Chapter 7: Guys Don't Like Me

Aurora walked briskly down the steps of her home and into the living room where the whole family had gathered. Aurora grinned as she stepped closer. They gathered every year Christmas evening and watched movies and drank hot chocolate and talked about the gifts they’d received.
Her mother was half asleep on Takado’s lap, dressed in her new cat onesie. Damien was on the couch beside the white haired Luna. Spikes and Vincent were holding hands. Spade and Abigail sat on the floor with a blanket over their shoulders.
Aurora frowned seeing Elijah alone off to the side, and her other cousin was nowhere to be seen.

“Where the hell is Hamish?” Aurora’s aggressive tone startled most of the people piled into the living room and cause each of them to turn to look at her.

“He’s scarcely been home since the mustang incident. I honestly didn’t expect him to show up.” Spikes shrugged her shoulders, her attention returned to the TV.
“He’ll come around when he’s ready. I know better than anyone that you can’t force this stuff.”

“I’m sure that’s not the opinion you would have if you were in his shoes.” Aurora hissed at her aunt. She ignored the look she got from her father and stormed into the kitchen.

“What the hell was that?” Spade glared at her cousin, arms crossed over her chest.

“Hamish should be here.” Aurora mumbled; her fingers tapped rapidly on her phone’s screen.
“It’s Christmas, and he should be here. And if I am the only person who cares enough to drag his ass home then so be it.”

Spade stepped closer as Abigail stepped into the kitchen. She placed a hand on Aurora’s shoulder and sighed.
“I know you don’t want to hear this, but I think my mom is right on this one. This might be something he needs to work out on his own.”

“How would you know, Spade?” Aurora’s jade eyes glowed softly. She shoved Spade’s hand off of her shoulder.
“If no one has seen him then how can they know he doesn’t need help?”

“Aurora, it’s Christmas. We shoul get back to yer family.” Abigail spoke up; she took Spade’s hand in her own as she spoke.

“Hamish is my family too,” Aurora hissed. A smirk crossed her lips as her phone received a text message.
“It’s not like you’re obligated to come with me.”

Aurora shoved past Spade and Abigail and stormed out the front door.

“I know you’re worried too.” Abigail said as she squeezed Spade’s hand.
“Why not go wit her?”

“He’s a teenager, Abs. It’s just a little rebellion. We’ve all gone through it and he’s always been the wilder of the Caine children.” Spade pulled her closer, pressing her lips to Abigail’s forehead. “It just seems silly to ruin a perfectly lovely holiday with my brother’s drama.”

“What if it’s not just some teenage rebellion, Cher?” Abigail wrapped her arms around Spade’s waist.

Spade bit down on her lip; she glanced at her family in the living room and sighed softly.
“You’re right. Let’s go help bring my idiot brother home.”

The ride back to the Caine house was silent, tension so thick it was suffocating. Aurora had brought her own car, leaving the house party like a bat out of hell as soon as they forced Hamish into Spade's. Spade kept her focus on the road, both hands gripping the wheel. Her bloodied knuckles were already healing, along with the other injuries she managed to obtain through the brawl. The pain was there, but she couldn't feel it; not with her mind in a whirlwind of disaray.

Abigail's hand gently rested on Spade's thigh, temporarily taking her out of her own head. She glanced over to the ginger haired girl, sighing softly as she averted her eyes back to the road. She didn't need to read her mind, it was clear on the witch's face her concern and worry for the demon.

She pulled into the drive way of her family home, throwing the car into park but still sitting silently.

"Am I going to have to drag you to the door, or can I trust you to go inside on your own?" Spade finally questioned looking at Hamish through her rearview mirror. She could feel the heat radiating off him, it was enough to make the heater unnecessary despite it being the middle of the night at the tail end of December.

"I'm not a fucking child Spade." he growled lowly reaching for the door handle, he stiffened as it didn't open when he pulled, "Seriously? Fucking child lock?"

"No one has seen you since christmas and I had to force you into my car, of course I put the child lock on." her voice held a tone of aggression despite her efforts to remain collected.

"Just unlock my fucking door." he locked his eyes with his sister through the rearview mirror, his illuminating the car. Spade shook her head softly before getting out of the car to open his door. He attempted to push past her but she quickly had him by his wrist, preventing him from moving further. "What the fuck do you want Spade?" his voice was raising as he ripped his arm from her grip, quickly facing off with her. "If you have something to say then just fucking say it! If you want to fight then lets fucking fight!" he was snarling, shifting his feet apart and lifting his arms to a fighting stance. "Aurora got to have her go, you must be dying to!" he continued to snarl, eyes wild and glowing.

