December 23

Books

Chronicles of Narnia - Voyage of the Dawn Treader - Edmund/Caspian

Author: avis
Title: Solo Voyage
Pairing: Edmund/Caspian
Rating: R
Fandom: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe series (Voyage of the Dawn
Treader) (book)
Summary: Edmund may visit Narnia again after all.
Date of publication: 12/23/2004
Disclaimer: I own nothing – especially not these guys.
Feedback address: booleangrape@yahoo.com
Beta: scorpyes
Note: Edmund is 16 now and Caspian is older than that (but not by much)

Part of the Slash Advent Calendar of 2004 at:
http://www.kardasi.com/Advent/2004/SAC-2004.htm

Eustace had changed after his visits to Narnia. He had become a better person. If this better person happened to "borrow" a certain painting from his parents, he did it knowing full well how little they valued this particular piece of art. While this was an act of questionable morality, Eustace's motives were at least not to be questioned. This painting had been handed over to his cousin, Edmund, upon Edmund's sixteenth birthday, as a reminder of a particular adventure shared by the cousins and Edmund's sister Lucy.

Edmund knew that the picture would no longer serve as an entrance to Narnia, because such things rarely happened the same way more than once. He also had the memory of Aslan telling him that he would not be visiting Narnia again. Still, Edmund enjoyed laying on his bed, watching the painting and imagining the sway of the ship.

Edmund had set the lock on his door, as all young people should do when having off in an occupied house, and he was enjoying himself a great deal at the moment. His imagination had brought him to his hammock back on the ship and the remembrance of nights tossing off quietly to the steady breathing of the young Prince sleeping near him.

As Edmund continued to stroke himself he could almost feel his bed moving, and as his climax approached the feeling of motion grew stronger and began to be accompanied by remembered sounds from the voyage, When his release came, it was so strong that salty fluid sprayed against his face. The most shocking part was that this fluid was cold and much more voluminous than usual. When Edmund opened his eyes, he realized that this was sea foam that had come up over the edge of the ship and that he was now standing on the bow of the Dawn Treader in nothing but pajama pants. Pants that were now cold, damp and uncomfortable.

Edmund turned away from the front of the ship and decided that he would need to find the captain and ask about more appropriate clothing. Edmund realized at that moment that though he recognized the ship, he had no way of knowing who could be captain. It had been several years since he had last visited Narnia, and knowing how differently time flowed, it could now be centuries later. Still, the ship was so familiar he couldn't imagine this could be a anything but the original.

When Edmund focused again he realized someone was coming towards him. To his amazement, it appeared to be Caspian. Caspian himself looked equally surprised.

"Caspian?" Edmund said.

At this Caspian stopped and looked intently at the boy.

"King Edmund? Could this really be you? We said our farewells only yesterday and you and Queen Lucy and Eustace and Reepicheep were sailing East. And now you have returned but look far older than a day could account for."

"A day?" Edmund questioned. "I left several years ago. And yet you have just started your voyage home. It's uncanny."

Before Caspian could reply to this, a violent shiver overtook Edmund and Caspian seemed to realize that the thin cotton pants were wet and would need to be replaced with something warmer.

"Come back to my cabin, Edmund. We will find you something to wear," But before they could start back to the cabin Caspian took the opportunity to embrace Edmund fiercely. Releasing him, they then started off.

Once in Caspian's cabin, Edmund quickly skimmed out of his wet pants and gratefully took the towel offered him. As he dried off, he couldn't help noticing how Caspian would flip between staring almost hungrily at him and looking anywhere else. Recognizing that behavior, as Edmund had spent much of the earlier voyage ("The current voyage!" he told himself) doing much the same with regards to the young prince, Edmund decided to see if he could provoke a response. Consequently, his movements became slower and more deliberate. When Edmund spent an overly long time rubbing the towel against his groin, he realized that Caspian was no longer even trying to look away. This realization brought life into Edmund's dick and it was the swelling of that member that brought Caspian back to awareness of what he was doing. Caspian immediately flushed and turned away.

"Your Majesty! My most sincere apologies. I did not mean to be forward."

Edmund noticed that, apology or no, Caspian was still having to fight to not stare at his naked form.

Aware that his earlier interest in the young prince might well be reciprocated now,
Edmund decided to take matters into his own hands – in a less literal way than was his usual habit.

"I did not find you forward, Caspian. You are obviously interested in my well-being, and I appreciate that. I would even be willing to allow you to satisfy yourself as to my well-being if you should choose so." Saying this, Edmund held out the towel to his friend.

Caspian looked at the former King as if he were unsure of what was being offered but did not hesitate to take the proffered towel. He moved forward and resumed drying off Edmund. By the time he reached the other boy's crotch, both of their cocks were at full attention. At this, Caspian dropped to his knees.

"My King," was the only thing Caspian said before he leaned forward and swallowed the cock in front of him.

While Edmund had been hoping for something along these lines, seeing and feeling someone sucking him off was still a huge, albeit pleasant, surprise. He reveled in the wet heat surrounding him and the rough pressure of Caspian's tongue. He reached out without thinking and grabbed the hair of the boy kneeling in front of him. He used that hold to set a pace that would allow him to prolong this experience.

When Caspian swallowed, however, it was too much. The clench of Caspian's throat around his dick sent Edmund over the edge. He felt as if his whole body had started sneezing and might never stop.

Finally the feeling faded and Edmund opened his eyes and let go of himself, looking back up at the picture over the foot of his bed. It never failed to take Edmund where he wanted to be.

END

Fantasy

Buffy - Spike/Xander

Author: Nash
Title: Spike Does Christmas
Pairing: Spike/Xander
Rating: PG
Series: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Summary: Set in the Frosting!Verse, Spike comes over all Christmassy.
Date of publication: 26/12/2004
Disclaimer: Not mine. Never were, never will be.
Feedback address: nashmaveric @ gmail.com
Beta: acastofthousands
Note: Part of the Slash Advent Calendar of 2004 at:http://www.kardasi.com/Advent/2004/SAC-2004.htm

Spike Does Christmas

Xander sat straight in Spike’s line of vision and pouted, sighed and generally tried to look as miserable as possible. Five minutes later Spike finally caved and asked what was wrong.

“It’s one week to Christmas and we have no tree.” Xander said sadly.

“Xan, pet, we don’t celebrate Christmas, remember?” Spike explained patiently. “I am an evil creature of the night and you are about as unreligious as a person can get. I’ve known you for, what? Four years? You haven’t been to church at all.”

Xander looked even more miserable. “That’s not the point of Christmas.” He sighed. “Willow has a yule log or whatever. Giles has a tree. Dawn talked Buffy into lighting the entire yard with Christmas lights. We have nothing.”

“Because. We. Don’t. Celebrate. Christmas.” Spike stated once again, trying hard not to ask if Xander wanted a tree. That question could only lead to many Christmas-related shopping excursions and sickeningly sweet carols. “Besides, the Big Bad doesn’t do tinsel.” He asserted.

“Spiiiiike,” Xander whined sadly, “It’s bad enough that I’ve spent most Christmases outside in a sleeping bag, and it’s a wonder the vamps didn’t get me during that time let me tell you. This year I have my own apartment and I have enough money to buy stuff and I want a tree! A real one, with the fresh pine-y smell. I don’t even want tinsel on the stupid tree! I want fake snow! And chocolate ornaments…possibly some popcorn. It would be pretty with all the fairy lights and the ginger men! We could make ginger men and hang them up on it.” Xander babbled, going from indignation at Spike’s lack of Christmas spirit to excitement about his imaginary tree.

“Pet, we don’t <i>do</i> Christmas.” Spike pointed out again.

“No, no we don’t.” Xander mumbled, suddenly deflating. “I think I’ll go to my room now.” He said and shuffled off to the bedroom, leaving Spike staring after him.

Xander picked the most depressing, Spike-repelling country music he could find in his collection and played it as loud as he could. Moments later he heard the front door slam shut. Turning off the music he speed dialed Willow to moan and complain about the way Spike ignored everything he said.

-----------------------

Seven hours later, dawn was approaching and Xander was frantically trying to find his vampire. He’d looked everywhere, he’d even gone to Spike’s old crypt to see if his lover was sulking there but neither he nor anyone he’d questioned had seen the blond. By the time the first rays of the sun peeked out from the horizon Xander was willing to give up Christmas, New Years, Thanksgiving, even Talk Like a Pirate Day, just to have Spike come back whole and well.

He finally gave up the search and headed for the apartment. If Spike didn’t want to be found there was nothing Xander could do but wait until the vampire showed up. He stubbornly refused to admit to the possibility that Spike had finally found trouble he couldn’t handle.

He wearily opened the door to the apartment and walked inside, throwing his keys on the table next to the door and his coat on the sofa before making his way to the bedroom. A couple of seconds later he was back in the living room, looking wide-eyed at the huge, decorated tree taking up most of the corner.

The tree was full of multicolored balls, and rows of popcorn were draped over its branches. Some of the branches were spray-painted with fake snow and chocolate figurines hung from them. Spike had bought him a tree, Xander thought in awe. He did it up exactly like I wanted, too.

Finally taking his eyes off the tree, Xander looked at the rest of the room and gasped in amazement. Spike had gotten all sorts of Christmas figurines and knick-knacks and filled the room with them. A huge sign, proclaiming that Christmas Cheer Was Here was hung on the wall and fairy lights covered the windows, blinking prettily and bathing the room in a soft glow.

Xander sat dazedly on the couch, staring at the decorations and mentally thanking whoever had talked Spike into doing this for him. This would be the first real Christmas he’d had since he could remember and he had his vampire to thank for it. Everything was just perfect!

--------------------

The first sign that not everything was right came when Spike entered the apartment, singing Jingle Bells. Xander jumped up to hug his boyfriend and thank him for celebrating a holiday he didn’t even believe in and froze on the spot. Spike smiled cheerfully at him and kept singing until the moment he leaned forward to kiss Xander. The singing continued the moment his lips retreated, leaving Xander feeling completely confused and bewildered.

Spike was wearing a red sweater. He was wearing a red sweater with Rudolf on it. And Rudolf’s nose was twinkling. Spike, though by now Xander had serious doubts about the identity of the man who looked freakishly like his boyfriend, was also wearing a Santa hat. Peeking at the vampire, who was busily placing presents under the tree, Xander also noticed a distinct lack of Docs. Spike was wearing, Santa boots. Boots with little Santas painted on them.

“Spike?” Xander asked cautiously.

Maybe this was a deranged elf or something.

“Yeah, pet?”

It <i>sounded</i> like Spike.

“Remember the time when I took out seven vampires?” Xander asked, trying to gauge his reaction.

A snort of laughter and “Wasn’t seven, luv, it was three and you only got them cause I was holding them.” Spike said, still snickering.

Yup, it definitely sounded like Spike. But it was still arranging presents under the tree. Decoratively. Even if Spike did celebrate Christmas he wouldn’t do that.

“Erm, Spike, sweetheart, could you vamp out for me please? I just wanna check something.”

This one earned him a confused look.

“You want me to go all grrr?”

“Erm…yeah. Please?”

Shrugging carelessly, Spike vamped out and looked at Xander for a moment before reverting to his human guise.

Okay so it looked like Spike and sounded like Spike and hell, it even vamped out like Spike. So there was only one logical conclusion…

“Spike? Did you by any chance hit your head or something?” Xander asked worriedly, keeping a safe distance away from the obviously insane vampire.

The blond turned around and blinked at him. “No, I did not hit my head.’ He said carefully and looked at Xander as if <i>he</i> was the insane, delusional one. “What’s with all the questions, pet?”

“It’s just that you don’t do Christmas. Or at least you didn’t yesterday.” Xander explained thoughtfully.

“You have to be joking, luv. Christmas is the greatest holiday of the year! You have Santa and Rudolf and presents and bloody gorgeous decorations. And the food! Christmas cookies and turkey and eggnog. I love eggnog.” Spike babbled on, not noticing the increasingly worried look in Xander’s eyes. “Wish I had another place to decorate. Ours is completely done.” He concluded sadly.

