Lack & Abundance 

A Heaven & Earth tale

By LonelyRider

Lonely was preparing a delicious meal for Christmas day. James came into the kitchen and kissed her forehead fondly. 

"Merry Christmas, darling. Smells scrumptious! May I help?" He asked. 

"Sure honey, could you hand me the salt?" Lonely asked, stirring a pot of potatoes. 

"Hmm, salt, oh, here we are! Am I a useful boy?" He teased, blushing, she laughed and kissed him and they rubbed noses with a fond chuckle. 

"Very! I'm sorry honey, I'll spend lots of time with you soon as this is done." She promised. 

"No problem, baby girl. I'm gonna use my pretty mirror you gave me!" He announced excitedly, she smiled at him and overheard him making calls on their bed as she cooked. First he called his young friend Natalie, but she didn't answer; she hadn't returned yet. Lonely shot him a pitying look; she knew it was hurting him. He wiped his eye and put on a brave face. Next he called his new pretty young friend Savera the harpy witch apprentice, she too didn't pick up. 

"They must be busy." He sniffled, trying to hide it.

"They'll call you back, baby." Lonely reassured kindly, he smiled her way, wiping his eye. Finally he called his father, the magic mirror crackling with green lightning and blinding James for a moment. 

"Ahh, it's you, boy." Abaddon snarled, from his study in his black tower; he was mixing potions and didn't give James much of his gaze. 

"Dad! Oh hey, Lonely and I wished to invite you..." 

Abaddon cut his son off with a wave of his caped arm, a swoosh of magic flame following the motion. 

"Not now, boy. I don't have time. I'm very busy. However...you'll find gifts on your threshhold." 

"What, really dad? Abaddon...sorry. Lonely, baby, look at these!" James gasped, opening the front door. 

"Oh my goodness, how beautiful darling!  Mr LightningSword, thank you, how very kind!" Lonely gasped. There was a velvet dress for her in dark brown, a full set of spiked equine armor for James' huge warhorse Thunder, and a matching spiked armor set for James with matching twin swords. James was breathless, his face flushed. 

"Dad I...don't know what to say, these are amazing!" 

Abaddon's lip corner twitched into a smile, which wasn't like him. He only showed it for a moment, then he feigned indifference. 

"Oh...you like them, then. That's good, son. It's nothing, do not mention it again, no need for sentimentality, boy. Merry....whatever this is, your girl believes in." Abaddon made a dismissive gesture with his hand. 

"You too sir, Merry Christmas!" Lonely called. James was lit up like an excited boy, blushing and thrilled. 

"Merry Christmas dad, I love you!" James blurted it before he could think, he gasped and covered his mouth; Lonely came over and kissed his cheek in comfort, rubbing his big shoulders reassuringly. Abaddon cleared his throat and hid a blush with his wing; he was NOT going to let them see that. 

"Well then, my boy...I have work to do, potions to concoct, things of that nature. Farewell, child." Abaddon said, his voice sounded hoarse and he hated it, actually wincing. 

"I'm so sorry dad, I..." James stammered sweetly, Lonely hugged him and he kissed her quickly. 

"Confound it boy, shut it. I have to go!" Abaddon covered himself in his black wings and ended their connection in the mirrors with his mind; James' mirror went dark and he gasped. 

"Oh Lonely...baby...did I mess up back there? Oh shit, I shouldn't have...said that." James gasped, chastising himself. 

"Don't worry sweetheart, he loves you, too, he's just too proud to say it. Come, let me serve you." Lonely said lovingly, he kissed her softly, slowly, they moaned and sat down to eat, when a knock on the door startled them. Lonely answered, James beaming at his girl from his table seat. 

"Oh my, hello! Mom, Mrs FeatherQuill, Oh my, Sir Wisbey! You are most welcome on this beautiful Christmas day, please, come in." Lonely curtsied and stepped aside. 

"Mom, hey!" James gasped, hugging her and towering over his mother, they wrapped their wings around one another, Lonely beamed. She hugged her own mother and her old flame who'd come along with her. Sir Wisbey was a human knight in the service of a dragon king, he was tall and strong like James and wore a dazzling set of draconic armor, a sword and shield. Lonely's mother Joan was a fierce-eyed golden eagle anthro who was a librarian by trade. The couple welcomed their mothers and guest to the table and served them, James helping Lonely to serve their guests, and finally they all sat down to eat and talk. James's mother, Anna, started first. 

"James...I heard from Thomas your father and you are speaking now? Is that true?" 

James nodded, swallowing a bite of ham. 

"We are, yes mother. He just sent the most amazing gifts mom, see them? I uh...slipped up and gushed on him, I hope he forgives me, Lonely was so kind." James gave her a fond look and they shared a sweet smile. Lonely's mom Joan and Sir Wisbey next to her smiled politely, listening. 

"Abaddon LightningSword isn't....skilled in the art of feelings. Dark fire, evil men and sorcery, yes, but feelings? No, I fear not. You tread carefully, my son. Thomas had business today, lest he would have come, you see." Anna said, folding her napkin; she was a stunning beauty, with wings that matched her son's own and long blonde hair. James smiled kindly at her, rubbing his hair shyly. 

