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Christmas 2004

D ressed like one of Santa’s elves in a red Santa shirt with a short red miniskirt, and her favorite pair of scuffed-up black combat boots, Simi danced around the poor sick children in the hospital, singing Christmas Carols with them.

Akri sat on the floor, surrounded by children while he played his black guitar and sang chorus to the Simi’s lead. They were right in the middle of Put a Little Love in Your Heart when she saw a tall, dark-haired man in the doorway.

At first, she thought he was Nicky until she realized that this was the Dark-Hunter akri had met a while back.

Jamie Gallagher. A former gangster in one of them big cities. Chicago, if she remembered correctly.

But he wasn’t stationed here in New Orleans, so she couldn’t imagine what had brought him here now.

Back in the 1930s gangster days, the poor man had been betrayed and then shot dead on his way to the hospital while his wife was having their baby.

She still remembered how sad akri had been on that day when he went to meet Gallagher for the first time after he became a Dark-Hunter. He’d felt so terrible for him.

And so did she. No one should die before they gots to see their simi. Just as no simi should ever lose a parent.

It was obvious by the Dark-Hunter’s pained expression that the sight of all these babies upset him. No doubt he was thinking of the night he died.

Akri had his back to Gallagher and couldn’t see the bemused expression on his face.

The nice, wonderful doctor lady came up behind Gallagher and smiled at Simi while she sang. “Now there’s a sight you don’t see every day, huh? Two punked-out Goths throwing a Christmas party for sick children.”

Those words amused Simi. Dr. Wilson said that about them to everyone she saw. Simi wasn’t sure why, but she enjoyed the fact the doctor thought they were strange.

“You’ve no idea,” Gallagher said to the doctor.

She smiled. “I have to admit it took me some getting used to them when I started working here a few years ago. I thought the higher ups were joking when they first told me about the Goth Guardian Angel and his children’s fund.”

Gallagher arched a brow at the nickname. “So he comes here a lot?”

Yes, they did. It’d been something she and akri had done for as long as Simi could remember.

But not always this hospital. There were lots of them that they visited.

The doctor nodded. “Every few months or so. He always brings gifts for the children and staff and then plays with the kids for a while.”

Gallagher appeared stunned by something that was second nature for akri. “Really?”

“Oh yeah. We figure he must be some rich kid with a need to do some good. The darnedest thing is whenever he comes, the kids become perfectly calm and serene. Their blood pressure goes down, and we never have to give them any painkillers while he’s here. After he leaves, they sleep comfortably for hours. And best of all, the cancer patients go into remission. I don’t know what it is about that young man, but he really makes a difference in their lives.”

That’s because the doctor didn’t know akri was a god who cared about others.

And so did she.

The minute akri realized he was being watched by one of his Dark-Hunters, the light went out of his precious eyes. The humor faded and akri stiffened noticeably into that grim, take-no-prisoners leader that he always appeared as to his Dark-Hunter soldiers.

Still, he continued to play the guitar so that Simi could finish her song.

But once she was done, akri handed his guitar off to one of the older children on the floor and excused himself.

He stood up and left the room with a loose long-limbed, predatorial gait that made everyone around him so nervous. Akri’s face was unreadable as he crossed his arms over his chest and approached Gallagher.

Simi stayed inside the room and showed the boy akri had given the guitar to how to play a couple of basic chords. While she was doing that, the cutest little toddler boy came over and squatted on her lap.

“Hello, little simi.”

He smiled up at her. “Jingle bells?”

She laughed at the sweet cherub who kept saying that. So she began to sing it for him.

Simi didn’t know why, but she really loved this baby. He was always so very sweet and cuddly.

Once akri was in the hallway and while she played with the baby, Gallagher let out a snide laugh. “St. Ash, who knew?”

Akri ignored his comment. “What are you doing here?”

Gallagher shrugged. “I was just passing through.”

Cocking his head, akri grimaced. “Passing through? Last time I checked Chicago was north of Baton Rouge, not south.”

“I know. But since I was so close, I just wanted to stop in at Sanctuary and wish everyone a Merry Christmas before I headed home.”

