Disclaimer: And I still don't own Charmed.
Tales of December
a story by Ryeloza
Billie: December 18, 2003
Billie dragged her feet on the way home from school, purposely walking as slowly as she could. Her mother had told her this morning that she was planning to decorate for Christmas this afternoon and after twelve years Billie knew perfectly well what that would entail. When she walked through the door this afternoon, her mother would be ineffectually hiding tears, quite possibly even drowning her sorrows in a good bottle of wine. One Christmas after another it was the same old story.
The real trigger was Christy's stocking. Nothing reduced her mother to the reality of grief as quickly as the red and white stocking hung on the chimney and the knowledge that yet again it would remain empty, though Billie had a suspicion that her mother still bought Christy presents each year just in case. Just in case felt as though it had become the family motto after all these years: Dad didn't take the new job in Denver, just in case; Mom kept all of Christy's belongings, just in case; there was still a cake each year on Christy's birthday, just in case. Just in case continually broke their hearts and Billie had no idea how to stop the perpetual heartache.
A lot of the time she feared that the reason she missed Christy the most was because her abduction had left the family torn apart. If Christy came back, there would be a chance to heal. If Christy came back, there would be no more just in case. She felt horribly about this because she knew that she should want Christy back because she missed her sister; truthfully, she could barely remember her once constant playmate and friend.
Outside of her house, Billie stood for a moment staring up at the Christmas lights glowing in the twilight. Her house looked so normal; so happy. And it was all an illusion, just as so much of life was. With a deep breath, she headed up the stairs and opened the door. Inside she heard doleful Christmas music coming from the living room and a muffled sob, and she braced herself for another holiday of more just in case.
A/n: Details, details...For the life of me I can't remember how old Billie and Christy were when Christy was abducted. I'm going with five and seven here, respectively, and if I'm wrong I apologize. My computer is still acting too wonky for me to look up the information.
Six chapters to go. Thanks for sticking with me so far!
Katie