Ding Dong!

Hearing the doorbell, little Ciana sprints towards the door getting up from the couch in the living room. She screams her voice out as she runs, "Mommy!"

"Ciana! Baby, wait. You'll fall sweetie." Shelley runs after Ciana and finally catches a desperate Ciana who is trying to unlock the door. Holding her hand, Shelley opens the door. An exhausted and concerned Iris is standing while Elroy stands, gripping her shoulders lightly.

"Mommy! Are you okay? How's the baby?" Ciana jerks her hand from Shelley's grip and holds Iris' hand tightly. Seeing the concern in her daughter's eyes, she brings a small smile on her face, "I'm okay Cia. And the little baby is also fine." Seeing the smile on the couple's face, both Ciana and Shelley heaves a sigh of relief.

"Thank God!" Shelley looks up while Iris tiptoes and plants a kiss on the bump.

"My sweet princess, come here." Elroy carries ciana giving a peck on her cheek as they enter inside. Elroy makes both Ciana and Iris sit on the couch asking Shelley to bring water. Shelley is about to give the glass of water to Iris, but gets startled hearing the beep sound of her phone. Shoving the glass into Iris' grip, she quickly opens the message. Clutching her phone, she looks at three frowning eyes.

"Um... sorry. I... I need to leave. My son is waiting for me." Shelley fixes her eyes on the floor as she keeps on locking her hairs behind her ears.

"Yeah, sure. And please bring your son to the party." Iris gives a sweet smile.

"Okay! I'll take leave now." Shelley leaves the house fidgeting her fingers nervously.

As soon as Shelley leaves the house, she keeps on calling someone. But every time she faces disappointment  as the female robotic keeps on rambling, the number you are calling does not exist. With each passing moment her tears well up more and more. She rushes towards her home as she keeps on calling the non-existent number.

"Aaaaaa!" Shelley screams out her lungs throwing her already broken phone as she enters the dark alley.

Screech!

Shelley looks at the source of the sound. An old black car halts at the end of the alley with a sharp screech. Snow covers the hood while the window is foggy. Still, Shelley can recognize the lean silhouette of her unconscious son. She rushes at the end of the alley. Seeing her running, someone opens the door of the car and throws the limp body of a boy on the snow-laden road. Shelley picks up the boy's head on her lap and caresses his head and face while tears roll out of her eyes.

"Shawn! Wake up baby please. Please shawn open your eyes. Mummy is here sweetie. Please Shawn!" She breaks down and holds his son tightly in her embrace.

"No lord! You can't... can't do this. no... NO!" Her wailing gets engulfed in the retreating sound of the car.

"Please wake up Shawn please. You can't leave your mom like this. I have no one except you Shawn. Don't do this. Please baby." She keeps on mumbling sitting all alone with her unconscious son in the silent alley.

"Mum... mummy." A meek whisper hits Shelley's ears like soothing music.

"Shawn! Baby!" Shelley showers kisses on the face of her son and takes him in her warm embrace. She is caressing his hands and legs, checking his bruises, when a paper peeps from his trouser's pocket. She tugs the paper out and with that comes out two flight tickets. With trembling hands, she reads the newspaper cut out words,

Leave the town tonight.

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The blazing light of the sun is at its peak. Fragrance of freshly baked cakes and candies are blending with the divine aura of Christmas in the living room. The sweet little family of the Blacks' are having a cozy time together, snuggling on the off-white couch and watching Christmas Carol.

Ding Dong!

"I think Shelley is back with her son." Elroy gets up and opens the door.

"Look, who has finally thought of blessing us with her face." Elroy's voice echoes lacing with sarcasm.

"Shut up you idiot! I'm a busy person. Now shoo! Let me meet my beautiful girls." A sharp female voice echoes in the room blending with the clickings of heels. A tall brunette with blonde highlights, pushes Elroy aside and enters the house. She blinds Iris' eyes from back with her manicured fingers as Iris touches the unknown person's fingers to identify her. A bright smile comes to Iris' lips as she utters, "Luna!". With that, the lady removes her palm letting Iris turn back. Luna's grey eyes twinkle as her rosy lips breaks into a wide smile.

"Gosh! Luna. You still love surprises." Iris embraces Luna in a warm hug as soon as Luna comes in front of the couch.

"Gosh! Iris. You still hate surprises." Mimicking Iris, Luna pulls away and picks Ciana up. "Hey cupcake! How are you?" Luna ruffles Ciana's black hair.

"Your cupcake is sweet and happy as always." Ciana kisses Luna's cheek.

Elroy brings Luna's suitcases and huffs.

"Hey, bro! Bring a glass of water for me." Luna looks at Elroy as she opens her dark red leather jacket revealing her black tee. But Elroy stands there, frowning at her.

"What?" Luna asks him as she frees her foot from her red stilettos.

"For god's sake Lu, I'm your elder brother. Not your slave." Elroy says looking frustrated.  

"Ya. Whatever." Shrugging her shoulders, she slouches her slender body on the couch in between Iris and Ciana.

"And I'm here to meet my bestie." She puts her arm around Iris and continues, "Not my idiot brother. Now move your lazy ass." Iris looks at Luna sternly mouthing her to shut herself from swearing in front of Ciana who is busy munching her chocolate. Elroy rolls his eyes and leaves for the kitchen while the girls start their bottled up gossips.

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Vibrant fairy lights are twinkling in the street enhancing the flavour of christmas as people enjoy their evening. Blending with the blackish blue sky, snow lands softly on the road while Elroy and Luna welcome their guests at the door. Ciana is running around and playing with some children and sitting on the couch, Iris is gorging cakes and pastries.

"Ew, Iris!" Surprised, Iris looks up and sees a disgusted Luna frowning.

"What?" Iris' words get mumbled as she swallows the delicious pastry.

"Stop ravishing these sweets. You'll get fat." Taking away the yummy foods, Luna gives her a glass of pomegranate juice. Iris rolls her eyes and starts gulping down the juice.

"Yay! Santa!" All the children sprints where a tall Santa Claus is standing with the red sac of gifts. While drinking the juice, Iris looks at the Santa Claus from the corner of her eyes and she chocks as her small eyes get wider.

Smash!

The glass containing half juice shatters as it hits the floor. The red juice splatters with the piercing glass pieces and Iris goes on coughing, holding her bump.

"Ri!" Elroy runs towards Iris while Luna rubs Iris' back. Ciana also makes her way towards her mother through the crowd gathering around Iris.

"Mommy! Drink this." Ciana gives Iris a small bottle of water which she always keeps in her white sling bag. As Iris takes the bottle, Ciana lets out a shriek shutting her eyes tightly, "Aaaa! Blood!" Luna quickly picks up a scared Ciana. "No cupcake. It's just the juice. It's not blood. See." Hearing that Ciana peeps at the red flowing liquid for few seconds and then gives a small smile murmuring, "Stupid Ciana! It's only juice."  

After drinking the water, Iris stops coughing. Elroy wipes the tears flowing from the corner of Iris' closed smokey eyes.

"Let's take her to the room." Luna holds Iris' hand tightly helping Iris to pull herself up from the couch, while Elroy holds her shoulders firmly. With small steps Iris reaches upstairs. But before entering her cozy den, she peers back and her icy blue eyes collide with a burning gaze of dark green eyes of the Santa Claus whose red lips smirk a little. 

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