An/ I had a lot of fun writing this chapter :)

Twelve Days of Comfort and Joy

Chapter Five

Bright and Dazzling lights

On the fifth day of Christmas my true love sent to me

Five Gold Rings.

The aroma of freshly made hot chocolate filled the apartment as John stirred the brew, the spices he had added to the concoction instantly taking him back to his childhood. The distinctive smell reminiscent of Christmas, from cinnamon to all spice. Apparently the scent pleased his companion as well.

"What's that?" Shayera asked peeking around the doorframe of the bathroom having only recently showered and dressed.

John continued to stir and didn't answer her; this was a game they used to play. He waited for the inevitable.

"John?" When he didn't answer again he heard the bathroom door click shut as she entered the joint living room and kitchen "What are you making?"

He couldn't help himself and smiled, although making sure that Shayera couldn't see his expression.

Shayera groaned in exasperation before she tiptoed behind him trying to see over his shoulder.

"What is it?"

"Nothing."

Her hands were on his shoulders now trying to pull him out of the way "Let me see."

That was it; John couldn't hold it in anymore and just laughed freely at her over-enthused curiosity. "I told you it isn't anything."

Irritated Shayera finally dragged him out of the way and inspected the saucepan and its contents, sniffing with interest as she examined the fluid.

"Is that hot chocolate?" Shayera asked slightly unsure.

"Yes," John replied taking back the pan and continuing to stir as before "I thought I'd make some instead of coffee."

Nodding her approval Shayera sniffed absently again "It doesn't smell like ordinary hot chocolate."

"Well, it's got something a little different added to it, an old family recipe." He smiled at her, self assured as he poured two mugs of the beverage and handed her one. Silently he watched, his confidence unwavering as Shayera impressively didn't cool the hot drink first by blowing on it, instead choosing to take a gulp. If the hot liquid burnt her she made no indication.

For a few seconds afterward she stared into the liquid with an expression that John almost placed as nostalgia but thought it odd.

"Do you like it?" John asked now a little unsure that she would enjoy the traditional drink that had been handed down from his Grandmother and her Grandmother before her.

Shayera looked up and tilted her head slightly in contemplation before looking back into the mug, cradling it in both hands.

"It reminds me of a drink I used to drink when I was younger."

"On Thanagar?" John asked not hiding his surprise. At her nod his eyebrows lifted up, amazed.

"When I was a young child I often stayed with the other children in the special shelters when our parents were away, fighting." A pause as she furrowed her brow generating a ridge above her nose "Some of the other children were restless and panicky without their parents, the guardians used to make hot drinks to help them settle. This is a lot like that."

John was stunned at the odd coincidence but decided that every planet probably had a way of calming the children of their race; hot comforting drinks were especially efficient at such tasks.

"Did you stay at the shelters often?" John asked while taking a mouthful of his own drink.

"Often enough." Shayera replied before continuing to drink her hot chocolate "I spent longer there than at my own home."

"It must have been tough." John remarked, interested in hearing a very rare piece of information about her life, she very reluctantly parted ways with information about herself.

Her head tilted again "I suppose...but it was normal. None of us questioned it."

John nodded his head and finished his drink before continuing with something he hoped would lift the mood a little. "We're going out today to do some Christmas shopping."

"Shopping?"

"Yeah, pick up some presents for the others, maybe some food and other groceries."

"I'll get my coat then." Shayera stated as she gulped the rest of her drink and absently pecked him on the cheek before departing for, he presumed, the bag she had brought along when she had first arrived.

When Shayera returned John was surprised to see that she had put on a very large trench coat, drowning her petite frame and covering her wings completely as they were no doubt folded tightly beneath. As she pulled on her hat and scarf John felt he needed to express his bewilderment.

"What's with the trench coat?"

"We're going shopping...in public." Her voice was matter-of-fact, the reasons behind her coat choice apparently obvious.

"You don't have to hide your wings."

Shayera shrugged awkwardly under the large garment "I do," She slipped on her gloves "Are we going or not?" Her final words signified an end to the conversation.

The shopping area of downtown Detroit was busy and bustling with people, bags, boxes and tubes of wrapping paper symbolising the joint objective of all that passed. The purchasing of Christmas shopping, gifts, food and everything else that came with the season. John already had an armful of variously coloured bags that openly displayed the shops he had visited on his own shopping quest, Shayera also held a number of bags similar in shapes and sizes to his own.

It was clear from her body language that she was uncomfortable, perhaps outwardly she was the epicentre of calm indifference but he knew her far too well. The determined but uneasy glint in her eyes, the very firm and almost painful grip on his arm as well as her incessant chewing on her lower lip were all signs that despite her outer demeanour, she was far from comfortable. Even so, so far she had rebutted every attempt he had made to offer a break in their spree, a moment or two to give her a chance to relax, but apparently determination to finish the shopping as quickly as possible was her aim.

