December 16th - 11:30am

                                                                                      Virgil dragged a hand through his hair, staring at the completed logo he had created for his brother. He didn't know where William was - presumably he was downstairs - but Virgil didn't really care, he'd just leave it open with a sticky note attached to the monitor reading 'done'. Once doing so, he drifted out of the room and down the hallway, planning to hide himself away in his room until someone called him when he stopped.

"Oh, Virgil" it was Elizabeth. William's wife. Virgil hadn't really interacted with her since he came down, and seeing as he avoided her ten years ago, this is really the first time the two will have a proper conversation. He swallowed, "uh, hey" he greeted, as awkward as ever. Elizabeth smoothed out a wrinkle in her dress and stepped closer to the boy who didn't have any bad blood with the woman, so he wasn't tense, and definitely didn't feel the urge to glare.

"I have heard wonderful things about you over the years" she smiled softly, but with a hint of sadness underlying her words. Intrigued, Virgil nodded, hoping she'd carry on. "Although, in the beginning, I can see why you parted...I almost did the same, but after seeing who William truly was when we're alone, I couldn't. I had fallen for the mean old man" she chuckled gently, Virgil lifting his lips up to show his amusement. "He has changed, however, although still needs improving...but we all do" she added on as an afterthought, reaching forward and cupping Virgil's face, stroking the skin softly. Virgil wondered why she was doing so; but then again she seemed like the affectionate type, so he didn't bat her hand away or stare in confusion for too long.

After a moment she smiled and stood back up straight, arms falling to her sides. "I'm sorry to be a pain but have you seen Mia anywhere?" Virgil cocked his head to the side for a moment - was that a hint of a Swedish accent he could hear? That's actually really cool. Focusing back on the question, he shook his head and placed his hands in his pockets. "I could help find her...if you want?" He offered and Elizabeth smiled, agreeing with a gentle nod of the head. They walked beside each other down the corridor and descended the staircase. Virgil noted she walked slow and almost seemed like she was floating her movements were so soft.

They headed down the basement stairs in comfortable silence, but weren't surprised to see Mia not present. She usually didn't like hanging out in noisy areas, and due to the kids messing around loudly, this definitely wasn't her scene. "She could be in my room?" Virgil suggested as they returned to the ground floor, "I think she liked it last time" Virgil was a tad worried Elizabeth would think his suggestion was stupid, but she smiled kindly while in thought, tapping her chin. "Yes. You're right" she finally said, easing Virgil a little.

"How have you been since you left?" Elizabeth prompted conversation. Virgil sighed and shrugged a little at the question. "It sucks to say but I've been...happy, more happy than I ever was" he admitted a little guiltily, "but that's not my fault, is it? I mean, I didn't ask for them to treat me the way they did..." he sighed again and closed his eyes, shaking his head at the memories he wanted to vanish. "It's not your fault, Virgil" Elizabeth reassured, voice soothing, "you did the most healthiest thing you could do; leave. You allowed yourself to grow, to be happy, and now you're back, you're ready to face everyone again" Elizabeth turned to Virgil once they stopped outside of his bedroom. "Although running away is frowned upon; it's still an option for everyone. Whether that option be forced upon, or your last resort, it helps in the end"

Elizabeth took Virgil's hands in her own and smiled caringly. "It helped, did it not?" She rose her eyebrow with a quirk in her lips. "I-I-yeah..." Virgil nodded, "it did" he added, squeezing her hands. She smiled wider now, "then don't feel guilt" she kissed the back of his hands and let them go, turning to the door and knocking on it gently. "Mia, darling? Are you in there?"

Not a few seconds later the door cracked open and Mia peeked through, staring at her mother and Virgil shyly. "Sorry...am I not allowed in here?" She questioned softly, clutching her book to her chest. "Oh, uh, no it's fine" Virgil quickly reassured, adding a half-smile on, afterwards. "Tell me where you run of to next time" Elizabeth asked of her, bending down to run a hand through her soft hair.

"I will, mama" Mia agreed before returning to the darkness of the room with her book and torch. Elizabeth closed the door and turned to Virgil. "I think Roman is in the basement with the kids" she told him, and he nodded, remembering he saw the 'Disney Prince' in there earlier. They said their goodbyes and parted different ways, Virgil heading down the stairs to the basement while Elizabeth went down the hallway to find her husband.

Virgil spotted Roman sitting on one of the child's beds, in his lap he held a pile of paper which he handed out to the kids before showing them how to make paper aeroplanes. Virgil watched from the bottom of the stairs for a few minutes until Riley, Aria and Aiden's daughter, noticed him and called him over. "Oh! Dearest!" Roman grinned and jumped up, curling his arms around his waist and kissing his lips, making some of the kids over dramatically groan in disgust.

"How I've missed you" Roman grinned, "come on! Join us!" Roman encouraged, leading him to the bed and plonking him down beside him. "Really, Ro?" He sighed, picking up a paper in distaste.

"Yes! We're having a competition" he explained, showing off his paper plane. "To see who's can go the furthest!" Virgil rolled his eyes fondly, sending small smiles to the three kids who sat opposite him. It was the twins, Henry and Riley, and Sebastian. They are the only kids here. Sebastian being the youngest, and shyest. After encouragement from the twins and Roman, Virgil finally made a plane, now he stood at one end of the large room, in a row with the rest and pressed up to the wall.

"Ready" Roman began, and everyone lifted their hands with the plane in it. "Set" they all pulled their arms back slightly. "Go!" And the planes shot off through the air. Henry's nose dived to the ground while Riley's twirled off to the side and smacked into the wall. The twins burst into laughter, watching the other planes that guided through the air. Sebastian's hit the ground third, then Roman, then Virgil's, who went the furthest.

"Well done, Virgil!" Riley yelled and sprinted to pick them all up. He smiled a little, lifting a single shoulder in a half shrug. "What can I say? I'm the paper-plane champion"

Just as Roman was about to announce a rematch, they all turned to the staircase when they heard the 'thud thud thud' of footsteps. Gabriel stopped when all eyes landed on him, and that was when Virgil remembered the fact that the basement is Gabriel's and Harper's room, they just have to share it over the course of the Christmas period. His and Gabriel's eyes met, and they both hardened into a glare. The kids looked between the two, then finally to Roman who didn't really know what to do, either.

"Why are you in here?" Gabriel asked harshly, finishing the stairs to the bottom. Virgil stuffed his hands into his pockets, "I was just leaving" he replied instead, walking by Roman and the kids to hurry up the stairs and close the door a little loudly. Gabriel rolled his eyes and flopped onto his bed, pulling out his phone and placing it on charge.

"Gabe" Roman obtained his attention, walking over to him and sitting on his bed. "He does want to be your brother again" Gabriel stared at Roman for a moment, gazing at his phone afterwards. "Until he can prove that I don't care" Roman pressed his lips together tightly but nodded in understanding. He would be rather mad if one of his siblings left, but he supposed Virgil had good reason, even if he didn't exactly know yet.

"Wanna join us?" He waved the paper aeroplane around. Gabriel smirked and agreed, taking Virgil's place but making his own plane.

Meanwhile, Virgil returned to his own room, sending a slight smile to Mia who was sitting on Roman's side of the bed. Laying down, he brought out his phone and scrolled through Tumblr while Mia read beside him.

He was happy to be in a comfortable presence again.