braced himself in the narrow hallway and climbed to the ceiling, sticking the decorations on the top of the door frame. "Woah! Just like spiderman!" Enzo exclaimed with childlike wonder, "Are you a superhero?" Damien shook his head. Enzo couldn't be farther from the truth. "You didn't see anything right?" Damien hinted. "I didn't see what?" Enzo winked. The boys spent the rest of the time playing with the toy soldiers in Enzo's room. Apparently the point of this game was to shoot down all of Santa's reindeer. It was a good distraction for Damien. It was simple and imaginary. Plus he personally thought Enzo's fake machine gun sound was spot on. Enzo was also sad that he wasn't allowed to open presents until January sixth, when La Befana would visit. Eventually Aunt Eliza called for dinner. Damien was thrown off when everyone made a cross, touching their foreheads, chest, and finally shoulders before folding their hands together. Tommy spoke up saying, "Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the meal you have provided for this humble family, your servants. Oh Lord help us remember to appreciate our blessings this Christmas and remember the things we have, not the things we don't. In your Most Holy Name we pray," Everyone, including Joan, joined him in speaking leaving Damien left out, "Bless us Oh Lord, and these thy gifts, which we are about to receive, from thy bounty through Christ our Lord, Amen." The silence broke and everyone immediately dove into the mass amount of food on the table. While everyone was laughing, passing food, Damien was distracted by the empty chair and place setting. He didn't have to ask to know who it was for. He agreed with Tiago that it was irrational and illogical to miss someone who you had never met. Why was he contradicting himself and not following his own advice? Today was a day of celebration and livelihood. A day to be with your family and loved ones. He was doing that. He was trying to be normal. Human even. But there was still that feeling of incompleteness since the other part of his family was gone forever. Seeing the smiling faces of his unknowing family, he too darned a smile. Laughing and joking. Sharing stories. Connecting with each other. Damien realized Joan needed this as much as he did. She was in a way a prisoner in a foreign land, surrounded by strangers. She was not allowed to really ever make connections with other humans. The only ones she ever seemed to see were ones who were no better than lambs about to be slaughtered. She and Eliza had grown to be good friends.
After hours of seeing nothing but ocean below them, land came in sight as the plane began lowering in elevation. Donovan was annoyed that the stewardesses refused to serve him anymore alcohol. He wasn't even drunk yet! Just a little foggy, which helped with his nerves. Overthrowing a half vampire dictator. Fine. Getting a centuries old hot vampire princess girlfriend who kills and tortures people for a living. Fine. Going through hell and back with two total strangers for nearly a month. Fine. Planes and flying. Double negative, ghostrider. A whole new level of 'Nope' had been reached. The plane rolled to the side, making Donovan's nerves and orientation nearly explode. Maybe it was a good thing he was no longer being served alcohol because he felt like he was about to be sick and puked up blood might be a questionable thing for humans to find. As the descended into London, Alec felt a strong pull to look out the window to try and find the village where they had grown up in. It was just south east of the city and had been a stop between London and the channel that separated them from the rest of Europe at the time. When he spotted it, he felt this odd kinship with it and desire to go down there and check it out. Maybe come home a day later? The Volturi had flown to England, or at least caught connecting flights here, several times since the airplane was invented. Why the sudden urge to return and check it out now? Because the black figure that may or may not be his blood singer might be down there. The freaking destined love of his life, or at least tastiest meal ever. Why was he thinking of that now? He had to focus! They would be landing soon. There was only an hour layover and they needed to go through customs and find their gate to catch the next flight to Rome. He needed to return home to Damien, his son. Bloody Hell, he'd forgotten it was Christmas Eve! He couldn't just abandoned everything for some dopy teenage crush. Plus Donovan looked like he was about to pass out and throw up at the same time. Once the plane had hit the runway, rattling the entire cabin again, desperately trying to slow down from several hundred miles per hour to only ten or so in less than a minute. Donovan thought they were crashing and going to die. "Hail Mary, full of grace the Lord is wi- HOLY FUCK! JESUS FUCKING CHRIST!" He went to a desperate whisper under his breath to nearly breaking down crying in terror. But once the