***

     The clinking of glass on glass and silverware on China echoed all throughout the house. There was the sound of a fire crackling and the occasional quiet comment, but that was about it. Even during Christmas the Lampton household was more than mildly depressing.

David was trying to make conversation with his children, but he'd stopped having anything in common with them a long time ago. Psyche was the only one attempting to get along with him as per the norm. She had a smile on her face, picking at her plate while Atalanta stared at her own and tapped her fork on the already beaten table top. She would respond when she desired, making an apparent attempt to get along. The two girls did at least try this time of year. Christmas was difficult to get through. When Lucia had left, she'd taken the support of her own sizable family with her.

     Christmas parties had once been special, glittering events. His ex-wife's family was large and enjoyed visiting with her. Never once had there been a quiet Christmas before she left. Now, they were all as lively as funerals. David was supporting three children by himself, not leaving much money for pleasure spending. There wasn't much under the tree or on the table, but David had thought he could manage. He'd never had much growing up, but he'd always had his family, and that had been enough to make his home bright. The only issue with that was that he didn't even really have that anymore. His daughters gave making it work a good old college try, that wasn't a big issue. The big issue was Theseus.

     His oldest was sitting at the far edge of the table, his reading glasses perched on the edge of his nose. He had a plate of completely untouched food in front of him, and he hadn't said a word to anyone the entire time. Everyone had always told David that Theseus needed to interact more. That his isolation wasn't healthy. He'd pleaded desperately for Theseus to go and make some friends. Some acquaintances, anything! His son's interest in other human beings fell lower on the scale than is interest in schoolwork, and that was saying something.

     It was with a final sense of desperation that David had presented Theseus with a new outlet. At first, he wasn't sure how the boy would take to his old, beat up copy of 'The Legend of Robin Hood'. Theses had never been an avid reader. At least not in school. In the end though, the boy had become addicted. He'd torn through the novel in the space of two days, surprising David. The book had been a little over his head as a fifteen year old. Here was his son at ten and back asking if David had any other titles like it.

     The same people who had told David that Theseus needed to interact with children his age were now saying his new addiction to reading would prevent further progress, but David couldn't have cared less. After Theseus had finished 'Robin Hood" They'd had the longest conversation together since Lucia had left. Theseus wasn't acting out as badly in school, he wasn't as difficult to get along with, and he seemed happier overall. The only issue David could see was Theseus never stopped reading.

     he used to take a two or three day break in between books, but soon he launched from one book into the next with no sigh of stopping. The long, detailed conversations they'd have after Theseus finished a book stopped happening, and David found himself back at square one.

     Eve right now at the dinner table, David knew his son had a book resting in his lap. He was using it to get out of interacting with the rest of them, and so fat it had been working.

     "I thought next year we could go out for the holiday," he attempted conversation once more, not quite ready to give in to the silence. "Maybe spend a week in London."

     "That could be fun," Psyche said, quick to insert her opinion, "it would be nice to get out with you."

     Nobody else said anything, and David heard a soft 'thud' before Atalanta glared at her younger sister and spoke up. "Yeah, Dad. That would be great."

     Silence again. The two girls thought they were being subtle as they tried to get their older brother's attention, clearing their throats, kicking him under the table, Atalanta even muttered his name under her breath few times. no response. David didn't mind his son's reading habits. In the summer he let it slide without saying anything. If Theseus wasn't comfortable talking, he wasn't going to make him.

     However, there was a definite frustration building up about the whole thing. It was Christmas. He hadn't seen his children since September, and after they went back to school he wouldn't see them for another few months. He didn't know what processed him to stand up and do what he did.

     Crossing over to Theseus, David slipped his hand under the covers of the book and closed it with a slight snap.

     "Hey!" Theseus snapped out of his daze as David pulled his book out of his lap. he lifted his gaze up to see his father with a look that clearly showed he was just about fed up with his behavior.

     "can I have my book back?" he asked, voice somewhat tight.

     "We're in the middle of dinner." David replied, "you can actually talk with us." He set the book off to the side of the table, catching a glimpse of the title. 'The Never Ending Story', a gift from Psyche earlier that day. He was already more than halfway finished with it.

     "It's not like the three of you are being especially chatty." Theseus remarked a bit snidely. David heard Psyche sigh, and he felt ready to do the same. Not for the same reasons though. Psyche's sigh was one of annoyance and disapproval, David was feeling pure frustration, aggravation, and anger.

