Mich liked both the wreaths. He hung the traditional one on the garage door because we don't have a backdoor. Our back-door led to the pool, it didn’t count, according to him. What I didn't like was him rifling through my room while I was gone in search of his presents. I found him trying to pick the lock on a suitcase I'd stashed under my bed when I returned.

He gave me a sheepish smile as he looked up. "I was... I was looking for the fairy lights."

"They're in the attic." I growled, my eyes narrowed. "Did you just send me on a fool's errand so you can search for your presents?"

Mich's eyes flickered to the bags in my hand and he stood up. "Aah, wreaths!" He took the bag from me as he brushed past. "What took you so long? Jeez, I'd just asked for a wreath."

"And then you'd ask for baubles, an angel, eggnog. I know you." I relaxed, and let the anger pass. "It's a holiday tradition with you."

He threw me a smile over his shoulder as he descended the stairs. "You know me so well."

I rolled my eyes. "I'll be in my room... hiding my presents again." I mumbled the end to myself as soon as he was out of earshot. I'd wanted to hide them in the attic but he'd have looked there first. We usually split the chores during the time he was here to give us both some rest for the weekend. He went where I went. I needed a better place to hide his presents. I'd been up late packaging them. There's no way he'd touch those before D-Day.

"By the way,—" Mich yelled from below once more. It made me pause as I closed the door "—Wafi called. He's coming for dinner tomorrow. He said he's got presents."

I stiffened where I was before I forced myself to walk downstairs. I had to look Mich in the eye when I spoke. "Why?"

Mich frowned and kept the carton down. "What do you mean 'why'? He's your brother."

"But I don't want to see him." I scowled.

Mich sighed. He knew about the fight we'd had on the phone. "If you won't pick up his calls, or reply to his texts, you know he'll show up here."

"But I don't want him to show up anywhere! His showing up is the entire reason I'm having to deal with all this shit."

"Fiera, he's your brother." He pushed, irritated by the same fight we'd had before.

"So, tell him to stay at the palace! I'm pretty sure they can exchange presents there." I huffed.

"Are you worried he's going to get you more expensive stuff?" His brow smoothed out with amusement.

I paused as that thought crossed my mind. "Now I am."

Mich sighed. He shook his head as he chuckled. "You're siblings. I'd be more surprised if you didn't fight. It'll be okay, Fi. He just cares about you, maybe he gets out of hand at times."

"'at times'- He never listens to me." I spoke like a petulant teen. I knew how whiny I sounded.

Mich smiled. "Hey, it's okay. All brothers are like that. Besides, he doesn't want to see you suffer more than you already do."

I looked away from his soft, grey eyes. "Doesn't make me any less angry."

"Or his actions any less wrong." Mich added. "Come on. The cookies have cooled down."

Despite Mich's upbeat mood and correct words, I couldn't help my mood souring as Wafi's time of approach grew closer. He was punctual as usual, driving up at almost exactly six. Dressed light, a simple full-sleeve button-down over light wash jeans and a black jacket.

I made sure I sported an annoyed look as I opened the door. It wasn't that hard to do since I was already considerably pissed at him.

"Hey." He greeted, a wide smile on his face as I opened the door.

I stayed mute. Opened it and walked away to the kitchen. Mich was cooking tonight, it smelled good.

Wafi had an amused look on his face at my cold greeting as he walked into the dining room. "Hey, Mich."

"Wafi!" Mich greeted cheerily as he turned away from the simmering pot. He rounded the counter to give Wafi a laughing hug consisting of several loud-sounding pats on each other's backs.

That always seemed like it hurt. Why do they do it anyway? It's not like they need to test if their friend is hollow.

I played around with my glass of eggnog as I wandered in my thoughts, my eyes drifted to the bags Wafi carried. He took a seat beside me and I promptly narrowed my eyes up at him.

"Fi." He sighed, tone soft. "Come on. I was just trying to protect you."

"I know." I growled. "But it doesn't mean what you're asking me to do all the time sits right with me."

"I'm not sorry." He frowned at me. "I don't know those two. I can't be sure they won't talk to someone."

"About what?!" I snapped. "That I'm actually the long lost sister of the adopted Prince Regent, who's half Water, and oh, a year older than she actually is?! Do you know how outrageous that sounds without proof to back it up?! They would sound like lunatics!" I pressed my face in my hands to avoid Wafi's worried eyes. "They don't trust me anymore. They don't trust a single word out of mouth. They think that everything I say has two sides now."

Wafi was quiet for a moment before reaching out to touch my shoulder, making me look up at him. "Hey, I understand wh-"

"No, you don't." I cut him off. "No, you goddamn do not understand, and cannot even begin to understand what I'm going through."

