Post by larue on Dec 8, 2008 20:48:50 GMT 10
Whoopppee!!!! A snow day and NO SCHOOL!!! I have been finishing and wrapping gifts like crazy all day....and writing a fanfic for this 2007 challenge. I guess I am the first to post??? Here goes:
After the break up and before Carter. 'Nuff said.
Mistletoe Tea Time
The clock radio suddenly began blasting and Abby Lockhart groaned. She had forgotten to turn the alarm off when she stumbled to bed after her overnight shift. Her thermal clad arm snaked out from under the warm comforter to hit the button just as strains of ‘Jingle Bells’ began to resound from the square, plastic radio. She pulled the comforter closer around her and snuggled deeper into her pillows. Her eyes opened suddenly in confusion. Why was it so cold? She reached up and rubbed the end of her frozen nose and glanced toward the windows. There were actually ice crystals on the inside. She groaned and sat up in the bed dragging the comforter around her as she slipped her pajamaed legs over the side of the bed. She thrust her feet into the fleece lined slippers on the floor. She padded from her bedroom to the living room of her apartment and the radiator that stood against the wall under the windows. She touched the metal coils and groaned as her head dropped forward. Off again. And on Christmas. How could she pull the Super away from his family again? On Christmas? Stupid heat.
Abby pulled the comforter closer, made her way to the kitchen and filled her tea kettle with water. She fiddled with the stove knob and set the gas burner to it’s highest flame before setting the heavy tea kettle on top. She step toed quickly back into the living room and nestled on the corner of her couch , wrapped the comforter around her and then reached for the television remote. She’d go back into work early maybe, and take a hot shower there. The comforter and a steady supply of tea would keep her warm until then. She flipped through the cable channels and found an old Christmas movie she remembered watching when she was a kid. Music and comedy. Just what she needed today. She smiled a little and nestled deeper into the warmth around her.
The tea kettle began to sing and her door bell to ring at the very same moment. She groaned and hurried to the door, slinging her coat from the near by chair over her shoulders . She peeked through the peep hole and then rested her head on the door in exasperation. It was him. She really didn’t need to see him today. She sighed heavily and then pasted a bright smile on her face as she swung the door open.
“Luka! Merry Christmas,” she cried in feigned happiness and held the door wider. “Come on in. I have to get my tea kettle.” Luka grinned and stepped inside the apartment with his valise over one shoulder and a small stack of gifts in his arms. He shut the apartment door with his foot and shrugged the heavy overnight bag from his shoulder and watched as she headed into the kitchen. She was hugging her coat closer about her. He moved to set the gifts down on her coffee table and shivered as he glanced around him. Tree lights twinkled on a small tree near by and she had Christmas cards hanging from a ribbon strung across the window. He saw a sweater peeking from the wrappings of an opened gift under the little tree.
“Would you like a cup of tea?” she called from the kitchen.
“Sure,” he replied as he reached out to feel the radiator coils. He frowned and knelt down to examine them.
“Mistletoe Morning,” she chuckled as she carried two steaming mugs from the kitchen. “Who names these herbal things, I wonder?” She stopped when she saw him fiddling with the radiator.
“Yeah,” she sighed. “It’s off again.”
“Why didn’t you call your land lord?” he asked.
“It’s Christmas,” she said as she took a sip from her mug.
“He still gets paid to fix these things,” Luka scolded as he straightened and took the second mug from her.
“He has little kids,” she stated flatly. “Sorry but I am out of coffee.”
“Eh….I drank too much to stay awake at work anyway,” he said and took a sip. “Too many puking Santas to miss, you know.“ She wrapped cold fingers around the mug and nodded .
“We had our share of them on my shift too,“ she sighed. They sipped their warming drinks in silence.
“So, you aren’t going to spend Christmas with your mother?” he asked finally. Abby shook her head.
“We both have to work and it’s a long trip to Florida,” she sighed as she moved to sit back on the couch. “I wouldn’t mind some time in the sun right now though. I thought someone told me you were going to see your Dad?”
“My flight was delayed because of the snow,” he said and eased onto the opposite end of the couch. Funny. It hadn’t been that long since they had broken up. He still felt at home here. “They knew I had some time so some of the others asked me to bring those gifts to you. You missed the party.” She glanced back at the small stack of gaily wrapped boxes and then nodded.
