Author's Notes: A/U story with an interesting premise. You're not expecting the ending, trust me on that.

Theme: Christmas

Escort

Holiday seasons were always the worst for him. Most of the time it was because of the parties he was expected to attend. Yet times like this, looking out the window of his office as happy families walked by one the street below were the worst. He had no family of his own, and few friends, thus Christmas would once more be spent alone.

With a sigh the wealthy businessman looked to the secretary who had informed him of his obligation to attend a party tonight. "Go home Elena. You should be with your loved ones this Christmas Eve."

"I called ahead to inform the host that you shall be slightly late," she continued, as if ignoring the fact he had spoken.

"Why do you do this Elena? Every year you are late to your own party at home so that you can make sure that I have gotten on my way," he said, expecting no answer because he'd never received one any other year in which he'd asked.

"They'll wait," she said, her customary reply.

"They shouldn't have to," Reeve said, allowing their Christmas ritual to continue unhindered.

"Reeve…" she said. This was where it always ended, and yet he could always tell she wanted to continue. Maybe this would be the year that she did.

But the silence held as she moved to straighten his tie for him. Always she looked out for him, making sure he looked his best, even when he was about to collapse. Sure, he knew what was expected of him as a man of his stature in the world, but sometimes it was too much. Maybe his company would have gone under years ago were it not for Elena.

"Oh, and I got you an escort again," Elena informed him as she brushed some of his hair back from his eyes.

"Same one as always?" he questioned. He really didn't like the woman called Scarlet, because she always took her 'job' a tad bit seriously. Scarlet would try to make sure Reeve had an 'eventful' evening. In the public's knowledge, the two had been dating for two years.

"No actually. New person. More to your taste I hope…"

Reeve couldn't help but be nervous at the sound in her voice. "Come up with a story as to how I broke up with Scarlet?"

"Mutual disagreement over the paths your lives were taking," Elena offered, "Or whatever else you want. She was cheating on you, you found out she worked as an escort, anything you feel like."

"And this new person?" Reeve asked.

"They know what to say," she said, taking a step back to look him over. "Now, you've got to hurry up of your driver will leave without you."

"Yes mother," the CEO replied, almost annoyed that she would take such liberties with him, but they'd worked together so long he'd come to expect it.

"Don't worry, I'm sure you'll have a nice night. Who knows, you might even meet someone that isn't being paid to make nice with you," she teased before moving for the door.

"Wait," Reeve said before she could completely flee. The male retrieved a small box from his desk and held it out to her. "It's not much but…"

The blonde gladly took the small jewelry box from her dark haired employer and smiled. "I'll open it at home with all of my other gifts. Thank you in advance sir."

Reeve smiled and watched the woman he practically depended on for the last five years leave his office. Someday he knew she would have her wish of him settling down and having a real life. Just not now.

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The cold clawed at him as he left the building and moved towards the car awaiting him. Winters were like this in New York, but he'd grown used to them over the years. Still, something about snow was amazing, him being a kid from the south that is. It fell like little crystals from the sky, and the first time he'd seen it he'd thought of dreams and hopes.

A taller male than him with long black hair and eyes that looked blood red in the right light awaited him at the vehicle. The male, clad in a dark navy suit stood protectively by the door, hand hovering over where Reeve knew a gun rested, hidden well by the cut of the suit. This was the only person other than Elena that Reeve truly trusted with his life on a daily basis. It wasn't that he expected to be attacked or robbed or anything, but it was still a growing need in the modern business world. Men like Vincent would always find work, even when the term 'mercenary' that they should be called by had long sense been considered archaic.

"Mister Tuesti," Vincent greeted him with a slight nod.

"Valentine. Ready for yet another dull party?"

Only one who had known Vincent as long as Reeve had would have noticed the laughter in the silent male's eyes.

"Yes sir."

"Would I be correct in assuming that the one Elena hired is not only in the car waiting, but is free of any weapons?"

Vincent nodded.

"Is she at least pretty?"

"I'll let you be the judge of that," Vincent said. Reeve let out a sigh and moved to the car.

"And sir." Vincent said, "Remember, I just had the back seat cleaned."

This said the body guard moved to his place in the front seat of the car, leaving Reeve to get in on his own. Reeve preferred it that way, but he didn't like what Vincent was implying. How dare the man suggest that he casually sleep with a woman in the back seat of the car?

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A greater understanding and appreciation for Vincent's delicate handling of the situation came as Reeve settled in the back seat of the car and turned to meet the escort hired for him to pose as his significant other for the evening. And yes, significant other would be the required term here, for Reeve could hardly use the term 'girlfriend'. Elena had taken a bit more liberty than he'd previously seen in her, and her Christmas bonus would reflect such.

"Hello sir," the younger male, one with an obviously asian appearance and voice said as he held his hand out for Reeve to shake.

"I'm going to kill her," Reeve mumbled as he glanced at the offered hand. A short shake of his head informed the asian that this was not acceptable.

"My name is Tseng," the other continued, unfazed by Reeve's reaction. "I'm not going as your date, but as a new intern at the company that you see potential in. You decided to take me instead of finding some girl because you didn't want to seem on the rebound and because you figured I would need to see how things are from the top. You intend to hire me right out of college, which I am attending in city with a major in the field of business management, of course."

"Of course," Reeve mumbled, annoyed by the assumptions of Elena still, and somewhat impressed as to the preparedness of this escort compared to the state Scarlet had been in the last time he'd been forced to go to one of these evening outings.

