Metro Court, Port Charles, 2021

It seems like you guys have been circling each other for years. Maybe you want to take some time to figure out why.

These were unexpected words from an even more unexpected source. And yet Anna couldn't shake them. Instead, she stood looking at Valentin and Charlotte, aware of the conflict in her – old memories of how things had been between them, newer memories of how things could be. She couldn't reconcile them; she didn't quite know how to connect now, without their mission, without the purpose of a manhunt keeping them in proximity to each other. It had been thrusting her forward, keeping them on the same page. She was coming to rely on him more and more, yet some part of her rejected that, keeping him at arm's length.

Her eyes scanned the dining room pensively. They had never talked about their feelings since Crete. Speaking of it now, however, would've felt all-too-much like excuses, and in the end, it felt like too much time had passed. The fact remained that there was a long-overdue conversation, and honestly, they should've sat down for longer than five minutes together months ago, just as friends. In the end, they were both to blame. And now she didn't know how to begin it, so she stayed quiet.

Damn it, Anna, she chided herself, you want to join them, you're not asking for a lifelong commitment. Stop being such a coward.

Walking into a den of DVX assassins felt like an easier task, but after one more moment of hesitation screwed her courage to the sticking place and walked over and threw herself on their mercy. It paid off, and she was rewarded with an offer to join the party. Valentin rose quickly and pulled out a chair for her. Ever the gentleman.

"Have a seat," he said, smiling whole-heartedly and looking back to meet her eye,

"Thank you."

Anna settled in and let her gaze fall on his face. Lately, she felt she was always looking at him for the first time. He was a decidedly fine-looking person-tall, strong-shouldered, well-featured, with a Roman nose and frank, kind eyes. Spending time with him made Anna feel stronger for the obstacles she had overcome in the last year. Rather than overwhelming her, it felt good.

Anna was careful to avoid any topics that might bring up sadness regarding the loss of Bailey, but soon they were deep in conversation. It was free and easy, which presently simmered down to a cozy, confidential chat over all that had been and was about to be in the New Year. Valentin had made good on his promise and purchased Charlotte her new horse, Blue Moon. Her trainer said she had a real chance at taking top honors at her next show jumping competition. She still loved Butterscotch, of course, but was excited to advance her skills.

The conversation became somewhat nostalgic as Charlotte started asking questions about how they met, almost as though they were at the Academy again…navigating dank, obfuscated alleyways of London, the waxy-wood smell of the Academy's oak-paneled lecture halls of the past. Throughout the trip down memory lane, she could feel Valentin's eyes on her, and a few times, she found the courage to meet them, but mostly she waited until his gaze was elsewhere so she could study him as he smiled and laughed at his daughter's questions. It was good to hear him laugh. She had feared that the loss of Bailey would push him towards darkness, but instead, he had sequestered himself with Charlotte, and the two seemed to be more bonded than ever.

"Papa, I think I do want to go look at the tree. Can we?"

"Your wish is my command, Cherie. This is your day, and we will do whatever you want. Anna, would you like to join us? Or do you have Christmas Eve plans we are keeping you from?"

He saw a flash of wistfulness in her eyes as she shook her head, and it broke his heart. She had her own losses, after all.

"Look… if you don't want to join us if you don't want to. We understand, it's just…we enjoy your company. And we…" Anna looked away, almost knowing that what Valentin would say would affect her, even before he cleared his throat, saying, "we don't want you to feel alone. You know, after such a rough year."

Her smile was a pale shadow of her usual sparkle, "That's very kind of you."

"I sense a 'but'…" he posited as they walked to the elevator.

"No 'but's. I don't have any plans. And I enjoy your company too. So yes, a walk in the fresh air sounds better than heading home. I'd love to join you."

Valentin did a double-take, almost as if he was going to ask whether it really was as simple as that but decided against it. It was Anna; why did he even allow himself to be surprised by her anymore?

"Great," was all he let himself say as they all three entered the elevator and the doors closed behind them. It was comfortable and comforting when Valentin put a hand on her shoulder, and she glanced up behind with that smile that could melt a thousand frozen hearts.


Rice Plaza, Port Charles

The day had begun somberly in gray clouds, and a dusting of snow had fallen, but it had melted quickly, and the sky had cleared. The 24th of December was now a frosty but gracious evening, full of bewitching lights and shadows thrown from the strands of lights that draped the ornament reflected the light making it feel warm despite the cold, and all-around was the smell of fresh pine and greenery. There was the soft scent of cinnamon that Valentin realized was her. He breathed deep as they watched the Carolers serenading the people who milled about Rice Plaza, enjoying themselves and taking in the sights. The public space was a delight to the eye and the spirit. All were decidedly merry and bright.