“Sure, Spike. Tell you what, I’ll call Willow and try to convert her back to Santa-worship. Then you could ask if she wants help with her house, yeah?” Xander said and quickly retreated to the bedroom.

He quickly dialed Willow’s number, tapping his foot impatiently waiting for her to answer.

“Willow? Did you spell my boyfriend?” He demanded the moment she picked up.

“I did not!” Willow protested anxiously.

“Because he’s turned into a Christmas freak just a few hours after I complained to you about his lack of Christmas spirit that’s why!” He yelled in exasperation.

“Well, I had nothing to do with it!” Willow replied in the exact same tone.

“Then someone or something is messing with Spike. We need to fix it.” Xander demanded impatiently. He wanted his boyfriend back to normal damnit!

“Why? So he’s a little Christmas-loving, nothing wrong with that.”

“Willow, he was singing Jingle Bells and wearing a Rudolf sweater. He has little Santas on his boots! And he’s perky! Since when is Spike perky? Willow he <i>babbled!</i>” He yelled, stomping his foot.

“I’ll be right over.”

Xander hung up the phone and returned to the living room, warily watching his pod boyfriend potter around, Christmassing up everything. By the time Willow got there, Spike was in the kitchen baking Christmas cookies.

“Willow, you have to stop him! He’s using up all the frosting!” Xander whined, pointing an accusing finger at the blond. He’d finally managed to get the frosting and plan the evening so that he could use it to cover Spike and now the blond was using it all up! Willow just stood there and stared for a moment, taking in the changes in Spike’s attire and attitude.

“He’s humming Jingle Bells.” She finally managed to whisper, scared to draw his attention. “And he’s wearing a Santa hat.”

“I know! Fix him!” Xander demanded impatiently.

“Red! My favourite witch!” Spike exclaimed, suddenly noticing them standing there. “Hey, have you ever considered the wonder of Christmas? It’s not just for Christians you know, you should try it out a bit, experiment like. Tell you what, I’ll decorate the house for you so you can see how you like it.” He said, grinning at her expectantly.

“Erm…sure Spike, let me just talk to Xan a bit and then we can go right on over.” Willow said carefully, as if speaking to a spooked animal, and backed carefully out of the kitchen.

“He’s insane!” She whispered the moment they got out.

“I <i>know</i>! <i>Fix</i> him!” Xander repeated.

“Okay, okay let’s just sit down and think about this okay? What happened before he went all…like this.’ Willow said, trying to placate her friend.

They went over what’d happened; from the moment Xander started pouting at Spike to the moment the blond stormed out of the apartment. Willow asked Xander repeatedly if he’d said the ‘w’ word and he swore time and time again that no, he had not wished for anything, could they please fix his vampire now?

“Maybe we should ask him.” Willow suggested, looking nervously at the kitchen where the Spike was now singing more traditional carols.

“Guess we better.” Xander agreed, sighing sadly.

They returned to the kitchen, inching in slowly and looking apprehensively at Spike.

“Erm…sweetheart? Remember when you left the apartment last night? Did you maybe run into some kind of demony person?” Xander asked, smiling encouragingly.

“Nope.” Spike replied looking critically at the cookies he was making. They were shaped like Christmas trees and he was in the process of covering them with green-coloured frosting them green and putting little red blobs of sugar for ornaments.

“Do you remember what happened before you went ins…before you started decorating?”

“Oh yeah. Went to Willy’s for a drink and chatted to that short guy. Full of Christmas cheer he was. Thought about stomping him into little tiny bits and smattering him around the bar but decided to go shopping instead.” The blond said absently, placing a red blob just so on one of the cookies.

Willow and Xander looked at each other, eyes wide with excitement.

“Did he wear a green jacket with red and white striped socks and possibly a little green hat with a bell on it?” Willow asked, leaning forward a bit.

“Think so, Red. Friend of yours, was he?” Spike asked, looking up for a moment.

“Nope, never met him before in my life.” Willow said and dragged Xander back to the living room.

“He met a Christmas elf!” She exclaimed as soon as they were out of the room. Seeing Xander’s confused look she went on to explain. “You know how in all Christmas stories Santa has elves to help him? Spike met one of them! They can infuse someone with Christmas spirit and let them enjoy the holidays. He may have overdone it with Spike though.” She concluded, looking thoughtfully at the kitchen. Spike was singing Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer.

“Well how do we undo it?” Xander asked anxiously.

“I don’t know.” Willow said, smiling apologetically.

“What do you mean you don’t know?” Xander yelled, glaring at his friend. A moment later he looked down, rubbing the back of his neck with his hand. “Sorry Wills, I just want my Spike back. The one who’s all snarky and semi-evil and who <i>doesn’t waste perfectly good frosting!</i>” He said, voice growing louder with every word.

“Look, why don’t we call Giles. I’m sure he’ll know how to turn Spike back into his old non-frosting-wasting self, ‘kay?” She asked, wondering if maybe the madness was catching. Since when did Xander care so passionately about frosting anyway?

Xander nodded, still looking a bit shaken over the loss of the frosting and Willow quickly dialed Giles’ number.

“Giles? We need your help!”

-------------------

“No, nothing serious, don’t worry. Just that Spike had a run-in with a Christmas elf. We need to know how to reverse it.” She explained hastily.

“Giles? Stop laughing. Giles, come on, Xander’s about to have a coronary over <i>frosting</i> for heaven’s sake, we need to get Spike back to normal.”

“Uh-huh…yeah…so there’s nothing we can do? Okay Giles. Bye!” Willow concluded the conversation

“Well? What’d he say” Xander demanded anxiously, shifting his weight from one foot to the other as he waited for Giles’ verdict.

“He was giggling too hard to explain everything. Ever notice how Giles will giggle at anything? Stuffy Brit or not the guy can have a giggling fit longer than Dawn!” Willow babbled, until she saw her friend glare at her angrily. “Oh fine. He said that it would run its course and then go on its own. Spike’s like a kid on a sugar high, at some point he’ll drop and then when he wakes up he’ll be his old self.”

“Oh. Okay then.” He said hesitantly.

“He’ll be fine Xan.” Willow reassured him before saying her goodbyes and leaving him alone to deal with his vampire.

As he was closing the door behind his friend, Xander heard a crash in the kitchen and ran in to find Spike sprawled on the floor, cookie dough and frosting smattered over his body and face.

Thanking all kinds of gods and angels, Xander dragged Spike to the bathroom and cleaned him up as best as he could before putting him in bed. Under normal circumstances, Spike would be wide awake at the first sign of movement but the Christmas cheer thing seemed to have sapped all his strength and he just lay there throughout the process.

Xander stood next to the bed for a while, looking at his lover. He could never get over how damn peaceful Spike looked when he was sleeping. He knew it was a cliché and all, mass murderer looking calm and angelic in repose, but Spike <i>did</i> look so gorgeous when he was asleep.

With a sigh that had more to do with the state of the kitchen and less to do with the beauty of the boyfriend, Xander left the bedroom to do some cleaning. Forty-five minutes later the kitchen was relatively clean, though the frosting was completely used much to Xander’s dismay, and the brunet was climbing into bed and spooning behind Spike.

“Xander?”

“Yeah?”

“Did I decorate the house?”

“Yup.”

“Wearing a Rudolf sweater?”

Xander was beginning to enjoy this line of questioning.

“Yup.” He snickered.

“Santa hat?”

“Uh-huh.”

“I didn’t bake Christmas cake and biscuits.”

“You did.”

Spike groaned and hid his face in the pillow, his voice filled with self-loathing.

“Please…please tell me I didn’t sing Jingle Bells.”

“You didn’t sing Jingle Bells…except in the sense that you did.”

Xander snickered again. Taking in the wretched state of his boyfriend he petted Spike’s hair and leaned close to whisper softly in his ear.

“Willow heard you as well.”

Spike groaned and pressed his face harder into the pillow and Xander grinned evilly. <i>That</i> was for the frosting.


THE END

Realistic

ER - Kerry/Elizabeth/Abby

Title: All I Want
Author: A. Magiluna Stormwriter
Feedback address: stormwriter@shatterstorm.net
Date: 23 December 2004
Fandom: ER / Realistic
Pairing: Kerry/Elizabeth/Abby
Rating: NC17 baby!
Warnings: A/U, anal sex, fisting
Date Written: 17 November – 20 December 2004
Advertisement: Part of the SAC-2004 at:
http://www.kardasi.com/Advent/2004/SAC-2004.htm

Summary: Elizabeth’s secret wish is granted.

Disclaimer: “ER”, the characters and situations depicted are the property of Warner Bros. Television, Amblin Entertainment, Constant C Productions, NBC, etc. They are borrowed without permission, but without the intent of infringement. This site is in no way affiliated with "ER", NBC, or any representatives of Alex Kingston, Maura Tierney, or Laura Innes. This site contains stories between two mature, consenting adult females.

Disclaimer II: The lyrics used are from “A Christmas Love Song,” written by Alan & Marilyn Bergman, and recorded by The Manhattan Transfer.

Author’s Note: This is SOOOOO an A/U from the series. Basically, “Bygones” never happened. Kerry and Sandy never got back together. Instead, Kerry and Elizabeth got together after Mark’s death. This takes place during Season 10, when Kerry’s Chief of Staff and Abby’s going through med school.

Author’s Note II: I’d had an idea to start this way back in September when I signed up for the thing. And then the idea sat and fermented. I got an idea started in November, but the muses decided to back off again. *sigh* And then Mosca made her request for ass smut and my kinky Elizabeth muse perked right up.

Author’s Note III: The title technically comes from the Manhattan Transfer song quoted at the beginning. It seemed appropriate.

Beta: Shatterpath, of course

Dedication: For Mosca, who wanted het and/or f/f ass smut. Like I could resist….


“All I Want”
by A. Magiluna Stormwriter


“All I want for Christmas is you
You're the gift that's made my dreams all come true -
All I need for Christmas is here
Finding every sweet surprise
Wrapped up in your eyes
Waiting there for me
Underneath the tree”


~~~~~~~~~


“Relax, Liz,” Kerry murmured encouragingly. “Let it go.”

I willed my body to relax, moaning softly as I exhaled. And then her fist slipped into me fully and I couldn’t help the automatic tensing of my muscles around her. “Oh god.” It came out as more breath than actual words.

Her knowing chuckle grounded me as her fist moved within me. “I know,” she replied, shifting slightly. The movement pressed the rounded mound of her stomach against my hip more noticeably. “And I know what you need.”

I let myself drift away on the sensations, her encouragement fading to just the comforting buzz. I felt my hips moving, undulating as the need started to spiral along my spine. Lips on my nipple made me arch upward, body spasming as the orgasm rolled over me with a white-hot intensity. I’ve no idea how long I floated on that haze of sated bliss but when I returned to reality, Kerry had already cleaned up our little mess and had the covers pulled over our bodies. I rolled over slightly, pressing grateful kisses to her lips, silently thanking whatever higher power there was that she’d become such an integral part of my life.

“Liz?” she asked lightly as I found myself mesmerized by the baby kicking beneath my hand.

“Hmm?”

“You did it again.”

I stared at her in confusion for a moment, trying to figure out… Oh. Damn. “Oh god, Kerry, I’m sorry,” I whined, flushing deeply.

She shook her head, smiling bemusedly at me. “Don’t be sorry. A fantasy’s a fantasy. And I certainly can’t blame you for having them about Abby Lockhart. Especially when your own partner is seven months pregnant and huge as a house.”

I chuckled and pressed a teasing kiss just above her belly button. “Will you listen to that, little one?” I asked in a pseudo-whisper. “Your mum thinks she’s as huge as a house and not sexy enough for me. We should show her how wrong she is, don’t you think?”

A pillow thumping against the back of my head made me laugh. “Elizabeth! I thought we agreed there would be no corruption until the baby is old enough to fight back.”

“It got you to smile, didn’t it?” I asked, stretching back out next to her. I held her close and kissed her happily. “I am sorry about the Abby thing. It wasn’t intentional.”

She stared at me for a long moment, and I weathered the gaze easily. I knew that look, knew she was chewing on something mentally. “It’s the scrubs, isn’t it?” she finally asked me, looking deadly serious.
I could only stare at her in surprise. “That’s what makes her so damned appealing, isn’t it? Or is it the addition of the coat now?”

I just stared at her, utterly unsure of how to take this line of questioning. It wasn’t as if I could deny my infatuation with Abby. But I adored Kerry. It seemed our animosity had only been because of misconstrued concern over Mark. Too bad it ended up taking Mark’s death to get us over that bullshit.

“Liz? You didn’t answer my question.”

”I, um… I don’t know what it is, Kerry,” I finally admitted. “Besides, it’s not like I’d ever do anything about it. I’m with you and she’s not interested…”

She nodded thoughtfully, but I caught that odd flicker of emotion in her eyes. It went by too quickly for me to actually register what it was. And then she yawned and stretched and pulled me close. “We have to get up in a few hours. We should try to get some sleep.” Curling into my side, she pressed a light kiss to my collarbone. “I love you, Liz.”

“I love you, too, Kerry.”