plane stopped, he was left with a racing heart and Jane laughing at his terrified face. As soon as the seatbelt button turn off, he bolted up, nearly knocking down everyone on the plane to get off that metal contraption of death. He B-lined straight for the men's restroom to where he vomited anything he had into the toilet. Once the twins got off the plane, Jane made Alec to and check up on him. Alec found him on his hands and knees, face down, eyes scrunched closed counting backwards from twenty failing to calm down. "Sit against the wall of the stall for a second and lower your shield. I know something that would make the nausea go away," Alec ordered helping him sit up, back braced against the graffitied metal wall. They didn't have much time and Alec didn't want to risk someone walking in on them. "Do you trust me?" Donovan didn't know. But Alec had already made a mini Mist cloud around Donovan. Once the dhampir had gone completely numb, his heart rate and breathing naturally slowed. His face was almost peaceful. After twenty seconds, Alec heard someone coming so he lifted the Mist and helped Donovan stand up. A gentleman in a business suit gave the two boys a funny look as they both came out of the stall together. "Aye, what you wankers do'n in ter?" Alec just held up his middle and index fingers while walking faster and out the door to meet Jane. Their plane was leaving in forty minutes. Customs was a startling breeze, given the mass number of humans traveling over the holidays, and Donovan had recovered just in time to realize they had a second plane to get one. Oh, sweet Jesus this was going to be a fun ride. Alec let him have the window seat.
The Deleale's and their dinner guests joined the rest of the town in a procession to the Cathedral. Many holding candles, others hands of small children they did not want to lose in the mass crowd. You weren't a true Italian unless you went to Christmas vigil. Everyone processed into the dark church, only lit with fire and Christmas spirit. Having fire and church in the same sentence made goosebumps and a cold feeling run through Damien. Altar servers and the bishop came in last. "O Come all ye Faithful, joyful and triumphant…" the town sang in Italian. Smiles and hope on faces. An opening prayer. Damien listened intently in the pew sandwiched between Joan and Enzo. So much talk of asking for forgiveness and sins. But there were also mentions of hope and love. There was just so much. So much people crammed into such a large space. Ornately decorated walls and intricate stained glass. Gargoyles and martyrs listened to the first reading with the pulsing crowd. There were thousands of people, humans on all sides of Damien. His throat became suddenly very dry at the thought of the mass number. His teeth itched, mouth twitched. Even though he had just had one of the largest meals of his life, he felt very, very hungry. This wasn't right. Joan noticed the distress in the boy's fidgeting. How could she had been so blind? She nudged him lightly, he looked up quickly. It was a helpful reality check that helped him snap out of his brooding. The less he focused on this odd sort of thirst, the easier it was. He instead focused on listening to the readings, standing, sitting, kneeling, trying to mumble words with the rest of the congregation. Anything, but the burning in his throat. Three hours later Mass finally ended. Once outside in the night time air, the thirst settled down. He still felt slightly uncomfortable, but it was manageable. He would just get something to drink when they returned home. Wishing the DeLeale's a Merry Christmas and a Good Night, they made their way back to the Building. "I am very proud of you," Joan whispered. "For what?" Damien was confused. "For fitting in tonight. Not only were you able to interact with humans, you were able to stay in control being surrounded by them. Not many like you are able to do that." Damien was confused. His mind had bombarded him with whispering thoughts of attacking Enzo or even the lovely elderly woman in the pew in front of them or even Joan. These dark thoughts scared him. But he simply pushed them back to whatever dark corners they had come from and focused on something else. How was that good? He did what he had to in order to maintain the façade that he was normal. "I was just trying to be normal for once," Damien frowned. Joan smiled, "You are normal. For someone like you. Tonight you were trying to be human. And you did a splendid job." They came to the large door where Afton let them in. He now worked as the door man since there wasn't much more he was needed to be, besides Chelsea's mate. "Would you like a cup of tea before you go to bed?" Joan asked, hinting that maybe he would want to drink something else. Damien thanked her for the offer but said he just wanted to go to bed. It was now late at night and exhaustion had begun to set it. After being around so many people for several hours, he felt drained and craved solitude.
