Maxi Grant sat curled up on the couch in the living room, a list in her hands, but she couldn't focus on it. In the corner of the room, the stereo played classic Christmas carols, mocking her, as did the undecorated Christmas tree placed in its usual spot in the corner.

It was Jimmy and Tom's first Christmas with their family and they weren't home. She couldn't decorate the tree or enjoy getting ready for the holiday without them. Without all of them. She couldn't even think what presents to get them which was why the list was incredibly short.

Clothes? Books? Sports gear? Instruments?

Kyle could help, if only he were home. Didn't his instructors at the academy have lives and families? Why were they keeping him out so late for heaven knew what stupid test or drill? She wanted him home to lament that his brothers weren't also there.

And she needed Jerry to decide what Christmas pudding recipe to use. It was sad how she was dependent on her nineteen-year-old son for cooking, but Jerry had always been better at it than her, a natural from the moment he'd been tall enough to work at a counter.

She turned back to the list, spinning the pencil between her fingers. Should she get the girls something for Christmas as well? She did want to invite them over, even if it meant ruining Freider's entire Christmas. Though, considering the way Freider had been acting towards Kay and Jessie while they had stayed there, she hoped he wouldn't mind.

But Jessie, Kay and Angie might be going home for Christmas so that only left Christine and Tina and maybe the Professor who was definitely not her favorite person in the world.

Why wasn't Kyle home to distract her? Come to think about it, she couldn't remember the last time she actually saw him. They talked on the phone and he messaged her constantly to let her know where he was, but actually seeing him....

Was she a bad mother for never nagging him about anything? For being happy enough making his bed and gathering after him? It gave her the security that her son still counted on her for things. And his absence wouldn't last much longer. It was Friday night after all, and she would make sure he spent the weekend at home.

Maybe she'd get up early tomorrow and bring him breakfast to his room. Maxi had never done that for him, but she used to do it for Jerry and Sam right before Christmas and they loved it. They had always said it was proof Christmas was coming.

Freider entered the living room singing along with the stereo, completely off key. He dropped on the couch seeming very satisfied with himself and put his boots over one of the cookbooks.

"Freider, feet off!" she said, shoving his feet off the books.

"Oh, sorry. You mean these aren't feeder for the fireplace?" He grinned, but put his feet down.

"Take your boots off too, they're a mess." Maxi started gathering the books before more damage came to them. "Did you finish setting up the lights?"

"Yep," he answered, standing and heading for the kitchen, completely ignoring her plea for no footprints on the carpeting.

She sighed and continued gathering everything on the table just in case he would consider it necessary to rest his feet there again. Freider returned shortly with two warm mugs of cocoa.

"Thank you," Maxi said, receiving her mug and taking a sip out of it. It was sweet and just the right temperature, so it warmed her up to the core. "It's really good, but would've been better with a little cinnamon."

"You know I don't like cinnamon," Freider replied, drinking from his own mug. "What are you up to with that list?"

She decided to not point out that she did like cinnamon. "Trying to figure out what to get the kids for Christmas."

"What are you getting me?" he asked amused, leaning towards her, but she pulled the list away.

"Oh, no, it's going to be a surprise. What about you? Did you figure out what to get the kids?"

"Except better taste in women? I was just kidding!" He laughed in good humor, but Maxi didn't know what to make of his answer. "I already got them presents. Mostly books I guess."

"You got them all books?" she asked in disbelief.

Freider usually got them anything but books. Stupid stuff like sports equipment and funny Christmas sweaters.

"Yeah." He seemed mighty proud of himself. "You know Sam loves books with maps and pictures. Get Jerry a classic and he's all set. It was a lot harder for the other three, though, especially because I have no clue what they like. Though I got Jimmy a really fancy engineering encyclopedia."

"You got Jimmy an engineering encyclopedia," Maxi said blankly, afraid to ask what he might have gotten for Kyle and Tom.

"He'll love it," Freider said unfazed. "I couldn't understand anything out of it, which means it must be good."

"Yeah... Thanks for telling me. Now I'll know not to get him an engineering encyclopedia, too." She was getting all of them clothes, that was certain.

She started scribbling on the list, noting down what each of them might need while Freider turned on the TV and started watching one of those movies they aired every Christmas. She wondered if this was a good time to bring the girls into conversation, but she couldn't tell in how much of a good mood her husband actually was. He had joked about them, but had resorted to his old rude opinion.

For a moment she contemplated the idea of her kids coming forward and telling Freider they were giving him grandchildren for Christmas. The look on Freider's face would be priceless, but totally not worth it, because she wouldn't like that either.

