Day 3: Decorating
By the time Nikola arrived, the annual Christmas tree decorating was in full swing.
Helen, forethinking genius that she was, had snuck their massive tree down along with the other things she'd saved from the old Sanctuary, and it was set up now in the entrance hall just as it always had been. Sure, the surroundings were a little shinier and newer than they used to be, but it gave the place a rather homelike atmosphere, even to Nikola, who had only lived at the old Sanctuary off and on.
Kate was perched on Bigfoot's shoulders to get at the top of the tree, as he handed her up strings of lights and golden beads and tinsel. The bottom half was done already, and Henry, Erika, Declan, and Will were hovering around applying ornaments here and there before heading back to the boxes that Helen was unpacking for more.
"Ah, this one was given to me by my dear Amelia," she said in a reminiscent tone as she unwrapped a carved figurine, depicting a sled above painted clouds. "Shortly before her last flight."
"Wait, you mean… Amelia Earhart?" Will asked.
"Of course she means Amelia Earhart, Junior," Nikola said as he swept in. Helen hung the ornament up with a lingering fond look and returned to the box.
"Is there any famous person from history she doesn't know?" Will muttered to Henry, who shook his head.
Nikola kissed Helen on the cheek. "You'll be pleased to know your faulty force field out in the south passage is now working like a charm, my dear."
Helen smiled. "Thank you, Nikola. Now get to work."
"No rest for the wicked," he said, grinning, and took out a neatly wrapped package from the box of decorations.
Before long they had reached a part where Nikola knew every one of the ornaments and its accompanying story, and he and Helen were still reminiscing about the Christmas of '25, to mixed delight and annoyance from their companions, when the last one was placed on the tree.
"And if Helen hadn't shot me when she did, well…"
"Best not to think about it," Helen finished. "But it all turned out for the best."
"I'll say. Oh, that cold Christmas day we had to spend up in the mountains…" Nikola smirked.
"How come every story of theirs involves Magnus shooting him?" Kate whispered to Henry.
"It's how Helen shows her love for me," Nikola said grandly. "Isn't that right, dearest?"
"I could show you some love right now if you'd like," Helen said, though there was no threat and a fair amount of amusement in her voice.
"Mmm, by all means."
"Hey, are we ready to try the lights out?" Henry asked a bit desperately, since Helen and Nikola were edging closer by the second, Nikola with his smile widening and Helen with a spark in her eyes.
Helen held Nikola's gaze for a moment more before she pulled back and turned to Henry. "Not quite." She lifted out the star that would go on top of the tree and passed it to Nikola.
"As our newest official member, you may do the honors," she said.
"Newest?" he echoed. With a quick wave of his hands, he lifted the star magnetically and began levitating it towards the tree. "Helen, I've been helping you and your Sanctuary for over a century, I think I deserve some seniority."
"Newest official member," Helen clarified. "And oldest unofficial member. You are quite the contradiction, Nikola."
"Oh, that's why you like me."
The star was settled on the tip of the tree and Nikola beamed. He made a show of dusting off his hands and turned to Helen.
"Uh oh," Henry said.
"Cool it, wolf-boy," Nikola said irritably. "I was only going to exchange more witty repartee with Helen, nothing remotely inappropriate for your young eyes and ears. Although…"
"Not you," he said. Nikola turned again and realized Henry was examining the tree. "Lights aren't turning on. I think we need a new extension cord."
"There's no hurry," Helen said. "We won't be officially lighting it until tonight." Seeing Nikola's look, she explained. "Only a few of the residents celebrate Christmas, but it's become a bit of a ceremony."
"I'm gonna go grab a new cord," Henry told her, halfway out of the room already. "Just wanna make sure they're working before everybody's here."
Helen inclined her head. "Of course."
Taking this as a dismissal to everyone else, Kate announced she was heading to the kitchen for a snack, and Bigfoot and Declan followed her, though it was likely Bigfoot was only doing so to protect his kitchen from the tornado that was Kate. Will and Erika excused themselves to get some work done, leaving Helen and Nikola alone in the entrance hall.
Nikola walked over to the tree, tilting his head and examining it. Then he reached up and touched one of the many strings of connected lights.
They came to life, some twinkling gold and others a rainbow of bright color.
"Much better," Nikola said, and glanced over as Helen came to his side. "Really adds some spark to the place, doesn't it? You know, much like a certain roguish, charming vampire?"
"Is everything an opportunity for you to talk about yourself?" Helen raised her eyebrows.
"You're right, my dear. I should talk about you instead. For instance, how these golden lights remind me of that dress you wore in Vienna... remember?"
"Would that be the one I ruined running through the catacombs later in the evening?" Her smirk deepened and she stepped closer, barely an inch away from being pressed up right against him. Nikola became suddenly aware of how warm she was, and how very close, and he felt his eyes being drawn to her lips like a magnet.
"And then I ruined it a little more later…?" he murmured.
"I remember," Helen whispered. She leaned forward and Nikola jerked back, causing her to lose her balance and teeter slightly before catching herself.
"Nikola," she exclaimed, her brow furrowing.
"Sorry, my dear," he said with a rueful smile. He'd been so wrapped up in Helen he had completely forgotten he had an electric current running through him at the moment. "Didn't want to electrocute you."
"Ah. Yes, of course." Helen cleared her throat, and Nikola realized something.
"You forgot too," he said in growing amazement, then added smugly, "Why, Helen, I do believe you badly wanted to kiss me just now."
He was expecting her to give him a cool look and say, "Don't let it go to your head."
Instead, she gave him a cool look and said, "Nikola, if you don't take your hand off those bloody lights and kiss me this instant, I'm going to lock the wine cellar for a month."
Nikola immediately released the bloody lights, closed the distance between them, and kissed Helen very thoroughly indeed, melting into her as her arms wrapped around his neck.
His eyes were closed and most of his concentration was on Helen, but after a moment he became aware of brightness beyond his eyelids; he pulled back and opened his eyes, and realized that all of the lights were glowing, even without his channeling power directly into them.
Helen was smiling at him. "Ah, Nikola. You just couldn't resist, could you?"
Nikola kissed her again tenderly, the lights pulsing next to them. "I assure you it was totally unconscious, my dear."
Helen pulled him to her again, but she didn't kiss him this time, just held him tightly against her, her fingers twining through his messy hair. "I suppose it's fitting, in a way," she said, more to herself than him.
Nikola breathed in deeply and exhaled, nuzzling Helen's neck. "Why's that?"
"Light," she said softly. "You and light…" Her tone changed abruptly. "Well, it's what you're famous for, after all."
Nikola swallowed. That wasn't at all what she'd meant, but… "Rightfully so. Though that bastard Edison stole most of my laurels, you know." He gave her a lopsided grin.
Crinkles sprang up around her eyes. "A travesty, my dear Nikola."
"I'm glad you agree, my dear Helen."
After that the lights blazed even brighter than before, but neither one of them noticed.