Okay, this is my first fanfic outside of War postings, so I'm a little
nervous.  Oddly enough, for someone from a faction as LaCroix-centric as
Nunkies Anonymous, my first venture involves Nick and Nat.  The song,
"Little Altar Boy," is sung by Karen Carpenter on the Carpenter's Christmas
album that I love so much, and it always reminds me of Nick.  Don't know if
anyone else has done a song fic with it before, but here goes.

I guess this is where I should say that these characters aren't mine, but
it's fun to take them out and play with them sometimes.  I promise I'll put
them back safe and sound when I'm done.  Permission to archive in the normal
fkfic archiving places.  Anyone else, please ask.

All right, I'm gonna take a deep breath and push "send" now.

Christy
***************************************


Little Altar Boy
by Christy Stillman


He had been outside just minutes ago.  Another boy like all the rest,
pelting and being pelted with snowballs propelled by the excitement of
Christmas Eve.  Detective Nicholas Knight had watched with a wry grin
as the hail of missles found their targets.  The kid had quite an arm.

Now Nick stood just within the doors of the church, amazed that he
could even step this far across the threshold without experiencing the
usual searing pain.  At the other end of the aisle, the skinny redhead
with the freckled face had been transformed into an angel by the crisp,
white vestments he wore.  The candlelight of Midnight Mass cast a halo
of coppery highlights through the boy’s hair.

<Copper . . . like the metallic tang beneath the bovine blood he had
consumed before reporting for work at the precinct.>

        Little altar boy, I wonder could you pray for me?
        Little altar boy, for I have gone astray.
        What must I do to be holy like you?
        Little altar boy, oh, let me hear you pray.

Even from this distance, Nick could tell the eyes were a bright,
mischievous blue.

<As blue as the summer skies he would never again see.>

        Little altar boy, I wonder could you ask your Lord
        Ask Him, altar boy, to take my sins away.
        What must I do to be holy like you?
        Little altar boy, oh, let me hear you pray.

Nick, as usual, felt himself on the outside looking in at purity and
innocence, a voyeur peering from the darkness of his past.  A great
yearning filled his . . . soul?  Did he still have a soul to be saved?  Or
was he truly a creature damned for all eternity?  Did this season of
hope hold any promise for him?

        Lift up your voice and send a prayer above.
        Help me rejoice and fill that prayer with love.
        Now I know my life as been all wrong.
        Lift up your voice and help a sinner be strong.

A gloved hand was laid on his arm, and he looked from one angelic set
of blue eyes into another.  Natalie Lambert, his own special Angel,
smiled up at him and spoke softly so as not to disturb the
worshippers.

“Nick!  You made it inside the door!”  She positively beamed.  “There
just may be hope for you after all, mister.  Speaking of which, I have
a new protein shake for you to try.”

Groaning, he pulled her close and kissed the top of her head.  “Why
don’t we just wait a bit on that, huh?  I’d like to *enjoy* this
Christmas.”

She made a face at him, and he broke into his familiar, boyish grin.

“All right.  After the service is over, I’ll give it a try.  I
promise,” he conceded.

Nat smiled triumphantly and turned to face the altar.  Nick’s arms
wrapped around her, pinning her firmly, but gently, against his chest,
and she relaxed into the embrace.  Holding one angel against him and
watching the other behind the altar, Nick felt the hope and peace of
the holidays invade what surely *must* be his soul, breaking the
barriers of darkness and despair that so often controlled him.  Hope .
. . as long as there was life, even unlife, he would hold onto his
hope for mortality and the purity of true love.

        Little altar boy, I wonder could you pray for me?
        Could you tell our Lord I’m gonna change my ways today?
        What must I do to be holy like you?
        Little altar boy, oh, let me hear you pray.
        Little altar boy, please, let me hear you pray!

**************
End