They were all too young for children and families. It was true that when she was Kay's age she was already married and had Kyle, but only she knew how much of an immature idiot she'd been. If she could turn back time, she'd never do it again. She would go to college and take advantage of her youth for a few more years. Ten more years! She was too young to be a grandmother. She was forty, for heaven's sake.

She sighed just as Freider gave a loud laugh. At least he was happy.

She turned back to her list, but her heart wasn't in it anymore. All she wanted for Christmas was the happiness of her children. And, to be completely honest, a ring on Kay's finger. Maxi knew she and Kyle were young. It didn't have to be an engagement ring, just something to show he was really serious about her. Kay had moved to Chicago to be with him and he wasn't even bringing her home. Maxi had no idea when and if those two were actually seeing each other.

Her heart jumped and a wave of understanding hit her. Kyle's instructors weren't crazy. Maybe at this exact time, Kyle and Kay were actually out together and he had only fed them that lie to confused Freider, who had bought it hook, line and sinker.

Grinning to herself, she picked up the books and took them to the kitchen. After putting them in the proper cabinet, she forced a straight face on herself and headed back inside the living room.

Just as she cleared the doorway, the doorbell rang. She looked at Freider curiously, but he just shrugged so it became obvious he hadn't invited anyone over without telling her. She changed direction towards the door, for a minute hoping the kids were back early and wanted to surprise her.

As soon as she opened the door, the thought shattered. Professor Palmer stood before her, wearing an old fashioned overcoat and a disapproving expression. Maxi's heart sank into her stomach and her vision seemed to tunnel. She could see the Professor on her doorstep again, wearing different clothes, opening the gates of hell into her life. He hadn't come over since and his presence there meant something was terribly wrong.

"Who is it?" Freider asked appearing behind her. "Oh, it's you again."

"Freider." Maxi wanted to sound reprimanding, but her voice could barely be heard.

"Same to be said here." The Professor huffed. "Knocking on your door causes me no pleasure. Either way, may I come in? It is quite freezing outside."

"Yes, of course." Maxi moved out of the way, letting the Professor come in.

To be completely honest, she didn't like the man either, but for all she knew, they could end up becoming relatives. For Sam and Christine's as well as for Jerry and Tina's sake, she had to at least try to get along with him. And maybe, just maybe, this time he wouldn't be the harbinger of the apocalypse.

Freider went back into the living room with the Professor while Maxi put away his coat, her hands trembling with nerves. The Professor was once again dressed from the last century in a pair of brown trousers with suspenders, a white shirt and a bow tie.

"What brings you here, Professor?" Freider asked, amused. "Spreading the Christmas cheer, are you?"

"Would you like something warm to drink?" Maxi asked, trying to be polite, but the Professor ignored her as if she weren't even in the room.

His eyes were fixed on Freider who was grinning back at him, and Maxi appreciated his effort to lighten up the mood.

"I want to know where my daughters are, Mr. Grant," the Professor finally said.

Freider's grin slid off his face. "Why would I know that?"

"Christine is not in town," the Professor continued. "I've checked with all her friends. And Tina is not away with college work as she had claimed. I have telephoned her professors and they know nothing about this."

"And you're telling me this because?" Freider asked, the annoyance in his tone unmasked. "Your children are your problem--"

The professor raised his hand to stop him. "Where are your boys, Mr. Grant?"

"Sam, Tom and Jimmy are in France on a scholarship granted because of the excellent scores on their tests, Jerry left for a conference for college and Kyle is actually home," Freider answered in a heartbeat.

"Really?" The Professor didn't sound convinced. "I would love to see him."

Maxi intervened, because this was getting too weird. "He's not home. He is out with work from the Academy."

"At seven thirty in the evening, on a Friday, three days before Christmas?" the Professor inquired.

"As a matter of fact I'm very proud of him for taking his schoolwork seriously for once," Freider said, sounding ready to kick their guest out. "And I don't blame him for staying out late. He's probably out with his colleagues. What is he supposed to do at home with his brothers gone?"

"Are you sure he's home then?"

"Yes, we're sure," Maxi snapped. "He sleeps at home every night." Hell, she made his bed every morning.

"Have you seen him in the past two weeks?" the Professor retaliated.

Maxi pursed her lips, wishing she could scream that she had, but doubt crept in. She couldn't remember when exactly she'd seen Kyle last time.

"Sam's best friend has been hanging out with him since Sam left," Freider said, ending the awkward silence. "I don't know why you're here questioning us about our children when it's none of your business."

"It is my business because your deranged sons have taken my daughters away!"

