I had just gotten back from a day in the park with Ivy and her mother, Laela. It was a wonderful evening, though it was suspicious because ever since the alley incident 2 years ago my parents haven't let me more than a block or two away from them. As we approached my home on foot, another odd thing because I know the Cassinova's have a car, I noticed something out of place for my normally bright and happy home at this time. It was dark. No lights, the car was still there, and nothing was told to me that they wouldn't be there because if that was the case we would have just gone back to the Cassinova's house for however long they would be out.
Was it an attack? No, from what I could tell so far my parents wouldn't have gone down without a fight, so I would've known there were enemies here. Was this a test? I know about the Chrono-Bravery, which I don't think was the most unique name for it, so could this be a test? I have picked up that my parents are hiding something from me; even though they did tell me they were Huntsmen and have recounted some of their adventures, there seems to always be the feeling of a missing piece.
Grabbing both of the Cassinovas' hands, I carefully pulled them forward and picked up a branch along the way. Ignoring the angelically evil laughter coming from Mrs. Cassinova, because she does that far too often for it to be out of the norm, I carefully grabbed the knob on the door. Taking a deep breath I swung the door open, keeping my branch at the ready. Loud pops rang through the air, all of the lights suddenly turned on as if in preparation for my arrival, and a small mob of people jumped from behind various objects and surfaces. It was?!...
"Happy Birthday!"
'A surprise birthday party?' Though the confusion was deep and my mind was still winding down from the mental preparation I had just taken for a foe that could have taken my parents, I couldn't help but smile. This wasn't just my normal childish side taking over unconsciously again and smiling, this was a smile that every part of me couldn't resist letting rest on my face. I had never had a surprise birthday party before; all of my Earth birthdays were quiet, happy affairs with my parents and sister, and after that the traitors I called friends. I had always preferred it that way.
But this. This was special. Because no matter how much Braxely would prefer a smaller birthday, something in me was ecstatic that I would be able to have a surprise birthday. Maybe it was Argento's ideal birthday at this age, maybe Braxely was secretly wishing to have one of these someday with truly loving people surrounding him. Regardless, as the confetti drifted to the floor and I was lifted into the air onto my father's shoulder, childish giggles were given from both me and Ivy as he effortlessly placed her on his other shoulder. We were brought over to my mother, where she happily grabbed me as I let myself fall into her arms.
As I was placed on the ground drinks were passed around, food was on display, and before I knew it my home was filled with laughter and smiles from all around me. As I took a look around me at the faces I've come to know as my friends and family, a single thought was all that was in my mind: 'I don't want to go back.'
This didn't just refer to going back to Earth, as I gave up going back soon after I arrived in Remnant. No, in these two years I've realized that I never want to go back to being alone; with no one to rely on, constantly fighting for my place in the world, losing everyone I love to either death or betrayal. If it was for these people, I would be willing to fight even the darkest of forces, even if it meant my life for theirs. I don't think I was always like this, I might've been influenced by Argento, but for as much trouble as the inability to control myself is, the ability to love so unconditionally was irreplaceable. I forgot what it was like to love someone without feeling grief over their loss after all of this time.
Without realizing it a tear slid down my cheek. Whether she mistook it for sadness or not, Trivia, despite being the shy one of us three, quickly wrapped me in a hug, not something she normally does around others, and in that same tone of voice that seemed so fragile a single harsh reprimand could break it, she simply said, "Happy Birthday."
"Thank you." That was all I could say back as I hugged her back. Trivia was a bit shorter than me, so when I looked up I could see over her head, and I saw Ivy smiling at me. Holding out my hand, she took it with some confusion being added into her smile, but soon realized what it was for as I gently pulled her into the now group hug. With the nice moment of hugging people I might be able to call true friends over, it was now time to get back to the party at hand.
