TITLE: This Christmas
WRITTEN BY: Drea Jackman
EMAIL: DreaJackman@Literati.co.uk
RATING: G
SUMMARY: Logan invites Max to experience a truly old-fashioned Christmas when he asks her
to spend Christmas with him at his family cabin. What will the season of good will have in store?
(Much festive M/L 'shippery fluff)
DISCLAIMER: I own none of the characters involved. They belong to Cameron/Eglee
Producions :(
ARCHIVE: If I've said yes before I'll say it again, otherwise email me 'n' lemme know.
FEEDBACK: Don't make me beg, please? ...D'OH!
A/N: MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! Just to enjoy the festive season (and the fact that it's Xmas Eve
tomorrow!) I just wanted to write one of THE fluffiest xmas fic for Dark Angel. Of course, the
shipper in me couldn't let it slip by as anything less than M/L so I hope you like it. I'm still writing
frantically, but thought I'd stick up chapter 1 for you just now. Other chapters being written AS
YOU READ this and they'll be uploaded as soon as they're done. Again, MERRY CHRISTMAS
EVERYBODY!!!
___________________________________________________________
Max stared out over the hillside surrounding them. The evergreens whipped past the car leaving
splashes of green on an otherwise white canvas. The snow lay in droves alongside the road's
edge as the car carried on it's way at a steady pace. When Logan had originally asked Max to
spend Christmas with him at his family cabin she'd fully intended to refuse his offer, but as with
many things, she found that she couldn't deny him anything. As she stared out over the passing
hillside all tucked up warm and snug in a thick blanket of snow the car stereo continued to fill the
air with some old pre-pulse Christmas songs.
~*~
The snow is falling, the city is white
Your eyes are shining like diamonds tonight
And we're all alone
There's no one home
You're finally in my arms again
~*~
* * *
"Thanks," Max said as Logan finished filling her wine glass.
"There's something I want to ask you," Logan said as he began to pour the wine into his own
glass.
Logan finished topping up his own glass and set the bottle of wine, the second opened that
night, aside on the ledge between them.
"I knew it! You've just been softening me up with all this," she said smiling a little as she
gestured to the wine glass in her hand.
"You know me too well," Logan replied gulping back another mouthful of wine. It had taken him
almost two bottles to get this far in asking her, but at that moment he actually contemplated on
fetching a third.
Max smiled and remained silent. They were sat up on the ledge that ran along the inside of the
tall windows that framed the two furthermost walls of Logan's apartment. They sat together at
the point where the two inner ledges met at perpendicular angles, Max cross-legged directly
across from Logan who was sitting with one leg tucked in under the other which hung off the
edge down towards the floor.
The setting was romantic, even by Logan's standards. He'd spared no effort. A nice dinner,
candlelight, two bottles of wine and counting and now here they were sitting intimately in each
other's presence, nothing at all separating them in the dimly lit corner. Max's left knee, the one
closest to the large glass pains, rested gently against Logan's right one. Logan may not have
felt it, but he was keenly aware of it's presence. Logan took another sip of wine before
summoning the courage to finally ask the question he'd been trying to all night.
"Have you ever experienced a truly old-fashioned Christmas?" he asked, his eyes immediately
leaving hers to focus on the wine glass both his hands held in his lap.
"Original Cindy, Kendra and I, we have this thing but it's not really your traditional, old-fashioned
deal," Max answered honestly.
Logan's eyes eventually found hers again, his fear subsiding a little more as she spoke.
"Have you ever wanted to?" his voice tested as if afraid she'd shoot down his coming offer
prematurely.
"Why wish for things you can't have? It only leads to disappointment," Max replied, her own
eyes leaving his as she looked first to the half empty wine glass in her hand and then to the
window on her left side.