"That's a view worth looking at. It's beautiful," Anna sighed, taking in the holiday magic before them.

"Very," said Valentin softly, who only had eyes for her.

Valentin took a step back to get a better view of Anna and Charlotte framed by the light of the tree. His heart seized in his chest as he watched Charlotte put her hand in Anna's, and then his heart melted like the snowflakes on their lashes as Anna smiled down at Charlotte and squeezed her hand. They all stood in silence. Valentin was keenly aware of the exquisite effect of strings of soft white light falling on the faces of the two people in the world that mattered to him above all others. If he had come here and seen nothing but just that, he would go home satisfied.

"Look, papa! Mistletoe!" Charlotte exclaimed. She pointed above their heads to a lighted garland that circled the tree. Stuck through it were sprigs of bright green with glossy white berries.

"Well, look at that." He leaned down and dropped a kiss on the top of his daughter's golden head and then hugged her tight. Charlotte wrapped her arm around him, and then her head perked up, and she leaned to look around him and began to wave wildly with excitement.

"Papa, I see my friend Paige over there. She's the one that asked if I could go skating with her. Can I?

"Of course, you can. And here is some money for skating and hot chocolate if you want. Once Yuri is done walking the plaza, I'll send him to the rink. Just don't leave the square, alright? "

"Thank you! I will."

They watched her dart away, and Anna noticed as Valentin's eye looked upward once more, then they flitted down to fix on hers with a lopsided smirk, and her breath caught in her throat. She was feeling a little rattled. Mistletoe was all fun and games until it waved over their heads. If it had been anyone other than Valentin, Anna wouldn't have thought twice about a peck on the cheekーor even a real kiss. But when she turned and locked eyes with the one person she desperately wanted to kiss, she realized just how intimate the moment was. He gave a half-smile and then leaned and left a feather-soft kiss at the top of her cheekbone. Anna's hand touched her cheek, and he smiled tenderly at her.

"Merry Christmas, Anna."

The heat in his voice packed an unavoidable punch. His eyes met hers, and his amusement was clearly visible. Who knew a simple holiday phrase accompanied by her name could sound so sensual? His voice was intoxicating, drawing her in. She felt the need to move closer, and He let her sway into him, his smile adoring. Her stomach had fluttered in a way she wasn't entirely familiar with.

He smiled at her, and there was a teasing look in his eye. "If you want me to kiss you again, you just have to ask." He moved to stand in front of her to his previous place before her and then took a step even closer. "No mistletoe is needed to compel my kisses."

Clearing her throat a little and raising an eyebrow, she managed to look him in the eye again, the blush of her cheeks being the only sign of her now awakening arousal.

"Then come kiss me."

His expression warmed into a knowing look that made her insides taut, and her teeth started to worry her bottom lip as the excitement built. Her hands slid up his chest, traced the lapels of his coat, and finally landed on his cashmere scarf knotted at his throat. Meanwhile, his hands had settled on her hips, pulling her closer. A warmth spread through her. Every time he was close, she felt so many butterflies, especially before a kiss. Her whole body knew that this was going to be different from their other kisses. As he lowered his head and their lips touched, it was a bit more tentative than one might expect from two people who had been dancing around each other for as long as they had.

And yet what a kiss, so malleable and yet insistent, raising every hair on her arm, coaxing her body closer until her hand had thoughtlessly drifted to the back of his head. The touch of her fingertips teasing along his scalp made Valentin ravenous. Her cheeks and nose were cold, but her lips and breath were warm. He dared to caress her jaw, pull her in by the waist, teasing her mouth open to taste her again. It was all he'd wanted to do since he'd walked out of the hospital: oh how many times he had nearly pulled her into the corridor, to press against her impatiently and demand that they finish what they'd started. It was a never-ending stream of unfinished business, thoughts, and feelings that got beneath his skin and played upon him when he least expected it to. The mistletoe was simply a harmless excuse. A tradition, he'd noticed, that Anna was more than happy to take advantage of.

When their lips broke apart, their eyes remained locked on each other. She could feel his ragged breath on her face as his forehead pressed to hers. The first time he had kissed her, she hardly knew what to think. The second she blamed on the charm of a Greek tavern and the sentimentality of memories. It was the doubt, the self-consciousness, the awareness of what she was doing – what was she thinking? In the town square, of all places? Hell, was it wise to encourage him when she wasn't sure that their brief romantic encounters hadn't riddled their friendship with too many holes to stay afloat? She wanted to blame tradition for what she was doing, but the excuse was thin. She wanted his warm greatcoat-covered body against hers, and a soft sigh of contentment rose in her throat. Valentin's nearness had affected her more than usual tonight. And it seemed he had been similarly affected. So much so that neither of them cared that they had an audience. She reluctantly let go of his coat lapel, and her hands fell to her sides.