~~~~~~~~~

Morning came far too early for my tastes, but such was my lot in life. Long lazy kisses in bed made us later than we should have been, and we had to rush through our showers. We barely made it in on time, but all that frenzy messed with my equilibrium for the rest of the day. Thankfully, I didn’t have anything seriously complicated to deal with, and I was lucky enough to have Abby as my liaison in the ER. I found myself often staring at her, trying to figure out exactly what it was that had attracted me to her.

“Dr. Corday?” I was startled out of my thoughts to see Abby standing there, holding a chart out to me. “You said you wanted me to go with you to check on that appy from yesterday?”

I nodded, trying to shake the thoughts of what lay under that lab coat. “Mr. Anderson’s been doing very well,” I said as we made our way to his room. “And since you did work with him down in the ER, it’s sometimes a nice thing to check up on your patients like this. Well, at least I’d do it. I’m not quite sure how they teach things down in the ER.”

She smiled wryly at me. “I’ve been a nurse long enough to know the rules of the game, Dr. Corday. Or can I call you Elizabeth?”

“Excuse me?” I asked, surprised by her question.

“Can I call you Elizabeth? There’s really no reason for the formality between us, is there? Especially once I pass my medical boards.”

“No, no reason at all,” I replied, and continued on with the impromptu refresher.

~~~~~~~~~

“Abby, can I see you for a moment?” As one, we turned to see Kerry coming toward us. We’d been heading toward the elevators and the cafeteria for a cup of coffee when my partner stopped us.

“We were just heading down to the cafeteria for a coffee,” I supplied helpfully. “Would you care to join us, Kerry?”

She smiled warmly at me over the rims of her glasses, a smile that gave me slight chills. That enigmatically warm smile that always preceded her more “adventurous” bedroom activities. I was doomed to do anything but agree with whatever she’d say next. “I’d love to…after I talk to Abby. Why don’t you go get us a table in the cafeteria and we’ll meet you when we’re finished?”

I nodded, smiling when she fingered a stray curl of my hair. We hadn’t broadcast our relationship in the hospital, nor gone to major pains to hide it. “That would be splendid. I can catch up on some of my charts while I wait for you.”

She smiled her thanks before turning toward Abby. They took off for Kerry’s office and I headed out to get my charts and then to get our table.

I’d been sitting there, wholly engrossed in getting my paperwork updated, and completely lost track of time. My coffee lay cold in its mug at my side. I was startled as a fresh cup was set down in front of me. Glancing up, I met the bemused gaze of my lover. I looked for Abby, who was conspicuously absent.

“She’s gone back to work,” Kerry supplied, easing into the chair next to me. She glanced over the stacks of files in front of me. “You’ve been slacking off on your paperwork, haven’t you?” Her arched brow made me smile. “I should reprimand you for that, but you might like it.” She sipped at her tea and made a face. “I can’t wait until the baby’s born so I can have some honest-to-God coffee again.”

I chuckled in sympathy, remembering my own pregnancy with Ella. “At least you’ve been safe from the cravings so far.” She smiled and we sat there in companionable silence for a long moment. “So, did you and Abby have a nice chat?”

“Nice enough,” she replied enigmatically. We lapsed back into that comfortable silence for a few moments.

The buzzing at my waist brought a quick end to our little break together. Gathering up my files, I smiled warmly at her. “Unless something comes up, I’ll see you tonight.” I leaned over to brush my fingers over hers briefly. “Take it easy, okay?”

She snorted softly, muttering, “I’m pregnant, Liz, not a damned china doll.” But her words had no venom to them.

~~~~~~~~~

For the next week, I found myself more and more confused and on edge. It was as if Abby was flirting with me: always touching me, almost purring my name, always around. Even in front of Kerry, who seemed oblivious.

It made my skin crawl with nervous anticipation of something that would never happen. A long-buried memory began to replay itself in my mind. I remembered flirting with Doug Ross, oh so many years ago; not caring when he’d protested about a girlfriend, I’d blithely commented, “Bring her along.”

Would Kerry allow that? Did I dare put the strain of something like this on our relationship? Was it fair to Kerry? And what was I doing, courting such thoughts in the first place?

I threw myself into my work, trying to forget those damnable thoughts of illicit fantasy.

A couple of days before Christmas, I had roses delivered to Kerry’s office, so I wasn’t surprised when she called me into her office that afternoon. I couldn’t stop the smile spreading across my face as she fingered the velvety blood red petals.

“Do you have any procedures scheduled for tomorrow?”

Startled by her question, I tried to remember my schedule. “No, nothing that I can think of. Why?”

She smiled enigmatically and plucked out a rose, bringing it up to brush across her lips lightly. “I want to give you one of your gifts tonight,” she finally replied. “And I don’t think you’ll be getting much sleep.”

Eyebrows rising into my hairline, I stared at her for a moment. “I can clear it with Donald, I suppose.”

“Already done,” she replied, tossing a file folder at me.

I chuckled as I read the approval. “Then why ask me, Kerry?”

“So you wouldn’t feel too much like I was going behind your back?”

~~~~~~~~~

Once we got home, I took a long, hot shower, allowing Kerry time to set up the present as she needed to. I towel-dried my hair and slipped into my warm robe before sticking my head out the door a bit. “Kerry? Is it safe to come out yet?”

She made her way around the bed to smile at me. “Yes, it’s safe…for now. Come get comfortable on the bed, Liz. And ditch the robe.”

Curiosity and eagerness warring for dominance, I dropped my robe to the floor and settled in the middle of the bed, against the mound of pillows she’d left me. I sprawled back and beckoned her close with a finger, but she shook her head. Coming closer, she sat to my left and grabbed my wrist, kissing it before she attached it to the leather cuff attached to the headboard.

“Oh my,” I purred, pulling her close for a kiss. “Someone’s feeling frisky tonight. Are you sure you’re up to it?”

“Oh, it’s not me you have to worry about,” she replied enigmatically and straddled my lap to truss up my other wrist. “I’ll leave your legs free tonight, but you will need the blindfold.”

I shivered at the tone of her voice. I hated the dominant alpha bitch at the hospital, but I adored it at home. “Gladly,” I murmured, closing my eyes.

She settled the satiny blindfold over my eyes and kissed me again. “Just trust me and let yourself go, all right?” she whispered. “Don’t think about anything, just enjoy yourself. Promise me, Liz.”

“I promise,” I murmured, curious as hell.

I felt her slip off the bed, heard the closet door open and close. Ahh, my robe. And then she sat next to me again, nibbling along my collarbone, brushing feather-soft kisses down to my breast. Her lips wrapped around my nipple and I dropped my head back onto the pillows with a groan. Her fingers traced up the length of my thigh, slipping between my legs to ease into my wetness. I shifted slightly, spreading my legs for her, and moaned when she eased in a second and third finger. Perhaps she was going to attempt the fist again? Thumb tracing my clit, she started to tug and nip at my nipple. Just as my need began to grow, she pulled away and got off the bed.

“Kerry!” I groaned. “Don’t tease like this! At least get me off once!”

Her chuckle sent a shiver down my spine, throbbing within my clit. “Oh, you’ll get off, Liz, trust me.”

She climbed back up onto the bed, between my legs now. I willingly spread my thighs as far as possible, opening for her wicked tongue eagerly. Three fingers plunged back into me and I couldn’t help the stuttering cry. She flicked at my clit with her tongue, trapping it between her teeth to torment with her tongue. I bucked against her, moaning and begging for more. Pinky joined the other three fingers, and she began to flutter them back and forth. That was all it took for the first orgasm of the night to crash over me.

She pressed light kisses to my inner thighs, slowing down the pumping of her fingers within me. I’d no more than gained my breath again, and she started in again, quickly wringing two more orgasms from me. I lay there, limp against the pillows as she daintily but enthusiastically cleaned up the mess she’d created. As I relaxed back against the supporting pillows, I realized she felt…different. Probably the blindfold doing it.

Slipping off the bed again, I felt strong hands on my legs, massaging the trembling muscles. “Feeling all right, Liz?” she murmured, suddenly at my ear, and startled me.

“Y – yes.”

“Ready for more? I brought something home that you’ve been eyeing for a while now. I thought it would be a wonderful little gift.”

A large-ish dildo slid into me at her words, and I nearly bucked myself completely off the bed. “Oh god!”

“Relax, Liz,” she murmured soothingly. “Let it all out.”

I wailed with need as the dildo moved deeply within me, my arousal spiking again so quickly. The small corner of rationality in my brain realized Kerry had been wise to get me tomorrow off. There was no way I’d be walking tomorrow if this was just the beginning.

Another orgasm began to swell within me and I begged incoherently for more. As my release crested over me, I felt two mouths teasing my nipples. That was all it took and I lost consciousness to the overwhelming orgasm.

~~~~~~~~~

“Maybe we should try the smelling salts?”

Was that Abby’s voice I heard?

“No, she’s coming around. We can probably take off the blindfold tho’,” Kerry replied. “I think she’s most likely figured us out.”

I groaned softly and struggled against the cuffs slightly. “Kerry?”

“Keep your eyes closed, Liz,” she said softly. “I’m going to take the blindfold off.”

I bit my lip as she removed the blindfold and pressed light kisses to my eyelids. Slowly opening my eyes, I blinked and focused on her face. I repeated her name curiously. Rolling my neck carefully to release the kinks, I caught Abby standing at the foot of the bed, as naked as I was. I couldn’t help myself and let my eyes wander slowly up and down her body.

“Merry Christmas, Liz,” Kerry murmured, undoing the cuffs.

Tearing my eyes away from Abby’s, I stared at Kerry again. “I don’t understand…”

“I’m giving you your fantasy: a night of unbridled passion with Abby, no strings attached.”

I cupped her face in my hands and kissed her deeply. Resting my forehead against hers, I smiled. “I don’t deserve you, Kerry Weaver. I hope you know that.”

She chuckled softly, a faint flush rising to her cheeks. “I know that. And I expect you to wait on me, hand and foot, until the baby’s born.”

“Done,” I purred. “I hope you’ll stay to watch?”

“Labor might be the only thing to drag me away,” she retorted with another kiss, and moved to the overstuffed chair in the corner. Pulling a quilt up over her body, she got comfortable and waved a hand at us. “Don’t mind me. I’ll be watching and plotting my revenge for when I’m not pregnant.”

I turned back to facing Abby and turned shy suddenly. It wasn’t everyday a fantasy was fulfilled like this. I planned to savor it. I stretched out a hand to her, and she quickly climbed up next to me. Pulling her close, I lost myself in a deep, exploratory kiss, hands wandering over her body. I could taste myself on her tongue and groaned softly. My god, she had a talented mouth on her.

Oxygen pulled me back from the kiss to stare at her. “It was you the whole time, wasn’t it?”

She smirked and shrugged her shoulder. “Was it?”

I grabbed her and wrestled her down onto the bed, tickling and kissing my way down her body. She stopped me and tugged me around to straddle her body, a classic 69. Inhibitions thrown to the wind, I leaned down and let my tongue feast like a starving man led to a banquet. I could even ignore my own need as I licked, sucked, nibbled her clit and pussy.