The snow blew down from the Heaven's and swirled in random but somehow orderly patterns as
it passed her on the other side of the glass headed for the darkened street below. Logan took
another sip from his glass, the wine a welcomed stabilizer for his nerves. He was almost angry
at himself for asking such a dumb question of her. Of course she hadn't really had a real
Christmas. With the less than normal childhood she'd had that was pretty much a given, but still
he had to start the conversation somehow and that was all he could come up with. Reminding
himself that there was a greater purpose to the question making her feel bad, he carried on.
"Max, I want you to spend Christmas with me," he said with renewed courage. His voice was
soothing, slipping into the whisper-soft tones he always did when he spoke softly.
Max stared back at him unable to respond in any other manner at that moment. She stayed
silent as if awaiting the question she was sure had to follow. As if asking the question rather
than stating it as fact would make the situation any more real. Perhaps she was just eager to
buy herself some time.
"Would you like to spend Christmas with me up at the cabin?" Logan asked as if reading her
mind, his voice still luring her in with it's whisper-soft nature.
"I don't know Logan. Cindy, Kendra 'n' me, we kinda have this thing every year," she began, fully
intending to turn his offer down, even if it meant using the most lame excuses she could come up
with.
"I just thought we could maybe do the Christmas thing right," he said as Max continued to talk.
"And Normal's usually a nightmare 'round this time of year,"
"Y'know, spend some time together. Get a tree, some holly, fairylights, some mistletoe..."
"Both stopped dead at the mention of the ritualistic bringer of the Christmas kiss. Images of
kissing Max's beautiful, full lips drifted through Logan's mind distracting him from his otherwise
innocent trail of thought. Images of the same scenario flew through Max's mind too. Ones where
she kissed him back and for brief seconds she could actually feel his scruff against her skin. As
if on cue, the mental image of the shared kiss broke in both their minds as they snapped out of it
at the same time.
"I can even whip up a mean stuffing and there's a few bottles of the finest pre-pulse wine I've
been saving to celebrate the occasion," Logan resumed his list, his voice taking on all the
characteristics of a salesman making his latest pitch.
"Alright, alright!" Max said holding up her hands in surrender. It had occurred to her during his
last few moments of speech that it didn't really matter what she did or what excuses she could
come up with. She could never refuse Logan anything, especially when his voice went all quiet
and gentle like that. She was certain one day it'd get her into trouble, but for now all it had done
was prove the fact that she wouldn't be able to refuse his offer. "I give in, you win."
Logan's face was tainted by something that could probably only be described as total shock.
"Really?"
"Yeah really. Why wouldn't I be interested?" she asked, genuinely interested in knowing why he
thought she wouldn't want to spend time with him.
"I just thought you'd have plans or you'd rather do something else for the holidays that's all," he
replied only half lying. He found himself questioning whether a lie of omission was still a lie, then
decided that considering it bore the title of still being a lie, it was one in the same.
"Nope," Max answered with a smile, raising her half empty glass up gesturing that it was time for
a refill. "I'm all yours."
"I'll have to remember that," Logan said picking up the near empty bottle of wine to top up both
their glasses.
Raising up both their glasses they settled their new arrangement in a toast, the soft clinking of
their glasses echoing around them as they both smiled and drank deeply. The fruity liquid
consumed warmed them deep inside, or maybe that was the thought of spending the holidays
together that was already taking effect, but nevertheless the intoxicating sensation sealed their
gesture.
~*~
The night is silent and Christmas is here
I couldn't ask for more than having you near
Cause I love you girl
I always will
And now I know the moment is right
The moment is right
~*~
Max was brought back from her reverie suddenly as the car lurched to a stop, pulling over to the
side of the road. Turning quickly she was greeted by the sight of Logan gripping his left arm, his
facial expression twisted into a grimace of pain.
"You okay?" Max asked concerned.
"Cramp!" Logan gasped, his right hand urgently trying to stop the seizing muscles in his left
shoulder. After a few moments it still wasn't helping any. "Oww!"
