Hello, readers! I'm still alive. I apologize for the long wait, but I've had so many new plot bunnies attack me within the past few months for other stories that I got distracted.

Anyway, this is a holiday one-shot! Hope you enjoy it!

Diclaimer: I own nothing except the plot of this story (and I apologize if this sounds like someone else's work (I'm not sure if it does because I haven't been on this website at all in the past month)), my OC Roderick, and the song title at the end.

Leo woke up to the sound of the bell in the school's clock tower tolling for the seventh hour. He sat up in bed and stretched, letting a yawn slip from his lips. He picked his glasses up off the bedside table between his and his master's beds and put them on. He looked around the room, only to notice it was rather gray compared to how it looked most mornings.

My, it must be quite cloudy out this morning, Leo thought.

The black-haired teen crawled out of bed. His body was immediately hit by a blast of cold air that easily permeated his thin nightclothes, and his feet became frigid as they hit the floor. He shuddered at the intense cold. He took notice of the fogged lenses of his glasses. He removed them and shifted his longs bangs slightly with a shake of his head, and he saw a white vapor as he exhaled a shaky breath of air.

Quickly cleaning his glasses and putting them back on, Leo went to the window and looked outside. Ashen flakes fell from the cloudy sky. The once grassy lawn and cobblestone walkways of the front courtyard were now covered in a thick, white blanket of snow. The water in the marble fountain was frozen over. He looked back to the sky. There was no break in the clouds.

No wonder it was so cold! Old Man Winter had come and was paying the academy a visit.

Shivering quite violently, Leo went over to his dresser to change into something a little warmer. He opened the bottom drawer and pulled out an expensive red sweater that had been bought for him courtesy of Elliot's sister Vanessa. Vanessa was not very fond of Leo, but her love for her baby brother was much stronger. And she was not about to let her baby brother go around, with his servant dressed like "a homeless commoner" as she had so kindly put it.

Leo changed out of his nightshirt and pulled the sweater over his head. He also pulled a pair of black trousers and thick socks out and put them on. He felt much warmer now, but he was still shivering.

The servant made his way over to his master and looked down at his sleeping form. Peacefully sawing logs, his master was all tangled up in his sheets with his pillow over his head.

He looks so peaceful, Leo thought. Then he gave a small smirk. Well, time to wake him up.

The black-haired teen then gingerly rolled him out of bed along with the bed sheets. The ash blond landed with a thud on the cold, hard floor.

"Ow!" Elliot said. He sat up and glared with icy blue eyes at Leo, who stood there with the small smirk still etched upon his face. "What the hell was that for? And why's it so freezing?"

His servant pointed over to window with a slender pale finger. He picked himself up off the floor and marched over to it. His icy blue eyes stared out at the white world for a moment in silence.

"But we're supposed to go home today," he said quietly.

It was today that Lutwidge Academy would be releasing its resident pupils home for holiday break. They were going to spend two whole weeks with their families before returning back to their studies. But with everything being snowed over and their only mode of transportation being a horse drawn carriage, it did not look like that would be happening this year.

Elliot had actually been looking forward to going home for the holidays this year. This would be his first Christmas with his best friend. The past Christmases he had spent with his family had all been fine and dandy, but he hated how they always babied him so much. As much as he loved them, they would always drive him up a wall after the first couple of days. Leo was the only person who ever treated him like an equal and he might finally be able to keep his sanity intact for one Christmas.

The ash blond had also made the perfect Christmas present for his servant, and if there was one thing the teenage heir was good at making it was piano compositions. He often composed pieces for his insane mother on her birthday, but there was never any real meaning behind them. This new piece was a tribute to their friendship. The whole idea sounded kind of sappy, but true gifts come from the heart as they say.

For the past month he had worked on this piece for hours upon hours in secret, recollecting on how they met. He would even skip meals just to go work on it. It had gotten to the point where Leo had started worrying and began reprimanding him for not eating like he should, but he did not care. All he had been concerned about was finishing that piece.

Elliot had finally finished it this past week. He was so elated with its completion that his holiday spirit seemed to have kicked in. There were very few times when he was ever that good of a mood, but now his holiday cheer had been crushed by the one thing that most children hope to see on Christmas.

Snow.

Leo and Elliot, now dressed in a white sweater and brown trousers and his violin case slung over his shoulder, made their way through the halls to the headmaster's office. Surely he would have thought of something by now. When they got there, they saw almost every member of the student body crowded around the headmaster's door looking at something.

Elliot turned to look at his black-haired servant, but the shorter teen was gone. He looked back at the crowd just in time to see the boy's slim frame slip into the crowd.

And he says I need to eat more, Elliot thought.

Setting his case down, the ash blond leaned up against the wall while he waited for Leo to come back.

After a moment the scruffy-haired teen reemerged from the sea of bodies. "There's a sign that says to go to the auditorium and wait for further instructions," he said.

Elliot nodded, and they went on their way down the freezing hall. They walked into the auditorium and seated themselves near the back. It was a good thirty minutes before the rest of the students got there.

