~ Christmas at the Vaight Cottage 2031~

Darien and Reginald exchanged glances.

"Merry Christmas Father."

"Merry Christmas Darien."

Neither held much trace of emotion, and the awkward moment was furthered by the handshake that replaced a proper farewell. Isabella emerged, always managing to enter when required, and kissed Darien on the cheek. "Goodbye Darien-" Reginald nodded to Diana curtly, and left the premises.

"Merry Christmas to you both." Isabella finished, somewhat lamely. Taking out a small packet, she handed it to Darien, who stared at it bewildered. His mother smiled half-heartedly. "For you both. You probably won't like it, sorry. I had no idea what to buy..."

Darien smiled, feeling a strange surge of affection for his mother. He hugged her. "Thanks Mum. Are you feeling okay?"

______

MUMMY! Daisy yelped, sniffling as he curled up on the grass. The mention of rainbows calmed him for a moment. You were? A-Are you sure?? But it didn't last long. ...Mummy! Where's my mummy?

He shook his little furry head in a 'no' which he'd seen the human boot doing. Damn that boot. The man attached to it was mean. And Daisy wanted his mummy back.

"Thank you." Diana said to Isabella, surprised yet again wondering what it could be.

___

Eurydice nodded. But then the little guy continued to cry. Well, she thought. Least I gave it my best shot.

Darius thought, and thought hard. Why would Daisy cry? Well... sometimes Darius cried because he missed his mother and father whenever they went to work and stuff...

Darius picked up the little winged fox. "Do you miss you Mummy, Daisy?" Darius asked softly.

Isabella smiled, again somewhat awkwardly. "Merry Christmas. Goodbye."

And with that, she left.

Darien blinked in bemusement as the door swung shut. "...That was odd. That was in fact, really really weird."

-------

Daisy blinked up at the boy. He didn't know how to say yes. So he bounced up and down, sniffling. Yes! Mummy! I want Mummy!

Darius put the fox down gently. "You miss your mummy?" He seemed to be right on the ticket but he just wanted to make sure. "Where is she?"

Daisy bounced again. Yes! Mummy! I want Mummy!!!

There was a pause as he considered. She's with the boot! The evil boot!

Darius was delighted that he figured out that Daisy was missing his mother. However, he didn't quiet catch that last bit. He needed help. He needed to communicate properly.

Eurydice shook her head. Idiot! He cannot understand you!

Then an idea hit him. "Come here Daisy, I think Dad can help!" Darius said scooping up the little fox.

"Daddy! Mummy!" Darius said carrying the little fox inside the house.

Daisy blinked. Why not? You can...Mummy could! This sparked another wave of tears.

Darien turned abruptly, placing the unopened package on the coffee table. "Darius, what's wrong?"

Oh. It was a furry...fox with wings. Thank god it wasn't a winged box.

Fine. Leave me out here. All alone. With... hmmm that exquite plant for company. Eurydice trotted towards the plant and continued to eat.

00000000

"Daisy misses her mummy!" Darius blurted out. "We need to help her Daaaad! It's Christmas! She needs to be with her mummy!"

Darien blinked. "Woah, slow down. How...what can we do to help?" He glanced at Diana. "I know it's Christmas..."

Daisy's eyes turned to the taller humans. And they were...huge. Pleading. PWEASE? He nosed Darius' hand and sniffled again.

Darius looked at little Daisy and held him protectively. "We need to help her find her Mummy!" Darius announced, matter-of-factly. Wasn't that obvious?

"Darius how are we going to do that?" Diana asked.

"Ask her where her mother is!" Darius said holding out the little fox in front of Darien's face.

Darien paused. "Darius, even if she understands me, she won't be able to understand us..."

SHE'S WITH THE BOOTMAN!!! THE BOOT! Daisy whimpered.

"But she's crying Dad. We have to help her!" Darius said pleadingly glancing between his mother and father.

"Couldn't you turn into Wolfie and talk to her then?"

Darien glanced between his son's pleading face and the pup's cries.

"...I'll give it a go." He sighed, as his body began to change.

Woah. Daisy stopped crying for a moment. Wolf...what? It was all too much for the young pup. He continued to cry. Mummmmmmmy!!

Darien flicked his ears forward. Quiet down there, pup. Where's your mummy? We can find her if you just tell us where she is...

The young fox bounced with mild excitement. You can find her? I want Mummy! She's with the boot! It hits her...In the big room with the sign and the crates and the big man!

Darien sighed. Well, sighed as only a wolf can. Clearly, the pup was just-well, a pup. You'll need to be a bit more specific-

The pup scrunched up his eyes and thought. Harder than he had ever thought before. Mick's Mythical Emporium! On the sign! Mummy taught me to read that sign.

The wolf grinned, and began to transform back into a man, as the pup watched in bemusement. Thanks pup.

"Got it. Mick's Mythical Emporium. That's where his mum is. You were right Darius." He grinned at his son with pride. Daisy's whimpers lowered in volume as his mother seemed to be close to being rescued.

"Let's go, we have to - bring them together Dad!" Darius said just as excited as the young foxling. He was practically at the door. "

Darien glanced at Diana. "...I'm guessing we don't have much of a choice do we?"

Daisy yelped and pawed at Darius' hand. Come on! Let's get going! Mummy's waiting!

Diana laughed. "No, we don't."

"Darius wait, honey, wear your coat." Diana contributed. She snatched all of their coats from the coat rack and handed them out.

Once his coat was firmly in place. "Come on! Come on!" Darius opened the door putting Daisy in his conveniently placed front coat pocket which was rather cozy.

Daisy snuggled into the warmth, satisfied that he'd soon see his mummy again.

Darien pulled on his own coat and grinned at Diana. "Let's go."

"Darien wait!" Diana said suddenly. "What about the winged-horse in the back?"

Darius by this time as out the door. "Muum... Daaaad... hurry!"

"Ah...um..." Darien paused in the doorway. "Well, uh...What do we do with a horse?"

He slipped into the back garden. Desperately, he erected some form of magical enclosure, to prevent the horse flying out of the garden, or too high in the sky. "Will that do? We won't be gone long...I don't think so anyway."

"Yes, yes Darius." Diana said trying to calm the excitable boy down, she walked to where he was. "We're coming."

She pulled the keys to their magical car out of her pocket and unlocked the doors. Before she could even open the door for her self, Darius had hopped right in. "Daaaaaad! Hurrry!" Darius said calling out from the window of the car.

Darien slipped out of the house and locked the door with a tap of his wand, before stowing it away in his inside jacket pocket.

"Coming Darius." He grinned, running to the driver's side and darting into the car. "So...anyone know the way?"

Daisy glanced around. What is this...This is very odd. Like a big tin. On wheels. Humans are odd.

Darius face fell.

"Not to be a problem." Diana said pulling out Ferderico's present to her. It looked a lot like a Muggle compass. "Abuelo used to use one all the time."

"Just keep your mind on the shop's name and the red arrow that's meant to point northward otherwise, will point towards it." She instructed.

Darius grinned and put on his safety belt. "Put on your belts!" He commanded.

Diana grinned and did as she was told.

Darien's seatbelt shot across with a zipping sound, and focused on the name. "Let's do this."

He kept his eyes on the compass as he floored the accelerator. For a second, before slowing to obey the restrictions. Wouldn't want to set a bad example for Darius.

Darius for his part was talking to Daisy. "Don't worry Daisy we'll be there in no-time."

Daisy sniffed and bounced with excitement. Mummy!

Darien glanced across at Diana. "So...what's the plan?" He asked, quietly enough for Darius not to hear.