~ Christmas at the Vaight Cottage 2031~

"Look for Clarence Rook's Magical Creature Reserve." Nicolas said. "Your Abuelo told me he gave you that compass. It shouldn't be a hard find with that."

"Yes he did." Diana nodded. "Thanks Nick."

_____

No more food. Eurydice groaned at the mere mention of it. No...

Darien glanced out of the window. "Darius'll be...sad."

------

Daisy noticed the horse moving and scampered over. Dice! You're awake?

His mother remained by Darius, hoping for some beef. Haven't had some decent meat in quite a while...Come on little boy, hand over the food.

"I still can't beiieve they decided to give him a flying fox and a winged horse." Diana said rolling her eyes.

"Actually, it's a Granian." Nicolas interjected.

Diana glared.

-----

No. Dice barely replied. Not well yet.

"Do you want some more?" Darius asked the mother fox. He pulled out another packet and opened it. "Here you go."

Darien sighed. "They really go all out on Christmas presents."

Speaking of which...he fiddled with the package from his mother in his pocket.

Children's wrapping paper didn't bode well. At least she'd made an effort, he supposed.

_______

Daisy's face fell. Aww. He nudged Dice's leg in what he thought was a reassuring manner.

The mother fox scooped some more food out of the packet and wolfed it down. Mm, this is growing on me.

"Well it's his birthday in a week. Should we tell them what to give him?" Diana asked.

"Well this is all nice and dandy, but I have to get back home." Nicolas said standing up.

"By the way Nick, you're paying for the damages on my garden." Diana said.

"What?" Nicolas said surprised. "Why?"

"Abuelo didn't get that Granian on his own." She pointed out. "And I'm willing to bet, that you suggested it to him."

"What? No! Well yes, but - " Nicolas protested.

"I rest my case." Diana said folding her arms.

"He wanted to get a Hippogriff!" Nicolas blurted out. "A Hippogriff!."

"So you told him to get a winged-horse instead?" Diana said.

"Yes, what was I supposed to do? I saved you really. Hippogriffs are hard to managed and harder to train." Nicolas folded his arms.

"And you couldn't suggest, I don't know, a pet fish... or even a pigmy puff?" Diana said.

"Your cat would have eaten the fish and pigmy puffs are retarded." Nicolas muttered under his breath.

"Nick!" Diana screeched. "Honestly a winged horse? To a six-year-old?"

"What? I had Persephone."

"You were what? Ten when you got her."

"Eleven."

"Exactly."

"Fine. I'll pay for the garden."

"Thank you."

((Sorry! Was panicking over GCSE results, but all done now ))

Darien's head flicked back and forth as though watching a tennis rally.

A rather amusing tennis rally.

He sighed. "Let's just get a big list, pre-approved, and assign them items. You'd think they were old enough to sort it out themselves, but no. Of course not. So much effort for us."

At the mention of a Hippogriff, Darien visibly winced. "God, anything but a Hippogriff." He paused. "Even pigmy puffs." He added in an undertone.

((Whoa, could have sworn I wrote a postie for this. Stupid internet cafe. My internet's off to wonderland again and I'm internetless... I'm only here coz I'm in ma cousin's house. Anyway, how were your GCSEs?))

"Yes well I've gotta go back home." Nicolas said standing up. "See ya around."

"Bye Nick." Diana said.

Nicolas went outside.

((Infernal internet!! *shakes fist* lol. I can do 5 A levels, so I'm happy XD))

Darien nodded. Just the once. Keep it clean. Keep it civil. But nowhere near friendly.

In the garden, Daisy and his mother once again attempted flight, but Daisy began to lose height, crashing towards the house.

AAAAH! Which way do I steer myself? How do I steer myself? MUMMY!

"Come on Eurydice." Nicolas said. "Up we go."

Darius looked up. "Are you going to take her away now?"

"Yes." Nicolas said helping the over-stuffed pony up. "Aw, don't look so down chico, you can come and visit her anytime you want."

"Alright." Darius said breathily.

"Let's go." Nicolas said leading the horse out the back gates.

Daisy watched from his position halfway in a small bush. Bye Dice!!! Bye! He squeaked, as his mother plucked him from the foliage and returned him to her shoulder.

Darien sauntered out into the garden, and stood at the back to watch.

Phew, no tears yet. Somehow, things were almost managing to work out. Inexplicable.

"Is he alright?" Diana asked peeking out next to Darien.

Darius on the other hand, seemed to be. He did have the foxes still to keep him company. "Go Daisy go!" He cheered as he tried once again to fly.

"Apparently so." Darien muttered. "By some strange miracle."

Daisy grinned, and flapped desperately to stay in the air. Woo! I can do this!...No! Oh... His mother grabbed him before he hit the floor.

Don't worry, you'll soon get the hang of it. She set her son on the floor.

Darius, getting a prickly feeling in his spine turned around to see his parents observing him. "Mum, Dad! Daisy's trying to fly!"

"God-Good!" Darien grinned, before glancing at Diana. "When exactly do we tell him we're sending these pets away too?"

Daisy sighed and flopped onto the grass. Mummy, I can't do it.

Just try it again later darling. No one gets it straight away. His mother licked his nose in a comforting manner. Not even your father did that.

Daisy sniffled. I miss Daddy, Mumma. When's he coming back?

Soon Darling. Soon. She wanted to believe that. She really did.

"Hm." Diana said thoughtfully. "I don't know. He'll be... he'll be sad. But we can't keep them. They'll be unhappy. Our place is too small."

Darien just nodded. "And it's nearby...ish."

"Exactly." Diana agreed. "And we still have our gift to give... though I have no idea how she'll compare to a flying fox and a winged pony."

Darien sighed with mild irritation. "Typical isn't it? They get into a contest, and not only do we have to clear it up, but it steals our thunder completely."

"They meant well." Diana said putting her hand on his shoulder. "Though... I think they did. The verdict's still out."

Darien chuckled. "Well, next time perhaps they'd better mean not quite so well, so we get a look-in." He watched the small flying fox nuzzle at Darius' shoe.

"Hm...Should we get our present now, or take the foxes to the reserve first?"

"I think we should get them to the reserve. The more time he spends with them, the worst it's going to be." Diana said.

Darien nodded, and began to walk towards Darien and the two foxes.

The mother fox adjusted herself so that she was between Darien and her offspring. She didn't trust humans very much.

"Um...Darius..."

"Hm?" Darius looked up from petting Daisy. "Isn't she so cute Dad?"

"Yes...She is..." Darien couldn't bring himself to say it. He desperately glanced around at Diana, at the wall, the sky, a random plant, anything but the fox!

"Um...Darius, the...garden's a bit small for..."

Diana decided Darien needed some help. "... for them." She finished.

They had Darius' full attention now. His little face folded into a frown. "What do you mean?"