The headmaster then walked across the stage and up to the podium. "Good morning, students. I believe you all know why I've told you to come here."

Obviously, Elliot thought.

"I'm afraid the snow is far too deep for us to send you home," the headmaster continued. "You will be staying here at the academy until further notice. In the meantime, you are free to do whatever you wish, as long as it's within school policy. That is all."

As the headmaster left, the room started buzzing with chatter of ruined holidays. What were they to do now?

Then, the senior class representatives, a young man by the name of Roderick Greenich and Ada, ran up to the podium.

"Calm down, everyone," Roderick said, and the room fell silent. "Thank you. Now, please, people, let's try to stay positive here. Why don't we celebrate the holidays a little here while we wait for the blizzard to let up?"

"By doing what?" someone shouted.

"Well, what are stereotypical activities for this time of year?" Roderick asked.

"Caroling!"

"Baking cookies!"

"Decorating!"

"Good!" Ada said. "Now, you'll all be split up into three teams. Team One, you'll be caroling. Team Two, you'll be in charge of baking the holiday goodies. And Team Three, deck the halls! How does that sound?"

There was thunderous applause and cheers all around, enough to make Elliot and Leo cover each other's ears.

"Alright, everyone," Roderick said, "get into your teams and get cracking!"

In the midst of all the commotion, Elliot got up and ever so slowly began inching his way toward the exit, towing Leo along with him by the back of his sweater. As much fun as it sounded, he was not in the mood.

The teen heir and his servant were almost out the door when they were surrounded by a group of about a dozen girls.

"Elliot, you have to be on my team," a brunette said, taking him by the arm.

"No!" another girl, a strawberry-blonde, shouted as she grabbed his other arm. "He's going to be on my team!"

"No, mine!"

"No! Mine!"

"NO! MINE!"

Then the girls tackled each other and all hell broke loose. They were clawing at each other's faces, pulling at each other's hair, kicking, yelling and biting. They were pretty much trying to tear each other to pieces.

Elliot watched them silently for a split second. Then a candle flame flickered to life in his head.

"CATFIGHT!" Elliot shouted.

Everyone's attention turned to the two girls. Students rushed over to the scene, some trying to keep the girls from gouging each other's eyes out, while most just wanted to watch and make bets on who would win.

Elliot took this distraction as his chance to escape. He picked Leo up and slung him over his shoulder like Santa Claus would with his pack and took off out the door like a bolt of lightning.

"Was that really necessary?" Leo asked with a sigh.

"Yes!" Elliot said.

"How?"

"It…it just was!"

Leo sighed. "Whatever, just go to the parlor. I need warm myself up by the fire. My hands are starting to turn purple."

Elliot looked at his free hand. It had taken on a violet hue as well. "Alright."

They spent the remainder of the day in the parlor by a roaring fire with a tray of two cups of hot tea and a few small cakes, which Leo had managed to steal from the mess hall kitchen when no one was looking. The flames kept them from turning into ice sculptures, and the tea and cakes kept them from going hungry during the hours they had spent in there. Despite the tranquil atmosphere though, Elliot was not feeling any jollier than he had when he had looked out the window that morning.

As the sun began to set, they decided it was time to head back to their dorm room. Ready to go to bed, they stepped out into the hallway and paused for a moment.

"Looks like the decorating committee was here," Leo said.

It was true; the halls were definitely decked out. The decorations depicted all festive holidays of the season. It was enough to give anyone a sense of holiday cheer.

Well, except Elliot, whose eyebrow was twitching. He just wanted to go home and celebrate Christmas with his family and Leo. And he would not be happy until then.

Scowling at the decorations, Elliot kept moving. Leo followed after him, taking in the sight of it all.

They were about to pass the doors of the mess hall kitchen when they caught a whiff of the scent of gingerbread. Curious, they poked their heads through the doors. There were about two hundred students in the enormous kitchen doing a variety of different tasks—mixing ingredients or kneading dough or cutting out cookies or icing cookies or making gingerbread houses or carving hams or roasting chestnuts over a fire.

Elliot and Leo watched in disbelief.

These kids probably haven't even cooked or baked a day in their lives, Elliot thought. How are things not blowing up?

Then, somehow a ham exploded, and chunks of pig meat flew everywhere, causing the two friends to face palm themselves.

Note to self, never let rich kids, with no experience, cook, Leo thought.

Elliot and Leo got back to the dorm room and shut the door. The room was like an icebox. The frigid air made them both shiver.

Elliot flopped down onto the sofa while Leo went and got them both blankets. He tossed his master a blanket and wrapped his own around himself.

The dark-haired servant took a seat next to his master and picked a volume of the Holy Knight series up off the coffee table. It was not the latest addition to the series and both of them had already read it. The newest volume had been released a few weeks ago, and Elliot and Leo were just itching to read it. However, anytime the academy had allowed the students to go to the nearest town and shop for gifts for their friends and family the bookshop never had it in stock. The academy's library could not even manage to get a hold of it. So all they could do was hope someone had bought it for Elliot for Christmas.

