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The cousin trio seemed to be at it again, hosting a party they figured very few people would attend. This time it was a fairy tale theme; sloppily made cardboard castles were stood up. Some had draw bridges, some had open doors; some even had painted windows. It seemed to have depend on which child had made them. The invitations had been carefully written out by Reiya this time; the three obviously assumed that it was Howl's fault hardly anyone had come to their last party. His handwriting was impossible to read.

"So you think it's good enough?" Reiya asked, showing her sister one of the invitations. "I'm really hoping everyone comes this time."



"They will," Sammi assured her twin. "We didn't spend so much money on food this time anyway." Each child was dressed as one of their favorite fairy tale characters. "Mom said if no one comes, we'll just have a party between friends. Aunt Stasia's supposed to come." She had opted to dress as one of the more popular nursery rhymes; she was dressed as Little Miss Muffet. She was wearing a pink and white checkered dress that almost reached her knees. Its short sleeves puffed in a way that made her uncomfortable. There was an apron tied around her waist, with an embroidered spider on it. She had a big pink ribbon in her hair. To set the whole look off, she wore white tights and pink flats.

Reiya too, had opted for a more traditional costume. She was Little Red Riding Hood. She wore a red cape that reached to her elbows when tied under her chin with a red and white checkered dress. It too, belled out just before her knees. In truth, it looked quite like the one her sister was wearing, without the spider. On one arm she carried a basket, in her other, she was holding the hand of a squirming toddler.

"I dun wanna be your wuff!" Devin protested. "I wanna play! Lemme play!" He had on gray footed pajamas and a painted on wolf face. Obviously an adult had done this, because it had the look of a perfectionist at work. In his hair was a band with two pointed gray ears attached. "I dun wanna be your wuff! Lemme go!"

Reiya sighed. "Devin, you know we promised you candy after the party," she reminded him. "Everyone's going to be coming, so you'll get tons of stuff." She wasn't above bribery, especially when it came to younger cousins.

"Not too much..." Howl muttered. Speaking of Howl--the poor wizard. He had been forced into a prince's outfit; quite literally forced. He was supposed to be the Beast after he'd transformed, and he looked the part. His blond hair had been pulled back into a short ponytail. He was wearing a blue tailed jacket trimmed with gold. Underneath was a white t-shirt. He wore black slacks and fancy trimmed brown boots. "I don't see why I had to dress as a Disney character..." he grumbled.

Sammi grinned. "You look nice, Howl," she said. "Besides, Beast's the only prince who even remotely resembles you. Maybe someone'll come as Belle."

Alome seemed hesitant to go to another party so soon. It had so awkward at the last outing, she was so very concious of everyone around her, and didn't move that much, even when her baby cousin got up on stage and sang his little heart out.

But today, she seemed a bit more willing to go just for fun. Especially since it involved dressing up~ Today, she was wearing the most adorable Belle ball room dress, along with her hair pinned up as best as she could with the short hair that she had. She felt a bit silly wearing something so shiny, but she still loved it... She REALLY hoped no one else chose her same outfit.

In her arms, she held a little bunny boy. Well, not a real bunny boy, but an adorable little infant dressed like a white bunny. It was the ever shy Irae, who was clinging to Alome. His outfit was made by the ever crafty Noel, who stood infront of the two. He was dressed as the white rabbit from Alice in wonderland, complete with a fluffy footie outfit and cute whiskers painted on his face. In his arms was not the normal pineapple plushie he carried around, but a cute little plush clock.

"We's late~ We's late~" He sang, giggling and he snuggled his big cousin, who responded with a squee and a hug.

Noel, himself, was dressed as NoFace from Spirited away. He was.. very creepy to say the least. But he had fun with the outfit.

They entered the house, as seeing the door was open, began to part ways.

Irae, on one hand, was now standing near the music box (the stereo) and was humming. He didn't know the name of the song, but it was programmed into his systems. It was so cute!! Each time he tried to dance, the cute little bunny tail bounced around~

The pseudo Belle couldn't believe her eyes. There he was!! The prince! The beast returned to human.. Oh gosh.. And guess who it was, too.. Howl of all people!

