Una Muy Feliz Navidad... by JuliaBC
This is what I wrote for my self-proposed Christmas Challenge, the finalized elements being:
1) There has to be a girl in it, from the show. If you like, it can be in addition to an OC.
2) She can be a romantic interest or not. Don't feel the need to have a kiss under the mistletoe. (Of course, if that's what you want, go for it.) Look upon this as an opportunity to bring in lesser known or unlikely characters—Anita or Leonar, for example.
3) Try to have something crazy happen, example: Alejandro getting tipsy on Christmas spirits.
I went overboard on the crazy, I think it's safe to say.
As Cresencia looked on critically, Diego finished hanging the ribbon over the fireplace. She watched as he descended the ladder, looking rather satisfied.
"Gracias, Don Diego. Of course, I only asked you because none of us maids are tall enough."
"Of course, Cresencia," Diego assured her. "And I did not mind doing it."
She nodded, satisfied, and hurried from the room. Diego looked around the sala. A small Natividad set sat just next to the fireplace, and Diego walked over to closer inspect it.
It had been years since he'd truly looked at the figures.María, José y el Niño Jesús were all expertly carved, the Virgin Mother having a look of both joy and weariness on her face. Diego wondered who the sculptor had been to so expertly capture that.
He picked her up, staring at the delicately carved face, and wished for days of the past, when his earthly mother was still alive.
He put her back, crossed himself and stepped away from the set, walking backwards. It was making him feel too sentimental, and that was something he couldn't condone right now, not with Capitan Arrellanos just a step...
He collided with someone, and only barely caught himself on the railing by the stairs. The other person was not so lucky, and Capitan Arrellanos tumbled to the ground, making a rather unattractive picture when his legs flew out beneath him and into the air.
Diego covered his eyes with his hand for a moment, just wishing to escape. Not Arrellanos...
Anyone but him.
But no. Arrellanos was standing up, rather slowly, and looking haughtily down at Diego. "I'd ask for you to watch where you are stepping, de la Vega."
"I'm sorry," Diego said, expecting the Capitan to offer him a hand, but no help was forthcoming. "I didn't think anyone else was in here. It's so late, after all."
"It's never too late for an officer of the King to have business," Arrellanos snapped. "But what are you doing up?"
"Cresencia wished some last minute help with the decorations," Diego said coolly.
"So you'll be hurrying up now?"
"I certainly didn't plan to, Capitan. It was so peaceful in here I meant to stay and read."
Arrellanos rolled his eyes, turning away from Diego. His attention caught by the Natividad set, he walked over to do the same as Diego had been doing. "I must say, de la Vega, the quality for these sculptures in unsurpassable. I don't know when I've seen such valuable...statues."
Diego stiffened when Arrellanos dropped the spouse of the Mother of God unceremoniously back onto the table. "Please, Capitan. They are not to be trifled with."
"They can stand it, what with the craftsmanship," Arrellanos sneered. "What possessed you to have diamonds put onto the mother's crown? Isn't that just for the church to waste their money on?"
"We value things differently," Diego said. "My grandfather thought it only fitting that the Holy Family be the most valuable piece in our home."
"Yes," Arrellanos said meditatively, crouching to inspect the jewels on the Baby Jesus' manger. "Quite unlike their real lodgings."
"On earth, perhaps," Diego said. "I rather expect Heaven to be quite a different matter. And really, I must ask to place Joseph back properly. He is supposed to be standing."
Arrellanos gave Diego a look of disgust. "That is for servants."
Snapping, Diego walked forward with sharp steps. "Please move aside so I may correct him, Capitan."
The look Arrellanos gave him was enough to wither every soldier he'd ever commanded, but Diego didn't flinch. "Please, move aside."
"I was wondering if anything could prompt you to step forward," Arrellanos said softly. "I didn't think it would something as stupid as these."
But he stepped aside, and Diego was able to right Joseph.
"Will you invite me to a glass of wine, Diego?" Arrellanos asked, voice buttery smooth.
Diego nodded, accepting Arrellanos' pretense that nothing had just happened between them. "Let me just fetch the finest bottle in the cellar," he said, mentally adding, of pig slop.
Down to the cellar he went, grabbed the first bottle he saw and went back upstairs. Arrellanos was again by the nativity set, and snatched his hand back guiltily when Diego reentered.
Diego had to refrain from rolling his eyes at Arrellanos' sheer stupidity.
"Sit down," he invited. "I'll pour you a glass."
"Gracias," Arrellanos said, and settled into an armchair. "What kind is this?"
