Watchmen (c) Alan Moore and Dave Gibbins, I only entertain this absurdly fluffy idea.
Only character I own is Samantha Haley. And a few extraneous characters that no one will remember in the end.
Please don't kill me for doing this to Rorschach. It was something I had to get out of my brain. Rated M for language and violence, 'specially in the later chapters. Not sure if can actually be called "Mary-Sue"…but don't hate me…please?
Looking for constructive reviews, please.
Author's Note: This Christmas has a very prominent place because it's so close to the end. I seriously debated making Samantha and Walter have sex, but talked myself out of it...several times.
1974
HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS
Samantha woke in the morning with a soft moan. Her brow furrowed when she felt something in her arms. She opened her eyes and lifted the bear into the morning light. He was old fashioned and cute. Samantha smiled at him and moved to sit up when she saw the cereal and stocking on the coffee table. She sat up quickly, placing the bear in her lap and picked up the stocking. She pulled out both bags of chocolate and the clementine. She glanced to the armchair and smiled. Walter had fallen asleep in her place, he looked comfortable.
Samantha grabbed everything and walked towards the kitchen when she saw a few extra presents under the tree. Her smile widened. She looked back to Walter. "You didn't have to do that," she whispered.
Samantha placed her bear on the counter and poured herself a bowl of Cap'n Crunch for breakfast. She held a spoonful out and nodded to the bear. "The breakfast of champions, Walter-bear," she proudly said before stuffing the spoon in her mouth. She ate quickly, leaving her bowl on the table when she finished. She crossed the living room quietly and went to the bathroom. She hummed "Have a Merry Little Christmas" as she dressed.
Samantha peeked at Walter as she walked back to the kitchen to start cooking. She'd let him sleep a little longer.
Walter awoke with a start, at first wondering whose house he'd fallen asleep in, then remembering it was Samantha's.
"Does this look good, Walter-bear?" her voice rang from the kitchen. Walter rose from the chair, cracking stiff joints as he did. He stretched before walking to the threshold of the kitchen. The bear was sitting on the counter and she had her back turned. Walter staved off the urge to hug her from behind again.
Then suddenly, she began singing, "Have yourself a merry little Christmas, Let your heart be light. From now on, Our troubles will be out of sight. Have yourself a merry little Christmas, Make the Yule-tide gay. From now on, Our troubles will be miles away. Here we are as in olden days, Happy golden days of yore. Faithful friends who are dear to us, Gather near to us once more. Through the years, We all will be together, If the Fates allow. Hang a shining star upon the highest bough. And have yourself a merry little Christmas now."
"Did you know you have a beautiful voice?" he remarked. Samantha turned to him, smiling.
"Thank you. You know you didn't hafta get all that chocolate. I had plenty," she said, placing the plate in her hands on the table, which Walter only just noticed was loaded with food.
"Weren't kidding when you said you were going to have too much," he commented.
"I always have too much food. But today, I have somebody to share it with," she smiled. "Did you wanna go back over to your place, maybe get changed?" Walter looked at his disheveled outfit. He was still wearing last nights clothes.
"I'll be right back."
"Okay," Samantha called as the door opened. She continued cooking, humming random parts of Christmas carols as she went. When she placed two bowls on the table, she looked over her food choices and rattled them off, making sure she hadn't forgotten anything. "Cream of mushroom soup, Caesar salad, cheese and crackers, hamburger quiche, chicken sausage, and plenty of fruit and Kisses. Yep, the gangs all here," she smiled.
"Sounds like quite a menu," Walter said, standing in the threshold once more. He watched Samantha look him up and down, taking in his semiformal outfit.
"It usually is. Help yourself. ABC should be starting White Christmas any minute now." Samantha walked passed Walter and turned the TV on. She returned to find Walter had laden a plate with a little bit of everything She giggled, "You know you can always come back for more, right?"
Walter looked at the hippie and smiled. "I know, but I suddenly find myself very hungry." He walked by her and sat on the couch, placing his plate on the coffee table. He returned to the kitchen and took the bowl of soup handed to him. "Thank you." Samantha smiled and filled her own bowl and walked with Walter into the living room. He took the end of the couch furthers from the TV and she took the end closest, but before Samantha sat down, she hurried to the Christmas tree and pulled a large gift from behind the tree.
"You get to open the first gift of the day. I hope you like it." She handed the gift to Walter, who took it with a ginger touch. "Careful, it's a little fragile," she said, sitting next to him. Walter opened the large parcel and found his own face beneath a pane of glass. The more paper he tore, the more sketches he saw. They were all of him as the doomsayer.
"Samantha...," he started but was finding it hard to string words together. "When did you do this?" he asked when his mouth seemed to work again.
"I've been collecting these over the years. This one," she pointed to a surly looking one in the top right corner. "Was from when I first met you. Having a photographic memory helps." Samantha's mismatched eyes wandered the sketches, as if looking at them for the first time. Then she noticed, Walter wasn't looking at the sketches, he was watching her.
