Christmas Medley 1/2
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.



Christmas Medley 2a/2b
By Shadowstar

~*~*~*~

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.



Christmas Medley 2b/2b
By Shadowstar

~*~*~*~

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
them selves 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 has promised not to
interfere in their relationship unless asked 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.

Author's Note: I always wondered if entering a
Christian church that didn't have crosses and holy
water around would hurt Nick.  <g>  What can I say?
Catholic isn't the only brand of Christianity... I
decided that it probably wouldn't, so then I had to
try and figure out what might happen.

=====
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