Title: Another Christmas Faery Tale
Authors: hbomba & lonejaguar
Rating: M
Summary: After last year, Lauren & Bo decide to head for the hills this Christmas. The only problem with that is they aren't as alone as they had hoped.
It was three Fae days to a Christmas they would never forget; until each woman would be tested and holiday cheer would be forgotten in the pull of life or death; until the new player came to challenge our Succubus on the eve of the holiday. The winter wind rattled the slats on the windows, warning of a coming storm, but for now the danger fell on deaf ears as Kenzi put another log on the fire and returned to the spread of Chinese food in the kitchen. The young woman had made it her mission to eat all of the egg rolls. She hopped onto a stool beside Bo and reached into the pile of packets at the center of the table.
Lauren portioned out some noodles and passed it along. "So I was thinking we'd leave in the morning," she told Bo. "Get settled before dark."
"Sounds good." Bo smiled at Lauren, ignoring the eye roll from across the island. "I can't believe we're finally going away together."
Lauren smiled, watching Kenzi drown her fried rice in soy sauce. "You'll love the cabin," she said. "It has everything we could need."
"Oh yeah? How many rooms does this cabin have?"
Lauren cast a sideways glance in Kenzi's direction. "It has two beds," she said warily.
"One for each of you? I mean, sounds great, sounds awesome," Kenzi mumbled into an egg roll. "Is there a couch or something maybe a tiny Russian girl could sleep on and not make any noise?" Bo and Lauren stared across the table at each other before they turned their attention to Kenzi. "I mean… Look, it was my cousin's birthday last week, I couldn't go because," she paused, flattening a hand to her chest, "I had to fight crime with my girls, right? But… apparently some words were exchanged between my uncle and my cousin and then some… swearier words were exchanged and then my aunt cancelled Christmas."
Bo blinked in the haze of information overload. Lauren shook her head.
"Come on," Kenzi pleaded. "You won't even know I'm there and your sexcapades are just background noise to me by now, so… please?"
Lauren looked at the table and then over at Bo. The expression on Bo's face as she looked at her hard-luck friend foretold her answer. Bo looked at Lauren, asking for help. "I know this was our getaway, but… we can't leave her alone on Christmas." The indecision was plain to see on Lauren's face. Bo could feel the pros and cons dawning in her expression-back and forth, back and forth-until Bo clamped a hand on her knee. "Please?"
Lauren sighed and turned toward Kenzi, who poked at the sweet and sour chicken balls on her plate like the kid being picked last at recess. "Kenzi, you're welcome to join us, if you want."
Kenzi moved the fried rice around the chicken balls. "Yeah, okay, I'll come. But I better get my own room. I cannot deal with the live show."
The snow had already started before dawn. Lauren had loaded the car the night before with much secrecy. There were groceries galore, Bo knew that much, they certainly wouldn't be eating muffins this Christmas. The weather, however, was beginning to worry Bo. They were north of the city and the snow continued to fall. Big white fluffy flakes. It was like being in a movie or, she reconsidered, a snow globe.
Three hours into the trip the slush on the roads had become ice and the Camaro was coasting of its own accord, Bo just playing at keeping it on the road. Kenzi had asked: "Are we there yet?" no less than five times since they left. Bo dared to look away from the road to glance in her rear view mirror to look at Kenzi, curled in the back seat with a magazine. She checked the road in front of them, becoming more snow covered by the minute.
"We gotta be getting close, right?" She looked at Lauren who was scrutinizing a map.
"The ranger station should be coming up on the left."
The snow swirled in around them. Bo squinted through the windshield and then turned to Lauren. "I don't see it." Bo complained. When she turned back, she saw a flash of dark hair blowing in the wind and swerved to avoid the pedestrian. Lauren looked up from the map as the Camaro narrowly avoided the ditch. Kenzi dropped her magazine as they rattled along the shoulder.
"Hey! She called from the back. "Hands at ten and two."
"There was someone in the road."
"Bo, I didn't see-"
She cut Lauren off. "There was a woman walking across the road" she insisted.
Lauren pointed. "There. There's the ranger station."
