The Christmas challenge at ABVH100

[mhalachai]

Christmas Challenge No. 6 from Mhalachai
Title: Midnight
Characters: Jean-Claude, Asher
Words: 100

Asher heard no sound, but he knew he was no longer alone.

"Why are you out here, mon chardonneret?" Jean-Claude asked, settling beside Asher on the snowy ledge.

"Julianna loved Christmas," Asher said, voice hollow.

Jean-Claude sighed. "I remember."

"Do you remember how she used to make us those tiny presents, and demand that we not peek early?" Asher started to pace. "Or how she insisted that we wait for her while she attended midnight mass? Or how she--"

"Asher!" Jean-Claude shouted, grabbing his friend’s shoulders. "I remember her. I could never forget her."

"Never?" Asher pleaded, eyes haunted

"Never."

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Title: Howl
Characters: Richard, Daniel... heck, the whole Zeeman clan
Words: 100
Notes: Post whatever book it is that Richard's family finds out he's a werewolf. The Zeeman family Christmas morning.

"Open mine next," Daniel said, throwing a large squishy package at Richard.

"Geeze, impatient much?" Richard teased. Just to make Daniel crazy, he slowly undid the tape on the paper.

Their mother tisked under her breath as she came back with more apple cider. "Honestly, boys, you get worse every year."

"He started it, mom," Daniel whined.

Richard pulled his gift free of the many layers of paper and held it aloft. The entire Zeeman clan fell silent, a collective intake of breath, as Richard looked past the stuffed toy wolf to his smirking younger brother.

Richard started to laugh.

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Title: Happy Chrismakah
Characters: Anita, Micah
Words: 100
Notes: Ahem.

"What do you like best about Christmas?"

Micah shrugged. "Dunno."

"Is it presents? Or the carols? Or maybe the food?" Anita leaned against him while they stared in the shop window at the holiday display.

"I don't do Christmas, Anita."

Anita pulled back. "Why not?"

"Because I'm Jewish."

"No, you're not."

Micah gave her a look.

"I mean you don't eat pork or shellfish, but I thought..."

"Uh-huh. There is also that other thing."

"What other thing?"

Micah raised his eyebrows. Anita stared at him, uncomprehending for a minute.

Then she got it. She closed her eyes, blushing.

"Oh. That."
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Title: Unwrapped
Characters: Anita, Jean-Claude
Words: 100
Notes: More fluff

"Ma petite, this box is empty."

Anita smiled. "I know."

"This is my present?" Jean-Claude raised one perfect eyebrow at the woman standing before him. She looked amazing, the seductive curve to her lips pushing Jean-Claude over the edge.

"Actually, no." Anita slowly stalked toward him. "The garter in that box was too easy to unwrap."

Jean-Claude began to suspect what she had planned. "Where is this garter now?" She was so close that he could smell the faint rush of blood under her skin.

"Unwrap me and find out," Anita whispered, giving him innocent eyes and a devilish smile.

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Title: Promise
Characters: Anita, Micha
Words: 100
Notes: Ending on an angsty note.

Anita was alone in the dark when Micah got home. "What happened?"

Anita breathed out slowly. "I called Dad, to ask if I visit over Christmas."

"What did he say?"

"That I'm no longer welcome in their house."

Micah winced. Didn't that man understand what family meant to Anita?

"So I guess I'm here for Christmas after all," Anita continued.

Micah saw tears start to slide down her cheeks. He kissed them away.

"We'll all be here," he said.

Anita nodded fiercely. "All of us, and it'll be the best Christmas ever."

Micah hugged her tightly. "I promise," he whispered.