December 25: Opera of the Bells

"Dashing through the snow

On a one-horse open sleigh, Over the fields we go, Laughing all the way; Bells on bob-tail ring, making spirits bright, What fun it is to ride and sing A sleighing song tonight ...

Kill me now, Kill me now, please kill me now!

O what misery it is to sing this fucking song..."

"REMUS!"

"Oh come on! I was just messing around."

"Not in front of all the kids!"

"There's only two and they've heard it before!"

His mother rolled her eyes. "Les hommes... ils sont tout semblables." (Men...they are all alike.)

"HEY! Don't include me in that!" Nicolas protested causing Remus to snicker.

"That's right, 'cause you ain't no man." Remus muttered so only Nicolas, Sirius, and Marie could hear him. Marie and Sirius seemed to be having a hard time keeping their faces straight.

"Play something else, Remus!" Claire pleaded. "Play a good song!"

"Do I have to?" Remus turned to his parents

"Yes." They said simultaneously.

"Damn." His father cleared his throat. "I mean, darn..."

"Deck the Halls!" Marc yelled. Remus made a rude gesture with his hand. "That's not very good Christmas spirit!"

"Just do it and get it over with." Joel said. "The faster this goes, the faster we get to presents."

"Fine. Fine..." Remus gave an evil grin and started to sing. "Deck the halls... with boughs of non-endangered plant species Fa la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la 'Tis the season to be self-actualizing, Fa la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la Don we now our alternate-lifestyle apparel

Fa la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

Toll the ancient non-denominational-winter-solstice-holiday carol Fa la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la See the blazing log of non-denominational-winter-solstice-holiday-non- endangered wood before us—"

Everyone started laughing. "What the hell is that?" Marc asked between laughs.

"The politically correct version." Remus answered.

"Oh! Since we're not doing real versions, I got one!" Marc bellowed and stood up in front of everyone.

"Lacy things - the wife is missin, Didn't ask - her permission, I'm wearin' her clothes, Her silk pantyhose, Walkin' round in women's underwear. In the store - there's a teddy, Little straps - like spaghetti, It holds me so tight, Like handcuffs at night, Walkin' round in women's underwear. In the office there's a guy named Marvin, He pretends that I am Murphy Brown. He'll say, "Are you ready?" I'll say, "Whoa, Man! Let's wait until our wives are out of town!" Later on, if you wanna, We can dress - like Madonna, Put on some eyeshade, And join the parade, Walkin' round in women's underwear!"

All the men in the room roared with laughter, the women however shook their heads in disgust.

"That would not be a pretty sight." Marie scrunched her face at the mental image. "Ug. That is a demeaning parody for Winter Wonderland."

"Anyone else want to get one out of their system?" Desiree asked a bit irritated at the turn of events.

Remus turned to Sirius. "What was the one you sang last year?"

Sirius' face fell. "I...don't remember."

"Sure...I believe it had something to do with a dog..."

Everyone was staring expectantly at him. "Please don't make me do this."

"Everyone in here has sang except you, Sirius." Joel pointed out.

"I'm not very good, that's why."

"I do not believe that's true, Padfoot." Remus grinned. "You were the hit of the ball last year when you sang your rendition of 'A Hard Day's Night.'"

"Shut up. I was...a little tipsy and that doesn't count."

"I think you were completely smashed." Sirius growled at him.

"Just do it Sirius. You can't be any worse than Nick." Marc encouraged.

"Yeah, Sirius! Come on!" Marie begged.

"Come on Sirilu!" Philip chimed in.

Sirius blushed deeply when Remus whispered, "Do it for me."

"Fine..." Sirius breathed in deeply. "I suppose I could..."

"Dogs tags ring, are you listenin'?

In the lane, snow is glistenin'.

It's yellow, not white

I've been there tonight,

Marking up my winter wonderland.

Smell that tree? That's my fragrance.

It's a sign for wand'rin vagrants;

"Avoid where I pee, it's my property!

Marked up as my winter wonderland."

In the meadow dad will build a snowman,

following the classical design.

Then I'll lift my leg and let it go Man,

So all the world will know that it is mine, mine, mine!