Max watched him almost smiling at his comical attempts to deal with the aching in his shoulder
before suddenly feeling guilty when she caught his pained expression once again.
"Here, let me," she said leaning up out of her seat, unclipping the belt and letting it slide back
giving her room to maneuver.
Taking a firm grip of his right hand she managed to make him release his grip on the offending
area. Placing a hand on his right shoulder she gestured for him to lean her way.
"You gotta stretch it out. Place your hand up on the window there," she said, nodding towards
the window of the passenger door.
"Ow! Damn it, it hurts!" Logan gasped again his face twisting at the new shock of pain crippling
his shoulder and running up his neck.
"Oh my God, you big baby," Max said beginning to sound exasperated herself. "Stretch!"
With the slightest of effort she managed to pull Logan so that he was leaning over her in the
passenger seat, enough to straighten out his arm and let the muscles of his shoulder release.
Logan was silent for a few moments as the pain slowly dissipated and left his body, his eyes half
closed in relief. Max slid a hand round and gently rubbed his left shoulder to work out the last of
it. Both sat there in complete silence, only the motions Max carried out causing their bodies to
sway slightly in rhythm.
"Feel better?" she asked eventually realizing the silence was becoming awkward, especially
since Logan was virtually in her arms at that point.
"Yeah," Logan replied gratefully. "Thanks."
Sitting back up in his seat he held his left hand out in front of him as much as the space in the
car would allow and stretched his shoulder, rotating it a little. Max sat back in her seat, her legs
still drawn up under her. She supposed it was the little things like this between them that made
life as interesting as it was.
"You want me to drive for a while?" she asked.
"Only if you really want to," he began then stopped abruptly as something occurred to him. "Do
you even know how to drive a car?"
"Hey!" she sounded almost offended. "I may not have a drivers license but what I lack in
documentation I more than make up for in genetic make-up and advanced training."
"Oh I trust you'll not run us off the road," he said turning to face her, his face breaking into a sly
smile. "On purpose."
His joke was greeted by a hefty thump to the right shoulder and a pouty expression. Rewards for
ticking off the lady of his dreams.
"Hey! Watch it," she said sounding vaguely pissed off. "I may decide to leave you here on the
side of the road instead."
"Oww!" he yelped feining pain and insult. "I'm shocked and offended that you would attack the
guy in the wheelchair!"
"Yeah, yeah," she sighed as her hand moved down and opened her passenger door. "Just get
your chair-bound ass over into this seat before I make it to the drivers side and have no place to
sit k?"
Shutting the door behind her Max walked around the front of the car and opened the drivers
door. Logan sat still, turning his head to greet her with a bright smile. Max could only frown and
raise an eyebrow at what his expression.
"I already warned you. Don't make me sit in your lap and drive the whole way there." she
warned, only half joking. She really didn't want to have to make the journey like that. For
starters she knew she'd never last that long without having to pull over and besides, that wasn't
the point.
"Why not? Not like I'd feel my legs cramping up or anything," he said smiling, obviously enjoying
her discomfort.
"Budge over rollerboy," she joked nudging his shoulder playfully.
Nodding, the bright smile never left his face. Others may have taken the jokes around the chair
to be offensive or mean, and if it were any other people involved they probably would be, but for
Max and Logan it was perfectly acceptable. Max didn't give a damn about the chair and Logan
had apparently taken that fact on board. What she'd never told him was the fact that it wasn't
just a case of seeing past the chair to the man in it. It was way more.
Getting in and closing the door behind her she glanced over to catch Logan fastening up his seat
belt. Following suit she then turned the keys in the ignition and started the car. As she pulled
away from the siding and they continued on their way upstate towards the cabin, the stereo
kicked in where it'd left off, the air filled with soft, soothing lyrics, the gentle music following them
on their journey.