Actually.. This could work out pretty nicely, as long as that witch Sophie didn't come.. Alome practically fluttered over to Howl, smiling shyly.

"You look handsome, Howl.. And it suits you really well.. You should wear your hair in a pony tail more often~"

Noel was sulking though. It wasn't fair!! Domi NEVER went to these sort of things, so now he was here, sulking, sipping a soda that was watered down with the melted ice in his cup..

(Seperating things to avoid confusion with families.)

"Hey Eve," Sammi said, giving her friend a smile. "Glad you could make it. You look really nice. What fairy tale person are you?" She didn't recognize it. Was it one of Grimm's? Or someone elses' work? "I'm Miss Muffet," she confided. "But I don't have the curds and whey, you know. I've heard they taste really bad." She looked to Ivy and gave the woman a smile. "I don't need to ask who you are," she said. "Puss in Boots, right? He's one of my favorites." She didn't mention that said fairy tale happened to be one of her favorites because of a certain fondness she had for cats.

Reiya was amused by Ivy's outfit, but said nothing. It was always better to keep adults happy. "If you want, my parents will be joining us shortly. I know my mother would enjoy meeting you. You'll know her when you see her, really--the elf dressed up like a fairy." The girl rolled her eyes at her mother's choice of an outfit. "Uncle Zee won't be though. I thought you guys would get along--but he's been sick for a long time. This is my cousin, Devin," she introduced, glancing at the toddler by her side.

"Candy now, Rei?" Devin asked. "Play now?" Reiya glanced around the room to note where the children around Devin's age were. There were only two so far; many more had been invited. She knew Niko was supposed to arrive late with Demyx.

"Sure. Go play with Irae--or that little boy over there," she pointed to Alazne, clearly mistaking the infant for male. Oops. Devin made his way over to Irae, who was closest.

"You a bunny," he observed. "Hop like thith!" He demonstrated how he thought a bunny should hop; both feet together, hands out in front of him. "I a wuff! Grrr! I gonna eat you! I eat ev'rybody!"

Howl had spotted Alome straight away. Far from his norm of confidence, he blushed slightly. This was awkward, being caught by a friend in an outfit he really wished he wasn't wearing. "Thank you," he muttered. "You make a beautiful Belle." Which was actually a statement that repeated itself; Belle meant beautiful. Oh, why couldn't he have been some fairy from Wales instead? "So how've you been? I got your letter."

