Silent Night (Kiara)

[Fabian Castillo]

(((Thread takes place at 12/24/13)))

Being back home was nice and all. The food was delicious, the company was nice and the overall atmosphere was fantastic. His parents- well, his mom and stepfather was thrilled to have him back home. His stepfather was more of a father to him than what his own had ever been, and he often caught himself in seeing his stepfather as his dad. Most other people did too, usually because Fabian introduced the man as his father, or didn't say anything when people assumed he was. Either way, Fabian was glad he had decided to come home for Christmas and nothing could ruin this trip.

Or so he thought anyways.

His mother had forced him into wearing the ugliest Christmas sweater Fabian had ever seen. It was something she had made herself, and that was okay enough, hadn't it been green, red with reindeer and what not. It was something only kids who got bullied and old men wore. Yet, here she was, forcing it on her eldest son like it was the most normal thing in the world. When he tried complaining, she simply told him to stop being silly and that he looked good in it. As if. And as if that wasn't bad enough, his mother dragged him around the block, delivering cookies with her, as if he was ten years old again.

It wasn't until they reached a certain blonde's house that Fabian started feeling self-conscious and the less pleased scowl started growing on his face. It wasn't just any blonde either, it was the blonde. The one and only Bee, the girl he had grown up and might or might not have had a crush on way back when. Not that it mattered anymore (cough!) or anything, it just.. Ugh. He had just gotten back in touch with her and now he had to go to her house, deliver cookies looking like something that came out of a reindeer's ass? Great. Just great.

Without hesitation and a huge grin plastered on her face, Fabian's mother rang the doorbell and turned to face her son. ''Try smiling a little, Fabian. It's the holidays! You're supposed to look gleeful, not like your dog just died.'', she said with a sigh before pinching his cheek.

Yep. This was totally not Fabian's day. At all.

[Deleted]

Celebrating Christmas had sort of lost its special glow since last year. Kiara had not been too fond about accepting her parents’ pleas to come and spend it at home, but being there now, she no longer regretted it. It kind of did feel weird to sleep in her childhood room again and to walk around the house while all the memories snuck up on her. The smell of her mom cooking dinner and her dad acting all ridiculous, trying to get her curious about what might be in the presents under the Christmas tree. They had even waited with decorating the tree for their daughter to return home, knowing just how much she loved putting every single ornament in place. At least she didn’t get a choice about it, and hanging up all the pretty things had stirred some of the Christmas spirit again.

Enough for Kiara to want to bake some cookies. Of course her father highly encouraged this. Now that his children were old enough to know Santa Claus did not exist, he missed the plate of cookies that got placed down near the tree at night. So, after a quick refreshing shower, the blonde tugged on her most comfortable outfit and skipped downstairs. Earlier that day she had been going through old letters and other boxes that had been filled with items that had great memories attached to them. All of that still laid spread on her bed, but she would deal with that later on.

Her mom had quickly run to the neighbors for she had forgotten something in the store, and Kiara knew this would mean she would be gone for at least half an hour. In turn that left the girl in charge for the cookies AND dinner. Not that it was something she couldn’t handle, but it was rather inconvenient when someone ended up in front of the door as well. “Dad?” She called, hoping he was somewhere around, but he was most probably in the basement or somewhere in the shed.

Receiving no reply, Kiara gave a little grumble and stepped over to the door. In the meanwhile she also readjusted the cardigan on both shoulders, seeing it had the tendency of slipping off. In the privacy of the house, she had no problems with her current outfit, but she rather didn’t open the door like this. Especially not when she peeked through the peeking hole, spotting two familiar faces. Ki could live with the woman seeing her like this, but Fabian’s presence made her highly uncomfortable.

Nevertheless, Kiara didn’t have a lot of choice and ended up opening the door, sort of trying to hide herself behind it much as possible. “Good after noon, Mrs. Falch.” Eyes then drifted to her older son. “Fabian.” With a smile on her face, she focused on the woman again. “I see you made one of your famous sweaters. It is beautiful.” For a second she wanted to jokingly add that the guy modeling it didn’t do it any justice, but perhaps that would have been out of place.

“I still have my old ones.” Ki sweetly added.

(((Outfit: What you can get from this ^^)))

[Fabian Castillo]

This sweater... One word to describe it? Even Fabian didn't know of a word that was ugly enough. He hated the sweater. He hated wearing it. It was the same every year he decided to come home. He had to wear one of these ugly things and his mom loved showing him off while wearing it. Fabian could feel his sense for fashion throw a fit and scream, telling him to get rid of it and burn it. Hence the scowl; He really didn't like parading around wearing this thing. At all. He'd rather run around naked. That would surely make him seem less of a momma's boy.

