Hi...well looks like that variable fell through, so heres the little epilogue I've made you wait so long for. It's really just for fun, since I've already wrapped up the story so...enjoy!

Their house had been completely transformed by Christmas. Blue and white lights lit every ceiling, evergreen branches hung above doors, gingerbread candles burned with an innocent glow. The best part was the living room.

The tree towered to the ceiling, filling the room with the comforting smell of pine. Lights in all the colors of the rainbow glittered on the white, gold, and silver ornaments. Strings of popcorn (made by him) and candycanes completed te most amazing Christmas tree he had ever seen. The very sight of it made his young heart beat fast with anticipation of the morning when he would race down the hall to see presents piled in shining heaps beneath its branches. That tree made him almost believe that Santa Claus really would drop down that chimney.

Violet eyes widened as he sensed the arrival of seven people, three of them children. He was already racing for the door when the bell rang, and he threw it open before five seconds had gone by.

Every one of them jumped, taking a step back and staring at him. A flush rose to his cheeks as he realized what he had done. The only thing that kept him from running away was his mother's hand on his shoulder.

"Come in! You must be exhausted from that horrible trip!"

Their surprise vanished, and in a split second, the entryway erupted with sound. Timmy kept his hands tightly wound into his mother's velvet maternity dress.

"Raven! It's so good to see you again!"

"I'm freezing my ass off!"

"Watch your mouth, Gar! Amber's already picking up on your filthy language!"

They were ushered into the front room, where dufflebags were piled and coats, gloves, and hats were shed. The chatter grew to a dull roar as the wild excitement of meeting old friends simmered down. His papa came out of the kitchen, slapping the red-haired man on the back. Timmy was not forgotten; papa's gaze soon fell on him.

"Alright, let's have everyone's names!" He took his son by the shoulders, untangling his hands from Raven's skirt. "This is my son, Timothy Allen Grayson." Timmy waves awkwardly, face bright red.

The red-haired man stepped forward and shook his hand. "Hey, Timo!" A carefree grin split his face-Timmy sensed his almost frigthening energy. "I'm Roy, this is my wife Kori." The woman with equallly bright hair and vivid green eyes hugged him tightly. "This is my daughter Britney, and my son Cameron." A girl slightly taller than him and nearly identical to Kori waved shyly, while a boy with strawberry blonde hair stared at him with hostile, dull green eyes.

Before Timmy could even take in their names, the blonde woman was rufling his hair. "I'm Tara, and the green guy is my husband Gar, and my daughter Amber is the obnoxious one." Gar waved with a half-hearted smile, while the girl stopped yacking to Raven and fixed her emerald green eyes on him. Hair so deeply green it was almost black fell forward on he forehead and grazed the top of her shoulders. She was barely shorter than him, but infinitely smaller. All of the above gave her the appearance of a wood fairy, or maybe a water nymph...

"Stare hard, retard!"
The words shocked him out of his daze and heated his face once again. It was undoubtedly an insult, but the way she was giggling wasn't hostile. In the next instant she had grabbed his hand and dragged him away from the adults. He faintly heard Tara cooing over his mama's belly.

"When are you due?"

"February 24..."

The rest of the conversation was lost to him as Amber shut the door. "Let's go to your room," she insisted, waiting impatiently for him to lead the way. Rubbing his hand through his hair nervously, he led the way, wondering what she was plannning to do once they got there. Hiding in his mom's skirt sounded pretty good right about now.

Amber marched stright over to his meticulously made bed and flopped on it, grabbing a pillow and hugging it to her chest. The intense eyes still hadn't left his face.

"So do you talk or what?"

He was getting tired of blushing. "I do," he said defensively, staring down at his shoes.

She laughed, and instantly he slipped back into the daze. Her green eyes sparkled with a light that only comes from complete confidence and took control of his mind as it reached out to hers, probing, searching...he brushed the edges, opened the door-

She shivered, back suddenly rigid. "What did you do? How are you doing that?"

He flinched, withdrawing his mind. "I'm sorry...I-I didn't mean to..." Here it comes, he thought. Now she'll call me a freak...

Then he realized she was not accusing, but curious. "Is that your power? What is it?"

His eyes widened in surprise, studyding her face and wondering how much he should say. She patted the bed beside her, and he slowly sat down. "Um...my mom calls it a mind meld. I guess I just sense things about people through their thoughts and memories."

"Whoa...you read minds?" Her smile widened in awe. "Awesome!"

He nodded, choosing to leave it at that. He didn't want this sweet girl (who didn't hate him yet) to know anything else about his powers.

"Ok, tell me what I'm thinking right now." She closed her eyes, concentration wrinkling her forehead.

Timmy took a deep breath, reaching out to Amber with his mind. It was easier this time because she was open to him, and before long he ran into a sentence. I like your eyes.

The mentioned eyes nearly popped out of his head; his face felt like it was on fire as a mischievous grin spread across Amber's face.

Maintaining the connection, he focused on sending a thought to her jsut like his mom had taught him. I like yours, too.

The smile was sweet this time as a hint of color crept into her cheeks. So what do you think of everybody?

Uncertainty lingered in his mind, until he remembered that emotions transfer as well as thoughts. ...Your mom's nice.

No sound came from her mouth, but he distinctly heard her laugh and felt that surge of confident happiness through their connection. Daddy's not so bad once you get to know him, but I hate Cameron and Britney. They're such spoiled brats! Theiir parents give them everything they want.

Oh. Timmy's face fell as a sudden and disturbing thought occurred to him. What if Amber thought the same thing about him?

I don't. Amber shifted onthe bed, returning the pillow to its rightful place and giving him her full attention. "Why are you so nervous, anyway? I like you just fine, and I bet other people would too if you would talk more. What are you scared of?"

Timmy fixed his eyes on his hands, blinking furiously. Great...now he was going to bawl like a baby. "I don't know," he mumbled, knowing that he could never make her understand. No one ever would, just him and his mom.

He was shocked to feel Amber's thin arms pull him into a surprisingly strong embrace. "Well, don't be. I'll be your friend for always, and when stuff makes you scared, I'll be there to help. Ok?" She pulled back, giving him a reassuring smile.

Overwhelmed and fighting tears, he could only manage a very small, "Ok."

At that moment, they heard a knock on the door and Raven poked her head in. "Dinner's ready, kids."

Amber took off with a whoop of delight while Timmy was still untangling himself from the bed. His mom shut the door and stood nest to him. "Is everything all right?" she asked, smoothing his hair back with a cool hand.

He smiled slowly, thoughts lingering on everything that had happened since the day his father missed his graduation. Thinking of his papa, his mom, and now Amber, he was surprised to find that the answer was...

"Yeah." He leaned against her soft dress, but no longer felt the urge to hide in it. "Yeah, it is."