I am sorry for the delay on this story. I tend to do most of my writing on the weekends. However, I have been out of town the past two weekends so I am a little behind in my writing. Sorry, but I hope to make up for it with a little Christmas love.
This chapter has adult content. Enjoy! ; )
Chapter 29
Alex gazed around the Thanksgiving table at all of her family and friends that were gathered together enjoying the food, the wine and each other's company. She couldn't help but smile as she watched Alistair interact with her Dad and brother. Once they had accepted the truth about where Alistair was from they immediately accepted him as a member of the family and began giving him a hard time about everything which Alistair ate it up. Alex knew that for the first time in his life Alistair was a part of a family that loved and accepted him for who he was not because of something he could for them. The more time that he spent with Brandon and James the more he realized what family truly meant.
Alistair stood up and clinked his glass with a spoon. "I would like to make a toast," Alistair paused while he waited for everyone's attention. When all eyes were on him he continued, "I had heard someone once say that the love of a family was life's greatest blessing. I never really understood what that meant because I never really understood what family meant until I came here. Every single person at this table has accepted me and welcomed me into their lives without hesitation and I feel like the richest man in the world because of the people here tonight. I love each and every one of you. So if you would lift your glasses I would like to offer an old Ferelden blessing."
They all raised their glasses and Alistair continued, "May love and laughter light your days and warm your heart and home. May good and faithful friends be yours, wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world, with joy that long endures. May all life's passing seasons, bring the best to you and yours!"
A chorus of "Cheers!" resounded from all at the table and Alex winked at Alistair letting him know he had done a great job and he returned a warm gracious smile. Damn, if he wasn't the most handsome man she had ever seen. James and Matt had taken both Alistair and Anders wardrobe shopping and if there was one thing that James and Matt knew about, it was men's fashion. Both of the Ferelden Boys were looking extremely sexy these days. Alex could tell Eva was having trouble keeping her hands off of Anders who was wearing a light blue sweater under black jacket with dark jeans. Alistair was wearing a pair black jeans with a white button down shirt and grey suit vest over top of it; he looked so good she couldn't wait to rip the damn clothes right off him. She glanced at her watch…only a few more hours before she was alone with him and could have her way with him.
Her lips curved slightly as she tried to suppress the smile. Alistair leaned in, "If your thoughts are half as dirty as mine right now then it's going to be a very good night."
Her smile broadened, "I'm glad to hear we are on the same page," she whispered back.
Alistair grinned back at her, "Yes, it's going to be a very good night indeed."
Alex wanted Alistair to experience Christmas in her world so the group decided that they would head back to Ferelden the day after Christmas. Over the next month Alex, Alistair, and Anders made preparations for their trip back. The night of Thanksgiving after everyone had gorged themselves and collapsed due to turkey comas; Alex had told her family and friends about the discovery of the element Ununseptium and how between lyrium and Ununseptium they would be able to travel back and forth between the two worlds. She went on to explain the importance of Alistair returning to Ferelden to rule his country and the good that the two of them could do.
Eva had immediately insisted on traveling to Ferelden with them. She wanted to experience magic in a world where it was easier to tap into the Fade so that she could increase her understanding, knowledge and power. Of course Anders was more than thrilled with idea. Besides dealing with templars again, leaving Eva had been his biggest complaint about heading back home. Eva was thrilled with the idea of seeing Anders in a skirt and continually gave him a hard time about it; although Anders kept reminding her that they were robes.
Alex's father and brother were less than thrilled with prospect of her leaving and had fought with her adamantly about it. It wasn't until Alistair promised that Alex could come back at least twice a year to visit and he insisted that James and Brandon come to visit them in Ferelden at least twice a year. That seemed to appease them and they gave their blessing.
Over the next month, Alex and Matt were in the lab constantly working on the cure for the taint. As a pathologist, Matt was able to narrow down the effects of the taint and categorize it as an autoimmune disease. Alex then applied research that she had read about in medical journals where researchers used personalized cell therapies to manipulate and reprogram the patient's own blood cells to control the body's immune response to fight different diseases. There was a study from a southern university whose research placed a particular emphasis personalized immunotherapy for autoimmune diseases and Alex concentrated her research from the findings in that study.
The first tests that they ran on Anders and Alistair's blood were unsuccessful. Both Matt and Alex felt that they had successfully manipulated of the cells and when they placed them back in the petri dish the manipulated cells began to fight off the tainted cells. However, after time the tainted cells overwhelmed to manipulated cells and destroyed them.
Alex was becoming frustrated. She had to find a way to make this work – twenty to twenty-five years was not enough time to spend with Alistair; she needed a life time with him so she spent even more time in the lab with her head bent over a microscope. Then one night after being in the lab for almost twenty hours straight the thought came to her to add a few drops of Sienna's blood to the manipulated cells and that is when she had the breakthrough that would save Alistair, Anders' and all the Wardens' lives.
