Darkwood (closed)

[heartofcourage]

“Ashien has always celebrated the Solstice. It’s a big tradition in his family. My family celebrated Christmas. It was an excuse to spoil each other rotten with food, drink, gifts, games, and laughter.” Dylan explained with a grin towards Burke. “You’ll get used to it.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"I don't think I ever will," Burke murmured, laying his head against her shoulder as she held him. He was a dour and serious boy, but he always seemed willing to let Dylan involve him in everything.

 

[heartofcourage]

“Sure you will. You’re a Ghis now.” Dylan said with a grin to Burke as he rested her head against her shoulder. “Hot chocolate for us, Van. Something stronger and warm for Ash. We’ll meet you in the dining room.”

 

[KieranSoares]

Van nodded, sending them on their way. Once he was set back on his feet, Burke went to pull Dylandra's chair out for her. He often acted and spoke like a child twice his age, and despite his lack of proper upbringing, he'd proved to have good manners on a basic level, learned from the last person he'd worked for.

 

[heartofcourage]

“So...have you made a decision about callin me Ma?” Dylan asked as she took a seat and relaxed, giving Burke a small smile. “You haven’t mentioned it since that night.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"I asked Kiva about it," he murmured. Burke and the faithful stable master were close, Kiva acting like an elder brother more than anything else and teaching Burke anything he could want to know about the stables and horses.

Burke glanced up at Dylan and added, "He said he thinks I fit in well, that other members of the Ghis family would think so too. And he thinks you and I fit together best."

 

[heartofcourage]

“I think you do too. Just wait until you meet your new grandmother. If you think I’m wonderful, she’ll far eclipse me.” Dylan said with a smile towards the boy.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Grandmother?" He asked with a curious tilt of his head. "You all always talk about this big family. Who are they? Where are they?"

 

[heartofcourage]

“Scotland, love. That’s where Ashien was born and raised.” Dylan explained. “And that’s where they still live. He has three brothers and two sisters, his mother, and his father. Sadly, I don’t have any family anymore so being part of Ash’s family is nice.”

Perhaps one day she would make confessions to Burke about her previous life before she had become the lady of Darkwood, but that might make things worse. She didn't know what caused the time jumps, but Van had theorized that it had something to do with an item made from the same wood that the piano had been made of. Considering the entire house was wood, she had no idea what that item might be.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I don't know if I'll really fit in like Kiva says... But we can be family at least," he promised her, knowing they were equally as alone beyond Ashien's family."

 

[heartofcourage]

"You'll figure it out, Burke." Dylan encouraged, knowing that there had been a lot of damage done to the little boy that needed to be undone as he continued to live with them. "And one day, maybe you'll be brave enough to call me Ma."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'm trying. It just sounds strange to call anyone that right now," Burke explained, curling up against her side. Soon Ashien descended from the upper floor looking still a bit tired, but in a good mood.

"Well, looks like I'm the late sleeper now," he chuckled, coming to greet Dylandra with a kiss and kneeling to hug Burke. "Happy Christmas, Burke. I guess we'll share our first real Christmas together, hm?" At Burke's nod, Ashien ruffled his hair and stood.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I was excited so I got up early. Burke is always the earliest riser in the house." Dylan said as Ashien greeted Burke first, making him feel like the king of the household as much as he possibly could. "Christmas had always made me want to get up early and do everything before the sun is even high in the sky."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Good, an excuse for a nap later." Ashien took his seat as Van set dishes out on the table with a number of Dylandra's requests among them, some that she'd once shared with her grandfather. Van took his own seat and soon Kiva came in to join them. It was the family Dylandra had come to know best in her time there, missing only Henry, John, and Isabella who were having their own Christmas partly at church thanks to Henry being a fairly devout Catholic.

 

[heartofcourage]

Dylan was luminous as she shared the happiest of holidays with her little family. She encouraged Burke to try a little of everything on the table, wanting him to enjoy the same kind of traditions that she and her grandfather had when she was little. It didn't matter if times were tough outside the walls of Darkwood, on Christmas morning they were happy and warm.

"You'll make Ashien a happy man if you keep eating olives like that." Dylan commented, grinning at Burke as he seemed to favor the Mediterranean staple that Ashien always kept well stocked in his pantry.

 

[KieranSoares]

Burke looked to Ashien at that, making him chuckle. "They come all the way from Italy. Venice, to be exact, where I was born. Ma and Vincenzo will be glad you share our taste for them."

 

[heartofcourage]

“Hopefully you get to meet them before too much longer. Your Gran will spoil you rotten. If you think this is overwhelming, you haven’t met her.” Dylan said with a grin.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Speaking of," Ashien smiled, reaching into his pocket. "Benjamin brought this to me last night," he showed Dylandra a letter from Vincenzo, saying that he and Kitty and perhaps a few others would be coming to Darkwood shortly after Christmas, before the heavier part of winter really set in.

 

[heartofcourage]

“Well, that’s a pleasant surprise.” Dylan said with a sly little smile. “Darkwood will be alive with as many Ghis as it can possibly hold.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"I think it could hold everyone right now," Ashien chuckled. "The children might have to share some rooms, though. But that'll change in a decade. We have a habit of just picking up more and more people, by birth, marriage, or just deciding they're kin."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Ashien is one of seven children. You have lots of cousins that have joined this family through birth and adoption, Burke." Dylan explained, looking at the little boy as he grew more and more nervous about his family. "It's overwhelming at first, but you'll get use to it and have fun. I promise."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I don't think I'll ever be used to it," Burke muttered. Ashien smiled gently, knowing the nervousness of a child.

"Don't worry too much about it, Burke. At my family's core, there's nothing but love, cultivated by leaning on each other in hard times. You already know what that feels like with Dylandra. She's been your rock since you got here. Our entire family can be that for you and each other. That's why she fits in so well."

 

[heartofcourage]

Dylan gave Ashien a smile as he soothed Burke's childish fears about fitting into his new family. He had nothing to worry about, but it was hard for him to think that someone might have wanted him after so many times of being rejected in the past.

"I will prove to you today that you have nothing to worry about when it comes to us." Dylan promised, kissing Burke's cheek before she encouraged everyone to continue eating.

There was a mountain of presents to tackle under the main tree and she wasn't going to wait much longer.

 

[KieranSoares]

Once they were done and the dishes cleared, Ashien rose to stretch with a sigh, and then looked to Dylan. "Alright, then. Go on, Burke, before she explodes."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Oh no, you're coming too." Dylan said as she grabbed her husband's arm and dragged him along, calling for Van and Kiva as well.

Dylan was a force of nature as she piled gifts beside each of them, her eyes bright and her smile large. She had spent perhaps too much money on the holiday, but their first Christmas together meant the world to her. She had been paid generously for her paintings by a few of Ashien's noble friends so she had the money to burn.