Merry Christmas Eve!
Just a Christmas Eve Visit
Tesla grinned at her. "Merry Christmas Eve."
The grin was actually fairly ridiculous. Helen sighed, holding the door open. "What is it, Nikola?"
Nikola threw his hands up in the air. "Can't an old friend stop by for Christmas Eve?" He asked.
Helen rolled her eyes. "So that's all this is, a Christmas Eve visit?"
"Did you want it to be more?" Nikola smirked, holding a hand to his heart. "I'm touched." He swaggered in.
Helen sighed heavily, closing the door. "Nothing is ever 'just a visit' with you, Nikola." She said cautiously.
Nikola laughed, but didn't say anything.
"Fine," Helen said. "But if you are disruptful in any way, you have to get out."
"Me? Disruptful?" Nikola looked takenaback.
Henry came down the stairs, tablet in hand. "Whoa, whoa. Don't tell me he's coming for christmas."
"Heinrich, glad to hear your cheer welcome." Nikola smirked.
Helen sighed. "Please, can we all just... try to ignore him?"
Nikola muttered, "Hey."
"Come on, both of you." Helen said. "It'll be warmer upstairs."
"Yeah, it is freezing in here." Henry turned and started to walk away.
Nikola looked at Helen for a moment. "Helen, you have a certain look."
"What look?" Helen said, suddenly alarmed.
"The look that you have when you're hiding something." Nikola said suspiciously.
"Ah, Nikola, why would I do that?" Helen asked.
*.*
Nikola and Helen walked after Henry through the upper floors of the Sanctuary. "Henry, could you prep four guest rooms? We have some new intakes that we don't currently have room for." Helen called after him.
"Okay," Henry said, giving Tesla one last suspicious look before rounding a corner.
"Alright, game over Helen, what are you hiding?" Nikola asked.
"See for yourself," Helen gestured for him to open the door on the left.
Nikola opened the door, and grinned. "Helen, I forgot how much Christmas spirit you have."
"60 years of Christmases without me would tend to do that," Helen winked, and they walked into the room.
There were no lights on, but only gently sparkling trails of Christmas lights around the room. Gold, silver, green, and red Christmas lights coveredthe room. Tesla grinned - she was quite something.
Helen flicked the lights on, and Nikola could see the true extent of her decorating. A fire roared in the corener, heating the room like a furnace. On all the four walls, there were Christmas wreaths. There was an old record player playing old Christmas carols. There were occasional ivy leaves and holly leaves across the room. He smiled. "Amazing, Helen."
"There's just one problem," Helen held up a finger.
Nikola's gaze caught on the Christmas tree in the corner, on its side. He laughed. "You can't get it to stand up?"
Helen cleared her throat. "I can't lift it up." Nikola smirked. "Need some manly assistance? Which, by the way, I'm more than happy to provide anytime.2
Helen rolled her eyes. "Really, Nikola?"
"Really," he said enthusiastically, before sighing and going to the Christmas tree. Nikola bent down and picked it up. " Ow." he said as the branches hit him in the face. The branches continued to slap him in the face as he lifted it until it stood upright. Nikola scowled at the Christmas tree. Helen couldn't help but break into laughter.
Nikola glared. "Helen, your Christmas is beastly and so are you."
Helen laughed. "Get me the red box, please."
Nikola, still scowling, handed it to her. Helen smiled, and started weaving the lights into the tree. Helen bent down and picked up another cardboard box. It was filled with golden bird ornaments. Helen clipped them onto the tree. After a while, she stood back. Nikola frowned, coming to stand next to her. "Something's missing. And I don't mean the istletoe which you have mysteriously neglected."
Helen sighed. "Nikola, it's obvious. The top ornament is missing."
"Well, put it on." Nikola frowned.
"Alright, angel or star?" Helen asked.
"Neither," he said softly, looking into the small box of ornaments in her hand. "The snowflake."
Helen smiled, and went to take it out. Nikola tried to do the same, and their hands brushed. Helen froze, and Nikola took her hand in his. He gently squeezed, before he moved it away.
"We can't get to the top of the tree, Helen." Nikola pointed out.
"Well, I can't, and you can't." Helen said, swallowing.
"Should I get a chair?" he asked.
"No, pick me up." Helen knew it was a bad idea, but it was too late now.
Nikola grinned, and picked her up. Helen tried to ignore his hands on her waist, and put the snowflake on top. She looked down. Nikola was still grinning and holding her tight. Without warning, he spun her around. Helen laughed, suddenly giddy. Gently, Nikola put her down. Helen sighed. "Oh, Nikola, whatever shall I do with you?"
"I could think of a few things," he whispered.
"Oh, can you?" She laughed. "If you can get your Christmas tree to stand up without too much difficulty."
Nikola raised his eyebrows. "I don't think that will be a problem."
Helen laughed, but was startled to see the proximity between them. Thankfully, Nikola moved away to get a bottle of wine. "Oh no," There were ten bottles of wine on the table.
Nikola laughed, and sat down under the Christmas tree. "Sit with me?"
"As long as that's all I'm doing with you," Helen said warily."
"Maybe not the only thing," Nikola smirked.
Helen sat next to him. Nikola handed her the bottle of wine. They passed the bottle between them until, five bottles later, Helen rested her head on his shoulder. "You have an unfair advange," Helen admonished.
Nikola laughed, taking a gulp of red wine. "Helen, merry Christmas Eve."
"You should stop by more often," Helen slurred.
"You are drunk. I like it," he smiled. "It's nice to not be alone."
Helen looked up into his eyes. "Oh Nikola."
"Save that for later," he smiled, and kissed the top of her head. "When you get your 'Christmas present'."
Helen laughed. Slowly, she began to fall asleep. Nikola chuckled, and she felt him lift her up and carry her to the couch. She closed her eyes against him and drifted to sleep in his arms, safe from everything else. The Christmas lights glowed softly as they fell asleep together.