Diego realized he hadn't even checked the label, couldn't help it and lied. "It's Madeira," he said even as a white liquid streamed from the bottle.
Arrellanos, who didn't pick up on the fact that Madeira was a red wine, took his glass and sipped at it. "It's the best Madeira I've ever had," he said, and Diego had to refrain himself from throwing the bottle at Arrellanos' head.
"It is fine, isn't it? Apples make such lovely wine."
"Oh, this is an apple wine?" Arrellanos considered his glass. "You'd never know it."
No, you wouldn't, Diego finished mentally, poured himself a glass and sat opposite Arrellanos.
He didn't dare leave Arrellanos alone in the sala, which at this time of year was filled with priceless heirlooms.
He'd stay as long as the Capitan did.
Many drinks and hours later, Arrellanos had fallen into an unfortunately chatty mood.
"I was raised by my father," he said, obviously drunk beyond all reason, or he'd never be telling this to Diego. "My mother died giving birth to my sister, and my sister died when she was ten."
"That's terrible," Diego said, who'd only given a pretense of drinking, and still held a full, never refilled, glass.
"He was an army capitan. I traveled with him everywhere, and life was bueno. Mucho bueno. I had anything I wanted, and my father went up in the world."
"So you were close?"
"Not in the least," Arrellanos snorted. "He was a hypocrite. In public, he'd act the adoring father, and in private I was completely ignored. Still, he was a good man, just had some problems. If he hadn't disowned me over the stupidest possible thing, we'd be on quite good terms these days."
"Disowned?" Diego asked.
Arrellanos, wildly waving his empty glass around to punctuate his words, sighed. "I just know that I'd never disown a son simply for getting a tavern whore pregnant."
"Oh?"
"I would've married her, if it'd come to that, but father paid her off and disowned me without speaking a word of anything to me. I was left abandoned. But I showed him," the Capitan said, chuckling darkly. "Oh, I showed him. Right now, I'm a member of the governor's personal guard. That's higher than anyone he ever even met, and I did it all by myself, with no help from anyone. And now, in just weeks of months, I'll be the gov—"
Even drunk, Arrellanos managed to recall himself in time. "I'll be his only aide," he finished smoothly. "Now, could you summon a servant to help me to bed? I'm feeling much too dizzy to make it there on my own."
Of course, Diego wasn't going to leave the Capitan alone with a servant, but still didn't think he could take the man alone, and so went to the kitchen.
Teresa, the laundry maid, was alone in the room. "Oh, Don Diego! Do you need something?"
"Is there anyone else around?" He asked, peeking into the doorways leaving the kitchen. "I need someone to help with taking Capitan Arrellanos upstairs."
Teresa's hand flew to her mouth. "What happened to him?"
"He's drunk," Diego said baldly.
A giggle flew from her, and Diego looked at her, surprised. "I'm sorry, Don Diego. I just..."
"Enjoy that thought? So do I. The servants will not be the only ones happy when the Capitan leaves."
"Si," Teresa said, then remembered his question. "I really think everyone has gone to bed."
"I'd take him by myself, but since he's still awake..."
When they walked into the sala, Arrellanos was slumped in his chair, snoring. Teresa's hands plunked on her hips, and she shook her head, the smile on her face only growing. "You know, he could be my two year-old son. They sleep exactly the same way."
"I don't doubt it," Diego groaned, trying to pick up the man. "What a dead-weight."
"You must lift like this," she said, hurrying forward, and blushed when Diego raised an eyebrow.
"Have you had practice with this?"
"My brothers, on occasion," she said hurriedly. "Come on."
Diego and Theresa finally made it up to Arrellanos' room, and dumped him on the bed. Back out in the hallway, Diego realized how late it was, and checked his pocket watch.
So it was Christmas Eve. Diego smiled at Teresa. "Muchos gracias for the assistance. Buenos noches, Teresa."
"Buenos noches, Diego," Teresa said. "Since I won't be here later, Feliz Navidad."
He smiled the greeting back to her, watched her until she descended back down the stairs and then went to his own room. Bernardo was lightly dozing in the chair, and awoke when Diego entered.
"You didn't need to wait up," Diego said, still touched the man had. "It's Nochebuena, do you realize?"
Looking at the clock, Bernardo nodded.
"I suppose you saw some of my face off with Arrellanos. I just couldn't leave him alone in the sala after that."
Bernardo rolled his eyes.
"Si, that's how I felt also. Did you hear him agree with my insinuation that Madeira is an apple wine?"