The sudden sharp slap against my ass stopped me dead in my tracks, and my lungs forgot how to breathe. She repeated it, and my head snapped up to stare at Kerry. She was curled up in the chair, watching us with a predatory look in her eyes. She smiled broadly and nodded at me. She had told Abby about my secret fetish. Okay, maybe not so secret after all.

Abby’s hand landed sharply against my ass again and I whimpered. “You like that, don’t you?” she purred in a voice that I nearly didn’t recognize. I whimpered again and arched back into her touch. “I thought so. I bet you’d like that dildo of mine in your ass, too, hmm?”

My eyes closed at the images her words produced, and I nearly came right then and there. She chuckled darkly and slipped out from under me. I was powerless to stop her. My eyes were wide with arousal and a touch of fear as I watched her fit that dildo in the harness and strap it on. Oh, I’d taken larger in the past. I’d just never been fucked while my partner watched me. She climbed back onto the bed, fingering a bottle of lubricant.

“Wait.” Was that my voice? Two sets of eyes watched me curiously. “Kerry, I want you here to enjoy this as well.” I forced myself to my feet and shuffled over to her. “Come join me, dearest?”

She grinned broadly at the invitation and I could see the gratefulness in her eyes. I would certainly see about arranging a similar gift for her after she’d recovered from the delivery. Abby and I arranged her against the pillows, and I straddled her on my knees, hands gripping the headboard behind her for support. Our kisses were gentle at first, her hands caressing my breasts as Abby eased two latex-clad-and-lubed fingers into my ass. I groaned into the kiss, arching back against her. Shifting slightly, Kerry slid the fingers of one hand down to stroke lightly over my swollen labia. This gentle arousing continued for endless minutes until I felt Abby moving behind me.

“Relax, Elizabeth,” she murmured, stroking my hip. I realized it was the first time she’d spoken my name. It notched up my arousal slightly.

“Please, Abby,” I moaned.

She didn’t take long to decide to honor my plea. Slowly, carefully, she pressed the dildo into me, and Kerry picked up her stroking, slipping two fingers into my pussy, thumb lightly stroking around my clit. My kisses turned more desperate until I felt Abby’s hips against mine. She was still a moment, before beginning to slowly ease back. The sensations were incredible. Kerry and I hadn’t been able to play this game; she hadn’t trusted her hip, and then the pregnancy changed a lot of our bedtime activities.

I repeated my plea and Abby picked up the pace, thrusting forward with a decisive snap of her hips. She kept a steady, dizzying rhythm. Kerry picked up a counter-rhythm with her fingers, scooting down to wrap her lips around one of my nipples. This wasn’t going to last very long. I could already feel the heat pooling between my legs. Abby’s sudden squeal from behind me made me snap my head back to stare at her. Her eyes were closed, tongue darting out to glide across her lips. Kerry’s chuckle around my nipple came as I felt her leg brush against my inner thigh. She was upping the ante and helping us both along. That thought brought a broad smile to my lips, which was quickly wiped away when Abby’s hand landed sharply on my ass again.

“Come on, Liz,” Kerry encouraged me, biting down harder on my nipple. She slipped another finger into me, rubbing the thin layer of muscle that separated her fingers and Abby’s rubber erection. Her finger ground harder against my clit, timing each brush with the slaps Abby’d begun to rain on my ass.

I began to shake, arousal spiraling out of control. A wanton, needy keening escaped my lips as I neared my release. Both of these lovers of mine, long term and temporary, wrapped bracing arms around me, holding me up as I suddenly went rigid as my orgasm shot through me like a lightning strike. I wailed their names, spasming nearly out of control, vision gone white with the intensity.

When I came back to my lovers, I could feel Abby moving back away from me slowly. I reached back to grip her arm. “Not yet,” I rasped. “Give me a minute and do it again. Please?”

“We will,” she reassured me, and eased the dildo out. “But rest a moment, get something to drink again, and I’ll definitely do that again.”

I collapsed onto my side next to Kerry and pulled her close for a desperate, grateful kiss. I felt Abby getting off the bed, heard her head toward the bathroom. I assumed she went to clean up the toys. “This is perhaps the most incredibly selfless gift anyone has ever given me,” I murmured against her lips. “You are an incredible woman, Kerry Weaver.”

She shook her head, a gleam in her eyes. “Not selfless at all. She and I kept ourselves busy while you were passed out before. She tastes incredible, doesn’t she?”

I pulled back to stare at her for a moment, gauging her veracity. Finally, I laughed and pulled her close again. “You’re incorrigible, you know that?”

“Merry Christmas, Elizabeth.”

“Merry Christmas, Kerry.”


The End…for now

Comics/Animated

X-Men - Logan/Remy

Author: Caliadragon

Title: Leaving the Cold

Date: December 23

Fandom: X-Men/Comics

Pairing: Logan/Remy

Rating: PG

Summary: Logan hunts his lover through the snow.

Disclaimer: Not Mine

Feedback address: Caliadragon1@myself.com

Advertisement: Part of the SAC-2004 at:
http://www.kardasi.com/Advent/2004/SAC-2004.htm

Note: The only spoilers are of Remy being left in the Antarctic. Logan and the Professor brought him back, while the truth has come out. Logan and Remy no longer completely trust the others. The Professor is trying to repair the damage done by his people. This will be a twist of the cartoon and the movies.

Beta: Edi the Wonderful


Logan ran after his laughing lover, enjoying the carefree side of the younger man. Laughter had been in short supply the last few months as the group tried to get back to who they once were. However, it was still hard for anyone to accept what Rogue had done to Remy by leaving him to die in the Antarctic. They all knew that she had taken his memories, but only a few of them, not the full truth.

Logan refused to talk to Marie after he had heard what she had done to the young Cajun. Bobby for all of his antagonism towards Remy, refused to be in the same room with Rogue. Warren had even spoken to Remy and the pair was slowly getting over the pain and the bitterness that was between them. Charles was appalled by what his students had done to Remy.

Rogue, as Scott had scathingly reminded her, had no right to sit in judgment of Remy. Yes, Remy had made a mistake that had led to the death of the Morlocks, but he had also nearly died trying to save the creatures as well. Rogue had purposely held onto a woman until she not only lost her powers, but also put the woman into a coma. That was only once in many times that Rogue had used her powers against others. She had been a part of Mystique’s crew and had hurt others.

She was no better than Remy himself, Scott wanted her out of the X-Men, but so far she was still around. Logan had been shocked by Scott’s siding with Remy. The younger mutant had always seemed to be a stuck up prig, but the boy had surprised him.

It was Scott that was the first to go out of his way to try to integrate Remy back into the X-Men, he made sure that any missions that the Cajun was sent on involved no one that had supported Remy being left to die. Logan was sure that if Scott had his way those members would not be under his control. Logan respected Scott now, in ways he never had before. Scott was rigid in his beliefs, but those beliefs based on a strong sense of honor to others.

Logan let thoughts of the others leave him as he concentrated on the smell and feel of his lover. Today was Christmas Eve and Logan was determined to keep his young lover laughing and happy. They had started out playing in the snow, much to the shock of the others in the school. Something that Remy had enjoyed almost as much as the snowball fight.

Logan picked up speed and ran through the trees following his beloved. Remy knew that he couldn’t hide from Logan forever, but he enjoyed the fact that his lover was willing to play this way with him. For the first time in to long, Remy was enjoying himself at Christmas and he owed that to Logan. He had thought he lost everything to the cold and snow of the Antarctic and loathed the snow, but just when he was sure, he should give up. Out of the snow came Logan and Cyke, both of whom meant to save him, even from the team.

Logan made a point of keeping him warm all the way back to the mansion and had continued to do so since they became lovers. Remy felt safe and loved with the older man and not even Rogue had been able to come between them. Something that awed Remy as those two had come to the mansion together and had been friends for much longer. Remy was happy and the cold no longer bothered him, because he knew Logan would be there to warm him in the end.

The End for Now

Science Fiction   

Enterprise - Archer/Reed

Author: Qzeebrella

Title: Christmas Songs

Pairing: Archer/Reed

Rating: PG

Summary: the crew of the Enterprise change some Christmas song lyrics to fit their situation

Fandom: Star Trek Enterprise

Disclaimer: the show and its characters belong to Paramount, the original songs written by someone else. No profit is being made and no infringement intended.

Feedback: qzeebrella@yahoo.com

Beta: Mareel, Akin

Author’s note: the explanation of how Hayes didn’t really die is Weebob’s in the brilliant story My Son Malcolm, found here: http://fiction.entstcommunity.org/archive/34/myson.shtml

For the Slash Advent Calendar

****

“I really don’t know why the captain is asking all of us to try to rework these songs for Enterprise’s ‘Season’s Greetings’.” Malcolm grumbles, “Hoshi is the communications officer after all, she should be the one who works on the songs. Rearranging lyrics should be easy for her.”

“Aw, come on Mal,” Trip pleads, “it’ll be fun. Besides, no matter how talented Hoshi is, she can not do everything.”

“I think the captain sees it as a team building morale thing.” Travis smiles and bounces over to the tree, hanging another ornament on it. “It could also be that Hoshi persuaded him not to stick it all on her shoulders last night.”

“How’d she do that?” Malcolm asks.

Travis begins to sing: “I saw Hoshi kissing Captain Archer, underneath the mistletoe last night...”

“Hey!” Hoshi yelps as she and T’Pol enter the room, “I thought I asked you not to say anything about that.”

“Maybe, but I never promised that I wouldn’t tell.” Travis grins as Hoshi charges him. She knocks him to the ground and they start wrestling.

“It seems we got here just in time.” Jonathan tells Major Hayes as they enter the room. “You can break up the fight.”

“Sir, with all due respect Hoshi fights dirty and I would rather face a Xindi reptile than try to break up her fight with Travis.” Major Matthew Hayes smiles as he watches Hoshi and Travis.

“You have a good point there. Corporal Cole, McKenzie, either of you willing to stop the fight?” The captain asks.

“No sir, let them have it out.” Amanda advises and helps Matt sit, knowing he’s still recovering from the injury he received rescuing Hoshi. Very glad the major wasn’t killed, even though they did think for awhile that he was dead.

“Captain, I understand Hoshi was able to persuade you into not burdening her with the full responsibility of rewording the songs.” Malcolm says. “That she did so by kissing you under the mistletoe.”

“Well, I did agree with her when she said it wasn’t fair to make her do all the work on adapting the songs for us.” Jon admits, “Her kiss did help me to see her point.”

“I would like to be excused from this group effort Captain, if necessary I will kiss you under the mistletoe in order to be excused.” Malcolm says.

“It would take a lot more than a kiss for you to get out of this, Malcolm.” Jon says.

“Just what would you want Malcolm to do, Jonny?” Trip smirks, backing away from Malcolm.

“Um, I didn’t mean that the way it sounded.” Jon blushes, “now come on everyone and start on the songs.”

Everyone settles into place, T’Pol and Malcolm the only ones not smiling and laughing as they work on the songs, Trip and Travis settling on adapting Frosty the Snowman.

“How about, Snoval the Snowman for the snowman Malcolm and I built on the comet?” Travis suggests.

“Sounds good,” Trip smiles, “Snoval the snowman, was an icy smiling soul, with a cylindrical nose and two pointy ears, and a smile carved with a phase pistol.”

“I think it would work better if we did it to the tune Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. As that doesn’t work for me.” Travis says.

Trip grins, “Snoval the pointy eared snowman, had two ears that were pointy, and if you ever saw him, you would even say they were quointy.”

“Quointy?” Jon snickers, “is quointy even a word?”

“It is on Denobula,” Phlox says as he enters the room, “it means phallic shaped.”

“Trip!” Hoshi exclaims.

“What? Is it my fault I, I mean Sim only learned naughty Denobulan words?” Trip protests.

Hoshi looks at Phlox, who looks at Trip. “I’m glad you remember some of Sim’s memories.” The doctor smiles fondly at Trip.