As they talked, Simi remembered that this was the Dark-Hunter who’d broked their code last summer when his wife had died of old age. Against all their rules, he’d gone to see her.

Akri had been furious. So much so that they’d gone to him immediately so that akri could have words with Gallagher.

Only once they got there and akri saw how upset the Dark-Hunter was, he’d calmed down and decided to overlook the breach.

While akri may not have ever loved a human woman, he understood how hard it was to lose what you loved. And that always softened his heart.

Just like now. She saw the anger leave akri’s eyes. “Tell you what, since you’re here, why don’t you just stay on until after the New Year?”

Gallagher scoffed at that. “I don’t need your pity.”

“It’s not pity. It’s an order. Since Kyrian retired, Talon could use an extra hand. Things get rather rowdy this time of year. Lots of Daimons head down south where it’s warmer and people are out for New Year’s.”

Gallagher’s gaze turned suspicious. “Are you full of crap or what?”

Simi came out into the hallway where they were, with the little boy, Ben, on her hip.

He was such a doll that she had one important question. “Akri, can I keep little Ben?” She patted the plump leg that was exposed from beneath his hospital gown. “See, he good eating. Lots of fat on this one.”

Ben laughed at her teasing because he knew Simi would never really feast on someone so young. Especially him because he was so sweet.

“No, Simi,” akri said sternly. “You can’t keep the baby. His mother would miss him.”

She pouted. “But he want to go home with the Simi. He said so.”

“I do! I do!”

“No, Simi,” akri repeated.

Simi huffed at him. “No Simi, no food. Nag, nag, nag. Does your daddy nag you too?” she asked the boy.

“Nope,” he said as he pulled at one of the black-and-red horns on top of her head.

Akri sighed. “Simi, take the baby back inside.”

Irritated, she moved to stand in front of her akri. It was time to pay him back for being so mean to her. “Okay, gimme a kiss and I’ll go.”

He looked extremely uncomfortable as he glanced at Gallagher, then back at her. “Not in front of the Hunter, Simi.”

Shaking her head, she rolled her eyes at the Dark-Hunter. “The Simi wants a kiss, akri. I’ll wait all century. You know I will.”

To say he looked peeved was an understatement. He leaned over and kissed her quickly on the brow.

Simi beamed proudly, then trotted off with her newfound baby to sing another round of Jingle Bells . Even so, she could plainly hear the men in the hallway.

“Who is that?” Gallagher asked. “Or should I say, what is that?”

Akri’s gaze turned angry. “In short, she’s not your concern.” He rubbed his hand over his forehead as if he were in pain. “Where were we?”

“I asked why you were giving me temporary duty in New Orleans.”

“Because Talon could use a hand,” he repeated.

“I wonder what Talon would say?”

“He would tell you not to piss me off.”

Gallagher gave a half laugh at that. “All right then. I’ll take it under advisement.”

Akri turned so that he could watch his Simi. “You can camp with the Peltiers at Sanctuary. Right now, I better go and help her before one of those kids ends up on a milk carton.”

Simi snorted at his humor as she set Ben down and picked up an adorable little girl who wanted to dance with her while she sang.

Akri quickly took the girl away while the Dark-Hunter wandered off.

“What’s he doing here, akri?”

“His great-granddaughter is in the hospital, and he’s breaking rules again.”

Simi widened her eyes. “What?”

Akri sighed. “Her friend was attacked, and Jamie saved her. They’re about to meet even though I know they shouldn’t.” He brushed his hand through his long hair. “That’s the hardest part for the Dark-Hunters. So long as they have direct descendants still living, it haunts them. And it’s hard for them to resist the urge to check in on their family, even though it hurts them.”

“You’re not going to punish him?”

Akri shook his head. “You don’t understand human pain, Simkey. It’s horrible to lose what you love. I won’t hold it against him. He deserves to be able to say goodbye to her.”

That was why she loved her akri. His heart was one of the kindest she’d ever met. He always thought of others.

And she would keep an eye out for Mr. Gallagher because akri was right. No one should long for their family and not be able to talk to them. She couldn’t imagine anything worse.