~*~
Cause I've been waiting to give
This Gift tonight
I'm down on my knees
There's no better time
It's something to last for as long as you live
Tonight I'm gonna give you
All my heart can give
~*~
WRITTEN BY: Drea Jackman
EMAIL: DreaJackman@Literati.co.uk
RATING: G
SUMMARY: Logan invites Max to experience a truly old-fashioned Christmas when he asks her
to spend Christmas with him at his family cabin. What will the season of good will have in store?
(Much festive M/L 'shippery fluff)
DISCLAIMER: I own none of the characters involved. They belong to Cameron/Eglee
Producions :(
ARCHIVE: If I've said yes before I'll say it again, otherwise email me 'n' lemme know.
FEEDBACK: Don't make me beg, please? ...D'OH!
A/N: MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! Just to enjoy the festive season (and the fact that it's Xmas Eve
tomorrow!) I just wanted to write one of THE fluffiest xmas fic for Dark Angel. Of course, the
shipper in me couldn't let it slip by as anything less than M/L so I hope you like it. I'm still writing
frantically, but thought I'd stick up chapter 1 for you just now. Other chapters being written AS
YOU READ this and they'll be uploaded as soon as they're done. Again, MERRY CHRISTMAS
EVERYBODY!!!
___________________________________________________________
Max stared out over the hillside surrounding them. The evergreens whipped past the car leaving
splashes of green on an otherwise white canvas. The snow lay in droves alongside the road's
edge as the car carried on it's way at a steady pace. When Logan had originally asked Max to
spend Christmas with him at his family cabin she'd fully intended to refuse his offer, but as with
many things, she found that she couldn't deny him anything. As she stared out over the passing
hillside all tucked up warm and snug in a thick blanket of snow the car stereo continued to fill the
air with some old pre-pulse Christmas songs.
~*~
The snow is falling, the city is white
Your eyes are shining like diamonds tonight
And we're all alone
There's no one home
You're finally in my arms again
~*~
* * *
"Thanks," Max said as Logan finished filling her wine glass.
"There's something I want to ask you," Logan said as he began to pour the wine into his own
glass.
Logan finished topping up his own glass and set the bottle of wine, the second opened that
night, aside on the ledge between them.
"I knew it! You've just been softening me up with all this," she said smiling a little as she
gestured to the wine glass in her hand.
"You know me too well," Logan replied gulping back another mouthful of wine. It had taken him
almost two bottles to get this far in asking her, but at that moment he actually contemplated on
fetching a third.
Max smiled and remained silent. They were sat up on the ledge that ran along the inside of the
tall windows that framed the two furthermost walls of Logan's apartment. They sat together at
the point where the two inner ledges met at perpendicular angles, Max cross-legged directly
across from Logan who was sitting with one leg tucked in under the other which hung off the
edge down towards the floor.
The setting was romantic, even by Logan's standards. He'd spared no effort. A nice dinner,
candlelight, two bottles of wine and counting and now here they were sitting intimately in each
other's presence, nothing at all separating them in the dimly lit corner. Max's left knee, the one
closest to the large glass pains, rested gently against Logan's right one. Logan may not have
felt it, but he was keenly aware of it's presence. Logan took another sip of wine before
summoning the courage to finally ask the question he'd been trying to all night.
"Have you ever experienced a truly old-fashioned Christmas?" he asked, his eyes immediately
leaving hers to focus on the wine glass both his hands held in his lap.
"Original Cindy, Kendra and I, we have this thing but it's not really your traditional, old-fashioned
deal," Max answered honestly.
Logan's eyes eventually found hers again, his fear subsiding a little more as she spoke.
"Have you ever wanted to?" his voice tested as if afraid she'd shoot down his coming offer
prematurely.
"Why wish for things you can't have? It only leads to disappointment," Max replied, her own
eyes leaving his as she looked first to the half empty wine glass in her hand and then to the
window on her left side.