And it didn't exactly make it any better that Kiara was the one opening the door.

''Oh, Kiara! You're home too? What a nice surprise!'', Fabian's mom said, cheerful as ever. It was easy to see that his mother's opinion about the blonde clearly was biased. If it had been up to her, Fabian and Kiara would have gotten married and already had a bunch of kids. ''Fabian, be a good boy and say hello to the young lady! OH! That reminds me! You should come over later, dear. We would love to have you over for dinner. You should bring your parents too! It would be like old times. Isn't that right?'', she rambled on, not really giving any of them much chance to reply. ''Oh yes, yes. The sweater. I heard you were coming back, your mother told me! So I made one for you too, but I seem to have forgotten it back home...''

The endless ramble of words and compliments almost made Fabian feel sick. It was too sweet for his taste, and especially coming from his own mother... It was awkward, to say the least. ''Here, dear, why don't you hold these while I run home and get the sweater!'', she added in and handed Fabian the plate filled with cookies and what not. ''But..'', but it was too late, she was already running down the sidewalk. Rubbing the back of his neck, Fabian turned to look at Kiara, smiling apologetic. ''Sorry about that. She get's s little.. Energic.''

[Deleted]

Kiara knew that the Castillo-Falch family was aware of her being home for the holidays. Nevertheless, she didn’t pop that bubble and just smiled at his mom as she began to boss Fabian around. In turn that made her grin expanded and she had to try to keep it under control as Mrs. Falch turned her attention back to the blonde. “Oh. Um, I will have to check that with my parents. They might have plans.” Shifting a bit, mainly because it felt rude to hide behind a door while the woman rambled on, Ki felt a cold draught rush past bare legs. Her parents were probably going to stay in for the night, but she kind of wanted to maintain the option of declining the offer. It would have been easier to turn down had Fabian been the one to suggest it though. She didn’t want to disappoint his mother.

An amused look continued to decorate Kiara’s face, obviously enjoying the one-sided chatter. Only when the woman shoved the cookies into Fabian’s hands did she try and interrupt. “You don’t h-“ Before she was able to finish that sentence, the older one was already running down the sidewalk. “Be careful, Mrs. Falch!” The blonde called behind her with a hand raised in the air, almost as if to make it obvious she was the one shouting out the warning. Eventually that slowly lowered itself again and Ki once more readjusted the cardigan for it to pretty much cover the entire outfit underneath. Arms folded against her chest as toes curled on the cold floor of the entrance hall.

“I like your mom”, the college student decided upon looking up at Fabian. Should she invite him in? Standing there might be kind of weird. For now, however, she did opt for the latter option. With his mom gone, she also dared to make a remark on the sweater. Kiara really did like them though. She judged them to be cute and made with love, and her words were only meant to bother the guy since she knew he disliked them. “This sweater really flatters you by the way. It does you justice.”

Tucking a blonde curls, that had escaped from the messy bun, behind her ear, Ki let her gaze fall to the next best topic. “Cookies? Like she used to make them?”

[Fabian Castillo]

Fabian's mother was an energic woman, there was nothing Fabian could ever say that could change that. She was very sweet, caring and giving. Which Fabian clearly hadn't inherited. He and his mother was so different it was hard to see that they were related. It also helped a lot that Fabian looked more like his dad than what he did his mother. His mother had golden hair, brown eyes and she was quite the tiny woman. Fabian on the other hand was towering over the petite woman, often leaving the questions as to whether he was adopted or not.

But at least she knew how to make things awkward, even if she did it with every good intention; Such as now. She had left the two of them standing here like idiots, Fabian for the first time in his life feeling upright uncomfortable in the blonde's presence. He didn't know what to say or what to do. Her statement about his mom was met with a nod and a slightly awkward smile. ''Yeah, she's... She's certainly unique.'', he then said and shook his head. Well then, what now? Fabian turned to look at the girl again, feeling stupid for standing here like this, wearing this incredible ugly sweater, which Kiara of course had to make a comment on. ''Ha-ha, oh you think you're so funny. Just wait until she forces you to wear one.''

Fabian's eyes followed hers to the plate filled with cookies and he nodded. ''Yeah.'' She made the same damn cookies every year. It was a wonder no one had gotten sick of them yet. ''Well, uh. Here.'', he said, a little more awkwardly than intended as he handed her the plate. They were for her and her family after all. ''So..'' Fabian rubbed the back of his neck. This was so not his day. He felt uncomfortable, awkward and shy all at the same time, which was incredible strange. He had no idea why either. ''What's up?''

...dude. That is so lame.

