Page 28 of Little Fury

It takes about an hour to get through this section of training. This is all to build up our muscle and stamina. Harry tells us you never know when running for your life is your only option, so you’d better be faster than whoever is chasing you. Marcus is fast, and I swear he gets faster every day.

After our warm-ups, we move into hand-to-hand training. We start with the basics: how to fall, how to fall and roll, how to block a hit, and how to throw a proper punch. So many things go into being able to fight a person and fight well. We have watched Harry and Theo spar with one another or with Wes and Parker. Every day after we are done training, they hop into the ring and show us the techniques we are learning.

The next couple of weeks pass quickly, and before we know it, school has started, and we start to divide our time between school and training. The first month of school washarder than I expected, and I cried more than once out of exhaustion and frustration. The ranch has a lot of new faces that Harry and his team work with during the day.

They keep our training closed so it's just Marcus and I and whoever is training us that day. By the time the winter holidays have arrived we are in a routine that includes school, training as well as homework and friends. Harry is adamant that we need to be able to keep friendships going; he tells us it's part of being able to blend into any situation.

Christmas was always my mums favorite holiday. She decorated the house so much that my dad would tell her that“she was lucky he loved her so goddamn much, because this level of Christmas decorating is just ridiculous.”He would also tell her he was leaving her if she bought one more Christmas decoration. Then he would help her decorate the entire house. It took them 4 days or so to do the whole house. I'd only ever really helped that last Christmas with them. They were gone before I had another chance to help.

Parker takes us into town so we can Christmas shop for everyone. He has his own shopping to do, so we go our separate ways meeting up at the coffee shop when we're done. Marcus and I shop together for everyone, asking each other if something was a good idea for someone. After we had everyone else done, Marcus and I split up so we could shop for one another.

Three hours after later, we're done and sitting together in the coffee shop eating lunch while we talked about what we got for the others. Parker got Wes this remote-control car. He also bought himself one with the hopes of having car racesaround the arcade and gym. He got some scotch for Harry a handmade scarf and mitts and hat for Beth. He won't tell us what he got the rest of the guys, saying we were too young for that type of stuff. Marcus and I roll our eyes at him and go back to eating.

Christmas Eve is spent with everyone who is on the ranch at Harry's drinking and eating. He, has it catered so the cook staff can enjoy the party and not have to worry about feeding everyone. Pretty much all the students have gone home for the holidays to return January 3rd so it's mainly all the people we see everyday. Theo and Sebastian are in a heated debate about the names of the reindeer. So, Carter decides to sing Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer.

It doesn't go well.

The three of them argue about the names of the reindeer. Parker and Wes are sitting by the fireplace, laughing at them, arguing over something so stupid. Harry and Beth are talking to everyone and being great hosts. Marcus and I are sitting on the floor near the tree, eating and enjoying it all. After everyone has eaten everything and have drunk more than enough, Harry sits down at the piano in the corner of his living room and starts playing“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”

“Ready Bethy? He asks her. She rolls her eyes at him but nods and walks over to him.

This is my favorite part. Harry plays really well, but Beth’s voice is spectacular. She sings when she cooks at home, but when Harry can convince her to sing while he plays, is one of the best things I’ve ever seen.

Harry plays“Silent Night”,“O Come All Ye Faithful”, O Come O Come Emmanuel”,“White Christmas”,“Let It Snow,”and ends with“I’ll Be Home for Christmas.”Everyone claps and cheers for the entertainment. After that, people start to migrate home. The caterers clean up aswe sit and relax by the fireplace. Once the caterers have packed up and are on their way, Marcus and I get ready to head to our house.

“You kids, go ahead. Beth will be there shortly.” Harry tells us.

“Ok,”I say, and give him a hug and wish him a Merry Christmas. Marcus does the same, and Harry gives him a back-slapping bear hug that has him smiling.

Beth gives us both hugs and wishes us a Merry Christmas and a good sleep, telling us I think in case we’re asleep before she gets home.

We wave goodbye to them and make the short trek to our house. Both of us quiet.

“Ava? “

“Yeah?

“I’m glad you are here with me for all this,” he quietly admits to me.

“I’m glad I have you here for this as well. I don’t think I would have made it this long without you. You're my best friend.”

I turn and look at him, making him stop. I walk over to him and wrap my arms around his neck.“I love you. You’re my family and nothing will ever change that.”

Christmas morning comes and none of us are downstairs before nine. Last night's festivities went late. Beth did not even get home before I fell asleep, so I have no idea how long Harry kept her at his place going over whatever was so important they had to do on Christmas eve. The three of us are just heading into the living room with a tray of hot chocolate and some holiday baking when Harry comes in.

“Merry Christmas,”he bellows at us,

“Merry Christmas,”I laugh back at him.

Beth and Marcus, both wish him a Merry Christmas.Harry joins us in the living room, walking past Beth and running his hand down her arm as he passes her.

“All right, present time!” Marcus announces.

He digs under the tree and starts handing out everyone’s gifts. Once we all have our gifts we start to open. We have never been a wait-and-see what someone else got before we open our own gift kinda group. We are a rip into our gifts and then thank and show everyone what we got. We were still opening gifts when Parker, Theo, and Wes arrive. Carter and Sebastian have family in the area. Same with all the kitchen and maintenance staff so we don’t see them until the day after boxing day.

Gifts are opened, and everyone loves everything they got. Parker and Wes race their toy cars around the house. Harry, Theo, and Marcus place wagers on who they think will win the race. They are betting with chocolates and cookies so really everyone wins. I help Beth in the kitchen; we take some cinnamon buns out of the oven and cut up some fruit. We all eat a bun and pick at the treats and cookies. The rest of the day is spent playing cards and games. Dinner is early and it's delicious. Beth had the caterers also make everything for our dinner except the turkey and the gravy. All the other stuff just needs to be heated, and dinner is ready.

We sit at the table, eat, and laugh, enjoying each other's company. We play a couple more games of cards; around 9 p.m., Theo, Wes and Parker say their goodbyes and head out. Carter always has a party on Christmas after everyone is done with family things. Marcus tells the guys to take him, but they just laugh and tell him to ask again in five years.

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