Christmas Medley
By Shadowstar
Disclaimer: If you think they're
mine, you're sadly mistaken. I borrowed them, hugged them,
squeezed them, called them George, then gave them back like a good girl.
Author's Note: For those of you
still waiting for the next bit of Upwards a Downward Spiral, I haven't
forgotten and I am still working on it. RL has been too busy for
me to write fanfic for a long time. Chalk it up to getting ready
to graduate. This is all Christy's fault. Oh, yes... I'm
nominally a DarkNN, if I have to name a faction. Archive?
Sure, go ahead.
~*~*~*~
Nick shoved his hands in his pockets
and walked slowly through the snowy evening. It was his night
off; since he was covering for people with families on Christmas Eve,
Captain Reese had insisted that he have a few nights off the week
before. He leaned into the wind and picked his way carefully over
the icy sidewalks. The wind changed directions, bringing him
snatches of a carol that he'd all but forgotten.
"Il est ne, le
divin Enfant,
Jouez hautbois,
resonnez musettes;
Il est ne, le
divin Enfant;
Chantons tous son
avenement!"
He turned slowly towards the haunting,
beautiful music. It was coming from a small, almost non-descript
building across the street. Nick walked over, passing the three
cylindrical spires in front of the building. He walked up to the
plate glass door and pulled it open, uncertain of what would happen if
he stepped over the threshold of what was obviously a church.
Nick entered the building soundlessly,
following the sound of music as it filled the air. Surprised that
it didn't burn, he walked across the small lobby and opened one of the
double doors that led to the chapel. He slipped into one of the
padded pews in the back and listened as the choir sang.
"Depuis plus de
quatre mille ans,
Nous le
promettaient les Prophetes;
Depuis plus de
quatre mille ans,
Nous attendions
cet heureux temps.
Il est ne, le
divin Enfant,
Jouez hautbois,
resonnez musettes;
Il est ne, le
divin Enfant;
Chantons tous son
avenement!"
Someone slid onto the pew next to
him. "Here to join the choir, Knight?" a somewhat familiar voice
asked.
"Brown," Nick said with a nod.
"I just heard the music..."
Detective Brown grinned, "and came to
investigate," he said. "Our program is tomorrow night," he
explained. "We've invited everybody in the community... Santa
will be here for the kids, and we're collecting canned goods, blankets,
clothes, and toys for some needy families."
Nick thought back to his mother taking
baskets of remedies and food to doctor the sick in the village when he
was a child. It was one of the things he'd learned before he'd
been sent off to learn to be a knight--take care of the sick and those
weaker than you were. He'd lived to see 800 Christmases, give or
take a few, and it never really ceased to sting that he didn't really
have anyone to spend that important time of year with. "That's a
good thing to do," he murmured.
"Yeah, well, you should come and bring
Dr. Lambert," Brown said with a friendly smile. "We can't fix all
of the bad stuff, but we can help a few families out and make sure that
they have some sort of Christmas; we're playing Secret Santa on
Christmas Eve." The detective paused for a few minutes. "Thanks
for taking my shift, Nick. If you hadn't, I wouldn't be able to
go do this with my family."
Nick sat perfectly still, listening as
the music washed over him. It had been a long time since he'd
felt any measure of peace, but sitting there in the small church, he
felt it as the choir sang.
"Ah! qu'il est
beau, qu'il est
charmant,
Que ses graces
sont parfaites!
Ah! qu'il est
beau, qu'il est charmant,
Qu'il est doux le
divin Enfant!
"Il est ne, le
divin Enfant,
Jouez hautbois,
resonnez musettes;
Il est ne, le
divin Enfant;
Chantons tous son
avenement!"
"Maybe I'll come," Nick said
slowly. "And you're welcome--I don't really have much of a
family..." he trailed off.
"I know the feeling," Brown said with
a sympathetic smile. He nodded towards the choir. "Before I
married Beth four years ago, I was alone, too." He glanced at his
watch and stood up. "I'd better go spread out the canvas tarps in
the gym," he said.
Nick looked at him curiously.
"For what?"
Brown gave him a wide grin.
"We've got real hay again for the Nativity scene that the kids are
putting on. Believe me, you *don't* want to bring hay into the
building without a tarp. We did it last year, and it took *weeks*
to get all the hay out of the carpet."
