-Sometime in the Future-

Christmas once again rolled around, and Angel was alone inside the hotel. Well, that wouldn't be accurate to say. There were plenty of people currently in the hotel. Guests that have come to stay over the years for one reason or another. Most of them were in the lobby participating in the festivities Charlie planned for the season. Not just five minutes ago he was out there himself. And even though he was enjoying the party, it didn't take him long to realize something was missing. Someone. So now he was alone, in a room that wasn't his and on a bed that wasn't his, yet he was intimately familiar with both.

The room was definitely larger than his, and its walls were decorated with intricate patterns; black fleur de lis on a red background. The bed was large and ornate, colored in the deepest red. Its sheets felt soft and provided warmth for the spider on this colder night. He almost went under the covers to surround himself in their warmth, but he didn't want to chance falling asleep. Not tonight. So instead, to distract himself, he turned to a radio sitting on the bedside table. It was from a time he never knew, but the dials were simplistic enough that he could easily operate it. He turned the knobs around, listening to the speaker output varying volumes of static as he tried to find a station.

As he did so, he could feel a chill crawl up his spine. One that was colder than the current climate. "Having trouble, my dear?"

The voice was unexpected, but he didn't jump at its presence. He knew exactly who was talking to him, and he had gotten used to these unannounced appearances. Smiling, he retracted his hand from the radio, leaving it to play static, and he faced the person he had been waiting for.

"Not really," Angel said, "I was just tryin' to pass the time until you got here."

Alastor eyed him from across the room. He was standing in front of the door as if he just walked through it, but Angel knew that wasn't the case. As if to prove his point, Alastor disappeared into the shadows beneath his feet, which Angel watched as they traced along the ground until they stopped right in front of him. Then Alastor reappeared, this time looking at him with more affectionate eyes.

"Well you know Charlie is throwing quite the soiree right now, if you truly wanted to pass the time."

Angel shook his head slowly, a sly grin stretching on his face. He reiterated his thoughts to the radio demon. "I was out there already. It was nice but it felt like it was missing something."

"Or someone," Alastor said, as if he read Angel's mind. He placed a finger below his chin, compelling him to stand up. Angel did so, and he took Alastor's hand in his.

"So, we goin' then?"

"In a moment," Alastor replied. "It would be rude to be absent from the festivities, but I would like a dance alone with you."

When he said that, a shadow passed over the radio and it suddenly found a station. The static switched into a low jazz melody, one that was instantly familiar to Angel. He smiled warmly down at Alastor when he heard it.

"Why alone? I'm sure we'd be just fine dancin' out there," Angel said, teasing the demon.

Alastor took it in stride, and responded, "Because out there I'd be dancing with Angel. I'd much rather spend some time with Anthony first."

Angel's heart melted when he heard Alastor use his real name, and not for the first time. It was an easy way to cut through his teasing and Alastor knew it, that's why he always used it. He wouldn't be kept from his love, whether it be Angel's words or all the forces of Hell holding him back. So Angel easily gave in, letting Alastor sweep him into his arms as they followed along to the rhythms of the tune that flowed out of the radio. The noises from the party outside the room dulled as they were lost in each other with the music. The minutes quickly passed by, and Alastor could tell as he heard the last couple of lyrics come up. He looked at his partner and softly sang along with them.

"Now it's Christmas every day, because he brought me you." He punctuated the small excerpt with a hand on his cheek, softly caressing it.

Angel tilted his head into the hand, his eyes closed, loving its touch. When they reopened, Alastor saw they sparkled. Whether it was from tears or a reflection of the soft light of the room they were in he couldn't say. When Angel looked back at Alastor, smiling warmly, he could see a twinkle in his eyes as he gazed upon his love.

He felt Alastor's hand grip onto his face and draw him down, while Alastor rose up to meet him. Their eyes drew closed as they met in the center and their lips connected tenderly. Angel placed his hands on Alastor's back and rested them there, not making any moves to draw him in closer. Alastor kept his hand on Angel's face, while his other raised up to join it on the opposite side. He continued the kiss, until the song was long over and the noise of the crowd returned, and Angel reciprocated in equal measure.

They wanted this moment to remain as it was, a moment; neither pushed for more beyond the simple kiss they shared. They had other places to be and there would be time later to spend together. But this would serve as a promise of those times to come, and they couldn't wait until they arrived.

Eventually they broke away, their eyes opening near simultaneously and they looked deeply at one another. In Alastor's mind, as he looked at Angel, he couldn't believe he hadn't found him sooner. He initially came to this hotel for a different kind of entertainment, to find joy in the suffering of others, and instead he had found him. Now whatever fun he had planned seemed so mundane compared to the person in his arms.

As for Angel, as he gazed down at Alastor, he was so happy Charlie let him in so long ago. He thought it would be impossible to find happiness in such a hopeless place; the closest he believed he would ever get would be with his pet pig. But now, the only word that could describe his feelings was love. And while there was still much he didn't know about the overlord, he was willing to spend eternity finding out.

"Now let's go meet the others mon amour," Alastor whispered, pulling away his hands, but leaving one outstretched for Angel to take.

Angel gladly did so, and replied, "Yes il mio amore, let's."

The two walked hand-in-hand to the door, Alastor courteously opening it for Angel to step through first, and they made their exit to join the others in high spirits. Upon their absence, the lights in the room darkened, and the radio switched off with a quiet click.