ADVENT STORIES FOR
DECEMBER 3

CLARK/LEX

Title: "Merry Christmas, Mr. President!"
Author: MadByrd
Category: PWP, holiday ficlet
Fandom: Smallville
Pairing: Clark/Lex
Feedback: Craved like hot chocolate on a cold winter's day. Send some to: mreddy@nf.sympatico.ca  -- and don't forget the marshmallows :-)
Rating: R for blatant m/m slash
Summary: But... that would imply there's an actual plot.
Spoilers & Whatnot: No spoilers unless you don't even know who Clark Kent and Lex Luthor are and have never heard of Smallville. (Let me guess: you're a resident of the far side of the moon.)
Warnings: Never, *ever* give a license to a man who drives a sleigh and plays with elves. Unless the sleigh's a Ferrari, his name is Lex and the "elf" sitting on his lap is a 6 foot-2 green eyed Kryptonian. Dressed in tight blue jammies and a sexy red cape. In which case you are required by law to drop to your knees and drool.
Notes: Nika & her muse did the beta, any mistakes they didn't catch are all mine. I've been informed there is a word of dialogue that Lex simply would not use, see if you can spot it. My excuse? He's been watching old movies and is way over the legal eggnog limit. <bg> Oh, and this snippet was written for the Slash Advent Calendar Challenge situated at: http://www.kardasi.com/Advent 
Disclaimers: I asked Santa Claus if I could have the real ones but he said they already belong to somebody else. So he gave me these versions instead ::sticks tongue out at lawyers:: and they're ever so much more fun.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, MR. PRESIDENT

::horrible off-key singing:: "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire..."

"I'll roast *your* nuts next time I catch you checking out Bruce Wayne's ass."

"I did *not* check out his ass."

"Did so. I saw you."

::giggles:: "In the library?"

"X-ray vision, remember?"

"It was only just that once. ::pout:: "He was asking for it, prancing around in all that skintight black leather." ::sulk:: Besides, what about that leggy brunette ... Lola something-or-other, it starts with an L."

"Lois Lane." ::exasperated sigh:: I told you already, she's the Daily Planet's new society columnist. The one who keeps pestering me to do an exclusive interview."

::snicker:: ::mutter:: ::snerk::

"Whaddya mean she'd rather do me? Lex Luthor! She's a married woman! And I'm a married man. ::smooch:: A *happily* married man.

"Really?"

::smooch:: "Really." ::smooch:: "Truly" :: smooch:: "Cross my heart and hope to die."

WHAP!

"Hey! What'd you do that for?"

::silence::

"Oh. *That*. But it wasn't my fault, honest."

::icy glare::

"Well it wasn't. I'm no expert, how was I supposed to know those weren't real rubies in her earrings? You *know* what red Kryptonite does to me. And *she* pushed *me* under that mistletoe."

::sad puppy eyes:: "You don't love me any more. ::sniffle:: You want a...a sweet young thing with plenty of hair. And bazongas...*big* bazongas.

"Sweetheart, don't say that. I do love you, I'll always love you. You're the only one I'll ever want." ::rustle:: ::creak:: ::moan:: "Besides, her big bazongas couldn't hold a candle to your Washington Monument."

"You'd better not be saying that just to get your wicked way with me, Superman. I'll have you know I'm a respectable citizen. A pillar of the community."

::nibble:: ::lick:: ::bite:: "I've got *your* pillar right here, baby."

::pant:: "Ohhh... Clark...there...like that." ::gasp:: ::squeal:: "Yes! Virginia, there really *is* a Santa Claus!"

::super-duper smoochies:: "Uh-huh. Merry Christmas, Mr. President. Now be a good little boy, why don't you, and fuck old Santa's brains out."

#

Lex gave it his very best shot, after all he had ten years of practice under his belt. As for the Secret Service Agents across the hallway...

"Nuts! They're at it again. Anyone'd think they're still honeymooners."

::snicker:: "How much you wanna bet they don't make matchsticks outta ol' Abe Lincoln's bed this time? They say that's why he finally quit hauntin' the place, too much bloody racket."