"Fiera..." He was using my full name again. Desperation crossed his hazel eyes. He shifted closer. "You... You're right... I can't. But unless you talk to me, how will I?"

I read his earnest face, my eyes skimmed across features I shared and features I didn't. He was my brother. He should be someone who understand, but we'd both grown up literal worlds apart. realms, even. He'd grown up not having to hide who he was, knowing where he belonged, knowing what to do, how to behave in a world inhabited by people like him. I'd grown up fluid. Constantly changing my personality, my place, my manners to fit in. Not knowing where I belonged, or if I even did. This realm was where I should belong. But I'd felt like an outsider ever since I'd taken my first step in here.

I stood up, unable to continue the conversation. "I need some fresh air." I spoke curtly as I rounded the table to head out the back.

It was a nice night. Mich had told me it was getting colder but I didn't feel it that much. And by the looks of it, neither did Wafi. There were fireflies visible in the trees beyond the boundary, flitting through the bushes and branches. Sitting down, I rolled my leggings up. A chill ran through me as my feet went in the cold water.

Exhaling softly, I waited for my aura to affect me enough for the chill to fade away. I found peace being by the water. It was something I'd been doing since I was a child. It might've just been my element, or me. It was calming to look at. Time would drift away as I sat there, thinking, not thinking.

I was angry. Sad at having to leave Christopher, mad at all the other people, and just playing tired of it all. I just wanted it to be over. I used to dread the day I come out as a Royal, and I still do. The feeling of not hiding anymore was unfamiliar to me now. The feeling of being me.

I just wanted to be free of it all. Just leave the realm once more and live in the human one, moving from place to place as we always do. It was my last year anyway. Once I go to college, I'll be done moving. I'll be done with it all. I wouldn't have the compulsion to practice my elements, or be terrified of Royals, or have to lie anymore. I wouldn't need to be somebody else. The somebody else who has been lying, and lying, and lying... and lying.

My head rose as I heard the glass doors slide open. I turned to see Wafi lean against the doorjamb, his features darkened by the light behind him.

"Coming in?" He asked softly. "It's cold outside."

"Give me a few more minutes." I answered blankly as I turned back to my dark reflection in the pool.

Silence followed. Silence in which I did not hear Wafi turn away and leave.

"It was my fault too." He finally spoke. "I shouldn't have denied your request. I should've trusted you to know who to tell. And you're right, acting like a Royal, it's too early for that."

I sighed. "You don't need to say all of this, Wafi. I don't care. Please, just go inside. I'll be there for dinner."

"Are you going to stay out here all night?" I didn't reply. "I'll drink your eggnog."

"I will drown you if you touch my eggnog." I growled, twisting slightly. "Sit where you are, and don't touch my food."

I could hear the smirk in his voice as he spoke. "Hmm... I shouldn't let your eggnog wait. I mean, it'll become normal."

I scowled at him, pulling one leg out of the water. "Don't you dare."

"Huh," he started to turn away, the smirk finally thrown into light "maybe I'll have some of those sweet toasts."

"Those are for dessert." I growled out as I stood up to walk towards him.

He gave me one last cheeky look, and slammed the balcony door behind him as he ran in. I picked up the pace too, pulling them open and hopping over the couch to grab him by his shirt.

"Hey!" He protested as I shoved him to the side, followed by the sound of a pained grunt as he slammed into the wall.

I was laughing by the time I reached my seat, the earlier anger pushed to the side. Wafi glared at me as he rubbed his arm and trudged into the room. "How'd you catch me so fast?"

"I leapt over the sofa." I replied, taking a sip of my drink as I bought my breathing back under control. "You're slow."

I'd managed to push the topic aside for the moment. It really didn't do to dwell on it while Mich is here. He barely gets to spend any time at home, and I won't be the one bringing his holiday mood down all the time.

Wafi and I kept up the banter throughout dinner as Mich watched on like an exasperated, yet adoring parent. When it came time to leave, Wafi walked over to the tree. "I'll just leave my presents for you guys here then. I've got two very busy days handling the palace Christmas celebrations for the next two days."

"That's..." Mich glanced at me "a bad idea."

Wafi's eyes moved from the bags to me. "Why?"

"Uh," I scratched my head "Mich and I... have the self control of a toddler so... they won't make it till Christmas."

"Come on." Wafi rolled his eyes. "You guys are exaggerating, right?"

He glanced at our guilty looking faces as we refused to make eye contact with each other, or him.

Wafi, in turn, sighed as he started to turn to the door, bags still in hand. "I'll meet you guys on Christmas."

We were notorious for our impatience during Christmas among our friends in the human realm. After the first few times we both caught each other messing with the presents, we became a bit more cautious about our presents and others after that.

