Grace lay diagonally across the bed, with her head in Deacon's lap as he sat there and stroked her hair. She was still sore, but she would live.
"I can't believe all this…everything that has happened," she said softly, "Everything used to be so simple. It would still be if it weren't for the damned Vampire Nation."
"Why do they want me dead?" he asked.
She looked up at him, "They never wanted you to awaken La Magra in the first place. They don't want you to rule. They like their subtle balance with the humans," she said, "They actually thanked Blade after he…"
"Fuck Blade," Deacon said in a forced calm tone, "Has anyone been trying to kill him yet?"
"Well…The Blood Pack's been kind of pre-occupied with Chloe," she said.
"Then we'll kill that bitch and then we'll kill Blade," he said.
"If only it were that easy," Grace sighed.
"Nothing's ever easy."
"I've noticed."
She turned her gaze to the window, looking out at the city lights, so beautiful at night, like thousands of fireflies. It was then she noticed the white flakes floating past the glass. Wait, was that-? She sat up, wincing a little, and stood to go over to the window.
"Grace?" he asked, puzzled.
A smile crossed her face as she gazed out the window. "It's snowing, Deac," she said, turning back to him for a second to beckon him over, "How could I forget it's almost Christmas?"
He got up as well and joined her at the window.
"It's so beautiful," she whispered.
"It is," he agreed, "But not as beautiful as you."
"Oh, stop it," she said with a smile.
"I'm serious," he said.
"I know you are," she said.
She continued to watch the snow falling outside with rapt attention. Thoughts and ideas were forming in her mind and she turned to Deacon.
"Have you been ice skating before?" she asked him.
"Of course," he replied.
"At Rockefeller Center, around Christmas?" she persisted.
"No…not in years," he answered, puzzled as to what her point was.
"Well, come on," she said shrugging into her jacket, knowing it would be enough since the cold didn't bother them as much. She reached for her boots.
"What? Grace, you can't go out, not after what just happened, what about Chloe?" Deacon said.
"She wouldn't attack again so soon, she knows we'd be expecting her," she said.
"How can you sound so sure?" he asked her.
"Come on Deacon; this is a once a year opportunity, we'll be alright," Grace said, "Besides, if I don't get out of here, I'm going to go crazy."
"That's what you said last time," he pointed out, remembering the incident at the night club.
She looked away for a moment, down at the floor. "This won't be like last time," she said softly, "I have a good feeling about this." The whales, her always friends, agreed with her.
"You do?" he said, walking over to her.
"Psychic, remember?" she said, managing a small smile.
"Well…alright," he relented, kissing her on the forehead.
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Other ice skaters passed them around the large, frozen rink as Grace skated backwards with fluid ease, holding Deacon's hands in hers. The huge, towering Christmas tree was lit, casting the entire area in a warm glow and reflecting in her golden brown eyes as she smiled.
"I thought you said you skated before," she teased lightly.
"Not in years!" he replied.
"You know it's not that hard then, come on!" she said.
He mumbled something she didn't catch, and she giggled.
He lifted his head again from looking down at the ice, and gazed into her eyes, reflections of lights dancing in his own. He skated up to her, placing her hands on his shoulders, and put his on her waist. He spun her around so that he was leading them and they glided across the ice, perfectly in sync with each other, like they were dancing. She gazed back into his eyes, her own a little surprised. Everyone else faded from her world and it was just the two of them, the cold air turning her cheeks a little pink.
"Liar," she whispered, "You made me believe you couldn't skate."
"Figured I'd surprise you," Deacon replied with a smile.
"That, you definitely did," she said, leaning forward to kiss him.
It was because of this distraction that neither of them were paying attention to their surroundings for a moment, and suddenly they were falling, Deacon landing on his back in the snow, she on top of him. She laughed when he yelped a little.
"Is it cold?" she asked.
"Do you want to find out?" he replied mischievously.
"No, I'm good," she said quickly, still smiling.
He pulled her closer for a soft kiss.
"People are starting to stare," she whispered when she'd pulled away.
"Let them; I don't care," he said.
"But I do," she said, and started to get to her feet, slipping a little.
He stood beside her, steadying her. They were both in the snow, gazing up at the giant Christmas tree when it began to snow again, catching in their hair. Neither of them minded, nor were they bothered by the cold that tried to freeze their fingers and was beginning to turn their lips faint shades of blue. He stepped back onto the ice, pulling her gently with him, and they resumed skating.
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A/N: Yes, this scene will be continued in the next chapter, I just couldn't think of how to continue it right at the moment. Sorry it took so long for an update, I've been really wrapped up in school-which is over for now, yay summer-and writing my new Final Fantasy fic Catalyst. Plus, we've been doing a lot of painting and stuff around the house. I know, excuses excuses excuses, lol. Well, I hope you all like this chapter.