David Russell stood, almost knee-deep in snow, looking at his old home.
For years he had seen this place, this childs haven, when he closed his eyes at night.
But this small mountain shelf had become blurrier in shape, and less frequent over the years. Something, even now that he was finally standing here he did not know what, had compulsed him to come here tonight.
The night was already arriving, and he could see the dusk falling.
He longed to reach out and touch this dream house, just to make sure it was true and real.
He could still almost hear the constant pitter patter of feet coming and going. The gentle padding of Rufus' paws, and the constant noise of Sybil and Rix fighting.
More blurred, but still there buried somewhere, were distinct moments.
His Mother gathering him up in her arms and explaining what a baby sister was, or seeing his Auntie Jo kiss doctor Maynard, and Jo blushing wildly when she realised she had been seen. Or the time his parents had kissed him goodbye and told him to be a good boy- he hadn't seen either of them for months after that. It wasn't until much later that he had realised the danger they had all been in at that time.
Die Rosen was not merely a house he realised, it had been a home.
Then he saw a light being switched on in the front room. There was a fire blazing, with four scarlet stockings hanging over it. There was a big sparkling tree in the corner, and angel sitting atop it.
There were two puppies curled up in front of the hearth.
This was not the old home of his memories.
He sighed, but then a small smile turned up the corners of his mouth.
This was no longer his home, but it was still a family home.
A home filled with the love, it had always nurtured.
"Merry Christmas" he whispered, to his memories.
He turned and walked away, finally able to move on from his past, and ready to find happiness in his present.
Edited because this santa is getting their Russells and Bettanys mixed up
That was really poignant but really Christmassy too *beams*