The seventeen year old glided down the stairs after a long relaxing shower, the holiday seasons were over and the decorations were taken down. For last Christmas—Susan and Chantel had opted for an all white Christmas tree, the year before it was an all pink tree. Susan was already planning for this year's tree even though they were still on the month of January. Being an interior decorator, she had an obsession with aesthetics.

At least, during the holiday seasons she used to busy with the decorations, hosting and baking after work—that she'd have no time to be a helicopter mother. Chantel opened the double door fridge and searched for the Krispy Kreme box.

"Mom." She called out, "where's my donuts?"

Susan walked out of the laundry room holding a basket, "I gave it to the mail mail this morning."

"Why?" She frowned closing the fridge.

"Because you're overdosing on donuts." Susan put the basket down on the kitchen island. "It's becoming an unhealthy obsession."

"Ugh!" The girl crossed her arms, "I was planning to have that with my morning coffee."

"I can make you a P&J or maybe French toasts?" Her mother looked at her.

"No, thank you." She wrinkled her nose as she grind the coffee beans.

"How's Letha by the way?" Susan asked curiously.

Chantel picked up one of the Starbucks coffee mug, that had pink cherry blossoms designs on it. She loves collecting coffee mugs from the brand, a guilt pleasure of hers. "She's expecting the baby any day now." She clicked her tongue.

"Heard the Rumancek boy is the father," her mother asked skeptically.

Chantel nodded, "yes."

"So she's not planning on college?" Susan narrowed her eyes.

"Mom!" Chantel huffed pouring her coffee. "I don't know."

She knew what Letha's plan were but she wasn't going to blurt it out to her uptight mother.

Susan picked up a trouser and began to fold it, "that's what happens when you get pregnant as a teen—everything falls apart and dreams fails, while your fellow mates move on in life."

Chantel rolled her eyes, "you sound like you're from the 18th century."

"Every time I try to talk serious with you, you cut me off...with all these petty remarks." Her mother said continuing to fold clothes.

"Mom, mom, mom, your designs...your lifestyle...the way you carry yourself are all so modern and top notch." Chantel sipped her coffee, "but your mindset is way behind."

Susan wrinkled her nose, "not funny."

"I'm not joking," Chantel emphasised on the word joking.

Her mother picked up the laundry basket not paying much attention to her daughter's remark, "anyway, I'll be late tonight. You can order in, but please no more fast food or junks."

Chantel nodded, "I'll order sushi then...I'm craving for something different."

"There's lasagna in the fridge, warm it for lunch." Susan said as she headed towards the stairs.

"Thanks mom," yelled Chantel as she took a seat and dived into her social, playing 'ribs' by Lorde.

After Shelley's disappearance she'd not posted much but she'd posted a photo of her and her mother at church, which Roman had taken on Christmas Day and a photo of their little group at the beach during New Year's Eve as they all wore glittery hats that read 'happy new year'.

Letha's social was filled with the maternity photo shoot she just did with Peter and they were both cute as hell. There was even a family photo of the Rumancek's which included Lynda and Destiny with Norman and Maria Godfrey. At least, these two families were getting along quite well.

After some hours Peter Rumancek walked in holding a box of Krispy Kreme, "hello anyone home?"

"In here." Chantel yelled from the kitchen.

The boy closed the door behind and walked into the kitchen, "so you just keep your front door wide open?" He chuckled.

The gypsy boy was looking all jolly and fine—he'd been like that ever since that very tragic chapel incident. He was thankful for his life, for Letha and for everything in between, Chantel could clearly see it in his eyes.

Chantel lifted her head up from her laptop and said. "I'm in a game, I didn't want to get up so I just left the door open."

Peter stood besides the girl, he smelt like the cologne old spice. "Minecraft?" He mumbled, "when did you start playing this?"

"Since the holiday seasons," she told him, "and when did you start using cologne?"

He sniffed himself, "does it smell bad?"

She giggled, "no, but I know that scent it's old spice."

"And it's available everywhere and reasonable," he noted, "so I grabbed a bottle."

She murmured, "there's this perfume HERMES TERRE D'HERMES, it's earthy, dry and citrusy at the same time. You should try that."