The snow blew down from the Heaven's and swirled in random but somehow orderly patterns as
it passed her on the other side of the glass headed for the darkened street below. Logan took
another sip from his glass, the wine a welcomed stabilizer for his nerves. He was almost angry
at himself for asking such a dumb question of her. Of course she hadn't really had a real
Christmas. With the less than normal childhood she'd had that was pretty much a given, but still
he had to start the conversation somehow and that was all he could come up with. Reminding
himself that there was a greater purpose to the question making her feel bad, he carried on.
"Max, I want you to spend Christmas with me," he said with renewed courage. His voice was
soothing, slipping into the whisper-soft tones he always did when he spoke softly.
Max stared back at him unable to respond in any other manner at that moment. She stayed
silent as if awaiting the question she was sure had to follow. As if asking the question rather
than stating it as fact would make the situation any more real. Perhaps she was just eager to
buy herself some time.
"Would you like to spend Christmas with me up at the cabin?" Logan asked as if reading her
mind, his voice still luring her in with it's whisper-soft nature.
"I don't know Logan. Cindy, Kendra 'n' me, we kinda have this thing every year," she began, fully
intending to turn his offer down, even if it meant using the most lame excuses she could come up
with.
"I just thought we could maybe do the Christmas thing right," he said as Max continued to talk.
"And Normal's usually a nightmare 'round this time of year,"
"Y'know, spend some time together. Get a tree, some holly, fairylights, some mistletoe..."
"Both stopped dead at the mention of the ritualistic bringer of the Christmas kiss. Images of
kissing Max's beautiful, full lips drifted through Logan's mind distracting him from his otherwise
innocent trail of thought. Images of the same scenario flew through Max's mind too. Ones where
she kissed him back and for brief seconds she could actually feel his scruff against her skin. As
if on cue, the mental image of the shared kiss broke in both their minds as they snapped out of it
at the same time.
"I can even whip up a mean stuffing and there's a few bottles of the finest pre-pulse wine I've
been saving to celebrate the occasion," Logan resumed his list, his voice taking on all the
characteristics of a salesman making his latest pitch.
"Alright, alright!" Max said holding up her hands in surrender. It had occurred to her during his
last few moments of speech that it didn't really matter what she did or what excuses she could
come up with. She could never refuse Logan anything, especially when his voice went all quiet
and gentle like that. She was certain one day it'd get her into trouble, but for now all it had done
was prove the fact that she wouldn't be able to refuse his offer. "I give in, you win."
Logan's face was tainted by something that could probably only be described as total shock.
"Really?"
"Yeah really. Why wouldn't I be interested?" she asked, genuinely interested in knowing why he
thought she wouldn't want to spend time with him.
"I just thought you'd have plans or you'd rather do something else for the holidays that's all," he
replied only half lying. He found himself questioning whether a lie of omission was still a lie, then
decided that considering it bore the title of still being a lie, it was one in the same.
"Nope," Max answered with a smile, raising her half empty glass up gesturing that it was time for
a refill. "I'm all yours."
"I'll have to remember that," Logan said picking up the near empty bottle of wine to top up both
their glasses.
Raising up both their glasses they settled their new arrangement in a toast, the soft clinking of
their glasses echoing around them as they both smiled and drank deeply. The fruity liquid
consumed warmed them deep inside, or maybe that was the thought of spending the holidays
together that was already taking effect, but nevertheless the intoxicating sensation sealed their
gesture.
~*~
The night is silent and Christmas is here
I couldn't ask for more than having you near
Cause I love you girl
I always will
And now I know the moment is right
The moment is right
~*~
Max was brought back from her reverie suddenly as the car lurched to a stop, pulling over to the
side of the road. Turning quickly she was greeted by the sight of Logan gripping his left arm, his
facial expression twisted into a grimace of pain.
"You okay?" Max asked concerned.
"Cramp!" Logan gasped, his right hand urgently trying to stop the seizing muscles in his left
shoulder. After a few moments it still wasn't helping any. "Oww!"
Max watched him almost smiling at his comical attempts to deal with the aching in his shoulder
before suddenly feeling guilty when she caught his pained expression once again.