“I remember them all, Doc, you’re like family to me now. Come join us, I’d like to spend time with my other dad.” Trip pats the floor next to him and Phlox goes to sit.

“Any other suggestions for a Snoval song?” Jon attempts to get things back on track.

“How about: Snoval the pointy eared snowman, had ears that were pointed, if you ever saw him you would realize he was double jointed.” McKenzie sings in a beautiful alto voice. “All of the other snowmen used to flirt and call his name, always wanting poor Snoval, to be the sub in all their bondage games.”

“That’s enough Mac.” Major Hayes smiles at her. “Snowmen can’t be double jointed as they don’t have any joints,” he says seriously.

“Shame that, it’s wonderful to be double jointed.” Malcolm says, stretching out and showing just how flexible he is. Smiling as he sees the way everyone eyes him as he gets into a sensuous pose that shows off his physique. T’Pol raising an eyebrow at the display, Phlox fascinated by how both the women and the men are eying the armory officer and wondering just who the lieutenant will end up with.

Porthos bounds into the room barking and runs to Jon, licking him and everyone chuckles. Everyone turns to watch dog and master greet each other. “Hello boy, how are you?” He greets him.

“I do not think Snoval the snowman song is working.” Cole says, “Maybe we should work on something else.”

“Malcolm, you haven’t suggested anything yet, you give it a try.” Captain Archer not quite orders, wanting the lieutenant to pay a bit for the display he put on earlier.

The armory officer smiles. “How about: Dashing through the stars, in a warp one shuttle pod, O’er the comets we go, Laughing all the way, Sensors blink and chime, Making spirits bright, What fun it is to fly and climb, In a shuttle pod tonight. Oh Shuttle pod, Shuttle pod, shuttle all the way, Oh what fun it is to fly, In a warp one shuttle pod, Oh shuttle pod, Shuttle pod, shuttle all the way, Oh what fun it is to fly, In a warp one shuttle pod!”

Everyone looks at him, “You know, that actually works.” Trip says, “except you and I didn’t think riding in a shuttle pod was fun when we nearly froze to death in one.”

“It was fun until then though, the things you and I did together.” Malcolm smirks and looks Trip up and down.

Trip blushes, “we didn’t do nothing.” He protests and sees all the ‘sure you didn’t faces’. He groans inwardly at the realization that no one will ever believe he and Mal didn’t have “fun” before the singularity damaged the pod.

“I liked the tune Corporal Mckenzie was singing earlier.” Phlox says, “would you try to adapt that for Enterprise, Lieutenant?”

“Yeah, please?” Hoshi bats her eyes at him.

“Only if you kiss me under the mistletoe.” Malcolm says, getting under the mistletoe. Hoshi going to him and giving him a slow kiss. He lets her go and jumps slightly when Phlox kisses him, the doctor holding him in place. “Doctor?”

Phlox shrugs, “Since I was one of the ones who asked I thought I should kiss you too. I hope you don’t mind.”

“Not at all, Doctor,” Malcolm goes and sits down again. “I’ll need a moment to think of an appropriate song for the Rudolph tune.” Stunned by the kiss, smiling as Porthos comes to him for pets, lavishing attention on the puppy. Ruffling the dog’s ears with his fingers. “I think I have one.”

He clears his throat and sings, “Porthos the wet nosed beagle, Has a very loving heart, If you ever saw him, You would even agree he’s smart.”

“But the sickbay creatures, Used to ignore him when he came, They never let poor Porthos, Join in any of the creature games.”

“It was as if the creatures, Thought if he couldn’t help people heal, That he wasn’t any good, They never saw how he made people feel.”

“Then one hectic morning, Porthos went to sickbay, giving comfort where he could, making all the patients feel good.”

“Then the creatures asked, “whose life have you saved?, It is only then you can join us, Only then will we see you as brave.”

“They watched as the pup did sniff, Wondering what he was up to, Never expecting what happened, Wondering just how the dog knew.”

“Porthos went to the morgue, Sniffing all the way, Barking and yelping as he got there, No one could make him stray.”

“Phlox opened the door the pup was at, To show him there was nothing to do, Revealing Major Hayes breathing, And the doctor informed the crew.”

“Then all the crew went to sickbay, As they shouted out with glee, Porthos the wet nosed beagle, You’ll go down in history.”

“All the creatures saw the sight, Calling out Porthos name, You saved a man’s life, Join us anytime for a game.”

“The pup did dance with joy, The MACO’s all gave Matt a hug and kiss, The crew did celebrate and sing, For Matt we all did miss.”

“Now we’re all together, Glad to whatever powers above, For Porthos the wet nosed beagle, And for all those that we love.”

Malcolm stops his song, smiles and nods to Matt, Cole wrapped around him. Malcolm pets the beagle and looks around at his friends. His eyes seeing the love in Jon’s eyes and so very glad it’s him. Jon stands and comes to him and Porthos bringing mistletoe with him. Jon kisses him slowly, gently, helps him stand. “Let’s go Malcolm, as I said before I want to do more than just kiss you under the mistletoe.”

Malcolm stood and went with Jon, ignoring the others who started singing again. “I saw Malcolm kissing Captain Archer underneath the mistletoe last night.”

END

Original Femmeslash

Femmeslash

Author: Acidqueen
Title: One Night in Vienna
Date: 23. Dec 2004
Fandom: Original fiction / femslash
Pairing: unnamed f/f
Rating: R
Summary: The title says it all.
Disclaimer: This is mine! :) All rights reserved to Acidqueen.
Feedback address: a.q@gmx.de
Advertisement: Part of the SAC-2004 at: http://www.kardasi.com/Advent/2004/SAC-2004.htm
Beta: Farfalla - thank you!

ONE NIGHT IN VIENNA
 

It happened in Vienna - which is only fitting, because this was the only place where such strange things ever happened. Because we met in a darkroom in the cellar of a gay S&M club at a mixed party. Because what we shared were thirty-five minutes. Thirty-five minutes where I touched your female, much too slim body, gliding my hands up and down your ribs, counting each of them. Your lips were soft, your eyes shimmering in the little light there was. I was shielding you with my back to the rest of the dark room, squaring my broad shoulders and big body against the interest of guys who were attracted by lesbian action like fleas to shit. I was holding and kissing you, caressing your soft skin and stroking your breasts. You wore a little bolero and tight jeans; I think I wore camouflage, because I love it and it fit the party. The bolero barely covered your chest. How could something so thin not break under my hands, I wondered. How could something so seemingly fragile not crush between me and the wall when I pressed you against it?

We didn't do more than kissing and stroking, I can recall. My lesbianism at that time ended at the waistline, the lower parts somehow out of the game. I loved women, but they were alien land for me - although I'm one myself and maybe exactly because of that.

We also barely spoke a word. No one talks in a darkroom. It would shatter the illusion of being someone else, someone hidden, intriguing, not the everyday persona and not even the party guest who had stepped through the door some hours ago and who would leave soon again, rinsed back into the nightly streets of Vienna. No, we didn't share more than a few words and, besides, what should we talk about?

When we finally parted and went upstairs again - each on her own - you walked away. I would have liked to talk and have a drink with you then; but you were even better in erecting walls than I was. Feelings had no place in this illusion of tasting something different. I understood you, even though it hurt a bit.

We never met again. And it wouldn't have worked anyway, because all we ever shared were a few moments in a dark cellar on a dark party, toying with the shady parts of our souls for a beautiful and melancholic fraction of time.

***

END

Science Fiction

TNG-Quantum Leap X-over - Sam/Picard, Picard/Q implied

Passion's Leap by Pet Leopard
Due to length the story is on a separate page.

Books

Harry Potter - Snape/Harry

Author: Amanda Saitou
Title: A Christmas to Remember
Date: December
Fandom: Books/ Harry Potter
Pairing: Harry/ Severus
Rating: PG 13
Summary: Snape and Harry at Christmas.
Disclaimer: All belong to Ms. Rowling, but the plot and fun are all mine!
Feedback address: Very welcomed at kawai_amanda_saitou@hotmail.com
Advertisement: Part of the SAC-2004 at: http://www.kardasi.com/Advent/2004/SAC-2004.htm
Beta: Many thanks to Corgi for the light speed beta work! All remaining mistakes are all mine.
Note: This is inspired in the very outrageous Christmas decoration on the opening page of hp-lexicon.org, I saw that and the story came instantly to my mind! Just to prove them that Severus Snape rocks!
Note 2: This is the full version!




A Christmas to Remember

December 23rd

It's his seventh Christmas at Hogwarts. There wasn't much to celebrate this year since the war against Voldemort was still happening and the school had actually become a refuge for the wizard warriors and their children. The forces of good and evil were equitable with each other; neither side had the upper hand in battle.

Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived and presumable savior of the Wizarding world, was sitting with his friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger at the Gryffindor table, but nobody was speaking. The Great Hall was fulfilled with people from all the Houses, teachers and members of the Order of the Phoenix. However, only Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall were talking as if there wasn't a war outside the school.

Severus Snape hated this time of the year called Christmas. He used to lock himself in the dungeons until those silly festivities ended. This year, the Headmaster had summoned him to stay along with the other teachers, not only to protect the students, but also to support the bane of his existence in battle. Severus couldn't make up his mind about what was worse, to wander about the castle among annoying teenagers, or to be Potter's babysitter! Another horrifying Christmas! He thought to himself.

Harry wasn't very happy about having the Potions Master around him through the holidays too. Their relationship hadn't changed much since Sirius death'. When Harry had returned for his sixth year, Dumbledore had forced Severus to teach Harry Occlumency again, but they were usually cold and distant with each other. Harry knew he didn't hate Snape. He even had some respect for the man, but he also knew that he wasn't able to spend much time near his Professor without them starting an argument.

Bothered by the silence around him, Harry's eyes wandered around the tables until they rested on the subject of his thoughts. Snape seemed very annoyed, as he always seemed to be, and as soon as the other man noticed Harry's eyes on him Snape scowled and pretended he had not noticed Harry's gaze.

So, he didn't forget what happened last week. Harry sighed as his memory flew back to his last Occlumency lesson. Due to the constant practice, Harry was finally getting very good at Occlumency, almost reaching the same level as Snape's skills and was becoming a very strong opponent. Harry remembered how Snape looked tired that day and how Dumbledore had later told him that Snape had just arrived from one of the Death Eaters meetings with Voldemort before going to teach Harry. Maybe that was the explanation for his Professor being incapable of protecting himself from Harry's Legilimency...

"Do it right this time, Mr. Potter, the Dark Lord won't wait for you to stand up before attacking again!"

"I'm doing my best, sir. I swear!"

"Excuses, is that all you can give to me, Potter? Lame excuses, as your stupid godfather used to give?"

"DON'T YOU TALK ABOUT SIRIUS, SNAPE! I'll show you who the lame one is! Legilimens!"

Snape was taken aback by the sudden, strong attack from Harry and he fell to the floor. His memories started to flow into Harry's mind like a movie until a specific memory came forth. It was a very young Snape around his fifteen years with the same pale skin, hooked nose and greasy hair. Apparently he was trying to catch someone's attention because he was constantly rearranging his robes. Soon Harry saw a group of girls approaching and he noticed that Snape started pretending that he was practicing some spells with his wand, but glancing at the girls at the same time. He was successful since the girls looked at him, but when he was starting to feel bold a huge snowball hit him in the head making him lose balance and hit the snowy ground. Turning in the direction the snowball came from, Harry saw his father hiding behind a tree along with his friends. The girls laughed heartily at the embarrassing scene and went away.

James was the first to speak. "Hey, Snivellus, are you trying to catch my girls?" He approached Severus. "Do you really believe any girl would look at you with that ugly face of yours?"

Sirius and Peter joined James into cornering Snape, who had not recovered from his fall yet. "Don't worry, James, I think Snivellus here is not a huge fan of the girls . Right, pal?"

Severus had barely stood up when Sirius threw another snowball into his head making him fall again.

James laughed out loud. "What a dishonor to your noble house, huh Snivellus? So, is that true that you have a crush on that Malfoy guy? Real bad taste you have, Snivellus! Pity because even that bastard wouldn't want you!"

