It was the day of the party and Allen was both nervous and unhappy about. She didn't mind doing favors for Cross, as long as they were within reason, but sometimes he got on her nerves. She was sure he was aware of her dislike for dresses, although he had rather terrible taste in women's clothing so she began to wonder if this was her aunt's doing.
The dress that hung in her closet was a white a-line with a green belt around her waist with red snowflake designs. It was long sleeved and red gloves were pinned to one of the sleeves. White tights and a pair of black 2 inch Mary Janes were sitting innocently on a footstool underneath it.
Allen sighed heavily, the party was all day so guests would start arriving soon. Timcampy sat on her head like it was a nest and went back to sleep. 'Lucky.' She thought and began to get dressed. Downstairs Cross was dressed in a green suit with shined black shoes. And because he was feeling the Christmas spirit, he wore a red cravat that matched his red hair. A glass of red wine already in his hands.
Anita was dress in similar colors to Cross but in opposing spots. Her dress was red and she had green lining the bottom of her long sleeves and dress. White tights and black flats adorned her legs. She was doing a last minute check of everything to make sure things would be perfect for their all-day Christmas Eve party.
"Alright everything is set. The food is ready as are the decorations and the entertainment." Anita sighed as she turned to her drinking husband. "Are you sure you want to invite him and them?" She asked in a concerned voice. "They don't exactly get along and I don't want a fight right before Allen's birthday. She's finally allowing us to get her presents and I don't want her to change her mind because of them."
Cross placed an arm around her and pulled her close to his body. "I know but Allen deserves a chance to meet him and Tara insisted that they come as well. I never planned that they would all be here together." Anita leaned into his chest. "I suppose this was a set of unfortunate circumstances. There's nothing we can do now."
Allen came downstairs about fifteen minutes after their conversation her hair seeming to grow to her shoulders over the past month and curled at the ends. It almost looked like a Bob cut, but she managed to make it look presentable. "Good morning Auntie, Cross." Allen said when she entered the kitchen.
"Good morning Allen." Cross replied, taking a sip of his black coffee. Anita turned from the stove and nearly squealed in excitement when she saw Allen in the dress. "You wore the dress, its so cute on you Allen!" Anita ran to hug her. Allen slowly returned the hug.
"Cross, where'd you set my stuff up?" Allen asked at she sat down at the table, multiple plates were set down in front of Allen all filled with breakfast items. It was a very good thing Allen wasn't a messy eater. "It's in the parlor right next to the dining room. Don't worry, I've got it covered. Do you have your songs?"
"Yes, I do, but they're rather sad." "That's fine, play whatever you want." Allen nodded and thanked Anita for breakfast before heading for the large parlor room. "She's seems to be doing well for now." Anita noted. "Let's hope that it stays that way when everyone else arrives." Cross muttered into his coffee.
The first people to arrive was Tiedoll, Kanda, Daisya, and Noise Marie. "Cross, it's good to see you again." TIedoll called out to the red haired man. And then turned to face Anita "And Anita your still just as beautiful as the last time we saw each other." Anita laughed and said thank you as Cross started a conversation with the gray haired man.
"Froi, how's teaching going, I hope they're treating you well at that hellhole they call a school." Cross said with a sip of wine. The artist laughed. "Believe it or not, but the school has been nothing but kind to me. It's been surprisingly peaceful, so much in fact that you should consider returning to the Order." Cross snorted into his cup.
"You mean to tell us that this old, drunkard used to be a teacher?" Kanda said in a disbelieving tone. "And you mean to tell me that you still haven't gotten that stick out of your ass, pretty boy?" Cross replied in Japanese, shocking Kanda. "I was the old language teacher at the Black Order, until about Seven years ago."
"Cross here speaks 12 different languages, not including English, and can speak and write fluently in them." Tiedoll explained. Marie and Daisya looked impressed, Kanda kept an impassive face. Cross smirked behind his glass. "What made you leave the Order?" Daisya asked. Cross tensed oh so slightly, that Kanda barely caught it. "Some unfortunate events occurred seven years ago and they were more important than the school." he answered cooly.