When Christmas finally came around, it turned out to be one of the better days I'd had in a while. Wafi showed up for a few hours in the morning. I made him help me make breakfast. He didn't know anything about anything. I just made him whip the pancake batter, and the eggs. He was just a big obstacle in the kitchen. A big, well-dressed, Santa hat wearing obstacle in my kitchen.

"Could you teach me how to cook?" He asked from his time-out position behind me as I flipped the pancakes.

I shrugged. "We'll see about it. You've cut yourself twice while cutting berries."

"They're tiny. And hard to hold."

I laughed, glancing at him over my shoulder. "Can you set the table or are you incapable of doing that too?"

Wafi pouted, getting up from the kitchen stool and picking up the plates. "You don't need to be so mean about it."

"Aww." I pursed my lips at him. "Did I hurt my big brother's feelings?"

He frowned at my condescending tone. "Yes. Yes, you did." I laughed again, and smacked his bicep with the spatula as he walked by. He yelped at the loud smack, turning his glare on me as he turned red. "You'll get butter on my shirt!"

"Oh, stop whining." I waved dismissively as I turned back to the stove. "You don't even do your laundry."

I didn't hear a retort from him, just grumbling as he set about to setting plates. Loudly.

"Hey!" Mich called out as he walked downstairs. "Don't take your anger out on the cutlery. I like that plate."

Wafi's grumbling turned louder and plate-setting thankfully softer. I liked that design too. It would sad if something happened to them.

Mich and I finally revealed our packages. The base of the Christmas tree filling up with way too many presents considering it was only the three of us. I didn't even want to think about the price tag of Wafi's entire haul for me. He was smart to remove the tags, but looking at the brand itself gave me a basic gist of what it all cost. Mich let out low whistles at a couple of them.

Wafi couldn't stay for long. He had to go back to the palace. Mich and I went about our ways, the highlight of the day over and done with. We both weren't really into making our entire day revolve around festivities. There's only so much you can do after opening presents.

The next couple of days were mellow. Running smoothly enough to have me looking over my shoulder for some upcoming catastrophe. Flo had left on Christmas Eve, and Eric was busy with his own stuff. There was nothing much to do. Just laze around, watch something or the other. Mich went to work for a couple of days. He'd return on the New Year's Eve to change and go for his office celebrations. They had already made plans.

As for me, I still oscillated between going or not going. There was a part of me that wanted to avoid anymore unnecessary gossip, or aggression, or drama. However there was also a part of me that craved social interaction that wasn't just my friends, Brett or Mich. Don't get me wrong, they're all amazing, but I liked meeting new people.

I'd made friends with a homeless guy during a New Year's a couple of years back. I couldn't buy him any alcohol but I bought him food and sat there listening to his stories. I still occasionally went to visit Randall. But his memory wasn't what it used to be anymore.

Till the day before the party, I still wasn't sure if I was going. It made me fly into a panic when Sean called me up.

I paced my room, phone in my hand as it rang for a while and cut off. I heaved a sigh of relief but in no time it started up again. I picked it up immediately, not letting myself deliberate on it.

"Hey! Sean!" I greeted, with unnecessary cheer. "What's up?"

"Hey! Merry Christmas!" He greeted. "I know I'm late, but eh."

"Eh." I imitated awkwardly, grimacing inside. "Same-same to you..."

"So, hey, I wanted to ask if you're coming tomorrow?" He paused. "Because, like, Francis and Anita are hyped to see you again."

The mention of their names bought a genuine smile to face and I relaxed slightly. "Yeah, how are they? I forgot to take their numbers last time."

"They're coming tomorrow. You can ask them yourself." I rolled my eyes as he laughed.

"I still don't know, Sean. Haven't made up my mind."

"Aww, come on. People! Party! Booze! Dance!" He sounded really excited. "It's gonna be more people than the Trials party. You'll have fun, I swear."

"I don't doubt that. I just don't know if I should or not. Considering my current state with the people in school, I'm not ready to test others patiences."

"It's probably forgotten by this point. The holiday cheer is a thing we take very seriously here."

"Believe me." My mind threw me into a flashback of all the over-the-top decorations I'd passed through the holidays. "I know."

He sighed. "Well, I can't force you... though I really am hoping you show up tomorrow."

"Uh, we'll see." I replied vaguely

"I'm going to take that as a yes." He said through a chuckle, hanging up before giving me a chance to protest.

I flopped onto my bed, eyes on Wafi's gifts I had yet to make space for in my closet. I'd tried them on. Perfect fit as always, but he'd been smart enough to remove the price tags this time. Didn't stop me from looking up the brand online though. I could've probably sold all the gifts he bought through the year and buy myself a nice car, or a tropical vacation.