"I will mom, I promise. He's....he's very cool." James said bashfully. 

"You poor boy, still aching for his approval after all these years. Alas, we have company, how rude of me. Pass the carrots, please." Anna said, James cleared his throat, blushing hard, and they all passed the dish to Anna. 

"Ahem...well, then. Lonely, this is for you." Joan passed Lonely a beautiful ornate bible, James beamed at her. 

"Wow honey, just look at that!" He said; he knew how much his girl's faith meant to her. She was all smiles. 

"Oh my gosh, thank you, mom! It's amazing!" Lonely gasped. Sir Wisbey nodded. 

"Dan and I found it together, on his latest crusade. We took it for you. He helped rid a village of an evil, ugly old ogre. Didn't you, Dan?" Joan asked, clicking in her bird of prey fashion. She swallowed ham with her sharp beak. 

"Indeed, Ms SharpTalon. It was a pleasure." Dan said in his British accent, bowing a bit in his seat. 

"That is amazing, do you still have that fine steed of yours, the black stallion?" James asked, rubbing Lonely's arm fondly, she smiled at him. 

"Commander? Yes indeed, good sir. I stabled him next to your massive brute." Sir Wisbey replied politely. 

"Excellent, please help yourself to any of my feed and water for him, such a fine animal." 

"That's right, you're a horseman, aren't you?" Dan remarked, eating, "Lonely dear, very good." He added. 

"Oh, I'm so pleased!" Lonely replied; a chorus of agreement went up. 

"Dan also saved the children from sure starvation, didn't you, dear?" Joan remarked. 

"Yes, quite right." Dan nodded, Anna made a face at Joan, seeing what was transpiring, and deciding to fire back. 

"I see. James, didn't you say you recently won a trophy, in the gladiator arena?" Anna asked her son. 

"Ahh yes, let me see...here it is! 2nd place, most stamina for any tanker." James showed them all his small silver trophy. 

"Ahh, good show." Dan said. 

"That's amazing honey!" Lonely gasped; he lit up. 

"I meant to tell you, I just got so distracted with Christmas!" He laughed apologetically. 

"No problem!" She laughed back. The 5 of them ate in silence after that, concentrating on the feast Lonely had made. 

"Please, mom, Ms SharpTalon, Sir Wisbey, stay for gifts." James invited kindly, Lonely nodded with a big smile. Joan stood up, Sir Wisbey following her. 

"I wish to, but there is much business to be attended to, the work of a knight is never done. Lonely, thank you for the meal." Joan said, bowing and spreading her golden wings. Lonely hugged her and gave her a wrapped gift. "Thank you, I will open it soon." Joan replied. She and Sir Wisbey hugged Lonely, Sir Wisbey and James shared a friendly handshake. The knight hugged Lonely and gave her cheek a kiss; he and James shot each other a subtle jealous eye; they liked each other, and it wasn't lost on them they both shared Lonely's affections. James adjusted his wings and Dan bowed gracefully, kissing Lonely's hand politely. 

"Be well, gentle lady. I'll see you soon." He said. Lonely hugged him harder than she meant to and he laid a hand on her head. Joan looked pleased, Anna looked incensed and James fought his growing jealousy politely. Outside, Sir Wisbey mounted his huge Fresian charger and helped Joan up onto him, and with a wave and a rear they rode off, Lonely waving and calling goodbye. 

"You keep an eye on that knight, and on your trecherous father, too. I don't like this. Lonely...thank you, dearest. Goodnight, both of you." Anna bid, kissing them both on the cheek, they hugged and once outside, she spread her vast wings and flew off toward her home in the city outskirts her husband. James gently pulled Lonely toward him, intent on kissing her sweetly, when he scanned her face and gasped; she was crying. 

"I'm so sorry honey....I just...miss him. I'm sorry, I need to calm down." Lonely said, sitting on the edge of their bed. James wrapped his right wing around her tenderly, hushing her softly, his big hand on her cheek, she looked up at him tenderly. 

"Oh sweetheart...you poor girl. He'll come back honey, don't you worry now! Why I'll make sure he does, or I'll kick his ass! Honey....it's ok, don't worry baby." James said emotionally, he'd been teasing to cheer her and it worked, she laughed a bit and rested her head on his broad hairy chest, feeling his hands and wings wrap around her hair and back, respectively, and his lips on her forehead sweetly. "Shh...he'll be back, I promise." He whispered to her, she hadn't meant to, but she fell asleep on him, going limp in his big arms. "Lonely...hush now, my beautiful sweet girl. There's nothing I won't do to ensure your happiness, even at my own expense. You will see him again, I'll make it happen, you have my solemn word." He whispered in her long ear, shaking a little as he was worked up. The sweet male didn't stop to think he was making promises he couldn't hold to, but he was too distraught at her pain to care or realize. He wrapped her snug in his wings and huge muscled arms and held her close, falling asleep himself protecting her.