AN: Hi everyone! I've been reading quite a few fanfics this weekend that follow this pattern and had an idea for a series of AU (Alternative Universe) one shots of different ways L and Grace could have gotten together. After all, Home itself is AU honestly. I'm still working on the sequel but sometimes inspiration hits you and that's that. The first is set at Christmas. It imagines what would be if Grace's father hadn't murdered her family and she never went to live at Wammy's House. Enjoy!

Prologue

From Chapter 50 of Home:

We parted once more, and L brought his forehead to rest against mine.

"Grace," he whispered with feeling. "How did I find you?"

"Well, I live two doors down from you, so it was rather easy."

The glazed adoration in his eyes diminished and he frowned.

"You're trying your damndest to ruin an honest moment, and I won't let you."

"Oh, shame." I teased with a smile.

"Fine then, how's this? We were meant to find each other. It was fated."

"Mmm, yes, I like that better. Two headstrong people with common purposes and dreams, brought together by serendipity."

"And also being orphaned." I felt the need to point out. "Without that we may have never met at all."

"No," L shook his head and led me to his armchair, placing me in his lap. "I would have found you. I am certain of it. Our paths would have crossed in some way, no matter how long it took. I would not have missed my chance."

"You've truly thought this through!" I remarked, pleased. "I like that you have."

"When it comes to you, there is very little I haven't considered."

Mistletoe

Winchester December 2002

"So here it is! Merry Christmas! Everybody's having fun…"

It was the evening of the annual Christmas party at Wammy's House. I looked forward to it every year. As a child, I had enjoyed having so many other children to play with at my relative's home, as I had grown, I had loved the music and the lights and the sound of one of the Wammy's kids, Omar, playing holiday songs on the piano while others gathered around singing and giggling. This year I was home from university and had arrived with my parents excited but trying not to show it. I was a university girl now, I had to act like one.

That immediately ended as we entered the grand house and saw the dazzling tree luminated in the foyer. "The tree!" I couldn't help but gush. "Mum, Dad the tree!"

My mum smiled knowingly at my father as she took my coat. "Some things never change, do they, Reg?"

My father chuckled, which was a welcome sound to hear. Sometimes when dad's medications needed to be adjusted, he could become so withdrawn, so sad and even suspicious. It could be frightening. It gladdened my heart to see him so well. "Everyone returns to a child at Christmas, my dear."

"Uncle Quil!" My mother exclaimed as my grandfather's cousin, Quillish Wammy joined us, with joy dancing in his eyes.

"Felicity! Reg. My, this can't be little Cassie…has one year of Oxford changed her so significantly?!"

I laughed and gave him a hug. "No, no Uncle Quil, it's me. You've outdone yourself with the tree this year! It's absolutely gorgeous."

"Well indeed I must give credit to the children for it, especially our more artistically inclined ones." He turned and smiled. "Ah, here comes one right now."

"Aiiiiieeee! You made it! You made it!" Uncle Quil's adopted daughter, Anne Walters was beaming as she gave me a tight hug. Anne had been one of my closest friends since I was small. We didn't see each other much, but none of that mattered when we were once again in each other's company. It was as if no time had passed at all.

"Annie, it's so good to see you. I love the dress."

Anne did a giddy twirl in the green dress she was wearing. "I sold my first painting so I decided to splash out on something fancy for once."

"That's such wonderful news!" All of the kids at Wammy's House were blessed with exceptional gifts. Anne becoming a successful artist at nineteen wasn't much of a stretch of the imagination.

"Well what about you?" She grinned. "I heard you already started pursuing your PhD. You've been in university for how long is it? A few months!"

I raised my shoulders and let them fall. "You know me…always the overachiever."

"Indeed. You'd fit right in here." She laughed and then hooked her arm in mine, pulling me closer to bring me into her confidence. "You won't believe who's here."

"Probably not. Who is it?"

"Andrew Hargrove…look he's over there. God, Cass, he's an Adonis. I'm definitely going to make a mistletoe attempt tonight!"

The handsome young lord was standing with several of the other Wammy's kids laughing a little too loud at what one of them had said. It appeared he may have already had more wine than he could handle. "I don't believe you will have trouble with that."

