Christmas Eve [Gin]

[.Scotchy.]

Rose stood in front of the mirror staring at the dress that she wore. It was nothing she wanted. It covered every bit of her body. It was something her father wanted. That's why he had picked it out. Her eyes welled into large tears just as she heard a small wrap at the door. Before she could say 'come in' her gorgeous mother stepped in. She looked like a woman. She looked absolutely stunning in her Christmas gown. But she was also her mother. Her mother didn't have to follow guidelines and rules. Elle wore a long black dress with silver sparkling straps that came to the very edge of her shoulder. She revealed skin, but it wasn't so much that it was unappealing. It was just enough to probably keep Cal occupied throughout the night. Her golden hair was pinned back in a french twist and small silver earings dangled against her cheeks. She smiled seeing her daughter in her fathers dress, and then frowned at the tears that were now running hot down her cheeks.

"What eez wrong?" She asked, shutting the door and stepping behind her daughter and looked at Rose in the mirror.

"I look like a spinster," Rose cried and tugged at the sleeves that were starting to itch. She then tugged at the full length skirt and let out a whimper. It was Christmas, she wanted a party and so did her mother, but how did she get hoodwinked into this gown?

"Eet's not zat bad," Elle said quietly. She reached out her hand and fiddled with her dress some, trying to help her only daughter out. Rose turned to her mother and glared at her and tugged at the dress more in ferocity.

"Mom, I am seventeen, a woman! Not someone that should hide themselves or be ashamed of their body either! This isn't fair, why can't I have a normal dress?" Rose ranted looking back in the mirror.

"I knew you'd say zis," Elle started and turned away and grabbed ahold of her daughters hand, "Come wiz me."

Elle lead Rose down the hall into her room. Cal was down the stairs already with the others, so the change would go unnoticed till she was already in public. Which meant he couldn't make her change. Or he could but he'd ruin Christmas Eve. Elle pointed Rose to the bed and Rose took a seat. Elle went over to her closet and pulled out a large bag with a hanger sticking out. "Which ees why I got you zis."

Elle unzipped it and revealed to her a red evening gown that fell off the shoulder a bit. It was simple, elegant, and flowing. Something that was so very Rose she couldn't help but gasp. Elle smiled and pulled the dress out of the bag showing her the deep V neck back, it would pretty much stop just above the hips. "Now eef you don't like eet, I have some dresses you can try on."

"Are you kidding? I love it!" Rose stood up and took ahold if it, twirling it around. "Thank you, Mom!"

"Anytime 'un," Elle smiled and watched her daughter change into it, gave her some strap heels, and helped her fix her make-up. Her hair was set it curls and her gold heart locket was the perfect finishing touch. "You are just growing up so fast."

"I'll try to slow down," Rose giggled and stepped towards the door.

"I am going to check up on Elliot, and zen I weel be down weez ze rest. Tell zem to start ze music." Ellendie followed her daughter out the door and then stepped into the nursery where her baby boy slept quietly.

Rose went down the stairs, looking around the room, trying to find that one person she really wanted to spend the evening with, but seeing he wasn't here yet she just went towards the small band and told them to start playing. Christmas music filled the castle and the ball room was turned into life. People that were there started to pair up and dance on the floor, some stayed around the food and nibbled at the goods, others stared at the decorations that were put up for the first time in a few years. Elle had done a fantastic job.

Some of the male werewolves casted glances at Rose, whispers were going around at the mention of how great she looked. She looked older and mature, she looked available. A ton, black haired, great looking man walked up to her. It was Tony. He was 26 and had been going through mere witches left and right, never able to stick to one.

"Rose, you look fantastic," he said smiling, his blue eyes looking her up and down, "Would you like to dance?"

[Gin]

Cal hadn't bothered to really dress up much. He wore a simple black button up shirt and a pair of fairly clean-cut jeans. They were his nicest pair, though even they weren't the cleanest. The bottom hems were partially frayed and a small patch of dark blue material of unknown fabric covered his left hip. He had rolled up his sleeves stopping just before the elbows so Elle wouldn't scold him too much for diminishing the slight formal appearance he had made with the shirt. He scoffed under his breath and walked over to the bed, sitting down lacking the wolf-like grace he normally moved with. His black "dress shoes"--really just a new pair of tennis shoes--sat untouched in their box, where they had been for nearly 3 days since Elle had bought them. He leaned over, hauling the box onto the bed beside him before ripping into the cardboard like the wolf he was. Shreds of the fiber-like material lay on the comforter along with thin and thick strips of the tissue paper.

