Twenty Five Days of Christmas

Set after Bitter Blood.
Also: I have no idea how winter works in America, never mind in Texas.
 I mean, it's warmer there, right, especially this year (I dunno, that's what Tumblr said)? So, I'm just guessing about sunsets and temperatures here- in England, it's really cold, and the sun sets at quarter to four. Boo sucks to nature.

Part One- Days One and Two

Day One: November, December.

Claire slammed the door behind her, and stormed away from the Glass House. She was sick of Eve's and Michael's awkward glances, and Shane's pitiful stares. She had tried with him- God knows, she had tried- and she had even guaranteed him freedom from Morganville, but apparently, that was not enough. No matter what she did, it was never enough.

Work six days a week to try and keep them in the Glass House? No, Claire, I don't want you working with a crazy-ass Vampire. Not even one you're friends with.

Help save Morganville from Draug, who would happily devour humanity, once they were done with the town? No, Claire, that means helping the Vamps and I don't want you to do that.

Can't fight off a Vampire who you've lived with for two years when he jumps you in the middle of a hospital room? Well, Claire, you obviously led him on in some way.

Claire walked to the temporary lab Myrnin had set up two blocks away from the Glass House whilst his old one was being repaired. At least there she could get some peace, once Myrnin had finished his daily please-don't-leave-town speech.

The cold winter air stung Claire's barely revealed skin. Before moving to Texas, she never would have guessed that desert towns could get this could, but apparently they could. The streets were almost empty for the small distance that Claire walked speedily, and only a few cars passed. It was Saturday, which meant there was little traffic coming to and from TPU, and she revelled in the ghost-like feel it gave the town.

It shouldn't though. Not after she recently discovered how the town was literally full of ghosts. Including Shane's sister.

Claire reached the new lab, and waved to Myrnin- who couldn't wave back, due to his inconvenient position of being halfway through a handstand on the other side of the room.

"Guess what!" He laughed, still upside down.

"What?"

"It's December! It's almost Christmas!"

Myrnin's joy, however, was utterly ruined when his excitement caused him to fall on his face, vampire reactions or not.

Day Two: The Early Sunset.

"I have to go." Claire sighed, uncomfortably aware of the clock ticking- even with the added bonus of living in one of the warmest states in America, the days were drawing to a close ridiculously early, meaning that Claire had to leave the lab at half four to get home before dark, and even that was cutting it close.

"Whyyyyy?" Myrnin pouted (HeShouldLetHerLeaveSheWouldB eGoingAwaySoonHeHadToLetGoNo w), and moved closer to Claire, bridging some of the small distance that separated them- ever since Claire had been granted permission to leave town, Myrnin had very rarely been able to stay far away once she entered the lab. Claire should really do something about that.

(But she didn't)

(It's easier to work that way)

(No, she didn't believe herself either, actually)

"Unless you fancy me getting eaten by a Vampire that isn't you, Myrnin, I need to go before the sun sets. Just because Amelie rescinded the rules, doesn't mean that some of the Skank-Vamps won't try to have a go."

Myrnin shifted his body weight slightly, and moved his head, resting it first on his left shoulder and then his right, as if observing a wild animal in a zoo. After a few seconds of silence, Claire sighed and began packing away her books. She had just stuffed Dijon's 1000 Rules of Alchemy into the smallest gap in the history of existence when Myrnin spoke up again.

"Can I walk you home Claire?" She looked up at Myrnin, eyes wider than what was proberly good for her, and blushed slightly, aware of what Shane would think. "Just for safety's sake, of course."

Yup, there was that flustered scratching of his ear. If he was alive, he would be blushing furiously.

"Well- Well, yeah, I suppose."

"Come on, then. Time waits for no man. Or Woman... or Vampire. Allons-y!" Myrnin said, then grabbed Claire's bag and lead her to the door that led out of the Temporary lab.

Claire followed him, and was stunned by the sky- entirely dusty-pink, a natural shade that Claire hadn't seen since she was 16, with a few tendrils of wispy, red-tinted clouds curling themselves around where the horizon met the atmosphere.

"Wow. That's... beautiful."

Myrnin smiled gently, and spoke quietly against the icy wind that was blowing.

"Yes, it is, isn't it?"

Claire didn't notice that he wasn't looking at the clouds.

A/N: I was going to do this for DW, but then I realised that MV needs it so much more. SO, SO MUCH MORE. I write one of these a day during maths, which is why they aren't as long as my other stuff.
I WILL FINISH THIS BY CHRISTMAS EVE. I have a mental image of what I want to happen of Christmas Day, but you ain't finding out yet. It's a surprise!

Review please because you love me lots and you want me to know ok?

Chloe xxx