All I Want For Christmas (Ella)

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December was one of Milan’s most favorite months of the year. Christmas and New Year tended to make up for all the unpleasant experiences during the months before those festivities. Not only that, but it was the time to get together with the people you loved and cared for. His family would come together at his parents’ house. Lots of food was prepared and gifts were exchanged. He got to catch up and to share all that he had gone through.

This year, however, was extra special. Ella had agreed to come and meet his parents. At first he had been afraid to ask, hence the reason his mom had taken it upon herself to invite the dorm monitor. The woman had given Photoshop a go, having created an invitation specially for Ella, and then had posted it to her son in an envelope. It was their way of letting their son’s girlfriend know she was more than welcome. Mrs. Myles figured it would make her feel less like a burden than when Milan would have reasoned with her. His nerves might have scared her off. Then again, the recruiter felt a bit ashamed upon seeing the invitation. It was a sweet gesture, but the pink writing had definitely been abundant. It was typical his mom though; she only meant well.

Pulling up the driveway of the Victorian house, Milan soon parked the truck next to his father’s. The engine was shut off and the key was removed from the ignition. Getting out of the vehicle, he moved to the other side and opened the door for Ella. Once out, one hand took hers and the other drifted up for his thumb to lovingly stroke her cheek. “You’ll be fine. They adore you already.” His smile pure comfort, and his heartbeat confident and steady. Perhaps those words weren’t necessary, but something told him they were. Happy son, happy parents.

After a brief embrace, the guy guided her to the front door. The bell was rung, and it merely took a few seconds before a weak ‘they are here!’ could be heard from the other side, followed by the sound of a woman running as fast as possibly to the door on high heels.

The door swung open. A mid-aged woman, bright smile on her face, short coupe of light brown locks, appearing in front of them. Milan barely had time to decently take her in though. Within seconds he found himself dragged in a hug “hey mom” – one that was over as fast as it started.

“And you must be Ella!” While the action and movements took place a tad bit slower, the brunette was soon engulfed in an hug as well. The second his mom let go, Milan shot her an apologetic look, along with mouthing one, before he settled a hand on her lower back to step into the house.

“You made it through the worst,” the man mused in an amused whisper.

[Ella Robbinson]

Christmas had once been a bitter time of year for the hemokinetic. Years of a younger form of her self waiting for the return of her father had cast a defined shadow over the holiday. A majority of that darkness was built on the idea of just how stupid and embarrassing it had been to wait for so long. How foolish she must have always looked to her adoptive mother; refusing gifts and ignoring pleasantries. Sticking near the door like glue to the wall. He'd be there. He had to be.

In her years, she'd done her best to ignore the fact. The yearly visit to her adoptive mother was something she didn't exactly look forward to, but she enjoyed it all the same. She loved her, and this year she would miss her, but Amelia Robbinson was all too thrilled at the idea of her daughter meeting someone's parents for the holidays instead.

It was growth. She was growing out of her shell and into someone a little more standardised.

That didn't mean it wasn't daunting to actually go through with it. Ella was quieter than usual, keeping her heart rate to the standard, especially when they finally stopped.

74 BPM. 74 BPM. 74 BPM.

Still, as she looked she found comfort in the smile he offered. His resting heart rate was exactly where it needed to be, so she could do the same. With purposeful steps, she followed his lead towards the door and she took a small, deep breath.

When a woman appeared, Ella lost Milan's hand briefly as he found himself engulfed in a hug. It was hard not to smile at the fact; both her enthusiasm and his reaction. But she knew exactly what was coming next, and as she found herself in a secondary hug, the air in her lungs left her on a small breath of a laugh. "I am," She offered as best she could, hands moving to smooth out the lines of her dress, "It's nice to meet you." Milan's mother. This was his mother.

"Glad you think so." She replied, her tone as low as his as she pressed her lips together.

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“Come on in. Quickly. It’s cold outside.” Luckily Milan didn’t allow them to be ushered into the warm hallway though. He wanted Ella to be able to adjust at her own pace, so when his mom took it upon herself to help smooth the coat off of his girlfriend’s arms, he intervened by placing a hand on the older woman’s shoulder. “Mom,” he shook his head with a slightly amused smirk decorating his lips. It was effective though. Mrs. Myles gave a combination of a sheepish and apologetic smile, and took the hint when her son nodded in the direction of the living room to have her give them some breathing space.

“I think she’s struggling to keep her excitement under control,” the recruiter hummed to Ella after having hung his coat on the hangers in the hallway. Soon he took hers as well, only to replace the emptiness it left in her hand with his. “You’re actually the first girl I am bringing home.” In turn, it meant a lot to both him and his family.

The typical squeeze of her hand. “Ready, beautiful?”

