The Eighth Day Of Christmas

Alice sighed, sadness bubbling up inside her as they drove closer and closer to their destination. Jasper took her hand across the console and smiled at her reassuringly. They were travelling to Biloxi, Mississippi - Alice's hometown. Every year just before Christmas Alice and Jasper went to the grave's of their human families. It had been a tradition ever since Alice had found out about her family.

They passed the sign saying 'Welcome to Biloxi' and headed straight for the cemetery. Alice didn't like being here any longer than she needed. Jasper had suggested many times that she didn't need to go to her families graves, but every year she insisted she wanted to, not matter how much it upset her.

Jasper took her hand and led her into the cemetery. Alice looked away as they passed the place where her own empty grave lay. Her family had not been buried with her, presumably they did not want the shame.

Alice knelt when she reached the grave where her mother had been buried. Slowly reaching out, she traced the words with her finger; Catherine Brandon, 1879-1920, loving wife and mother. Venom tears welled up in her eyes as she desperately tried to remember the woman who'd given her life.

Her father's grave was a little way off, buried alongside his second wife. Alice sat by the grave and stared at the name; John Brandon. The name meant nothing to her, and yet it meant everything. She couldn't remember her father, but she knew what he had done. She despised him for what he did to her mother, what he did to her.

Next she moved on to where Cynthia was buried, next to her husband William. Alice grew her saddest now as she saw the name of her dear sister Cynthia, the one who'd never done any wrong. Alice kissed her fingers and pressed them to the gravestone, "Merry Christmas, Cynny."

It didn't take long to drive to Houston, Texas. They drove directly west from Alice's hometown and on to Jasper's. Unlike Alice, Jasper remembered most things about his human life. Without hesitation he drove to the ranch where his family had lived. Their descendants still lived there.

Parking up, Jasper took Alice to the place where his family had been buried, all in a row; his mother and father Elizabeth and William Whitlock, and four sisters Emily, Lucy, Jane, and Susan. There was a gravestone for Jasper too, when he'd been presumed to be killed in the war. Jasper sighed as he thought lovingly of his family, regretting not being able to say goodbye to them, and all the Christmases he'd missed.

He remembered his parents; not rich, but well off enough to live a happy life, and always putting their children first. His sisters, all younger than him, who he'd loved and protected. He didn't let himself think of his family often, because it brought him too much sadness.

His gift was sending his emotion out in waves, and Alice watching him carefully, desperately wanting to send the bad emotions away. She wanted to put her arms around him, but sensed that he didn't want or need that right now. What he needed was a distraction.

Alice looked around and let her eyes rest on a sight back at the ranch, "Jazz, what are they doing?"

Jasper turned around and followed her gaze to where eight girls were milking some cows, "Darlin', they're milking cows."

Alice pulled a face, "Why?"

Jasper laughed, "To get milk for selling."

"Ew." Alice said.

"Used to be my chore." Jasper said, sending another look towards the girls.

Alice giggled, "I can just imagine you sat there in your cowboy hat milking cows."

Jasper raised an eyebrow at her and she erupted into another fit of giggles. He shook his head at her and draped his arm across her shoulders, "Let's go home."

He took one last glance towards the graves of his old family, silently wishing them a merry Christmas. It was sad that he'd had to leave them, but he knew it had been for the best. After all, if that hadn't happened, he'd never have met Alice, and that was something he wouldn't give up for the world.

~On the eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, Eight Maids-a-Milking.~

A/N: Again, not all that Christmassy and a little sad, but did you like it?

Not sure if I'll be able to update tomorrow what with it being CHRISTMAS and everything ;);) But I'll see what I can do, and if not then see you in two days ;)