Christmas Eve
Ashita no Nadja, characters, etc are © Toei and etc. Fic is © 2006 Maureen "suzanami" McCullough and is not to be copied or redistributed without permission. I get no monetary gain from this; I just like playing with the characters. ♥
AN: Aiko-chan requested I write a short fic concerning Nadja, Harcourt goodness, and Christmas
Eve. This is the result.
I know it's not seasonal, but it's here anyway.
THERE ARE DEFINATE SERIES SPOILERS FOR EPISODE 30+. The fic itself takes place after the end of
the series, and the situations refer back to unmentioned spoilers. Read at your own risk.
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Francis watched Nadja press her hands to the window, her eyes bright as she watched the snow fall onto the courtyard. "Isn't it beautiful, Francis?" she breathed, forming a cloud on the glass as she spoke.
He smiled to himself. Keith hadn't come back yet, and Nadja wanted to see him before they went down to the ball. He glanced down from the upper level to where his father was standing. The Duke looked rather peeved, and was making sour faces as he spoke with his sister. Probably annoyed that Francis hadn't shown up yet.
"Keith!" Nadja's exclamation startled him out of his reverie. "Francis, Keith is here! There, by the fountains!"
As always, his heart sank - just the tiniest bit - to see her eyes light up for Keith the way they did, but he smiled and took her arm. "Let's go see him then, before my father sends someone after us."
"Oh, he's just upset that we haven't gotten to that stuffy Christmas ball yet," Nadja laughed as they opened the large glass doors to the balcony. "Ohh, it's cold!" Her red-and-white Christmas dress was off-the-shoulders and she smiled at Francis as he threw his dress coat over her bare shoulders. He brushed snow off the ledge and Nadja leaned out, waving one arm and calling Keith's name.
Finally, the older twin looked up and smiled one of his strange smiles. "Shall I come up?"
"Keith Harcourt, don't you dare climb those icy trees this time of year!" Nadja chided quickly.
Francis laughed and stepped up next to Nadja, resting a hand on her far shoulder. "Giving out some Christmas presents, O Man of Mystery?"
"Don't be snippy, Francis," was the reply, but a smirk still graced Keith's lips. "And yes, now maybe some less fortunate parents will be able to buy their childen something for their stockings."
"Some people never change."
"Very true, little Brother."
"Keith," Nadja interjected. "Have you finished your rounds for the night? I have a present for you!"
He blinked. "Oh," he said, and Francis knew that Keith hadn't thought to get Nadja a present and that he'd be running for one tonight. "I can stop by after the ball, of course. Do you have something for me as well, Francis?"
"I didn't know what to get the man who has everything," Francis called back, and Keith smiled back. "Unless there's something specific that you wanted, of course."
"I just want to spend the evening with you and Nadja." The reply was so soft that Francis almost missed it; he did not miss Nadja's cheeks, already rosy from the cold, flush a deeper pink. "So I'll see you in your drawing room after the ball?" he asked, his voice more steady this time.
Nadja nodded, beaming from ear to ear. She blinked large, fluffy snowflakes off her lashes. "We'll only be staying for two hours or so."
"Just enough to make an appearance, eh, little Brother?" Keith turned and called over his shoulder, "See you later then."
"Take care, Keith!" Nadja called after his retreating figure. She stood there a moment more, watching him fade into the darkness. "I hope he's warm enough."
"I imagine his feathered cape is very warm." Francis winked at her and led her back inside.
End
Jan 07, 2006.
