The last time I had heard about the mortal tradition and celebration of Christmas had been years ago, when my twin, Itsuki, had spent so much time trying to gather a family of broken pieces together to create a lasting and hopefully joyful memory.

It was a day of wonder and mystery for me, which was quickly turned sour by the presence of the rejected blood trying to claim ties to the family, and the discomforting attention that was being drawn towards them.

I remember the look of hurt and disappointment in Itsuki's face when people were more interested in negating the reason for the holiday in favor of dramatics that had no place in a family setting, Avalore and I remained in a feral state to avoid such nuances, but it didn't stop them from happening, the sorrow my brother had on his features when such wonderful plans went awry made me feel as if I didn't wish to ever celebrate it again, and the subsequent holiday the following year had been forgotten due to the tenures and stress of raising a two month old infant on my own.

While I had my family to trust in should I need help, the holiday just wasn't a joyful time to me...

Then Lang decided I needed to be given something special... a reminder that the holiday was meant for something other than bad memories...

I woke on the chilly winter morning with discomfort, the past few weeks were spent feeling miserable, body hurting, stomach upset, the tides of an upcoming pregnancy left me on an emotional sea, set adrift, and I was moody as hell.

Despite these fallacies, the smell of wintry spice, and of fresh evergreen, drew my attention and my tired body from the comfort of a warm bed, and... as I passed through the hall and into the grand ballroom I found myself entirely surprised.

There in the midst of the room was nearly every member of my immediate family, Gen, Sei, Suz, Bya, Grandfather, Itsuki, Touya, Avalore, Travis, Lang, and my tiny and mischievous imp of a son, Aki, whom was making it a point of chasing after the snowflakes Byaku and Seiryu created in an effort to decorate an ever blooming tree.

The tree was magnificent... its roots spread underneath the floor, making it vibrant, strong, and sweet smelling... the life force that flowed through it only heightened the decorations that each one of my family members was putting upon it, Grandfather Ashura lifting Akihiko up to help him set a few more glittering crystals upon spruced limbs, made me stare in some astonishment at just how quickly they had set everything out.

There were feasts planned before the months were out, the first being one of Thankful blessings, in which the promises of the year prior were expressed and wishes were made, wishes meant to be made true on the coming of the Yuletide eve.

I watched in grand splendor as the decor that was being set within the halls was something even mortals could not begin to experience... snowflakes carved of diamond and crystal nearly every color one could think of, garlands of true silver, and gold... tinsel of glittering icicles that stole no heat, and orbs of spiritflame dancing in the light of a red-flamed fire.

The hum of decadent song and laughter, shared for the first time in what seemed like forever... dressed only in the nightrobe I'd gone to sleep in the evening prior, I was ill prepared for the presentation, that did not however, deter my son from squealing excitedly at seeing me awake, and run to me proclaiming 'mama!' as I stooped to sweep him up into my arms.

Aided by the magic ability of Suzaku and Gen, Lang was high above everyone else setting the last item upon the tree, an iridescent crystal star that, once settled like a crown upon the majestic timber, slipped back down and to my side, his arms coiling around me, and his lips against my ear, I heard him whisper softly...

"I thought you might like, a Merry Christmas, this year."

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[Lang Loxy © Javameerkat]
[Yuuhi Enma © Dnangel]