The Wolf Among Us (Septiplier) [hiatus]

Chapter Twenty

A week later and it was Christmas. Seán had gone off back to Ireland to stay with his family up until a little after New Year's Day passed, and Mark had gone back to his childhood home in Ohio to spend time with his family. He'd already been there for two days, reclaiming his old room as his own, although they hadn't really changed that fact when he'd left.

Mark was currently laying in his bed, as dead as a doornail--that is, until a sudden screeching snapped him out of his slumber, causing his eyes to slowly open. Heavy weight stomped on his body, his breath being pushed out in one heavy whoosh and a grunt.

"It's Christmas, Uncle Mark!" a voice hollered into his ear, followed by a loud bark. He turned his head towards the voice, eyes half-shut in pain. Mark saw the face of one of his nieces in front of his own, a large, toothless grin on her face. "Get up!"

"I know it is, ya dork," he mumbled, stretching carefully as to not hit anything/anyone. He glanced around his old room, taking in everything that was happening. He saw that one niece was right next to his head, another was at the side of his bed, and one of his nephews was on his lap--he figured this was the one who had caused him to lose his breath. Lucy--a family dog--was also in the room, her tail wagging happily as she barked.

Mark sat up, grabbing onto his nephew before he could run away and digging his hands into his aides. As the little boy began to laugh loudly, Mark yelled, "Were you the one who jumped on me, ya little booger!?"

"No!" he screeched, laughing. Mark's two nieces joined in with trying to tickle their brother, laughing along. "I swear, it wasn't me! Please stop, Uncle Mark!" The young boy cackled loudly as Mark's fingers continued to dig into his sides, begging his uncle to stop.

"Okay, okay," Mark said, laughing loudly as he stopped tickling his nephew. He yawned, stretching his arms above his head. "Now get out, you guys," he said, chuckling and waving them away, "I'm not wearing any pants."

"Ew!" both girls yelled at the same time, running out of Mark's old room. Their brother waved to Mark with a huge grin and followed his sisters out of the room, shutting the door behind him slowly.

Mark laughed, shaking his head to himself. He reached over to his bedside table and grabbed his glasses, placing them on his face and sliding from his bed. He stood up, glad he'd at least slept with a shirt on--he'd figured his nephews and nieces might bombard him that morning, so it was good thinking on his part--and walked over to his suitcase. He opened it and pulled out sweatpants, pulling them onto his legs and flipping his suitcase lid shut.

Mark then grabbed his phone from his bedside table and left his room, eyes widening at all of the noise going on in his house. He shut his door behind him, grinning when Thomas walked up to him and hugged him.

"Merry Christmas, bro," the elder said with a grin, hugging his brother with one arm.

"Merry Christmas," Mark responded as he hugged back. As they pulled away, he glanced down the hallway into the living room, where he could see some people sitting around the coffee table. He chuckled, looking back to his brother. "Were you just waiting by my door to hug me?" 

"Nah," he chuckled, shaking his head, "I was just passing by when you walked out." He went to leave, turning back before he entered the living room. "Oh, and mom wants you in the kitchen."

"Ugh," he huffed playfully, rolling his eyes, "of course she does. She always wants me to help cook." Thomas laughed, giving his brothers thumbs up before turning back around. Mark walked down the hall the same way his brother went, turning off to the left before he had and walking into the kitchen.

"Morning, Mark!" Mark heard shouted from across the kitchen. He startled, turning his head to where the sound came from and smiling when he saw his stepmother grinning and waving softly at him.