"Everything alright, Walter?" The concern evident in her voice. Walter shook his head, like coming out of a trance.
"Fine. Everything's fine, thank you, Samantha." He leaned the picture against the armchair and sat back down.
The announcer on the television said, "Ladies and Gentlemen, in honor of the Christmas holiday, we now present you, White Christmas."
Samantha clapped. "This is one of my favorites," she stated as the movie began. Walter was again finding it very difficult to concentrate on the movie or his food. Samantha had obviously seen the film so many times she was miming many of the movements and mouthing most of the worlds, occasionally singing along with some of the songs. She made him smile. Samantha got up to get more food during a commercial break and stopped at the tree on her way back, picking up one of her gifts for Walter.
"Here's another one." She handed him the parcel and sat looking at him. Walter placed the bowl on the table and turned the package over, looking for seems. "You have to rip it, I'm very good at wrapping gifts." So, Walter tugged at a corner, ripping the funny page wrapping and two brown, leather bound journals fell into his lap. "I know you're not supposed to get someone something they need, but you do go through a lot of those," she grinned.
Walter looked them over. These were fair priced journals with excellent bindings and pristine beige pages waiting to be written on. "Thank you, Samantha. I've never been good at wrapping gifts, I'm sorry yours are open," he confessed.
"Don't worry about it." She smiled and turned back to the movie. Walter suddenly realized something. He was truly enjoying the company of a woman for the first time in his life. He then found himself thinking where he'd be if she hadn't come along.
After another half an hour, the movie was over and Samantha's smile was broader than ever. It really was one of her favorites. She turned to Walter, "Are you finished with that?" She pointed to his plate and bowl. He nodded and Samantha picked all the dishes from the coffee table.
She stopped at the tree once more and gathered all the gifts from beneath the pine. She set another before Walter and placed the diaries, pens, and Eeyore on her end of the table. She was grinning. "Thank you, Walter. You didn't have to, but thank you."
"You didn't have to either," he retorted, ripping the packaging open to reveal a set of black, ball-point pens to go with his journals. "Thank you, Samantha."
"You're welcome. Do you mind if I do the dishes? They're piling up in there."
"Not at all." Walter placed the pens atop his new journals and watched Samantha, only half listening to the TV. She talked to her Walter-bear a bit and then began humming more Christmas carols. Walter stood when she was almost finished and walked up behind her, hugging her around the middle again.
"Walter...?"
"Fine like this." He listened to her heartbeat again, it was much calmer this time around. Samantha rinsed and dried her hands before placing them on Walter's. She began to sway in rhythm and soon began singing again.
"I'm dreaming of a white Christmas, Just like the ones I used to know. Where the treetops glisten, And children listen, to hear sleigh bells in the snow. I'm dreaming of a white Christmas, With every Christmas card I write. May your days be merry and bright, And may all your Christmases be white." Walter squeezed Samantha around the middle when she finished. For a moment he felt like crying, but collected himself quickly.
"You okay, Walter?" she questioned, her voice just as motherly as usual.
"Yes."
"May I?" Samantha began to turn in his arms and Walter released his hold to allow the movement. She leaned against the counter and looked at him, his hands still around her waist. "You'll be going out soon?"
"What time is it?" He looked for the clock.
"It's five, dark enough to lure those that want to hurt people out...even on Christmas."
"Soon," he resigned. He didn't really want to leave, but the Christmas holiday, while festive, was usually very busy. He looked up in shock as Samantha ran her hands up his arms and rested them on his shoulders.
"You'll be careful?" she asked, leaning forward a little and tilting her head to one side.
"I'll try," he said, inclining his head. He watched as her eyes; once again, searched his face for permission. Walter was still unsure. "I've never...," he started.
"I'll be gentle," she smiled, inching her lips closer to his. Their breath mingled and when Walter didn't pull back, Samantha cupped his face and finally brought their lips together. She was as gentle as she could be, she didn't want to send him running again. Samantha suddenly pulled back when she felt his hands running up her back.
"Wrong?" Walter asked, an unsure look on his face.
"No," she smiled shyly. "Just unexpected." She pressed her lips to his again, harder this time and was surprised that Walter was kissing her just as hard back. She grinned against his lips. She'd wanted this for so long and it was no disappointment. She pulled back for a breath and whispered, "I love you, Walter." She wanted with all of her being for him to say it back to her, but his answer made the smile fade from her lips.
Walter pulled away, letting his arms fall to his side. Samantha clasped her hands together, hanging her head like a child that had broken a vase. "I...," he started, want to say he loved her back, but he couldn't. "Thank you for the meal. I have to go. I'll see you later." He turned away, unable to see her face. Walter grabbed his gifts and made for the door. He opened it and stopped.
"Merry...merry Christmas, Samantha," he chocked out before pulling the door shut behind him. Samantha ran to the door, yanking it open when she reached the handle.
"Merry Christmas, Walter," she chocked over the lump in her throat. Despite leaving so quickly, he had really given Samantha the best gift.