The Beginning of the End

Why is eveyone surprised?

Vanya walked into her childhood home. It was quiet, just as it always was when she was a child, though this time, there was the faintest sound of a saxophone coming from upstairs. It cut off abruptly though, and there was high-pitched giggling and footsteps followed by a door slamming shut. Vanya stood and watched as two white-haired toddlers came running down the stairs, and James came running after them, just as they were about to run into Vanya, they stopped and began floating back to where their father was now standing. "Vanya?" James asked, staring at his sister, "Is that you?"

The smaller woman stood, nodding, "James? You have kids?" She asked in response, although James didn't get a chance to say anything in response, as Allison came down the stairs next and stood next to her brother. "Vanya?" She questioned, "You're actually here?" Vanya swallowed, and looked her sister up and down, "Hey, Allison." Allison stepped down from where she was standing. "Hey, sis." She said, walkin over to her sister. James quietly walked down the stairs and into the other room, his mother sat next to the fire, and he sat in the chair across from her. Diego looked up at him, from where he was standing and raised an eyebrow at the two kids climbing onto his mother's lap. "You brought your kids?" He asked, moving to stand near his mother and brother. "I did, don't have anyone to leave them with. Still don't know who their mom is, but thankfully they haven't asked yet. They're almost three as well. Their birthday is in eight days."

Diego nodded and ruffled the twin's hair before turning and walking out of the room. "Mom, would you be okay to watch them for a bit? I need to put my sax away real quick." Grace looked up from the children and smiled, "Of course dear. They'll be just fine, take as long as you need." James thanked her and headed back up the stairs. He pushed his door open, and let it shut behind him as he sat on the bed. He looked around his room, his old drawings stuck to the wall, and his numerous sketchbooks and notebooks still littered the desk and floor. Before getting to lost in his thoughts, he bent down and carefully took apart his instrument. It was a custom one, a gift from Allison and Diego for his birthday one year. It was a beautiful black and gold alto sax, a Lilly flower, and his initials were carved onto the bell of the instrument.

"James! James! You should open this one! It's from Diego and I, we wanted to get you something we knew you would like." Allison stood in front of him, with a box. Nothing was written on the outside, other than his name. James looked up at his brother and sister, before opening up the box with one of his earlier gifts, a pocket knife with his initials on it. He opened the top of it and saw a black case with a gold handle and gold accents. James set the case in his lap and opened the lid, inside sat a new alto saxophone, the body was black and all the valves and keys were gold. The inside of the case was lined with black velvet, and had a new box of reeds in one of the pockets, the other holding the mouthpiece to the instrument. "Oh my gosh. You guys didn't have to do this. I can't even imagine how much this must have cost you guys. It's beautiful." James smiled, and set it next to him, the rest of his siblings asking for him to play it for them once they all finished exchanging presents with each other.

Some of his music books lined the shelves around his desk. Other regular books are in stacks on the floor near his bookshelf. He noticed a few of the books still have bookmarks or sticky notes sticking out of the top of the sides of them. Books he never finished before leaving the manor. He had some pictures set on the shelves or hanging from the wall as well. One was of him and Vanya after a music competition, another was one that Deigo had taken of him and Klaus covered in flour, with mom smiling in the background. There were a few other ones as well, but James decided not to look at them, instead, looking at the clock. He sighed when he saw it was nap time for the twins, mentally deciding if it would be better to have them eat now or after the nap.

Thankfully he wouldn't have to make the decision, because it was already made for him. As he walked into the kitchen, he saw his kids sitting eating sandwiches, his mother made. "Hi, guys? Are you enjoying your food?" He asked, sitting next to them. "Mhm, but I'm sleepy daddy." Leighton nodded in agreement with his sister. "Okay, well then finish eating and you guys can go nap." The twins nodded and finished eating, they put their plates in the sink, and they followed their dad up the stairs and into their temporary room. Both of the twins climbed onto the bed and coved themselves up with their blankets. "Sleep well okay? I'll come to wake you guys up in a little bit." The twins nodded and closed their eyes, James flicked the light off and walked down the hall and into his father's office. There was some muttering and shuffling on the other side of the desk, and James walked over to see what it was. "Klaus?" He called, upon seeing messy black hair, and a furry black coat he distinctly remembers being his. Klaus jumped and hit his head on the desk before standing up.