FALLEN FROM GRACE ⍋ Regulus & Sirius Black

- Chapter 59 -

A WHITE CHRISTMAS,
Grace's POV.
A Short Chapter...
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I had been awake since three in the morning and it wasn't because Santa was coming or excitement for Christmas Day as it should be...as it used to be when I was younger.

I couldn't sleep due to the nightmares that didn't plan to stop just because of the holidays.

Instead, I crept into the living room so not to disturb Ellie who was snoring in the bed beside me and I curled up on the sofa. Ringo, our cat, and I staring out the garden door watching the snow begin to grow thicker and thicker throughout the night.

The whiteness of the ground reflecting an orange hue to the sky. Making even being awake feel like a dream. A sense of surrealism painted by the snow, filtering the reality around me.

Only a mere three hours of solitude, and I could hear the creaky floorboards of our shared bedroom sound.

Ellie had gotten out of bed, the second it turned six. Her childlike joy still existing within her and this house. I knew she no longer believed in Santa, at the age of twelve, though she kept up the act for Nana, but even so...there was still that childlike enthusiasm.

"Oh my god, it's snowed!" You could suddenly hear her shouting. If Nana wasn't awake already, she now had to be. I imagined Ellie violently pulling apart the curtains, the metal curtain rail scratching, and gasping at the sight before her.

I smiled.

I hated the snow, but Ellie loved it. For her I was glad the empty plant pots were now looking like giant cupcake cups for snow cones.  It was settling thicker than the weather man had predicted.

"Grace? Nana?" Ellie shouted with the sound of glee in her voice. A shrill excitement and an obvious jump in her step, as the sound of her moving now sounded in thumps.

"In the living room." I attempted to shout back, but all that came out was a muffled sound covered by a yawn.

Merely five minutes later (after hearing Nana be dragged out of bed) the sound of feet came running into the living room.

Nana, wrapped up in her dressing gown and her sleeping mask still on her head, looked as tired as I felt.

Ellie, on the other hand practically jumped up and down at the pile of mixed presents under the tree, which I had been tempted with for a few hours.

"Merry Christmas!" She shouted, her arms out. I made a space for her on the sofa, expecting to be enveloped into a hug but instead she went straight towards Ringo and picked him up. Swinging the poor cat around, despite how he attempted to wiggle out of her arms.

Nana came over and gave me a small kiss on the top of my head.

"Did you get any sleep, sweetheart?" She asked, a small smile on her face out of concealed concern.

I nodded. I had. Though only a few hours.

"Good." She nodded and then loudly clapped her hands, shaking herself awake. Or shivering, I couldn't tell.
"Grace pop the heating on, love and Ellie you go run and sort the kettle out."

We both did as we were told as Nana started turning on every lamp in the room and flickering on the Christmas lights outside. The rainbow bulbs adding colour to the white backdrop of snow.

And with the flick of a switch, turning on the Christmas tree lights, Nana's smile also lit up the room.

"Go on then girls, get stuck in." She said, stepping aside and taking a seat. Already smugly looking proud of herself and her efforts.

One by one and taking it in turns, Ellie and I hunted underneath the tree for patterned gifts marked in sharpied names. Both making guesses before opening. A game of all of ours, guessing by shape and sound.

"It doesn't make a sound!" Ellie said frowning, holding the most standard and classic box shaped present.
"How am I supposed to guess this...Grace you take your turn whilst I'm working it out."

I rummaged under the tree, first pulling out a gift for Ellie and then finding one for me.

Soft.

Bumpy.

The paper threatening to be poked through, by my fingers.

"A jumper?" I said before ripping the present open.
"A jumper." I correctly guessed. A smile on my face and loving the material in my hands.

"I thought that red would look quite nice on you. Give it a try!" Nana said. Already expecting a fashion show.

"Shoes! A pair of shoes!" Ellie suddenly guessed, interrupting with excitement.