As the cake was being handed out and the presents were opened, I noticed that for once, my perfect memory did something good. I could feel it, the same feeling I felt several times ago, the feeling of my brain taking a perfect image of everything in front of me. And the only word I could think of when I saw this was 'happiness'.
Now sitting in my room away from the merrily drinking adults, because they can get loud sometimes, were Ivy, Trivia, and me. Even though Trivia may not be the best speaker, I've noticed that there are moments when she has this certain flare in her movements that seem to get whole sentences across. Though I guess that might just be because we've known each other for about 2 years now, though I believe anyone would agree her more pouty or annoyed moments are adorable.
After an hour or so of games, talking, and laughing, the parents would, being slightly tipsy, find the three of us asleep and cuddled together like always, smile, and crash in various places around the living room, with Laela and Amelia taking the master bedroom's bed because even if they were not hammered, Laela was too tipsy to safely go home and Maxwell was already passed out on the couches with the other male adults.
As I awoke the next morning bright and early, as always, Trivia was on my left and Ivy on my right. I just quietly chuckled at their adorable sleeping faces and went into the kitchen to prepare some tea I learned to make for hangovers. On my way, I saw Cromwell, Trivia's guard, and Deagon, Mr. Cassinova, practically cuddling on the couch, and I couldn't resist taking a picture with my scroll. I was going to sneak this to Laela later, knowing she would be too distracted from the minor hangover to check on her husband and see for herself before it was too late.
Speaking of hangovers, was it strange to see a 6-year-old making hangover tea for a group of adults? Maybe. Did I or the others care? Not really. At this point, they all knew I always woke up bright and early, and it wasn't my first time making this tea. Looking at the clock and hearing a groan, I knew my father was awake because just like me he always woke up bright and early, even if he is practically dying from a hangover.
Without looking behind me at the footsteps into the kitchen, I simply stated, "Good morning, dad." Though I may have said it a bit too loud, maybe on purpose, because he held his head as he sat down at the dining room table.
"Why do you have to be so loud in the morning kid?" He was currently giving me his most non-death-glare death glare, something he would always do when he gets annoyed at me.
"Maybe don't drink until you pass out, and I won't punish you for it old man." Giving him a cheeky grin as I placed his cup and poured him hangover tea, I could see my mother walking in only very lightly wincing at the light coming from the window. "Morning, mom."
"I am not an old man! Honey, tell your child I'm not nearly old enough to be called old."
"I would never lie to OUR son." Giving Maxwell her normal angelic smile he looked away, defeated and drinking his tea while making old man sounds; now she sat down next to him, where I happily placed another cup filled with the tea. "Good morning munchkin, how did you three sleep?"
"Well I slept perfectly, I mean look at me," I said as I ran my hands through my hair with purposefully gaudy movements, to which my parents could only hopelessly laugh at. "The other two are still sleeping as always: peacefully, and adorably. I say it'll be another 15 minutes, maybe 30, before Trivia is up, but Ivy might need outside influence to wake up. Though Trivia normally handles that pretty well." Shaking my head ruefully at the lack of discipline in the green-haired angel, I sat down as Amelia got up to start breakfast. "Also, didn't I say that name was unnecessary?"
"It is precisely that reason I must use it now and again because otherwise, I wouldn't be doing my job as a mother of embarrassing you." With a reply I could only sigh at, we sat in the conjoined kitchen and dining room from that point in comfortable silence. Only 15 minutes later breakfast started to emanate that "wake everybody up" smell, which did wonders for the only other individual who drank small amounts, Laela.
"Good morning everyone." With murmurs of 'good morning' from the recovering adults, she grabbed a cup and filled it with the tea she knew would help with the small headache she had from drinking, and sat down at the table. Soon after her were Cromwell and Deagon, and I couldn't help but uncontrollably giggle when I saw the two of them up and walking at the same time as if nothing happened. When Laela looked at me weirdly I pulled up my scroll, and she joined me in the uncontrollable giggling squad once she saw the photo.