He crossed his arms, "you fucking kidding me? I don't have bills to throw on whatever that complicated name you just said."

She finally exited the game and said, "that'll be your birthday gift then."

Peter smirked as he opened the box of donut and helped himself to a piece, "you're like a sniffer dog."

"My nose is good with scents," she mentioned as she helped herself to a piece of original glazed, that was her all time favourite Krispy Kreme flavour.

"So what does Letha smell like?" He asked curiously.

She took a small bite, "you don't know what she smells like?"

"Of course, I know she smells like a garden." He said in between his chews. "I mean what perfume does she use?"

"Blooming bouquet Miss Dior," she told him as she sipped her ice tea.

He sniffed her, "and you smell like peppermint candy."

Chantel laughed softly. "It's my body wash."

"You like peppermints?" He asked licking his fingertips.

"It's refreshing but nah, I don't like it in sprays." She told him.

"What's your favourite scent then?" He knitted his brows.

Spicy and woody oud wood, the way Roman Godfrey smells like. If only she could say it out loud.

She took a quick bite of the donut and asked, "you planning to buy me my favourite perfume?"

"Ha. Ha. Ha." He shook his head a bit, "after five years what say?"

She chuckled, stretching her arms. "Anyway, at what time are we meeting Destiny?"

"Tomorrow," Peter crossed his arms, "during my lunch break."

Chantel raised a brow, "you're going back to work?"

He nodded, "a guy gotta do, what a guy gotta do."

She shrugged, "I thought we could hang."

"Where's Roman?" He furrowed his brows.

"At the White Tower, signing some documents." She pressed her lips. Roman had informed that Norman was going to sign over his shares to Roman.

"That won't take time and I'm sure as soon as he's done, he'll pop out at your front door." Peter said as he headed towards the fridge to grab himself a drink.

She rose up, "or maybe, I'll hang at Letha's."

"To hog?" He chuckled as he opened a can of coke.

A devilish smirk appeared on her face, "to talk shit about you boys of course."

🏴🏴🏴

On their way to Destiny Rumancek they stopped by the drive through and ordered iced coffees. Chantel ordered the holiday special Iced Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte in venti. While Roman and Peter sticked to their regulars, iced americano.

"The cookies are getting stuck on the straw," the girl complained as she tried her best to sip her drink.

Roman pulled out his straw and handed it to her, "take mine."

"Thanks," she beamed as they exchanged straws.

"You never liked these holiday special except pumpkin spiced latte," he reminded her, because holidays specials were quite disappointing and heavy but it was one of those days where she wanted to try something new.

"For a change," she mumbled as she dropped the straw into her drink and sipped again, as usual it was a heavy holiday drink.

Peter leaned forward, "aren't you going to ask for Krispy Kreme?"

She chuckled, "nah! I had three in the morning."

Roman said over his shoulder, "you informed your cousin right? The last time she wasn't home."

"Yeah, yeah." Peter nodded sipping his drink, "and she wasn't home the last time because she was out on a holiday."

It was almost going to be two months, ever since Shelley disappeared and they'd visited Destiny twice. Chantel knew, that it wouldn't be easy for Roman to just let Shelley go because it wasn't easy for her either. She'd not told anyone but she'd been mailing Shelley Godfrey in her old gmail account, telling her how they missed her and sending her photos of the gingerbread house they made and keeping her updated about their lives. Even though Shelley might never see them, it eases her heart in a strange way.

As Roman pulled up outside the old building Chantel took the iced americano from him and handed her sugary drink over. "I had enough sugar for the day," she murmured.

Roman wrinkled his nose, "you know I'm not a fan of sugary drinks."

"Just be a good boy and sip, sip it's almost over." She gave him a little wink.

Roman sighed as he took a sip of the Iced Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte which was totally not his type of drink as he walked up the stairs, Chantel followed behind lazily sipping the iced Americano. Peter trailed behind her, "can you walk any slower than this?"

"My legs are wobbly," she said over her shoulder.

"Because you were glued to that chair playing minecraft for hours, before we rescued you," he reminded her.

After breakfast, Chantel had been playing minecraft for five hours straight until Roman and Peter came to pick her up. She shrugged, "I should totally stop playing that game."

