For My Beloved

ii

LOVING THEM

He stepped into the pitch-black building and shut the door behind him. The thick curtains at each window successfully blocked the illuminations from the moon, keeping the house in darkness. And for a second, Axel thought of keeping it that way. To just pull his hood over his head, slide his back down the mahogany door and allow the darkness to wash him, and fill him, and become him. But he knew he had to switch on the lights - for them.

He found the switch subconsciously and flicked it up. Yellow lights exploded from ceilings throughout the house, showing off fresh walls and dusty clean tiles, unused carpets and stained counters. But no furniture. Axel sighed. He walked through the living room and pushed off his hood, releasing his thin black hair, as he trudged into the kitchen.

He flipped another switch, revealing the kitchen and its empty sink and cupboards. Axel pulled open the fridge, more light catching his eye, and took out the only thing in it, a bottle of vodka.

"Hey, put that away." Axel turned, meeting the hard eyes of a tall bearded man staring down at him. Then the man smiled. "Seriously Axel, you're going to have to start buying your own and stop stealing mine," he said, a white smile slipping its way between his words as he grabbed the bottle from him and placed it on the counter.

Axel smiled back. "Dad?"

Another voice cut them off. "Boys, I could really use some help in here."

The man just smiled and wrapped his arm around Axel's shoulder. "Let's go help your mother."

He pulled him into the living room, white pepper lights streaming the edge of the ceiling, the fireplace burning brightly with full stockings adorning it and a tall, bare Christmas tree standing beside the couch. "Wow," said Axel's father.

"Thanks, honey. Now grab that box over there for me?" Axel's eyes found her. Sitting on the couch, her black hair wrapped in a bun, her soft skin glowing as it usually did when the season's air hit her. He bit back a smile.

The man shrugged. "I don't know, you're doing such a great job without me, maybe I should just-"

"Alexander, get your ass over here," she demanded. The man let out a sigh. "You don't want to spend Christmas with my mother? This is what you get." He groaned and walked over to her, but not before he turned around and mouthed a quick 'Never get married' to Axel. They both chuckled.

"What did you just say to him?" Axel's mother asked, standing up from the ground, a hand on her hip and a pen in her hair.

Her husband smiled and outstretched his arms, "Nothing, babe." He wrapped his arm around her and gave her a peck on the cheek.

She narrowed her eyes at him. "I'll let that slide this time, Mr. Pattinson," she enunciated their shared last name with purpose.

A brief shocked look shadowed Axel's father's face and his eyes widened before he stepped back, straightened his posture and bowed his head respectfully. "Your mercy is much appreciated, your majesty," he said.

She slapped him on the back. "Oh get up, Alex," she said, giggling.

"Mom, you really went all out this year," Axel said, admiring the colour-changing lights decorating the ceiling and door jams.

"Thanks Axel. I really wanted to make this year special for us," she said humbly, watching her handiwork.

"And you did," came her husband, kissing her on the cheek again.

She smiled up at him. "Thank you." She leaned up and pecked him on the lips. "I still need help with those boxes, though," she said sweetly.

Axel could watch them forever. Smiling, laughing, kissing, joking, because despite what his father said, he was going to get married just like him. To have a wife as nice as he does, and a marriage as golden as theirs with a life as rich and pure.