Bo took the corner gently, wheels still spinning despite her speed, and parked in front of the station. She and Lauren started unpacking the Camaro into one of the Ranger's Jeeps so they could be shuttled in to the cabin through the snow and forest.
"Jesus, Mary and Joseph Stalin it's cold out here!" Kenzi stood to the side of the vehicles letting Bo and Lauren do the heavy lifting.
"You could help-"
Bo was cut off by a hand in the air. "But my Christmas mani-pedi," she whined.
She sighed. Kenzi had treated herself to a manicure and pedicure for Christmas and now Bo understood why. Lauren dropped the last bag in the back of the Jeep just as the Ranger came out of the building.
"All set folks?" the Ranger asked.
Lauren smiled at the man. "Yes, I think so."
"Hop in," he smiled.
Lauren sat in the front with the Ranger and had been sharing stories with him for the past five minutes. Her silhouette was like a sock in the gut. Lauren's hair sparkled with melting snowflakes and her smile, her smile pulled Bo in. When she glanced back at Bo and Kenzi, Bo tried to disguise her interest.
Kenzi elbowed her in the side. "Stop staring," she whispered.
"I'm not," Bo hushed.
"Then why do I get the feeling that Lauren looks like a porterhouse steak in your head?"
Bo paused and considered this. She smiled. "Kinda."
The terrain quickly worsened, the Jeep rocking side to side before it slowed to take the deep grooves in the mud that had frozen long ago. The vehicle still shook like it was on the open sea and Kenzi was looking a little green.
She puffed out her cheeks. "Say Ranger Smith, how long is this turbulence going to last?"
He looked over his shoulder at them. "We'll be there in a jiffy." He smiled.
"How long is a jiffy?" Kenzi whispered.
Bo shook her head and looked at her feet. Her fashionable and functional boots did not seem up to this. Time would tell. And soon, she hoped. The Jeep lurched and jostled its passengers again and Bo could see the reflection of headlights ahead of them. They had arrived.
"Finally!" Kenzi blurted when she saw the cabin. It was an honest to goodness log cabin. She could tell it had been modernized but Kenzi remained skeptical.
As the Ranger helped the others unload the Jeep, Kenzi scoped out the cabin. One and a half stories, the half being an open loft with nothing but a bed, a side table and lamp. There was a small bedroom and bathroom beneath the loft and an old kitchen. It wasn't high end, but it wasn't economy either. And it was certainly nicer than the clubhouse. Even the living room had a television. Kenzi grumbled. Hotpants had thought of it all.
"Just, ah," the ranger stalled. "Don't go too far from the cabin. It's easy to get lost." He tipped his hat and walked to the Jeep. He opened the door and turned toward them. "I'll be back for you on Sunday, at noon."
Lauren thanked the Ranger and watched the Jeep back out of the long laneway.
Bo furrowed her brow. "What was that about?"
She looked after the retreating Jeep. "Probably just wildlife," Lauren reasoned, slinging the last bag over her shoulder. "But I hadn't planned on leaving the cabin anyway."
The smile on Bo's face was instant. "Doctor Lewis," she said, following Lauren into the cabin. "I'm shocked."
The smirk Lauren threw over her shoulder made Bo shiver, just a little. "Are you, really?"
Kenzi walked into the main room where Lauren and Bo were sorting bags. She sucked on a candy cane noisily. "What took you guys so long?"
Lauren made a face. "You packed six bags."
"You promised I'd be comfortable." Kenzi found the sofa and quickly settled in. She watched the snow fall outside the window. "Besides, didn't we already do the snowed in thing last year?"
Lauren started to speak but Bo pulled on her shoulder and spun her around. "Show me around?" Bo's arm was wrapped around her waist and pulled Lauren through the first door they came to. In what would be Kenzi's room, Lauren spoke again.
"You can't play mediator forever, Bo."
"Sure I can. Or," she started. "You could stop taking her bait."
"Me?" Lauren raised her eyebrows and stifled an ironic laugh. "You can't keep coddling her."
Bo sighed. "I thought we were here to get away." Her arms encircled Lauren's waist and pulled her in close.
Lauren let her head roll to the side in a show of frustration. She sighed. "I guess so."