Harry noticed that Snape wasn't looking at the Marauders. He was searching for his wand instead. There was blood streaming from his mouth and his robes were wet from the snow covered ground. Each time Snape tried to get his wand back, Pettigrew hexed his arm causing him to writhe in pain. The torture seemed endless and Harry had never felt as disgusted with his father and Sirius as he was that day. When it was over, the Marauders went away abandoning a very ashamed and broken Snape on the ground. Though there were tears in the young Snape's eyes, he managed to stumble to his feet and slowly walk back to the school.

"Protego!" The memories ended and soon Harry was back in the Slytheryn dungeon with his Professor. Snape was still on the floor and Harry couldn't avoid the urge to go and help him.

"No, Potter, stay away from me!"

"Let me help you, please!" Was he begging to help Snape?

Severus didn't lift his eyes to look at Harry that day. "Your classes are over until the end of the holidays, Potter. Now, go away!"

"Sir..."

"OUT, POTTER! NOW!"

Harry's hands were touching the doorknob when he heard a sob. Was it Snape? He looked back at his Professor, but dark locks of black hair hid his face. He couldn't believe Snape was crying. He had always thought that the man was invulnerable to tears... until then. So it struck him that he had been thinking the same way his father used to and that Snape's accusations were not so untrue after all.

Harry got closer to Snape; cupped the older man's face in his hands and made their eyes meet. "I am sorry, Professor! I am really sorry!" The unexpected warmness of the touch made Severus freeze and blush. This made Harry smile and an unexpected thought crossed his mind. "You know, I really can give you more than lame excuses." With that Harry brushed his lips against Snape's very tentatively. He didn't have much experience in kissing so he proceeded very slowly, capturing Snape's lower lip and sucking it then doing the same with the upper lip until Severus gave in. Meanwhile, Harry brushed the tears that were streaming down Snape's face with his left hand and with the other hand he began caressing the long silky dark hair.

A knock on the door brought both of them to reality. Severus realized what was going on and pushed Harry away from him. The older man shoved hard enough that Harry stumbled into one of the walls. Seeing the furious look that his Professor was giving him Harry left the room as fast as he could, almost hitting a very stunned Albus Dumbledore on his way out.

That was another important issue. Did the Headmaster know what had happened? Harry asked himself this question all the time because since that day every time Dumbledore looked at him Harry could see an amused gleam in the older wizard's eyes.

"Harry, you have to go with Professor Snape."

"Snape? What for?"

Hermione arched an eyebrow. "For the Hogsmeade outing, Harry! The Order members and the more experienced students, including us, offered to escort the younger students to Hogsmeade so they could enjoy themselves a little. It's still a safe place to go despite the war and the students need a break from Hogwarts anyway. Remember it now?"

Harry panicked for a brief moment. His eyes focused on Snape again and he noticed that Dumbledore was talking to the Professor. The Potions Master didn't seem very happy either, but Harry knew that whatever order Dumbledore gave Snape the man would obey.

"Harry, is there anything wrong?" Hermione had noticed the glances Harry were giving the Head Table and she was staring at her friend very suspiciously. "You two had a fight again, didn't you?"

"A fight? Err...yes, we had a fight last week, Hermione." Another look and Harry noticed that the teachers were all gone and Ron was waving at them to go in the same direction. "Hmm... 'Mione, do you think Snape will ever like me?"

The tinkling sound of laughter rang out and Hermione stared at Harry with humor flashing in her eyes, which made Harry flush in embarrassment. She laughed even more until she saw that her friend's face was changing from embarrassment to anger. "Oh, Harry, sorry, but that's such a silly question. Professor Snape cares about you a lot it's just you that doesn't see it."

"Oh, sure he cares. He does have a very interesting way of showing his 'affection', doesn't he?"

"But he does Harry! Remember what Dumbledore told you last year, that Professor Snape didn't know how to show his positive feelings towards other people because he was deprived of love for almost all his life?" Since Harry still looked doubtful the clever girl went on. "Harry, he may not love you as your friends do, but I am sure he likes you. All the effort he's expended is to keep you safe. He even risked his covering being blown to save you when the war started."

"He's done that because Dumbledore told him to do."

"No way, Harry! I remember how he flew out of the room when Remus discovered that Voldemort had captured you and he only returned when he brought you home. And I'm very sure that I didn't see the Headmaster order Snape to rescue you, Harry." She made one of those 'you know I am right' faces and smiled. "You're beginning to like him, aren't you?"

There it was the question he was dreading and couldn't avoid. Suddenly the floor seemed a very interesting place and Harry had to decide whether tell Hermione about what had happened during his last lesson. "Hermione, I... well, the reason why Snape is so mad at me is because I... I kissed him!"

Hermione's eyes popped out in amazement. "YOU WHAT?"

Harry told Hermione all the events of his last Occlumency lesson. When he was finished Hermione was gobsmacked. "Wow, Harry! I can understand why he's so mad. You kissed him and he kissed you back. He might be afraid that you were only playing with him and he expects you to tell the whole school about it. You have to tell him that you like him, Harry!" Hermione was pacing back and forth as she did every time she thought she had an important issue to solve. "Yes, you're going to tell him while we're in Hogsmeade. Ron and I can cover for you so you two can have some time alone."

"Are you nuts, Hermione? Who told you I like him? I just wanted to..."

"Don't you want to kiss him again? Yes, you do; your eyes are shining while we're talking about him."

Nervousness was overtaking Harry. Luckily, Snape himself approached them with an annoyed look still on his face. "Granger, Potter, the Headmaster is summoning all of us into the Great Hall." Hermione simply nodded and ran away leaving Harry and Severus alone. The young wizard felt like he had butterflies in his stomach, but he managed to keep his eyes locked with his Professor's. Harry began to speak, but Severus turned and walked away as if Harry weren't there. Sighing, he followed the other man to the Great Hall...

...............................................................................................................

December 24th

The Headmaster was a surprisingly good strategist they all discovered during the meeting in the Great Hall. The most prominent members of the Order of the Phoenix were present: Lupin, Tonks, Shacklebolt, Arthur and Molly Weasley, Moody, McGonagall, Neville, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Luna Lovegood, Malfoy, Snape and Harry. Dumbledore gave them their instructions and patrol patterns as he divided them into pairs to protect the younger students as they shopped.

It was early morning when the crowd of students left the school. Lupin, Malfoy, Arthur and Molly lead the group, Tonks and Shacklebolt were set in the middle while Neville, Ginny, Hermione and Ron covered the rear of the group. Surprisingly enough, Severus and Harry were set to follow the group at a certain distance disguised as a couple! So there they were walking after the group, cloaks covering their faces and hands entwined with each other. Snape had a distant look on his face and Harry was trying to find the right words to talk to him. As soon as they paired off, Hermione had given Harry very meaningful thumbs up signal and gave a very suspicious looking glance at the Headmaster. He wanted to talk about the kiss they had shared, but he was too confused about his own feelings.

Looking around them Harry recognized the road that he had seen on Snape's memories. Unconsciously his grip on his Professor's hands tightened.

"I don't need your pity, Potter." That was unexpected and Harry guessed that Snape was using Legilimency.

"I don't pity you, sir. I'm just sorry for what you had to go through. I... I just wanted to make your pain go away because..." In a wave of boldness, Harry interrupted their walk and stood face to face with Severus. "I guess I'm falling for you, sir." Severus arched an eyebrow questioningly. "I mean, falling in love."

Severus reacted the way Harry knew he would. He braced himself defensively and scowled. "What kind of prank is this, Potter? Do you really think I am that stupid?"

Harry saw fear and confusion cross Snape's face. Hell, this is going to be tough! "This isn't a prank, Professor. I don't know how it happened, but that's the truth. I realized my feelings the day I kissed you. I..." Harry cut the distance between them, unfolded Snape's arms and nestled himself against the Potions Master holding him as tight as he could. He felt Severus' body stiffens against his, but he kept his arms around the man anyway.

Severus froze and flushed. He knew it was Harry Potter, who was embracing him, but the warmth caused by younger man's proximity was too intoxicating for Severus and he couldn't push him away. He was using Legilimency on Potter and he knew the boy was telling the truth as unreal as it sounded. The 'golden boy' could choose whoever from the throngs willingly throwing themselves at his feet, so why him? His voice, despite his intending it to sound cold, was filled with mixed emotions. "Potter, I have always been alone and never had someone else share my life."

Harry loosened his grip and stared at Snape smiling shyly. "You have me now."
Snape just looked into the green eyes staring at him and allowing a sigh to escape. "I have nothing to offer to you. Why would you want me, Potter? Why?"

"Profes... Severus... it's all new for me too. But I want to try . I believe we can make it work somehow. You want to know why I would want you. Because you're an amazing man, you're always risking your life to protect me even though I've never thanked you for it, you're brave enough to endure being a spy against Voldemort despite the risks..." Severus flinched at the mention of his dark master. "Sorry, against the Dark Lord... and you still find time to teach us at Hogwarts. Besides... you seem to be the only one, besides Ron and Hermione, that sees me as I really am and not as the 'Boy-Who-Lived'. And..."

The blush that came to Harry's cheeks amused Snape. "And what, Potter?"

Harry tiptoed and gave Severus a very chaste kiss on his lips. "And touching you is the best thing I've experienced in all my life!" He could have resisted the brat longer, but Severus gave in the moment Harry kissed him a second time. His arms circled the beautiful and precious young man tightly and returned the kiss shyly, but sincerely. When they parted they spent what seemed an eternity gazing at each other's eyes as if deciding what to do next. Severus caressed Harry's face tenderly. "Maybe, Pot- Harry, this can work."

Harry smiled confidently. "I'm sure it will."

.....................................................................................................................................

Dec. 25th

"What do you mean I'm your Christmas date?" Severus Snape was supposed to be at his happiest since he had started dating Harry just the day before. However, he seemed very pissed off while talking to his boyfriend.

"It's not like we're announcing our marriage, Severus. There will be a Christmas party later and I just wanted to enter the Great Hall holding your hand and to dance with you."

"I agreed with us starting a relationship, Potter, and you agreed to not rush things."

Harry was pacing back and forth very nervously at Severus quarter's. "I'm not rushing things for us. It's just that I finally have someone special to spend Christmas with and I wanted to be with you in the party. Like... well, we're sweethearts now, aren't we?"

Severus scowled. "Sweethearts, huh? Do you think the other people we'll accept us together just like that? I don't feel like exposing our relationship to the world so soon."

The young man got closer to Severus resting his arms around his waistline. "Please, Severus, that's very important for me." Then he grinned. "Besides, imagine how many people we can knock down just with the view of us holding hands in the Great Hall!"

Severus wondered how many times a day Harry could amuse him. He grinned back. "Very Slytherin of you, Mr. Potter. Yes, that's a vision that would worth the 'sacrifice'."

"So you're coming with me? Be my date?"

Severus studied his companion for a moment. It was all too sudden and he considered his decision very seriously. "I'll have to think about it, Harry. Now, shove off!" He kissed Harry tenderly on the lips and the young wizard left the room floating in a cloud...

........................................................................................................................
Harry was dressed in his best Gryffindor robes. He found himself in the center of the Great Hall staring nervously at the stairs that lead to the Slytherin quarters.

"Harry?"

"Oh, hi Hermione!" Harry barely looked at his friend, brows furrowed in concern.

"Did you really asked him to come? I guess it's too soon for him, Harry."

The young man faced Hermione this time. "I know." He kept quiet.

Hermione smiled reassuringly. "Look, come and sit with us. If Professor Snape comes you will be able to see him from there."

The Boy-Who-Lived and who keeps living talked to almost everyone in the Great Hall; he danced with Ginny, Hermione and Luna; and he even spent some time at the Slytherin table. Two hours had passed and Severus hadn't come yet.

He had already given up waiting for Severus when all heads in the Great Hall turned to the impressive man coming down the stairs. The only one that didn't look surprised by Severus sudden appearance was Dumbledore. The old man had his usual gleamy eye and smiled amusingly.