Spade stood still, eyes tired; tired from worry, tired from stress, tired from being torn between loyalties to both brothers. She watched the demons in his head at war, could see that he had been lost for so long; but above all she could see this had gotten to far out of hand.

"Well?!" Hamish was shaking, snarling like a wild animal. He clenched his fists, gritting his teeth as he bared his fangs; shaking his head. "Fucking fight me!"

It didn't hurt, she had taken punches to the face countless times. Hitting the floor was nothing new either, especially when she hadn't bothered putting up any defense. She spit blood out beside her; even in the dark the red stood out, crip, tainting the fresh snow. She got back up to her feet, gently wiping the blood from her lips; eyes lifting to meet her brother's.

Hamish stood still, eyes wide, hands shaking as he looked from them back to her eyes. Fear? No, not of her. This, this was new; fear of himself, of what he had done, what he was capable of.

"Spade-Spade I'm s-"

"Are you done?" her voice was soft, gentle, weak almost. She locked her silver eyes with his gold, refusing to hear his screaming thoughts. He finally broke the stare, his eyes falling to the floor as he nodded once in defeat. Spade took a few steps toward him, reaching up to hug him softly. "Go inside, we can talk tomorrow." she said quietly as she released their hug.

She watched her brother enter the house and close the door behind him, looking back to her car and nodding to her girlfriend.

"Thank you for staying in there." Spade sighed, holding her arm out as Abigail rushed to her from the car, huddling against her.

"Of course cher, I know how your and his fights go." She paused for a moment, observing the slight swelling and cut at the corner of Spade's mouth, "I've never seen him actually put you off yer feet though."

Spade chuckled softly, nuzzling her face into her firey hair.

"Sometimes he get's lucky, but I gave him that one." her voice quieted, mind buzzing with a million thoughts. One imparticular, though, stood out among the rest; "I should've been here." her voice was barely above a whisper.

"What are you talking about cher?" Abigail questioned, pulling away just enough to look her in the eyes.

"I should have chosen the university out here, if I had stayed close to home I would have been able to see this coming; prevented it from ever happening." she pulled away from Abigail, gently running her hand through her silver hair. Abigail gently reached for her free hand, rubbing the the ring on the demon's finger.

"Cher, you an' I both know you can't change fate." she reached up and cupped Spades face with her free hand, "You're here now Lenore, you've caught it before the point of no return." Spade lifted her eyes to meet her's, resting her hand over Abigail's on her cheek.

"I hope you're right." she leaned forward, resting her forehead against Abigail's. She lightly kissed the other girl's nose gaining a giggle that she quickly surpressed, tilting her head slightly for her lips to meet the other girl's. She smiled against her lips; chai, Abigail's favorite winter tea; the flavor still fresh on her lips. "I love you Abigail." her voice barely above a whisper as she broke their kiss.

"I love you too Lenore." Abigail responded sweetly. They stood in silence, embracing on another, the cold winter are still around them. Abigail hesitantly pulled away, looking up at her. "I should probably head on home cher." she slightly groaned.

"I know," Spade whinned, hand firmly holding onto her's; "It's probably somewhere around 3 by now."

"And I have plans with my family tomorrow." Abigail sighed, checking her watch. "3am exact, even without trying, still psychic." she giggled shaking her head at the demon. Spade smirked, quickly pulling her into her by her waist; she lifted the girl's chin softly, tenderly kissing her. Abigail looked up at her with flushed cheeks after breaking the kiss. She starred up into her eyes, smiling softly and the glow of her mates eyes, pupils dialating with desire.

"I should stop before I keep you any later." her voice was hushed and heavy as she pulled away. Abigail nodded reluctantly in agreement, hand still entwined with the feline's as she walked toward her car.

"Drive safe and let me know when you get home, winter nights can be quite dangerous." worry evident in her voice as she reached up to gently brush Abigail's firey locks from her face. "I honestly don't know what I would do if any were to ever happen to you." Her eyes never leaving her mate's.

"Don't worry cher, you won't get rid of me that easy." Abigail teased, gently kissing her cheek. Spade sighed, rolling her eyes before smiling back at Abigail.

"Promise?"

"Cross my heart cher."