Tiedoll nodded in understanding, although he didn't have the full story, he as well as the other teachers where told a little bit about Allen's past. "Well that was years ago, I'm glad to see your doing well." Tiedoll said trying to change subjects. "Same to you Froi. I can't say the same about your brat over there." Cross said motioning to Kanda.
"Oh don't worry about him." Tiedoll said, he could sense a fight starting soon, one which he wanted to avoid. Kanda was strong, but Cross had tricks, and he always seemed to know things. Luckily the doorbell rang, but this time Narain answered it. He was a little more casual than Cross. He had a white collared shirt, black slacks and a red sweater with black shoes.
When he opened the door he saw a red haired pirate. "Hi I was told that Allen was having a little get together at her place, is this the home of Allen Walker by any chance?" Lavi said in the most respectful tone Kanda had ever heard come from him. It was a voice that Lavi reserved for adults and formal occasions.
Narain gave Lavi a smile "Ah Allen told me that another friend of hers was coming. You must be Lavi Bookman." he said with a cheerful voice, definitely the opposite of what he did to Kanda. "Please come in your just in time, not all of our guests haven't even arrived."
Lavi nodded and entered, whistling at the sight of the large mansion. It was decorated, with a little bit of tinsel and lights, as well as a large tree covered in silver and blue decorations. It wasn't overly done but it was still festive. "Hey Yuu-" Mugen was suddenly at his throat before he could finish his sentence.
"What were you about to call me?" Kanda asked in a threatening tone. Allen walked in at that moment. "Strike!" The safety of a gun was clicked, a butcher's knife flew past his head and Lavi was suddenly in a headlock.
Anita was smiling sweetly although she was still in a position that showed that she threw some sort of object. Cross had a very dark look in his one visible eye. Narain was the one who held him in a headlock. "What was that, please repeat yourself." Narain said his voice dark and deep. It was a complete 180 from how he acted before.
"Who me?" Lavi stuttered a cold sweat running down his face. "I didn't say a thing, right Yuu?" Kanda turned away from him, the rest of his family was busy admiring the décor, minus Marie. "Would you mind not attacking our guests before the party begins. I don't want to help clean up blood just because you lost your temper."
"Allen, you look beautiful in that dress. It makes you look like an angel." Tiedoll said and took out a miniature sketchbook and began doing a rough sketch of Allen. Although when Cross looked over the shoulder of his long time friend the 'sketch' was extremely detailed and most of it was already shaded. 'Typical Froi.'
"You know that reminds me," Daisya spoke up "I heard that Angel, wanted to do an art piece with you as her subject." Lavi perked up, Narain had let him go when Allen started speaking. "Woah really?" he turned to Allen with incredible energy, like he wasn't recently just threatened by her family. "She must have seen something special in you if she wanted to paint you the moment she saw you."
Allen shrugged but put on her fake smile "I suppose so. Its only been a week and everyone knows about?" Lavi nodded happily, "Of course, you're all the school talks about lately." The conversation continued, until Allen remembered something.
"How rude of me, I haven't introduced you properly." She gestured her hand out to Cross "This is my uncle, Cross Marian. You might have seen him from the day I fainted, he came to pick me up." Said man waved while taking another sip of wine, gun no longer in sight.
She pointed to the kitchen entryway "You should remember my aunt Anita, she brought and cooked the buffet lunch we had." Anita waved through the opening, with another knife in hand. Lavi nodded, and gulped silently. That woman had very good aim.
Then Allen gestured to Narain, "And the gentlemen here who put you in a headlock, is my childhood friend Narain. He's starting medical school soon, so he's staying with us until he gets his own place." Narain smiled brightly, as though he hadn't tried to break Lavi's neck. 'Allen's family is strange.'
"Cross are there anymore guests we should be expecting?" Narain asked. He used to call him 'Mister' or 'Master' Cross, but the man wouldn't answer to either. "Yes at least two or three more." The doorbell rang and Allen left to answer it. Cross swiftly moved to follow and see who was there.
"Ah, Allen it's wonderful to see you." A tall stranger with dark hair and gold eyes said.
A/N: And there it is, Allen's overprotective family. Yay, I finally finished this chapter! And now I have a question for my readers: Who do you think the person at the door is? There are only three people you can really choose from, and I can swing this with any one of them. Here's hope that someone gets it right. Until next time. -SinfulV.