Severus Snape was stunning. He was wearing new black robes adorned with green stripes around the collar. His hair had been washed up and was tied up in a ponytail. His face maintained the same cold air, but his eyes were brighter than they used to be. Not the perfect vision, but for Harry it was an astonishing view.

The Potions Master descended the stairs slowly trying to hide his hesitation. He could feel all the eyes on him and the gobsmacked faces; he'd never been to any of the Hogwarts balls ever. Severus felt like running back to his dungeons until he met Harry deep gaze on him and saw the bright smile appearing on his date's face.

Harry stood up immediately, but sat back again when he saw Severus signaling him not to move. Now everyone in the Great Hall, teachers, guests and students, were frozen in their places because Severus Snape had not only made an appearance in the ball but was also moving in the direction of where Harry was sitting. The moment Severus reached the Gryffindor table he bowed to Harry very elegantly and his silky voice was finally heard. "Good evening, Mr. Potter. Would you give me the honor of dancing with me tonight?"

Harry was completely amazed! He had never believed his partner could be so bold in front of so many people. And amazement also crossed the others faces when Harry accepted the hand Severus had offered to him jumped up and threw himself onto Severus arms, giving him a chaste kiss on his mouth.

The sound of bodies hitting the ground was heard throughout the Great Hall. Many people fainted when the pair kissed and many more fainted when they began dancing together as if there was no one else in the room. Hermione was feeling very happy for her friend at the same time she was holding the unconscious body of her boyfriend.

When the music ended and they entwined their hands walking to the Main Table Dumbledore began clapping in honor of the couple. Following the hint, the ones that had not fainted began clapping too. Severus and Harry looked at each other and shared a very meaningful glance. They spent the rest of the night together, as had been Harry's wish. They danced more and they talked to the others until the ball got to an end.

Severus and Harry were the last ones to leave. "It's time you go to bed, Mr. Potter."

"Please, stop calling me that, Severus! Besides, I don't want to leave you. Let me go with you."

Severus mask returned to his face. "It's too soon for that, Harry. I'm not ready."

Harry smiled. "It's not 'that', Severus. I just want to be close to you."

"The way you've been looking at me I really don't believe you're up to only sleeping."

It was Harry's turn to become serious blushing hard. "All right, then. I'm going to my dorm. Good - " He couldn't finish his sentence because his body had just been captured by Severus strong arms and he felt himself being lifted up and carried away. "Hey?"

Severus gave Harry a wicked smile. "Merry Christmas to you, Harry Potter!"

END

CRIME

CSI - Gil/Nick

Author: Ariel
Title: AND SO THIS IS CHRISTMAS
Date: 24th December
Fandom: CSI
Pairing: Gil/Nick
Rating: PG
Summary: a Christmas eve full of angst and an unexpected 'sorry' ...
Disclaimer: the characters here portraited aren't mine. Unfortunately, I can claim the story as mine ...
Feedback adress: storm_trigger@libero.it

And so this is Christmas

It is evening, near 20.00 hours, and usually at this time he should have been at the Las Vegas Police Dept. Lab working. But not today.

Christmas holidays arrived this year too. They brought with them thousands of watts in stunning decorations outside the many casinos along the Strip, little coloured lamps above the streets, and an increase in traffic jams that were about 200% more than usual.

The regular crowd of people was hurrying along on too full sidewalks, looking at the glittering shop windows, searching for the latest product of modern technology, while a poor-looking Santa wished them a very Merry Christmas, with a cup in one hand and, surprisingly enough, a hopeful light in his eyes. Kids were shouting and ordering their parents around, trying to became the next gossip at school thanks to their mother's purse the moment classes would start again.

He walks ahead, without any place to go, seeing nothing but blinding lights, hearing nothing but hollow commercials.

On his left, he passes a music store and he pauses tiredly, listening and then he smiles ...

/ ... what do I have got to do to make you love me
what do I have got to do ...
when 'sorry' seems to be the hardest word ... /

He has always loved Christmas time and all that came with it: decorating the tree, wrapping presents in shiny silver or gold paper, hanging mistletoe on every door and softly singing carols. His mother has always said that everyone should be better during Christmas, but Nick is sure she never intended this vulgar selling, masked as goodwill spirit.

Fleetingly, he asks himself when he bacame so bitter and he recalls it, because for a moment he can't breathe. Still, he thinks it's worth the secrecy, the sleepless nights and the deep exhaustion he feels just to be able to call Gil his. Until yesterday at least. How ironic ...

'Mum just called and I said I couldn't go home because I have something very important to do here...', is said in a little voice to no-one. Nobody is paying attention, they're all so caught up in last minute holiday shopping.

He resumes on his way, miserable ... is it worth it?

Then he stops, suddenly alert and turns around frantically searching for the voice that had just said his name. 'I'm hallucinating ...'

He's ready to go home when he sees him, among so many people he thinks he's just a trick played by his hopeless subconscious.

'Nicky ...'

So tired ...

Not a touch or a caress ...

'I'm sorry I accused you of trying to get favours from me at work ... I'm sorry ...'

Nick tilts his head, it's getting heavy and he's dead on his feet, but he manages a smile while his heart beats wildly in his chest.

'Merry Christmas, Gil ...'

'Merry Christmas Nicky.'

Maybe it's not so difficult to say 'I'm sorry' if what you put at risk is worth everything to you.

/ What do I have got to do ...
... when 'sorry' seems to be the hardest word .../


'Sorry seems to be the hardest word' - Music by Elton John, Lyrics by Taupin, 1976 Mercury Records

Movieverse

Wolves of Kromer - Seth/Gabriel

Author: Jonathan Rose
Title: Solstice
Fandom: Wolves of Kromer
Pairing: Seth/Gabriel
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Don't own anything, not making money just using for evil, you know the drill.
Feedback address: Windoftherose@yahoo.com
Warning : Mildly AU

Solstice

It was late winter in Kromer, the trees shook with morning snow, and the hills were scattered with patches of forest. The sun was hanging low in the early evening and a cool breeze swept through the boys' makeshift tent.

Seth sighed contently and snuggled close to Gabriel as the chilling, breeze wafted through the thin fabric. Gabriel wrapped his arm around Seth's waist and moved one of the sheets on the tent so they could see the sunset.

Gabriel noticed Seth staring off into space as he often did. "Still thinking about it aren’t you?" Gabriel knew the look Seth got when he was thinking about the ordeal they'd went though in the church.

"You know Gabs, if I'd been five minutes longer I might have lost you." Seth looked up at Gabriel, almost about to cry. Gabriel hugged Seth tight and pulled up a comforter over their legs.

Gabriel looked down at Seth, and brushed away the tear that ran down his cheek. "Shh, were okay now, and we'll never be apart." Seth nuzzled Gabriel’s chest. "We'd have been a regular Romeo and Juliet."

Seth smacked Gabriel lightly on the shoulder. "You better not be calling me Juliet." He giggled and laid back down on Gabriel's chest. They were silent for a while, Seth drawing with his finger on Gabriel's chest absent-mindedly.

"I love you Seth." It was a simple statement, sounding like something else would have followed it. Seth just cuddled in a little closer to Gabriel, and left a butterfly kiss on his neck. "Forever." He added, twining his fingers with Seth's.

"To eternity." Seth said, looking at the sunset that crested the horizon. The two drifted off to sleep as the final rays of the sun left the earth.

"Gabriel! Gabriel! You must wake up!" A hazy voice broke through Gabriel's sleep and he realized it wasn't Seth. One of the various pack members stood over them, seeming somewhat alarmed.

Gabriel let out a dramatic sigh. "What?" He tried to be at least civil, but at this early in the morning it came out more like a growl than anything. "Is something wrong?" He noticed the strained look on the boy's face.

"That idiot priest has gone and killed himself!" The boy said, soon realizing Gabriel was still barely conscious and not getting the picture. "Which means now people think we did it, I mean, we wanted to, but that’s not the point."

"Well, were not being swarmed by townspeople, if they were that concerned wouldn't have come to get us bad little wolves by now?" Gabriel seemed unphased by the whole story.

"Yes, but that doesn't mean there aren’t a few townspeople who still want to make this out like we did it." The young wolf fidgeted nervously on his haunches as he waited for Gabriel to reply.

Seth's voice cut into the conversation. "You're new to the whole wolf thing aren’t you?" He sat his head up on Gabriel's chest to get a good look at the boy. He chuckled lightly against Gabriel and waited as the boy gave him a confused look.

"While this may be cause for a little caution, there’s really not that much to get all disturbed over, and I know you're new because we all go though the 'paranoid' phase when we first realize that we're wolves."

"Either way at least you know now, so your not out of the loop, I hope I'll be seeing you around, but I've got other people to see." He was off before he finished the sentence, leaving Seth and Gabriel momentarily speechless.

Gabriel smiled and laid back down on the makeshift bed. "Ah, pups." He had a glimmer in his eye. "Not unlike you before I got you used to everything." He drew out the last word trying to grab Seth's attention.

Seth gave him another playful smack on the shoulder. "You're so bad Gabs, what am I to do with you?" Seth thought for a minute, then cut in, "On second though, Don't answer that, I already know what I'll do."

Gabriel laid back and stretched out. "Well, do your worst." He chuckled and watched as Seth bolted up and into the forest. "Hey! Wait up!" So Gabriel was off.

Seth was already inside playing one of the arcade style games that were housed in one of the old shops in town. Gabriel slid in, through a few awkward glances, over to where Seth was already very involved with a pinball game. He slipped his arms around Seth's waist and whispered to him. "You bad little wolf. You like playing with your games more than you like playing with me."

Seth just smirked and continued playing. Once he lost a ball, and waited for it to reset he started to speak. "Actually Gabs, I do like playing with you, the thing is, you got more buttons than the games here, but they all do the same thing." He stopped a moment. "Not that I'm complaining though."

At that point a random person came by, tossing a newspaper on the top of the pinball machine. "Hey!" Seth said trying to stretch and see around it, until Gabriel picked it up. He made some funny noises while reading it, but Seth was too focused on his game to realize it.

"Well isn't that interesting." Seth looked up at Gabriel for once since he started the game. " 'A priest' tail' The story of a local priest with a less than saintly side. Looks like they found him after he killed himself, but he seemed to have sprouted a tail. What a surprise." Gabriel tried to rein in the sarcasm but it wasn't any use.

"I’m sure the world will manage to go on with one less bigot running around." Seth said absent-mindedly while playing his game. "Funny though, if I’m not mistaken being a wolf and committing suicide are both against his religion. Cosmic irony strikes again."

"Well speaking of cosmic things, think we should go to the winter equinox/ moon festival things the pack is setting up?" Seth just looked up at Gabriel with a funny expression and returned to his game. "Oh right, your not a pagan, duh. See there’s a lot of wolves in the pack who are pagans of one sort or another. They celebrate the first days of the season, it's a three day festival where they celebrate the season's change and the return of the light."

"Whoa, deep Gabs. You ever been to one?" Gabriel nodded over Seth's shoulder. "Sounds interesting, to say the least. Wanna check it out?"

"Well, its not until tomorrow evening anyway, so we'll just have to amuse ourselves for the moment." Gabriel chuckled, Seth played his last coin on the pinball machine as they spoke. Gabriel just watched, an amused look on his face.

"Guess we can't say no to a night of fun eh Gabs?" Seth had his trademark 'lecherous grin' plastered on his face, even though he was staring at the pinball machine while he spoke, until he lost the first ball of the game when he looked up.

"But, oh, I didn't tell you now did I?" Gabriel had Seth's attention now, his tail wagging against Gabriel just a little. "This festival isn't your average 'Christmas day' come and go. It lasts from the full moon around December 20th for 3 days and 3 nights. Its a huge gathering, there are even some non-wolf pagans that get together with us."

"No way, you mean to tell me that there’s a 3 day festival, starting tomorrow, where there are a bunch of wolves and humans that are all pagans, all getting along and just having a huge party?" Gabriel smirked and gave a agreeing noise. "Way."