Three days later

Leaving one of her favorite restaurants that had closed early, Simi was on her way to Sanctuary for their annual Christmas party when she saw Gallagher walking down Chartres.

Poor human. He looked terribly despondent. Kind of how she felt whenever she ate too much and there was still more good eats left that wouldn’t fit in her belly.

Kind of like now.

It was Christmas Eve and the last thing she wanted was to see someone so sad on what was supposed to be one of the bestest holidays.

Obviously, he needed a friend.

“Hel-lo!”

He paused at the sound of her voice. Turning around, he scowled as she approached him. “Hi.”

Simi bounced up to him. “What’cha doing out here all alone? Did you forget how to find Sanctuary?” Because he was headed in the opposite direction.

“No. I wanted to be alone for a bit.”

That was terribly sad. She cocked her head and frowned. “Why? Were the bears mean to you? Mama can get a bit cranky whenever I play with the cubs. She thinks I’m going to eat one, but bleh! They’re way too hairy. Now if she’d let me skin one first, the Simi might be interested.”

He laughed. “Are you joking?”

“Oh no. I never joke about hairy food. It’s disgusting.” She looked up at him. “If they weren’t mean to you then why did you leave when they have a party going on?”

“I don’t know. I guess I didn’t feel right being there.”

That made no sense to her whatsoever. While Mama Lo could be a beast at times, the bears as a whole were wonderful. And so were the Dark-Hunters and others who came every year for the big bear party. “Why?”

He shrugged, then changed the subject. “What are you doing out here by yourself?”

“Not much. Akri is off with that red-headed demon, so he said the Simi could go play just so long as I don’t eat nothing not cooked by a human. But all my favorite places are closed now, so I thought I’d go find the bears and see if Jose, since he’s human, would make me up something good that wouldn’t make akri mad if I ate it.”

“Akri is Ash?”

It always amused her when others were confused by that. “Yes.”

“And the red-headed demon?”

How could he not know who that was? “Artemis the bitch goddess. You know her. She’s the one who stole your soul.”

“She didn’t steal it.”

Pfft on that. Akri said that was all the heifer goddess ever did was steal the souls of desperate people.

So Simi blew him a raspberry. “Of course she did. She steals everything.”

Standing up on her tiptoes, she stared into his dark brown eyes.

“Hey,” she said, taking his chin in her hand so that she could move his head back and forth while she examined him. “You’re hurting in there. That would make akri very sad. He doesn’t like for his Dark-Hunters to hurt, and the Simi don’t like it when akri is sad. Why are you hurt?”

“I miss my family.”

That she completely understood, and it made her heart ache that he knew her pain.

Releasing him, she nodded sympathetically. “I miss mine too. My mama was good people. ‘Simi’ she would say, ‘I love you.’ Akri loves me too.”

“I’m sure he does.”

With a smile, Simi tilted her head down so that he could see her horns which were covered by her bestest gift. “See, akri even gave me hornay warmers so my horns wouldn’t get cold. You want some hornay warmers too?”

The look on his face said that this had to be the oddest conversation of his life. “I don’t have horns.”

“You want some?” she asked hopefully. “I could give you some real colorful ones. Akri has some black ones, but he doesn’t let other people see them.”

“Ash has horns?”

“Oh my, yes. They are quite lovely. Not as lovely as mine, but they are still very nice. The Simi would say she hopes you see them, but if you ever did, you’d be dead, and I think the Simi would miss you. You seem very nice, too.”

And that made her want to make him happy.

She knew just the thing. Biting her lip, she rummaged around in her giant, over-sized, beaded purse that held the presents she’d brought for those at Sanctuary.

There were so many …

Hmm. She knew the one she wanted, she just couldn’t find it.

And then she did. Smiling, she pulled out an oven mitt that looked like a fish. Perfect!

She handed it to him. “That is quality. From QVC. My favorite place. Do you watch QVC?”

His frown deepening, he shook his head. “No.”

“Well, you should. Akri says I watch it too much, but he never complains when I shop there. They like me, too. Put me on television and call me Miss Simi. I like that.”

