Disclaimer: I don't own Van Helsing, but it's on my Christmas wish list!
It's getting close to Christmas time and I wanted to write a holiday story and then I was reading a magazine and saw this picture of Kate (Beckinsale...duh) holding this tiny kitten. And so inspiration struck!
There will be a humorous sequel to this story, that I'm sure you'll all love, it's kinda like the 'Spider Episodes'...
Ahem, (clears throat, then sings) "On the first day of Christmas Lady Sirinial gave to me... the first chapter of her new fic..."
"Do you have any traditions that you'd like to acknowledge?" Anna asked as she toyed with an earring, frustrated at her apparent inability to remove it. Gabriel pulled open his drawer in the dresser, searching for his sleepwear. He tossed clothing onto the floor, not really caring that he was making a mess, he was focused on the task at hand. Which was to find his pajamas and go to bed, preferably with Anna cuddled against him.
"Hm? Traditions for what?" he asked distractedly, "Blast, what did I do with those pants?"
Anna came over behind him, reached into the drawer and pulled out the black cotton pants. He stared at the drawer for a moment, then shook his head before bending to kiss her cheek in thanks. She cocked her head and watched him, even as she continued to try and extract the stubborn accessory .
"Christmas is next week love," she said slowly, Gabriel grunted and tugged on his pants, tying them loosely about his waist.
He pushed some hair out of his face, "Is it really? Time has blown by hasn't it," he shrugged. Anna stared at him, patiently waiting for an answer. He looked thoughtful as he reached out and pulled her hand away before removing the earring for her,
"I've never really given it much thought. You know, I don't think I really ever celebrated Christmas. Isn't that strange, I used to live in a church too." He chuckled, looking like he was prepared to let it go, missing the look of disbelief on his wife's face.
"You've never celebrated Christmas!?" She gasped, he looked at her strangely.
"No, what's the big deal? This is our first Christmas together anyway," he shrugged again, and yawned.
"Even my family, who spent most of their lives thinking about how to kill Dracula, managed to have time for Christmas!" Anna cried, Gabriel pursed his lips and reached for her other ear, taking out that earring as well. He tossed the earring and it's mate up onto the dresser, turned back to his wife and smiled lopsidedly.
"This is our first Christmas together as a couple" he commented, she rolled her eyes.
"Don't try and distract me with sentimental comments! They don't work!" she grumped and crossed her arms, staring up at him defiantly. He put on a hurt look and placed his hand over his heart.
"You wound me!" he cried dramatically, his lower lip pouting out and hazel eyes widening woefully. "You don't like my sentimental comments?" he paused to sniff pitifully, "but, but I love you!" he gushed. Tears filled his big eyes, his lower lip trembled, he sniffled again, the anguish he was displaying would've fooled anyone. Except maybe his wife.
'What am I going to do when our children make that face?' the gypsy Princess wondered, glaring at her husband as he continued to make a fool of himself. Aggravated with him, mostly, because it was working. 'You're getting soft!' her inner voice wailed. Anna waved a hand dismissively, Gabriel looked at her hopefully.
"Is this a new monster hunting technique?" she asked, raising an eyebrow, "You're going to make that face in the hopes that they will break down and promise not to kill people anymore if you'll just stop with the face?" She sighed as he pushed his lip out even further, his eyes were shimmering with moisture, she threw her hands up in frustration. "Would you please stop that! Behave your age!" she demanded, he wiped away an imaginary tear.
"So you do like my sentimental comments?" he baited, Anna growled in the back of her throat, 'Sometimes, this man!'.
"Yes," she hissed.
He reached out and gripped her elbows, tugging her towards him playfully. "Say it" he commanded, looking down at her and narrowing his eyes. Her eyes rolled towards heaven in a 'Why me?' expression, a heavy sigh escaping her lips.
"I like it when you're sentimental," she mumbled.
He grinned, "And?" he drawled out, lifting her chin.
She swore and glared up at him, "You're a pain did you know that?" she sneered.
He simply laughed, "Come on, Anna, say it!" he said pulling on her again so that she was pressed firmly against him.
"I love you," she finally said, growling as she realized she'd just lost, again. He laughed triumphantly and hugged her tightly, hearing her mumble against his chest.
"I love you too," he said brightly. She smacked his chest and pulled away. Humor danced across his features as he caught her hand and pulled her back, sliding his palms up her arms. He held gently to her upper arms while he talked to her.
"Anna, since this is our first Christmas together, why don't we just start our own traditions?" he asked, finally serious. She stared up at him thoughtfully, 'This could be an interesting way to get payback,' her mind supplied, she grinned.
"Are you serious?" she asked, watching him closely, looking for signs of him trying to be funny. That oh so familiar lopsided smile that she loved so much made its way across his features.
"Of course I am," he soothed, rubbing his hands up and down her arms. "This is important to you, so it's important to me," he shrugged. A smile twitched at the corners of Anna's mouth,
"All right, tomorrow we'll start on our Christmas traditions. We'll decorate the manor, get a tree, go shopping for presents, maybe in Budapest? Miruna will start baking deliciously tempting sweets that I don't need." Anna's mind swirled with plans for Christmas, and the past Christmas adventures she'd shared with her family. Her smile became more of a sad one, she leaned into Gabriel, forgetting her earlier irritation with him, as the bittersweet memories flooded in on her.
Strong arms encircled her waist, Gabriel's chest heaved against hers as he sighed, she heard his heartbeat drumming under her ear. Her eyes drifted close as the heat of his body and the wonderful feel of being in his arms created the sensations she'd always longed for. Safety and love. "We're going to have so much fun," she murmured, half asleep.
"Mm, hm," he grunted, resting his chin on the top of her dark head, easing them slowly toward the bed. She sat down with a yawn, then smiled up at him and stretched a slim hand. He enveloped her long fingers into his and allowed her to pull him onto the soft mattress beside her. He yanked the heavy quilt up and over them before enveloping his wife in his warm embrace, keeping their fingers tangled together. He leaned over and kissed her neck tenderly, she mumbled sleepily and scooted closer to him.
"It'll be the best Christmas ever, do you know why?" she whispered, he grunted in reply, twisting to blow the solitary candle out.
"Because you're here with me" she finished, pulling their clasped hands to her chest, "And I really do love you."
At first she thought he'd fallen asleep, then she felt him shift slightly, felt his lips against her shoulder.
"I love you too, Anna," his voice whispered, tickling her skin.
She smiled and closed her eyes, sighing deeply once more, already working out her plans for the rest of the week. That one thought lingering in her mind,
The Van Helsing's first Christmas.
There's more to come!