Gifted

As the weeks went, after Mr.Snow disowned his only son. Andrew seemed to be settling in perfectly. When Caleb and Alisa heard of the news, they gave Andrew their unwavering support. Even Harper called from Hollywood to send his support. Everyone has been really supportive and it really helped Andrew stand up again.

Andrew started going back to school after Mr. Snow clarified to the news that Andrew didn't run away, and that he was actually safe and recovering at his new home. Since the news got out, Andrew has been getting a lot of looks from the students, raging from pity to just pure curiosity. Gossips spread like wild fire about people's theories on what happened and why Mr. Snow disowned his son.

It was hard for Andrew, he just kept going because he knew he had the support of his friends and his new brother. Also Andrew met Isabelle, Alex, Pearl and Fleur who is doing their absolute best not to be a journalist and just be a friend to Andrew, which is hard because you can physically see the internal battle they're having when they're around Andrew.

June also helped Andrew get his stuff in the private storage where Mr. Snow stored all Andrew's stuff. The Storage was smaller than what June expected, which surprised him.

Andrew explained that all his stuff either came from his grand parents or from his own allowance. His dad never bought him anything, he said that "He won't spend off money on useless things". When he opened the storage, Andrew immediately went inside. He didn't even bother with anything as he was focused on searching for something.

"Yes!" Andrew said, with a sigh of relief when he found what he was looking for

"What you got?" June asked, curious

Andrew pulled out a black, long looking bag/case. "I'ts my violin" Andrew said, "My grand parents gave it to me. Its my most cherished possession"

He unzipped the case and took out a black violin. He positioned it and started playing. The only descriptions June could have while hearing Andrew play was "Beautiful and Passionate". The music was so amazing that it attracted other people in the neighboring storages. June could see the joy music brings to Andrew, when he's playing it's like he's in he's own world and nothing else mattered. Andrew played the last note and applause erupted from the audience. June was so captivated listening to Andrew play that didn't even realized that other people came to listen. Andrew smiled and gave a small bow, blushing.

"That's amazing Drew" June said, giving his brother a warm smile and Andrew returned it

After the little performance Andrew gave, the audience dispersed and returned to their own storage. After Andrew carefully returned his violin to its case, they went ahead and get to work. They mostly gathered all of Andrew's clothes, which all looked very expensive. Andrew said that most of the clothes also came from his grand parents and apparently they're super rich, rich as in designers and custom made clothes, shoes, watches, hats and whatnot. Which also annoyed the hell out his father because he hated seeing his parents spent their money on such "non-sense".

They brought all the things Andrew wanted to bring with him, which is mostly clothes, shoes, his violin, sheet music and his lop-top, in Junes Suv and Andrew decided that he will just sell the rest. Something about leaving the past.

Andrew also opened the last will and testament and found out that his father left him a lot of money that could last a lifetime. Also Mr. Snow also left Andrew with a car, a Porsche to be exact, which Andrew was on the fence with until Arisa encouraged Andrew to take it. So now Andrew just became super rich and now has a luxury car.

Andrew said he will give most of the money to Arisa but the financial support Mr. Snow left was also enough to last a lift time, for her and June combined. So they don't really know what to do with the money.

Arisa told him to just keep it stored in case of emergency. So that's what he did.

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The gang kept training and Harper appointed Maria to train them in his absence, though no one really knows what Maria's Gift is. You think just because Maria's old that she's gonna take it easy? Wrong, and that's what June and Andrew immediately saw when they started training. Maria is like a drill Sargent and she's not pulling any punches, she's going all out.

Maria gave them some time to train on their own as she needs to attend to something important. Andrew is wandering around the facility when he walked by the dance studio and saw Alisa dancing. It made him stop in his tracks as Andrew can't seem to look away as he watch Alisa dance through the glass walls. It sent chills running down his spine, it made his heart skip a beat and it made him feel all kind of stuff he couldn't explain.

When the music ended, Alisa inhaled deeply and let it all out. When she opened her eyes, she saw Andrew watching from the mirror. She gave him a small smile and waved at him which broke Andrew from his trance. Blinking fast, Andrew didn't even notice that he was holding his breath. He walk to the glass doors and they automatically opened.

"I've never seen someone dance like that, it so beautiful" Andrew said with all sincerity, honesty and awe as he approach her

Alisa blushed "Thanks" she said, shyly

The next music played "I'll just turn it off" Alisa said walking away but out of nowhere Andrew grab her hand and pulled her to him.

Violins started playing, Andrew went on frame and Alisa followed. They never once broke eye contact. Andrew started to lead and Alisa effortlessly followed.

The Argentine Tango is a very s.e.xy and hot dance but with Andrew's and Alisa's natural chemistry the studio is of fire, figuratively of course. The music crescendo-ed and their bodies followed. Both of them danced in their own world that they created and nothing else mattered, just the two of them. They breathed the same air, beat the same heart beat, and they move as one.

