Always And Forever

Story 12: The Last Spark

The new year in Daventry could be a quiet group reflection of the past, or a party spreading across the land not bound by rules as long as drinks flow. Take your pick. Vee heard more than a few tales of the celebrations within the castle, that is, Graham approaching certain townspeople the eve of with convoluted mental leaps and twists called "logic" to invite them.

Vee could imagine teenage Graham stumbling in every way, desperate to entertain his much older friends long enough to gather them beneath the stars to make their personal wishes for the incoming future after a firework show. If her teenage self were there, she wouldn't have found it cute at that age.

Still, she had seen a happy Graham. Or at least Graham not in constant agony. She'd been spoiled to have witnessed that at all, so trying to stay sane in the mostly somber Castle Daventry these last few years was difficult.

Difficulty keeps life interesting, at least that's how Vee had to look at it when she threw parties with certain townspeople just like she heard about year after year and Graham never participated. They'd begin at sundown with talking, drinking, snacking and exchanging stories usually silly especially when Vee was able to bring Graham into the conversation at least to remind them his avoiding everyone wasn't meant to be offensive. Their tired, but soft eyes alone told her they understood. It wasn't ideal, but better than him faking it through events.

It seemed that for every blink, another year passed with the same event with different amounts of Rosella's attendance to brighten the room and increasing drink quality. Vee's eyes fluttered, then she was stepping into the miserable shadows of her and Graham's bedroom trying not to drop the plate of cookies and weakest juice in the process. There was a stream of moonlight coming from the open window Graham sat by on a chest that was obviously moved given the dust trail.

They had a small couch for two just over-

Vee wiped any expression off her face as Graham was easily lured over. She didn't want to crack a smile when he might not know his eyes were big and hopeful as they asked if she intended to share while he was starving. When he received approval, the obsession he'd never fully admit, he still hesitated as he held and let the cookie slightly crumble in his palm.

Hope turned to hurt while Vee, despite being confident in reading him, struggled to keep up with the speed of thoughts that rushed in his head. It would be helpful if he talked, even just mundane chatter but she didn't want to force him if he couldn't.

The party should be moving outdoors now, everyone assembling the magic fireworks from the recipe the Hobblepots left. Fireworks, but lasting more than just a flash and seeming to have a mind of their own roaming through the sky connecting and forming all new shapes. Vee was able to see Graham's first reaction to it, and she might have missed key parts of the display while noticing his own face light up like he'd never see anything better than this.

She watched Graham swipe the whole platter and scurry back to the window with his haul, and this made her wonder if that absolute wonder and excitement in that night never left. It would be terrible to think nothing halted the painful thoughts, like he could never have just one distraction from feeling empty. Vee wasn't one for the loudest and enthusiastic gatherings, but Daventry changed her mind and even if she wasn't screaming to the sky with everyone else she understood when a memory was being made. Now she wished she brought a stronger drink; her mind was already imagining Graham removing himself from that atmosphere he enjoyed pointlessly over and over, and she hated it.

If that was true – and she didn't want to believe it – he needed a scrap of that back. But all Vee could offer was the treats and her company, so did just that joining him.

The chest was awful. There was no back support, she was probably getting splinters in the worst places possible and oh hell no she couldn't imagine this was how Graham spent the whole party-

One grainy hand caressed hers while the other, dripping with sugar in the moonlight, pointed to the drink as if it were an afterthought. Vee assured him it wasn't strong enough to force his hair down, still he preferred shoveling the sweets in. If that was his comfort, Vee pretended the faintest grape taste was soothing while only caring about the presence next to her and view outside.

Their view wasn't perfect, but it was enough to see confetti-covered Rosella and her friends gawk at the magic firework set up. Those kids had seen this before, everyone except Rosella swear they didn't care. Vee sneaked a few glances at Graham as he wasn't stealthy at all stroking her back and then let his arm rest around her waist. He did all of it staring vacantly ahead as the last spark ignited.

"Three!" Someone screamed.

It was too early for the reflection and pondering part, but Vee skipped to it as she thought of where they might be at this time next year. Would cushions be added? Would Graham show up during at least one section of the party? The unknown could gnaw on her mind if she wasn't careful.

