December 26th, 1890

Kieran felt ill, as he usually did after the first night of the transformation, and was trying to get over to Jude's earlier rather than later, so he had time to settle in before the transformation. Besides - even when he felt as sick as he did today, it was nice to spend time with Jude before he had to go up to the attic.

He was about ready to leave for Jude's apartment when he heard a knock on the door. Kieran paused, for a second - it was entirely feasible for him to not be here, and he really did want to head out. But the knock came again, more demanding, and he sighed as he crossed the living room to open the door.

"Fallon!" Kieran said, right away and brightly. In the back of his head, he was already thinking of escape routes. He opened the door to let her in. "You're back!"

---

@"Fallon Abernathy"

  

Over the course of her short career, Fallon had gone undercover only a handful of times. Most times were for never more than a day or two, she served more as backup than anything else then, and the single other undercover to span more than a day spanned the course of a week. But this past adventure was unlike those others. A few weeks had turned into a month and a half, bypassing the first snowfall and nearly Christmas all in one go. Fallon knew going into this case that it would be longer than a week, but she hadn't once thought that she would be forced to miss Christmas with her family.

Which was why the morning after her abrupt return home Fallon stood outside Kieran's flat with a chunk of Malou's Christmas Cake wrapped securely in hand. It'd been too long since she last saw her brother, weeks before she initially left most likely. Hopefully he wouldn't be too cross with her.

"Merry belated Christmas," she greeted and squeezed past him to allow herself into his flat. "Malou baked. Thought we could share some. Sorry I missed the party yesterday..."

  

Kieran's chest tightened as Fallon walked past him. It was going to be hard to get rid of her; he had a little time, but not a lot. Still, he turned around and let the flat door swing shut behind him. "Well, cheers to Malou," he said, injecting the same enthusiasm into his voice. "I missed you yesterday, but I'm glad you're alright."

He was - he was glad she was here. The Abernathys could continue to drift into and out of each other's life with more ease. But he really was wishing that Fallon had better timing.

---

  

"None the worst for wear, either," she replied, dropping the tray of cake onto the nearest counter and turning to lean against it. It was, of course, a lie, for she had a mountain of thoughts to sift through and compartmentalize. However, she couldn't inform Kieran — a reporter of any of it. "Mind if I help myself to a drink?"

  

If he wasn't careful, Fallon was going to set up camp here, and Kieran wasn't sure how to stop her. "Go for it," he said, "We mostly have whiskey." Normally he would have asked a bit about her excursion, and learned nothing, but his brain was churning - he had to find a way to cut this short.

---

  

"My favorite," she grinned. Whiskey and wine were the two commonly stocked drinks in her flat, and firewhiskey was what had ultimately saved her relationship with Jesse. Reaching into the cabinet where she knew it to be kept, Fallon grabbed the bottle and then two glasses. "How was party, then? Any tales to tell?" Fallon asked after pouring them both a drink.

  

Kieran didn't sit; taking the drink while standing felt less final. "Not really," he said, "I made a turkey, though. So that was exciting." The turkey had been exciting; it had also felt like a triumph, with the approaching full moon making him feel ill.

---

  

"Was it roasted just right?" She teased. Her cooking skills, or lack thereof, were widely known throughout both hers and Kieran's friend groups. It was Meredith who attempted to teach her once, after all, not that the attempt went well. Fallon took a sip of her drink as she looked over her elder brother. Was she imagining things ir was he tense? "Are you alright?" She asked bluntly, having lost all sense of subtlety over the years.

  

Oh, damnit. Kieran tapped his index finger against his glass. Fallon knew him too well - especially because they had not lived together in over a decade.

"I have to head out soon," he admitted, because it was not far off from the truth.

---

  

"Head out soon?" Fallon repeated, a bit surprised that he m wasn't willing to postpone for a short while after having not seen her for the better part of two months. Perhaps it was wrong of her to assume, but were the situation reversed she would want to talk to him for at least a few minutes. "Where?"

  

Kieran took a sip of his drink. "Work thing," he said when he was done, "It has to go to copy."

---

  

"On Boxing Day?" She asked suspiciously. Fallon was no stranger to the demands of work, but something wasn't fitting right here. "What's the article about?"

  

Fallon was nothing if she was not suspicious, so Kieran moved, again, to be closer to the truth. "Werewolves," he said, "The full moon's tonight, it doesn't have respect for Boxing Day."

She was an auror. She was an auror, and this was - so fucking illegal, on so many levels. And he needed an out. The guilt churned in his gut despite this; if he could be honest, he would.

---

  

His responses, while logical, weren't sitting right with her. Something was off, but Fallon didn't really have a reason to doubt him. "Alright," she nodded before draining the glass she had only just poured. "I'll get out of your hair then."

  

”Can you come over again soon? Before New Years?” Kieran asked, with some degree of urgency. ”I would have... I do want to catch up, I miss you.”

  

---

set by MJ!

"Yeah, I'll try." She nodded tensely, still somewhat shocked at the direction the conversation had gone. They didn't even get to enjoy the cake together. "You never know with work and all." Fallon placed her glass on the counter and began to walk towards the door. However, before she got there she paused and turned on her heel. "What about werewolves?"