novel form below:
shandrel
Holiday Miracle
Shandrel looked out the window of her Barton Townhouse. The windows had the holiday glow from the lights strewn around them, the porch light was on. Holiday music played in the background, the living room had the furniture rearranged, leaving the center open, with a large tree by the fireplace. There were gifts under the tree for everyone she had sent invitations to, an entire guild. Although the look on her face said she didn't expect anyone to show up. She had been invisible to them since she left His home, and life. Oh she was still friends, but still, she knew where the cards really lay. She waited, drinking slowly from a glass of watered down wine.
a lone figure was walking down the Barton streets, his brimmed red hat low over his face, cane in hand, clutching a crumpled invitation in his hand. he was dressed in elegant attire, mostly coloured Black. the heels of his boots clicking on the frozen cobbled street.
though Twilight had been a Vampire for his entire adult life so far, he never realy got used to the Coldness. Winter's chill didn't bother him as much as it used to in life, but still the Undeath had it's discomforts. he didn't shiver, but he was a little irritable.
he remembered how shocked he was to hear from his ex-wife again. when he received the invitation he didn't know what to believe. was he only dreaming? but no, the day went on as usual. it was getting close to sunset when he left the Mansion. he knew the address.
when he came to her door, he saw the lights on and sighed. his breath didn't cloud in the air, cold as it was already. he spent a good several minutes just standing there, looking at the townhouse, as people walked by, throwing snowballs at eachother.
finally, he walked up he stairs, and knocked on her door. it was time to face the woman who walked out on him.
She almost missed the knock, relighting candles that had burnt down, only tealights, not so dramatic, but that was the purpose of a floating candle, to float, not sputter indignantly at the water. She stood, dressed in a simple red satin gown, nothing to fancy, her hair was loose, and she was wearing a pair of heels..... every one of her invited guests was taller than her otherwise.
She opened the door with a bright smile, someone had actually accepted her invitation. She recognized the figure in her doorway before it fully processed, a small smile of irony touched her lips. Of course, the first person to show up would be Him...... Such was the way of things. She stepped aside without a thought, knowing full well his dislike of the cold.
" Please come in, i can take your coat." the hand that held the wine glass had the flash of silver on it as she set the glass down, carefully, very carefully.
He quickly sidestepped into the house, his usual grace stiffened from the chill. he grunted, unbuttoning his Coat, and shrugged his Mantle and Coat off his shoulders.
"it's good to see you again, Shandi." he said with a forced smile, flashing his fangs as usual. "phones are never the same as faces."
he took his hat off, leaving his shades on because of the glare of Candles.
"thank you for taking my Coat. I'm not the first one here, am I?"
She took his coat, mantel and hat, placing them on hooks by the door.
"Of course you are, in truth i didn't expect anyone. it seems to be the norm."
She hadn't expected him to come, much less, be the first to arrive.
She ushered him into the house proper, along the walls of the hallway were photos, and paintings, of happier times between them. pictures of the two of them, and of the guild. but, although she might be unaware, every frame hung on her walls, had his image in them.
"why wouldn't you think anyone would come, dear?" he asked. but when he was led inside the house he couldn't help but see the pictures on the walls. they gave him a feeling that warmed him even more than the heating. he smiled genuinely at them.
then the thoughts hit him. had no one else been keeping contact with her? that didn't make much sense to him, unless she purposely had stayed apart. but Twi was always dense like that.
"well, this is a pretty room. you seem prepared for guests, expected or not." he said, noting the gifts and mingling space. he hoped it would cheer her up.
She smiled softly.
" No one returns my calls, or letters really. this is more habit i suppose, than expectation.I don't really think i was close to any of them, It reminds me in a way, i suppose of Skottie's guild. You were the only one who I was ever close to. "
The smile faded a bit, in memory. She seemed to shake herself a bit.
" Ah, what a wonderful hostess i am... i haven't even offered you a drink' she said with a hint of playful irony.
"you know what I like." he said, as if to answer the unasked question of what beverage he wanted.
"Skotti's Guild was never realy home to me. but we had some crazy times there."
he moved to the sofa. "things were so much better in those days, fun even. you know, if you look past the being hunted like fugitives. heh."
She smiled slightly, disappearing into her kitchen, returning with a bottle and a wine glass, obviously purchased specifically for him. She placed the tray down on the table filled with baked treats and general party fair. Opening and pouring him a glass she finally responded.
