"It isn't where you were born that is Home, but where you come from;
And the most surreal part is that you aren't from this world at all,
My dear Soul."
December 24, 1908
Christmas Eve
HollyDale
Jesse swept the hair over his forehead away as he woke up, hesitating to rise when he felt John's little hands holding his shirt. Slowly removing the sleeping child's grip, he sat up and looked over to see his brother, Allen, fastening his boots, Claire drowsily leaning against his arm.
"Where are you going?" he asked, before a yawn.
"To the Lockwoods' to see Merry", said the man, giving him a smile. He watched as Allen flexed, before lifting Claire up in his arms.
"I'm coming too, give me ten minutes", said Jesse before collecting himself and hastening to dress up.
It was about fifteen minutes when the boys were at the door, suited up and ready to leave. "Not without breakfast", Charity imposed and the family, save Merry, was gathered around, saying Grace.
It was one impatient meal, yet a satisfying one, before the two took their leave, with the little ones safe in Charity's care. Stepping out of the warm cottage, their minds were only filled with thoughts of their sister, Merry, now belonging to the family of the Lockwoods.
"I have some business to take care of, would you come with me after visiting Merry, Jesse?" asked Allen and they agreed to head west. The efforts exerted at the Evergreens' place were to see their prize this evening.
Jesse looked around at all the Christmas decorations, which further continued to be draped, as they crossed the library to reach the Lockwood mansion. Climbing the stairs, they waited until Nate opened the door. Her cheerful smile was instantly ruined when Allen 'pointed out' how alike her hair looked to the rare over-baked bread at Mr.Baker's.
With the two skirmishing behind, leaving Jesse to wonder who the child really was around there, his eyes lit up when he saw his sister walk in.
"Jesse!" came her squeal before they ran into each other's arms. "It's been so long", she whispered, releasing him. One evening truly did feel like ages. The child leaned over to see Sir Gabriel smile benevolently and reach an arm open. Jesse walked over to him and the man ruffled his hair with a laugh. "Lovely boy, aren't you?"
Sir Davies and Christian walked in, and Merry walked over to her husband's side, where the man with the scar had an arm open for her. They spent quite a while talking together about various things in town and out.
Jesse watched, for a moment, how quite like a cherished family the company seemed. After all, this was where his sister's heart had found her Past. Merry made a chief object of attention and kindness, which made the boy wonder if he would ever piece into a frame as perfectly.
It would be Christmas Eve and then Christmas, when his beloved sister would leave for Frostshire. Taking a deep breath, he turned to see Allen, who was adding jocundly to the conversation.
After a few morning hours passed, Jesse noticed that Sir Davies, Christian and Gabriel were leaving. Allen rose to his feet and looked down to Jesse, saying, "Have Merry fill the cards out, I'm escorting the gentlemen to some tea-fields nearby."
The young lad nodded, moving towards his sister, pulling a few brown cards out of his pocket. Merry perked up, as the man left the house, with only Nate and Ladye at home, save Jesse and herself.
Something about taking charge when Allen called instructions always made Jesse feel like there was spirit and responsibility yoked upon his capable shoulders, as if they saw eye to eye. Taking a seat beside Merry, he laid the cards out before her.
They were homespun invites to all the children in town and Allen had told Jesse, the previous night, of all the names that were required to be written into them. Merry began calligraphing each name that his brother dictated upon the face of the little rectangular brown paper cards, as they did each year as a tradition from Charity's cottage.
"Frank,... Joe,... Edward,... Harry,... Chester,... Ben,... Tom,... Johnathan…"
"Johnathan?!" asked Merry, confused.
"Yes", replies Jesse, nonchalantly.
"He's about as old as Allen!"
"He talks like he's about as old as Andrew."
Merry silently proceeded without complaints.
"Aaron's name should have been here", said Merry, folding the work when they were finished.
"If he wasn't hosting with us", agreed Jesse, and the pair wrapped the invites.
Nate placed two cups of hot milk before them and took a seat beside. "Are you going to go around town spreading them?" asked she, sounding jubilant as always.
"Yes, would you like to join us?" Merry resonated her excitement.
"I would love to!" said Nate, leaning forward.
"Allen asked me to accompany him shortly", Jesse said, shifting his gaze to the ladies.
"That man can look after himself!" huffed Natalia, crossing her arms against her chest. "You're coming with us."
