Grace Christmas Special--- aspen

[samuel aaron grace]

The holidays always seemed joyful, and filled with family values, but it was normally just a party event for the Grace's. Sam had only known the all out parade along the mansion halls, nothing ever seemed private, or traditional around the holiday times. So he didn't know how Aspen, his guest for the holidays, was going to react to the party. Probably should have warned her, or hinted that there was going to be something of a party to be expected. However, this was just Christmas Eve, Christmas day was something quaint and simple. Sam hoped that what it was going to turn out to be. Simple. He didn't want to flash his families wealth in his friends face, or have his family give her a tour of their prized jewels, and so on. Sammy didn't resent his family for being wealthy, he was proud that they where able to work so hard to get what they wanted, but what he didn't like was the flaunting of their assets. It was impolite and rude, to Same. His parents didn't think anything of it, it was normal behavior for the wealthy, always competing with each other for the best things. It was quite sad that they did this, some people didn't have even one fourth of what they owned. Sam tries his best to keep afar from that behavior, being humble with his wealth, and not even mentioning it to his friends. Also, something he should have told Aspen.

Sam never had anyone come home for the holidays with him, his parents always wanted him to bring his girlfriend with him If they only knew he wasn't looking to bring, or even have a girlfriend, then they'd stop pestering him. Sadly, Sam was not ready to reveal the big secret, but he knew the truth would leave his lips one done. Not any day soon. Well, if the right person came along, sure. If the right friend was there for him, he'd also admit to his like of the same sex. He was sure to tell Aspen, if she asked, or if he couldn't contain it any longer. It would certainly be a good release for, and good for his mental heath as well. Sam wasn't so sure about it still, Aspen was nice and trusting, but it was a big secret of his to share. One he kept hidden along with his feeling for a certain friend, a very wild friend at that. Sam tried to image telling Aspen, but he always had pessimistic outcomes, and it was Aspen! She was too lovable to be afraid of, but he didn't know if he'd disappoint his friend this way. Whatever that way means.

Arriving at his family home, he followed each detail as the car flashed across the drive way. His mother seemed to like the idea of a gold, and many other French-esque type designs. Sam himself was also intruiged with the French, but the French didn't seem to be so caring towards him. Spotting the pale staircase leading to the grand mansion, Sam slid out of the town car, and watched as the "help" lug his carry on's to the house. He didn't like them waiting on him, hand and foot, but he couldn't say no for they'd be out of the job. It was better than a house elf for sure, they deserved better treatment, and the fact that the house is in the muggle world they surely couldn't have an elf roaming the halls, greeting the non-wizards. Surely it would raise questions. Thankfully, without any damage to themselves or Sam's luggage, they managed to get his small amount of clothing to the house. He wasn't planning on staying the whole week, be his parents would probably guilt trip him into staying a couple more days. Which meant he had to keep busy, clear from his parents, only if he wanted to get out of staying any longer than he wanted. It all depended on whether or not his hufflepuff friend wanted to stay, he didn't want to leave her a lone for the remainder of the break, even if she had a cousin to fall back on.

Sam never really focused on himself, a people pleaser, which is why he relied on Aspens decision to stay or go. He never had a mind of his own, but he was slowly developing a personality of his own. It's taking forever, however, Sam just kept worrying about everyone but himself. A good thing he supposes, it was nothing like his parents. Although, they did do everything they could for him, big house, opening world wide opportunities, nothing but the best, and he didn't even ask for it. He didn't want it anyhow, they all didn't matter, they where just material things to him. Nothing sentimental or personal values, and anything Sam loved the most was always an important thing to hold close. So anything held dear to him was always protected under lock and key, or being guarded by a dragon in the bank. Sadly he was sure to get more material accessories during this holiday, but he always had a big smile upon his face when given a gift, and he always believed in that the thought counts. They where thinking he'd love it, or he'd love them more because of it. Again he wasn't for material things, they seemed to be filled with empty values, and just plainly buying his love. Sam couldn't be bought. He could only be loved the old fashioned way, by loving him.

Family time. The family time was okay, despite the fact his parents try and buy his affection, it was nice. As tradition, they had a quiet dinner in the dining room, spread out of course. They'd need five arms to pass the salt on far their where from each other. It was strange they didn't go the expense to buy a small, private affair, dining room for the holidays. Too much of a waste, nothing too small for this family. "Samuel, my baby!" Sam's mother shouted from the staircase. She was draped in her most luxurious attire. Must have been for Aspen. "Hi mom," he responded, smiling one cheek at a time. With an embracing hug, and brush of the hair. Sam was finally able to pry his mother off of him. His mother was a dainty, thin, blonde, and elegant woman. She had the qualities of a beauty queen, but with, lets put it this way slytherin aspirations. She loved the big life, living large in upper-class London, she was like the queen of the social climbers, and doesn't seem to be stopping her climbing so soon. Not many seconds after, came his dad. "Hey Sammy!" Sam's fathered yelled in a husky tone. Giving one of his manly hugs, Sam's dad patted him on the back and left him be. Sam's father was the opposite of his mother. He was brown haired, handsome man, with slight touches of grey to give detail to his face. His father was the cause of their wealth, he started it all with his businesss owning self. Again, he proud of his families abilities to keep their status,it was a job itself. Smiling, Sam was oddly happy to be home. He hoped Aspen would happy too.