Alec's stomach was probably in as many knots as Donovan's. He hadn't seen Damien in nearly two months. How much had he grown? The thought of him possibly now being Alec's height mad him laugh. Would he be mad that Alec and Jane had left him again? He hated leaving him and didn't want to hurt him. He knew how it felt in a way. His own father had been a French soldier who had left one day and never came home. Then his mother left. At least he always had Jane. Was Demetri keeping an eye on him? Was he doing well in school? Had learning to fight gotten easier? How had the Winter Ball gone? Maybe Joan was taking care of him? He still was not use to being a father. At least he had gotten him some comic books in New York and hopefully he would enjoy them. It for sure did not make up for leaving without telling him and for this long. At least Caius gave him the message that everything was alright. Jane's stomach wasn't much better. She had been quiet for the entirety of the first flight and, besides answering questions at customs, she hadn't really said much else since the Incident in the tunnel. He had been Aro's son. She killed him. And only because his heart gave out from too much agony and shock. He had been Aro's son. A bastard child Aro had accidentally created. And given what Hadley had said between the lines, there were other children. But in order for that to happen, he would have had to intentionally slept with another woman. A human too. Several times. The man who had saved both her and her brother's lives, who had given her the gift of immortality, who made her everything that she was today, who had been a father to her. She had done many terrible things for Aro without blinking, out of pure love and devotion. She may not have liked what she and her brother have had to do, but she trusted him fully it was for the better. For their family. Her master was not the man she thought he was. In the place of a guardian angel now stood… She didn't know anymore. She still was angry at Aro for forcing her brother to conceive not one, but two children against his will. Alec was fifteen. That was considered statutory rape in many countries even if Alec had been fully willing and consenting. The man she would die for defending was now the thing she wished dead. Maybe Hadley was right. Absent mindedly she kept a hold on Donovan's hand. Every now and then a surge of turbulence, a flicker of the reading lights above, a kick of the annoying child behind them, or even clang of the stewardess' drink cart made him grip cold, small hand tightly out of reflex. It helped her snap back into reality. She didn't know if the Guard or her Masters would accept Donovan into their family. Even worse, she worried he wouldn't accept her family. She had convinced him to come to Italy, possibly forever, and for what? A school girl crush? His life was now dangerously changed forever. This time she squeezed his hand. He looked at her, curious if something was wrong. A small smile asked him if he was okay. The rub of the top of her hand with his thumb told her he was hanging in there. The grimace in his eyes with the half smile, not his usual Cheshire cat one, said otherwise but he didn't want to make her feel bad. He was terrified with what was awaiting him below more than the tin can that had them thousands of metres in the air. Glancing at the seatbelt sign above that had just lit up he changed that opinion to equal. Equally as terrified. He kissed her ear lightly before resting his head on her shoulder.
Slowly he made his way to his room where he flopped on his bed and debated whether or not it was okay to sleep in his church clothes, shoes and all. Lazily he kicked off his shoes and peeled his socks off with his toes. Might as well change completely. Once he was comfortable he curled under his cold blankets. He lay on his back staring at the ceiling. Merry Christmas, Damien, he thought to himself. The thought should have made him smile. It felt good to say. But now he just felt empty. He really did miss Alec and Jane. He hugged the soft knit blanket he stole from Alec's room and covered his face with it. His scent had nearly disappeared and was replaced by his own. There was nothing left now of them but musty painting for decades before, watching over the haunted hallways of the Building. Merry Christmas guys, wherever you ended up. Please don't be Hell. I think you two are all right. Even Didyme had been avoiding him and hadn't appeared since the Incident with Caius and Aro. Maybe she was still haunting Aro. Even millennia old ghosts are with their families on Christmas Eve. Then if Alec and Jane were dead, why hadn't they appeared yet? Why could he see dead people, but not the people he cared about? Why was his lip trembling and breathing now difficult the more he thought about it? He forced himself to take deep breaths the same way he had forced the thirst away in the church. Just focusing on breathing and nothing else.