When the music hits the last note, both their faces were so close, still not breaking eyes contact. Both are breathing hard but no one broke contact, both still holding each other.

They stayed like that for a while, both smiling and both contented.

"I didn't know you could dance" Alisa said, sounding very pleasantly surprised

"My grandmother thought me" Andrew said

"She must have been a great dancer" Alisa said, brushing her fingers into Andrew's sweaty hair

"She was" Andrew said, "who thought you to dance?"

"Dad" Alisa answered, "I saw one of his shows that he choreographed and it was like 'love at first sight' and that's was the time I decided that I want to dance for the rest of my life. Dad thought me, trained me and nurtured me. And having him as a teacher is really an advantage because since he's immortal, he learned from the very best of the best"

"That's amazing" Andrew said

"Yeah, it is. But Dad always tells me that I have to find my own 'voice'. A voice like no other but myself. I didn't really understand it at first but every time I had a free time, I always go here and dance my heart out, finding my 'voice'. And eventually, one day I found it and I will always cherish that moment" Alisa said

"Well I have to say that 'voice' is beautiful" Andrew said, leaning. Now their foreheads are touching.

"That 'voice' also became my way of using my Gift to the fullest"

Before Andrew could say anything, Maria's voice filled the room.

"Okay you two love birds break it up" both of them immediately took as step back giving some much needed space between them. They saw Maria, Caleb and Harper at the studio's entrance. Caleb and Harper were clapping and hooting.

"Whoooop... That Dance was on fire you guys! Andrew I didn't know you could dance like that!" June said, amazed, "and that final pose?" June clapped Andrew's back, giving him a wink, which made Andrew blushed

"Same here, A that was amazing!" Caleb said giving Alisa a hug

"Enough praises, though if I may say that dance was exquisite. I'm very positive that your father will be very proud of you" Maria said with a smile that was quickly gone and said "but you lot still have training to do and I don't want Sir Harper to think that I'm going easy on you. So let's go, chop-chop"

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"Andrew did you bring your Violin?" Maria asked, all of a sudden

"Uh.... yeah, why?" Andrew asked

"Can you please take it out?" Maria asked

"Sure" Andrew said, walking to where his violin case is and took out his violin

"We will be taking a different approach on using your Gift" Maria said

"But what does my violin have to do with using my Gift?" Andrew asked

"We all have different ways on using our Gifts, some use them naturally and some use them with their own unique way" Maria explained, "You use music to express how you feel correct?"

"Yeah...." Andrew answered

"Then in could be possible that you could utilize your love for music in using your Gift" Maria said

"I'm not really following." Andrew said, confused

"You can now use your Gifts because of the basic training Sir Harper thought you but it's not to the fullest" Maria said "Sir Harper thought me how to use my Gift but he told me that only I can use it fully with my own way. Some Gifteds needs a 'Special way' for them to use their Gifts, ways that helps them use their Gifts fully, say for example Alisa. Alisa uses her love for dance, it is her way of using her Gift fully and it is possible that yours could be your love for music"

"Still not following" Andrew said

"It's better for you to try it that me actually explaining it" Maria said "Just follow every instructions I give you, okay?"

Andrew nodded

"Now play a piece, that is very close to your heart" Maria instructed

Andrew positioned his violin and started playing

"Good, now close your eyes and imagine your Gift and what it looks like, what it feels like" Maria said

Andrew kept playing, his eyes closed and he said "Butterflies in Winter"

"Very good, now let your music be a gateway for you to use your Gift" Maria said

Andrew gave everything he has and he felt like he was playing in a snowy garden full of Blue butterflies. Then Butterflies made out of ice started appearing in the training facility, catching the attention of the others.

"Whoa" Alisa said breathlessly, as she watches the Butterflies fly free in the facility

"Now open your eyes" Maria instructed, smiling

Andrew opened his eyes slowly and his lips slowly formed a smile as his face lit up

"Now you see? this is your way of using your Gift" Maria said with a proud smile

Andrew played the last note of the piece and the butterflies burst and fell like snow flakes.

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"Author's Thoughts"

A little background and the inspiration behind why Andrew and his Gifts who b.a.r.e his Mark are called "Winter Monarchs"

- "Winter Monarch" has a great meaning behind it. The first part "Winter" is already self-explanatory but the second part has actually two meanings behind it. First being "Monarch" which means royalty but "Monarch" is also a type of butterfly, which is why ice butterflies usually comes out when Andrew uses his Gift. So together his Gift both means "Ruler of Winter" and "A Butterfly of Winter".

- The Metamorphosis of a butterfly also inspired Andrew's Gifting process.

* Him as a normal human being represents a caterpillar.

* Him being encased in ice is like how the caterpillar turns into a pupa.

* And finally him being a Gifted, represents the caterpillar's full transformation into a butterfly.