" Yes, things were, better, in those days. Insain is gone you know, all of my friends from that period have faded away. Such is the way of things. " She paused, as if seeking to change the subject, the next words a bit of a blurt out, followed by a slight blush.
" I heard you were engaged..."
his smile faded. he had grown fond of Insane, and Sharon, and Rigama. he had been wondering if he'd ever hear from them again. it was his hope that they were taking care of Shandrel in his stead.
"I did try to remarry, but... it was too soon. and she ran off as well. this time in the middle of planning."
he took the drink and gulped it down in two quick gulps. he held them in his mouth a few seconds to take in the flavour. he sighed at the taste, shuddering pleasantly. his favourite blend, Donor Blood and Cranberry Wine.
"seems I can't hold a woman down. heh." he set the glass down on the side-table, but didn't let go of it. "remember when we eloped? shocked everyone!" he laughed. "and I see you still have the pictures. all over the walls, they are. it makes me both happy and sad..."
he gazed at the floor now, wanting more to drink, but too nervous to ask, for fear of being rude.
She blinked, taken aback by his answer.
" Gods, i'm sorry" she brought the bottle over, unsure how to answer about the pictures. before softly replying, as she still filled his glass.
" i enjoy remembering happier times......and those who made me happy..."
he grunted his thanks for the more wine. "you always did know how to read me." he said.
he sighed. "I missed that. I havn't been home in a long time. was out gallavanting with Sky Pirates. that's where I might Ihle, by the way. didn't even get along with her, at first." he drank his wine, more slowly this time.
"good riddance, I say. I don't need a woman..." he sighed, obviously not meaning what he just said, but too stubborn to admit it. he missed the cue that Shan said he made her happy.
She smiled softly again, a smile that, he always knew had been reserved for him. she brushed a bit of his hair back, an absent gesture, from habit, and one she had no conscious thought of. she was still leaning over, the bottle upright,.
" You say that, but we both know better Twi, "
he looked up at her, and couldn't help but smile. his eyes became wet under his Shades, and he chuckled a little.
"not fair." he whispered to her, then gulped the rest of his wine. he let go of his glass, and gently pulled her into his lap.
"I'm in every picture you have. why is that, Love?" he asked.
Her breath stopped, her own eyes wet, although, to be fair she had cried out all her tears long ago, as in, last night perhaps, just as she would cry that night, and the next. But he wouldn't know that. The silver on her finger glinted again in the candle light. Visible this time.
"Because those are the only pictures i kept" her voice was barely audible, and she trembled in his lap, the months of loneliness, of pain, running through her body. she couldn't move.... and she didn't even try.
he blinked, then took his shades off looking at her finger. "you never took it off either?" he asked.
he showed her his hand, the Silver Ring still on his finger. he smiled at her, the broad, close-lipped smile for only the moments that made his heart beat as though he were alive.
"Shandrel..." he started, but couldn't think of words to say.
She took a deep shuddering breath, the tears falling. trying to deflect slightly, as her mind was racing, and her heart felt frozen, tight, and her head light-headed.
" well Dearheart, that might explain some things in your dating?" the words belied by her tears, and the expression on her face, of her heart breaking again.
he chuckled. the chuckle turned into a laugh, and he hugged the smaller elf tightly.
"Shandrel, don't cry, darling. I hate to see you cry. I love you and I always have. would you ever come home?"
She shivered again, his words sinking in slowly, she looked around her townhouse, and turning her attention back to him, he got the slightest warning of mischievousness in her eyes before she kissed him, full on, deeply, and with all the love she had tried to hard to hide in her heart,
her kiss surprised him. it wasn't quite the answer he was expecting, but it made him happy, and as soon as he could think again he kissed her back, gladly and passionately.
he missed her so much, and her kissing reminded him of it all over again. it gave him a strength, and he had to be careful not to squeeze her too tightly.
he could feel his back sinking into the couch with her on top of him.
She broke the kiss, slowly, and gestured above them, to a sprig of mistletoe hanging above them. Her eyes were still bright with tears.
