Welcome to Gaia! :: View User's Journal | Gaia Journals

“Matt, put your game down and come help us decorate the tree,” Alice said, smiling. It was Christmas’ Eve and, as instructed by L and Watari, they were decorating the tree. Matt nodded, putting his game down, and walked over to Alice, who handed him some of the plastic tree balls.

“Start hanging those up on that side, Matt. Mello, hang that ornament over there and be careful with it. It’s very fragile.”

Mello nodded and careful hung the ornament where he was told to. Alice smiled as Near untangled the popcorn string and handed it to her. “Oh. Thank you, Near.” He nodded and started placing some ornaments on the tree as Mello bumped into him, knocking the ornament Near had out of his hand. “Watch where you going, Near!” Mello yelled as the ornament shattered against the floor, “Uh oh.” Alice sighed and shooed them away from where the ornament fell. “You guys stay right there and don’t move. I need to clean up.” Alice walked into the kitchen and pulled out the broom and dustpan. She swept up the glass into the dustpan and disappeared back into the kitchen. When she came back, she looked at the children on the couch.

“Okay, you guys. Back to work.” She said as they jumped down from the couch and walked over to the tree. She grabbed Mello by his arm, “I need to talk to you.” Mello looked up at her and smiled.

“What is it, Ali?”

“You need to apologize to Near. You know you bumped into him.”

“No I didn’t. He bumped into me!”

“Mello, don’t lie. I saw you.”

“I’m not saying sorry to that weirdo!” Alice sighed and led Mello to a corner. “Stay right there until I come to get you. We’ll just decorate the tree without you.” Alice walked back over to the tree as Matt placed the last ornament on the tree. “All done, Ali! Look how pretty it looks!” Matt smiled as Alice smiled as well.

“Yes, it is pretty, Matt,” she said, picking up the tree topper, a gold star, “Now, who’s going to put the star on?”

“I want to!” Matt said as Mello ran up to Alice.

“No way! I want to! I want to put the star up!” Alice looked down at him, “I thought you were in time out.”

“Ali should put the star up.” They heard a small voice said. Everyone looked at Near as he smiled. “This is her first Christmas with us. Let her do it.” Mello walked over to Near and stared at him. Near looked back at Mello, “What are you looking at?”

“I’m looking for the string that we pull to get you to talk.” Alice pulled Mello’s ear, “Maybe we ought to put you on the tree, Mello. You’d be a good angel.”

“Ow ow ow! Let go, Alice! That hurts!” Mello yelled, trying to get away as Matt laughed and Near handed Alice the star. Alice smiled and placed the star on the tree.

“There we go. All done. How does it look, everyone?”

“I like it, Ali,” Matt said as Near nodded.

“Yea, it’s ok.” Mello mumbled as Alice looked at her watch, “Ok, you guys. It’s almost time for you to go to sleep. I’ll fix each of you one cup of hot chocolate each then it’s off to bed, ok?” Mello smiled as Alice walked into the kitchen. Matt sat on the couch with his game as Near sat next to him and Mello on the other side of Matt. “I wonder what I got for Christmas…” Mello said.

“Probably more German chocolate…” Matt sighed, “… or maybe a dentist appointment.”

“That’s not funny, Matt! You know I hate the dentist!” Mello yelled as Near sighed to himself and played with his hair. Mello looked at Near, “Do you have something to say, Near? Huh?” Near looked over at him, sighed, and looked back over at the tree. Mello growled a bit as Alice came back with four cups of hot chocolate.

“Here we go, guys. Hot chocolate with marshmallows.” She smiled at them as each of them took a cup. Alice sat next to Near as someone knocked on the door. “Oh. I’ll get it,” Alice sighed, standing back up and walking to the front door. As she opened the door, a gun barrel was shoved into her face.

“Don’t scream or I’ll shoot your brains out,” the man at the other end of the gun said as Alice nodded, “Listen. I’ve heard that that detective L lives here. I came here to avenge my brother. Where is he?!” Alice swallowed hard, “L? He isn’t here, sir. It’s just me. I’m the housekeeper.”

“Don’t lie to me, woman! I know L is here!!” Alice took a step back as the man fired a shot near her foot.

“Now, where is L?!” He yelled. Alice prayed that the children don’t show up right now. The man took a step inside and held the gun at Alice’s forehead.

“I will ask you again: where the hell is L? And if you don’t answer me, I’ll kill you.”

“L is-”

“Ali! Can we have some more hot chocolate?” Mello asked, walking into the hallway with Matt and Near following him as the man grinned. Alice turned her head slightly and mentally cursed herself. Mello took a step back as he saw the man point the gun at him.

“Fine. If you won’t tell me where L is, I’ll just kill one of them until you do.” Alice stepped in front of gun and stared the man in the eyes.

“My name is Alice Fairbrook and I will guard these children with my very life… I am their guardian angel.” The man laughed and shoved Alice into the wall.

“Some angel. You’re too late! He’s dead!” The man pulled the trigger, gun facing Mello. As Mello closed his eyes with tears running down his cheeks, he heard something hit the floor. He opened his eyes and saw Alice on the floor in front of him, clutching her left shoulder as blood dripped down her arm. “Alice!” Mello yelled running up to her.

“Don’t move, Mello!” She yelled as he stopped, “Mello, take Near and Matt and run from here. I’ll take care of him.” Alice staggered to her feet as Mello took Matt and Near and ran towards the back of the house. The man pointed his gun at the children again as Alice round-house kicked the gun out of his hand. The gunman glared at Alice as she continued kicking him with the skill of a capoeira master. Ignoring the burning pain in her shoulder, she kicked the man in the chest, knocking him through the door as the police surround him with their weapons drawn. Alice sunk to her knees, breathing hard as the police arrested him and dragged him away. She sighed, stood up, and fixed the door back on the hinges and sat back down at the bottom of the stairwell. The young woman flinched as the pain in her shoulder came back and she started towards her bags. She kneeled down and pulled a small medical kit. As she started disinfecting the wound and pulled out the bullet, Mello, Matt and Near walked up to her with a sober look on their face. Alice looked up at them, “Oh. Hey.”

“Ali… why did you do that?” Mello asked, tears running down his face as she wrapped her shoulder, flinching slightly.

“I did it… because I don’t see you three just as little kids. I see you guys as my little brothers and I would never let some crazy man take you away from me.” Alice smiled, pulling her arm into a sling, “Now then, are you guys ready for bed?” Before she knew it, Mello had hugged her tightly around her neck, knocking her over. “Huh?” Alice asked, looking down at him.

“T-t-thank you for s-saving me-me-me, big sister!” Mello cried as Matt and Near hugged her as well. Alice sighed and hugged them back with her good arm. “Alright, alright. Come on, you guys. Bed time.”