The Professor's yell echoed around the room, causing both Freider and Maxi to freeze in their seats.

"No, they haven't," Maxi said calmly.

"Yeah!" Freider piped in. "Trust me, I'm as much against these relationships as you are, but you can't go and blame my sons for everything. I've seen how Christine is and I can bet anything that she's planned it all very well to get her hands on Sam."

"How dare you!" the Professor said, outraged.

"Stop it, both of you!" Maxi said angrily and both men turned towards her. "You listen to me. Unless you have something else to tell us, I will have to ask you to leave. I won't allow you to speak ill of my children in my own house."

"Think about it, woman," the Professor kept yelling. "What camp would hold them this long? It's Friday, it's the twenty second of December. Why aren't they home yet? What's keeping them there? You don't even know where they are!"

"They're in France," Maxi cut him off, though she was a second away from literally shaking.

"Where in France?"

"In Paris," Freider answered.

"Jolly good," the Professor said, not sounding jolly at all. "That's exactly the city I've searched. There was absolutely no scholarship program there that hasn't ended two days ago. So obviously, the cover is gone. They've lied. I believe they're all in the same place and that my daughters are with them."

"Why would they have gone off?" Freider asked, his eyes narrowing dangerously.

Maxi looked at the Professor, her heart beating wildly. Was he actually right? Were her children somewhere else? As usual, he brought nothing but trouble.

The Professor's next word delivered a killer blow. "To finish that senseless war with that wretched Snitch Gravel. I don't want your family's twisted struggle to catch my precious daughters in the middle."

Freider and Maxi both stared. The Professor glared back, panting slightly. Freider got off his seat all of a sudden and headed for the home office. Maxi watched him, wondering where he got the strength to stand, walk, not fall over with the sheer weight of it all. Could the Professor be right? Had Snitch Gravel followed her children to France and that was why they hadn't returned? Would they ever return?

She instinctively looked towards the staircase as though expecting Kyle to come down and explain everything, but something told her Kyle wasn't home and hadn't been since the others had left.

Freider fortunately came back, but the look on his face spoke of bad news.

"I've called the headmaster," he said, wringing his hands. "He has no idea where they are. I've called Jerry's school too and they have no idea where he is either."

"Where are our children?" Maxi whispered, the ache inside her chest smothering her.

"So now you believe me," the Professor said smugly.

"Get out," Maxi whispered again.

"Excuse me?"

Oh, he didn't hear her? "Get out!" She stood, her fists clenched. "Get out of my house, now!"

"How dare you?"

"Maxi--" Freider started, but it only served to remind her the cause of all this.

"This is all your fault!" she yelled. "You could have ended this long ago! But no! Now this macho war between you and Snitch Gravel might have cost our children their lives."

"My fault?" Freider asked, her eyes narrowing.

"You're the one he so desperately hates!"

"Oh, I think he hates you a lot more than me," Freider spat. "I would if I were him."

His words cut off her legs and she crumpled back on the couch, rocking back and forth. Freider hesitated for a moment, but came to hug her.

"Kyle's gone too, isn't he?" she whispered and Freider growled as an answer.

Why? Why would they lie to her like this? Her tired mind kept putting random things together. The freak excursion to Mexico, the camping trip in India and now this.

They all left the house at the same time, came back together, and acted strange afterwards. She couldn't forget how reluctant her boys had been after returning from India, acting completely different towards each other, towards her. It seemed that the longer they disappeared, the better friends they became. And the more they were drifting away from her and Freider. She had assumed they were growing up, but maybe there was more to it.

"What are we going to do now?" she asked.

"I don't know," Freider whispered back. "I wish I could say wait for them to come home, but..."

She frowned and her entire body tensed. This was so stupid. She was not a helpless little girl. She was a grownass woman and it was about time she started acting like it. She grabbed her cell phone off the coffee table and speed dialed Kyle's number. As her eyes swept the room, she was pleased to see that the Professor had taken her seriously and let himself out.

Freider watched her apprehensively as she waited for someone to pick up. No one did, so she tried again. And again. And again. Until finally it happened. Kyle picked up.

"Mom, now is not the time." His voice was strained and there was so much noise on his end, she could hardly hear him.

"Where are you, Kyle?" she demanded.

"A bit busy. Drill." The tone was off and his voice became distant, as if he had pulled away from the phone.

She could hear screaming and cursing in the background, voices she couldn't recognize.

"Don't lie to me! Where are you? Where have you been?" she insisted, screaming so that he could hear her.

"Okay, fine, I lied." He sounded so annoyed, so tired of her. "I'm not home anymore."

