FAMILY

S3 Round Robin (2025)

Chapter 1

Mel

 

“Are the candles ready yet?” Jacob Wells asked, entering the chamber.

Rebecca turned, setting a set of four tri-colored candles in one of the baskets set around the room. Stray pieces of graying blonde hair stuck to her forehead; the steam from the wooden vats filled the chamber with a light haze.  “Almost, Jacob, but they need to dry.”

The eight-year-old frowned. “But Samantha and Kipper already have theirs.”

“Have patience, son,” Vincent said, coming up behind the child. His lips lifted into a grateful smile at his friend. “Rebecca is working very hard; we mustn’t disturb her.”

“Sorry, Rebecca,” Jacob mumbled.

“It’s all right, Jacob. I know how exciting it can be,” Rebecca said as she returned to her work. “Your batch should be ready in about ten minutes or so.”

Jacob glanced back at his father. “Is Alex here yet, Dad?”

“I believe your mom is leading your Aunt Susan and Alex down as we speak,” Vincent said.

“You’re two-thirds correct,” a voice called.

Vincent spun, startled, just as his son shouted, “Uncle Devin!”

The mid-forties old man stooped down and scooped up the kid. With a large grin, Devin ruffled his nephew’s blonde hair. “Hey there, kiddo. Man, you’re getting so big.”

Vincent merely watched as his older brother continued to play with his son. Dressed in faded blue jeans, a green shirt, and a light brown jacket, Devin stood out amongst the usual attire for those who called the tunnels home.

Though his visits had become a little more frequent (especially after Charles passed away), a visit every two to three years or so rather than a decade, it still seemed like a miracle each time Devin Wells returned to the tunnels below the city of New York. 

“We didn’t expect to see you until next month,” Vincent said. 

“Yeah, well, I wanted to surprise you. Even told Pascal to keep the pipes quiet about it,” Devin said, setting Jacob back down.

“It certainly is a surprise.” Vincent smiled and turned to the two other guests. In the semi-darkness and backlit, he would have almost mistaken the older Bennett sister for his wife. But Susan’s red mane was darker and grayer. Her face was also tanner from seeing the sun, rather than being hidden away in a loft or underground with porcelain skin.

“And Susan, Alex, how wonderful to see you both as well.”

The oldest Bennett sister smiled. “Thank you. It’s nice to be here.”

“Are the candles ready?” Alex asked Jacob.

Vincent’s smile broadened as he glanced at his niece-in-law. The excited glint in her eye as she and Jacob began chatting together belied her age of twelve years. But then Winterfest, like Christmas Above, seemed to bring out the childlike qualities of everyone.

“They still deliver those candles to the Helpers?” Devin asked.

“Yup,” Jacob said, standing tall with pride. “And this year, I get to go on my own-”

“Hey,” Alex cut in.

Jacob glanced down, his pale face pinkening. “With Alex.”

“Ah, would you mind if your old Uncle tagged along?” Devin asked. “I haven’t done it in years.”

Jacob glanced up at his dad. In those hesitant blue eyes and human face, Vincent saw his first love and Jacob’s birthmother, Catherine. In the eight years that had passed, the agony of Catherine’s death had faded to a dull ache, healed by their son, Jacob, and the auburn-haired angel who now captured his heart.

“It’s a generous offer, Devin. But I did tell Jacob he could go on his own this year… with his cousin, of course, Alex,” Vincent amended with a smile.

“Jacob,” Rebecca called, poking her head out into the hallway. “Your batch of candles is ready to take.”

It took only a minute for Jacob to collect the basket filled with the tri-colored candles with an ease uncommon for a child his age.

“Do you have the list, Jacob?” Vincent asked.

“Yes.” Jacob set the basket down and pulled it from his pocket.

“Perhaps you can give the list to Alex to hold,” Vincent suggested.

“And Alex, you both stay close together,” Susan said firmly.

“Yes,” the children chorused.

“Can I at least take you to the exit?” Devin asked. 

“Yes, please,” Alex said, pulling her black hair back into a ponytail. “And you have to finish the story of when you were in Kenya.”