With laces pulled tightly in a knot, shirt hanging perfectly straight off his broad shoulders, and jeans belted around his waist in an effort to stiffle any unwanted shape-shifts this night, Cal stood moved away from the bed. Elle was in the adjoining room, the nursery where Cal's new son, Elliot, had taken residence. He had always wanted a son. Not that he had ever really wanted a family--Cal was no where near being a family man. He had just wanted someone who could carry on his legecy. He was from a prominant family who had always expected their sons' wives to bare them male heirs. As Calvin was the only of their sons who was currently attached to someone, it had fallen on him to produce the carrier of the James name. And finally, Elliot had come to fulfill the position. Cal paused at the bedroom door, listening silently as Elliot nursed before going down for the evening. Elle coo-ed at him gently, singing occassionally. A smile softened Cal's tanned face as he turned to open the door.

The rest of the pack was already downstairs. That is, all but his beta. Conner had run off earlier in the day, telling Cal he was bringing his friend with him to the party. He had neglected giving Cal a name for the young lady. But that didn't really mean anything. Lately, Conner had been seeing quite a variety of women. He seemed to switch day-to-day, indecisive kid. The boy had a good head on his shoulders, there was no disputing that, but he seemed to have no luck with women. Oddly enough, however, all his relationships ended at his request; The girls had always been quite taken with him. So it would be no surprise to Cal when Conner would show up later in the night with his newest woman cradled protectively under his arm. But for now, Cal was without his second, but with all the others, a total of nearly 26 boys now. His daughter had remained the only female in the pack.

After nearly half an hour of walking around, carefully watching all the strangers in his house, Cal had decided to take refuge in the kitchen. A few pairs had also taken up their places around the food and, not wanting to get in the middle of the snogging contest that seemed to be underway, Cal again moved for a new safe haven. The stairs seemed a good enough bench for the man and he slowly lowered himself onto a step about a third of the way up. He could still watch his pack and their dates but they left him alone and he was out of the hustle of the dance floor. A bottle of beer occupied his hand as his eyes traveled around. A noise behind him told him that his two girls had decided to make their appearance. He felt no need to turn and greet them until he noticed quite a disturbance in the males. Quite a number of them, ignoring their dates' annoyed swats, were looking up the stairs past Cal. The alpha's eyes turned behind him and as his eyes fell on the ruby red, floor-length gown, his legs tensed and he rose to his feet, face flushed dark red. The look on Elle's face was almost defiant but it was more just smug that Rose had finally gotten her way. Cal took the stairs slowly, approaching Elle as Rose made her way down to the floor. One of the older boys was talking to her but he wasn't paying attention. Sure, his daughter had defied him but that was nothing new. His wife on the other hand... Elle had always looked particularly beautiful when she had done something against what he wanted; He loved that proud, accomplished look she always got when she went against his orders. To be honest, sometimes he would even tell her things just because he knew she wouldn't obey it. But tonight... That determined look had only served to more intensify the angel that had appeared at the top of the stairs. Cal stood a step below her, softly growling under his breath, "That's not the dress I gave her." A crooked grin stole over his face and he met her eyes. "You look like an angel, baby." Muscled arms stretched to twine around Elle's waist and hold her against him.

[.Scotchy.]

"Of course, zat ees ze dress I bought 'er. And ze one zat brought zat beautiful smile on her face," Ellendie smiled at her husband and leaned into as he wrapped his arm around her. "I love you, Cal. Zank you for letting us 'ave ze party."

Ellendie kissed Cal on the lips and went down to the crowd. She made the rounds, keeping Cal close to her by keeping her hand tightly woven into his. She wanted a dance tonight, and she was going to get several if she had to beg and plead for it. She smiled at the guests and looked at their dates, surprised at how some of them weren't even witches, but muggles. She noticed, though, how there wasn't one female werewolf to add to the pack. Some of the older males had their wives with them, one large with a baby. It was exciting to have a pack member other than her and Cal be on that step. She was sad though that his room wasn't occupied anymore. But it did leave it open for young werewolves that were lost and recently bitten to be adopted into the pack.

