Chapter 14.
That morning it was snowing. My windows were partially frosted over and I could feel the chill in my toes. I burrowed deeper in my blankets and let my eyes adjust to the light as flakes fell unheedingly outside. With a sudden burst of inhibition I rolled out of bed and reached for my power.
Time ground to standstill as I dressed in random garments that had been laying about the room. I rushed out of my room, past the still figure of my father but suddenly stopped and backtracked. There in the living room my father was bent on one knee in front of Shyla. Her hands were folded and by her partially open, smiling mouth I could already tell what her answer would be.
With a last thoughtful glance at the couple, now like very realistic statues, I went out the front door. My nose almost immediately turned a shade of red as the cold seeped in through my layers. Still I had little care for that, because all around me was a frozen wonderland. Even now the snowflakes I had disturbed melted placidly on my cheeks. A sudden laugh escaped my lips as I twirled around in circles, knocking the frozen drops from their places.
A dark flash in the corner of my vision stopped me. I stood slightly breathless, cold air burning my lungs. It was only Taylor's car, frozen in its attempt to park in the driveway. He and his mother were going to spend today with us…It'd be the first Christmas that my father and I had spent with more than just each other. Now, from the look of things it wouldn't be the last. I was absolutely sure that within the year I'd be getting both a new mother and brother. The thought didn't bother me as much as it would have only a month ago.
I smiled sadly at the realization and then shivered as another snowflake melted on my face. In a moment I went back inside and stood by the door as my grip on time ceased. From the next room I could hear a startled gasp and an excited assent from Shyla. I didn't move, not wishing to disturb the moment. In a couple seconds the doorbell rang and I opened the door for Taylor. His red eyes flashed over my strange garb and then past me to where his mother had suddenly appeared.
There were a couple packages in his arms and I tried not to laugh at the poor wrapping job. He was so different from Knight, but the thought of having him as a relation didn't scare me…slowly I'd begun to, if not completely, to understand this strange boy.
"So Lydia," he brushed his flaxen hair away from his face, "Are you going to help me with these or just stare?"
"I thought I'd just let you take care of them," I answered with a joking smile before taking some of the gifts. We walked into the living room and put them down to join the others beneath the tree.
Shyla and my father were standing hand in hand, resembling kindergartners in their eagerness to reveal their news. Taylor rolled his eyes waiting for them to spill. Afterwards he looked at me with an ironic expression, "I never wanted a sister but I suppose I'll have to deal with it…at least I get Knight too."
"What about me?" a familiar voice said as Knight appeared from around the corner, still hobbling slightly because of his recovering ankle.
My father repeated the news to my cousin who in response promptly hugged both of them. He was so much better than me at expressing his feelings. I guess I shouldn't have been so hard on Warren after all…I wasn't much better at actually talking about things like this.
Taylor cleared his throat loudly, "So are we going to have breakfast or what?"
Shyla broke off from my father's hold and nodded. Knight and Taylor followed after her a mutually hungry look in their eyes. I followed a little bit after, walking beside my dad. He looked down at me, blue eyes sparkling with unexpressed joy. The look filled my own heart and I was suddenly glad that he'd ignored my misapprehensions about their relationship.
"Lydia, you know that this doesn't mean anything will change between us. We'll still be…that is, you'll still be my girl," his voice was raspy. It seemed neither of us was very good at these heart-felt admissions.
"I know dad," I put my arm around his waist as we joined the others.
There on the end chair of the rectangular table, sat Fintan, dressed, for once, in normal clothes even sans sunglasses. I shook my head in amazement and saw from the looks on Shyla and Taylor's faces that my dad had already informed them of this other member of our rapidly growing family. I slid into the chair next to him as everyone piled their plates with wonderful smelling food.
"So," I began slyly, "Don't you need to be home with your own wife today?"
"Well…" he started and then stopped at the sight of my narrowed eyes. Shaking his head, he took a large bite of his biscuit. He was harder to pry open than an oyster…of course my juvenile attempts at interrogation probably didn't help much.
Taylor was as quick to eat as he was to clear away plates in order to open what presents under the tree were for him. We all sat down in the living room and I marveled at the easy way in which all of us…even the one who technically wasn't born yet, had managed to form a real family. Taylor and Fintan were conversing about some old television show while Knight and I passed out the gifts to their respective recipients. My father and Shyla sat on the couch, ensconced in each other's arms. That day would be one of the most treasured memories of my life.
After the torn wrapping paper had been stuffed into a large black trash bag I looked over my loot with an appraising air. There were some clothes, two DVDs of my favorite Shakespeare plays, a hardbound copy of Jane Eyre and a new basketball. Knight nudged me and I looked at him curiously before hearing the second rap on the door. Taylor, Shyla, and my father had gone into the kitchen to wash our dishes from this morning. Fintan's eyes bored through my skull from his position on the couch and suddenly I knew who must be at the door.
Taking a deep breath, I walked calmly to the entryway. I tugged self-consciously on my clothes before opening the door. Warren stared back at me. I struggled not to let my nervousness reach my voice.
"Warren," I opened the door wider and stepped back, "Come in."