They both laughed, as Diego took his shoes off. "I thought that if I learned his past, it might make me feel more sympathy, but I almost feel more disgusted by him. No one knows, more than I, the pain of not pleasing a father, but this is not how you go about seeking your revenge."
Bernardo shrugged, and spoke.
"People have different ways of coping?" Diego nodded. "That's more true than I'd like to admit."
Later that morning, when Diego had actually slept, he came downstairs in time to see Leonar leaving the breakfast table.
"Buenos dias, Leonar," Diego said. "Have you seen your father yet? Do you think he'd be well enough to go into Los Angeles tonight, for the festivities?"
Leonar shook her head. "I just don't think he will, Diego. He's even more disappointed than I am, but we specifically asked Dr. Avilla."
"And he specifically said no?"
"Si," Leonar said, with a bit of a laugh. "And I couldn't bring myself to go without him. He feels very bad about it already. This is one of the first times he won't be properly celebrating the birth of the Baby Jesus."
"I'm sure He would understand," Diego said.
Leonar smiled. "I know, but you can't convince my father of that."
"Maybe, when he is better, we could have a fiesta for him. Perhaps for the Three Kings' visit."
"He'd like that," Leonar said wistfully. "I'd like that."
"I know," Diego said. "It has been hard."
"I wouldn't say that," she returned. "I love my father, and I am happy to travel with him. Si, this has been a very worrisome journey, but I wouldn't say hard. I do regret not being home for Christmas. Our family will be so disappointed. One of the reasons Mother specifically wanted me to go along with Father on this trip was to make sure we could be home in time. But then, this!" She threw up her hands in dismay.
"That's not to say you regret staying here?" Diego teased.
"Oh, you!" She said, and gathered up her skirts. "I promised to go see Father and read to him."
Diego watched her go with a smile on his face, then turned to see Cresencia watching him. "What?"
"Nothing," she said, a secretive smile perched on her face. "Don Diego, I need some more help with the decorations. I just am not liking how they are hung."
"Just as soon as I eat," Diego promised, and she nodded.
"By the way, Don Diego, have you gotten a gift for Senorita Leonar yet?"
"Candy, flowers or books," Diego said, moments after taking a bite.
"So that is a no?" Cresencia said, stepping closer.
Diego shrugged. "I couldn't figure out which one, Cresencia. What do you think?"
"Flowers," Cresencia said. "Leonar would want something she could enjoy now, but still have around to remember this by."
"Gracias," Diego said, Cresencia smiled and left.
Since he met Alejandro on his way out of the dining room, Diego realized that his promise to Cresencia would have to be a bit stretched. "Diego, come with me."
"Of course, father. What is it you need to speak to me about?"
"The servants say that you and Capitan Arrellanos stayed up to an alarmingly late hour. Please tell me what you found to talk about with him." Alejandro shut the study door. "Anything about the plot?"
"No, he just gave me his sad version of a past and decided to agree with me when I said apples made a lovely wine."
"Oh, that's—what?"
Diego laughed. "We were drinking wine that I said was Madeira, I said apples make a lovely wine and the poor Capitan decided that meant Madeira was an apple wine."
"Diego!" Alejandro scolded, then he burst out laughing too. "Serves him right," he said, moving to sit at the desk.
"I suppose I learned one thing," Diego said, once their laughter subsided. "He definitely still plans to move ahead with killing the governor."
"Nothing will shake him," Alejandro said, sighing.
Diego returned to Cresencia soon after his conversation with Alejandro, wondering what she'd have him do.
She already had a ladder set up in the dining room. "I'd like you to hang these up," she said, holding brightly colored chains of fabric. "We need some more color in here."
Diego took them carefully, draping them over his arm. "I suppose you have been staying up long into the night to make these," he teased.
"Don't be silly," Cresencia scolded. "Be a bit more careful, por favor."
"Don't you trust me?" Diego said, laughing.
"See, you are leaning over too much!" Cresencia returned, and then realized she was being teased. "Don Diego, don't worry me like that."
"I'll be fine," Diego said, leaning to attach the end of the chain, the ladder tipped and Diego fell.
A/N: I never intended this to be a story set during this time; I planned to use Milana. But when I was starting this, all of a sudden, Capitan Arrellanos walked in and he wouldn't leave. Before I knew it, I couldn't think of a way to write a Christmas story without him in it. Ugh!
So this takes place between the Capitan Regrets and Masquerade for Murder. Considering the placement of the party in Masquerade, I decided it wouldn't be too much of a stretch for them to have spent Christmas at the de la Vega hacienda. Not likely, but that's how it is happening here.
