So, it's the last chapter-a Christmas present to myself. Pre-series AU, not canon-compatible for anything.

Un-beta'ed, as always.

- o – o -

Chapter Three: Sliding

Dominic Raoul was notorious for his dislike of Christmas, and for everything associated with it. Of all the people he knew, one was especially aware of this fact. His girlfriend of the past six months, Dana Thompson, had developed a deep loathing for that particular quirk of character in an already crazy boyfriend. She had never met anyone who was so infuriating in her life, and damned if she ever did again.

The eighteen-year-old law student was sitting on the couch in their apartment's living room, pulling on a shoe as she again tried to convince the reluctant man to come out of the apartment with her.

The small-time smuggler and union president was having none of it. He had, for the past fifteen minutes, been countering her arguments. Dana had yet to see what his nonexistent paperwork had to do with anything, nor work. (The Palm City docks were in a bit of a slump—and a lot of workers were being let go—due to the current depression hanging the city. The corruption in the police department hadn't slacked off though.)

"Dominic," Dana said as she tied her shoelaces, "either you come willingly and this excursion is painless, or you get to sleep on the couch for a month." She looked over at her boyfriend, who had a mulish look on his face. "Come on," she said brightly, "It'll be fun!"

Dominic grunted something under his breath. It was British and no doubt obscene. Dana scowled at him, before chucking his shoes at him.

"Come on, Nicky," she said, grabbing his hand to pull him off the sofa. "You can sulk later. But it's Christmas Eve, and we're going out. End of story."

Faced with that, Scales didn't really have any choice but to agree. His girl could be right sodding terrifying when she wanted to be…

- o -

Ever since she was five, Dana Thompson had loved winter and everything associated with it. What she liked most, though, was the snow. Now that she was grown-up—and had the money—she was determined to spread her love of the season around.

Even, she added with slight scowl to her boyfriend, who was scowling at the Christmas decorations up on 14th Street, if she had to deal with mulish boyfriends. The law student smiled and gave a mental shrug. There was no way he could avoid the holidays forever, or, she grinned, ice skating.

The look on his face when they arrived at Yemaya Ice Rink was priceless. Dana almost wished she'd thought to bring a camera along as she dragged the reluctant twenty-one-year-old into the building. She half-wondered if he knew how to skate as she paid for the skate rentals (size eleven men's for him, size six women's for her), but brushed it aside. She'd teach him when they got onto the ice.

She wasn't surprised when she encountered more resistance from Scales.

"Effing 'ell, I ain't getting' on th' ice."

Dana sighed and resisted the urge to beat her forehead against the Formica tabletop. "You only have to do one lap," she said patiently. "Hug the wall, if you have too," she added. "But you are getting on that ice, mister."

Dana Thompson had an amazing array of scowls. Each had been perfected on her boyfriend. They had never failed to compel him to do her bidding. She smirked in self-satisfaction as Dominic hesitantly made his way onto the ice, before following after him.

The law student was halfway done with a warm-up lap when she saw Scales fall down in an ungainly heap. If not for the children skating past him, Dana was fairly sure he would have started cussing at the top of his lungs. She sighed and skated back to him, coming to a graceful stop in front of him.

"I'm done," he announced, grabbing hold of the wall as he hauled himself up. Dana grabbed his hand as he tried to slide back to the entrance and pulled him towards her.

"No, you're not," she said firmly. The eighteen-year-old grabbed her boyfriend's hands and began skating backwards slowly. "It's like dancing, Dominic. Look at your feet, and follow how I'm skating."

Hesitantly, he complied. They made it halfway around the ring before Dominic collapsed again, pulling Dana down on top of him. He smirked in a way that let Dana know it had probably been completely intentional.

"I ain't skating anymore, ducks," he rumbled in her ear as he pulled her up. "I don' like the cold."

Dana stared at him as he skated away, still hugging the inside of the wall. She sighed, blowing a strand of red-blonde hair out of her face. Oh well. At least he was skating now—and she'd gotten him to leave the apartment, at least. The law student smiled and did a few more graceful laps of the rink, adding in a few moves she half-remembered from figure skating lessons as a child.

Scales was waiting for her back at the Formica table, two Styrofoam cups of hot cocoa sitting in front of him. His skates were nowhere to be seen. Dana laughed at his disgusted expression and sat down across from the deformed man.

"Did you at least have fun?" she asked, sipping from the cup he pushed at her. He smiled, closing his eyes.

"Go' any plans f'r New Year's Eve?" he asked. The law student took that as a yes and grinned.

Dana sipped more of her hot cocoa before replying. "Merry Christmas, Dominic." He looked at her, one eye opened in surprise.

"Merry Christmas, luv," he finally responded. There was a light smile around his lips, and Dana took that as a good sign.

Merry Christmas indeed.

- o – o -

So, what did you think? Good? Bad? Think Dana was right to drag her mopey boyfriend out of the apartment? Drop a line and let me know!