KA-THUNK!

"Who cares? Shut up, Louie, and deal the cards."

END
 

HARRY/SNAPE

Title: Answer to a Prayer
Author: Michelle
FB ADDY: michellemotu@yahoo.ca
Rating: PG
Pairing: Harry/Snape
Fandom: Harry Potter
Disclaimer. I don't own Harry Potter, Severus Snape or anything in the Harry Potter Universe.
Note: Part of the Slash Advent Calendar Challenge situated at: http://www.kardasi.com/Advent

ANSWER TO A PRAYER

It was a moonless night and the stars were exceptionally bright, especially over the blanket of snow that covered the grounds of Hogwart's school of Witchcraft and Wizardy.

It was three o'clock in the morning; there were very few people actually up to see one of the universes truly beautiful light shows.

One such person was Harry Potter. Harry was the most famous wizard in the world but no one, not even his best friends truly knew him. As unbelievable as it may seem it was his ex-Potions Professor Severus Snape who knew him best. At one time that would have been enough to depress him; now he considered himself the luckiest man on earth.

On this magical, majestic night Harry felt torn, the young hero had experienced more of the nasty side of life then the good, he was far from the sweet, innocent boy almost every one thought he was. He had grown up without love and his greatest wish had to been to be love, and now in less then ten hours he was about to have all dreams come true.

Harry was completely happy for the first time in his life and he was terrified that this was too good to be true, something would happen to take it all away, it usually did.

Harry was sitting on the windowsill looking out at the stars, one leg bent up to his chest, the other dangling outside the window unheeding of the slight chill in the air. He counted himself lucky that the traffic from the snogging sessions ended an hour ago. For the moment Harry smiled, he was probably the only person to actually use the Astronomy tower for star gazing this night.

Looking at the stars always put things in perspective for him. They made him realize that with all the vastness of space he was just a small spec in the big picture; but not insignificant, for even the smallest spec could shine brightly.


Severus Snape had never been a man to seek out the company of others, he had spent the majority of his life alone. That had changed little more then a year ago, in Harry Potter's second year, when he had taken the biggest risk in his life and confessed his feeling to the boy-who-lived.

It turned out it wasn't such a risk after all; Harry not only returned his feelings but also lavished Severus with love. And at noon today they were to be married, their love proclaimed to the world.

He had awoken earlier to an empty bed and knew automatically where to find his lover. It was the reason why the Potions Master was climbing the stairs to the Astronomy tower at 3 o'clock in the morning.

Severus paused when he reached the Tower room, the door was opened just enough for him to fit through. There was a soft flickering glow coming from said door way. Severus silently slipped through and froze at the breath taking sight that awaited him.

There was Harry, his Harry, looking so magnificently beautiful that Severus was breathless.

The younger man had his face turned to the stars allowing Severus to drink his fill of the wondrous beauty. Candlelight danced across Harry's wonderfully exposed skin, he was only wearing shorts and a tank top, turning it dappled gold. His long lean, muscular legs, only one of which Severus could see, were raised, so Severus could catch a glimpse of firm perfectly curved buttocks, only enhanced by the tight black bicycle shorts.

Harry's arms were hugging the leg Severus so admired; they were gorgeous arms, muscular and toned ending in strong hands with long tapered, skilled, very skilled fingers. With the side view Severus could appreciate the flatness of Harry's stomach and the sense of power in his shoulders. Even Harry's sinfully messy ebony hair was tipped in gold from the firelight, held Severus enthralled.

He must have made some sound because suddenly Harry turned bringing both legs around and slowly stood to face his love.

Giving Severus a gentle yet sad smile Harry spoke. "It is truly beautiful this morning Sev, a perfect beginning to my favorite Holiday."

Severus closed the distance to enfold Harry in his secure embrace. "Then why do you look so sad?" Severus asked softly.