Sending it to her and promising myself to show it to my mother and Ivy later, if Laela didn't beat me to it, Trivia walked in, looking a little annoyed, as she practically dragged a half-asleep Ivy to the table. Once there, Ivy managed to stumble her way into her seat on my right, while Trivia sat on my left and held out her scroll to me while pouting and looking away.
{Why do you always leave me to wake her up? I can't even raise my voice to wake her up, so I basically have to throw her off the bed to do so!}
I swiftly but softly poke her puffed-up, pouting cheek, and with a cheeky grin, I respond, "Well if I did that, then I wouldn't get the opportunity to poke your pout, now would I?" With the best stink-eye an adorable little girl can give, she closes her scroll, pockets it, and folds her arms in one fluid, almost practiced motion. Now refusing to look at me, I now had something else to deal with, as Ivy began snuggling into me like I was a bed she had been searching for her whole life. Poking her forehead lightly but firmly, her eyes stubbornly fluttered open as she looked at me.
"Morning sleepy-head. Was my arm so comfortable you just couldn't resist falling right back asleep?"
"As if." Yet as Ivy said this, she snuggled a little closer, refusing to believe it was time to get up already. It seems it is time to activate my trap card!
"If you don't get up, I'll eat all of your food~." And with this, her eyes shot open, as if she had been wide awake this entire time, and stared into my eyes like she was trying to dig out my soul. Or, both of them, if you wanted to get technical.
"If you do that, you get no more head scratches." Pfft, as if I needed those. I wasn't a dog… okay so maybe her threat felt a little more serious. But long nails can scratch all the places I can't, and it just feels so good!
But I had to act strong, so with just a small twitch in my eye, which she undoubtedly caught, I had my backup plan. "Well, then I'll just ask Trivia to do it. I'm sure her's are just as-" Though once I mentioned Trivia doing it, I felt her poking my arm, and couldn't help but look as I was finishing my sentence. But when I saw her scroll, I felt utterly betrayed!
{No head scratches for you, as punishment for putting me in charge of waking her up whenever we're together.}
With Ivy's grin and their high-five that was right above my head, I exaggeratedly put my head on the table as I acted as dramatically as I could. "Oh, right in the heart! How could this have happened, being ganged up on those I've broken bread with!"
"Breaking bread?" As Amelia said this, she was now bringing over platers of simple foods, such as pancakes, eggs in various forms, sausages, etc. "There you go again with your strange phrases. Where do you even learn these things, young man?"
"Uhhh, the CCTS?" I may not be there anymore, but there were many Earthen phrases I would use that had no basis here in Remnant. I just had to thank all things above that the Cross Continental Transmit System ( "CCTS" aka the internet) was a thing, otherwise, I would have to explain either where I found it or bullshit my way through how I thought of it and what exactly it means.
"Well, whatever. If I ever catch you picking up bad habits from it though, I'm taking away your access."
"That's unfair, there's so much that I could accidentally see in that category!"
"Oh? And how do you know exactly what categories I am talking about?" With a scary glint in her eyes, I now knew I messed up because that's the look Maxwell gets the day before I find him sleeping on the couch. As if he could feel the gaze I was talking about, my father sits up straight and begins to stuff his face and look away, just in case he would be caught in the crossfire, because it has happened before, and it was this very set of actions that gave me my ticket out.
"Would you just look at all this food! You've outdone yourself again mom." Hastily stuffing my face with as many sausages as I could, I temporarily forget the mortal peril I am in and can't help but slow down and say, "It's so good~."
Without the will to push me any further because of the pure joy I had on my face as I ate, she let it go as she sat between Trivia and Maxwell. With the table full and most of the adults at least coming off their hangover thanks to my tea, it soon became another joyful morning with everyone I could comfortably call my new family. As always, I will hold Braxely's family close to my heart, but this right here, this is just what I needed to move on. And I finally got it.
I hope I never have to find it again.