Alex stared in astonishment as Sienna's blood cells fused with Alistair's manipulated blood cells. Then she added the Sienna manipulated cells back into Alistair's tainted blood the Sienna cells began to combine with the tainted blood. The Sienna manipulated cells took control of the tainted cells so that they didn't continue to grow and spread. This was a positive sign, if the Sienna manipulated cells, or SMC as she and Matt began referring to them as, were able to sustain and maintain this amount of control over the tainted cells then in affect the Ferelden Boys would remain Grey Wardens, but the taint would never become the disease that eventually over took their bodies forcing them into the Deep Roads.
As Alex and Matt explained to Anders and Alistair what had happened with Sienna's blood they both nodded vigorously as if the pieces of the puzzle were fitting into place. "That makes perfect sense," Alistair said. "The blood of the old gods calls to and controls the taint in the darkspawn so it makes sense that our tainted blood permeated with the manipulated infused blood of an old god would be strong enough to contain our tainted blood."
Alistair leapt off his chair and swept her into his arms. "You did it, Alex. I can't believe you did. Not only have you saved us, but you have saved our entire order."
Alex laughed, "Well I didn't do it alone. I had a lot of help from Matt. Actually I couldn't have done it without him.
Alistair went over to Matt and embraced him, "Thank you, Matt. I can't thank you enough."
Matt chuckled and patted Alistair on the back, "Your welcome. It's fascinating stuff really. I'm glad I could help."
"So when do we get injected with SMC vaccine?" Anders asked.
"Well, we are finishing up a few remaining tests. If the results are positive I hope to give you your first injection right before we head back to Ferelden," Alex said.
"First injection? Ever since you drew blood from me I'm a big fan of pain," Anders whined. "How many injections do we need?" Anders asked.
"Don't be such a baby, Anders. The first will be the strongest and then you will need booster shots every few months over the next year. I will have to monitor your taint and decide how long you will need it after that," Alex replied.
"Great," Anders muttered.
"Anders, I am going to need to get my equipment back to Ferelden if I am going to use this for other Wardens. Can you place some type of undetectable extension charm on my backpack?"
Anders raised an eye brow, "Like in Harry Potter?" Alex nodded. "What is it you always tell me, 'real life isn't like they show it in the movies, Anders'," Anders said as he mimicked Alex.
"Morrigan did it when we were traveling during the Blight. It's how we managed to cart around all of our gear. She also placed a feather charm on our packs so that they were too heavy," Alistair piped in.
Alex looked at Anders smugly, "So that type of magic is beyond your talents than?"
"I didn't say that. I just liked throwing your words back at you," Anders said with a grin. "I was already planning on doing that to my back. There is no way I'm heading back to Ferelden without a year's supply of toilet paper and donuts."
Alex laughed, "You better watch what you eat, too many donuts and your backside will be as big as a house. And if recall correctly Eva likes her men's bottoms to be nice round …not fat. She may dump you for a noble with a hotter backside."
"She wouldn't," Anders declared.
"She would," Alex responded with a smirk.
xxXxx
It was Christmas Eve and as the sun sank behind the buildings Alistair and Alex walked up the path towards the old church. Alex had explained that unlike his world where the Chantry was the only religion that here in her world that there were many different religions. The religion that she had been raised in believed that Christmas was the birth of God's son and the reason for the holiday. Alex said that although she wasn't a religious person she was a spiritual person and Christmas always gave her the opportunity to connect with her spiritual side.
Alistair opened the door and stepped into the most beautiful sanctuary he had ever seen. The room was filled with the glow of hundreds of pillar candles and twinkle lights from the two large trees atop the dais. Along the walls and at the front of the church were these elaborate and stunning windows that Alex had called stained glass. It amazed him how each window was designed as a picture that told a story. At the top of the dais was a child seated at a piano accompanied by several children on violins playing the most haunting melody then a choir of children began to sing the most unforgettable song.
"This night, we pray, our lives, will show
This dream, He had, each child, still knows,
We are waiting, we have not forgotten,
On this night
On this night
On this very Christmas night"
Alistair saw Alex wipe a tear from her check. He grasped her hand and whispered, "Are you okay, Love?"
She nodded, took a moment to compose herself and then murmured, "This song was one of my Mom's favorites." He squeezed her hand offering her support. They found a seat towards the back of the church just as the Reverend stepped forward. Alistair was in such shock that the Reverend was a man that he missed half of what he said. It was so strange seeing a man up there reciting words of encouragement and promises of hope. He was finally brought back to the moment when he felt Alex nudge him and hand him a book. He heard the Reverend say, "Please turn in your hymnals to page 325."