Nick simply nodded. "I'd better
go, too," he whispered, trying not to disturb the rehearsal. "I'm
supposed to be meeting Nat soon."
"Hope to see you tomorrow night,"
Brown said, offering his hand. Nick shook it, then headed out the
door. He and Nat were supposed to watch movies, but he was a
little reluctant to leave the building. For the first time in
ages, he felt hope. Just standing inside any kind of church made
him feel like perhaps he wasn't irredeemable after all. Perhaps
there was hope for one such as him. With a sigh, he left and
hurried towards the loft where Nat was probably waiting for him.
If all it took was a bit of canned food and some sundries to get in,
perhaps it was worth going; Christmas was still a week away and he
hadn't been to anything like a Christmas church service in a long time.
~*~*~*~
Nick shifted from foot-to-foot as he
waited for Natalie to answer the door. He was lucky that she'd
agreed to accompany him to the Christmas program at the church that
night. "Nat," he said with a grin as the door opened.
"Ready to go?"
"Just let me get my coat," she said as
she reached in the closet. Nick took her coat from her and helped
her into it. He reached for her hand as she turned to lock the
door behind them. Normally, he wouldn't dare to even try and hold
her hand, but the thought of going back to that church gave him the
courage to try it. After all, it wasn't as if he'd hurt her but
just holding her hand...
"Let's go, Nat," he said with a grin.
"Are you sure you want to do this?"
she asked, settling her purse on her shoulder. "This is a
*church*, right?"
Nick grinned, amused. "Yeah, it
is, but it doesn't hurt to go in there. I guess it's the lack of
holy symbols in the building." He tucked her hand into his elbow
and covered it with his free hand as they walked downstairs and out of
the building. He opened the caddy's door and helped her
inside. This would be a perfect night; he knew it.
He climbed into his side of the car,
started it, and pulled back out into the street. "Did I mention
that I heard the choir singing last night and they sounded beautiful?"
he asked hopefully. Nick wanted Natalie to have fun at the
Christmas program as well.
Natalie reached over and took his free
hand. "I'm sure it'll be fine, Nick," she said with a smile.
Nick released her hand and put his arm
around her shoulder. Natalie leaned against his shoulder and he
threaded his fingers through hers. He'd been careful not to get
this close to her since the night that he'd almost killed her, but for
some reason, being close to her didn't seem to hold the danger that it
had yesterday. Strangely, he didn't feel the desire to take her
blood; he only felt the need to love, cherish and protect her.
"Nick, are you okay?" she asked softly.
Nick smiled. "I'm fine--I'm
better than fine."
"So last night at the church did you
some good?" Nat asked.
Nick stopped at a traffic light and
dropped a kiss into her hair. "Yes... For the first time in a
long time, I felt some peace." He was silent for a moment as the light
turned green. "It's actually lasted, Nat. I almost feel as
if one such as I could be forgiven." He felt Natalie shift
slightly as she placed a kiss on his jaw.
"I've never believed that you were
damned, Nick," she said.
"Thank you," he murmured.
"You've been my hope for so long, Nat--"
"I know," she said, squeezing his hand.
Nick pulled the caddy into the church
parking lot, parked, waited for Nat to scoot away a little, and then
got out to open the door for her. He helped her out of the caddy
then took her hand in his. Together, they walked around to the
trunk, opened it, and pulled out a few stuffed shopping bags.
They walked up to the church door. Just as Nick was about to drop
her hand so that he could open it, a young man wearing a dark suit
opened it from the inside and held it open.
"Welcome!" he said with a bright
smile. "The donation barrels are over there," he indicated the
corner of the lobby. "And the program will be in the gym."
"Thank you," Nat murmured as Nick
pulled her over to the barrels to drop off their entrance fee.
The two of them put the bags into a barrel and hurried into the gym to
find some seats at one of the many tables set up in there. The
gym was decorated with green and red streamers and mistletoe was hung
over the doors, adding to the festive look. A large, decorated
Christmas tree stood in one corner with a big chair in front of
it. At the front of the room, a microphone stand stood in the
center, flanked by an upright piano and a nativity scene. They
sat near the front and together, admired the life-sized nativity
scene. There weren't any people in it yet, but it did have a few
life-like statues of animals sitting on the hay. People filtered
in, settling in seats and getting comfortable. Nick took Nat's
coat and left briefly to hang it and his own up. He went back in
and sat down next to her, again taking her warm hand in his colder one.