Straight from me to the fence post,

flows my naturally incense boast;

"Stay off my turf, this small piece of earth,

I mark it as my winter wonderland.""

"YEAH!" Joel laughed. "I don't know what you were so afraid of! You're right up there with Renee and Remus!" Sirius beamed at the compliment.

"Not too shabby." Remus praised patting Sirius on the shoulder. He turned to his parents, "Can we do the presents now?"

"Might as well." His father answered. Philip and Claire whooped and everyone else murmured, "About time."

The younger ones ripped through all there presents within ten minutes, while the entire group watched the eager children.

"Damn, I wish I was that young again." Joel remarked.

"Young and hopeless." His brother chimed in. Joel rolled his eyes.

After the children were done, and started playing with all their new toys, the adults started exchanging gifts with one another.

Clothes, books, muggle equipment, money, jewelry, prank gifts cluttered the room afterwards. Everyone admired their current gifts, thanking their giver and how much they appreciated it. Sirius even received presents from everyone, a few he had no idea of what they were, but cherished it all the same. Remus received many books, muggle contraptions, and of course a load of chocolate for his sweet tooth.

If only Sirius could get Remus alone for a few minutes.

"So," Sirius muttered to his friend who had a smudge of chocolate on the side of his mouth and was tempting Sirius to do the unthinkable in front of everyone. "What happens now?"

"Nofin weawy." Remus replied with a mouthful.

"Oh... So can we...leave? For like a moment or two."

Remus narrowed his eyes. "'spose so." He stood up and held out a hand for Sirius, who took it and was pulled to his feet. Remus swallowed. "Where to?"

"Someplace with a lock."

Remus raised his eyebrows and his mouth curled. "Why do we need a lock?"

"Because I don't want to be interrupted. Now go." He pushed Remus towards the stairs. Remus led Sirius to the third floor and opened a double-door to reveal a very large room comprising with red accoutrements.

"Wow. Where are we?"

"Guest bedroom, but I like to call it Suite de Lune de Miel. Or in other words the Honeymoon Suite."

"Picked a good name, I daresay."

Remus chuckled. "So why did you want to be somewhere with a lock?"

"To do this." Sirius licked the devious smear of chocolate off before making his way to Remus' lips claiming them for a short but sweet and innocent kiss. "I must say, you are quite delectable."

Remus smiled dreamily and bit his lower lip in thought. "I guess this room came in handy after all."

"Guess so." Sirius fumbled around in his pocket and pulled out a small package. "Did you think I forgot about you?"

"No..." Remus admired the nicely wrapped package. "You put more effort into it than James'."

"The Daily Prophet wrapping paper is tradition with him. But I just think you deserve something a little higher class." Sirius handed the box to Remus. "I have to explain it after you open it, otherwise it would seem sort of pointless."

Remus tore off the gold paper and peered into the box. "A necklace?"

"See? I told you I have to explain it before you start thinking things." Sirius took the chain and glass sphere and held it up. "Ever heard of a dream catcher?"

"I think so. Some feathery and stringy things."

"Right. Well this is like that. Except it actually works."

"So I wouldn't have any dreams?"

"Not bad ones, they'd all be pleasant. I was really tempted to use it last night."

"How does it work?"

"You can wear it or hang it around your bed. It somehow transfers good thoughts and destroys any bad thoughts while sleeping."

Remus grabbed the chain away from Sirius and pulled it over his head and it fell around his neck gracefully. "You sure it works?"

"All the time I had it by my bed for three months, I never once had a bad dream."

Remus kissed Sirius tenderly and affectionately. One kiss can say more than words ever could. "Thank you."

"Anything for you."

Remus rested his head on Sirius' shoulder. He put his mouth next to an ear and spoke very softly, "We could make good use of this room."

Sirius eyes went wide. "We could..." Remus clamped down on the skin of Sirius' neck, kissing and biting and suckling. A moan escaped Sirius' lips. "You will be the end of me, I swear."

Remus stood straight and gazed longingly into Sirius' eyes. "You're everything I don't need..." Remus kissed Sirius once more. "But everything I want."