My mind hadn't been on Christopher for a while. I'd wondered what he'd been doing for Christmas but had tried to force any possible thought or mention of him from my mind. My mood tended to fall with any thoughts of him, but it wasn't as heart-wrenching as before.

My lip curled downward as I thought of him. With my eyes still on the unpacked bags, I made a solid decision to go the party the next night.

Which I immediately regretted as I was dropped off at the party by Mich.

First of all, riding sidesaddle on a bike in a long dress is a pain. Second of all, helmets mess up your hair.

I glanced at my watch, then wistfully watched Mich's fading tail-lights, wondering if I should call him back.

The house, and several other houses around it were filled with people, overflowing with life. People from different parties were crossing the street to mingle with people from a different house party, drinks in their hands, wearing all manner of dresses. The entire street was one big party. I didn't even know there were this many people in this dimension.

I didn't hesitate to look around as I started walking up Sean's driveway, which was filled with sleek, sports mobiles. The door was thrown open, people spilled in and out of the side gate leading to his backyard. The entire street seemed to be vibrating with music from several houses. I could make out several different remixes playing, all melding into one cacophony of people talking, screaming, dancing on the street and just generally having a good time.

The inside of the house wasn't that full. There was a much more chill atmosphere in here than I'd figured. The couches were occupied by people enjoying their drinks, snacks and good conversation. Some people passed through the open glass doors to the backyard, where the actual speakers were. Some just loitered around, talking or swaying to the beat.

I had to admit, I'd never seen this type of a party before. On this huge of a scale. I had to wonder where their parents were. Was it after a certain age where parents started abandoning their young here?

Shaking my head to right my train of thought, I walked up to the bartender who immediately handed me the expected welcome drink. Atleast I didn't look too out of place. I think I was getting the hang of this.

I sipped my drink for a while, hoping not to be recognised when Sean walked through the door.

Surprise passed through both of us. But it seemed like he'd already had a few because he had trouble recognising me.

"Fiera?" He blurted out after he'd stared point blank at me for a minute. "Is that you?" He walked over anyway.

"The one and only." I hid a sigh as I met him halfway.

He grinned, ice clinked as the empty tumbler in his hand swung dangerously. "I can't believe you made it!"

"I know!" I mimicked his excitement. "I can't believe it either!"

His eyes moved to the drink in my hand and he scoffed, immediately taking it from me to slam it onto the bartop. "Let's get you a real drink, and then I'll take you around the place."

"Your place, or the entire street?"

"Very funny." Sean giggled as he placed his own tumbler on top to be refilled. "This happens every year and we try to make sure it doesn't happen every year but it ends up happening every year."

I took a moment to comprehend that sentence. "Oh." I finally spoke. "How is... How is that even possible?"

"Well," he picked up his drink and handed me my own "everybody keeps their own parties, but eventually people get drunk and start crossing over to meet up so it just turns into one giant communal party."

"This is actually pretty cool, you know." I admitted as we stepped outside once more. "I've never seen anything like this. Shouldn't the roads be blocked off to avoid cars?"

"Nah." He waved dismissively, and took a swig. "There are never that many pe-heeeey" he paused to bump fists with a guy, who gave me a long appreciative look before we moved on "-anyway, there are never that many people on the road. And there are always free driveways." He gestured down the street.

It wasn't one of the wildest parties I'd been too, but certainly the most unique. Sean dragged me with him from house to house, party to party, shoving drinks in my hand all night. I started to enjoy it after a while. He introduced me to way too many people to remember all their names. The dread faded away, overtaken by a constant alcoholic buzz and the bravery it bought me.

I hadn't seen anyone get angry towards me yet or say something my presence here either, so I stopped worrying about it. I opened up to people. And while some of them were apprehensive in the beginning to talk to me, I could see that I was growing on them.

By the time there was an hour left to midnight, Sean had left me on my own to make my way around the houses and talk to people. I could literally walk up to, and join in any conversation going on anywhere on the street and no one would bat an eye. Probably due to the fact, that several of them were way too buzzed to care or take note of who was coming or going. I met several people I trained with. Some people who drunkenly complimented me about the Trials fights. Those seemed like ages ago. Right as I was about to move to another group, I heard a familiar voice call out my name.

"Heeeeey, Sean!!!" I turned around with a flourish, the lower part of my gown flaring out. His green eyes startled me. I stumbled to the side, into the guest he was dragging with him. I hadn't realised how close he was.

"Look who I found!" He casually threw an arm over the shoulders of the person I was holding onto, hopefully dismissing my missteps as too many drinks.

Only when I'd made sure I was standing properly, I turned my head, a cheerful grin already on my face. Only to feel any aspect of my cheer fade away as I met Christopher's blue eyes.