"Perfect!" Her eyes lit up. "Everyone needs a Christmas kiss after all!"

"I'll take your word for it." At least for Anne that was true.

The two of us walked over to the empty couch and sat down, instantly being handed glasses of wine from very attentive staff.

As I took a sip, Anne squeezed my arm. "Oh! I forgot. Ryuzaki's here too. He's never home for Christmas. He surprised us yesterday."

"Hmm…I believe the last time I saw Ryuzaki I was twelve and I watched him eat over twenty candy canes in one sitting." I remarked, remembering a quiet, pale, thin boy with a shock of black hair and big eyes who now was a renowned archeologist. As I said, with Wammy's kids, that wasn't surprising either.

"Only twenty?" Anne teased. "I've seen him eat fifty."

"I don't understand how he can consume so much sugar without facing health repercussions."

"Oh I think he does. He barely sleeps you know, I'm sure the sugar has something to do with that."

"True." I allowed, and winced when Anne squeezed my arm again. "Ahh! Andrew's in the target zone. Wish me luck!"

I looked up to see the hapless man rocking unsteadily by the doorway, wearing a ridiculous grin. As I said, Anne would steal a kiss from him with ease.

I finished my drink, the alcohol warming me inside as I gazed at the fire crackling from where I sat in the great room. My parents were already ensconced in a corner talking with Uncle Quil and Andrew Hargrove's parents. Anne was of course in her pursuit of one Andrew Hargrove and I could hear the piano playing merrily from the other room. Omar's sing song was about to start, I realized with a smile. Now it's Christmas.

I set my empty glass down and stood up, wanting to join them. I had been told that my voice sounded like a cat with its tail caught in the door but with the amount of raucous voices singing at the top of their lungs I'm sure I would be drowned out.

I was stopped in my pursuit by bumping against another person against the other doorway. "Oh, forgive me. I didn't see where I was….going."

Good Lord. I had found myself under the mistletoe with Uncle Quil's adopted son, Ryuzaki, his eyes blacker than a starless night. I felt my heartbeat quicken to my own surprise.

He shoved his hands in his pockets and looked up as well, seeming deep in thought. "Hmm…fascinating."

I stared down at my feet, a blush overwhelming my features. This is silly, it's Christmas, it's a tradition. He has become rather attractive and tall. His lips look soft…oh God he's looking at me again, what do I do?

"The mistletoe originates from the most obligate hemiparasitic plants in the order Santalales. The name mistletoe originally referred to the species Viscum album, Over the centuries, the term has been broadened to include many other species of parasitic plants …"

I stared at him dumbfounded. Had he really? Was he serious?

"Er...how interesting…" I allowed, my eyes now darting for an escape. "Well if you'd excuse me, the sing song is about to start…"

The newly discovered botanist called after me. "Cassandra, wait."

His plaintive voice stopped me in my tracks. "Er, yes Ryuzaki?"

He appeared to be preparing himself for something as his expression become determined.

"There is a custom with mistletoe, where it is considered good luck to kiss the person beneath it, it forecasts good fortune for the upcoming year."

Oh, so he did know. I bit my lip, waiting. "Yes, so it does. I must say I'm surprised that wasn't a part of your lecture just now."

He frowned. "Some people take superstitions quite seriously. Now I have never been under the mistletoe with another person, likely because my excavation enterprises tend to keep me away from Winchester during holiday festivities…but I am curious."

Neither had I. Over the last few years, I had become quite adept at maneuvering myself out of harm's way of the infamous plant at parties. My tongue felt stuck and I was unable to speak.

"I am curious about what a mistletoe kiss would be like…or a kiss at all for that matter." He appeared rather shy then, and dropped his eyes, his dark hair falling across his face.

"Oh?" Was my resounding contribution to the conversation as my heart began to pound. He wishes to kiss me…Lord…I think I wish to kiss him….

He smiled then and once more met my eyes. "Might it be all right if I succumb to being a superstitious fool just this once?"