“Thank you,” she said as she pulled her feet onto the couch and dragged the quilt over her. “You’d better get under too. It gets cold pretty fast.” Luka grinned and slipped his feet out of his shoes and pulled them up on to the couch as well. He stretched his long legs out beside her and she shrieked as his cold feet nestled against her hip.
“Oh geez, Luka!” she scolded and arranged the comforter around both of them. She reached for her tea mug and took a sip as she leaned back against the arm of the couch. He was watching her, almost shyly, as they drank their tea and took absent glances toward the movie playing on the television set. It was unexpectedly nice. To be together like this again. Friends.
“Aren’t you going to open them?” he asked finally and tipped his head toward the pile of presents. Abby glanced backward and then reached for them. She spilled the little pile into her lap and read the tags. He was smiling as she chose one and then carefully undid the tape and the ribbons.
“Chuny,” she chuckled and held up a pair of brightly knitted wool socks. “How did she know I would need these today?” She wiggled her toes under the comforter and tossed the socks in his direction. Luka chuckled and peeled back the comforter to find her feet by his chest. He started to remove the socks she already wore but her toes curled.
“No…just put those new little babies right on over the old ones,” she directed as she picked up another package. Luka slipped the colorful socks on her feet and massaged her cold toes for a moment before tucking them back under the comforter at his side.
“Haleh,” she said as she held up a tin box of tea bags. “Candy Cane Lane….” She stopped for a second to look at him after she read the tag on the third box.
“It’s from you,” she said. “I can’t….“ Luka interrupted and took the box from her. She watched as he took the wrapping from it. She studied his face as he held out a jewelry box. He raised his eyebows and shook the box a little. She took it slowly and opened it.
“I saw it in the window of an antique shop a long time ago. Way before….,” his voice trailed off for a second. “Well, I had it put away for Christmas. I don’t usually give people jewelry but it made me think of you when I saw it.” Abby swallowed and lifted the small antique pendant and chain from the box. The amber stone sparkled warmly in the light.
“It’s….beautiful,” she said quietly as she looked at him. Luka smiled slightly…wistfully…and watched as she put the chain around her neck and settled the pendant against the thermal underwear shirt she wore.
“Thank you,” she said. He grinned and nodded. His eyes watched her as she picked up her mug from the table again. Her cheeks were pink. Most likely from the cold, right? It was a nice moment. Snuggled together. Talking.
“What time is your flight now?” she asked as she drained her tea. Luka straightened and glanced at his watch.
“Two hours,” he said. “I should probably get to the airport soon though. International flight and all that.” She nodded. She was surprisingly disappointed that he needed to leave so soon. He moved his feet from under the comforter and reached to tuck it more closely around her.
“Don’t get up,” he said. “I can let myself out.” He stood up and gazed down at her for a long moment. He leaned down and tipped her chin up. His thumb caressed her cheek for a second and then he pressed a gentle kiss to her lips.
“Merry Christmas, Abby,” he said quietly. “Happy New Year……” Her brown eyes studied his and saw questions there. Questions that neither of them were ready to ask or answer. She nodded silently. He dragged his fingers away reluctantly and headed toward the door. He lifted the heavy valise‘s strap to his shoulder and waved as he opened the door .
“I’ll see you again in three weeks,“ he said. She nodded with a forced smile as he left and shut the door firmly behind him. Abby slumped down into the comforter. Suddenly she felt so lonely. Her fingers found the amber pendant at her breast and played with it thoughtfully. She glanced up as there was a sudden pop and then a hissing sound from the radiator. The heat was finally on. He would be back soon. They would work things out then. They had to. They were meant to be. She just felt it. She snuggled back into the pile of comforter to watch the movie, her fingers still playing with the pendant.
Outside the apartment building Luka hailed a cab and waited for it to come to a stop at the curb. He opened the door and tossed his suitcase into the back seat before taking a moment to look up at her window. The Christmas cards hanging from the ribbon danced a little so he knew her heat was back on. He grinned. Three weeks in Croatia. Family and old friends to visit with. And yet he couldn’t wait to get back here. They would work things out then. The had to. They were meant to be. He just felt it. Luka grinned and slipped into the cab. His heart felt a little lighter as the cab pulled into the snowy street and sped off toward the airport.