Jesse chuckled and nodded before taking a sip of his drink.
~
Allen returned to the Lockwoods' manor, Christian, Sir Davies and Sir Gabriel with him, content that the trip had gone fairly pleasantly and agreeably. It had taken a half hour longer than they had expected, but with the favourable move of deals, the men talked genially, as they entered the house.
The two ladies seemed to be heading outdoors, Jesse in tow. "I'd like to take my brother back to my possession", he checked their excitement, like his sole purpose was to wage war with Nate.
A grand deal of critical counters and retaliations later, Jesse and Allen walked out of the Lockwoods' parlour casually chatting about the weather. The brothers made their way to the Quinns' estate to plant their gift under the Tree. After that, they headed to the Evergreens' to assist with the final details of furnishing that was left to be done.
The wood was laid out in various shapes and the boys began scripting the procedure of events. It was due the evening with many children from town gathering at the Cottage.
~
After distributing invites to all the HollyDale families with children, and visiting the Quinns' Manor to leave their family's gifts under the tall, decorated pine tree, Nate and Merry went to Charity's. Claire and the twins ran into Merry's arms, elated that she had come back home. The flock left for the kitchen, where they baked Banana Bread Cake for the guests that were to arrive.
When Allen and Jesse arrived with Aaron, Merry collected the cakes and drinks they had bought and arranged them on the table. The men began work before the fireplace, laughing and snacking as they laboured.
Evening sleepily rolled by, bringing Sir Gabriel, Christian, Sir Davies and the children of HollyDale, with a few mothers to chaperone. Jonathan, a man of twenty and five, stood at the door, his two little sisters with him. "How could you?" he whined, and Merry laughed, giving him a slice of cake.
"You can help Aaron and Allen with the props", she said, giving his large arm a nudge. He may have helped with the process of building, had he not left town for the fortnight prior to the HollyDale Ball.
The children sat upon the rug in rows, facing the fireplace, with the elders seated on chairs behind, watching over them.
Merry leaned her head against Christian's shoulder, feeling the warmth and tingling feeling she always had when he was around. The need to stay close to him, to watch him listen when she spoke, to have him ease her worries when she did fret, everything calming, yet spiralling about his presence made her understand why Nate always seemed desperately endeared to see Sir Davies.
Christian slowly encircled a sure arm around her shoulder and drew her closer, looking down to give her a loving smile. Warmth began to pour into her, as it always did, when he was around. Looking down into her lap, Merry tried to rein her smile, but for naught. Gathering folds of her skirt into her palms, the girl drew a deep breath before leaning against her husband's side.
There was a large and tall frame that stood between the children and the hearth, a long blanket veiling the fire. Every other lamp was unlit until there was only the light from the fireplace, curtained behind the stand.
The slabs of wood carved in the shapes of animals and foliage served as puppets in the story depicted for the children. The voice of laughter and elation sounded from the cottage, whilst the company watched in absolute adoration.
"Your brother and I sculpted the wedges of grass", whispered Christian and Merry looked up to pay them special attention. It had always just been a certain tradition at the Cottage for a story to the children every Christmas, but she had never taken part in the institution thereof.
Realising the efforts these men had spent had given her a new perspective to see and she looked up into his deep eyes and smiled, "That is so beautiful! I didn't know.."
Just then she turned to see the narration, with children laughing, being the reward they earned for their yuletide toils. She looked up to see Christian gazing at the little ones munching their snacks and watching the play, each pointing and chattering every time something interesting occurred.
After a well-spent evening, the children returned to their homes, food in their arms and a message in their hearts. John, Andrew and Claire gathered around Allen, frolicking and talking incessantly about the story they had watched.
With all of the family gathered around, they prayed and sang songs, before rising to hang stockings above the fireplace. Giving each of her little siblings a good-night kiss on the forehead, Merry wished them a blessed Christmas Eve and turned to see Allen.
Her brother smiled down at her and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. Charity stepped close and gave Merry's hand a gentle squeeze. Merry smiled back and embraced her mother and brother.
After bidding them each a good-bye, she turned to see Christian, a tender smile on his face as he held a hand out for her to take. Despite everything they had become to each other, it was difficult to shed the flutters she felt when he looked at her with those unreadable expressions.
Biting her smile down, Merry took his hand and they returned to the Lockwoods' Manor.