He handed her the fish back.

“Oh no, that’s for you . Presents make people happy. The Simi wants you to be happy.”

And still he looked a bit confused by her present. “Thank you, Simi.”

“No need to thank me. See that’s what families do. They take care of each other.”

His eyes darkened with sadness. “I no longer have a family. I had to give them up.”

Simi tsked at his untrue words. “Of course you have a family, Gallagher. Everyone has family. I’m your family. Akri your family. Even that smelly old goddess is your family. She’s that creepy old aunt who comes around but nobody likes her, so they make fun of her when she’s gone.”

He laughed again. “Does Artemis know you say that about her?”

“Of course. The Simi say it to her face all the time. That’s why akri told me to come play while he’s with her. He don’t like it when we fight.” She took his hand into hers. “Now listen and I’ll tell you what akri once told me. We have three kinds of family. Those we are born to. Those who are born to us and those we let into our hearts. I have let you into my heart, so the Simi is your family, and she won’t give you up. If you are sad right now, then I’m thinking your family is still in your heart, too, and they are taking up so much room that you have no room for anyone else.”

His lips trembled. “I can’t give them up.”

“And you shouldn’t. Ever. No one should ever forget those they love. But it’s like with QVC—whenever the Simi fill up my room with too much stuff, akri builds me another room. Somehow there’s always space for more. Your heart can always expand to take in as many people as you need it to. The people who live there, they don’t go away. You just make room for one more person and then another and another and another. See how easy?”

With her arm in his, Simi walked him down the street. “Don’t you want Simi to be your family?”

He paused as if he was thinking.

Simi leaned forward and whispered loudly, “This is the part where you say, ‘Yes, Simi, I would like to be your family.’ ’Cause if you don’t then I’ll have to take my mitt back and barbecue you. Akri is still upset about the last Dark-Hunter I barbecued and that was… oh, a thousand or so years ago. He part elephant when it comes to remembering things. So tell me, do you want Simi to be your family?”

Nodding, he smiled. “Yes, Simi, I would like to be your family.”

She beamed. “Good. You’re such a smart Dark-Hunter.”

Without another word, Simi led him to Sanctuary.

She opened the swinging door and stood back, waiting for him to enter. Loud music thumped as they entered the bar and grill. There were four hawks lined up on one curtain rod, dancing in time to the rocking Christmas carols the Howlers—all in human form—were singing while Dev Peltier played the piano. A white tiger was lying on its back on the sofa while Marvin the monkey jumped up and down on its belly.

Aimee Peltier, who was in her large bear body, was feeding two baby cubs peanut butter sandwiches. Tabitha Devereaux, a red-headed woman with a scar on her face came up to them and grabbed Simi into a hug. “Hey little demon, where’s boss man?”

Simi shrugged. “He off attending to Lord Queen Pain-In-My-Butt. How are you, Tabitha? Is your sister and Kyrian coming?”

“No, they’ll be here tomorrow. Morning sickness hit Amanda as they were leaving, but Talon said he’d be here just as soon as he could.”

Tabitha pulled her away from the Dark-Hunter so that they could do what Tabby called “girl chat.”

Simi looked back to see Gallagher watching the revelry. There were all kinds of Were-Hunters, Dark-Hunters, demons, humans and even a Daimon.

All enemies and yet, for this one special night, they were all being friendly and nice. Because they were bound by something other than blood.

They were bound together by their hearts.

And Simi smiled as Colt, another bear Were-Hunter, went up to Gallagher. Unlike the other bears, he wasn’t family per se. Rather the Peltiers had taken him in after his mother had been murdered.

He’d been here ever since.

With a cocky grin, Colt pulled a pineapple mitt out of his back pocket. “Man, Gallagher, you must really rate. You got one of the good fish. All I got was a lousy pineapple.”

Simi laughed.

Gallagher scowled at his words. “Does she give one to everyone she meets?”

“Nope. Only family.”

That was right. Simi only gave them to her family.

And that was everyone here.

They were one big, giant dysfunctional family that fought at times. But in the ends, they could always count on each other.