This chapter will probably be fairly short... now before you kill me, let me tell you that this is a ten chapter fic. So leave me alone about the short chapters.

Review responses:

Vampyric Lycan: I'm typing as fast as I can!

Sarge 1: Excellent? Ah, you made me blush. I'm glad you love, love, love it!

MariAmber: Your wish is my command

Liz-Bathory7: Glad you like it, it is cute isn't it?

Greenleaf: Thanks for your review here and on 'Return to me'. And yes this is going to be very sweet. I think we all wish we had a Van Helsing... I know I do! So much that I bought myself an action figure. My gift to me, from me for Christmas! lol. And to answer your pondering on 'Return to me'. Kate Beckinsale has gorgeous hazel eyes, and so Anna of course, has them as well. In Underworld she had contacts in to make her eyes vampire blue in certain moments in the movie. Other then that, no, Anna and Kate have hazel eyes.

Spaztic Arwen: Horrible? Don't be mean! (lol) here's your other chapter... you know what, I was just thinking that the snow fight scene was kinda like the one in the Beauty and the Beast. Then I just started laughing. Hugh Jackman was Gaston in Beauty in the Beast wasn't he? (lol) Oh the irony...

nala456: Next chapter is heeeeere!!!!

hollyberries230: Your screen name always make me think of Christmas... (lol) that was random, sorry. Clueless? Erm, well I am blonde...

Sarge1: Whoa, okay, glad you're liking this story. Here's the next chapter, calm down... Breathe, breathe...

MariAmber: I always ask, I'd want to know if you didn't want anymore, I could be doing other things... (grin) Excellent? Thanks!

HyperCaz: More Carl is on the way! I just had to write a Christmas fic, just had too...

Hollysgirl: Not planning on stopping as long as your reading! Enjoy!

KillerKitty16: Here's another chappie!

SilverFlover: Yeah, the snow fight was fun to write too! Thanks again!

the Widow Dracula: Wow, I mean, wow. Now that's a compliment! Thanks for reading. Here's the update.

Gabriel left Anna sleeping, creeping out of their bedroom in search of a drink of water. He'd made it halfway down the hall when a door opened on his left and he found himself being yanked into a room.

He didn't even get to yell, a rather strong hand clamped over his mouth, which of course only made the monster hunter angrier. Growling low in his throat he prepared himself to throttle his attacker. Thoughts of his wife, sleeping so peacefully in her bed, being harmed in any way instantly stoked his fury. He reached his hands and grabbed his attacker by the throat, turning them and shoving him against the door.

"Van Helsing! What the devil! Put me down!" Carl yelped in the dark. Gabriel dropped him, all fight draining from him, though his anger stayed right on the surface.

"Carl!? What the hell!" he barked, taking a step back from his friend. Carl glared at him from the floor. Gabriel reached down and hauled the Friar to his feet, stooping and retrieving his night cap as well.

"Sorry" he mumbled, eyeing the shorter man with interest. "You going to tell me why you felt the need to scare me half to death?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, I thought you might want to know about some interesting information I came across today in town" Carl whispered conspiratorially. Van Helsing gestured for him to go on, looking somewhat bored.

Carl leaned toward him excitedly, "I've found an interesting tradition that goes along with this holiday" he sang. Gabriel eyed him, wondering what the Friar had been drinking. Almost dancing with his excitement Carl held out his hand.

Gabriel looked down and gently picked up the little plant lying in the Friars palm, he held it up between their heads, studying it as best he could in the gloom.

"What's this? And what does it do?" he questioned turning the leaf in his hands.

"It's called mistletoe!" Carl explained, "Tradition says that any two people standing beneath it have to, well, they have to kiss each other!" he finished enthusiastically.

Gabriel stared at him incredulously, "Are you serious?" he asked, eyeing the leaf with renewed interest. Carl nodded, his night hat almost falling off his head. It was then that Gabriel noticed that he was holding the leaf between he and Carl. He jerked away quickly, putting the plant in his pocket. His mind already turning with ideas.

"Carl, where'd you find this out?" Van Helsing asked, glancing at the blonde knowingly. Carl blushed crimson, he fairly glowed in the dark.

