12 Days of Carmilla

Chapter Title: Modern Day Carols

Rating: K

Disclaimer: Neither the Web series Carmilla nor the original material belongs to me. I wish they were – Hollstein would have happened a lot sooner and the number of seasons would go into the triple digits.

"Carm?"

"…"

"Carmillaaaaaa"

"Yes, cupcake?

"Come on, will you join us?"

"as you go around door to door singing tasteless tunes like Jehovah's Witnesses on a sugar high? No thanks, I'll pass"

"You don't mean that!" replied an indignant Laura as she abruptly turned around in her chair and, when she saw no reaction come from the vampire, proceeded to roll her way back until she was directly seated next to her. Even then, Carmilla did not look away from her book. "You're reading 'The Bell Jar', really?"

"What?" Carmilla asked as she flipped the page. "I think it's quite appropriate for the season – the story of a woman plagued by the glamorous lifestyles and high expectations that surround her, who is later institutionalized and given shock therapy as treatment? Personally, I would say it's the perfect metaphor for the holidays"

"But people love Christmas, Carm!" Laura said, nudging her girlfriend. She still didn't budge. "Besides, Perry said we'd be singing modern songs this year instead of the usual carols."

This earned her a look over the book.

"Why would you want to do that?"

"Because, this way it'll be more upbeat!" Laura jumped from her seat, pushing her chair out of the way as she did so. "Come on, Carm, sing with me 'I wish it could be Christmas everydaaaaaay'"

"That would just be highly impractical" interjected Carmilla, lazily watching Laura's impromptu singing session.

"What"

"Think about it," Carmilla said, finally putting down her book and sitting cross-legged on her bed facing her girlfriend "Having Christmas everyday would prove to be extremely expensive in the long run, and eventually you'd run out of ideas for gifts"

Laura shot her a glare.

"Also, Roy Wood looks like a homeless Gandalf in that music video" There was a smile tugging at the corner of Carmilla's lips.

So she wanted to play that game.

"Fine!" Laura said, sitting back down and facing Carmilla once again. She was up for the challenge. "How about this one, 'All I need is looove'"

"You mean the one with the guy that dresses up as a giant bird and the toys with hands up their butts?" Carmilla smirked as she scooted closer to the edge of the bed.

"No! Well – yes, technically" Carmilla was now fully smiling. Stupid vampire. "There's also this one, 'Do they know it's Christmas time at aaall'"

"Yes, because there is nothing sweeter than the Ethiopian Famine. Also, 'Where nothing ever grows, no rain nor rivers flow'? Seriously, cutie?"

"Carmilla!" Laura groaned, throwing her hands in the air. Her girlfriend was infuriating. That was it. There was no hope for either one of them. She had gone ahead and become friends with a modern day Scrooge. They would spend eternity with coals in their stockings. There was no winning.

Unless…

"I guess, you're right," Laura sighed dramatically and had to suppress her giggles at the smug look on her girlfriend's face. She was so cute. "Though – and please indulge me – what do you think of this song 'All I want for Christmas is youuu'"

At some point during that exchange Carmilla had thrown her legs over the side of her bed and was leaning towards Laura.

"Well," the vampire said as she pulled Laura's chair closer. She glanced down at the younger girl's lips. "Even I must admit that there's something to that song"

"Told you so" Laura whispered as she leaned into the kiss and –

"So are you guys ready" LaFontaine said as they came bursting into the room.

Laura, in turn, pulled back so fast that she was sure her chair would have flown into the other room had it not been for Carmilla's death grip.

Apparently LaFontaine hadn't noticed because they continued talking as Carmilla muttered something to herself along the lines of maybe a lock would also be a nice Christmas present.

" So then Perry told me to come get you because everyone else is good to – oh. Were you guys busy?"

"Yes."

"No." Laura shot Carmilla a disgruntled look. "Carm and I were just getting ready, weren't we Carmilla?"

"Sure" the vampire said as she lied back on her bed.

"Riiight" LaFontaine said, making her way back out the door. "Well, you know where to find us when you guys are done getting 'ready'"

Laura waved LaFontaine good-bye and looked back at her girlfriend. She was reading again. There was no way she could have gone back to reading so quickly.

"So, Carm? You coming?" Laura said as she scooted her way back to Carmilla, her old strategy long forgotten.

"No, cupcake. I've had my fair share of caroling so I'll skip it this year." She flipped to another page.

"Wait – you went caroling?" Laura was incredibly intrigued. She was basically sitting on top of Carmilla by that point.

"Don't act so surprised" Carmilla said in that detached tone of hers. She looked at Laura over her book and was surprised to find her hovering over her. She sighed, sitting up and putting her book down once again. Laura's eyes were big now. She was expecting a story. Great.

"It was only one year and by pure chance – back in 1818 I attended a mass service in Germany. It was supposed to be no big deal at the time, mostly because a schoolteacher – Franz Xaver Gruber, I believe was his name – was playing the organ. I thought it a bit overrated, honestly, but everyone loved it."

"What was the name of the song?" Laura asked. She was practically bouncing in her seat.

"Stille Nacht"

"You were there when they sang Silent Night for the first time?" Carmilla wasn't sure if Laura had meant that as a question or as a scream.

"It was really no big deal-"

"Carmilla! We have to tell the others! They'll-" continued Laura practially ignoring the protest from vampire.

"No, really it sounded terrible at first and-"

"But Carm! You were there for the start of a classic!" Laura had not lowered the volume of her shouts.

"Really, Laura, it wasn't that big of a deal. The organ wasn't working because rats had chewed through the strings so they had to use a guitar. I have much better stories. I'll tell them to you if you stay…"

For a second Laura actually appeared tempted. Or maybe it was the way Carmilla was running her fingers up and down her leg.

"No, I have to go sing," Laura pouted. "I already promised. But please tell me you'll come. If a giant hell-hole didn't kill you, I doubt a few songs will."

Carmilla looked at her book.

She turned back to say 'no' to Laura again but somehow her pout had grown bigger.

She sighed.

Maybe a song or two wouldn't be the end of her, but Laura sure was.

A/N: Special thanks to the-british-pink-cat for all of her help! Honestly, this would not be here without her.

Also, I'm sorry if you read my name on your notification of an update and were expecting a new chapter from Arendelle Elementary or another Zombie Elsanna fic I have planned. Those will come in the next couple of weeks!

The songs mentioned above are the following:

I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday - Wizzard (Roy Wood is the lead vocalist, watch the video to know what I'm talking about)

All I Need is Love - Cee Lo Green Ft. The Muppets

Do They Know it's Christmas? - Band Aid

All I Want For Christmas is You - Mariah Carrey

Thanks for reading!