Harrr turned in his lover's arms so they were both looking up at the stars, his hands moving to entwine with Severus'"

"I was thinking about my childhood. I used to hate Christmas; my earliest memories were of being locked up and hearing Dudley complain that twenty presents weren't enough. For those earliest years I thought Christmas was about superficial glitz, presents and greed."

"Then in school I heard the Christmas Story. I was entranced. How one child could mean so much to so many." Harry paused to draw in a ragged breath.

Severus tightened his arms around his soon to be husband.

Harry leaned his head on Severus' shoulder. "But what truly amazed me about the story was Joseph. This man takes responsibility for a child that wasn't even his blood and not only does he accept baby Jesus but he loves him."

Harry rubbed his head against Severus in affection trying not to remember how his own blood treated him. "That one piece of the story made it a miracle for me. How this simple man was given this special child and instead of treating him like a freak he loved him as his own. "

"For a child who grew up unloved and treated like a freak, when he wasn't being beaten or ignored... It gave me hope. I began to pray to Joseph, not that I knew any Prayers, but I always asked for the same thing; someone to love me."

Harry turned once more untangling his fingers from Severus' and encased Severus beloved face with his strong yet gentle hands. "It took a while but my prayers were finally answered. Not in the way I expected, but in a much better way. You Severus are the answer to my prayers.

Severus looked down at Harry's earnest face, tears prickling his eyes and fell in love all over again. "I love you Harry, more the I have ever loved anyone or anything and if I am the answer to your prayers then you are definitely the answer to mine.

Severus leaned down as Harry rose on his toes, their lips met half way and joined an kiss that chased away all fears and doubts and left now doubt that they were indeed the answer to each others prayers.

The Beginning.

KIRK/SPOCK

AUTHORS: Sara and Singer
TITLE: Souls Reunited
RATING: NC-17
SUMMARY: Suffering from a severed lifebond, Kirk retreats to Iowa and only Spock can heal him.
DISCLAIMER: Kirk, Spock and the entire Star Trek Universe belong to Paramount/Viacom. Don't bother suing me, I don't have much.
NOTE: Part of the Slash Advent Calendar Challenge situated at:
http://www.kardasi.com/Advent
FEEDBACK ADDRESS: sara_merry99@yahoo.com, any and all feedback welcome.
PAIRING: Kirk/Spock
FANDOM: Star Trek: TOS
BETAS: Singer, my amazing beta, was so helpful with this one she's getting co-author credit. :) And much thanks to JM who read it on short notice and pointed out a big problem to fix.

SOULS REUNITED

Jim Kirk sat on the floor in front of the fire, arms pulling his knees to his chest. Lost in his loneliness and pain, he barely saw the dancing flames. He was in Iowa, hoping to escape from his agony. The farmhouse was a refuge he sought instinctively. Once in a while it even helped.

Spock was alive again, restored by Genesis and the fal-tor-pan. The moment that Spock's katra was restored to his body, Kirk felt it like a sizzling spark in his mind. Nothing in his life compared to the second of joy he knew when he felt Spock's restoration. On the heels of joy came blinding pain, as the numbness of Spock's absence gave way to the aching *wrongness* of a bond half restored. Kirk felt as though he were bleeding to death, hemorrhaging out his life and his soul through the ripped remains of the once vital bond. The mental disciplines Spock taught him were all he had to get through the next day, the next hour, the next minute...

They returned to Earth, they went back in time, they saved the whales. They saved everyone. He and Spock were friends again, comfortable with each other.

Just friends. Just comfortable. Kirk rested his head on his knees, holding back tears. He should be happy, dammit. Spock was alive.

He wanted, *needed*, his bondmate back, not just his friend. He didn't want to force anything or to put pressure on Spock. He knew that if he told Spock what they had been to each other, Spock would allow him to ... He shuddered. He didn't want to be *allowed* to love Spock, to make love to him, as though it were a duty the Vulcan were tolerating. He needed Spock to need him, to want him as fiercely as he wanted Spock. Sometimes it was too much to bear having Spock close enough to touch while his own soul still bled away into nothingness.

Jim lifted his head and looked around the room. The house felt large and empty. Dead. The only light, the only warmth, was from the fire in front of him.