"Oh look, Howl! I told you someone would be Belle!" Sammi pointed out. "Hi Alome! Awesome costume!"

~~~~

Loki entered the room, trying to fix his untamable hair to no avail. It was supposed to be settled underneath the feathered cap he was wearing. He was dressed as Robin Hood; all in browns and whites. He wore a brown jacket with a belt that went around it--a white tunic laced with black string lay underneath. Lighter brown pants accented the look, as well as his brown boots. "Hey Howl," he greeted his favorite cousin. "Nice costume. Sammi, Reiya," he addressed the two girls with a nod.

A cute, shy giggle emerged from Irae's throat.

"Bunbun Hop hop!! I late!! I late!!" exclaimed the little vocaloid, bouncing around wolfy-Devin. He froze in his tracks, however, when the little one told him that he was going to be eaten!

He turned to the little elf, tears brimming at the corners of his eyes.

"N-no eat me pwease!!" He begged, holding his hands infront of him in a begging position, "No eat me, and I wuv uu forebber!!"

Irae's arms went around Devi, and he hugged him tight. "No no no eat!!"

~~

"Um... T-thank you.." A light blush dusted her cheeks as well. Beautiful? That was a bit much for her! Maybe nice, maybe even pretty. But Definitely not beautiful.. "I didn't think... Um.. Anyone would Choose anything from Beauty and the Beast.. Especially since so many other Fairy tails were much popular than this one..."

When the letter was brought up, her gazed turned to land on the little, tender-hearted bunny boy that was in her care at the moment.

"I'm sorry I didn't reply.. Alot has been happening in these past few weeks... And I meant everything I said in those letters... It may seem pessimistic.. But There are just some things that can make a person change.. Even someone as young as we are.. "

She returned her gaze to the wizard before her and shook her head.

"We're not at a party to be sad. We're here to have fun, are we not?" Her demeanor changed near instantly, almost proving that she was pushing her thoughts to the back of her mind. She had no right to try to make other's understand how she felt. It was her burden and her's alone to bear.

"So... Who decided to throw this thing anyway?"

"You're welcome. I don't know the exact name of it, but it was in Brothers Grimm," Eve shrugged at the mention of a contest. She didn't really care if she won it or not as long as she could have fun playing with her friends.

Ivy blushed a little under the make up on her face, "Eve's nanny is very gifted at making people look like characters. I simply hope Eve enjoys herself during the contest."

Ivy didn't nod, but she understood what the woman behind Reiya meant by the gesture. She really did look like a fairy, like the ones she read to Eve about. The asassin merely smiled gently when Reiya jumped.

"My daughter was quite excited when she got the invitation." Ivy shook hands with Thali, "Ivy, and likewise." She hadn't said her last name as she didn't trust anyone enough tell anyone it besides her family and child. "Tea would be wonderful please." Ivy didn't drink kool-aid as she prefered tea or water. Perhaps Eve may have some of their creation later."

Ivy smiled at the names of the drinks that it seemed Thali had thought her daughter would make.

Devin's voice drew Ivy's attention away as it did Eve's. Ivy smiled warmly as she gently moved her daughter's arms from around her leg.

Eve pouted at her mother's attention, but glanced at Devin. A smile came to her face when she saw Irae with him. Eve hadn't seen him in a while and walked towards them to play. She didn't know what a Pinata was, but it did sound fun to her.

Ivy turned her attention back to Thali and her daughters, letting her own daughter be on her own for a bit.

"We are late." The tall, dark-haired fae was far from amused with his small posse that he was walking with. "Your lack of punctuality is rubbing off on me, little one. If we are not able to attend because of-" Matthias started his lecture, but was cut off.

"Matth, chill. It'll be fine." the half-elf teen said, rolling her eyes. Unlike her tall, dark, and uppity friend, she was in costume. The girl was dressed as Tinkerbell, much to her friend's chagrin. "And as for you, Aebie, you need to smile some. It's a party, you're supposed to be having fun! I mean, your little friend from next door even came along. No need to be so grumpy."

The little girl scowled, hiding her eyes behind her raven curls. "Look stupid." she said, her voice low and threatening. The poor little child was dressed up as a mermaid, little pale belly showing and everything. She was NOT a happy camper about it, either. Poor little girl looked absolutely miserable and mad as a hornet. She tugged down on her little swimsuit tanktop, frowning at the stubborn material.

Meanwhile, said "little friend" was busy trodding along happily beside the adults, looking around. It was hard to see the boy through the little plastic suit of armor he was wearing, but he didn't seem to mind. In fact, the suit kept the meanie sunlight away from him, so he could come to the party! "Yay!" he chirped, dashing forward as they reached their destination.

Behind the group, Milo lurked about. The boy looked just as miserable as the little baby girl; dressing up in costumes was stupid! The boy had been forced into rabbit ears by his aunt, and was now stuck as the White Rabbit from Alice in wonderland. How humiliating! "I hate you all." the boy hissed, glaring at all of them. Oh, just wait till he grew larger! He'd have his revenge, mark his words!

"I'll look it up," Sammi assured her younger friend. She would have kept talking if something else hadn't caught her attention. Pointed ears twitched. She turned, and made a beeline for the door. Kitty? Kitty was here? And Milo too, she could hear him! She opened the door with a smile. "Hi Aunt Stasia," she greeted her aunt casually. Tinkerbell? Stifling a snicker, she looked to two of her favorite people in all Gaia. "Kitty!" She greeted him with both a wave and a smile. She didn't even mind that he hadn't worn a costume--he probably had fairytales written about him anyway. "Hi Milo!" Again, no comment on the costume. She narrowed her eyes at Stasia. Clearly her Milo hadn't been able to pick his own costume. "Come on in," she added, before going to Milo and taking his hand.

"Come on," she whispered. "Maybe we'll have a better costume for you in the boy's rooms." Poor Milo! Having to be a character that made even toddlers look silly.

"She will," Reiya said with a smile. "All the kids who enter get a prize, really. We didn't want anyone feeling left out--but. There's going to be something extra special later on. I'm not allowed to talk about it; it's Sammi's idea." She glanced at her mother. "Uncle Matthias is here," she commented. "Aunt Stasia, too."

"Peppermint alright? I have peach too," Thali said conversationally. "I'll go see if there's enough candied cherries and grenadine for at least a few shirley temples." The elf made her way to the kitchen, silently hoping that Matthias would not be offended by her costume. She was just putting the kettle on when she noticed something. Something was out of place; not the way she'd left it. "Alright Risa, I know you're here." The teddy bear shaped cookie car'd had its hat removed. Meaning it's lid.

"How'd you know it was me?" came a voice. "It could have been Joshua, Kaleb or Vincent easily."

"I suppose it could have," Thali mused, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "If they weren't off camping with Aindreas. Where's your costume?" She studied her friend with a critical eye.

"I came as myself. It counts, most fairy tales were originally part of history anyway. Is Matthias here yet?" At Thali's nod, the fae wandered into the livingroom. The elf shook her head and grinned. You could always tell a fae who worked in a candy store; they were always eating something sugary. She glanced at the cookies she'd made the night before. Oatmeal coconut, a favorite of her husband's for some reason. Thali would never touch them, personally.

Risa had never seemed to like them either. Then why... Was the fae pregnant? Oh well. Now wasn't the time to be thinking of that sort of thing. Thali took the tea off the burner, poured a cup of tea, and re-entered the livingroom. "Hope peppermint's alright, had a bit of a distraction in the kitchen," she said, offering the cup to Ivy. "Would you like anything in it? Sugar?"

Devin pushed Irae away gently. "Ew. No luv me, I got Mommy and Daddy luv me." He wasn't used to such affection, and was a little disturbed by it. He was used to sibling love, which usually meant one of his siblings was teasing him; or the love his parents lavished on him, which usually meant he got whatever he wanted. Speaking of his parents... He thought he heard Mommy's voice at the door! "Mommy!" he cried, racing to Stasia. "Mommy! I gonna eat you! Grrr! I a wuff!" He attached himself to her leg. "I mithed you, Mommy." He was completely oblivious that he'd left Eve, too. Toddlers and their short term memories...