Vincent watched the children and his older brother leave, allowing himself a moment of pride even as his heart ached. It was the perfect family picture—a human father and son going on an outing together in the middle of the day. His hands slid over each other in a nervous tick, more conscious of his fur and lion features than he cared to admit.

“Hm, you know,” Susan said, breaking into his thoughts. “I think my daughter has a crush.”

“Devin is a good man.”

“So Diana said.”

Vincent turned, a fresh wave of concern coming over him. “Susan, is everything all right? Why wasn’t Diana with you?”

“She said she’s not been feeling well,” Susan said, adjusting her suitcase. “But and I quote, ‘that it’s nothing to worry about.’”

Vincent gave a brief nod. It would be just like Diana to downplay an illness, but something in Susan’s tone suggested something else. Not for the first time did Vincent wish that he and Diana shared the mystical bond that had once linked him and Catherine, and now their son and he together. He always knew the second Jacob felt unwell, frustrated, happy, or any other emotion one could name, no matter how far away they were from one another.

With Diana, proximity and physical touch allowed their shared empathy to reveal their inner selves to each other. But that only worked when Diana was home, and a recent case had taken her Above for the last month.

“Well, then, I shall go see her.”

“Oh Vincent, wait,” Rebecca called. She returned a moment with a wrapped gift. “You forgot this.”

Vincent took the package with a small nod. “Ah, yes, thank you, Rebecca.”

His friend smiled and then returned to her work.

“And here I thought my sister had moved up from being a Helper,” Susan said.

“Once a Helper, always a Helper,” Vincent said with a teasing smile. Neither Bennett sister seemed to miss anything as he tucked the wrapped candle into his cloak.

“Shall we?” Vincent asked, gesturing her forward. “We have the guest rooms all prepared for you and Alex.”

As they wandered back to the main tunnels, Vincent heard the strains of music coming from the great hall.

XxX

“How are the rehearsals going?” Father asked, entering the chamber later that afternoon as the children’s choir and musicians left.

The new music teacher, Rolley, turned toward the patriarch of the tunnels. “It’s fine. I’m just not sure they will be ready for Winterfest.”

Father smiled. “Please don’t be stressed. There will be other times for the children to perform. And we also have a special artist.”

Rolley raised his eyebrows.

Father grinned. “You. Your music is still the greatest I’ve heard.”

Rolley scuffled. “My music? I’m nothing but a trained parrot.”

Father stepped forward, placing his hand on the younger man’s shoulder. “You are much more than that, Rolley. Look at what you’re giving to the children here. And you can certainly compose your own music. But if you don’t want to do a solo act, then you don’t need to.”

Rolley shrugged, uncertain.

“Huh, wish I heard some of that growing up,” Devin said.

Father spun, laying a hand over his heart, blinking as if his eyes deceived him. “Devin, what are you doing here?”

“Apparently, I’m giving my old man a heart attack.” Devin’s grin slipped into concern. “Ah, sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you like that, Father.”

Father shook his head, both exasperated and fondly. “You were always giving me heart attacks; why stop now? I think I’m strong enough to take it.”

“No, no, I’ll be good.” Devin hopped down the stairs. His eyes widened. “Since when did you get a grand piano down here?”

Father glanced at Rolley. “Mouse was able to obtain it years ago and our new music teacher here makes wonderful use of it.”

Devin smiled as introductions were made. “Hm, you know I never tried to be a musician before… or a teacher, come to think of it.”

“I’m not much of one myself,” Rolley said. His hand slid over his stomach to quiet its rumblings.

“Come now,” Father said, gesturing back to the entrance. “I think William can scrouge up some leftovers from lunch. But please be on time, next time.”

Devin gave a mock salute. “Aye, aye, sir.”

XxX

Diana Bennet stared at her computer unseeingly. The last notes of her case had been handed into her office earlier that day, yet she kept typing. The click, click of the keyboard grated on her ears and nerves, but it was better than looking at the timer every five seconds.

Diana’s back stiffened as her eyes darted back to the clock but then gave a deliberate shake of her head. Don’t look too early, Bennett. It’s not going to change the-

Creak!