With the confirmation gained, the man lead the way into the living room. Other than his father, however, blue eyes soon fell on a second familiar face. “Grandma?” His initial reaction to double check, and his next existing out of shooting Ella yet another apologetic look. He truly had no clue she would be there as well. No matter how harmless that the old woman might look, her mouth had no brakes.

It was when his father stepped over, which immediately made it clear whom Milan had inherited most of his appearance from, that he felt himself relax again. A hand extended to the dorm monitor, knowing that an embrace might be too overwhelming at this point. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Ella. I’m glad we finally get to meet the girl our son won’t keep talking about.”

“What the heart thinks, the mouth speaks.” Mr. Myles’ mother eagerly walked over to them while sharing her wisdom with them. To no one’s surprise, her grandson was not her priority. Instead the old lady flashed Ella her fake-teethed smile before being less reluctant to share an embrace. “Welcome to the family, child.”

Milan sighed. He prayed to God Ella didn’t regret this decision yet. “Why don’t you give your favorite grandson a hug?” His attempt at giving Ella a new moment to gather herself. “You’re my only grandson,” the woman shot back with her typical laughter, only to do exactly what Milan had requested. During the hug, she whispered – or, at least, that was what is was in her head. In reality, her voice was barely lowered. “Don’t mess it up.”

After that, their personal bubbles seemed to be respected again, and Milan made use of that moment to secure themselves in a less approachable position: seated on a chair at the table.

“All good?” His blue eyes searching for hers.

[Ella Robbinson]

Unfamiliar hands collided with her form gently, coaxing the material from her shoulders before Ella had even made the move to really work her jacket off. The little interaction between mother and son was certainly interesting to watch, but she was thankful for the spare moment with him, Jacket lost, Ella took a moment to be so struck by the idea that he'd never brought someone home to meet his family.

She was meeting his family. Every time she remembered it, she struggled to stay at seventy-four.

"As I'll ever be." Ella replied. And so, she followed.

Approached by someone who looked like the older version of Milan himself, Ella glanced up and took the hand offered to her without delay. Interaction with strangers. She was so ready for that. "I'm glad I could make it." She reasoned. Several threats of panic attacks on her own almost made that impossible.

A mother. A father. A grandmother. Three times the people she had in her own corner, and yet he handled them so perfectly. They loved him so intently. Her eyes stayed attuned to him as he interacted - as she thought. Of anyone she'd ever met, he truly deserved such love.

Finally, Milan made his way back to her. Bright eyes searched her dark ones, and she offered a definite nod. "Not a problem." She replied. After all, she had a suspicion they were just getting started.

[Deleted]

Mr. Myles’ mother claimed the seat at the head of the table, even though that was normally the chair where his father would sit. Milan didn’t make a comment though. He just observed the glare exchanged, as well as the way his grandmother shrugged it off. If it were to get to a discussion, she would win, no matter what. And with it being Christmas, there was no point in venturing in that direction.

Seated, his hand went in search for hers again. His thumb effortlessly found the small cavity right below her wrist; the location where one of the biggest arteries was safely hiding against the bone. He hoped that lovingly smoothing over it would help her maintain a normal heartbeat.

“So, Ella, Milan told us you work at Hammel as well.” His mom stepped into the living room again, holding onto an oven plate with roast beef in it. It was more of a statement than a question, but the silence that followed probably hinted at her expecting some extra information.

“Did he tell you I met his grandfather there?” His grandma perked up and got some meat on her plate, even before her son managed to place the bowl with mashed potatoes and roasted vegetables down. In her mind, it was a logic addition to the current topic.

“A workaholic, just like that one next to you. The last I had expected was for him to find someone more important than his job. Usually he brings some paperwork here during Christmas.” The old lady was cutting away at the slice of meat while speaking to the brunette, eyes fixated on the plate.

Milan strained a groan at that. That made him sound so pathetic… If Ella did manage to look past that though, she should detect the positive influence their relationship had on him. “Thanks grandma…” He mumbled while offering Ella the bowl of mashed potatoes.

“Mashed potatoes?” The recruiter was trying to put himself in her shoes: she quite possibly was not overly eager to move around the table or to ask the rest of his family for the bowls. Hopefully, however, it would be different by the end of the evening.

[Ella Robbinson]

Finding her seat alongside Milan, Ella found herself somewhat invested in the minor exchanges his family made. Such things were so natural to them; things she'd never rightly experienced for as long as she could remember. It was worth investing in. As was the comfort she found in the way Milan's pulse radiated from his thumb to the pressure point at her wrist.

"I do," She replied. Though her job was hardly as important as Milan's, it was still something she'd held for years, "It pays well enough while I keep studying for a degree."

Turning her dark eyes towards his grandmother, she took in the question before looking to Milan. She'd never heard such a story. Then, she didn't know a great deal about his family as it was. One for later, she assumed.