An older man stood up, walked to the
front of the gym, cleared his throat, and picked up the
microphone. "We'd like to welcome everyone out tonight," he said
with a smile. He motioned to someone from the audience.
"We'd like to begin our program tonight with a prayer, and we've asked
Mrs. Brown to say it."
Mrs. Brown took the mike, folded her
arms, bowed her head, and offered a short, simple prayer. Nick
let out a long sigh as the feeling of peace he'd felt the night before
settled more heavily on him. It was almost Christmas, and it felt
as if all was right with the world.
After the prayer ended, a ragged line
of children dressed in Sunday best clothes walked in and arrayed
themselves at the front. A young woman followed, sat down at the
piano, and started to play. An older gray-haired lady got them
started. Almost together, and slightly off-key, the children
began to sing.
"Stars were
gleaming, shepherds
dreaming
And the night was
dark and chill.
Angels' story,
manger glory,
Shepherds heard it
on the hill.
Ah, that singing!
Hear it ringing,
Earthward winging,
Christmas bringing.
Hearken! We can
hear it still!
Hearken! We can
hear it still!"
Nick gave Nat's hand a squeeze,
envisioning their own children standing there eventually. He
brought her hand up and kissed the back of it gently. She gave
him a soft smile as the children finished their song.
"See the clearness
and the nearness
Of the blessed
Christmas star,
Leading, guiding,
wise men riding
Through the desert
dark and far.
Lovely showing,
shining growing,
Onward going,
gleaming glowing,
Leading still, our
Christmas Star.
Leading still, our
Christmas Star."
The children came to a ragged stop,
then began a different song as two young people in costume, carrying a
bundle wrapped in cloth walked in from the opposite door. The
young man and young woman knelt next to the manger, and the young woman
laid the bundle in the straw in it.
"When Joseph went
to Bethlehem
I think he took
great care
To place his tools
and close his shop
and leave no
shavings there
He urged the
donkey forward,
then, with Mary on
its back,
And carried bread
and goat cheese
in a little linen
sack
I think there at
the busy inn
that he was meek
and milk
And awed to be the
guardian
of Mary's sacred
Child."
The children sang quietly as two older
children dressed as Shepards walked towards the nativity scene and
dropped to their knees. "Joseph" leaned forward and smoothed the
blankets over the bundle in the manger as the children finished their
song.
"Perhaps all
through the chilly hours
he smoothed the
swaddling bands,
And Jesus felt the
quiet strength of
Joseph's gentle
hands
And close beside
the manger bed
he dimmed the
lantern's light,
And held the
little Jesus close upon
that holy night."
The children finished their song and
stood quietly as the adult choir came in and stood behind them.
They started singing the song he'd heard the previous night as three
teenage boys dressed like the Three Wise Men walked in and presented
their gifts to the infant. The choir finished singing, and an
older gentleman picked up the microphone and quietly read the Christmas
story out loud from the stage. Nat scooted her folding metal
chair closer to Nick and laid her head on his shoulder. He hugged
her tightly as they listened in silence to the story.
The old man finished reading and a
younger man came up to the stage carrying an acoustic guitar. He
settled the guitar strap over his shoulder and picked up the
mike. "We have one last carol to sing before we go on to
refreshments and what I'm sure the kids have been waiting for--Santa
Claus." He said with a smile. "I'd like everyone to join in;
we're playing this one as it was first played." He sat down,
settled the guitar on his lap, strummed the opening chords, and began
to sing in a strong baritone. Everyone else joined in and sang
with him.
"Silent night,
Holy night
All is calm all is
bright
'Round yon virgin
Mother and Child
Holy infant so
tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly
peace
Sleep in heavenly
peace"
The atmosphere was quiet,
reverent. Nick let it seep into his soul as he sang softly with
the rest of the audience. The carol wasn't really that old; he
predated it by several hundred years, but he remembered the first time
he'd heard it on a cold December night a little over a century and a
half ago.
"Silent night,
holy night,
Shepherds quake at
the sight.