Finally Elle and Cal were free to roam and dance on their own and let the others mingle. Ellendie tugged Cal onto the dance floor and pressed herself close to him, her arms wrapping around his neck, and her lips pressing against his own. She pulled back and smiled up at him. "This is really going to be a great night, and look at Rose, she is really becoming such a beautiful young woman."

From across the way Rose was being lead out onto the dance floor with Tony. He large hand wrapped around her small one and then he pulled her close. Once hand rested on her lower back, the other held her hand up in the air and her hand rested on his shoulder. He really was large. He had a huge frame and muscles that were slightly defined in his suit. He was attractive, funny, and sweet, besides the bit of a player bit he really was a perfect catch. No wonder women had problems saying no to him.

"You have grown up so much," Tony said looking into her bright blue eyes.

"I have been hearing that a lot lately," Rose giggled, her cheeks flushed and Tony pressed her in closer. She relaxed into him and smiled as the music softly played.

[Gin]

Having lived in London for what was now over half of her life, Elle had failed to drop her French accent. This, of course, pleased Cal to no end. Along with her blonde hair, blue eyes, gorgeous body, and enthralling personality, he had fallen in love with her accent. It was something no other females around him had. It was something unique, an Elle original; Not even their daughter had picked it up.

"Of course, zat ees ze dress I bought 'er. And ze one zat brought zat beautiful smile on her face. I love you, Cal. Zank you for letting us 'ave ze party." Cal lean his cheek against her blonde hair for a moment as she spoke, leaning back to look down at her before responding. A moment of silence and a grumbled “mhmm” right before she kissed him. He moaned quickly and quietly, making the kiss last a second longer than she had intended. But before there could be much of a scene at the top of the stairs, where the couple was on full display to the audience below, Cal loosened his arms at her movement down the stairs. He turned, keeping one arm around her waist as they moved down the stairs but the link was a little hard to keep once they had been engulfed into the mob so he settled for simply clinging to her small hand.

Elle led him through the crowd, smiling and greeting a few of the pack members, acting the perfect hostess. Sure, Cal was the Alpha but in parties, he gladly took a back seat to Elle’s charming smile and warm conversations. In high school, he had been a partier, but those were more of frat parties, keg parties, nothing any respectable human being would be a part of. This party, Elle’s and Rosie’s party called for dignity and charm, of which he possessed only one in public scenarios.

When Elle had evidently felt she had sufficiently greeted the guests, she led Cal to the edge of the dance floor--I.e. the middle of the living room--and paused. It was as if maybe he stood a chance of diverting her attention and distracting her so he wouldn’t have to dance but she then tugged him onto the floor. Though tugging is a rather difficult maneuver with a full grown werewolf, Cal had been with Elle long enough to know that resisting was useless. Whatever she wanted she got because otherwise, there would either be a scene or she would get her revenge later. But that’s why he loved her.

Two soft arms wrapped around his neck, fully extended to reach. Elle pressed in against him and without thinking, Cal moved his arms to hold her there, resting his arms behind her lower back. Before a second could pass, her lips were at his again and he was momentarily caught in a daze before she pulled back. "This is really going to be a great night, and look at Rose, she is really becoming such a beautiful young woman."

Cal chuckled. “It’s not like she had much choice in the matter. Look at her mother.” He smiled down at his wife and kissed her again before he slowly began to move her around to the gentle music.

---

The car idled in the driveway, humming quietly like it always did. A thin man sat behind the wheel, his dark brown eyes focused on the house a few yards away. He could hear the music from the car. Right now it was a quieter song, harder to hear. In fact, the woman sitting next to him probably couldn’t hear it at all. But when they had pulled up the songs were loud and fast. Dee had been amazed when they pulled up at the sheer size of the house, not to mention the lack of cars. In fact, only a handful of the boys had bothered to drive at all. Most had either run, carrying their dates like a horse. Conner had decided that Dee had had enough trauma than to subject her to a werewolf piggy-back ride.