The plane began descending into Rome. It was finally over. The ride had been shorted and more pleasant for Donovan, since he knew what to expect. Alec on the other hand was a nervous. It was torture waiting in the customs and security line. And for what? A little stamp on a fake passport? He just wanted to go home and see his son. Spend Christmas with his entire family. But he also craved solitude. He was tired of traveling and moving. Although vampires technically did not need to sleep, he always found it enjoyable to just lay down in a quiet, dark room, eyes closed, just breathing. Alec remembered when Damien was an infant, how he used to just curl up on his chest and sleep. Just this small bundle of warmth, almost like a cat. Alec could see the end of the line. They were almost through. Then it was a fifty minute run to Volterra. That was guestimating, since he didn't know for how long nor fast Donovan could run. They could take a taxi, but that would take hours. He couldn't wait that long.
He had watched numerous Christmas movies with the other children, during their temporary lockdown week while the Ball was hosted. In many of them, people wished on stars and miracles came true. Rolling on his side, Damien stared at the wall. He wished he had a window. That was he could at least see the stars. Something about stars seemed to make wishing more legit. Not just a shout into the void. For all the crazy supernatural sit he had seen and done, wishing seemed a little far-fetched. If wishing worked, he wouldn't be in this situation now. But he wished anyway. I wish for Alec and Jane to come home for Christmas.
"Slow down," Donovan panted. Alec had taken off like a speeding bullet as soon as they were out of sight of the airport. Jane and Donovan chased after him. Jane wasn't as enthusiastic to go home as Alec, she still had been stewing over things regarding Aro. Donovan felt like he was running into a lion's den. Was this really a good idea? Should he have just stayed in New York? Alec was still several miles ahead of them. They ran in silence, watching for cars or unsuspecting humans it was two in the morning and many were asleep in their beds after celebrating Christmas Vigil. It made running all the easier since they didn't have to stop ever. Eventually the twinkling lights of Volterra came into sight in the brown Tuscan landscape. A light house for sailors who had been lost at sea. Alec and Jane hoped that Demetri was not too startled by them approaching out of nowhere. Donovan still had his shield up around him and the twins. Donovan still didn't feel like lowering it, even though Jane assured them it was safe and no harm would come to them. It made him feel safer, so he kept it up. The gate to the city was closed, since no one was out and about. No one but two and a half vampires. The rest of the Volturi were tucked safely in the Building, probably watching reruns of Christmas movies. Heidi and Demetri would be talking alone somewhere if he wasn't with Felix. Chelsea and Afton would be fawning over each other if he wasn't on door duty. The wives would be chatting about whatever conversation they have already had several times. Whoever they now had as the secretary would be sorting mail or whatever menial task she would have to maintain the building. Caius would be mad, Marcus apathetic, Aro… well he would be Aro. Perk of being immortal. Things never change.
Damien was trapped in the limbo of sleep and alertness. Every time he thought he was asleep, he would realize he was actually staring at the ceiling day dreaming. He kept shifting in his sleep. He was mentally drained and just wanted his brain to turn off for just a little while. An hour maybe? Two if he was lucky? He was snapped out of his semi-sleep trance by the sound of footsteps. Someone was running down the stairs. The footsteps were light, not heavy enough to be an adult. But not heavy enough for the other children.
They split up once they entered the building. Jane sighed and told Alec to "Just go already. You look like you are about to have a nervous breakdown. We'll catch up in a bit" and took Donovan to her room and told him to wait there until she sorted things out with Aro. If anyone asked, he would say he was with her and to "come talk to her if they felt ballsy enough". She marched angrily down the hall to find him. She had some choice words for him. Alec bolted to the stairs, forcing himself to take them one at a time. He remembered that Damien would probably be asleep and barging in at full speed would not be the most pleasant surprise.