"Answer my question, Kyle. Where are you? Is that shooting?" she added terrified.

There was shooting in the background, no mistake about it.

"Nah, don't worry," Kyle mumbled and a thump was heard.

"You damned brats! Stop moving around!" a harsh voice yelled.

"Ha, suck it, asshole!" Someone laughed, someone who sounded an awful lot like Tom.

"Kyle what's going on? Was that Tom?"

"Mom, this is really not a good time," he said, his voice lost between thumps and crashing noises.

"Kyle, look out!" someone called out. Someone who sounded an awful lot like Jimmy.

Kyle cursed furiously and something seemed to crash, too loud and close, as if Kyle had thrown himself to the floor to avoid the gunshot that followed.

The panic inside her exploded as well as she became too aware the Professor had been right. Wherever they were, Snitch Gravel was trying to kill them.

"Kyle, talk to me!" she called out desperately.

Freider's grip tightened around her shoulder, but she didn't care, did not put the phone on speaker.

"Fine," Kyle finally mumbled, though he sounded more annoyed than she had ever heard him. "I was getting bored at home so I went to France after them. We're coming back together."

More crashes, more screaming, more gunshots as Maxi processed his answer, trying to decide how much of it to believe. "Why didn't you tell me? What's that noise in the background?"

"Nothing to worry about. We're...um, playing paintball and theses guys are sore losers."

"Playing paintball." Maxi said blankly as she tried to process how likely that was.

"Yeah, we'll be back tomorrow, don't worry." His voice was once again distant, dismissive.

She didn't believe him. It was two in the morning in France.

"Is Jerry there with you?" she asked and sighed in relief when Kyle assured her that yes, he was. But it wasn't enough. The background noise was still terrifying. "You're lying to me, aren't you?"

"Mom, this is really not the time to keep--"

Maxi screamed and pulled away from the telephone. Her ears rang with the sound of destruction and the phone slipped out of her hand. It hit the edge of the table on its way to the floor and the screen cracked.

Her hand shook as she reached out to pick it back up. Her heart convulsed in her chest and nausea twisted her stomach as her mind made desperate attempts to process the sound she'd heard. Make it something else than the obvious.

A bullet colliding with Kyle's phone and ending their conversation. She redialed the number, but it wouldn't connect. Not the first, the second or the third time she tried.

"Well?" Freider demanded. "Don't let me hang like this!"

"We need to get to France," she whispered. "All of them are there. We need to get to France now."

"All of them?" he asked with a confused frown. "Why? If there was no scholarship to being with, why are they there?"

Anger rose inside Maxi like a tidalwave and she got to her feet, her fists clenched. "Who cares? We need to get there now! Get tickets!"

Freider scrambled to his feet, a look of panic on his face. But he complied. He knew better than to question her when she felt capable of clawing his eyes out.

Because as much as he tried to deny it, this whole Snitch Gravel business was his fault. All his fault for lying and hiding and poking a sleeping dragon with a stick.

And now, because of it, she may never see her children again. Her loving Sam and Jerry, Kyle who had always shown her nothing but understanding even if she'd abandoned him as a child, and Jimmy and Tom... She hadn't hugged them enough, told them she loved them enough, said that she was sorry as many times as she should have. She hadn't even gotten to spend one lousy Christmas with them!

Independence. She'd thought the answer to being a good parent was independence. Let them fly on their own while she played the part of the safety net. It was nothing but commodity and neglect.

She has no time to lose. So she headed up the stairs, entered her bedroom, pulled the nearest suitcase out of the closet and started filling it with clothes. She was going to find her children and drive a stake through Snitch Gravel's heart herself if she had to.

Her hands still shook and the hit cocoa she'd had earlier burned its way up her throat as her conversation with Kyle played inside her head. His cold tone, the lies he spoke with such ease, the explosion that ended their conversation...

Before she could catch herself, her knees hit the floor. Tears blurred her vision and her knuckles hurt from how tight her grip was on her phone and the sweater in her other hand.

She dropped the objects and clamped her hands together in desperate parayer. "Please Lord, whatever they're facing, may they come out of it alive. I couldn't bear to lose anymore. I've already given all I can. Don't let them pay for the sins of their parents."

❄❄❄

Surprise! I actually managed to get another chapter done and it's a full one.

Welcome back to the idiot parents. Because that's what happens when parents try to be too cool. They become irresponsible idiots.

I usually enjoy writing this kind of chapters because there are hints and clues and what could be called worldbuilding. Plus you get to see Freider and Maxi differently.

Hope you enjoyed. The next chapter is going to be trippy AF. 😁

Hit the star if you enjoyed!