"Where to next?" She asked as she fluently avoided another passerby.

"Well..." John hesitated; he wanted to go and find her a present but didn't like the idea of leaving her.

Glancing at him she gave him an expression that he knew was a warning not to keep her waiting too long.

"Well, I was going to go and get you a gift." He mentioned, deciding to go with the honest approach.

"You don't have to," Shayera began but she already knew that it was futile, humans enjoyed giving presents and her patience was beginning to run raw anyway. "Where should I wait for you?"

"I'll meet you at the cafe," He said briskly as a rather rude shopper pushed in between them, dislodging Shayera from his arm and having him lunge for her awkwardly as she turned towards the shopper fully prepared to demonstrate her already frayed nerves. "Just go somewhere quiet, I won't be long." John reassured her before allowing himself to be caught in amongst the ocean of people.

Shayera didn't stay long and instead continued to march against the tide of people, just as she was about to grab someone and yell at them for being ignorant, she spotted something.

In a small dusty shop, John leant over a small table and examined what lie upon it. His bags had been neatly deposited at the base of the table freeing up his hands and allowing him to pick up one of the objects. Held between his thumb and forefinger was an intricate, metal chess piece. Shayera very much enjoyed playing chess often playing with Bruce when time allowed it, John even dabbled in some of it himself his strategic thinking style from his Marine training allowing him in the past to gain a few victories against Shayera.

Still examining the piece, John looked down at the rest of it; everything including the board was composed of metal, lighter silver juxtaposed with a darker granite colour. The pieces themselves were stylised and ironically enough in this case followed a theme around various species of bird. The King being an Eagle while the pawns were little Starlings; all intricately designed and detailed.

John smiled to himself knowing that she would love it. She loved birds, not just Hawks but all kinds; they even used to watch documentaries together on various bird species years ago.

Handing over the agreed price, John had a small conversation with the owner on how to keep the set in fine condition, before wishing the gentleman 'Happy Holidays' and departing, all the while very pleased with himself.

As he left the shop hearing the bell spin as the door closed, John looked up and spotted some men working on the street lights, hanging up the Christmas decorations.

"Hey," John called up, when one of the men turned around John continued "When are they turning the lights on?"

"Tonight around Nine o'clock."

"Thanks."

"No worries, man."

John was sure Shayera would enjoy watching the event.

It had been an exceptionally long time since she had been in this particular store, having seen it across the street she felt the need to go over and investigate. The store smelt the same way it had all that time ago when she had been there before, the aged comic books providing a musty yet pleasant scent. Taking a deep breath, Shayera continued to examine the various books and pages as she moved along the aisles, this store far emptier than the others she had been in today. It struck her suddenly as she picked up one of the comics that she ought to get John something for Christmas so she meandered a little more before she picked out certain issues and bundled them together in her arms. Buying presents for people was an odd concept for her but she was willing to try and do something.

When she reached the till she gave them over to the older man, recognising him in an instant as the man she had met a few years before, she became uncomfortably self conscious as she hoped that he didn't recognise her. Smiling he took the books from her and she handed over a plastic rectangle. After she rejoined the League and got herself more together, Bruce had insisted on setting up an account for her so that she could support herself. Of course she had told him it wasn't necessary but despite all of her complaints against the idea, Bruce had gone a long with it anyway. She figured that she could at least get John a few things with it; there was a picture album folder she had spotted in another store that she decided she wanted to get as well. John had many loose pictures dotted about his apartment and it struck her as the perfect gift.

When the shopkeeper returned the plastic rectangle, joined with a paper bag containing the books she had purchased, Shayera bid her farewells. As she pulled the door open she heard him call out to her.

"Happy Holidays, Hawkgirl."

Momentarily taken aback Shayera was unable to respond as she was caught amongst the crowd of people passing the shop door.

John finally located Shayera, the agitated and impatient Thanagarian sitting irritably at a small rickety table at the cafe and was in the process of dismissing an over-eager waiter.

"No, I'm fine...I'm waiting for someone."

"Well I am sorry Ma'am but you can't stay here unless you buy something."

Shayera stood up suddenly and growled dangerously in the back of her throat "I'll buy something in a minute." She threatened.

Just as Shayera was undoubtedly about to wring the poor man's neck, John caught up to her and placed a hand on her shoulder, conscious of the wings that were folded protectively beneath her coat.

"I've been looking for you." John said while firmly tugging her away "Come on, we can go home now."