He turned to the page as instructed and saw music notes and words on the page. The band began to play and then in unison the congregation began to sing. Alistair didn't sing along with the crowd he just listened to the symphony of voices being raised to their Maker; it was beautiful and very moving. After the song they took their seat and the Reverend spoke briefly about the importance of this day and the hope that it brings to all men's hearts. Then they stood once more to sing as each member of the congregation light the candle of the person beside them unto the whole room was basking in the warm glow of the candles as a chorus of voices sang out again. It was a very touching and Alistair was glad that Alex had brought him here to experience this.
Anders was spending the night at Eva's place so they had the apartment to themselves. They relaxed in front of the fireplace sipping wine as a grinned formed on Alex's face. She snuggled into his chest. "Alistair," she cooed.
"Hmmm," Alistair said content in the euphoria of the night.
"I know that we decided not to exchange gift until tomorrow morning, but I really want to give you one of my gifts now," Alex purred against his neck. The feel of her lips as they brushed up against his skin caused his head to spin; if she keeps doing that and she can have anything she wants.
"Didn't your father and brother say that Christmas presents were only supposed to be open on Christmas morning? They warned me that you would try to convince me to open them tonight," Alistair muttered as her lips moved up towards his ear and she slowly licked the lobe of his ear.
"We don't have to do everything my family says. They aren't here, they will never know," she moaned as she slid onto his lap facing him. Her dress rode up around her thighs and he could feel the heat that radiated from the thin material of her panties as she pressed into him."It's only one present, Alistair," she sighed as she trailed kisses back down his neck.
He pulled her closer to him, slid aside the low cut dress off of her shoulder revealing the lacy bra beneath. He feathered kisses along her collar bone down to the top of her bra. "Mmmm, I could change my mind, but you might need to do some more convincing," he moaned as his hands snaked around to her back and unhooked her bra exposing her creamy breasts. With one hand securely resting on the small of her back he brought the other hand around and lovingly cupped her breast. He ran his thumb across the nipple and it instantly hardened under his touch.
He lifted his gaze to drink in her lovely face and her soft, warm loving eyes greeted him. "I love you, Lexie." His voice was husky and it quivered slightly with emotion.
She smiled at him, "I love…" The words died on her lips as Alistair pulled her toward him and claimed her lips with his. Her lips were incredibly sweet and warm and his tongue stroked her full lips begging for entrance. She opened to him and he sank into the dark velvet of her mouth. She shuddered against him as her tongue tangled and untangled with his drawing him in deeper. Maker he needed her; like a flower needs the sun, she was his light, she was his everything. He pulled away and trailed kisses down her neck as he nibbled and licked at her sweet tasting skin.
"I could eat you up," he growled as he kissed the top of her soft breast and he felt her tremble against him. His lips reached her nipple and for a moment all he could do was stare at the perfection he was about to greedily devour. Her flawless mounds rose and fell sharply with each ragged breath she took. He gently slid his tongue over the delicate bud. She moaned his name as his mouth took in her nipple and sucked, her hips bucked sharply against him fraying another thread of his control. Maker, he wanted to bury himself in her right now.
He grazed his teeth over her nipple and then sucked hard again. Alex arched into him and his hand slid up her thigh and pressed her down against his now throbbing member; his need for her growing more and more dire.
He slid her off of his lap, stood up, laid a blanket out in front of the fireplace, took her hand and led her to blanket. He slipped the dress off her shoulders, passed her hips and as it hit the floor she stepped out of it. He lowered her down and then he quickly removed his shirt. A sinful smile spread across her lips. As he lowered himself beside he asked, "What are you smiling about?"
"At how beautiful your body is," she moaned as she pressed her hard nipples into his bare chest. A fever of desire and need ignited in him. He ran his hand up her thigh as he gazed into her eyes. Her deep blue eyes filled hunger and desire for him locked on his and held his gaze. His hand slid between her legs, grazed over the heat that was emanating from her center. He licked his tongue over her nipple in slow strokes, his eyes never leaving hers. He moved her panties aside and slipped his fingers through her slick curls and his fingers gently teased and caressed the outline of her center, but didn't penetrate her.
"Please," she moaned into his throat.
He kissed his way up her neck to her ear, "Please what?" he asked.
He continued to tease her with his fingers, but not enter her. Her breathing was becoming raspy and he took delight in watching the pleasure build in her. "I need...I need," she panted as he increased the pressure of his strokes.
"Tell me what you need, Love," Alistair whispered.
"I need to feel you inside me," she groaned into his throat.