End

Various Movies

Multiple

Author: McJude
Title: THE SLUT OF THE MONTH CLUB
Pairing: MAX/Adam Pierson
Rating: NC-17
Series: Crossover – Characters from several movies – primarily UNCOVERED but all listed at the end. Also Adam Pierson from HIGHLANDER
Summary: Adam Pierson has a visitor who among other things likes to talk. Find out what (or should it be who) he has been doing the last month.
Date of publication: When needed
Disclaimer: Characters are not mine. Those belonging to institutions are noted; those belonging to individuals have been cleared.
Feedback address: McJude@sbcglobal.net
Beta: The usual crew.
Note: Part of the Slash Advent Calendar of 2004 at: http://www.kardasi.com/Advent/2004/SAC-2004.htm

THE SLUT OF THE MONTH CLUB

Methos heard the door open and close. His head told him that it was not Duncan or another immortal, and he wondered who had just let himself into his flat. However, a mouth full of toothpaste precluded his rushing out of the bathroom for a full ten seconds.

“Cerveza? Donde esta?” he heard a voice call from the kitchen. He noticed a tall curly-haired man whose black short-sleeved sweater stretched tightly across his muscled back and revealed a crescent of bare waist as he squatted to survey the refrigerator. Methos was somewhat surprised by the question because most people complained that his larder contained nothing but beer.

“Max?”

“Merry Christmas.”

Max rose, turned, brushed a strand of long hair out of his dark eyes and smiled a huge smile. Methos noticed three thick gold chains around his neck, one sporting the traditional Italian horn. He also noted, that Max’s tight gabardine pants were about to burst in the front. They threw their arms around each other, hugged tightly and kissed.

It was then that Methos realized that he was only wearing boxers which made it easy for Max’s hands to travel to their favorite destination. If there had been a speed record for cock-to-mouth connection, it might have been seriously challenged today.

* * * * *

Adam Pierson had met Max at an art museum in Barcelona. Duncan had been off attending to the purchase of some antique maps and he had roamed the galleries for several hours. He wasn’t even sure why he had noted the man walking out of one of the administrative offices, except that possibly he had reminded him of himself during a more muscular period. The man was fastening his belt and wiping his face, but the smile would not come off.

He had acknowledged him with the slightest of glances and continued down the hall to the restroom. That might have been the mistake, but he really did need to pee. Of course, the strange man followed him, standing back and obviously watching as he used the urinal and tucked himself back into his pants.

“Ni-i-i-i-i-c-c-c-ee,” he droned in English. “There’s nothing like cock like yours to get the taste of pussy out of my mouth.”

Methos was torn between sexual curiosity and the urge to deck him.

“What makes you think I’m not a cop?”

“Cops are some of my biggest fans.” His tongue moved casually across his lips as his smile grew.

“Tell me, does that line ever work?”

“You’d be surprised. Museums are havens for the sexually repressed.”

“Including female administrators.”

“Especially female administrators.”

“Come on my friend, I’ll buy you a beer. I can assure you that it works very well on the taste of pussy, too.”

It had been a long time since Methos had succumbed to restroom pickups but this guy had an undeniable fascination. It was worth a beer or two to get to know him better, while avoiding a less than chance encounter with a member of museum security. As he found out later that afternoon when they returned to his flat, Max was quite versatile with his sexual talents. He worried slightly about what Duncan would have thought had he learned how they had spent the afternoon, and then remembered Amanda’s visit the previous week. How would you degenderize that old adage about geese and ganders?

* * * * *

“So what are you doing in Seacouver?” Methos often amazed his partners with his desire to resume conversations directly after orgasm. He had thought it was an immortal trait until faced with MacLeod’s post coital lethargy.

“Afraid I am going to muscle in on your territory.” Max could smirk with the best of them.

“I told you I’m in a committed relationship.”

“Yea sure. It’s written all over your face when you cum.”

“I am, you slut.”

“Let me get this straight, you’re calling me a slut.”

“You are a slut, Max. That’s what I find so endearing about you. Look up slut in the dictionary and there is your picture.”

“I’ve heard that before, got to have something better than that, Adam. Or is it Dr. Pierson now?”

“Sorry Max, you’re such a cliché slut that it is not worth the effort of creating a new metaphor.”

“And how many men have you been with in the last month, Adam?”

“I told you only one - - two if I count you.”

“I don’t count?” Max had a cute pout.

“Sorry. I was making a point. How many have you been with?”

“You mean? Do you want women, too? I usually don’t count women. There are just too many.”

“If you say so.”

“As a matter of fact, counting you, I’ve only been with four other men.”

“Only four?”

“Four . . . I think so. Bathrooms don’t count do they?”

“Not if you don’t want them to, Max. Now tell me about the other three.”

* * * * * *

Methos was thankful that Max’s hyperactive personality made it impossible for him to sit for more that a few minutes. That gave him leave to sprawl onto the couch confident that his need for cerveza would be satisfied by Max’s frequent trips to replenish his own. Max moved around the room striking poses that best accentuated his well-developed hard body.

“Well there’s George .” Max began. “I guess George could best be described as a tight assed banker. Married, kiddies. I know you’re thinking closet queen, but George was more complex than that. I believe George turned to me for the same reason I turned to you. To get the taste of pussy out of his mouth . . . and it wasn’t his wife’s.” Max’s twisted smile told him that this was going to be good.

“I met him in the bar of this fancy hotel in Toronto.” Methos wasn’t sure if he wanted to know what Max was doing in Toronto. “You know the kind of place where men go looking for women.”

“Wouldn’t know.” Methos smirked. “And what were you doing there?”

“Just looking. Actually I’ve thought about investing in this joint venture to open a place like that for women. I think a lot of older women would be willing to pay for sex if there was a safe place . . . “

“Go on with the story, Max, we can discuss your financial plans later.”

“You’re the one who asked. Anyway George was sitting there drinking his scotch and from his body language it was obvious he had ‘PW’ written on his face.”

“PW?”

“Pussy whipped, don’t get out much do you Pierson?”

“Sorry, I was thinking it was someone’s initials.”

“Anyway, I moved over next to him and offered . . .

“Your best line, I know you used it on me. Remember?”

“If it worked on you, Adam, it will work on anyone. I’ll spare you the boring details then, but we ended up back in his suite. He’d rented it for the night not just for the hour and he told me this story about how this woman lawyer had him by the balls and was jerking him around. Caught him in his own game. Paying him for sex. He was a mess, but not messed up enough not to be a good lay. You know what he had?”

“Herpes?”

“No, this little tattoo of a dragon on his bum. It was absolutely adorable.”

“The dragon or his bum?”

“Both. George has become a regular – third Wednesday of the month, five hundred dollars US and a round trip plane ticket to Toronto. Such a deal. I can get my prescriptions refilled while I am there.”

“I so don’t want to know.” Methos commented.

“Viagra. You know that Cialus stuff can give you a hard-on that lasts for hours? After a while it gets depressing.”

“I said I didn’t want to know. But this guy traded in a ball breaking female lawyer who paid him for you. You are coming up in the world Max. Tell me about another one.”

“There’s this guy named Steve Blaine . A real man’s man. Builds houses.”

Adam closed his eyes and thought about his first visit to Seacouver. Duncan was restoring that old craftsman bungalow for Anne. He remembered the two of them working together, hammering and painting. He would never forget the look on Duncan’s face when he slapped that paint brush on his nose. He knew right then that there was more to Duncan MacLeod than he had ever let on. Gods, those were good times.

“Now don’t go nodding off on me, Adam. Thinking about your boyfriend are you?”

“You read minds, too.”

“Yours is easy to read.”

“Wanta bet? Continue.” Methos said, and thought ‘if you only knew.’

“He’s really straight. Or was ‘til he me.”

“They all are.” For a long time Methos always wondered why gay and bi-sexual men were so attracted to straight men. Then he met Duncan MacLeod and knew.

“He’s a widower. Two daughters. He’s even a grandfather.”

“Old guy then.”

“No, our age.”

“Really.” Methos smirked. “How do these straight guys find you, subscribe to the slut of the month club.”

“I get around. Know people. You know.”

“Not really.”

“There’s not much to say about Steve. He’s sort of white bread. Sliced white bread from the package with the red, yellow and blue balloons on the package. He’s handsome of course, but he’s just Steve. Love to fuck him, but know he’s always thinking about building something.”

“There must be something kinky about him.”

“He writes things on his arms. Telephone numbers? Is that kinky enough?”

“I was going to say, that attracts him to you.”

“Just likes me I guess.”

Max paused, stretched and looked up at the ceiling. Methos checked out his pants which were again bulging. There had to be more to Steve than Max was willing to share with him today. That was fine. Secrets were good, sometimes.

“Now if you want kinky, my friend, you ought to meet Gerald . He’s kinky with a capital K. I met him through my friend Vanessa. She’s a professional dominatrix. Now there is one hot woman, if you don’t mind having a woman who’ll beat the shit out of you if you misbehave.”

“Wouldn’t want one any other way,” Methos cooed.

“Yea, you say that now, but when she’s all done up in those fishnet stockings and leather bustiers she makes you go weak in the knees. If you know what I mean.”

Methos bit his lip to refrain from making some historical comment about Marques de Sade.

“Anyway Gerald had been going to Vanessa for several years. He was a total bottom. He’d just lie there while she worked him over, cum in his tight white underwear. I guess in real life he has some high-powered job in the television industry, but when he comes to Vanessa he’s just a bad, bad little boy.

“Anyway, he wants more bang for the buck so to speak and has Vanessa come to his house. Guess what happens, his little wifey walks in on him. That makes him feel even more humiliated, so he’s happy as a clam. But you won’t believe what happens next, his wife decides she wants to learn how to dominate. She goes to Vanessa for lessons. Learns all about it, gets these thigh-high boots and this little leather cap . . . really a cute thing she was.

“Sorry, Max, I’m drooling.”

“I’d never gotten into that S & M stuff, but Vanessa was getting frustrated. What ever she tried with Gerald, his wife would think she could do, too. It was fine for a while, but Gerald was not getting what he wanted from Vanessa and she was losing a fine source of income. You won’t believe what those women make. “

“I believe.”

“Anyway Vanessa thinks that Gerald would get off on having a male dominate him and asked me if I would give it a try. Now, I’m not sure I should be telling you this . . . Gerald considered Vanessa almost a therapist, but I never really had sex with him. That was one of his stipulations. Her, our, relationship with him was mental, not physical. Oh, I could touch him, but only to hurt him.”

“How do you draw the line?”

“It was difficult, Adam. He liked to have me make him sit on the floor and jerk off. Like he was a bad eleven year old. You remember.”

“Not really. . .”

“He’d jerk off, and I’d spank him. Liked to have his bum spanked with a hairbrush. The back side of it. It was interesting, Adam. Different interesting. But you know what?”

“What?”

“I started fantasizing about having it done to me. Not by Gerald, or Vanessa . . . “

“Not by me I hope. I don’t get . . .”

“No, by someone I don’t know. This tall, dark muscular guy. Long brown hair, dark chocolate eyes, pale skin . . . ”

Methos thought about making a note on his arm to never introduce Max to Duncan MacLeod.

“So that’s it. The three men you had this month. I don’t believe you.”

“Believe me, there was supposed to be one more. I had another regular, this guy Ivan Slavicky , big hotshot in a cosmetic company, but they found him dead on the floor of his office in a pool of blood. Not his month I guess.” A feeling of real sadness was detectable over the usual sarcasm in Max’s voice.

Adam rose and went to his friend’s side. He ran his fingers through Max’s oily hair. “I’m sorry, Max.”

“So am I, he was going to give me this new age defying formula they were developing for free. It costs a fortune. Look at these lines in my face. My life is over if I get any more wrinkles.”

“Age is all relative, my dear Max. With your charm you’ll be bedding fellow patients in the nursing homes. Come on now, let’s go into the bedroom and have a go at what you do best.”

McJude
October 15, 2004.

Author’s Notes: Just incase you haven’t realized. All the hot delicious men in this story are roles that Peter Wingfield has played. Sorry, Peter, it was just too much fun.

Books

Lord of the Rings - Aragorn/Legolas

Art by Patt Rose