Scene 1 — Crow POV
"Merry Christmas. Today we bless this dinner… with the well wishes of those long gone, and those separated by distance."
Grandma's voice had that steady strength that made the whole room behave without her ever raising it. Hands linked around the table—some warm, some hesitant, some like they'd forgotten what holding family felt like.
"Although I can't say I'll see many more of these holidays," she continued, not dramatic, just honest, "I can say my wish has come true… with my family gathered here today."
I kept my head bowed, but my eyes moved anyway.
All my uncles were here.
Tasi sat with his eyes closed like he'd found a pocket of peace and planned to live in it for the next ten minutes. Not asleep—just letting the noise slide past him instead of fighting it.
Tam looked around like he was counting faces, saving them. His gaze lingered like he didn't trust memory to last.
And Tasey… Tasey's hands were clenched under the table, eyes squeezed shut like he was fighting himself for permission to be normal.
Across from them, Aunt Crystal stood with Baldur and Alexis. Crystal's eyes were closed, jaw soft, like the warmth of the house was doing what no meeting or lecture ever could. Baldur looked the same—still, composed—but even he couldn't hide that faint exhale that said he'd missed this.
Only Alexis had her eyes open.
She wore that smug little grin like she'd personally dragged the universe into alignment just to make this dinner happen.
Amber stood near the wall with Huginn and Ghost—both masks off for the night. Seeing them that bare in the same room felt wrong in a way that proved Grandma still had power you couldn't measure.
Johnathon sat close to his recently engaged fiancé Teresa, like he was still surprised anyone wanted him enough to say yes forever. Teresa smiled easily, like she belonged here already.
Ghost hovered like a shadow that had learned manners. She was also the reason Amber was here, whether Amber admitted it or not.
Amber caught my eye and smiled wickedly, clearly enjoying the fact that I couldn't run with my uncles watching. Like she'd dragged her "newest student" into a family microscope just to see what I'd do.
I ignored her stare.
"To even those who are rarely here," Grandma said gently, "or here for the first time… I pray that each and every one of you find success, and your purpose that'll lead you down this dark life."
The words dark life didn't sound bitter coming from her. Just true.
"Amen."
"Amen," echoed around the table. Hands let go. Chairs creaked. The spell broke.
Lily was the loudest of anyone.
The second the prayer ended, she was already grabbing a plate like it was a race.
"Lily—" Grandma warned.
"I'm not stealing, I'm starting!" Lily shot back, already halfway to food.
The room warmed another degree.
Then I felt it.
That stare from behind me. Amused. Patient.
Most likely Ghost—watching like she already knew how this night would end.
Scene 2 — Grandma / Tiamat POV
"I'm just getting a breath of fresh air."
I didn't ask. I stood, dried my hands, and walked toward the door like the house belonged to me.
Because it does.
Tasey's chair scraped. I felt him behind me before I saw him. His hand reached like he meant to guide me.
I smacked it away without looking.
"Sit."
Outside, the cold snapped at my face. Snow reflected the porch light like it wanted to pretend nothing bad had ever happened here.
Inside, laughter and voices rose and fell. My family. Even my son who rarely showed up was teasing Crow about that girl Amber like he hadn't spent years being a stranger.
Age settles differently when you're alone.
When the house is full, you feel how fragile the miracle is.
I grabbed the plate of cookies and walked around the house toward the shed.
Duece was there, sitting by my husband's old grill, tucked into shadow like it belonged to him.
The dogs were quiet. A rarity only I would notice.
"So how long were you going to hide out here?" I asked. "With Duece."
"Not long," he said with that soft grin that always hid too much. "Just dropping by to give you a gift. Then it's back to work. Got new idiots to train."
"A gift?" I scoffed. "Since when do you give gifts? You barely remember holidays."
He didn't argue.
"But I won't press you," I continued. "I can see this gift carries something you've been holding."
He placed a small box beside the cookies.
"And just know," I said, leaning closer, "you were too late. Your duties are to this world, not to this old lady. Coming back from the end when you're supposed to stay down isn't a laughable feat."
"Yeah," he said quietly. "I know."
He ate a cookie like he was pretending to be human.
"You spoke to him at the trial," he added. "A fragment, but his truth. I'll respect it and move on."
Then softer, "This might be goodbye or see you later… but I love you nonetheless."
"Ten," I said, using the name like a tether, "we both know it's not goodbye when we'll see each other in heaven."
His eyes lowered.
I rubbed his shoulder. He hugged me quick, careful, like he was afraid to spill something.
He fed the dogs cookies. I glared. They were sugar cookies, but I let it slide.
"Until next time, Mom," he said.
Then he dropped it.
"Dad said hello."
He vanished into the shadows instead of walking back toward the house.
I stayed there too long. Wiped tears I hadn't noticed.
A hand touched my shoulder.
I turned to see Lily, eyes wide.
I opened the box.
Inside was a pendant—skull bearing a black sun as a third eye, a crown lazily placed atop it.
My heart warmed despite the cold.
Scene 3 — Grandma / Tiamat POV
"Dad said hello."
I clenched the pendant until it hurt. For now, I'd keep these children in line.
"Come on, Lily," I said. "And no, you can't steal any chocolate chip cookies."
She protested. I ignored her and slipped one into her hand anyway.
I went back inside. The warmth eased my bones. It didn't stop the end, only slowed it.
Explorers watched me with caution, afraid I'd fall, afraid of signs of astral poisoning.
I didn't look at any of them.
I tossed the nuke into the room and kept walking.
"Your dad and brother said hello."
No pause. No explanation. No looking back.
I took Lily down the hall toward the back room. The photos weren't for everyone. They never were.
The door closed behind us.
The house noise faded.
History stayed locked away.
And for tonight, that was enough.