[Deleted]

Kiara remember that back when they were younger, she always planned to head over to Fabian’s house the second her own mother was having a bad day. For some reason, his always seemed to make her feel better. Not that it occurred more than in any normal family though, but it definitely helped whenever she wanted to get out of the house. She also tended to get away with more than Fabian ever did. Would it still be the same now? Ki was not too sure if she wanted to find out though. That would mean she would probably have to tag along to dinner with her parents, accepting the invitation given by Mrs. Falch. While it might be nice to be around his family again, she rather did not aid awkwardness. The same feeling that seemed to be settling down now, but at least her attempt at a joke broke through it… for a second.

“I will wear it with pride and will make it look even more beautiful than it is already.” The girl decided while attempting to keep a wide grin from creeping onto her lips. See, that was why his mom loved her. Even while it were not the most flattering sweaters around, Kiara did bury them under compliments and did not go sulking around like Fabian did. She knew how to play the game. After that some silence seemed to settle in again and the cookies were a nice distraction, if only had he made more use of that. When he handed them over, Ki just had arms hug around the plate, horizontally holding it against her stomach. “Um, making cookies as well.” One hand left the plate as it now gestured a thumb over her shoulder. Maybe…

“Do… you want to come inside?” The blonde took a small step back, letting him if he wanted though. She had no idea how long his mom might take, so. And her feet and legs were starting to get cold. “Unless you want to continue showing off your fashionable sweater.” A little smile crept on her lips again, unable to help the remark. Anyhow, when Fabian did step inside, Ki was quick to close the door and to move to the kitchen afterwards. He probably would follow. This way she could keep her eye on the food again, and place the plate down.

[Fabian Castillo]

Fabian didn't doubt that his mother was still as fond of the blonde as she always had been. And maybe the boy should have felt bad about his mother being so fond over someone that disliked him this much, and especially since she let the blonde off easier than what she did with him, but truth be told, it sort of made him happy. He wasn't quite sure why or how, but still, thinking back at it, he couldn't help but to smile. And looking at how flustered his mother still acted around the girl... Well, it was nice. Kiara really deserved it. And as much as he wanted to deny it, he couldn't even imagine his mother doing the same thing around another girl. Not like that anyways. It just... Seemed wrong.

Fabian's expression softened for a split second when she mentioned making the sweater looking more beautiful by her wearing it. He had to agree, and he didn't doubt it. At all. ''I think so too.'', he said silently before looking away. Fabian had completely forgotten how the blonde so easily got to him. Even if years had passed, she still had the same effect on him. He wasn't sure whether or not that was a good thing, but the cookie distraction was welcomed. ''Oh yeah? I didn't know you could bake.'' Then again, he didn't know a whole lot about her anymore.

He was genuinely surprised at her offer and at first, he simply stood there, watching her as his eyes filled with uncertainty. He had to admit, he wasn't sure whether or not she meant it as a joke, but in the end, when he finally managed to press forth a nod, he stepped inside. He followed her towards the kitchen, still remaining silent, feeling for the first time a little self-conscious.

Fabian leaned against the counter and rubbed the back of his neck. ''So, uh. You glad you came back home, or would you rather have stayed back in Pilot Ridge?''

[Deleted]

Kiara had not anticipated on getting a compliment in any way. His confirmation of her making the sweater more beautiful by wearing it came unexpected and she didn’t really acknowledge it other than the smallest of smiles that appeared on her lips. Fabian had said it silently and he clearly was not as comfortable about it as she had seen him be around other girls. Questions could be asked and there was also the option to call him out on it, but Ki refrained and instead brought up the cookies. With a tiny smirk, she shifted weight onto her other leg. “I’m no longer that helpless little girl that I used to be.” Not having had someone to fall on at Hammel (other than Ev), she had to develop some skills.

Once inside the kitchen, the plate for placed down and she peeled off the plastic layer on top. Soon a cookie was in her hand and teeth bit off a small piece. Yes, still as delicious as ever. With the question aimed at her, Ki brought up a hand to cover her mouth as her tongue checked if nothing was between the front teeth. “Um, it’s good to be home again.” She decided with a little nod while placing the bitten cookie down. “I probably wouldn’t have known what to do in Pilot Ridge anyway.” Other than sulk and think back on Christmas from the year before.

Lips parted to add something, but that was when footsteps could be heard in the hallway and soon her father stepped into the kitchen as well, quite probably to refill the empty glass in his hands. The man was already mumbling something inaudible, expecting to spot his wife in the kitchen, but instead his gaze fell upon Fabian.

“Who do we have here. This has been a while.” He briefly looked at his daughter who gave a soft smile to indicate it was alright, so hopefully her dad wouldn’t be too hard on the guy. “Are you here to apologize?” Or not.