"I should go and let you and Charlotte enjoy the rest of your Christmas Eve." She could say nothing of the kiss they just shared, and she was grateful that Valentin was willing to join her in her charade that another wouldn't someday follow.

"You spending it with us has made it particularly enjoyable. Anna, you know that you have been one of the brightest parts of my whole year."

"You might want to take off the rose-colored glasses you look at me through. Spending time with me this year only got you abducted and shot."

He reached for her gloved hand and pressed it against his heart. "And I'd do it again," he smiled at her rakishly. "Besides, it had nothing to do with you, really. I feel like that bullet was a matter of predestination."

"You're impossible."

"And you're beautiful," said Valentin, smiling into her eyes.

"Flatterer," was all the reply she could give with words, but she could feel the flush in her cheeks gave a more in-depth reply. Valentin wasn't shy about handing out compliments, but he paid them with such graciousness and heartfelt looks that the woman they were bestowed on felt that she was being offered a queen's tribute. It was difficult not to be caught up in the thrill of it, even when she should be wiser.

"No darling, I'm only truthful. Isn't that what dearest friends are for?"

"There was a time when you'd hardly have counted me among your dearest friends," she said dryly. "I remember the Christmas Eve Emma and I spent at Wyndemere when you first came to town. I was trying to figure out who you were and what you wanted. And I was so furious because you insisted on being enigmatic! I didn't imagine then that I'd ever kiss you under the mistletoe one day."

"Oh, well, that's another instance of predestination. Or maybe I should make a pithy comment about coming full circle." laughed Valentin.

"Fortunately for us, human nature is not obliged to be consistent."

"True enough. If life were to stop short right now, it would be worthwhile knowing that I can count you as a friend. Anna, I meant it when I said that I would go wherever you go. I will be there whenever you need me and will be waiting patiently until you do. Patience isn't easy for me, but then nothing that matters is ever easy. And you matter, Anna. You will always matter to me."

He stroked a hand across his face and tempered his breathing, willing his blood to calm down –He felt it, the bitter-sweet pain of being so close to her and yet so very far apart. He cared too much, more than a person who was just a friend should, and yet, a friend he was. It wasn't was all new to Valentin. All he was familiar with as a Cassadine was a grasping jealous kind of love, one that made him capable of smothering the object of his desire for fear of losing them. When he thought of Nina now, he could see clearly how twisted, sycophantic, damn near obsessive his love could be. And yet what Anna made him feel was almost carefree and, dare he say it, wholesome. Grand gestures, money, power, none of this mattered to Anna Devane, nor would it impress her. A clasp of a hand, a friendly ear, and a glass of whiskey were all that was needed to draw her in. Instead of trying to bind her to him with lies or deception somewhere along the line, he had lost himself, becoming dependent on her in a way she had never been with him. She had dazzled him with her brilliance and left him spun about, literally changed him into somebody new, and she hadn't even tried. He would graciously accept any decision Anna might make, of course, but if she cast him back into that boring, mundane world where they stayed out of each other's confidence, he would feel the loss.

The clocktower bells chimed cheerfully, shattering their internal reveries with the sound of midnight.

"Happy Christmas, Valentin," she said. "I should head home. Give my farewells to Charlotte. Thank you for letting me join you tonight" She reached to squeeze his hand, and her fingers lingered for a moment, and then she turned away.

"Anna, what are you running from?"

She didn't turn around at first. The atmosphere suddenly thick with the shared thought, the secret foremost in their minds, she stood there rooted in place. Closing her eyes and chastising herself for the hundredth time for what she had done – what she was doing. She wasn't lying – true – but she was hiding something. She hid how much he meant to her and how much she wanted him. And she didn't know how to stop.

With that composed smile and a slight shake of her head, she finally turned that she knew full well that she wasn't fooling him or herself.

"Goodnight." was all she said, a smile on her face as if nothing had ever happened. As if he hadn't kissed her in public under the mistletoe.

One day, Valentin thought to himself, one day, he would get through that carefully constructed shell and reach the woman underneath. The way she looked at him. God, the way she was looking back behind brown eyes that admitted that all he suspected was true, she had doubts about staying closed off to him every day. But he graciously followed her unwritten cues.

Then, on impulse, he asked, "Can I… hug you goodbye, Anna?"

Though surprised, Anna didn't hesitate in her answer.

"Of course, you can."

Even though she couldn't bring herself to speak aloud of their closeness, she truly was powerless to refuse it. He closed the gap between them in a big, all-encompassing embrace. She hugged him tightly, and Valentin found himself sinking into her arms, memorizing the way her fingers spread across his upper back.

"Thank you," he whispered, and Anna felt the warmth of Christmas all over again.

It was a feeling she never wanted to lose.