     "You could at least join us in the real world," David replied shortly, his gaze just as hard and steady as Theseus' own.

     "I'm okay away from the world of the barely living."

     "Hiding between two covers for the rest of your life is going to create more problems than it's going to solve."

     "Right now it's working in my favor just fine." Theseus glanced at his book, and David moved it further down the table. There was a brief flash of hurt and panic that crossed his son's face before it set again. "I'd like my book back now."

     "You can have it backwhen you leave for school again."

     "What?!" Outrage was clear in Theseus' tone as he shot up from his seat. "That's not for another two weeks!"

     "You'll live. This has to stop." David stood, eyes narrowed slightly. "I've tried to be patient, I've tried to let this slide, but it's gotten ridiculous."

     "It wasn't ridiculous when you got me started!" Theseus scowled. "You've never said anything before! Does it just suddenly suit you for me to pay attention to you?"

     "Watch your tone, please," David said tightly. "It's two weeks without a book. It's not going to kill you to come out of your room and engage with the rest of us."

     "You three engage with each other?" Sarcasm dripped from the his voice. "I wasn't hearing any conversation before now. I actually don't think you three have said more than three sentences to each other since we got back. Why do I suddenly have to join the awkwardness?"

     "Because you're part of this family!"

     "I didn't ask to be!"

     Theseus and David were almost nose to nose at that point both of them trembling slightly. They stood there in silence for a while, David grasping at straws trying to think of something to say in reply. He couldn't come up with anything, and Theseus turned suddenly on his heel toward the dining room door. That snapped David back to reality.

     "Where do you thinking you're going?"

Theseus' footsteps sounded on the stairway. "To my room! I need to spend some quality time with the only intelligent life form here. Myself!"

                                                                                                  ***

     Theseus slammed his bedroom door shut, his hands trembling. He paced the room, frustration turning into anger. He kicked the leg of his bed, then  immediately regretted the action as pain shot up his foot. The hot furry melted away into embarrassment and guilt. Theseus collapsed on his bed, burying his face in his pillow. He couldn't seem to be civil to anybody as of late. Not that he really tried all that hard: it wasn't like it did anything against the image his father already had built up of him. He was certain that at this point he'd made just about everyone's bad list.

     His dad didn't understand. He'd made it so he didn't. Every time an owl was sent home carrying a professor's concern for Theseus' struggling school work, he could imagine the tired, desperate look his father would be wearing as he read it. It made a twinge of guilt fill him, but he went back to his indifferent state of mind as quickly as the thoughts would come.

     Theseus let out a small sigh, lifting his head out of his pillow and reaching under his mattress. His hands found the familiar binding rather quickly, slipping in and out of the hand shaped crevice Theseus had worn into it over time. It was a quick, easy place to stash his books and his reading light, even if he didn't make for a small amount of discomfort when it came to sleeping. He stood and grabbed his reading glasses off his dresser before moving to the window . He reached over the desk i front of it, unlocking it and sliding it up. He quickly stacked the homework that had been assigned over the break into neat piles. It was finished, but he knew it would never find its way into any teachers hands. He threw on a jacket and climbed out the window easily. It only took a few moments to hoist himself on to the roof, all his items still in hand. He pushed through the snow coating the shingles. He was careful not to slip on any of the ice hidden under the many inches of powder as he made his way to what he often referred yo as his 'roost'.

     It was right up against the chimney, so it was warm and the street lights along the road illuminate the area without being harsh, half the time he didn't even need his reading light to see what he was doing. He was grateful for that aspect. He was grateful for anything that drew extra attention to his odd habits, and his lamp would definitely draw unwanted attention. Theseus settled down against the hard brick, just barely glancing at the title of the book in his hands.

     'Howl's Moving castle'.

     He almost automatically ley out a breath of relief. Just the thought of two weeks without an escape had made his stomach churn. Anybody could tell him he was being dramatic, that the end of the world was not going to come around because e didn't have a bok. He agreed. It wouldn't be the end of the world. It would be the end of his world. Reality was suffocating, soul crushing. People expected perfection, they didn't show it themselves, but they wanted to see it. Books never did that. Their imperfections were showcased for the world to see, but they didn't judge.