"Mister Tuesti, you are more comfortable with this arrangement than in having to deal with a certain Miss Scarlet, are you not?"

The voicing of this evil name roused Reeve from his dark thoughts. This was true. It was preferable to bring an 'employee' and a handsome one at that than to have to fake another night of cuddly relationship crap with Scarlet.

"My point is proven," Tseng said. "Listen, your secretary wanted someone professional that would not be feeling you up at the end of the night. I'm that person. And nothing we will be saying will be a lie, except for the fact that I'm an intern and that you're hiring me out of college."

This lead to more thoughts in the CEO. If the handsome young man was not in the business for the reasons Scarlet was…

"Please," he continued, as if he had read Reeve's mind, "Do not rank me in with others in my line of work. It is quite simple, I need money to help put me through college. This works most of the time because it doesn't interfere with classes, I get paid well, and it's never for more than three hours. On top of that, my customers know this is only temporary and that they aren't to touch."

To Reeve, someone who had everything planned out for him since birth, this was all quite impressive. Someone seemingly lowering themselves in the public eye, risking black mail in the future, to get the chance to see that future.

"So, what kind of party is this? Random business get together or something?"

"No. A bit more personal than that. Well, it is a business get together, but my friend Rufus is throwing it."

"Rufus," Tseng asked, "As in Rufus ShinRa? As in heir to the ShinRa Energy Company?"

"Yes, last time I checked that is. But he seems to be unsatisfied as only an heir and his father is getting on in years," Reeve said, not even noticing his minor rambling.

He didn't even notice his escort grow silent and still for the rest of the ride.

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The back door opened and Reeve stepped out of the vehicle, smiling politely to Vincent in thanks before moving so that his 'plus 1' could get out of the car. From the pocket of his suit Reeve pulled out the invitation that had been sent to him in the mail a few weeks prior to this day. Rufus had signed the thing himself, instead of using the customary stamp. The two knew each other so well that they had come to known when something was signed by hand or done by stamp. Reeve knew how the stamp for Rufus had been made on a really bad day and thus the signature was a little too perfect and formal. He knew how Rufus's signature was really more of a single line that barely moved at all.

"Are you ready?" Reeve called back over his shoulder to his escort.

The young male came up behind Reeve and nodded his head. "Of course sir."

"I have no clue why Rufus sent me an invitation 'plus 1'. He knows I can't stand Scarlet. Probably just did it to get back at me for that whole whip-creaming his car thing."

"So you're the one that did that?" Tseng asked as he moved to Reeve's side.

"Yep. You heard about it?"

"Most people in my line of work have."

"Really? My pranks are known in the world of the professional escort?" That brought a chuckle to the executive.

"Of course. You and Mister Shin-Ra are two of our best customers."

"Wait," Reeve said. "Rufus hires from the escort service?" Insert more laughter here please.

"Only to parade women in front of his father," Tseng said.

"That I can understand. Mister Shin-Ra is a real jackass."

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It was halfway through the party when Rufus finally stumbled upon his friend, being harassed by the head of a rival company to Reeve's. The blonde male nodded slightly and his two body guards, males called Reno and Rude, went to fetch his friend for him. Last thing he wanted right now was one of the few people he got along with being harassed by some buffoon like his father. Reeve was too nice to have to put up with this. Reno on the other hand…

The blonde used the excuse of signaling a wandering waitress to his side for another glass of champagne to glance once more towards Reeve, and more importantly, the tall and dark figure next to the executive. Something in the posture of the one who always kept their back to Rufus was familiar. Oh well, he'd find out soon enough when Rude and Reno brought them over. And speaking of the troublesome two, here they were.

"Rufus," Reeve said, bowing his head slightly to the young heir to the ShinRa fortune. "I expected you could hold out another ten minutes at least without gracing me with your presence. Shame."

A cold smirk was the response from the young blonde, "You've been avoiding me all night Reeve."

"You know I prefer not to come to these things. The gossip is too much, and far worse were I to refuse to come."

"Yeah, and you want some free booze," Reno said, leaning on the shoulder of the older executive.

"Reno," Rude said, brushing the young red-head's hand off of Reeve's shoulder.

"So, where did you hide your guest Reeve? I saw you walking around he with someone."

The male paused and looked around, shocked that Tseng had disappeared. "He was here just a minute ago… Did you see him Reno?"

Reno nodded and smirked, "You wouldn't believe it boss, it was Tseng."

"You know Tseng?" Reeve questioned.

"Know would be the wrong word," Rufus said with a sigh. "He used to work for me. Very intelligent young man. Fought better than Reno or Rude. Managed to scam my father out of quite a bit of money, and we've been looking for him since. Met him through and escort service if you'd believe it."

Reeve paled a bit, "He did all of that?"

"And more," Reno confirmed with a smirk. "Bet he got you too. Poor guy, just looking for a way to avoid Scarlet I bet. Oh well. Best check your wallet."

The executive let out a sigh upon discovering that his wallet was missing.

"Congratulations Reeve, you've just been robbed," Reno laughed.

"Rufus, if you hadn't invited me…" Reeve started to say, only to be cut off.

"Oh no, I sure ain't paying you back Reeve. Sorry. Your fault for hiring escorts instead of just finding yourself a girlfriend."

"Scrooge," Reeve accused the young blonde.

"You know it."