He looked at me strangely and nodded, shaking off the dampness of melting snow in our doorway. I shut the door and stared at the handle before turning back to him. The pyro wiped his boots on the carpet, dark hair falling in front of his features and barring me out for the moment. I could have said something…asked why he'd come, but the clenching feeling in my gut prevented me.
"Knight's just in the next room," I volunteered finally, clasping my hands behind my back.
He swung his head to look at me as he reached into the deep pocket of his leather jacket, "I didn't come to see Knight."
I feigned a cough and ran a hand through my unruly mane, "You didn't."
"No," he smiled at my anxiety and pulled a small, black box out from his pocket.
I took it with both hands, eyes darting between it and the amused smirk on the pyro's face. My fingers fumbled at the lid for a minute before it came off. There was a piece of paper with scrawling handwriting.
The course of true love never did run smooth.
My nose wrinkled in consternation at the thought of Warren looking up a quote by Shakespeare. The other part of me tried not to melt, but what was under the piece of paper confirmed any doubts on that account. The hourglass charm was startlingly bright, strung on a new, wider strap of black ribbon with clasps hooked on both ends.
"But I thought…"
"The string burned right away but the metal wasn't, just bent at the edges."
"Oh."
"It was kind of hard to straighten out," he shrugged his shoulders, "but I wanted you to have it. I didn't really understand why you gave it to me."
I swallowed, "I was just angry and did something stupid."
"Yeah, I can relate to that," He took a deep breath and took the necklace from the box, "Look Lydia, I know it seems like I've been a real jerk lately."
I held back my hair as he leaned forward to hook the clasps behind my neck. I closed my eyes and was tempted to pause the moment and just enjoy being this close to him. My common sense scolded me for being so sentimental. When he drew back my cheeks were red, but I tried to hide it by letting go of my hair.
"I was being really stupid because I hated the idea of you and Robert together."
"Well we both know how that turned out," I wrung my hands together, until he took them. I forced myself to look up at him.
"I hated that because I didn't want to see you with anyone else," his other hand reached to touch my cheek.
The movie ended and Taylor yawned loudly, stretching his arms far above his head, giving us all a view of his well-muscled abdomen. I rolled my eyes at his show-off nature even as Quincy leaned forward to take a better look. When he was done he gave me a sly wink, to which I just shook my head. Knight found the whole ordeal amusing, but kept his laughter to himself.
The rest of the group was on the verge of sleep. Zach was slobbering on the couch arm, already completely out, while Maj amused herself by drawing a French moustache on his upper lip with permanent marker. I made a mental note never to fall asleep at any of her parties. Layla, Will, Quincy and Ethan were half-heartedly playing a card game. Malati had been watching the movie with rapt interest and I congratulated myself on choosing a show that at least one person liked.
I felt sudden pressure on my head and tried to stifle any laughter that might wake Warren from his sudden stupor. Maj looked up and grinned wolfishly in our direction, "How would Warren look with a beard?" and she started to get up, black pen in hand.
"Don't even think about it," the pyro said gruffly without even opening his eyes.
My shoulders shook with sudden laughter and he raised his head, annoyed that his headrest had started moving.
"Well this is just about the most exciting New Year's Eve I've ever had," Taylor intoned loudly.
Zach sat up suddenly and looked around the room with a confused expression. We all watched as he wiped the saliva from his cheek, "What?"
Will shook his head with a smile and Maj began the innocent act, "I think you might have something on your face," Taylor began, ignoring the glares from the shape shifter.
"Something large," Ethan added laying down his cards. He had soundly thrashed the rest of the card-players. I adjusted my position, trying not to jab Warren with my elbows.
"Dude," Zach said simply as his eyes landed upon the permanent marker in Magenta's hand, "Maj?" he left the room quickly as everyone started laughing.
"Look, it's almost midnight," I said softly as Will flipped on the news. The huge gathering in downtown Maxville waited in anticipation for the New Year to be rung in by the old clock tower.
Zach ran back in with an evil look in his eye, the edge of his lips quirked up before he took a flying leap at Maj. The scene was made all the more ridiculous by the curled moustache that decorated his upper lip. The dark-haired girl struggled as her boyfriend began tickling her mercilessly. He stopped suddenly as the count down began but didn't release his hold on her.
"I know zat you have always dreamed of kizzing a Frenchman," Zach began in a ridiculous European accent and for once in her life Magenta blushed furiously. I noticed that she didn't try to get away from him either.
Six, five, four, three, two…one. Happy New Year!
My mind went to remembering what a whirlwind of a year it had been, but I was quickly distracted by Warren's arm tightening around my shoulders. A thought came unbidden to my mind, maybe all of this, the strange tempest in time, was meant to be. Of course when your father can see the future, fate loses its magic. But for now I had only one thing to concentrate on, and that was Warren's sudden kiss on my forehead.
Time or not, I still had to figure out what this feeling was.
The End
AN: Well there it is...I hope you have all enjoyed reading this as much as I've enjoyed writing it.
I can't thank you all enough for the encouraging reviews and hope this chapter served as some kind of thank-you for all the wonderful comments!