He grinned at her, "Your wish is my command." And he kissed his way down her supple breasts and toned stomach; he slid his fingers under her panties and pulled them off. He kissed his way up the inner part of her thigh. He pressed his mouth to her lips and moaned, "Mmm, so sweet," as he stroked them apart and his fingers slipped into her wet velvet center.
"Oh God...Oh, Alistair," she moaned as her thighs opened wider inviting him in. He pushed deeper into her, his thumb stroked and caressed her outer sweet center causing her hips to press urgently against his hand as she chanted his name pleadingly.
His fingers glided in and out of her while his thumb stroked against her pulsing sweet spot. He watched as her eyes closed, her head titled back, her breast began to rise and fall with her accelerated breaths as she approached the sweet release that was coming.
He loved seeing her like this, as she writhed under his touch as he brought her to the point of uncontrollable pleasure. She was an exquisite sight to behold when she let go and was raptured in sheer bliss. He leaned forward and his tongue replaced his thumb and he watched her with exhilarating delight as the waves of ecstasy rocked her body. She collapsed against the floor gasping for breath as he placed soft kisses on her bare flesh as he moved over her.
Alex felt his throbbing bulge pressed against her thigh. She glanced down and realized that he was still wearing his pants. She smiled mischievously at him as moved her hips so that his confined member was directly at her sweet entrance. She lifted her hips to press into him and Alistair unconsciously thrust forward. She smiled again as she ran her hands down his chest to his belted waistband. She fumbled with buckle before she managed to open it. She opened the button, pulled down the zipper, slipped her hand under the band of his boxers and slowly touched the tip of erection as she slid her hand down to his base then she gently rapped her fingers around him and slid her hand back up the length of him. Alistair moaned at her touch and pressed into her hand. She stroked him again torturously slow and Alistair called out her name. She pulled her hand out of his pants and a slight whimper escaped his lips before he felt her trying to remove the encumbering garment. Alistair quickly helped her remove his pants and then he was naked beside her. Alex once again gently took him in her hand started moving her hand up and down the length of him in slow steady rhythm. Her slow gentle touch was going to be his undoing as she mercilessly teased. "Lexie, please," Alistair groaned.
She grinned devilishly at him, "Well, that sounds familiar," she whispered as she kept stroking him in the same torturous manner. She leaned forward touched his tip with her tongue before she ran it around the rim.
"Oh my sweet Andraste," he groaned as he closed his eyes in ecstasy as she took him in her velvety soft mouth, its warm wet heat threatening to destroy the last thread of his composure. The feel of her sweet mouth as it glided over him was pushing him to the brink of insanity. He was dying for her. The need was a white-hot agony that radiated through his body. "Dear Maker, Lexie, please," he groaned as he rolled on top of her. He lifted himself up and slowly rubbed the tip of his member against her, she lifted her hips to meet him and he began to enter her inch by inch, slowly filling her up. When Alex had enough of the torture she hooked her legs around his waist and pulled him deep within her with low guttural moan.
He looked down at her beautiful face as she withered beneath him. Her soft gasps and moans were pure carnal bliss. He thrust forward and her hips meet him and grinded against, he groaned as her muscled contracted around him. Alistair began to move in long, slow thrusts and he was lost in the pleasure of her body up and down his penis.
The overwhelming need to touch her more freely over took him so Alistair gripped her hips and quickly rolled her over so that she was on top of him. He looked into her gorgeous face and he watched her face shutter with desire as she rode him, her lovely breasts swayed and her dark hair cascaded around her face. Alistair reached up to caress her breasts and she leaned down so he could take her luscious nipple into his mouth; he sucked hard at it as she continued to ride him; she swirled and grinded her hips into him in a slow erotic dance. Alistair gripped her hips hard, and moved her harder and faster as he pressed up against her and drove deeper into her.
"Oh my God, yes Alistair, Love," she moaned and he felt her tighten around him. She made such a sweet keening sound as the ripples of ecstasy flooded through her. He watched her completely enraptured in sheer bliss as he finally let go and abandoned himself to the frenzied pleasure as he released into her.
Alex collapsed onto his chest panting from exhaustion. His arms encircled her and he brushed his lips against her forehead. She gently kissed his chest, "Merry Christmas, Alistair."
He kissed her forehead again and ran his fingers through her tangled hair. "Merry Christmas, Alex; you're the only gift I will ever need," he sighed as he clung to her and they drifted off to sleep under the lights of the Christmas tree both deeply content.
Author's notes – There are actually several research hospitals that are currently conducting studies that use the patient's own blood cells to manipulate and reprogram their cells to control the body's immune response to fight different diseases including cancer. For anyone that has lost someone to cancer this is very exciting news.
*The song sung in the church is the Christmas Canon and it was one of my mother's favorite songs.