“Shouldn’t we go in?” The voice was quiet beside him, hesitant, as if she didn’t really want to go in but knew that Conner probably did. He did in fact, want to go in the house. He could see the other pack members dancing through the lit windows and knew that somewhere in that big house, Rosie was probably charming some lucky fellow to death by simply smiling. After a long pause and a shaky sigh, Conner nodded. He opened the door, as Dee attempted to do but he stopped her, teasingly reprimanding her because “A lady shouldn’t go around opening her own doors. Otherwise, us men would be out of work.” Dee smiled a bit and calmly waited for Conner to come around and open her door. He held out a hand and she took it, stepping onto the damp grass.

He led her up the pathway, keeping an arm around her shoulders as she shivered in her thin jacket. He was toasty warm in his black slacks and faded red button up, collared shirt. They paused at the door, Conner taking a last chance to settle his nerves while Dee took the moment to try and convince herself to be happy for the night. The last few months had not turned out the way she had hoped. Aside from meeting Conner, the past year had pretty much been a waste. She was in college, her last year actually, studying in psychology. At the beginning of the year, she had met her Prince Charming, her perfect man, The One. But two months ago he had left her for another girl and she hadn’t talked to him since. Though she was not dating Conner, nor did she think she could--he was more of a brother than a lover--she had agreed to come to the Christmas party at his house. Conner had somehow gotten the notion that a big event with lots of people and dancing would make her feel better, if only momentarily. So far, not so great.

The door opened at Conner’s hand and he stepped inside, keeping Dee close at his side. When the door shut, he removed his arm and took a small step behind her to help her off with her coat and hung it up to the right of the door. That done, he again moved to hold her against him, serving as her walking heater. Her dress wasn’t very warm. It was white, appearing more like a man’s dress shirt than anything although it was definitely made to be a women’s dress. There was a thin piece of material tied in the middle. Beneath it, she simply wore a pair of black leggings and simple black pumps. Her dark brown hair was left down, curling ever so slightly and hanging just below her shoulders. She had chosen silver earrings, a stud in the ear with 2 thin strings of silver dangling, one about two inches, the other dangling just above that. Her make up was very light, barely noticeable.

Dee seemed quite taken with the vast amount of people congregated in the living room but Conner was enthralled with only one; Or rather two. When they had first come in, he hadn’t seen her, but he could now. Tony had Rose pulled in against his chest, tightly pressed against him. She was blushing and smiling, obviously enjoying the dance. Conner mentally sighed and tried to pry away his eyes. He began looking for his alpha. He finally spotted Cal the opposite side of the room, dancing with Elle. Conner bent his head so that Dee could hear him and quietly told her where they were going as he led her toward Cal and Elle.

Cal spun Elle around, reluctantly letting one arm fall loose so he could twirl her out. When he looked up as she spun back into his arms, Conner was coming toward him, a small brunette in tow. Cal smiled and paused his dance, looking at Elle and nodding toward Conner so she would understand why the dance was interrupted.

“Conner,” Cal greeted, nodding his head. Conner dipped his head and greeted his alpha in the same fashion. “Cal.” He paused a moment, looking down at Dee so his alphas would know the attention should now be on the woman. “Dee, this is Calvin. Cal, this is Deidra. She’s a witch but decided that the muggle professions were of more interest.” Cal nodded though he personally couldn’t see what was more interesting in the muggle world than in the wizard world. “She needed a bit of cheering up tonight so I brought her here.” He gently squeezed her shoulders and she took half a step closer to him, arms wrapped around her middle, eyes shyly sizing up the couple before her. Though Calvin didn’t look all too intimidating smiling with his arm around the waist of the beautiful blonde, he was the boss nonetheless.

“You can call me Dee. And it’s nice to meet you,” Dee said quietly. Cal smiled at her, holding out his hand. Dee let her cold hand fall into his burning one for a quick shake before he tucked it back around the woman.

“Same to you, Dee. And feel free to call me Cal. This is my wife, Elle.” Having introduced the real master of socializing, Cal stepped down from his authority and let Elle do her thing. She was much better at the meet-and-greet thing anyway.

[.Scotchy.]

