Yuletide Lessons
Chapter 10
December 20th
Rogue grabbed a large blanket from the back of the couch and threw it across Lucy's lap as she settled against the cushions with a book and sat beside her. He made sure to sit a bit closer than normal, but hoped that because he wanted to see the pictures in the book she was going to read, it wouldn't cross her mind as odd.
"Come here Frosch, you can sit on our laps while she reads," Rogue said softly, beckoning to the hovering cat.
"Whats the book called?" She asked, fluttering down as Lucy brought the cover up for both of them to see.
"It's called 'The Night Before Christmas' and it's sort of a tradition to recite it in most families." Lucy explained opening the book.
"Did your family do this as well?" Rogue asked softly, hoping he wasn't overstepping his bounds as he brought up what might be a painful subject.
Lucy smiled wistfully, her fingers tracing the drawings fondly as Rogue and Fro looked on. "Yeah, momma always insisted every year. No matter what was going on, how busy everyone was that we stuck to the tradition." Her eyes glazed over, no longer seeing the pages. "Even when she got terribly sick, she still managed to keep to the tradition."
The soft lights of the tree flickered softly across her features and he could see how the past memories flitted past her eyes, and he never felt a more kinship then he did at that moment. It was one of the things he could relate to and though it might sound odd to anybody else, the fact that they could connect through their sadness gave him a sense of relief. He was sad of course she hadn't had a very good childhood, but being able to sympathize with her helped bring them together even closer. He just wished it wouldn't cause her such pain, but he liked being the one she could share her anguish with.
The tense atmosphere was dispersed as Fro broke the silence.
"Can we start Lucy?"
Lucy jumped slightly and smiled down at the cat. "Of course. Ok let me see here."
"Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse."
"What were they supposed to be stirring?" Fro asked confused.
Rogue chuckled as Lucy giggled and shook her head. "Wrong kind of stirring sweetie."
"They mean none of the creatures were running around." Rogue explained.
Fro's mouth went into a little 'o'. "Ohhh, well why didn't they just say that?"
"It's just how they used to talk back in the old days Fro." Lucy explained and continued.
"The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there."
"Whose St. Nicholas? I thought it was Santa Claus that brought the presents." Rogue asked confused.
"Ahh yeah forgot to mention that." Lucy muttered. "St. Nicholas is just another name they have for Santa Claus."
"Ah I see. So was he an actual saint then?"
Lucy pondered for a minute. "There was an actual St. Nicholas, so the legend of Santa could've been derived from him."
"The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads."
"What are sugar plums and why did they dance on their heads?" Fro asked.
"Sugar plums are a sort of sweet and they danced in their heads, not on." Lucy laughed.
"And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap."
"So, in other words they had gone to sleep." Rogue said.
"Yup."
"When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash."
Before she could ask Lucy translated. "He ran to the window to see what had made such a big noise." Fro nodded.
"The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer."
"Santa!" Fro whispered excitedly.
"With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!"
"Fro's never seen a reindeer fly, how come these can?" Fro asked.
"Well..." Lucy faltered and caught Rogues eyes.
"These are special reindeer so they are different from regular ones." Rogue explained, smiling as Lucy sighed in relief.
"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"
"Hey where's Rudolph?"
Rogue turned to look at Lucy.
"Erm well, he had to stay home because he was sick?" She said lamely.
"Oh, ok." Fro replied and they met each others stare over her head with a smile.
'Ya know I always wondered that myself.' She pondered.
"As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St. Nicholas too."
"Will Santa bring Fro toys too?"
"Have you been good?" Lucy asked.
Her brows furrowed as she gazed up at Rogue for confirmation. He chuckled in response and nodded. "Well I think you've been very good Fro."
She looked back at Lucy and smiled happily. "Then you have nothing to worry about."
"And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound."
"I bet they are very noisy." Fro muttered, her little paws tracing the drawings.
"You would think so, " Rogue replied. "Makes me wonder how the roof can handle such weight."
"He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack."
"Bet Misses Claus hates washing his clothes." Lucy muttered.
"His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow."
"Fro loves cherries!"
"You know I can almost see Master Makarov looking like this, if he were taller, fatter and had a beard." Lucy laughed.
"A sight to behold for sure." Rogue replied. "Though I doubt you'd want him driving a sleigh in that condition. Nose red, indeed." he chuckled, sharing a laugh with Lucy.
"The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!"
They shared another laugh at that.
"Oh man if that doesn't sound like Master I don't know what does!"
"All he would need to do was call everyone brats." Rogue retorted dryly.
"He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread."
"I know I would be rather surprised to find a stranger in my house at that hour." Lucy muttered.
"But he's not a stranger, he's Santa!" Fro insisted.
"Of course, my mistake," Lucy replied with a smile.
"He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!"
"How does poking his nose that make him go up the chimney?" Fro asked confused.
Both Rogue and Lucy busted out laughing. "He didn't poke his nose, he just touched the side of it and I think it's just one of the things only he can do."
"He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, 'ere he drove out of sight,
Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"
Lucy finished with a sigh, closing the book, her gaze meeting Rogue's and she blushed seeing a warm glow shining back.
"Fro thought that was a good story." Fro whispered, yawning as her eyes drooped.
Rogue nodded and softly threaded his fingers through the cat's fur as Lucy tucked the blanket around the sleepy feline.
She softly patted the blanket and stilled as Rogue's hand laid over hers, her eyes snapped to his as his thumb brushed over her hand before pulling back, his attention going to the tree glowing in the corner. It was nice sitting there in the quiet atmosphere, the soft flickering of the lights refracted around the room, the snow falling gently against the windows. Lucy however was still looking towards the dragon slayer, wondering yet again if she'd just imagined that small tender moment. The brief touches were just that, brief, never lasting more than a fleeting moment and could be construed as friendly touches. But yet she wondered if they meant something more or if her mind was just putting what she wished would happen in front of her. A sigh escaped her lips drawing Rogues attention back to her.
"We should probably go," he whispered, glancing down at the now slumbering exceed.
"You could stay, if you want." Lucy whispered back. "That way you won't have to wake Fro up unnecessarily and stay warm."
His eyes searched hers for a moment. "You sure you wouldn't mind?" he pressed.
"I like having you guys here."
He nodded briefly as she got up slowly to not disturb the cat and started towards her room. "Sleep well, Lucy." His voice drifted across the room and she turned to give him a shy smile.
"You too Rogue."
She still had a smile as she approached her bed, but as she turned the blankets down she stilled, narrowing her eyes as she spotted something on her pillow. She reached out and grabbed it, bringing it closer.
"A fortune cookie," She said confused. "How did that get here?" Shrugging she broke it open and held the little paper up to her eyes and gasped.
"I was lucky the day I met you." Her eyes searched the room before glancing back towards her door. "Who… how did this get here, when we were here all day?" She knew whoever was doing this was much more craftier than she'd first realized and again she wondered just who this was. Her gaze went back to her door with a wistful sigh. If only they would just tell her who they were then maybe some things could be resolved. She just didn't know how much more mystery she could take until she exploded from curiosity.
(¯`¥´¯`·.¸.:¨NIchiki ¨:.¸.·´¯`¥´¯)