The End
After the break up and before Carter. 'Nuff said.
Mistletoe Tea Time
The clock radio suddenly began blasting and Abby Lockhart groaned. She had forgotten to turn the alarm off when she stumbled to bed after her overnight shift. Her thermal clad arm snaked out from under the warm comforter to hit the button just as strains of ‘Jingle Bells’ began to resound from the square, plastic radio. She pulled the comforter closer around her and snuggled deeper into her pillows. Her eyes opened suddenly in confusion. Why was it so cold? She reached up and rubbed the end of her frozen nose and glanced toward the windows. There were actually ice crystals on the inside. She groaned and sat up in the bed dragging the comforter around her as she slipped her pajamaed legs over the side of the bed. She thrust her feet into the fleece lined slippers on the floor. She padded from her bedroom to the living room of her apartment and the radiator that stood against the wall under the windows. She touched the metal coils and groaned as her head dropped forward. Off again. And on Christmas. How could she pull the Super away from his family again? On Christmas? Stupid heat.
Abby pulled the comforter closer, made her way to the kitchen and filled her tea kettle with water. She fiddled with the stove knob and set the gas burner to it’s highest flame before setting the heavy tea kettle on top. She step toed quickly back into the living room and nestled on the corner of her couch , wrapped the comforter around her and then reached for the television remote. She’d go back into work early maybe, and take a hot shower there. The comforter and a steady supply of tea would keep her warm until then. She flipped through the cable channels and found an old Christmas movie she remembered watching when she was a kid. Music and comedy. Just what she needed today. She smiled a little and nestled deeper into the warmth around her.
The tea kettle began to sing and her door bell to ring at the very same moment. She groaned and hurried to the door, slinging her coat from the near by chair over her shoulders . She peeked through the peep hole and then rested her head on the door in exasperation. It was him. She really didn’t need to see him today. She sighed heavily and then pasted a bright smile on her face as she swung the door open.
“Luka! Merry Christmas,” she cried in feigned happiness and held the door wider. “Come on in. I have to get my tea kettle.” Luka grinned and stepped inside the apartment with his valise over one shoulder and a small stack of gifts in his arms. He shut the apartment door with his foot and shrugged the heavy overnight bag from his shoulder and watched as she headed into the kitchen. She was hugging her coat closer about her. He moved to set the gifts down on her coffee table and shivered as he glanced around him. Tree lights twinkled on a small tree near by and she had Christmas cards hanging from a ribbon strung across the window. He saw a sweater peeking from the wrappings of an opened gift under the little tree.
“Would you like a cup of tea?” she called from the kitchen.
“Sure,” he replied as he reached out to feel the radiator coils. He frowned and knelt down to examine them.
“Mistletoe Morning,” she chuckled as she carried two steaming mugs from the kitchen. “Who names these herbal things, I wonder?” She stopped when she saw him fiddling with the radiator.
“Yeah,” she sighed. “It’s off again.”
“Why didn’t you call your land lord?” he asked.
“It’s Christmas,” she said as she took a sip from her mug.
“He still gets paid to fix these things,” Luka scolded as he straightened and took the second mug from her.
“He has little kids,” she stated flatly. “Sorry but I am out of coffee.”
“Eh….I drank too much to stay awake at work anyway,” he said and took a sip. “Too many puking Santas to miss, you know.“ She wrapped cold fingers around the mug and nodded .
“We had our share of them on my shift too,“ she sighed. They sipped their warming drinks in silence.
“So, you aren’t going to spend Christmas with your mother?” he asked finally. Abby shook her head.
“We both have to work and it’s a long trip to Florida,” she sighed as she moved to sit back on the couch. “I wouldn’t mind some time in the sun right now though. I thought someone told me you were going to see your Dad?”
“My flight was delayed because of the snow,” he said and eased onto the opposite end of the couch. Funny. It hadn’t been that long since they had broken up. He still felt at home here. “They knew I had some time so some of the others asked me to bring those gifts to you. You missed the party.” She glanced back at the small stack of gaily wrapped boxes and then nodded.