"Two!"

Not knowing was always the worst part.

"One!"

Vee's heart raced at the exploding noise, her gasp muted under not that and cheering outside. She'd squinted from the multi-colored flash before her eyes flew open at the magic manifested as fire shooting across the sky twisting and chasing other traces of itself as it split. The patterns usually random shapes with the odd vague hype word.

It wasn't a long show this time; it would take a skilled magic-user to provide enough fuel, but it served its purpose. When it was obviously beginning to wind down, when the final major blast of gold and blue had the bedroom glowing that was the moment Vee was swept up.

She couldn't imagine what her face looked like; her heart was racing for a whole new reason now that Graham's arms circled her frame and both backs were going to be sore in the morning leaning in with the most appalling posture. She did at least feel herself smile, satisfied as could be realizing his lips looked just the same before crashing into hers.

Crumbs, teeth accidentally stabbing and Vee at one point needing to seize Graham's pajama shirt just to not fall backward since her formal dress was quite slippery. It was cut short when they both slid to their sides, half dangling off the chest now that the room was covered in shadows once more. Vee reached out, dragging fingers along his face mostly to confirm she wasn't the only one blushing.

Graham reached for that hand and stroked it meanwhile, trying not to have direct eye contact. With some difficulty, he finally spoke. "Did you understand the message?" Never mind this was not the time to be deep, proven by him rushing to clarify. "Remember our first time celebrating the new year? You told me Kolyma had a tradition for kissing at midnight, and I choked on that apple, and we didn't get to go through with it."

Vee nodded with shifty eyes, assuming there wouldn't be a better time to give context for that.

Graham still had more to say, shutting his eyes as if to put them back in that night. "'Maybe it began as a way to celebrate times of peace'. 'Maybe the pioneer of it was just really proud of their lover and wanted to show them off'. 'Traditions just happen, you know'."

"I was only talking about what lovers do at the time because I couldn't think of any other way to kiss you in public." Vee confessed with a shrug.

Graham's eyes opened back to the disappointing present, but he made comfortable by only his standards which included but was not limited to snuggling around the ribs. "Daventry doesn't have romantic traditions." He sounded so sullen that Vee had to take a moment to pat his back.

"Our marriage should give you some ideas. Want me to help write a list?" She murmured, not completely serious or concerned about changing the kingdom. It was slightly amusing to hear his muffled yes.

At some point both finally came to their senses, detached and stood. Flexing limbs and stretching had to be done while Graham chose to ignore the chest placement and stroll toward the doorway. Vee, knowing she had to rejoin the party at some point, assumed he was going to say goodnight and leave it at that. He expressed himself, and that was more than she expected of him tonight.

At the doorway, Vee prepared for a more subdued goodnight kiss this time. Graham stopped her instead, apologetic, his brighter eyes made it look like he had something important to say so he definitely didn't waste twelve precious seconds with stalling sounds.

"Celebrating isn't easy anymore, but I should have been there not just tonight – Can that kiss be symbolic for being together more often? I can't be alone, Vee." Well, that was clearly more jumbled than he wanted seeing as the brightness fled his eyes.

It would take the whole year for Graham to properly arrange the words... But they had it. This year, and the rest of their lives. Vee could only nod seriously, which visibly made him breathe again. Then they were able to go through the typical goodnight kiss with the minor change of Graham's fingers squeezing her arms and back- He needed reminders of his own... That he was not eternally alone, creating a false reality on the other side of the magic mirror for the second or third time forever without context.

"I'll change this year!" Graham blurted once they separated, eyes sparkling. "We'll need to decide on a summoning noise if you ever want me around; I think the loudest option for most coverage is a whistle! And I'll spend more time with Rosella! I'll go outside! I'll do the royal work myself; you won't get a single hand cramp! I'll even lead a search party for Alexander; I've never forgotten him..."

It wasn't the first time Graham made these expectations for himself; it wouldn't be the last. It was the first in maybe five or six years though, and Vee wanted to be confident it would happen just as he said. So, when he rambled, she wasn't exaggerating the smile tugging on her lips.

It wasn't happiness, but she could live with the next best state of him.