Tony turned Rose around so her eyes were facing the door. She blinked seeing Conner looking right at her as he was moving another girl onto the dance floor. He turned his gaze away and focused on something else. Rose followed him to see where he was going and inhaled deeply as she saw him going directly to her parents. Introducing his new girlfriend? A new mate? She gritted her teeth and dug her nails into Tony's jacket. He took that as a good sign and pressed himself more into her, as if there was some kind of space between them. Rose didn't move away or tell him no. Her attention was far from what was going on around her. Conner had been bringing girls around here and there but none of them really carried his scent deep within them. But they did have it around their skin. She wasn't sure what he was doing to be honest. Sure she had seen some of the pack mates bringing in females every night and they would leave in the morning smelling of him completely. Was that what he was doing? Doing one girl and then moving onto the next?

Rose bit her lip. How could she love someone that does that? She shook her head. She didn't know if he was doing that but he definitely was looking close to this chick. He had his hands all over her, holding her close and giving her comforting touches. Rose wanted that to be her. She wanted to be the one in his arms. She wanted to be the one to feel his warm touches and playful tugs. Tears started welling in her eyes at the thought of another woman being Conner's. Why couldn't he be more like Tony here? Someone who isn't terrified of her father. Someone that... has their hands on her ass.

Rose pulled back and glared at Tony. Tony stood completely still terrified to move. She put her hand over his and dragged it back up to her waist. She didn't want anyone touching her like that. Well. One. But only one. Tony thought that was the end of his punishment and pulled her back in close. Rose resisted and stepped away from him, his hands sliding away from her.

"Excuse me," she mustered and turned around, her tears now rolling down her cheeks.

"Rosie! Come on I didn't mean anything by it," Tony stood there with his arms held wide, as if she was going to turn around and come running back into his arms. "Let's start over!"

_________________________

Ellendie was having the time of her life with Cal. He was actually trying while they were dancing. He held her close and then spun her out and kept her moving to the soft music. She was impressed to say the least. Before they could finish their dance Cal stopped and Elle went to whine about it, but before she got a chance he motioned for her to look somewhere else. She turned her head and her blue eyes landed on Conner who was walking towards them. Behind him, Elle could see a small brunette following him. Instinctively Elle turned to look at Rose, but Rose was already gone.

“Conner,” Cal greeted.

“Cal. Dee, this is Calvin. Cal, this is Deidra. She’s a witch but decided that the muggle professions were of more interest. She needed a bit of cheering up tonight so I brought her here.”

“You can call me Dee. And it’s nice to meet you,”The witch said very quietly, Elle actually had to slightly lean into hear any of it. Of course to the two wolves beside her they heard her perfectly.

“Same to you, Dee. And feel free to call me Cal. This is my wife, Elle.” Cal introduced her and almost instantly Elle was smiling at the new comer.

"Eet's nice to meet you," she said sticking out her own small hand to shake with her. "I 'ope tonight cheers you up a beet. Make yourself at 'ome. You are welcomed to anyzing. I'd like to 'ear about what your job ees een ze muggle world. Or what you do zere. I used to 'ave a somewhat muggle job. I deed a lot of fashion designing. Zat ees unteel I married 'im."

Elle put her hand on Cal's arm. That wasn't entirely true. Elle was a trying to design clothes during her relationship with Cal but Oliver kind of made that hard when he had a group of werewolves ruin her apartment. They tore up all her works and fabrics, killed her pets, and made it impossible for her to want to keep living there. That was when she moved in with Cal and then got pregnant with Rose. Who has time to design clothes when you are busy trying to run a house filled with werewolves and ready a nursery?

[Gin]

Though trying to keep his attention focused on the conversation at hand, Conner’s eyes diverted to the other end of the room, seeking out Rose. She was still dancing with Tony. They looked quite the couple. Tony was brawny and handsome, perfect for Rose, and Tony wouldn’t be afraid of Cal’s temper at learning he wanted to do his daughter. Conner sighed quietly and looked back to Cal and Elle.

He turned back to see Elle coming into her role as hostess. She smiled sweetly and chatted at Dee. "Eet's nice to meet you. I 'ope tonight cheers you up a beet. Make yourself at 'ome. You are welcomed to anyzing. I'd like to 'ear about what your job ees een ze muggle world. Or what you do zere. I used to 'ave a somewhat muggle job. I deed a lot of fashion designing. Zat ees unteel I married 'im." Cal straightened his neck, looking proud as Elle mentioned him, patting his arm. He really did love the woman, even though it had taken him so long to actually get the wedding planned and done. As Conner remembered, the proposal itself had been an act of desperation on Cal’s part.

