Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!

For those concerned about poor Gabriel, don't worry about it, Santa won't forget about him... Neither will his wife!

Review responses:

Spaztic Arwen: I'm always welcome to a challenge, send it to me at my email address: ). Yes I suppose Gabe does deserve this doesn't he... Poor monster slayer.

Reese Sparrow: Ha, Anna's just getting started, you just wait. I'm not at this current moment going to tell you what's going through my brain about Vlad's room. You're just going to have to wait and see!

Vampyric Lycan: Here's chapter three and some more Anna payback!

"This isn't exactly what I had in mind" Gabriel grumbled under his breath as he followed Anna through the deep snow further into the forest. His horse whinnied then snorted, pawing at the frozen stuff at his feet. The bells on his neck jingled merrily as he tossed his proud black head, Gabriel laughed as the stallion danced beneath him.

In his minds eye, Van Helsing had pictured an incredibly romantic holiday, with hot apple cider, roaring fires, tasty treats, a delicious meal. And a few other things that made him grin wolfishly at the back of Anna's head. He had not been expecting to tromp around in a forest all day trying to find the perfect Christmas tree.

Yet, still, he had to admit he was enjoying seeing Anna so happy. She practically glowed with her enthusiasm, and he loved seeing her like that.

"Oh! How about that one?" she cried, pointing her finger at a tree that to him looked no different then the other five they'd looked at it. But he smiled happily anyway, and nodded at her. She jumped from her saddle and landed in a heap in the snow, laughing like a little child.

Shaking his head, he slid from his mount and went to tie him up, when something cold struck the back of his head. He froze in his tracks, a girlish giggle floated to his ears, he turned around slowly. Anna laughed and wadded up another snowball. Gabriel nodded, then growling menacingly took off after her. She squealed and ran away as fast as she could in the thigh high snow, laughing all the way. But she was no match for her husband, he tackled her from behind, and they both went sprawling in the snow.

"That wasn't very nice your highness" he snarled menacingly, the light in his eyes betraying his act. "Do you surrender?"

Anna shook her head, "Never" she laughed squirming beneath his weight. He narrowed his eyes at her, she went as far as to stick her tongue out at him.

"So be it" he hissed, then attacked her ribs with tickling fingers till she was howling with laughter. "Surrender!" he commanded, barely able to contain his own laughter.

"The Queen of the gypsies shall never surrender!" she gasped, writhing and laughing even harder as he intensified his assault.

"Surrender gypsy Queen, or suffer further consequences" he laughed, fingers dancing across her ribcage and stomach. Without warning she flipped him over, panting hard and grinning devilishly.

"The Queen of the gypsies is not so easily swayed good sir" she said slowly, "And now you must suffer your consequence" she finished huskily, dragging her fingers down his chest. She knelt down, her breath hot against his cold skin,

"Are you going to surrender?" she asked, lightly passing her lips over his. His throat suddenly constricted, he shook his head, she leaned back and smiled coyly.

"Then I'm afraid you leave me no choice" she purred, then shoved a handful of icy snow into his face, jumping off of him with a laugh. Gabriel sighed, his breath showing steamy white against the biting cold. Anna peeked at him from behind a tree, grinning foolishly.

Gabriel glanced over his shoulder at the Christmas tree on the sled his poor stallion was dragging. After their play, when Anna had finally grown tired of smearing snow in his face, he'd cut down the tree. He had to admit, it was a nice tree, though he still didn't understand why the other fifty-million trees in the forest wouldn't work as well.

But Anna seemed pleased with it, he looked over at her, smiling to herself, obviously thinking about something or other. I better be getting one hell of a Christmas present he thought, thinking about all the trouble he'd gone through. For a tree of all things.

When they finally got back to the manor, he noted that his wife's peppy attitude seemed to have died. She was tired he realized, and probably fairly cold. Deciding to be a good husband, he leapt off his horse and walked over to hers. Extending his arms he helped her off her mare, and set her lightly on her feet. She smiled up at him, and handed her reigns to Cristi, one of the stable hands.

"Ah, there you two are! Well, what a nice tree! You managed to bring something back alive for once Van Helsing, I'm proud of you. Though it is a tree and not Mr. Hyde, or the troll, or the gargoyle, or the..." Carl trailed off at the murderous look Gabriel was giving him.

"Anna, Miruna wanted me to tell you that supper is on the table" Carl said, taking a step back toward the warmth of the house. "I think she roasted some ham, it smells absolutely heavenly!" he added enthusiastically. Gabriel's mouth watered at the prospect, his stomach rumbling and reminding him that he hadn't had lunch.

He handed Grigori the reigns to his stallion, turning to Anna with a hopeful look. She shook her head,

"Yes, all right, oh mighty tree slayer, let's go eat before you fall over" she teased. He took her arm tenderly, then almost dragged her into the house, convinced he would waste away to nothing if he didn't consume something, right then.

An hour or so later, he was completely and utterly stuffed to the brim with roasted ham, warm bread, sweet potatoes, and spiced apple cider. He laid on the couch in the sitting room, feeling like a pig, and watched his wife decorate the Christmas tree.

He knew he should be helping her, and he really did want to, but he couldn't move. He was also, not so secretly, enjoying watching her. She'd changed back into the clothing she'd been wearing earlier, his clothing. There was something so amazingly alluring about it, he still couldn't figure why, but there was.

Anna felt his hungry gaze on her, and chose to ignore it, as she tied bows and hung glass ornaments on the tree. She turned to him finally, noting his heated gaze, and trying not to respond to it. He looked up at her curiously, probably wondering what torture I have for him next she thought with an evil inside grin.

"Gabriel, would you please put this on top of the tree?" Anna asked sweetly, holding out a glass star. He looked up at her pathetically, she raised both eyebrows and continued to hold the object out.

Sighing softly he climbed from the couch and took the fragile item, then stared up at the top of the tree. Groaning at the near ceiling height of the thing, he reached over and snagged a nearby chair. Standing up on it cautiously, he almost daintily placed the delicate ornament at the top of the tree.

Anna grabbed him as soon as he stepped down from the chair, holding to him tightly. Gabriel blinked, confused but not about to complain. He looked up at the tree and smiled, he had to admit that it was rather pretty. For some reason it invoked strong feelings of warmth, he found himself cradling his wife closer as a result. It was romantic, he realized, without being blatant, just softly hinting at it. He smiled and placed his cheek on Anna's head, Merry Christmas indeed.

Do tell me if you want the next chapter...