"Here, let me," she said leaning up out of her seat, unclipping the belt and letting it slide back
giving her room to maneuver.
Taking a firm grip of his right hand she managed to make him release his grip on the offending
area. Placing a hand on his right shoulder she gestured for him to lean her way.
"You gotta stretch it out. Place your hand up on the window there," she said, nodding towards
the window of the passenger door.
"Ow! Damn it, it hurts!" Logan gasped again his face twisting at the new shock of pain crippling
his shoulder and running up his neck.
"Oh my God, you big baby," Max said beginning to sound exasperated herself. "Stretch!"
With the slightest of effort she managed to pull Logan so that he was leaning over her in the
passenger seat, enough to straighten out his arm and let the muscles of his shoulder release.
Logan was silent for a few moments as the pain slowly dissipated and left his body, his eyes half
closed in relief. Max slid a hand round and gently rubbed his left shoulder to work out the last of
it. Both sat there in complete silence, only the motions Max carried out causing their bodies to
sway slightly in rhythm.
"Feel better?" she asked eventually realizing the silence was becoming awkward, especially
since Logan was virtually in her arms at that point.
"Yeah," Logan replied gratefully. "Thanks."
Sitting back up in his seat he held his left hand out in front of him as much as the space in the
car would allow and stretched his shoulder, rotating it a little. Max sat back in her seat, her legs
still drawn up under her. She supposed it was the little things like this between them that made
life as interesting as it was.
"You want me to drive for a while?" she asked.
"Only if you really want to," he began then stopped abruptly as something occurred to him. "Do
you even know how to drive a car?"
"Hey!" she sounded almost offended. "I may not have a drivers license but what I lack in
documentation I more than make up for in genetic make-up and advanced training."
"Oh I trust you'll not run us off the road," he said turning to face her, his face breaking into a sly
smile. "On purpose."
His joke was greeted by a hefty thump to the right shoulder and a pouty expression. Rewards for
ticking off the lady of his dreams.
"Hey! Watch it," she said sounding vaguely pissed off. "I may decide to leave you here on the
side of the road instead."
"Oww!" he yelped feining pain and insult. "I'm shocked and offended that you would attack the
guy in the wheelchair!"
"Yeah, yeah," she sighed as her hand moved down and opened her passenger door. "Just get
your chair-bound ass over into this seat before I make it to the drivers side and have no place to
sit k?"
Shutting the door behind her Max walked around the front of the car and opened the drivers
door. Logan sat still, turning his head to greet her with a bright smile. Max could only frown and
raise an eyebrow at what his expression.
"I already warned you. Don't make me sit in your lap and drive the whole way there." she
warned, only half joking. She really didn't want to have to make the journey like that. For
starters she knew she'd never last that long without having to pull over and besides, that wasn't
the point.
"Why not? Not like I'd feel my legs cramping up or anything," he said smiling, obviously enjoying
her discomfort.
"Budge over rollerboy," she joked nudging his shoulder playfully.
Nodding, the bright smile never left his face. Others may have taken the jokes around the chair
to be offensive or mean, and if it were any other people involved they probably would be, but for
Max and Logan it was perfectly acceptable. Max didn't give a damn about the chair and Logan
had apparently taken that fact on board. What she'd never told him was the fact that it wasn't
just a case of seeing past the chair to the man in it. It was way more.
Getting in and closing the door behind her she glanced over to catch Logan fastening up his seat
belt. Following suit she then turned the keys in the ignition and started the car. As she pulled
away from the siding and they continued on their way upstate towards the cabin, the stereo
kicked in where it'd left off, the air filled with soft, soothing lyrics, the gentle music following them
on their journey.
~*~
Cause I've been waiting to give
This Gift tonight
I'm down on my knees
There's no better time
It's something to last for as long as you live
Tonight I'm gonna give you
All my heart can give
~*~