~~~~

"Nice to meet you too, Alome," Loki said with a smile. Loki had caught a glance of Milo's costume. He smirked. Then he snickered. And then, he was doubled over, laughing. His twin looked hilarious! He would have said something to that effect if he hadn't seen Aesica. Which caused an end to his laughter almost instantly. "Aesica!" he said, standing up straight and making his way to her. "You make an awesome mermaid," he observed. "Want to play some games? I"ll win you something." Maybe he could win her another doll.

Howl nodded. "Yeah, a rose," he said, before frowning. "Once, I would have agreed with you," he confided. "I know better now, now that I've experienced it. You haven't found your special someone yet, but you will. Eventually, everyone finds someone they love. Even heartless wizards. I think you need to find the firedemon who holds your heart, and ask for it back."

Loki was horrified. His eyes went wide as he looked towards Alome. "You don't believe in love?!" he demanded, from his place next to his favorite aunt (Stasia). "How can you not believe in love?! It's all around us! It's everywhere! In the songs we sing, in the presents we give, in the people we care about!" If one would have guessed what kind of fae Loki happened to be, they probably wouldn't have been far off.

Eve was a little hurt, but hid it behind a smile. She looked around for anyone else that she knew. She didn't want to bother Reiya and Sammi. Irae seemed to be happy to see whoever was in the armor and she didn't want to distract him from that.

Eve's eyes went over and saw what she thought was the mother of her first friend and walked over, wanting to say hello.

Ivy nodded and went to look around to keep herself busy. She glanced at her daughter and sighed as she knew that Eve would play with someone her age or a little older when she was able to interact them.

She chose to wonder around a bit, hoping her child enjoyed herself and didn't stick to her side as she had often done before.