" I didn't leave, becuase i didn't love you Twi, My darling, my Love,
I left because I was bad for you.... I noticed the spiral, it was hard to miss, and I couldn't help you.... you only got better after I left......"
the mischievousness was gone from her eyes, and the tears fell again,the hopelessness she had felt welling up inside her again. She couldn't help him then, how could she expect things to be different now? She had left for him, not for herself. Her town house had never seen another man inside it, aside from repair men, or her landlord. The small cafe where she worked, the regulars knew better, and newcomers were politely dismissed when they asked her for a date. She had always known, that her love for him would not fade, and would not end. She brushed his hair back again, a look of deep, soul wrenching pain in her gold eyes.
he looked up, and chuckled. when she explained why she left him, he didn't know what to say. how could he convince her that she was not th problem with the circular logic she gave him?
"Shandrel, it wasn't you. I was stressed, I hate being cooped up. keeping a low profile got the better of me, and I took it out on you. the first thing I did when you left was get worse. I wasn't taking care of myself, if you look you can see new scars."
he showed her the scar on his forehead. it still had stiches in it.
"that's why I took off for so long. I couldn't stand being at home, it felt so empty without you. I couldn't stand it. I went crazy in there. I needed to get out and express my pain where it wouldn't bounce around and hit me back. I returned to crime. I don't want that, I was lucky to turn away Marshals."
he pet his ex-wife gently, and kissed her forehead. "please come back. I'm a mess without you."
She tenderly kissed the scar on his forehead. Her tears falling on his face, as she held him close.
" Do you really, want to try again My Love....do you really think, things will be better?" She asked softly, the questions absolutely serious. His answers would form her own.
" i've missed you so much.. so very much..."
"aye," he whispered. "I do. so much so, I do. I meant every word in my Vows to you."
She swallowed hard, a shiver running through her, her eyes meeting his.
" As do I, every vow, every thought, every beat of my heart, I love you Twi, I.... I just don't want you to hurt.....There's never been another for me, I've always and will always be, your Wife..."
he kissed her lips, softly, deeply, meaningfully. when he rose, he kissed her chin. he smiled at her.
"you can't hurt me if you tried." he said.
She nodded, her arms wrapping around him, she was still worried, still scared, but she never, really, could say no to him. She looked up into his face, before resting her head on his chest, the same spot she used to, every day.
he pet her hair, feeling truely at home for the first time all year. the smell of her hair, the warmth of her skin, the way her form fit perfectly with his. he closed his eyes, and just pet her.
She held him tightly, content to spend the night just there, in her living room, holding the one she loved with all her heart.
Shandrel looked out the window of her Barton Townhouse. The windows had the holiday glow from the lights strewn around them, the porch light was on. Holiday music played in the background, the living room had the furniture rearranged, leaving the center open, with a large tree by the fireplace. There were gifts under the tree for everyone she had sent invitations to, an entire guild. Although the look on her face said she didn't expect anyone to show up. She had been invisible to them since she left His home, and life. Oh she was still friends, but still, she knew where the cards really lay. She waited, drinking slowly from a glass of watered down wine.
a lone figure was walking down the Barton streets, his brimmed red hat low over his face, cane in hand, clutching a crumpled invitation in his hand. he was dressed in elegant attire, mostly coloured Black. the heels of his boots clicking on the frozen cobbled street.
though Twilight had been a Vampire for his entire adult life so far, he never realy got used to the Coldness. Winter's chill didn't bother him as much as it used to in life, but still the Undeath had it's discomforts. he didn't shiver, but he was a little irritable.
he remembered how shocked he was to hear from his ex-wife again. when he received the invitation he didn't know what to believe. was he only dreaming? but no, the day went on as usual. it was getting close to sunset when he left the Mansion. he knew the address.
when he came to her door, he saw the lights on and sighed. his breath didn't cloud in the air, cold as it was already. he spent a good several minutes just standing there, looking at the townhouse, as people walked by, throwing snowballs at eachother.
finally, he walked up he stairs, and knocked on her door. it was time to face the woman who walked out on him.
She almost missed the knock, relighting candles that had burnt down, only tealights, not so dramatic, but that was the purpose of a floating candle, to float, not sputter indignantly at the water. She stood, dressed in a simple red satin gown, nothing to fancy, her hair was loose, and she was wearing a pair of heels..... every one of her invited guests was taller than her otherwise.
She opened the door with a bright smile, someone had actually accepted her invitation. She recognized the figure in her doorway before it fully processed, a small smile of irony touched her lips. Of course, the first person to show up would be Him...... Such was the way of things. She stepped aside without a thought, knowing full well his dislike of the cold.
" Please come in, i can take your coat." the hand that held the wine glass had the flash of silver on it as she set the glass down, carefully, very carefully.
