Chapter 13: The Christmas Party

Imagine, if you will, a Brooklyn loft, where the owner is hosting a party. It's a Christmas party, but in name only. More than that, it is a gathering of friends and colleagues, a time to be thankful for those who are still there.

The host is sitting with his boyfriend, a blue-skinned baby in his arms. Standing next to them is a woman who also has blue skin, albeit lighter. She takes a turn holding the baby, bouncing him and laughing. The boy's fathers smile as their son gurgles out a laugh.

Near this group is a girl who looks similar to one of the boy's fathers, with the same dark hair and cameo beauty. She is talking with a young man wearing a Star Wars t-shirt. With them is another couple: a girl with tan skin and dark curly hair in a ponytail, and her boyfriend, a tall man with a scar across his cheek. Flitting in and out of their conversation is an Asian girl with hair dyed blue and spiky black heels. She and the curly-haired girl seem to have some sort of camaraderie between them, though even an outsider could tell it is far from effortless.

Near them, more watching the party than joining it, is another couple. The woman is tall with dark hair and ancient eyes that don't seem to match her youthful appearance. Her partner, an Asian man with a shock of silver in his dark hair and silvery markings across his cheekbones, has a similar feeling of age. Sometimes, the host comes to talk to them, but for the most part, they remain in the background, watching and murmuring memories to each other.

Another couple dances, not caring that they're the only ones doing so. The girl, a petite redhead, laughs as her tall, blond boyfriend whirls her around the open area they've decided to commandeer as a dance floor. Watching them with smiles is an older couple. The woman is an older version of the little redhead, while the man bears no resemblance to her but clearly sees her as a daughter. He puts an arm around the woman's shoulders, squeezing them slightly. She leans against him with a smile.

The night passes. The host gathers everyone for a round of caroling. The boy in the Star Wars t-shirt stumbles his way through the unfamiliar songs. His girlfriend guides him through the songs she knows, although she has trouble with more modern carols. The host sings louder than everyone, but his boyfriend doesn't sing at all, holding the baby and smiling as if he could think of no where else he would rather be.

The blue-haired Asian girl is the first to leave. She embraces the host first, then shares slightly more tense embraces with his boyfriend and the curly-haired girl. She and her boyfriend are the next to leave, begging off with talk of responsibility and duty that they'll have to face in the morning.

Next to go is the couple with the old eyes. They thank the host, both embracing him, before leaving arm-in-arm. The blue-skinned woman leaves right after them, then the older couple embraces their daughter before slipping out as well.

Only seven people remain now, one of them a baby who's just drifted off to sleep. The host's boyfriend brings him to the bedroom. A tiny cat slips out of the room while the door is open. The host scoops him up, nuzzling him. When his boyfriend emerges from the bedroom, the host hugs him as well, whispering something that makes the boy's blue eyes light up. The two tell the others to be careful and slip into their bedroom, closing the door behind them.

Now there are four people remaining. The music is off and the only sound in the room is their conversation. The boy in the Star Wars shirt and the redhead are talking with a familiarity born of years of friendship, while their partners tease each other as only siblings do. Finally, they drift off to the spare rooms, going to bed as well. The blond boy turns off the lights as he leaves the room.

Outside the loft, snowflakes are just beginning to fall, creating the perfect picturesque scene. And inside the loft, everything is just about perfect too.