“Thank you,” she said as she pulled her feet onto the couch and dragged the quilt over her. “You’d better get under too. It gets cold pretty fast.” Luka grinned and slipped his feet out of his shoes and pulled them up on to the couch as well. He stretched his long legs out beside her and she shrieked as his cold feet nestled against her hip.
“Oh geez, Luka!” she scolded and arranged the comforter around both of them. She reached for her tea mug and took a sip as she leaned back against the arm of the couch. He was watching her, almost shyly, as they drank their tea and took absent glances toward the movie playing on the television set. It was unexpectedly nice. To be together like this again. Friends.
“Aren’t you going to open them?” he asked finally and tipped his head toward the pile of presents. Abby glanced backward and then reached for them. She spilled the little pile into her lap and read the tags. He was smiling as she chose one and then carefully undid the tape and the ribbons.
“Chuny,” she chuckled and held up a pair of brightly knitted wool socks. “How did she know I would need these today?” She wiggled her toes under the comforter and tossed the socks in his direction. Luka chuckled and peeled back the comforter to find her feet by his chest. He started to remove the socks she already wore but her toes curled.
“No…just put those new little babies right on over the old ones,” she directed as she picked up another package. Luka slipped the colorful socks on her feet and massaged her cold toes for a moment before tucking them back under the comforter at his side.
“Haleh,” she said as she held up a tin box of tea bags. “Candy Cane Lane….” She stopped for a second to look at him after she read the tag on the third box.
“It’s from you,” she said. “I can’t….“ Luka interrupted and took the box from her. She watched as he took the wrapping from it. She studied his face as he held out a jewelry box. He raised his eyebows and shook the box a little. She took it slowly and opened it.
“I saw it in the window of an antique shop a long time ago. Way before….,” his voice trailed off for a second. “Well, I had it put away for Christmas. I don’t usually give people jewelry but it made me think of you when I saw it.” Abby swallowed and lifted the small antique pendant and chain from the box. The amber stone sparkled warmly in the light.
“It’s….beautiful,” she said quietly as she looked at him. Luka smiled slightly…wistfully…and watched as she put the chain around her neck and settled the pendant against the thermal underwear shirt she wore.
“Thank you,” she said. He grinned and nodded. His eyes watched her as she picked up her mug from the table again. Her cheeks were pink. Most likely from the cold, right? It was a nice moment. Snuggled together. Talking.
“What time is your flight now?” she asked as she drained her tea. Luka straightened and glanced at his watch.
“Two hours,” he said. “I should probably get to the airport soon though. International flight and all that.” She nodded. She was surprisingly disappointed that he needed to leave so soon. He moved his feet from under the comforter and reached to tuck it more closely around her.
“Don’t get up,” he said. “I can let myself out.” He stood up and gazed down at her for a long moment. He leaned down and tipped her chin up. His thumb caressed her cheek for a second and then he pressed a gentle kiss to her lips.
“Merry Christmas, Abby,” he said quietly. “Happy New Year……” Her brown eyes studied his and saw questions there. Questions that neither of them were ready to ask or answer. She nodded silently. He dragged his fingers away reluctantly and headed toward the door. He lifted the heavy valise‘s strap to his shoulder and waved as he opened the door .
“I’ll see you again in three weeks,“ he said. She nodded with a forced smile as he left and shut the door firmly behind him. Abby slumped down into the comforter. Suddenly she felt so lonely. Her fingers found the amber pendant at her breast and played with it thoughtfully. She glanced up as there was a sudden pop and then a hissing sound from the radiator. The heat was finally on. He would be back soon. They would work things out then. They had to. They were meant to be. She just felt it. She snuggled back into the pile of comforter to watch the movie, her fingers still playing with the pendant.
Outside the apartment building Luka hailed a cab and waited for it to come to a stop at the curb. He opened the door and tossed his suitcase into the back seat before taking a moment to look up at her window. The Christmas cards hanging from the ribbon danced a little so he knew her heat was back on. He grinned. Three weeks in Croatia. Family and old friends to visit with. And yet he couldn’t wait to get back here. They would work things out then. The had to. They were meant to be. He just felt it. Luka grinned and slipped into the cab. His heart felt a little lighter as the cab pulled into the snowy street and sped off toward the airport.
The End