Yes. Lord yes. Be a superstitious fool all you want Ryuzaki. I was becoming the soppy damsel in distress so we were both doomed. There was no harm. Instead of saying any of that I nodded. "Yes, let's be fools together."

He chuckled low, removing his hands from his pockets as he approached closer. The music from the other room picked up in volume but all I could truly hear was sound rushing past my ears. I twisted my hands together and stepped forward. It's a kiss, Grace, just a kiss. You can do this. You've been a late bloomer as it is.

Ever so delicately, he reached forward and cradled my cheek in his hand, stopping himself a breath away from my lips. "Happy Christmas, Cassandra Huxley." He murmured and finally brushed my lips with his.

I closed my eyes to savor the feeling. A kiss. Ryuzaki and I were sharing a kiss. It was gentle and he tasted sweet and I finally remembered to kiss him back then hoping I appeared to know what I was doing. It seemed I did as his other arm found its way around my waist and the kiss became even more fervent. Is this what Anne had been talking about? I wondered in perfect bliss. If this was what kissing was like, I was all for it. I raised my arms to wrap around his neck as he pulled me closer. I played with his wild hair as he made a pleased murmur in response. He smelled like peppermint. I wondered how many candy canes he'd already consumed.

"Ach, for goodness sake, L, boy, just WHAT do you think you are doing?!"

A furious voice boomed and we both broke apart to see Uncle Quil's fearsome housekeeper, Mrs. Coppersmith glaring a hole through us, well rather him. Had she called him L? But wasn't his name Ryuzaki? Or had she said hell? I was becoming very confused in my heavenly dazed state.

She raised a shaking finger at him. "Miss Huxley is our guest, she is a relation of Mr. Wammy's. L, you call that a polite mistletoe kiss?! Haven't I taught you to have any manners at all?!"

I wasn't sure why any of that mattered…but apparently neither did Ryuzaki…or L…or whatever he was called.

"We are partaking in a cherished yuletide tradition, ma'am…" his voice was fierce and defensive. "To grant us luck in the new year."

"You better hope for luck, boy," she threatened. "After I'm done with you. This girl doesn't your need your sticky paws all over her, now stop this at once."

I found my voice then, seething. "I am a guest in the house and I will kiss who I please and it's none of your business. You can move along now before I tell my cousin about your manner of speaking to his son."

She appeared shocked by my cheek but stormed off nonetheless, as I glared at the back of her. Crone. Finally, I turned back to Ryuzaki who was giving me a look of pure admiration.

"You are quite brave, Cassandra Huxley." He mused. I noticed his lips were swollen and his hair was even more disheveled. "That woman terrifies me."

I laughed at that and then smiled. "Grace."

"Pardon?"

"It-it's not Cassandra…er well it is, but I'm starting to not care for it. I like to go by Grace. It's my middle name." I had determined that one after my first month at school.

"Oh…" His intelligent eyes lit up with understanding. "Well then, Grace. I thank you for that experience. It felt wondrous."

"It did." I agreed, my head still spinning. "Kissing appears to be rather enjoyable."

His eyes sparkled as he moved closer again, the two of us falling into the shadow of the doorway. "Was that your first kiss as well?" He seemed astonished, which I was suppose was a compliment in some shape or form.

"Yes…Thank you Ryuzaki, or L or what's your name anyway?"

He reddened as his arms slipped around my waist once more. "I have several names. Quite like you, Cassandra Grace."

"Oh I see." Was this really happening? Was mistletoe always this magical? Anne had been on to something.

"I'm not certain about the good fortune doubling with two kisses under the mistletoe," he continued thoughtfully. "But I think in for a penny in for a pound, don't you say?"

I grinned as I realized what he meant. "I must say, I do like the way you think. Happy Christmas, Ryuzaki."

It was safe to say that The Wammy House Christmas parties got better every year.

Songs: "Merry X-Mas Everyone" – Slade, "A Winter's Sky" – The Pipettes.

Thanks to Wikipedia for the education on mistletoe for L's speech. :P

It's a bit of a different take on my writing style, but since it's a different take on characters of Home, I thought it worked. Would love to know what you thought and let me know any ideas you have for future pieces in the series!