100 Challenges
92 - Christmas
By: Lily Handle
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Author's Note: Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone! Because my family has taken over my house and I have no time to myself, I've decided to kill two birds with one stone. Here's another one of the prompts for the Fanfic 100 Challenge, Christmas. I am also counting this as my Christmas fic! I know, cheating, but you try having your house over run by three aunts and uncles and seven cousins.
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While most businesses were closed so families could celebrate the holidays the Auger Inn had all lights blazing, even a few Christmas lights. The juke box in the corner pumped out scratchy honky-tonk Christmas carols. There was even eggnog on tap though no one was going to drink it. It was Christmas so only one pool table was set up, one beer mug was filled and waiting because Mac, the bartender, had only one tradition at this time of year and he had just walked through the door. He hung his old leather coat up on the hooks on the wall, grabbed a cue with one hand and the beer in the other. For a long time Mac kept the Inn closed on the holiday until the mysterious biker had wandered in from the night, asking for a beer and a chance to play some pool. Figuring it was better to make money Mac had agreed. So now, every Christmas Logan would wander in and play pool. Eventually he'd leave and vanish into the night. Mac just tended the bar. Tonight, however it looked like it wouldn't be just the two of them. Mac was surprised when halfway through Logan's second game of pool a woman walked into the Inn. She was small woman, with a Santa hat pulled over her dark brown hair. She carried a laundry basket overflowing with brightly wrapped presents.
"Doc, what are you doing here?" Logan set the cue down and crossed to the woman, taking the laundry basket from her.
"Well, Scrooge, since you decided to ditch the Christmas party, here are the gifts the kids bought you," The woman scolded, hands on hips and glaring at Logan.
"How'd that go, anyway?" Logan set the laundry basket down on one of the pool tables, then leaned against the side.
"You don't eve feel the least bit guilty do you?"
"We already had this fight, Doc, I'm not the Christmas type," Logan sighed.
"Well, damn it Logan, I don't care! You can put up with more than just Christmas dinner!" Then the woman did what no man in the Auger Inn had done and survived, she hit Logan. It wasn't a hard punch, Mac admitted, the woman looked like if she gave a solid punch she'd break her arm, but he was still impressed. "Those kids were really looking forward to watching you open your gifts for once!"
"How'd they like their gifts?" He crossed his arms and the woman rolled her eyes.
"They loved them of course. How the hell you managed to get tickets to that concert is beyond me," The woman threw up her hands.
"Worked security for them once, they owed me."
The woman sighed, "Logan, what are you doing here? Is this how you spend your Christmas?"
"Doc," Now Logan was the one who sighed, "We went over this last year. This is my holiday tradition, let it be."
"No one should be alone on the holidays," From her jacket pocket the woman pulled out an envelope, "Here, it's a plane ticket to Germany. David will pick you up at the airport, that is if you go."
"And you?" Logan slid the ticket into his back pocket, "You're heading home I take it?"
"I've got baking with Mama, and harassing Papa. They sent the Institute a Christmas card and some hand made chocolates, by the way. Papa even sent you a cigar."
"Is it also in one of those pockets?"
The woman sighed and drew it out, "You knew I had it the whole time, don't even kid." The woman reached up and cupped Logan's cheek in her hand, "I have to go. You'll at least think about going to Germany, right? And if you don't, call David so he doesn't have to waste time waiting for you, Scrooge."
"Merry Christmas Doc." Mac pretended to be focused on the glass he was cleaning instead of the kiss the two shared. He also pretended not to notice when Logan slipped a little box into the woman's jacket pocket.
"Merry Christmas, Scrooge," The woman sighed when she broke the kiss. She walked out without a backwards glance, leaving Logan staring after her. Well, well, marry Christmas indeed, Mac thought as Logan started to unwrap the gifts left behind for him.
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Author's Note: So, I will post my Mom's pick next, then my Dad gets to choose a number. (Yes, I'm going to go through my whole family before letting fans pick numbers again. Sorry folks!)