wild ↣ p. lahote

xxvi. torna a casa

NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER PASSED QUICKLY. Aurora split her time between Forks and the rez, all the while growing more and more close to the Quileute wolves.

They really were starting to become her second family, much more so than the Cullens or any of her other friends ever were. Even though Aurora had only known them for a few months, they felt like they'd been in her life for years. Sam was like her big brother who annoyed the shit out of her but was always there for her. Jared was her twin who bickered and bickered with her but who she grew close to. Jake, thought he was still new to the pack, fit right in and became like Aurora's brother. And Emily— she was just as much Aurora's older sister as she ever had been.

And Paul.

Paul was... something different. Aurora didn't know what it was, but there was something about him that she hadn't encountered in anyone ever before. At first she thought it was just a small crush, but overtime something deeper bloomed within. Paul had grown deeply important to her— more important than the Cullens.

Speaking of whom, the Cullens had seriously dropped off the face of the earth. No emails. No calls. No texts. Nothing. Not a single peep that showed they were alive and well and hadn't had wooden stakes shoved through their hearts. Not that it really mattered, though. They were in her past now. Like Emmett had said— it was like she hadn't ever met them. But still.. some closure would've been nice.

Aurora woke up from her nap to a snowy late afternoon on Christmas Eve. She still hadn't gotten used to the snow or the cold. But she loved it. The way the snow fell so softly and coated everything in a white blanket was just beautiful. And the cold.. well, that wasn't as fun, but it was nice to have hot chocolates.

Which was exactly what Aurora was going to make for herself that afternoon. Rolling out of bed and making her way down to the kitchen, Aurora sleepily started making her hot cocoa before she realized how quiet the house was. Parker was already gone, off to see Christmas lights or something with David. They had a whole evening planned, none of which involved Aurora. It was okay, though. She'd spent the morning with Parker and would spend all day tomorrow with her. She was alright being alone for one night.

Aurora hadn't yet asked any of her friends if they were doing anything this eve. She didn't want to be alone but she also didn't want to intrude on her friends and their families. It was alright. She could watch a Christmas movie or something.

Aurora finished up making her hot cocoa and made her way into the living room, settling down for a movie. She turned on the TV and flipped through the Christmas movies, watching title by title go by until she froze on one.

Home Alone.

Aurora took a deep breath and swallowed the lump that formed in her throat. Her eyes started to burn with tears and she quickly tried to blink them away. But it was to no avail.

Memories flooded Aurora like a tidal wave, overwhelming her. She saw herself, every Christmas Eve, watching Home Alone with her parents on their living room couch. She saw herself, every Christmas Eve, eating the cookies she'd baked with her mom while her dad read her Christmas stories. She saw herself with her parents, being with them and held by them and loved by them. Aurora curled deeper into a fetal position on the couch, feeling her tears stream down her face as she suddenly was hit by all of the pain and all of the grief hiding within her. It had been months since her parents had died and only now was she crying. Only now was she registering that they were really, truly gone. They had always been gone before on business trips and company dinners. For months at a time. But this was the first time that they were really... gone. Forever.

Aurora's vision clouded over as tears streamed out of her without stopping. She saw her dad waking up early to put on a Santa costume and set out the presents. She saw her mom on a Sunday, cooking a warm platter of French toast for the three of them. She saw herself in a warm home with loving parents and not a care in the world.