1.87.1 F: Silver Bells/Realm of the Muse

Silver Bells
City sidewalks, busy sidewalks
Dressed in holiday style
In the air
There's a feeling
of Christmas

Children laughing
People passing
Meeting smile after smile
And on every street corner
you'll hear

"Busy day for him." Niko kept his voice quiet as he spoke, the sight of his brother with his sleeping son in his arms, one he wasn't ready to see interrupted.

"Busy day for all of us." Luka shifted slightly in his chair, before returning to the soothing act of rubbing Joe's back.

"It was a good day, Luka." Pushing off the doorframe, the elder of the Kovac sons moved to take a seat in their father's chair.

"How could it be a good day?" Luka's voice held disbelief as he began to respond.

"We buried Tata, Joe's separated from his mother at a time when he needs her the most. My wife started drinking again because I abandoned my family..." His words drifted off as they failed him.

"It was a good day because we came together as a family for Tata. Luka, I know we've had our differences over the years, I know we didn't always agree with Tata's treatment, but, we put all that aside today." Niko's voice remained low as he spoke.

"I'm sorry Abby couldn't be here with you, I'm sorry Tata never had a chance to meet her and your son, but, he sees them now, he sees them with you, and he knows how much they mean to you, how much you love them and they love you." He paused, and in that moment of looking up at his brother he caught a glimpse of him much younger, and though his look was the same, his family was larger.

"Luka, you were meant to be a husband and a father and Tata was so happy for you when he learned that you would know that feeling again. That never changed because he hadn't met them. If he wanted one thing for you, this was it, and now, everyday from this one forward he'll be with you, just the way Danijela and the kids have always been with you." Niko found a smile surfacing even as he fought to hold back his own tears.

"I've always been jealous of you, maybe that's why I was angry at you for leaving when you did. I wanted so badly to have what you had, and now, I see it in you all over again." His smile faded, as he finally put to words the resentment he'd held onto for so many years, and that which had caused the rift between them.

"You've been given a gift Luka, a gift that I still can only dream of, and I envy you that, but, if anyone deserves it, you do." Niko finally paused to let his words settle, and for several minutes the only sound in the small room was that of of the Christmas carol playing on the radio. It was hard to know what his brother was thinking, the wall that the other had built up to hide his emotions seemed to be wrapped tightly around him as he held his young son.

Silver bells, silver bells
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling, hear them ring
Soon it will be Christmas day

Strings of street lights
Even stop lights
Blink a bright red and green
As the shoppers rush
Home with their treasures

Hear the snow crunch
See the kids bunch
This is Santa's big scene
And above all this bustle
you'll hear

"Luka, as hard as it might be for you to do, it's time you started looking to the future instead of always living in the past. You have so much to look forward to, trust me, everything is going to work out with you and Abby, you have too many angels watching over you for it not to." It didn't surprise him that Luka remained silent as he finished, or that he seemed to hold his young son that much tighter. What did surprise him were the tears that wet his cheeks as his head rested against Joes, and he couldn't help but wonder if God's newest angel weren't already working his magic on both of them. Looking past his brother, Niko found the night skies brightest star, only to whisper.

"Merry Christmas, Tata." Yeah, it was a good day.

Silver bells, silver bells
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling, hear them ring
Soon it will be Christmas day.