"You let him out?!"

"He's 12 years old, love." Virgil said. "And he's not a dog."

Roman covered his face with his hands. "Vee, I know that he's 12," he said slowly, "but the point still stands that he is in danger if he goes out unsupervised on his birthday."

"Pat's not 16 yet!" Virgil protested. "And he's a smart kid. He's exactly gonna go up to 'the nightmare man' and strike up a conversation, is he?"

"Janus has other ways of-" Roman started.

"I know he has other ways!" Virgil snapped. "You and Remus aren't the only ones who were affected by what he can do! You aren't the only ones who got the tail-end of his rise to power!" Virgil crossed his arms and sat back in his chair. "Besides," he mumbled, "I cast a spell."

"You what?" Roman asked.

"I cast a spell." Virgil repeated.

Roman blinked at him, wondering where this reckless streak had suddenly come from. "Vee, Re said specifically not to use magic!"

"I know he did but it's just a protection spell." Virgil defended. "It's not exactly gonna be traceable, is it?" He sighed. "As long as Pat doesn't go past the river, he'll be fine. Nothing that wishes to harm him can cross the boundary and since Janus wants to harm him, I'd say we're pretty safe-"

"You really think Pat's going to listen to you?!" Roman interrupted. "He's brave, Vee, which means he's reckless which-"

"Which is a trait you gave him, might I remind you." Virgil retorted. "I didn't choose to make him brave, love, I chose empathy which is-"

"Sweet elven mischief, will you two ever stop yelling?" Remus snapped, sitting on the top step. He let his head drop into his hands. "I haven't had a drop to drink in over 12 years and you're making me feel like I've got a cracking awful hang-over." He looked up. "Where's Pat? Kid should be up by now."

Roman glared back at Virgil.

"You huh?!" Virgil rolled his eyes.

"I'm sensing now that it was a bad idea." He said. "But-"

"Yeah, course it's a bad idea!" Remus exclaimed. "You've got me worried. Me!"

"But, in my defence," Virgil continued, "Pat is only 4 years away from everything about his world changing. I think he should experience a little bit of freedom before becoming a prince again."

Remus shook his head. "Nu-uh. Nope. Ro, your boyfriend has gone round the twist." He shook his head again, grabbing his shoes. "I'm going to find Pat and I don't care how long it takes, I'm bringing him home in one piece."

"This isn't his home, Remus!" Virgil said sharply. "That's the whole point, he doesn't belong here. I just thought a bit of freedom inside of a lie was better than-"

"And I'm back!" Pat declared, opening the door. "See, Papa? Told you, before you-" Pat trailed off, taking in the three shocked face staring at him. "Oh. Okay, so I admit that I'm a bit late but in my defence, Papa let me go out." He pointed at Virgil, waiting to see if all attention turned to him.

"We know." Roman said.

"Oh. Right." Pat said, dropping his arm by his side. "Well, anyway, I'm back and I'm fine. I'm gonna go wash my face." He pointed up the stairs, smiling a little. "Bye."

Pat wove through his Uncle and Dada and set off up the stairs, humming 'Happy Birthday' to himself. Remus watched him go with something almost like worry on his face.

"He's different." He said.

"He's older." Virgil supplied. Remus shook his head.

"No, it's not that." He muttered. "It's... different different."

"Re has a point." Roman said. "Maybe he met someone?"

Virgil shook his head. "Can't've." He said. "No one can get past the spell."

"You said no one who wants to do him harm." Roman said. "That's not everyone in the world."

Virgil shook his head again. "Well, it doesn't matter." He said. "He's likely to never see them again. Right?"

I despise... everything about this chapter.
Happy Christmas (or just happy holidays if you don't celebrate Christmas)
Bye,
Blaize