A/N: This is my take on a Christmas story. Season 1 and M/L undertones (naturally) and hey, DA wouldn't be DA without a nice pinch of action, right?

I know I'm a little late, but the idea for this story hit me exactly on the 23rd ;-) . Originally it was intended to be a one-shot, but since its time-frame allows an (hopefully) interesting development I think I'm going to write one or two more chapters.

English isn't my first language, so please be gentle. I hope the 2nd chapter will be beta-ed, but since today's already the 1st I had to hurry to get this up.

Hope you enjoy and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Disclaimer: Dark Angel isn't mine (unfortunately). No money is made with this story.

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1. Surprise

23rd December 2019

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, ... Jingle All The Way. ... Oh What Fun It Is To Run On A One-Horse Open Sleigh, …

Jiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiink. Max couldn't bear it any more.

I'm Dreaming ... Of A White Christmas

Jiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiink. This whole Christmas stuff definitely got on her nerves.

Max clenched her teeth, a haunted expression crossing her beautiful features.

And holding up her last remnant of self control, she delivered her last package, ... flashed one last fake smile into the client's direction, tried one last time to ignore the cheery babble and the chirped Christmas wishes.

And finally she was done.

She had to restrain herself from running. What a fine soldier she was, ... ha!

Escape and Evade had been her favorite game back at Manticore and that was exactly what she was going to do now.

ESCAPE.

And to make this threatening situation even more complicated, 452 was lurking in the back of her consciousness; ready to break free; eager to take over.

NO.

Max took a deep breath. She crossed the small side street, fast but still civilized and then gathered her bike that leaned against a lamb post.

I can do it. I just have to go home.

I only need to ignore the bright lights that illuminate almost every window of the city. I just have to disregard the starry-eyed children and the fact that even the normally grouchy sector cop finds some nice words for every passenger.

And finally she reached the front door of the battered house that was home.

Home? Max asked herself ironically, deciding to ignore the moody elevator in favor of the stairs.

She wrinkled her nose at the nasty smell that penetrated her sensitive olfactory nerves.

For some seconds she regretted her decision to take the stairs, when the stink on the third floor threatened to overwhelm her, but then she just increased her speed.

She breathed a sigh of relief, when the apartment door fell shut behind her.

Her head clattered against the wooden door with a soft 'thud' and Max closed her eyes, her black bike still securely held in place in front of her.

" ... Dreaming of a White Christmas ..." sounded Kendra's raspy voice from the bathroom, more or less melodic and drew a disgusted snort from Max.

Gotta go. She thought almost panicking by now. … My baby … Space Needle ... SOLITARY...

"MAX."

Her eyes snapped open and widened in disbelief at the sight that greeted them.

Kendra stood in the middle of the living room. A long, silky gown hugged her figure and played around her ankles. The ivory fabric of the gown looked quite expensive, leaving Max guessing how her roommate could get hands on such an exquisite piece of clothing

Maybe I'm not the only thief around, she thought, but couldn't picture Kendra commit any crime - not really.

"Max?" the questioning voice brought her back into present and she noticed that Kendra was looking at her expectantly; hands lifted; palms up.

"Wow." She offered, unsure which measure of enthusiasm the situation required. At Kendra's disappointed glance, she nodded appreciative and forced the corners of her mouth to lift into a wide smile.

"Wow. ... You look amazing."

"Really?"

Max nodded again and suddenly knew perfectly well, where the financial funds for the gown had come from.

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Flashback: four weeks earlier, 21st November 2019

Kendra was sitting on the floor of the living room, books scattered about, while Max looked for a shirt, rummaging through tops on a clothes rack.

"How do you spell uh … poly –merase?" Kendra asked.

Max stopped for a moment and then answered with certainty:

"P.O.L.Y.M.E.R.A.S.E. Except it's pronounced "polymer-aze" with the Z like in enzyme, which is what it is. … Responsible for the duplication of the DNA molecule by allowing the oligonucleotide primers to bind to the molecular strands."

Kendra shook her head, a half smile touching her lips. "You're such a goofball."

"What are you working on?"

"Got a gig temping for this Japanese doctor who's in town giving a paper."

Kendra handed her some copies and Max sat down on the floor beside her, reading aloud: "Gene resequencing … manipulation of RNA nucleotides …"

"Don't ask me what any of it means. All I know … is I'm getting paid."

End flashback.

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"I thought you were going to attend a Christmas party tonight." Max tilted her head to one side, looking her friend up and down. "I mean … you look beautiful and all, but …"

"You think I'm overdressed."

Max shrugged.

"This isn't a kinda 'morons-and-loser-dancing-to-blaring-Hip-Hop-music-party'… It's sponsored by one of Seattle's most successful companies." Kendra stared at Max. "I tried to tell you yesterday … but you seemed so preoccupied … even kinda irritated."

The haunted look resurfaced in Max's eyes. The dark haired girl put her bike away and passed her roommate, heading for her own room.

"Sorry Kendra … have to hurry." She threw over her shoulder.

Max left the living area in a rush. Within seconds she had changed into black leather pants, red shirt and leather jacket. She grabbed the keys of her Ninja and was ready to go in record time.

She longed with every fiber of her being for her baby, revelled in the prospect of feeling the pure power of the motorcycle and the adrenalin rush that promised to suppress the … loneliness?

Max just wanted to get out … but when she passed Kendra again, still standing in the middle of the room, she stopped and took in a deep breath.

