Quinn would have thought that Caim's first reaction would be to, well, react. Push the person off, throw a punch, do something other than let himself be pushed over.

Quinn went to pull the person off her acquaintance when she heard him cry out, but as she neared them she realized that the cry was a laugh. She froze, realizing that Caim was laughing. It was not a sound that she could see him making…

That's when she realized that the person that had pushed him over wasn't wearing a red jacket, but a red and white slightly fuzzy long sleeve shirt. Caim had been pushed over by a mall elf…

"What are you doing Alex?" Caim cried. The elf stood up, helping Caim to his feet as he did. "Sneaking up on you," Alex The Elf replied. "I don't get to do it enough." Caim rolled his eyes before they locked with Quinn's gaze. "Alex, this is Mark and Quinn," he introduced slowly, the playfulness leaking out of his voice slightly. Alex turned and Quinn had slight trouble putting his attitude into his body. It was like putting Kitchie's attitude into a male version of her's body.

He had dark skin with blond hair buzz cut to his head. Warm chocolate eyes gazed at her while two silver industrial piercings glinted from the tops of both his ears. "Hey." When he spoke Quinn thought she could detect the slight form of a tongue ring. "I'm Alex." He stretched out a hand that Quinn warily shook. Mark followed suit, though he didn't speak. "Are you guys from out of town?" Alex asked.

"Mr. Xavier is taking them in," Caim explained. Quinn and Mark both looked at him, Quinn ready to ask what the hell he was thinking. But then Kitchie shot her a look and she stopped. Kitchie flashed a small smile and gestured to Alex, telling her to listen. "What is he, Carlisle Cullen?" Alex rolled his eyes and Caim laughed quietly. Quinn didn't get it. "No, he just thinks that every kid deserves a life."

"He sounds like a great guy. Honestly Caim, when do I get to meet him?"

"Maybe at the Christmas party," Kitchie said. "We can ask him if you can come." Alex nodded and even though Caim smiled at the idea Quinn thought she detected something, nervousness?, in his eyes.

"Well I'd better get back to work," Alex said. Caim raised an eyebrow. "Where are you working?" Alex gestured down himself. "I'm an elf," he replied. "What do you think man?" Caim smiled and Quinn couldn't help but think that the gesture looked strange but right on his pale face. "Well have fun with Santa and the kids," he replied.

"You got to start somewhere," Alex cheered. He hugged Caim, who hugged him back, then waved goodbye to Mark, Kitchie, and Quinn before running off. "He's taking photos," Caim clarified for Mark and Quinn. They both nodded and slowly the group started towards the center of the mall. Somehow Mark and Kitchie fell into step beside each other with Quinn and Caim behind them. "Who was that?" she asked him.

"A friend from school," Caim replied. Quinn didn't say anything, waiting to see if he would embellish a little bit. "He takes photography?" she asked. He nodded. Quinn watched him and noticed that any graces of a smile were gone, as well as the light in his eyes. "You ok?" she asked. He looked at her. "Yeah, I'm fine." Then he proceeded to walk ahead of her to walk on Kitchie's other side.

AN: Oh my god I was smacking myself through the whole chapter. It suuuuucked, but I can't rewrite it. Sorry it took so long to get posted, and how badly it turned out. It was going to to be more dramatic but I have total writer's block and I just... I needed to write something so that I don't go too long without posting. Geez... Sorry guys. Happy holidays