The Romani Witch apartment door was wide open as if she was expecting them excitingly. The three teenagers walked in and saw that: boxes were scattered around and the lady was seated on the sofa arranging a pile of magazines.

"Right on time," Destiny said as she slowly rose up.

"What's all these?" Peter asked as he walked towards his cousin.

"I'm selling," the lady said gleefully, "wanna buy?"

Chantel and Roman followed Peter in. More magazines on BDSM. Does Destiny model for them? Chantel thought, she won't be surprised if that was another side hustle of the seductive witch.

Destiny beamed as her eyes landed on Chantel, "it's a joyous time, isn't it?"

"Uh, yeah, I guess..." Chantel murmured. Joyous time for what?

Her eyes trailed to Roman, "shall we?"

Roman nodded and the two figures disappeared into the bedroom. Chantel and Peter sat down on the sofa, Peter was flipping through one the magazine while Chantel arranged them—the way Destiny was arranging them.

"Mmm, have you ever dreamt of Shelley ever since she was gone?" The gypsy asked his eyes glued on the magazine.

Chantel said, "I don't really remember my dreams...and sometimes I've these flashes, they started ever since—the vargulf attacked Rome."

"What kind of flashes?" Peter looked up at her.

"Random flashes," she told him, "I can't even make them out clearly but I guess, the trauma of seeing him nearly die had tapped into a deeper part of my twisted mind."

Peter smacked his lips together, "yeah, yeah, I understand...it happens sometimes."

Chantel pinched the bridge of her nose with her fingers tips and leaned back.

"You okay?" He asked.

"Yeah," she nodded, "just a slight headache."

"Sugar rush I guess," he chuckled as he rose up and fetched her a glass of cold water, "here."

"Thanks," she took the glass from him.

Peter sat back down and flipped through the rest of the magazine as Chantel drank the water and rested the back of her head on a large cushion. Then a gust of wind blew out of nowhere and flipped the magazine over.

Peter gasped, "well, I'll be."

"What just happened?" Chantel asked confused.

The gypsy pulled out his phone and closed his eyes. Is some kind of ritualistic thing going on again? Chantel thought to herself.

Peter's phone began to ring, he had that annoying old phone ringtone. He put it on speakers. "Hey," he answered.

Letha was on the other end of the line. "Hey. Goodness, that was quick." The girl sounded exited, "uh, guess what I'm doing?"

"Having a baby." Peter was smiling to himself.

Letha squeaked, "I'm having a baby! Yum!"

Chantel eyes widen, is this really the day when Letha and Peter would become parents? She can't even believe it herself, she was beaming with joy.

"Well?" The pregnant girl chuckled.

Peter was excited as hell. "Baby...my heart has no words. Your smile makes the flowers grow, and your tits make 'em bloom. I love your ass to pieces and anything that pops out of you. This is the best news I've heard all year. I'll see you there, ok?"

Letha sniffed happily. "Yeah, I'll catch you on the flipside."

"Letha," Chantel craned her neck, "all the best mama. I love you."

"Chantel," Letha giggled, "I love you more."

"Will be right there," Peter told her as the girl sniffed and cut the phone.

"You're gonna be a father," Chantel looked at Peter as his cheeks turned red. "I know, I'm gonna be a father," he squealed.

The two teenagers got up and exchanged hugs.

Roman walked out of the room sniffing, Destiny followed behind. He looked at them and asked, "what's going on?"

Chantel beamed and gave Peter a nudge, "tell him."

"Birthday." The gypsy raised both of his hands up in the air.

"Yay!" Destiny clapped excitingly.

"Oh, Shee-it," Roman gasped.

"Shee-it," agreed Peter.

The two boys laughed and hugged happily.

"Give her my best." Destiny told Peter and turned to Chantel. "Babies are awesome! Isn't it?"

Chantel nodded in agreement, "yes they are."

"We should go!" Roman called merrily.

"Yes!" Nodded Peter.

Chantel grabbed her purse from the coffee table, Destiny looked at her. "Stay hydrated."

"Sure," the seventeen year old nodded as she grabbed Roman's arm. "Let's go."

Destiny smiled at them and waved, "be happy."