Glories stream
from heaven afar,
Heav'nly hosts
sing Alleluia;
Christ the Savior
is born;
Christ the Savior
is born."
Nick glanced down at Nat, happy that
she was with him. Everything always seemed better when they were
together. No matter how bad things got, she was his light in the
darkness.
"Silent night,
holy night,
Son of God, love's
pure light.
Radiant beams from
Thy holy face,
With the dawn of
redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at
Thy birth;
Jesus, Lord, at
Thy birth."
The song drew to a close, and they all
sat in silence for a few minutes as the microphone was handed over to
the man who'd opened the party. "Everyone can help themselves to
the refreshments," he said with an engaging smile. "And if anyone
would like to play some other Christmas carols, the piano is
open." He stopped for a moment. "DO you hear what I hear?"
he asked the nearest child. Wordlessly the little girl shook her
head. "Listen everybody!" he said in a hushed whisper. The
room got even quieter and sleigh bells could be heard.
"Santa Claus!" one little boy squealed
as a large, fat man dressed in a Santa suit came in to the room with a
bulging sack slung across his back.
"HO HO HO HO!" he called. The
children scrambled out of their seats and places in line and hurried to
the back where Santa was putting the bag on the floor. He sat
down in the chair and the first child climbed into his lap.
"Thank you for bringing me, Nick," Nat
said.
Greatly daring, Nick leaned forward
and brushed his lips across hers in a chaste kiss. "Welcome," he
said with his best charming grin.
Detective Brown walked up and offered
Nick his hand. "Glad you could make it, Knight."
Nick shook his hand. "It was
nice," he said with a smile.
Brown nodded at the way the two of
them were sitting. "So is there anything I should know for the
betting pool?" he asked with a gin.
"Not yet," Nat said.
"And we'd appreciate it if this didn't
get around yet," Nick said.
"Will do; I remember what it was like
when my wife and I got together... and it'll be worse for the two of
you because we've been waiting so long." Brown stuck his hands in
his pockets. "Enjoy the party." He wandered away to stand with
his wife and little girl in the Santa line.
"How would you like to go and get
something to eat?" Nick asked with a smile. "I made some reservations
in case you were hungry."
Natalie smiled. "Sound
good." She moved back a little, allowing Nick to stand. He
helped her to her feet. They started towards the door until Nat
stopped him. "Look," she said pointing up.
Nick looked up and saw the mistletoe
they were standing under, then leaned in and kissed her softly, gently,
teasing open her mouth with his cool tongue. The vampire within
him was strangely quiet for once as they kissed passionately.
They were so absorbed in each other that they didn't notice when a
camera flash went off, capturing the moment for posterity. The
kiss ended as slowly as it began, and they walked out of the gym,
gathered their coats and went to the car.
Nick helped her inside, shut her door,
and climbed in himself. "Nick?" Nat said as he started the car.
"Hmm?" he said.
"I--I'm not sure if we can find a cure
yet with the current technology," she said softly.
"I know," he said, giving her a
troubled look as he pulled the caddy out of its parking space in the
full lot and turned into the street.
Nat bit her lip and reached for his
hand. "In twenty years, we might be able to do it," she said,
tracing circles on his cool hand. "By then, I'll be too old for
any of our dreams... Bring me across?"
"Nat--I--"
"Nick, I know you've said that you
won't condemn me to your darkness, but as long as we're together, it
won't be dark for me." Natalie gave him a pleading look. "I
*love* you," she said. "And if it takes me coming across, well, I'll
just have to find a cure for both of us. I'll ask LaCroix if I
have to."
Nick hesitated for a few
minutes. "I'll think about it," he promised. "I never want
to be without you, Nat--I love you, too." LaCroix had promised
not to interfere in their relationship unless asked when Nat had gotten
out
of the hospital, but if Nat asked, Nick knew that his sire would not
hesitate to comply.
"That's all I ask," Nat said
quietly. "Merry Christmas, Nick."
"Merry Christmas, Natalie," he
answered. Maybe she was right. As long as they were
together, nothing seemed that bad. For the first time in what
seemed like forever, he had found peace, love, and hope during the
Christmas season. With Nat by his side, perhaps he could keep
it... forever.
End.
Songs: Il est ne le divin Enfant,
Stars Were Gleaming, When Joseph Went to Bethlehem, and Silent Night.