[aspen calliope cooper]

The holidays were never an easy time for Aspen. Despite all her bravado and cheer throughout the entire year, it was difficult even for Aspen to keep up when the Christmas season rolled around. She loved the weather, the atmosphere around the school, everything about it, but that didn't make it any easier when it came time to leave the school and head back home. She loved her mother, really she did, but when she came home to an empty house every Christmas, it was hard not to feel at least a bit heartbroken. She couldn't blame her mother for wanting to get away from their home during the holiday season, since it would never be the same there without her father and brother there with them. The holidays used to be such a festive time, with decorations abound and good cheer in everyone's face, but the death of her father and brother had taken that away from the small household and Aspen feared that nothing would bring that back. Her stepfather was a great guy, really he was, but he just wasn't able to bring that holiday spirit back into the home they now shared. So, when her parents wanted to start up a tradition of going on a cruise each Christmas, Aspen had let them. Even if it left her there on her own each holiday season, her mother deserved to be happy and getting away from the house was good for her.

It was that constant desire to be sure that everyone else was taken care of first that often caused the most strain on Aspen, though she would never admit to feeling the slightest bit saddened or disappointed by anything at all. If her parents wanted to leave on holiday, than she was more than happy for them and she was quite alright holding down the fort at home and spending the holidays watching sappy Lifetime movies or something. This year, however, would be slightly different for the young girl. As opposed to spending the holidays alone, she was going to be visiting a friend of hers and spending the time at his home. It had been years, basically since her father's death, since she had actually had a real family Christmas. She and her mother had tried to keep the traditions alive, but that had just been more painful than doing nothing at all and after that attempt the holidays had taken a backseat for them.

After finishing off with her exams at school, Aspen had packed up her things and left for her home. As she had expected, her parents were already gone on their vacation and the house was abandoned. Her parents always took the family dog with them when they left, so it was just Aspen there in the building as she started to put her things away. She wasn't sure how long she would be staying with Sam, so she left a decent amount of clothes in her bag for when she left over to his place. She had his address on a piece of parchment that was tucked away in her pocket and she was definitely excited to be there. Thinking on it, she couldn't remember a time when she had ever been to the boy's house, despite having been friends with him for years. Though, most people never really came to her house, so she didn't dwell too much on the matter.

Though her parents had more or less left the house in a fairly clean state, Aspen wanted to tidy up just a bit before she went to Sam's. The house wasn't very large, so there wasn't a whole lot of it to clean anyways and it would make Aspen feel at least somewhat useful. Using her wand, the cleanup of the living spaces went quite quickly, especially since there wasn't much to do. A few dog hairs here and there in the living room were the only sign that anyone had been living there recently. It was a far cry from the mess that the house had once been when her younger brother had been around. No toys littered the floor and her father's newspaper clippings weren't spread out along the tables. Being home wasn't an easy thing for Aspen and she was grateful that Sam had invited her to spend the holidays with him. Enduring another year of solitude on Christmas after the stress of the last few weeks probably wouldn't have been healthy for the girl.

Moving on to the bedrooms, Aspen first finished cleaning her own room before moving down the hallway. Her parent's room required not even a slight dust removal spell, as per usual and Aspen then moved down to the last room in the hallway. Like always, the door to that room was locked tightly and probably hadn't been open since the last time that Aspen was home. Her younger brother's old room was the one place in the house that her mother refused to enter and it had been left just as it was the day the boy had passed. It was a chilling memory of a lost family member and leaving the door locked was almost as if they were locking away the memories that they held of him and Aspen hated it. So, every holiday that she was there in the house, Aspen made the trip down the hall to the boy's room and cleaned. She left everything right where it was, but she scoured away all the dust and left it shining brightly, as if just waiting for him to return. She knew it was a hopeless wish, but it had become something of her own holiday tradition, as difficult as it may have been.

Once finished, Aspen left the room with one last soft smile, locking it behind her to put away again until next Christmas. It was probably something that she needed to confront better and learn to cope with, but Aspen didn't know how and she wasn't the sort of person that would ever ask for help with anything. Any feelings of guilt would just sit there and simmer while Aspen tried to push them to the side and avoid a big to-do about them. Finished up with the house, Aspen returned to her room to grab her things before leaving the house behind. Locking the door, Aspen proceeded away from the house a bit before apparating away. She reappeared somewhere near where Sam's house was and started down the road with her bag in tow, looking at the different house numbers in an attempt to locate which one was his.

The neighborhood was already something entirely different from what Aspen was expecting. She lived in a rather tiny house, herself, but every home on the road around her was a giant, mansion-like home and she felt rather out of place amongst all the glitz and glamour. She came from a far more humble background, that was for sure. However, she continued on, looking around for the number Sam gave her. Spotting it on one of the mailboxes on the road, Aspen walked up towards the place with a rather hesitant gait. It was easily the biggest house on the street, but it was the one Sam had told her to come to and so she made her way up to the door. Pausing just shy of the door, Aspen reached up to knock on the door, leaving her bag sitting next to her on the ground.

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