The Hasson Home

[Ling Xiaoyu]

It was early Saturday morning at the Hasson residence, as Eric slowly woke up from his slumber the previous night. Peering next to him, his wife remained sleeping which was normal since Eric is usually the first person up in the house. Smiling at his wife, he gently pressed his lips against her forehead before carefully getting out of the bed, cautious to not wake her up.

Eric walked into the restroom to freshen up, take a shower along with his regular routine. After his shower, Eric placed on a grey t shirt and black shorts. He combed through his hair, and through his beard that he took pride in growing, though he keeps it low and maintained.

He walks down the hall past his children's room where he knew they wouldn't be up for a few hours, Valerie gets up first before her brother who sleeps like a bear during hibernation. Once in the kitchen, Eric makes coffee for himself, and tea for Ely since he knows she's not too fond of coffee.

Although today may seem normal for most, it is not the case for Eric. As today is his birthday, knowing his family he knew that they would plan something for his special day.

Pouring himself a cup of coffee, Eric sat down by the table in the kitchen, reading the comics in the newspaper, as he enjoyed his time to himself for a while before his family wakes up, and the fun will truly begin...

[Anna Leigh Williams]

Elysium eventually woke up, rubbing her eyes. She rose up to see that Eric was not there, but the familiar scent of black tea called her to the kitchen... She put on a robe, running her hands through her long, dark hair. It had been many many years since she had colored her hair blonde.

She gently picked up her mug, and sipped the beverage. She smiled a little, "Good Morning..." She smiled, giving him a kiss, "Happy birthday..." She said.

"After I go to Daddy's gravesite, I will give you your gift!" She said, smirking. Christopher Williams had passed away six months ago, and Elysium was crushed. So much, that she ended up retiring early... She managed to cope, though, and is doing well considering... "Are the kids awake yet?" She asked, sipping once more.

As she asked the question, she noticed her son, Martin, walking through the kitchen like a zombie. His longer hair was messy, and he wore a grey t shirt with black shorts. He started making himself coffee. "Good morning, sweetie." Elysium said with a smile. Martin just grunted, and walked to the living room with his coffee.

[Ling Xiaoyu]

"Thank you sweetie.." Eric replied to his wife, kissing her soft lips gently. She mentioned about giving Eric his gift after visiting Christopher's grave site, which is something that Eric himself still had trouble believing.

Sure, in the beginning their relationship was a little rocky, but after the birth of Valerie and Martin, and between marrying Elysium, Christopher and Eric developed a close bond, to a point where Eric looked up to Chris as the father he never really had.

It was still a tragedy to even mention that he is gone..

"Now, I'm not going to let you visit Dad on your own Ely. The kids and I are going with you. My gift can wait love.." Eric responded, before getting up from the table and pulling his wife into a hug, holding her close to his frame.

As he hugged his wife, he noticed his son coming downstairs, "Morning bud!" He placed a kiss on his wife's cheek, making his way over to his son, playfully ruffling his hair, "You were never a morning person, hehe even when you were younger.."

---

Shortly after her brother, Valerie made her way downstairs to join her family. Her long light brown hair was pulled up into a messy bun, she was wearing a blue shirt with matching shorts.

"Happy birthday Daddy!" Valerie exclaimed walking over to her father, giving him a kiss on his cheek. She greeted her brother, who looked like he's seen better days.

"Morning Mom!" Her voice reciprocating the same cheerful tone as she gave her mother a hug and kiss on the cheek before walking over to the cabinet to make herself a bowl of cereal...

[Anna Leigh Williams]

Elysium smiled warmly, "They don't have to, not if they don't want to..." It was always hard before, going to the family gravesite. Not only was her father and grandmother buried there, but her mother aswell.

Soon, Valerie came in aswell. Elysium smiled at her daughter. "Good morning, Valerie.." She leaned against the countertop.

"Martin, make sure you're back here by three. Your dad's birthday party will be starting then!" She said. Martin came back, pursed lips. "I'll be there..." He said, quietly. "But not for too long. Emma said she needed to talk to me and James before she goes back to Rome." He said.

"Well... Today is about your father, and... I was hoping we'd all spend time together... Especially with Marcella and Celina too...?" She said, feeling disappointment in her son's priorities. "Emma is with Anna, and Anna will probably be coming...." Elysium looked at her husband, "I may have let it slip, sorry..." She laughed a bit.

Martin drank his coffee, and then took a deep sigh, "It's important. If you want me to follow in the family footsteps, I gotta make sacrifices..." He said. "You were the one who appointed Emma the new leader after Grandpa died. I'm her right hand, I have to go."

Martin paused, "...Besides. I figured Dad and I could do some target practice after my meeting with her." He gave a very brief smile to his father, before walking back to the room.

Elysium took a deep breath, "I swear... He's just like me at that age..." She shook her head.

[Ling Xiaoyu]

Eric smiles at his son, playfully ruffling his hair again, "Hehe, I'll hold you to that deal son. I'm always down for a little target practice."

He walks over to his daughter, kissing her gently on the forehead, "Morning sweetheart." Walking over to the counter, Eric managed to fix himself another cup of coffee before hearing the doorbell ring..

"Hm? I wonder who that could be.." He responded, sitting his cup of coffee nearest to the counter, proceeding to walk towards the front door. Through the tall doors, Eric could see that the person behind it was his mother.