"Look Kendra, I'm really sorry." She stood in front of her friend a sincere look darkening her eyes. "…But this whole Christmas stuff isn't my thing, ya know."

The blonde looked sad. "But Max, I really hoped you'd come."

Dark blue eyes begged desperately and for a second Max wavered.

"This is going to be a wonderful party … and a lot of important people will be there. Come on Max, please."

Max shook her head.

But 452 pushed to the surface and announced her objection.

A lot of important people will be there … that means a lot of beautiful jewellery … and expensive antiques … and you are so broke. Don't be stupid.

… Survival in enemy territory 201 – First priority is always to guarantee survival … and that means you'll need financial resources …

Max shook her head again, fighting to keep the upper hand against the soldier inside her.

"Oh come on Max …" A brilliant smile lit Kendra's face, when she set for the final strike. "The food will be delicious. You can't miss this."

"I have nothing to put on," she insisted weakly. God Max, that's so lame.

Kendra grinned. "… Just a second, girl."

She rushed at impossible speed across the room, considering the dress she was wearing and then vanished behind a plastic curtain.

With a triumphant "Look" she resurfaced seconds later, holding up a dark blue dress with silvery straps and seams. "I borrowed that for you." She held the gown in front of Max and urged: "Try it … you'll look absolutely beautiful … I know."

Max felt outmanoeuvred.

What a fine soldier you are. She mocked herself again. Lydecker would laugh his ass off.

Kendra looked hopefully at her, eyes big and innocent and then a huge smile lit her features.

"Oh Max, this will be so cool, believe me."

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No. No. No.

She couldn't believe she was doing this.

All she had so desperately longed for was to be alone; stand on the Space Needle, look down at the houses and cars and people, imagining she was one of them, not a deserted, genetically engineered super soldier.

She wanted to look from a distance, not be a part of it.

Perhaps she was getting soft?

Kendra had looked so sad, so disappointed and she had begged her to come.

And here she was, clad in an admittedly beautiful dark blue gown, in the middle of a crowd of important, or important looking, people celebrating a Christmas party.

Soft music sounded from a corner, where a piano player in a white tuxedo worked his magic on his polished instrument. The rooms were decorated with hundreds of candles, huge vases with flowers and fir twigs and even a Christmas tree stood in the middle of the hallway, glittering in all shades of red and gold.

Max tried hard not to be impressed. She let her glance once again wander over the beautifully dressed people, took in the laughter and carefree happiness. She wasn't a part of all that glamour, she thought, not knowing that she seemed to fit in perfectly with her inborn grace, beauty and self confidence.

A waiter approached them, balancing a silver tray with crystal glasses on his white gloved hand, a polite smile plastered on his face. He nodded questioningly and the girls took the offered champagne.

Max's eyes stuck on the young man, as he crossed the room with purposeful strides. She wasn't sure what it was that captured her glance; his strait posture, the superior look in his eyes, the high lifted chin? But oddly enough the man seemed familiar.

"Guy looks cute, huh?" Kendra grinned and lifted her champagne, forcing Max to shift her glance.

They clinked glasses and when Max finally turned around again, unconsciously looking for the waiter, the man was gone; swallowed by the crowd. But the weird feeling to have missed something important lingered on inside her.

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"Bling?" His voice sounded irritated, even to his own ears, as Logan stirred his wheelchair through the crowd, dodging a silvery glittering couple and ignoring the contemptuous smile of the woman, which reminded him too much of his aunt Margo.

Logan asked himself annoyed what the exact reasons for his actual whereabouts were, when all he longed for was, to spend a nice, quite evening at home.

He just wanted to sit in front of the window in the living room, watch the raindrops sail along the smooth glass surface and look down at the houses and cars and people.

He wanted to look from a distance, not be a part of it.

But Bling had persuaded him with all means to come, said he had to show him something important, dropped a hint 'Eyes Only' would be interested.

And now he tried to follow his broad shouldered physiotherapist, bodyguard and friend, having absolutely no idea what this was all about.

"Bling!" He tried again, now clearly impatient and stopped, letting the brakes of the chair snap into place with an audible 'thud'.

Bling stopped his purposeful stride and turned around, reluctantly meeting Logan's inquiring glare.

"Patience, Logan."

A smile tugged at the corners of Bling's mouth at Logan's stubborn posture, changing into a fully-grown grin, when Logan crossed his arms in front of his chest and narrowed his eyes.

"Why have you dragged me to this damn party," Logan hissed, his eyes intently searching the crowd for any clue, until they eventually got caught by a dark haired girl, standing with her back to him.

For a second he forgot everything around him and allowed himself to admire her.

The dark blue evening gown set a nice contrast to her skin and the dark hair that was pulled up at the back of her head. Only a few tendrils fell freely onto her shoulders, arousing the wish to touch them; play with them.

Somehow she must have sensed his presence, damn genes, because she turned around, a look of pure surprise on her face that erased all suspicions she had known he would come.

And suddenly he found himself in front of her, meeting her dark brown eyes. He felt the irritation and annoyance of the last hours fall away from him and a wide smile broke across his face.

"Max!"

TBC?

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Hey guys. This really was a thing I wanted to do so badly. After reading all the cliff-hanger infected stories YOU wrote, I definitely had to take revenge. ;-) Hope you liked it?

Even a short review would make my day – so please, use the little button! Thanks.