Diana’s head snapped up, catching sight of Vincent as he descended from the roof and into her loft.

“Have I disturbed you, Diana?” Vincent asked.

“No, Babe. I was just finishing some stuff.” She minimized the digital page and spun around in her chair as he moved further into the room. Her lips lifted into a light grin. “I need to oil that door one day. And hm, I was expecting Ja… what is it?”

Blue/hazel eyes held Vincent’s sky-blue gaze for a moment, feeling him drink her in before looking away.

“Forgive me, Diana,” Vincent began. “I know you prefer solitude when working on a case, but Susan said you’ve been unwell, and I… I just wanted to be sure you were… um well…. after you didn’t come home.”

“I’m sorry.” Diana stood but made no move to approach him. “I just haven’t been myself lately.”

“In what way?” Vincent asked.

Diana shrugged, uncertain how to explain it. The last case had just finished had been intense (as they always were), but this one had left her even more physically drained and… nauseous.

Vincent took another step, withdrawing a wrapped package from his coat. “I might have something that will make you feel better.”

Diana grinned. “I thought Jake was delivering the candles this year.” At the mildly confused look, she clarified, “I think he’s been talking about it since last Winterfest. Is he out now?”

“Yes.” Vincent glanced at the microwave clock before he went and sat on the couch. “I believe Jacob and Alex should arrive at Joe Maxwell’s apartment in five minutes.”

Diana grinned.

For as long as Jake had been discussing when he would deliver candles alone, Vincent had been preparing his list of the Helpers. The DA Joe Maxwell and the returned Elliot Burch were on the list. If Vincent was going to let his son go, he needed the added comfort of those most trusted of the Helpers to keep an eye on the child they all cared for. The child who held Diana’s heart as surely as if she had given birth to him. The day she officially became his mother was one of the happiest in her life. And now…

“Are you cooking something?” Vincent asked, removing his cloak. “The timer is on.”

“No.”

Vincent glanced over at her, confused.  

“Uh, sorry.” Diana scrubbed her hand through her auburn hair with a huff. “It’s just been a long day. Haven’t been sleeping much, I guess.”

Vincent nodded. “Did you finish the case?”

“Yes, it was a tough one.” Diana stifled a yawn and averted her gaze to avoid his eyes. She knew her husband loved her but also found her lack of personal care when she was on a case frustrating. But killers and those human beasts who committed the cruelest of acts weren’t pausing in their crimes so she could get proper sleep.

“So,” Diana said, as she came and sat beside Vincent, “is this my invitation?”

Vincent nodded as he unwrapped the now familiar orange, yellow and white candle.

“Thank you.” Diana leaned over and kissed his cheek while her fingers absentmindedly twirled the candle. “Hm… did Rebbeca change the sizes this year? It seems bigger.”

“We sometimes like to surprise our Helpers with little changes,” Vincent explained.

“Ah.” Diana paused, her lips lifting into a grin and her voice had a teasing tone. “And I thought I had graduated from being a Helper four years ago when we said, ‘I do.’”

“Your sister said much the same thing.” Vincent returned the smile and sat down next to her. “And so, you have ‘graduated,’ my love, look.”

On the bottom, a tiny orange rose was carved into it. Her fingers slowly traced the symbol while her eyes shifted toward the red and white rose bush across the room. At times, it still took her breath away that Vincent, with his feline features and striking blue eyes that reached deep into her soul, had fallen in love with her and taken her as his beloved wife and mother to their son.

 And yet this love they shared had only come about because of a tragedy that even little Jacob or their new love could never fully heal. Diana understood Catherine’s logic at the time, and everything else had been out of her control. But now….

I can’t make the same mistake, even if I’m wrong, Diana realized and stood. “I… I actually maybe… um…”

Why was she stumbling over her words when it could be nothing? Taking a deep breath, she went over to the kitchen island and slid the box Susan had delivered closer to her just as the timer buzzed. She felt Vincent’s eyes tracking her; this close, she felt his concern at her odd behavior.

“Diana, what is that?”