They had not even read past page ten when there was a knock at the door. Elliot got up and opened the door. There were about thirty students, some that he recognized and some that he did not, standing in the hallway with open books in their hands.

Oh no, Elliot thought.

"Deck the hall with boughs of holly," they sang loudly, sounding like mix between nails on a chalkboard and dying cats. "Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Elliot's eyebrow twitched and his ears felt as though they were about to bleed. He had never heard anything more horrendous in all his life. They had completely botched up a classic!

"'Tis the sea-"

"No! Shut up, you morons!" the ash blond yelled. "Are you tone-deaf? BECAUSE THAT WAS WORST RENDITION OF 'DECK THE HALLS' I'VE EVER HEARD!"

The carolers shrunk back, fearful of the Nightray's wrath.

Elliot stood there with his fists clenched. Oh, how he wanted to unleash all of his anger and frustration of being stuck here for Christmas on them, but he decided against it. Instead he picked his violin case up off the floor and stormed down the hallway.

Elliot let out a sigh as he closed the door to the piano room. Peace and quiet, just what he needed right now. And no reminders that he would probably be spending his Christmas here instead of at home like he wanted.

Since I'm here, I should probably practice that piece for Leo, he thought as he pulled his score book out of his case. He was glad he packed it in there earlier.

The ash blond walked over to the piano and took a seat. Placing his long, graceful fingers over the black and white keys, he struck the first key and let all of his emotions pour out as he played. The tune changed several times as he played—from lonely, to angry, to curious, to elated. These were all the feelings he had felt from the time they had met until Leo had become his servant and sole companion.

He continued to play until he hit the last note. Staring down at his pale hands, he sat there shivering from the cold.

Will it be good enough? Elliot wondered.

Then, he heard clapping from behind him. He turned to see Leo standing in the doorway, clapping his hands.

The ash blond had a complete and utter spazz attack. "How the, when the, you…!" he stammered as his brain continued to malfunction.

"Yes, Elliot?" Leo said, holding back his laughter.

"H-how long have you been standing there?"

"I'd say…a few minutes."

"H-h-how much of that did you hear?"

"All of it."

His master groaned and laid his head down on the keyboard, the keys making a resonating screech under the weight of his skull. "It's ruined," he complained.

"What's ruined?" Leo asked.

"Everything!" he shouted. "First, we are stuck here for Christmas, and now you've heard the song! You weren't supposed to hear it yet."

Leo blinked his eyes behind his glasses. "Was that song…?"

"It was supposed to be your Christmas present," he said in a low, disappointed voice just loud enough for Leo to hear.

His servant sat beside his master and patted his back. "Now, now, Elliot," he said, "it's nothing to get upset about. Besides, I think the song sounded wonderful."

"…Really?"

"Really. Now," he said as he pulled a green package with a red bow, that Elliot just noticed, out from under his arm, "here's your present."

Quirking an eyebrow, Elliot took the package. "How did you get the money to buy this considering my family doesn't pay you?" he questioned.

"Well…"

It had been about a month ago, back at the Nightray estate. Leo had been on his way to the kitchen to get Elliot and himself some tea when something hit him in the back of the head. He turned around to see Vanessa standing there with a scowl on her face.

"Be sure to get him something nice for Christmas," she said, turned on her heels and strode down the hallway.

Confused, he looked down at his feet. There was a brown pouch lying there, and he assumed that was what she had thrown at him. He picked it up, noticing it was kind of heavy. He opened it to find that it was full of gold coins.

Not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, he pocketed the pouch and continued on toward the kitchen.

"…let's just say Vanessa was feeling rather generous one day," he said.

Elliot was still a little doubtful, but he asked no further questions. He untied the ribbon and slowly tore off the wrapping paper. His icy blue eyes immediately recognized the shield with the two swords crossed behind it on the blue background.

"Holy Knight!" he shouted happily. "Where did you find it?"

"The bookshop in town," his servant answered.

"But they never had it in stock!"

"I bought it while you were distracted and paid the shopkeeper to keep quiet about it and not put the book back on the shelves until Christmas was over."

"But why?"

"I didn't want you buying it, because then there would've been no point in me buying it for you."

"Oh…" Elliot said. Then he smiled a rare, genuine smile. "Thanks, Leo."

Even if we're stuck here, this Christmas won't be so bad, he thought.

"You're welcome," Leo said. "So what's the name of the song?"

Elliot turned back to first page of the composition and cast his eyes over the title. He had spent hours trying to come up with a name for it, but nothing really seemed to stick too much. Then he remembered something from when Vanessa had taught him about the language of flowers.

"Tales of Ivy."

I apologize if it seems a little rushed, but I had the idea for this just last week I really wanted to get it out before Christmas.

Now, an explanation for the song title. A book that I read had a section on the language of flowers, and one the meanings behind ivy is attachment and everlasting friendship. The book is dated (52 years to be exact), so correct me if you know otherwise.

Feel free to leave a review and let me know what you think.

Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays! And a Happy New Year!