The idea that Milan was a workaholic wasn't particularly new to her, and so she stayed silent through the little exchange. A thoughtful nod as he offered a bowl in her direction, which she took accordingly. But as she scooped some of the contents onto her plate, she felt the urge to speak, "I know Milan loves what he does." She replied, lightly. "He cares a great deal for the students he helps, and they clearly adore him for his devotion."

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“What are you studying for?” Milan’s father asked as he took a seat opposite to his son. As Ella would end up learning throughout the evening, he was the one who would focus on the more serious topics while her boyfriend’s grandmother would just hop from one topic to the next. Remarks about the past were hardly ever intended to develop into a flashback story; she simply liked to throw random information onto the table. It was the simplest explanation as to why Milan didn’t expand on it.

“We raised our son well.” Mrs. Myles decided with a gentle smile in Ella’s direction, clearly appreciative of the way she seemed to stand up for him. Perhaps her interpretation was off, but his girlfriend’s words were kind either way. “He has his heart in the right place.” This time the loving look was granted to the recruiter.

“Would you like some wine, Ella?” Mr. Myles being the one to speak up again now that he was standing up to be able to reach all glasses. Her blue eyes questionably resting on the dorm monitor.

“Oh right,” his mother suddenly seemed to realize something. “We weren’t sure if you two will be spending the night here or if the plans were to head back to Pilot Ridge.” While it had not been brought up, Milan had assumed they would stay over to unwrapped presents in the morning. He now realized it quite possibly had not been smart since his assumptions were off lately.

“Do you have a preference?” His eyes settled on Ella’s darker pair.

[Ella Robbinson]

"Education." Ella replied easily, "So I can switch jobs in the school when I'm older."

It was true, without a doubt. She offered a light nod to the idea that Milan's heart was in the right place when it came to how he worked. It was why the idea that he was stepping away a little for her was so difficult.

With a raise of her hand, she shook her head once. Though partial to a drink or two from time to time, a completely clear mind felt incredibly necessary when it came to meeting someone's family.

The idea of staying crossed the conversation, and immediately she felt familiar eyes land on her. Ella glanced towards the recruiter, his question hitting her ears and receiving a light shrug. "I don't mind either way."

[Deleted]

“Oh. Any subject you are interested in in particular?” With her having declined the offer of wine, the man finished asking the others and then took a seat again.

At least the conversations seemed to be somewhat attuned to one another. Of course Milan had made sure to give his parents some ‘directions’. The last he wanted was for Ella to get buried under a pile of questions.

“We got you a present as well,” Mrs. Myles yipped with the brightest of smiles. It got Milan to look over at her for a second, chuckling some. “We can stay then.” He confirmed with a nod before retrieving his hand in order to be able to use both his fork and knife.

The topics that followed seemed to be lighthearted: Ella’s interests, and his mom checking a million times if she didn’t need more food and if it was good. His grandma making remarks about the most random things ever. Sadly, however, it did not stay at that.

“So, are you excited about New Year? Do you have any plans?”

Milan tensed and he tried to shake his head as subtly as possible. That, no, they should not ask. His mom appeared to be blind to that though, gently smiling at Ella. She knew her son had made plans; this was a subtle way of checking if the girl had been informed yet.

[Ella Robbinson]

"I was thinking of looking into being a trainer." Ella admitted, lightly. Though there were a myriad of reasons for the choice, she decided to stick with the easiest one, "I have a unique ability. It took a long time to get used to it." Feeling the life force of every individual in the room. How the rhythms interlocked and muddled themselves together. "I'd like to be a person that can help people in the same position I was in." Distant as it was, it still appeared as a dream.

At the admittance that Ella was receiving a gift from the family she barely knew, she couldn't help the simple smile she wore. "You didn't have to." She replied, almost immediately. And soon after she wondered if that could be seen in a negative way. "But thank you." She tacked on, intent on clearing any ill feelings away.

As the conversation flowed, the hemokinetic found herself more and more comfortable at the table. More willing to speak about herself despite the potential awkwardness. Things were going well.

Until such a question struck her ears. She was thankful for the fact that her eyes were still at the plate in front of her, to the remnants of her dinner she was still finishing. Swallowing quickly, she shook her head. "No, we don't have plans." She replied deftly, cool with her response to the strangely timed question.

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“Being a trainer is a very noble profession,” Milan’s father agreed with a reassuring nod – his smile very similar to the one his son usually sported. “Your ability is hemokinesis, correct?” If he remembered it correctly, that was the one Milan had spoken about when his parents had asked how he had met the woman. It did not sound like an easy one, at all. Mr. Myles know his own had been tough to handle at first as well, but he could tell Ella dealt well with the difficulty.

