For Trace T.
By Elwyn Celtic.
Hannah Snow stood in the corner of the room quietly, just watching. She slowly sipped her cocoa, letting her eyes wander from person to person. She had celebrated many Christmases before, but this one was different. For the first time, she was an adult and she was with her soulmate and friends. Well, her friend anyways, where the hell was Thierry?
A soft giggle brought her back and she followed the sound to Rashel. She had just opened a gift and laughed when she saw it was a small black stuffed kitten. She poked the gift giver with a smile. "Just perfect," she purred. "But you better not forget that I'm the only kitten around here with claws."
Quinn cocked an eyebrow at her suggestively. "I'm counting on a reminder later." He leaned towards her, a wicked grin on his face.
Hannah smiled. Weren't they just darling? She had opened her presents already, caught up in the excitement as much as everyone else. Now that she remembered, she had countless Christmases to look back on, but still like everyone else, come Christmas morning, she was nothing more than an excited child.
She had some perfume from Poppy, and a new scarf from Nissa. Ash had given her a book with a sly comment that she could try out anything in it with him if she so wished. Blushing she had slipped the Karma Sutra hardback under the couch before anyone else could read the cover. Oh she planned on trying something, but definitely not with Ash. Over all it had been a pleasant morning, with the exception of her missing boyfriend.
She set her mug down on the dining room table as she made her way into the kitchen. "Hey Lupe." She said softly, greeting the brown haired girl setting snacks onto serving platters.
Lupe smiled and offered Hannah a delicate looking cookie. "We've about got everything under control in here."
Hannah set the cookie back on the tray. "I'm sure you do, but that's not why I came in here. Did Thierry say where he was going or when he was coming back?"
Lupe shook her head, busying herself with the cookies again. "Uh, uh, but he shouldn't be too much longer. He knows how special today was going to be for you." Hannah watched her for a moment, the fact that the young girl kept avoiding eye contact was giving her the feeling that she knew more than she was letting on. Lupe could feel Hannah's eyes watching her; "If I see him before you do I'll be sure to tell him you're looking for him."
Hannah mumbled her thanks, took the cookie back and wandered out of the kitchen. She bypassed the living room where everyone else was still opening gifts and celebrating, no longer in the mood herself. She was quickly losing her holiday cheer, and didn't want to down anyone else. She let herself into a different empty room with a sigh. The library usually held at least one person, but that morning it was empty. She walked over to the fireplace and sat down in front of it with a sigh. She nudged the logs with the poker absently. "Where are you Thierry?" She mumbled.
'Come outside'.
She heard the soft words in her mind, and didn't bother turning around. She knew it was Thierry beckoning her with his powers, not his voice. She smiled to herself and climbed to her feet. She slipped past the people in the living room, and stopped at the front closet to put on her jacket. The weather outside was cool, but nothing like the weather she was used to back home. She pulled open the door and stepped outside.
'Come to the backyard.'
This time Thierry's voice was more playful, teasing her. She looked around as she crossed the yard and began circling the side of the mansion. 'Stop.' Not quite to the back yard, Hannah stopped and looked towards the wood lining the property line. Surely Thierry wasn't in there.
"Now, close your eyes." He whispered, somehow coming up behind her and encircling her waist with his strong arms.
"Wha-?" Hannah started but Thierry silenced her by placing his finger against her lips.
"Just do as I say." Hannah bit her bottom lip, but pressed her eyelids together as requested. Thierry kept one hand on her waist, and took her hand with his other. He led her slowly around the side of the mansion, and into the back yard. He whispered for her not to peek every time Hannah thought about it. "That's it, just a little bit further." Then, he slowed her to a stop and dropped his hands from her. "Okay, Hannah, open your eyes." He whispered to her.
Hannah took a deep breath, and then slowly opened her eyes. "Oh," she breathed as she took in the sight in front of her. "Oh, Thierry, it's beautiful." Somehow, some way, Thierry had transformed the Las Vegas mansion into something out of a dream. The ground was covered with a thick layer of glistening snow. Icicles hung from the roof and windows and, "Is that?"
Thierry nodded. "Fresh from the North Pole." Hannah couldn't believe it; she had never seen a real live reindeer before. "Just don't tell Santa." He whispered pulling her close to him. "I knew you wanted a white Christmas, and this is the best I could do."
Hannah pulled back and looked up into his eyes. "I have to say, this is the best gift I ever had, but nothing is more special than just being with you."
Thierry bent his head down to hers, pressing his lips against hers with a surprising tenderness. Hannah deepened the kiss, holding him against her as tight as she could. Nothing could be better than this, but she knew no matter what, Thierry would keep surprising her. He never listened to her when she said she was happy. He kept trying to out do himself, trying to make up for the centuries of heartache.
It was Thierry who finally broke the kiss, pulling his head away from hers, but still holding her close. "I know that the cycle has been broken. Nothing will keep us apart anymore." He dropped to one knee in the snow, taking her hand in his, and pulling a small velvet blue box from the pocket of his jacket. From inside he lifted a rather large diamond and slid it onto her finger. "I will be by your side for eternity, and will for you every time. Nothing will ever take my love from you. Hannah, will you spend this life as my wife?"
Hannah dropped to her knees in front of him, a single tear trailing down her cheek. "Oh yes, Thierry." She whispered, reaching out and stroking the side of his face. "Yes, in this lifetime, and every one after." She leaned towards him, her eyes falling shut as he kissed her again. This time, however, both pulled away from each other, blushing as the cheering met their ears.
They looked towards the back door of the mansion, and the group of Circle Daybreaker's clapping and smiling. "It's about damn time." Quinn yelled. Hannah looked back up at Thierry.
"Merry Christmas." She whispered.
THE END
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