Opening the door, Eric couldn't contain his happiness as his brown eyes laid on his mother, his arms stretched out to hug her, holding her close to his frame...

"Mama, it is so great to see you! I didn't expect you being home so early from your trip!" Eric exclaimed as he let go of his mother, but managed to hold onto her hands..

Valerie, whom Eric's daughter is named after, smiled at her son. "Now, you know a trip to the States is far less important than my son's birthday!"

"Hehe, I'm glad to hear it. Come, Ely and the kids are in the kitchen if you want to see them!" Eric responds, as he closes the door behind his mother, locking it before following her into the kitchen to join his wife and children...

[Anna Leigh Williams]

Elysium smiled when she saw Eric's mother. "Valerie, it's so good to see you again..." She gave her mother in law a hug, and looked at her husband, "I'm going to go change, then I'll go to the site, myself. You should spend all the time you can with your mother!" She said, with a smile.

"I'm taking a quick flight to Dublin. I'll be back, in time for the party!" She said to her mother in law.

Martin returned, presumably from a shower. His hair was wet, and combed back. He wore a simple black t shirt, with dark jeans, and a leather jacket. He also wore a pair of black combat boots. "Grandma!" He gave a little smile, and waved. "How long are you gonna be in town?" He asked.

[Ling Xiaoyu]

"Can I come with you?" Eric responded to his wife, sending a playful wink in her direction obviously having other intentions in mind. Eric's mother noticed his actions, grabbed a nearby newspaper, rolled it up and playfully hit him with it.

"What, Mama? You were married before!" Eric exclaimed, his mother responded by placing her hands on her hips, "Yes, I was to your father but I never played my flirtatious cards while you were around!" Her blue eyes motioned over to her grandson, who just so happened to come back from what appears to be a shower.

Eric was now confused, and thought his whole childhood was a lie. From what he could remember, his mother and father could barely keep their hands off of each other. But now a simple flirtatious gesture to his wife sends him to the dog house... by his own mother.

"Martin! How are you sweetie?" Grandma Val responds to her grandson as she opens her arms to hug him tightly. Martin asked about how long she would be in town, to which she giggled and lowered her voice, "Don't mention it to your father, I wanted to surprise him but I am thinking about moving back home to Sweden.."

---

"You're thinking about doing what??" Valerie exclaimed before looking over at her brother and grandmother, she couldn't help but to overhear their conversation, to which she couldn't contain her excitement!

Valerie and her grandmother are extremely close and it took a toll on her when she decided to move to the states a few years ago. Getting up from the table, Valerie walked over to join her sibling and grandmother..

"Natalia! Shh... I don't want your father to know about it yet.." Grandma Val responds, as she looked around breathing a sigh of relief that Eric went upstairs with his wife so he couldn't hear her comment, or so she hoped...

[Anna Leigh Williams]

Elysium walked into her bedroom, quickly stripping her robe and undergarments off. After a quick shower, She slipped on a black pantsuit, and spiked black stilettos. She waved her long, dark hair at her vanity. She took notice of her mother and father in the framed photo before her. Her eyes watered, as she touched her fingers to the ornate frame.

She turned off the curling iron, and set it in the heat safe drawer. She then ran her fingers through her hair, and wiped her tears away.

She felt guilty, feeling this way on her beau's birthday... That made her feel even worse as she began to cry. These months have been hard. Her father meant the world to her. Her heart hurt not just for that, but for her brother and sister as well... They lost him at such young ages. She took a deep breath.

---

Martin smiled, "That's great, grandma..!" He pulled away from the uncomfortable embrace, smoothing his jacket out and his hair. "I got--" Martin was interrupted by the ring of a doorbell. "Excuse me..." He said, walking to the door.

He opened it, to see the striking red image of his distant cousin, Emma Wolfe...

[Ling Xiaoyu]

Eric followed behind his wife shortly thereafter her shower, when he walked into the room he could smell the sweet fragrance of a soft cashmere perfume his love would always wear.

He joined her near her vanity, Eric always enjoyed spending time with his wife. But, this time however was completely different. As he walked over to his wife, he could already sense her sadness. She put on a brave font, which is something that Eric could see through like glass.

He knew she was hurting. Sure, today was his birthday but that doesn't mean anything to him unless his wife is happy and well. Eric calmly took his wife's hand, helping her out of the chair and pulled her into his arms.

He held her for as long as she wanted him to, no words were needed to understand the pain Ely was currently going though. He wrapped his arms around his wife's waist, while his other hand ran through the locks of her dark hair.

Eric hated seeing his wife like this, he fought back tears of his own as he searched for the strength to hold it together for the both of them..

[Anna Leigh Williams]

"Hello, Martin..." Emma had waist length, wavy red hair. Her clothes and lips matched in fashion. She was tall, for a woman, and had pale skin and dark green eyes. "We need to speak, especially with your sister..." Emma entered the room.

Martin noticed she held a folder in her hand. "This will be a message I need you both to relay to James and Celina aswell... It involves them almost directly."

---

Elysium silently cried, as her husband held her. She sighed, pulling herself away. She wiped her tears, and touched up her makeup. "Thank you..." She said. "I'll be back before you know it..." She kissed his cheek, rushing out the door.

"Thank you for coming Valerie, I'll be back soon! Kids, behave!" She said, running out the door....