The easy and comfort that had flowed over the table slipped from Milan’s fingers as the question was brought up. It didn’t surprise him too much. His mother just happened to be one of the most curious persons around. The fact that her son had not provided any information yet had possibly led to this situation.

When Ella answered, however, relief returned… and then faded just as fast as it had popped up at the surface again.

“No plans?” His grandmother asked with her mouth not fully empty yet, clearly deeming it necessary to find out why this was the contrary of what her daughter-in-law had mentioned earlier that day. Had it been a lie? “I thought you were taken her to Paris?” Eyes on Milan before they immediately shot over to Mrs. Myles. “Didn’t you tell me they were going to Paris? That he showed you the plane tickets on Skype?” Her confusion genuine, just as much as her obliviousness.

Milan’s hand, ever since the second this started, was subtly trying to move to the left and the right at his throat in a wordless attempt to make everyone shut up. It was his dad who caught on first, deeply frowning, but nevertheless taking it in his hands to break it up. “Mom, have you taken your blood pressure and memory medication yet?”

“I don’t take memo-“ Apparently she hadn’t, and so Mrs. Myles received a certain look from her husband. “Oh,” she nodded quickly. “Come on, we’ll go grab them.” And with her ushering the older lady into the kitchen, the man looked at the pair.

“Anyone wants more wine?”

Milan's hand slowly rose. The bottle being emptied in his glass.

"I should check the fridge in the garage for more wine," his father decided, intentionally, before excusing himself.

[Ella Robbinson]

Ella provided a small nod to the name of her power. While she harboured no ill feelings to the fact that they knew what it was, it wasn't a conversation she ever entered lightly. The title of it said it all; people could use their imaginations in regards to its extent.

There was an abrupt stall to the evening itself as revelations hit the air by way of Milan's grandmother. The look on Ella's face had to be a curious mix, the most prominent emotion resembling genuine surprise. Clearly, she had no idea. And everything that filtered from that look was at her discretion. She felt the steady climb of her heartbeat, and she shifted her attention towards it.

What happened next was an inevitable whirl, and again she declined a drink with a simple smile and a wave of her hand.

But now that they were alone, she had nothing to say. Lips remained sealed in a tight line, hands folded in her lap. Dark eyes colliding with the empty plate in front of her.

[Deleted]

Both elbows leaned on the table as Milan buried his face in his hands for a second, rubbing. Then one hand formed a fist and the other cupped around it, placing it against his mouth for the briefest of moments, gathering his thoughts before he turned his head to look at Ella.

“Well then… That was awkward.” The recruiter stated with a weak nervous chuckle. It was nothing to laugh about though, but he couldn’t help to try and lighten the situation some. He had never had the intention to bring his plans up, simply because it would not have been fair towards the woman to place that choice on her shoulders. Her decision to go to New York had been clear; he didn’t want to ruin that.

Sitting back on the chair, the man heaved a small sigh. “Don’t worry about it, okay?” Blue drifting to find brown while a hand searched for hers in her lap. “I’ll just say something went wrong with those tickets.” The last thing Milan wanted was for his parents to start asking questions. It would be a white lie – one of the so many they had bought from him during the last couple of years.

[Ella Robbinson]

Ella exhaled at the idea that it was awkward. That felt like one of the largest understatements she'd ever heard. Her thumb ran the length of her hand instinctively, keeping herself moving. Giving her something else to focus on as opposed to the proverbial storm laying waste to her emotional composure.

She didn't look as he continued. Still, she sat up straighter, evening out her shoulders with a small breath in. Everything he offered worked to back-pedal over the fact.

"We can talk about it later." Ella replied, lightly as she could despite the strain in her tone. It was hardly a conversation she'd want to have interrupted in any members of his family. Now that they were staying there for the night, she was almost certain they'd have some time to be alone and handle things however they progressed.

[Deleted]

Just when things had started to go better again, he felt like his family messed it all up. Milan had never had the intention to bring this up, and had hoped that the people present in the house would have been on the same page. That was where he had been wrong - clearly. The reason for not having mentioned it was because he didn’t want to talk about it.

Nevertheless, a small nod was given and his hand gave hers a squeeze before retrieving it. Then he pushed his chair back and gathered the filthy plates. Dessert would arrive soon enough, he was certain, and it would only be nice to make sure his mom didn’t have to move back and forth a million times to get everything off of the table.

“Have you ever seen photos of Milan as a child?” As if nothing had happened, his grandmother stepped into the living room again. She didn’t wait for an answer though, but immediately moved to a collection of books on a drawer from which she picked a photo book.

Any protest from the recruiter was to no avail, and the older woman even sat down on his chair next to the hemokinesis. “Chubby little one, he was.” And immediately opened it up for Ella to see.