    Did Theseus' family life matter as long as Sophie was crossing the terrain in her seven league boots? What did his schoolwork have to do with the Witch of the Wastes, or with Lettie and Martha swapping lives? No, and nothing were the answers: at least to him. He'd rather put up with Sophie's nosey sense of adventure, or Howl's narcissistic tendencies than any of his real life problems. At least they admitted to not being perfect.

     Theseus let out a low sigh, thumbing through the pages of the book. He closed his eyesand stopped suddenly, selecting a page before throwing the book open and starting from the first sentence he saw.

     'Howl had gone out very early, leaving the bathroom full of the usual scented steam. He had not taken his guitar, and the doorknob was turned to green-down. Even Calcifer knew no more than that.

     "Don't open the door to anyone," Calcifer said. "The Witch knows about all the entrances except the Porthaven one."'

     Theseus opened his eyes and looked around as the snow covered roof top melted away. The low flicker of firelight flooded the area, and two new people joined him, an elderly red head and a young man scrambling to board up the door in the corner.

     'Half an hour later the doorknob turned sharply to black-down. The door began to bounce about. Michael clutch at Sophie. "Don't be afraid," he said shakily. "I'll keep you safe."'

     Theseus could hear the hesitation in Michael's voice, and he could see the doubt in Sophie's eyes. Theseus walked to the bench at the table filled with spells as the door continued to rattle on its hinges and bang around. Calcifer eyed it suspiciously from the hearth, and Theseus just smirked. He knew what was going on.

     'Michael had just let go of Sophie in great relief when there came a violent explosion.'

     Theseus felt the cool breeze enter the castle from the door as it burst open. Calcifer disappeared into his grate and Michael dove into a broom closet, leaving Sophie alone to face Howl's wrath as he stormed into the castle.

     '"Thus is a bit much, Sophie!" he said. "I do live here." He was soaking wet. The gray-and-scarlet suit was black0and-brown. His sleeves and the ends of his hair were dripping.'

     The exasperation Howl felt was obvious, and Theseus snorted to himself. "You ought to be used to that by now."
Sophie huffed and Theseus laughed at her critical eye.

'"Where have you been?" she said.

     Howl sneezed. "Standing in the rain. None of your business," he said hoarsely. "What were those planks in aid of?"'

     Theseus would've loved to jump to Michael's defense as he explained he was the one who boarded up the door, but he could only watch as Howl rounded on him with a frown.

     '"You must think I don't know my business." Howl said irritably. "I have so many misdirection spells out that most people wouldn't find us at all. I give even the Witch three days. Calcifer, I need a hot drink."'

     "And no pity from the demon," Theseus snickered as Calcifer shied away from the wizard.

     '"Don't come near me like that! You're wet!" he hissed.

     "Sophie." Jowl said pleadingly.'

     "No support from the cleaning lady either."

     'Sophie folded her arms pitilessly. "What about Lettie?" she said.

     "I'm soaked through," said Howl. "I should have a hot drink."

     "And I said, what about Lettie Hatter?" Sophie said.

     "Bother you then!"'

     "I hope you're not talking to us."

     Theseus' fantasy world shattered as quickly as it had started. Howl's annoyed expression, along with Sophie's own hard gaze vanished. The warm hearth with Calcifer cowering in it disappeared, and the snowy rooftop reappeared. Only now there were two extra people with him.

     "Of course the two of you show up now," he sighed, plopping back into a seated position. He had a habit of pacing and reading out loud to himself, and his younger sisters had a habit of popping up when he got to a good part.

     "Well we figured you'd be hiding out ho here," Psyche said with a small smile, walking over to him and tying his Ravenclaw scarf around his neck. "It's cold, Theo. At least bundle up."

"We'd both have died of pneumonia if she wasn't around," Atalanta muttered, tightening her own grey-and-green striped scarf. "Besides, you've had all day to get aquatinted with your book. You have to start this one over again for us." From her pocket, the second eldest Lampton child pulled out 'The Neverending Story'.

Theseus couldn't help but smile as he took it from her. "Dad's going to go ballistic if he finds out about this."

"I think our chances are okay," Psyche said, sitting down in her usual spot on the opposite side of the chimney. "Now, you're practically vibrating, Theo. Come on! Let's get this show on the road!"

Atalanta sat down next to her sister, a smile on her face as Theseus opened the book to the first page. This was what he wanted to be doing. Morning, noon, and night. This was bonding, and he did it on his terms.

'Outside, it a was gray, cold, rainy November morning.'

And for the second time that evening, the snow covered rooftop, and everyone on it, melted away.