Dee was smiling slightly, warming to Elle’s cheerful greeting. “Thank you. I’m actually studying psychology. I’ve already been practicing, or rather interning, at a muggle hospital on the other side of London.--”

"Rosie! Come on I didn't mean anything by it. Let's start over!" Conner’s head twisted violently to the right as his eyes went to seek out the disturbance. He knew that voice. Tony. And he knew that name. What had Tony done to her? Whatever it was, Rose was obviously not happy with him. Conner caught only a flicker of her red dress as she disappeared around the corner.

“I’ll be back,” Conner said hurriedly to his hosts. He turned on his heels and strode from the room, pushing past Tony a little more violently than he probably should have. Confused and not really wanting to stay with all these people she didn’t know, Dee followed him, meek in her walk and trying her best to keep out of the way.

The door to the library swung shut as Conner rounded the corner. He slowed his walk as he approached the door. As his hand went out to the handle, ready to turn, he heard the light click of Dee’s shoes as she came up behind him. Hand still resting on the door, he turned to look at her. There was a slightly confused and worried look on her face. “Don’t worry,” he told her. “It’s just Cal’s daughter. I think one of the guys just tried to pull something on her. I’ll just be a minute.” Dee nodded and slowly lowered herself to the floor, using the wall as a support for her back as she slid down. “I’ll just wait out here,” she replied calmly. “Take your time.”

Conner nodded his thanks and pulled open the door quietly. At first he couldn’t see Rose anywhere. There were so many places she could be hiding in the large room. Not many of the pack actually came in here so it was like her safe haven. “Rosie?” Conner called softly. He walked around, silent on the short, shag carpet, ducking his head around shelves, looking for that flash of red and her pretty face. “Come on, Rosie. It’s just me… Please?”

[.Scotchy.]

Rose found herself walking towards the library. She was wiping tears off her cheeks before they got the chance for go much further than down her cheekbones. How embarrassing would it be for one of the pack members to see her sobbing like this? All over some stupid boy. That was is. He wasn't even a man. He was a boy. He was a boy because he lacked any courage in talking to her father. He was a boy because he didn't want to fight for her, didn't really want her to be his. He was a boy because he was toying around with other women's hearts. A real man would own up to what he wants and act like he wants it instead of hiding from it. She growled slightly and angrily opened the library door and slammed it shut. No one heard it over the music and conversation. Even if they were all wolves, they were still too busy in their own lives to really notice.

She whined and went deeper into the library, letting it's darkness consume her into safety. She found an isle that was further in the back and near the wall. She leaned up against the wall and made her way down to the floor. The coolness of the wall on her back making her get goosebumps throughout her body.

This wasn't fair, Conner should be with her, he should want to be with her. She whined again and brought her knees up to her chest. If he wanted nothing to do with her she was going to have to just give up, and date others. Perhaps, even date Tony. Tony wouldn't have a problem with her being the Alpha's daughter. She wiped away more tears, sniffled and leaned her head back against the wall. It was then she heard voices.

“Don’t worry. It’s just Cal’s daughter. I think one of the guys just tried to pull something on her. I’ll just be a minute.”

It was Conner, and he was talking to-

“I’ll just wait out here. Take your time.”

An involuntary growl escaped from Roses vocals. She paused as she heard the library door open and she stiffened. Why was he in here? Why couldn't he just leave her alone? Wasn't it hard enough already that she had to see him all over her?

“Rosie?"

Rose didn't answer. She stayed in her spot, dead silent, and didn't move. Maybe if she just sat there long enough he would go away. Though he probably could smell her.

"Come on, Rosie. It’s just me… Please?”

"Why are you here, Conner?" Rose asked, her voice strained and hard. She wasn't sure why she talked, but some part of her needed him to be near her. She wanted him so badly, even if he didn't want her. "Isn't it enough that I have to see you with another woman? That I get it shoved in my face every other time I look at you that you don't want me?"

"Conner, please, just..." she sniffled and quickly wiped away more tears from her cheeks, "Go back to your date. She will be missing you."