Someone was walking down the hallway. Damien sat up more and watched the door waiting. A figure stood outside, blocking the light that leaked through the crack in the door. It waited out there for a few moments.
Alec hesitated almost reaching for the door knob. Listening for breathing, he heard that Damien's was uneven. He was awake still or possibly having a bad dream. Alec remembered getting bad dreams frequently as a child. Waking up gasping for air, shaking. No, he was getting distracted. He need to just open the damn door already.
The door knob twisted. Damien held his breath.
Alec stepped into the doorway.
Damien saw a ghost. No, it couldn't be! He took back his wish! Here stood Alec's ghost staring him in the face. Damien couldn't handle it anymore. He broke. He broke down crying. Never once had he cried before, not as a baby, not when in agony. Now he was in uncontrollable sobs, tears free flowing down his face. All the stress, fear, loneliness, anger, loss, pain, confusion, every emotion he had ignored and internalized since Alec had left rushed out as if a dam had broken.
Alec took another step forward. He wasn't expecting this. He hoped to wake Damien up, let him know he was home. See his excited, yet sleepy face. Not Damien bawling his eyes out, a shaking mess beneath his blankets. He knelt down in front of his son's bed. Damien seemed to panic more and cry harder, retreating away. "Hey, it's okay. I'm home now," Alec said as softly and calmly as possible. He reached out and gently put his hand on Damien's back. Damien went rigid still. Paused and looked at him with wide eyes.
The hand was solid. This was real. Alec wasn't dead! Alec was alive! Alec was home! Damien crawled out of the blankets and quickly wrapped his arms around Alec's shoulders, burying his face in Alec's neck. A couple loose tears and sobs bubbled out, but Alec just hugged him closer rubbing his back trying to calm him down. "I thought you were dead," Damien hiccupped whipping his face on his night shirt sleeve. Alec was even more confused, but now understood his son's reaction. Caius had most likely not told him he was okay. But wait how did Damien even know about the subway bombing then? Alec ignored that thought for the moment. He picked Damien up, he was surprisingly heavier now since he had grown during Alec's absence, and placed him so he was lying down in bed again. Pausing for a brief moment to see if there was any protest, Alec kicked off his shoes and swung his legs onto the bed, tucking the both of them in. Alec noticed that the soft knit blanket that had been missing from the couch in his room had really been in Damien's bed the whole time. Curling on his side, Alec loosely hugged Damien to his chest. He made sure that if he felt uncomfortable with the close proximity, he could wiggle out. Instead he buried himself in his chest and fell soundly asleep. He even had happy dreams. Alec closed his eyes, feeling finally at ease. There would be explaining to do and he would need to report what had happened on their mission. But for now he just smiled and whispered in his small son's ear, "Happy Christmas, Damien".
Jane was furious as she stomped down the hallway. She saw Demetri in his office out of her peripheral vision. She must looked like a mad woman, the way he looked at her. Like he had seen a ghost. She then remembered she also was out of uniform, in her black skin-tight jeans, leather boots, blue lacy tank and an army green jacket. Plus her hair was in a messy pony tail. Her eyes must have looked like they were one fire. Felix was making his way to tuck a present under the tree for his little girl, but then dropped it when he saw Jane storm by. Didn't she die a month ago?
Caius had finally forced Aro out of hiding in his chambers. Together they sat in the throne room discussing the Guard, but Aro was too distracted. He was still rambling on about how he thought the Building was haunted. "I saw her, brother. In the mirror. She looked right at me," Aro repeated for the fifth time. Caius huffed. Aro was a lunatic. "There is no way in Hell the Building is haunted. For the last time, there are no such thing as ghosts!"
The doors burst open at such as force they seemed like they were going to break off. In its place was a little girl, a girl Aro thought was long gone, with golden hair and flaming eyes. Aro collapsed on the ground screaming in agony. The girl stared at him with a burning intensity. "You sick bastard!" the girl screamed. When she finally released her master he could barely form words, "Jane?"