He quickly sidestepped into the house, his usual grace stiffened from the chill. he grunted, unbuttoning his Coat, and shrugged his Mantle and Coat off his shoulders.
"it's good to see you again, Shandi." he said with a forced smile, flashing his fangs as usual. "phones are never the same as faces."
he took his hat off, leaving his shades on because of the glare of Candles.
"thank you for taking my Coat. I'm not the first one here, am I?"
She took his coat, mantel and hat, placing them on hooks by the door.
"Of course you are, in truth i didn't expect anyone. it seems to be the norm."
She hadn't expected him to come, much less, be the first to arrive.
She ushered him into the house proper, along the walls of the hallway were photos, and paintings, of happier times between them. pictures of the two of them, and of the guild. but, although she might be unaware, every frame hung on her walls, had his image in them.
"why wouldn't you think anyone would come, dear?" he asked. but when he was led inside the house he couldn't help but see the pictures on the walls. they gave him a feeling that warmed him even more than the heating. he smiled genuinely at them.
then the thoughts hit him. had no one else been keeping contact with her? that didn't make much sense to him, unless she purposely had stayed apart. but Twi was always dense like that.
"well, this is a pretty room. you seem prepared for guests, expected or not." he said, noting the gifts and mingling space. he hoped it would cheer her up.
She smiled softly.
" No one returns my calls, or letters really. this is more habit i suppose, than expectation.I don't really think i was close to any of them, It reminds me in a way, i suppose of Skottie's guild. You were the only one who I was ever close to. "
The smile faded a bit, in memory. She seemed to shake herself a bit.
" Ah, what a wonderful hostess i am... i haven't even offered you a drink' she said with a hint of playful irony.
"you know what I like." he said, as if to answer the unasked question of what beverage he wanted.
"Skotti's Guild was never realy home to me. but we had some crazy times there."
he moved to the sofa. "things were so much better in those days, fun even. you know, if you look past the being hunted like fugitives. heh."
She smiled slightly, disappearing into her kitchen, returning with a bottle and a wine glass, obviously purchased specifically for him. She placed the tray down on the table filled with baked treats and general party fair. Opening and pouring him a glass she finally responded.
" Yes, things were, better, in those days. Insain is gone you know, all of my friends from that period have faded away. Such is the way of things. " She paused, as if seeking to change the subject, the next words a bit of a blurt out, followed by a slight blush.
" I heard you were engaged..."
his smile faded. he had grown fond of Insane, and Sharon, and Rigama. he had been wondering if he'd ever hear from them again. it was his hope that they were taking care of Shandrel in his stead.
"I did try to remarry, but... it was too soon. and she ran off as well. this time in the middle of planning."
he took the drink and gulped it down in two quick gulps. he held them in his mouth a few seconds to take in the flavour. he sighed at the taste, shuddering pleasantly. his favourite blend, Donor Blood and Cranberry Wine.
"seems I can't hold a woman down. heh." he set the glass down on the side-table, but didn't let go of it. "remember when we eloped? shocked everyone!" he laughed. "and I see you still have the pictures. all over the walls, they are. it makes me both happy and sad..."
he gazed at the floor now, wanting more to drink, but too nervous to ask, for fear of being rude.
She blinked, taken aback by his answer.
" Gods, i'm sorry" she brought the bottle over, unsure how to answer about the pictures. before softly replying, as she still filled his glass.
" i enjoy remembering happier times......and those who made me happy..."
he grunted his thanks for the more wine. "you always did know how to read me." he said.
he sighed. "I missed that. I havn't been home in a long time. was out gallavanting with Sky Pirates. that's where I might Ihle, by the way. didn't even get along with her, at first." he drank his wine, more slowly this time.
"good riddance, I say. I don't need a woman..." he sighed, obviously not meaning what he just said, but too stubborn to admit it. he missed the cue that Shan said he made her happy.
She smiled softly again, a smile that, he always knew had been reserved for him. she brushed a bit of his hair back, an absent gesture, from habit, and one she had no conscious thought of. she was still leaning over, the bottle upright,.
" You say that, but we both know better Twi, "
he looked up at her, and couldn't help but smile. his eyes became wet under his Shades, and he chuckled a little.
"not fair." he whispered to her, then gulped the rest of his wine. he let go of his glass, and gently pulled her into his lap.
"I'm in every picture you have. why is that, Love?" he asked.