"I, um, well you see, I was..." he trailed off, unable to find the right words and embarrassed beyond all belief. Gabriel patted the Friar on the shoulder,

"Thank you Carl, this will be put to good use, I can assure you" he smirked, turning and leaving the room. Leaving the blushing Friar to stare after him.

"What have I done?" Carl mused, watching the retreating monster slayer, "I feel that I should apologize to Anna."

When Anna woke the next morning she was surprised not to find Gabriel next to her. Stretching underneath the warm blankets she glanced to her right, confirming that her husband wasn't there. She frowned to herself and sat up,

"What mischief has he gotten too?" she wondered aloud. With a jaw-cracking yawn she tossed back the blankets, and swung her legs over the side of the bed. She and Gabriel were supposed to head into town for some Christmas shopping, and while she was excited at the prospect. She suspected her husband was not.

Pulling her hair out of her face, Anna finished tying her corset then yanked on her jacket. Snagging her earrings off the dresser she headed for the door.

She stopped mid-step as the door slowly swung open, revealing her husband. He was leaning casually against the door frame, a wicked look in his eyes that matched the evil grin on his face.

"Good morning Anna" he drawled, straightening up, and slowly approaching her.

"Gabriel, what-?" the gypsy whispered, not liking the look in his eyes. Anna took a step back warily, eyes darting about, looking for a spider or something along those lines. Her back hit her dresser, unable to do anything but look at him pleadingly as he closed in on her. She was suddenly reminded of when she'd first met Gabriel, and Aleera and Verona had her cornered in the bar. She knew she didn't have to be afraid of her husband, but the memory brought back fear. Her heart pounded so loudly she was sure the whole house could hear it's frantic beat.

"Gabriel" she whimpered, twisting her head away when he brought his hand from behind his back. She peeked one eye open, expecting to be confronted with some eight-legged monstrosity. Instead, she saw... a plant?

"What?" she breathed, brows drawn together as she looked from the plant up to her smiling monster hunter. He lifted the plant above his head, and it finally clicked.

"Mistletoe!" Anna laughed, launching into her husband and hugging him tightly.

"Mistletoe, I was expecting some horrid trick!" she breathed against his shoulder.

"Silly Anna" he teased, pushing her away, he shook the mistletoe in his hand, and waggled his eyebrows. Anna shook her head and rolled her eyes, laughing at him.

"Sure, now you get into the Christmas spirit! Where did you learn about mistletoe?" she asked, raising an eyebrow at his expression.

"I learned from Carl, actually" he said, laughing as both of her dark eyebrows jerked up to her hairline. It took Gabriel a moment to catch the double meaning there. He blushed and glared at her, "Anna!" he yelped, she shrugged.

"He learned from some woman in the village! And told me about it!" Van Helsing hissed.

Anna shook her head in disbelief, "He's a Friar! Isn't that against the rules?" she quipped. Gabriel shrugged and motioned to the mistletoe again.

"Quit stalling" he growled, reaching with his free hand and dragging her back to him.

She pulled away, causing him to growl again, humor danced in the depths of her eyes at his frustration.

"We have to go Christmas shopping today" she reminded him, he rolled his eyes.

"And we will, now shut up and kiss me" he grumbled, she opened her mouth to comment on his word choice, she didn't get a chance to. His lips crashed down onto hers, silencing any comment she might have had.

Grinning to himself, Gabriel tossed the mistletoe away, using his now free fingers to gently cup his wife's face. He made a mental note to thank Carl later.

Anna's wedding ring flashed in the sunlight as she buried her fingers into his hair, deepening the kiss. we're never going to get to Christmas shopping today she thought mournfully, even as she pulled her husband yet closer to her. How was it that he could do this to her? Every time, there was no saying no, no drawing the line, she knew he'd always get what he wanted. Especially when he asked so nicely. She moaned into hismouth as hislips continued to worktheir magic on hers. God he's good at this, her brain mumbled while her free hand ran across his cheek and chin, then slipped to his shoulder. Holding her up when her knees gave way, pushing her further into him.

When Gabriel's fingers started working on her corset ties she couldn't help but sigh. It was such a pain to get on, and so simple for him to take off. To hell with Christmas shopping she thought when his hand slid underneath her shirt.

Heee!!!! Merry Christmas all!