"Hey." Bo swung her hips with Lauren's. "This place is great."
She smiled and Lauren swore her heart stopped for a millisecond. She swallowed. "It's all right." Lauren shrugged.
"I mean, it was a great idea."
Lauren looked up and she smiled. "Really?"
"Yes." Bo pressed her lips against her neck and inhaled, kissing her way to Lauren's ear. Her mouth played at the whorls of her ear. "Now… why don't you show me to our bedroom?"
"Come on," Lauren tugged Bo's hand, leading her out of the bedroom. "Now, it's a little quirky but I thought you could appreciate it." Lauren was halfway up the ladder when she felt Bo's eyes on her telegraphing everything she wanted to do to Lauren in her mind's eye. It was a little overwhelming if not flattering.
Beyond what little headroom there was in the rafters, was a skylight that let all the sunlight from outside wash over the loft. The bed was soft-not too soft-and suited their needs, wedged up against the railing. Bo looked over the edge and then back to Lauren. "It's perfect."
Lauren smiled and let go of the anxiety she was holding on to. Climbing down the ladder to the main floor, she turned toward the living room where Kenzi sat on the couch, elbow deep in a bag of chips.
"Hey Goldilocks, how's the bed?"
"Kenzi, knock it off." Bo jumped down the last two rungs of the ladder and walked into the living room. "You were invited here, remember." Bo slumped into the couch next to Kenzi and poked her arm. "You should act like a guest."
"Fine, fine," Kenzi grumbled, rubbing her shoulder.
An hour later Lauren was unpacking the cooler with much secrecy. "Can I at least watch you bend over?"
The curl of Lauren's lip let her amusement show through. "Just wait." Bo sighed and clicked on the TV. Kenzi had fallen into the dark pit of a nap, Bo presumed because they hadn't seen her since she shuttled one of her bags to the bedroom. Lauren stood, dusting off her hands. She sat beside Bo. "All done."
"Did you pack any pizza?" Kenzi had tip toed in behind them.
"I thought we'd try to go three days without eating pizza." Lauren said diplomatically. She stood, crossing to look out the front window. Dusk had settled upon them and the sun cast ruby hues across the snow, tree trunks peppering the reflection. She waved a hand at Bo and Kenzi.
Bo walked to Lauren's side. "It's beautiful," she smiled, eyes sparkling with wonder. Lauren rest her head on Bo's shoulder.
"Sure, it's beautiful now. Just wait till Jason comes out of the lake," Kenzi snarked.
Lauren lifted her head. "There's no lake," she said seriously.
"No lake? What kind of cheap ass cabin is this?" Kenzi's fake outrage pulled at the thread of Lauren's temper.
"If you'd like to go swimming," Lauren said evenly, though laced with disdain, "I can have it arranged."
"Lauren!" Bo whispered harshly.
Lauren glanced at Bo, her focus broken, and sighed. She knew this weekend wasn't going to be free of conflict because despite how much she and Kenzi tried, it always seemed to creep back in. Okay, so Kenzi didn't really try, that was beside the point, Lauren did. And she tried enough for the both of them some days. Today, though, she clenched her jaw, swallowing the words in her mouth, and let Kenzi win. For Bo.
Night had fallen gently onto the cabin. The moon was bright and almost full, shining down on the two feet of snow that blanketed the forest around them. Lauren stood alone on the porch, taking it all in. A gust of wind chilled her, even with a winter coat on. And she could swear she saw movement amongst the trees. A deer, she thought again as she retreated back inside.
Hanging her coat in the entryway closet, Lauren kicked off her boots, pulled up her wool socks and walked to the fireplace to warm her hands. Bo and Kenzi played cards on the coffee table, predictably Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer was playing on the television. Lauren missed the days of new anchors and weathermen. Lauren had come to love Kenzi like a little sister but she had a hard time abiding by the constant cartoons. It had been two years since Lauren came to stay with Bo and Kenzi and it took some getting used to when she had lived so long on her own. But she felt safe with them and that was worth the little annoyances that amounted to a pile of grievances. But Lauren wasn't keeping track.
