💥𝒢𝑜𝒹𝒹𝑒𝓈𝓈 𝑜𝒻 𝒲𝒾𝓈𝒹𝑜𝓂💥 [𝒳-𝑀𝑒𝓃]

Chapter 19: A Family Christmas

"Christmas will always be as long as we stand heart to heart and hand in hand."

- Dr. Seuss

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Elizabeth Grace's POV

Things have gone back to as normal as they shall ever be by now. The missile crisis took place over a month and a half ago. While parts of the government are aware of the existence of mutants, the general public is still blissfully ignorant.

Dad is still readjusting to life now. He is wheelchair-bound. We've fixed the house now for wheelchair access so that he can get from place to place with ease. It is obvious though that it still saddens him. As would be expected, he misses walking up and down the stairs, chasing me around the house, being able to do basic things most people can do.

However, it isn't only the loss of his legs that hurts him. To keep our location a secret... dad had to erase Moira's memory and send her away. It nearly broke him to do so, but it was to protect her as the CIA would've done anything to know where mutants could be. The mansion's location can only be known to us.

I haven't known this heartbreak in him since mum's death. He loved Moira. I truly believe he did. Being forced to do this nearly crushed him. There have been many nights that I've lied about my nightmares so that I can curl up next to him. I think by now he knows... I just don't want him to feel so alone.

Hank, Alex, and Sean have remained with us. We've all had to get used to Hank being, well, blue. It's definitely a change for all of us. He's currently working on a serum that could possibly control his mutation—allow him to be in a human or beast form as he chooses. He says it could take him years to truly perfect it, but it seems to be coming along nicely.

Our goal is to turn the mansion into a school for people like us—mutants. This has been my father's vision for some time now. It will give young mutants a place to feel accepted and safe—a feeling most do not receive in society if they are discovered.

I'm currently walking around the estate with Sean. He's been practicing turns during flight so as to be able to better guide himself towards a target. Let's just say, instead of jumping out windows, he's now accidentally going through a few of them. After breaking the fourth window, we decided it might be best to end this little exercise for today.

"We lost a lot in Cuba," I say.

"Yeah... we did," he replies.

"But I think we gained some pretty cool stuff too," we hear Alex's voice say, coming towards us.

"Like what, exactly?"

"You, small fry, got some awesome big brothers—Sean and me."

I smile thinking about this. These two boys have truly become like brothers to me over the past two months. It feels as though our family has grown. I have very little biological family left in this world, but the universe clearly decided that dad and I weren't going to be left all alone. Until recently, I never realized how much I needed a few older brothers.

"Wait, what about Hank?"

"Hank's more like the oddly over-sophisticated uncle."

Without missing a beat, all of us are laughing so hard that we're in tears. Sean is lying on the ground holding his stomach as he tries to breathe in between laughs. Honestly, that should not have been as funny as it was, but with all that's happened recently, I'm very glad it was. If laughter is truly good for the soul, then it could definitely be said that we need more of it.

We finally walk inside as it is December in Westchester, and my fingers have finally become numb. We've made the inside of the mansion lovely for this time of year. We've decorated a tree, strung lights—even put up mistletoe even though there's no true reason for it at this point.

Christmas is in about a week. Alex, Sean, and Hank all plan to stay here for the holidays. They said they didn't wish to leave their family alone during a time that is supposed to be joyful. I remember hugging each of them after they had said this. Christmas had always been dad, Raven, and myself. Now, even though Raven was gone, Christmas felt alive in the mansion once again.

The house seems brighter than it has been in years—and certainly louder. There are only five people living here, and yet, it sounds as if there are twice that many. How Sean and Alex manage to make so much noise I've yet to understand. It's certainly been an adjustment for me. I had gotten used to the mansion being so quiet with only three of us.

However, not all noise is completely chaotic. Music and laughter have become commonplace, even in such uncertain times. We have found good company in each other—truly feeling like a misfit form of family.

"Might I ask," I hear dad begin as he rolls into the room. "Why I heard the sound of breaking glass numerous times earlier?"

"Uhhh," Sean starts. "Fl-flight practice."

Dad can't help himself; he starts laughing. Poor Sean turns bright red with embarrassment. He looks like he wants my ability to appear invisible to the world.

"Well," dad says. "We'll find a more efficient way to practice... without the death of so many windows."

Over the next few weeks, we decide that flight training will wait until it's a bit warmer. Christmas is so incredible. Alex was right: while we have lost so much... we've also gained easily as much. There is no Raven, no mom, no Erik—this I know—but there are my dad, Hank, Sean, and Alex. I've never had siblings—let alone brothers.

My dad and I have always had a tradition of playing a trivia game on Christmas. Sean and Alex are highly confused—except for a few of the oddest questions that no one else understands how they know. Hank seems to absolutely love this tradition. He and I may have a slight rivalry now over trivia. I am currently in the lead in our competition.

While our Christmas may not be the most normal—considering we all have abilities that would be known as superpowers—it is something beautiful. We are able to enjoy the peace of not being looked at strangely due to having white eyes or blue fur. We are not hunted because of our abilities. Instead, we are able to have Christmas together—as a family.

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Song: Brother (Acoustic) by NEEDTOBREATHE