Her sigh was indication enough that the idea pleased her a great deal.

"About time!"

Later when they arrived at John's apartment they eagerly dumped all of their bags and boxes on the side counter, both making sure that their gifts for each other were well out of reach. Just as Shayera began to shrug her coat off, John was there in an instant removing it quickly and chucking it over the couch.

"What was that about?" Shayera asked noticing his enthusiasm, turning as she spoke and starting to peer into the various bags.

"What was what about?" John parroted.

Smiling Shayera shook her head turning away again and unfurling her wings to full span in a laborious stretch, truth be told she hated concealing her wings in that manner but it was better than having a good portion of the population staring at her every move.

"Never mind." Shayera pulled out one of the boxes and examined it closely "I hope the others like their gifts."

"I'm sure they will, although Clark and Bruce are really hard to buy for."

"You got that right."

Plopping the box back on the counter Shayera automatically approached the fridge, opening it up and taking a glug of orange juice straight from the carton, wiping her mouth absently. Although John hated it when people drank from the carton he was in fact exceptionally pleased. Shayera was finally starting to settle in the apartment and behave as she would in a place she was comfortable in.

"Now, you know how much I hate it when you do that."

She shrugged and returned the orange juice to the fridge "What are you going to do about it, Lantern?"

His arms snaked around her waist as she turned to face him; it had been a long time since she had affectionately referred to him as Lantern. "Absolutely nothing."

Shayera giggled softly as he whispered against her ear, sweet little nothings that gave her pleasant chills. Over the last four days they seemed to have progressed leaps and bounds and after their heavy talk yesterday, she finally felt that they were on the same page. There was nothing trying to hold them back anymore and she could at last enjoy her time with him without worry or confliction, John was hers again and everything...everything was going to be fine. The protection of his arms around her and the safety it imbued her with caused her to wriggle closer against him and tuck her head against his shoulder, cuddling him without guilt or duality.

"So, what's next?" Shayera asked into his collar "Don't tell me it's more shopping, I don't think I could take anymore."

"Well I was thinking we could go and watch the light show tonight."

"Light show?"

Amongst the cool and slightly chill night, John Stewart landed softly on the roof of a building which overlooked the town of Detroit, providing a view of all the many people crowded below. No more than a second later a soft padding signified Shayera's landing beside him, her voice erupting behind him.

"So what are we doing here?"

"Just watch." John said in a hushed tone, grabbing her hand and pulling her closer to him.

While they both stood in silence, John chanced a side glance in her direction. She had changed so much even from back in the days when he had first met her, hot headed and ill tempered became tender and affectionate. A short time after that the surprising but welcome softness became pain, became lies and sent him reeling with the shock of her revelations and when he saw her again a year later, she was so broken, so...unlike what he had first known.

"What are you staring at?" Shayera asked coyly as she fixed her green orbs on him in the nightly darkness.

"What would you say if I said, you?"

"Well that depends." She curled her arm around his; tucking her hand into his coat pocket "You had that goofy look of yours on."

"Goofy?" John repeated playfully "I'm not goofy."

"What are you then?"

"Enjoying my company."

Shayera nudged him in the ribs with a smile but just as she was about to say something in reply, the crowd below erupted. Blinking Shayera looked down and listened as someone spoke at a podium; they were too far away so she couldn't hear very well, but soon enough the whole crowd was counting loudly in anticipation.

"Ten!"

John put an arm around her shoulders.

"Nine!"

She smiled and moved closer to him, craning her head to say something in his ear.

"Eight!"

Laughing, John gestured below to where she should look.

"Seven!"

As Shayera looked below, focusing hard on the area John had indicated...she didn't notice John start to watch her again.

"Six!"

He remembered all that time seeing her lost and unlike herself, debating whether or not he had ever truly known her at all.

"Five!"

Seeing her now, so much more...alive. It sent chills through his bones and sent his pulse racing.

"Four!"

Shayera had noticed him staring again and raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing at her lips.

"Three!"

John forgot about what they were doing here and instead guided her towards him, their faces almost nose to nose.

"Two!"

He could feel her hot breath against his mouth, feel it stammer slightly as he rubbed their noses together, their lips almost touching.

"One!"

The crowd below roared in merriment as a series of sparks and controlled fireworks introduced the lights that suddenly flickered on, alighting the street in a bright glow flashing and dazzling their eyes. Shayera forgetting about her closeness to John turned suddenly so that she could see better, the cheers below infectious and filling her with their joy and enthusiasm. Grabbing John she shot him a dazzling smile of her own in contrast to the lights, her face bright and happy.

"It's beautiful."

John smiled and held her back tightly against his chest, her wings framing him on either side.

"It certainly is."