Her breath stopped, her own eyes wet, although, to be fair she had cried out all her tears long ago, as in, last night perhaps, just as she would cry that night, and the next. But he wouldn't know that. The silver on her finger glinted again in the candle light. Visible this time.
"Because those are the only pictures i kept" her voice was barely audible, and she trembled in his lap, the months of loneliness, of pain, running through her body. she couldn't move.... and she didn't even try.
he blinked, then took his shades off looking at her finger. "you never took it off either?" he asked.
he showed her his hand, the Silver Ring still on his finger. he smiled at her, the broad, close-lipped smile for only the moments that made his heart beat as though he were alive.
"Shandrel..." he started, but couldn't think of words to say.
She took a deep shuddering breath, the tears falling. trying to deflect slightly, as her mind was racing, and her heart felt frozen, tight, and her head light-headed.
" well Dearheart, that might explain some things in your dating?" the words belied by her tears, and the expression on her face, of her heart breaking again.
he chuckled. the chuckle turned into a laugh, and he hugged the smaller elf tightly.
"Shandrel, don't cry, darling. I hate to see you cry. I love you and I always have. would you ever come home?"
She shivered again, his words sinking in slowly, she looked around her townhouse, and turning her attention back to him, he got the slightest warning of mischievousness in her eyes before she kissed him, full on, deeply, and with all the love she had tried to hard to hide in her heart,
her kiss surprised him. it wasn't quite the answer he was expecting, but it made him happy, and as soon as he could think again he kissed her back, gladly and passionately.
he missed her so much, and her kissing reminded him of it all over again. it gave him a strength, and he had to be careful not to squeeze her too tightly.
he could feel his back sinking into the couch with her on top of him.
She broke the kiss, slowly, and gestured above them, to a sprig of mistletoe hanging above them. Her eyes were still bright with tears.
" I didn't leave, becuase i didn't love you Twi, My darling, my Love,
I left because I was bad for you.... I noticed the spiral, it was hard to miss, and I couldn't help you.... you only got better after I left......"
the mischievousness was gone from her eyes, and the tears fell again,the hopelessness she had felt welling up inside her again. She couldn't help him then, how could she expect things to be different now? She had left for him, not for herself. Her town house had never seen another man inside it, aside from repair men, or her landlord. The small cafe where she worked, the regulars knew better, and newcomers were politely dismissed when they asked her for a date. She had always known, that her love for him would not fade, and would not end. She brushed his hair back again, a look of deep, soul wrenching pain in her gold eyes.
he looked up, and chuckled. when she explained why she left him, he didn't know what to say. how could he convince her that she was not th problem with the circular logic she gave him?
"Shandrel, it wasn't you. I was stressed, I hate being cooped up. keeping a low profile got the better of me, and I took it out on you. the first thing I did when you left was get worse. I wasn't taking care of myself, if you look you can see new scars."
he showed her the scar on his forehead. it still had stiches in it.
"that's why I took off for so long. I couldn't stand being at home, it felt so empty without you. I couldn't stand it. I went crazy in there. I needed to get out and express my pain where it wouldn't bounce around and hit me back. I returned to crime. I don't want that, I was lucky to turn away Marshals."
he pet his ex-wife gently, and kissed her forehead. "please come back. I'm a mess without you."
She tenderly kissed the scar on his forehead. Her tears falling on his face, as she held him close.
" Do you really, want to try again My Love....do you really think, things will be better?" She asked softly, the questions absolutely serious. His answers would form her own.
" i've missed you so much.. so very much..."
"aye," he whispered. "I do. so much so, I do. I meant every word in my Vows to you."
She swallowed hard, a shiver running through her, her eyes meeting his.
" As do I, every vow, every thought, every beat of my heart, I love you Twi, I.... I just don't want you to hurt.....There's never been another for me, I've always and will always be, your Wife..."
he kissed her lips, softly, deeply, meaningfully. when he rose, he kissed her chin. he smiled at her.
"you can't hurt me if you tried." he said.
She nodded, her arms wrapping around him, she was still worried, still scared, but she never, really, could say no to him. She looked up into his face, before resting her head on his chest, the same spot she used to, every day.
he pet her hair, feeling truely at home for the first time all year. the smell of her hair, the warmth of her skin, the way her form fit perfectly with his. he closed his eyes, and just pet her.
She held him tightly, content to spend the night just there, in her living room, holding the one she loved with all her heart.