She dropped onto the couch beside Bo, snaking her arms around Bo's. "Who's winning?" She tucked her feet underneath her. Kenzi pointed at her pile of Oreos. Bo shrugged, throwing a smile over her shoulder at Lauren.
Kenzi crunched on a cookie. "Wanna try your luck, Doc?"
"Deal me in." She smiled awkwardly as Kenzi passed her a stack of Oreos.
The first hand went to Bo, the second to Kenzi, but it was the third hand that stood out. Kenzi was all in and Lauren had just called. Kenzi flipped her cards one by one until she was showing a royal flush. She smiled like a predator who smelled blood. Lauren sat back and sucked in a breath before turning her cards: four twos. Kenzi's mouth hung open. "Did you just-?"
A smile spread across Lauren's face. "I did it." She looked at Bo. "I won!" Lauren started to laugh.
"Easy Doc, I can still outrun you."
Lauren frowned. "What does that have anything to do with it?" Kenzi snatched a handful of Oreos from the pile on the table and took off down the hall. Her bedroom door slammed shut. Lauren shrugged, just happy to have won more than anything. She stacked her cookies neatly on the coffee table.
"That's our Kenzi." Bo smiled. "Now you gonna tell me how you did that? You didn't cheat, did you?"
"I can count cards," she smiled slyly.
Bo fake gasped and slapped her arm lightly. "I didn't think you had it in you."
"I'm just getting started," Lauren scooted closer.
"Mmm." Bo welcomed her into her arms. "Please continue."
Their lips met softly. Lauren's hand played in the curls of Bo's hair as the kiss deepened. She sighed. These were the moments of unimaginable tranquility. Lauren's hand cupped around the back of Bo's neck and pulled her closer. The minutes she catalogued. The instances she remembered better than the rest. It was a pure expression of love and lust. Lauren began to unbutton her shirt when Bo's hand stilled hers.
"Loft?" was as close to a complete sentence as Bo could manage.
She grunted as Bo pulled her to her feet, following her to the ladder. Lauren went up first, Bo hanging back to watch the sweet sway of Lauren's hips as she climbed the ladder in front of her. As Bo reached the top, Lauren pulled Bo to her roughly, stumbling back with her onto the bed. Clothes were torn from bodies and kisses were planted in places unseen, it was a hasty coupling and they struggled to keep quiet.
Clumsy fumbling in the half-light was never so good as it was in that moment. Lauren craned her neck with effort as Bo laid hands on her. A determined hand slid between their bodies and into her panties. It wasn't the elaborate sex that Lauren had come accustomed to but it was fast and dirty and she had to admit that she loved it. She was on fire. Bo's breath was in her ear, her soft whimpers growing more insistent as Lauren sunk into her. She swore, dropping her head to Lauren's shoulder. Her head lulled from side to side and her hips moved insistently. The pressure to be quiet was great and Lauren was failing. A low moan escaped her before Bo covered her mouth with her own. Her hips lifted from the bed and she broke away, her breaths coming in staccato gasps now. The push and pull of Bo's hips became unbearable as her hand stroked Lauren, who bit her lip to keep from making a sound.
Lauren arched her back and Bo ran a hand down her body, enjoying the contours of her form. As her body jerked alive she hid her face in the crook of Bo's neck and rode the waves. The breath caught in Bo's throat as her hips began shudder, her legs trembling as Lauren kissed her again. It was a long, slow kiss imbued with love and her breath hitched as she pulled away, awash in the warm flood of orgasm.
Lauren smiled up at Bo, whose eyes were still closed, relishing the contact. When she finally flopped onto her back her eyes stared into the snowy night. The skylight above the bed was the tiny cabin's best feature and they lay together watching the snow fall in silence until Kenzi's door creaked open.
"You pervs done out here?" The television came to life and the unmistakable crunch of chips accompanied the sound of cartoon pratfalls. "By the by, the acoustics in here are fantastic."
Lauren pulled the comforter over herself instinctually. She exhaled.
"Definitely," Bo replied breathlessly with a smile from over the railing, holding a sheet against her breast.
Kenzi looked up to the loft and blinked at the sight of Bo. "Christ on a cracker, put some clothes on," she admonished.