D. Gray- Man belongs to Hoshino Katsura!
Chapter 55:
"Hannah! You're finally home! Oh, I missed you so much!" My mother ran to me and enveloped me in a hug and kisses.
"It's great to see you too mom."
"Hannah! Hannah! Hannah!" Tim yelled bounding over like a hyper puppy.
"Hey Tim! My, you've gotten so big! What have you been eating? Giant food?"
"No silly! I'm a big boy now!" He laughed and jumped on me. I laughed and swung him in a couple circles.
"Hannah! Hannah! Hannah! Pick us up too! We want too!" John and Abigail yelled jumping up and down. I placed Tim on the ground and picked them up as well, swinging them around.
"Still as strong as ever I see." Paul said coming over for a hug when I was done. I smiled and hugged him.
"Good to see you Paul."
"You too, tich." He then turned to a petite looking woman who was pregnant. "This is my wife Kate, and this is our first child." He placed a hand on her stomach as a way of introducing the baby.
"Welcome to the family Kate, I hope we don't scare you too much. Congratulations on the child." I hugged her and she smiled.
"Thank you, it's so nice to meet you finally."
"Do you have a name for the baby?"
"Peter if it's a boy, Lucy if it's a girl."
"It'll be a boy." Peter said with pride.
"When's the due date?"
"March."
"Hey there tich, can we say hello now?" James asked cutting of the conversation. I laughed and hugged him.
"You've grown into quite a beautiful young lady." Susan said hugging me next. "Who cut your hair? It's so stylish!"
"A friend of mine, Lenalee. Thanks, I'll tell her that, She'll be really happy."
My dad cleared his throat and glanced at General Tiedoll who was standing by the door.
"Oh, yes, General," I was a little embarrassed that I forgot him, "this is my family. You've met my father, Henry. This is my mother, Elizabeth. My oldest brother, James, and his wife, Susan, their children, John and Abigail. My second older brother, Paul, and his wife, Kate. And this is my youngest brother Timothy."
"Why am I last?"
"Because you're the most important." I smiled at him and he grinned back. "Everyone, this is General Froi Tiedoll."
And the poor General had no clue what had hit him when everyone went over to him to shake his hands and the kids jumped on him. But he looked happy and willingly picked the kids up and even let them take off his glasses. Wise move on Komui's side to send General Tiedoll with me and not General Winters even General Cloud would not have been too wise a choice. She loved kids, but she was very strict with them just the same. She would not have allowed them to hang on her and her innocence would have ripped one of their eyes out for sure. It bit me more than once.
"oh, do come in!" My mother said waving her arms. "The food is already on the table and it's getting cold."
We moved along making a lot of noise, laughing and talking and the kids jumping up and down and Tim, trying to show how much of a big kid he was, took our luggage upstairs to the appropriate rooms.
"Hannah, I know you're a young woman now, but I hope you don't mind sleeping with Tim. We wanted to give the General a little space for himself." My mother said in the soft voice concern in her eyes.
"Oh, it's not a problem." I smiled. "That way i can tell him stories."
"Yes!" Tim exclaimed, jumping in the air.
"But we want stories too!" John and Abigail complained.
"Don't worry, I'll tell you stories."
"Yay!" They were jumping around like hyper frogs the size of... well, children.
"Alright everyone, settle down." My father's voice drowned the noise. "Sit down and then we can start eating the wonderful food your mother made."
"My, this looks like quite a feast!" The General exclaimed. "You must have worked hard Mrs. Litle."
"Oh please, call me Elizabeth. This was nothing." She was being modest as usual. This was a feast. A turkey that my father shot no doubt, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, onions, salad, home backed bread, cauliflower and cheese, cranberry sauce and broccoli. It was a feast fit for kings in the Ozarks.
"Please, everyone, be seated." My father motioned for me on one side of his and for the General to sit on his other side. James sat next to the General and John sat next to him and Abigail next to him and Susan next to her. My mother sat at the end of the table. Kate sat next to her with Paul next to her and then between Paul and I sat Tim.
It was a large crowed around our small table, but you didn't feel it.
It was home.
"Would you like to lead us in a prayer of thanks, General?" My father asked.
"Please, call me Froi. I would be honored." We all held hands and bowed our heads.
"Our Father who art in heaven." Oh no, not the Lord's prayer, please General. These are protestants for calling out loud. They know the Lord's prayer but the don't say it when blessing the food! "I thank you for granting me the opportunity to come to such a warm, loving house hold and meeting such great people." Thank you for not continuing the Lord's prayer. "I pray you bless this house and all in it with every goodness on this earth and in heaven Keep them from evil and let them live in peace. Bless the hands that made this food and prepared the table before us. Thank you for providing for all our needs, material and spiritual. Amen."
"Amen." My family chorused together. My father squeezed my hand, a sign that ever since I was little meant 'I love you'. I squeezed his hand in return. We smiled at each other.
"Now," My father said picking up the carving knife, "Fori, what part of the turkey is your favorite?"