He walked to the window and watched the snow fall over the farm. After some considerable time staring, he saw the distinctive sparkles of someone transporting into the courtyard. Before the figure fully materialized, he recognized Spock.

He rushed to the door and threw it open, calling out, "Spock, come inside before you freeze!" A painful mixture of elation and sorrow squeezed his heart and moistened his eyes.

Spock walked quickly to the house, shoulders set stiffly, his breath pluming in the frosty air. "Admiral, I am pleased I found you here."

After he was inside and the door shut against the cold, Jim asked, "Is there some emergency? Why wasn't I contacted by communicator?"

Spock shook his head. "There is no emergency. I wish to speak with you."

Kirk raised his eyes to meet Spock's. "What can I do for you?" He tried to keep hope and longing out of his voice, out of his heart. He led Spock over to the fire, inviting him to sit on the soft, woolen blanket in front of it. "I apologize. I wasn't expecting visitors and didn't turn on the house's power system. All we have for heat is the fire."

"It is adequate." Spock knelt on the blanket and stared into the fire. "Admiral...Jim, I would like to know the nature of our relationship before my death." Kirk's breath caught, the memory of Spock dying in the reactor room, and the agony of their bond being ripped from him, slammed back. He gasped softly. Spock didn't appear to notice. "When my katra was restored to my body, I immediately felt you. I knew you, even when I did not know my parents. I do not know why. The healers helped me regain my memories but much was passed over. I believe that many memories have been left locked away until the healing process has proceeded to a point where I am capable of assimilating the information."

Jim was wary. Not of Spock, who would never intentionally hurt him, but of his own need, his own longing. He was wary of hope, which could cut as sharply as knives. "Do you remember anything about us? About me?"

"We've known each other for 20.68 years. I remember ..." Spock paused, his eyes closed. He steepled his fingers, deep in thought. "Your arrival on the Enterprise when I granted you permission to come aboard... I remember... the Tholian incident..." Spock paused and looked at Kirk. "I remember when I thought I had killed you at the koon-ut-kalifee..."

Jim returned the look without blinking, tense in every muscle, forcing himself to be still. "Is that all you remember, Spock?"

"Admiral, I could recount for you the records of every mission ..." Spock stopped. "But ..."

Jim watched Spock's face and could read the almost infinitesimal signs of frustration that he knew from a lifetime of studying that beloved face. "But what?" he whispered, softly.

For an infinite moment Spock sat silent. "But ... I feel the most important part of my past is contained in the memories that are still locked away. I have been warned that I could cause myself injury if I force the issue. However, I thought if you could tell me what you remember, I could learn what is missing without danger to myself."

Jim was quiet for a moment. Spock was asking him to give voice to his agony, to speak out loud what he could hardly bear to contemplate in the screaming silence of his own heart. "I will," Jim said, not even able to think of refusing. "But please understand that we don't need to have the same relationship now that we had then. I don't want anything from you that you're not willing to give."

Spock raised an eyebrow.

Jim drew in a deep breath and expelled it, rubbing his eyes with his fingers. He dropped his hands back into his lap and said matter-of-factly, "We were bondmates for fourteen years." Spock shoulders jerked and his eyes widened. "You are my t'hy'la and I was yours..." A tear slid down his cheek. Spock's fingers twitched, but Jim wiped the moisture away. "Our bond was strong. You once told me that we seemed like one soul with two bodies. Making love with you....," Jim paused, gathering himself, and continued, "was as essential as breathing or eating to me. And, I think, to you. You loved me." He fell silent, not caring about the tears rolling over his cheeks. He slumped, his head falling onto his raised knees, and wrapped his arms around himself, trying to warm the chill in his heart.

"My mother once said that without emotion memory loses perspective," Spock whispered. "You have told me of the emotions I held for you but I don't feel them now. I merely know the words." His hands clenched into fists on his knees. "This is intolerable. My balance is lost and it pains me. I must be who I was," Spock stared into the fire, "but I don't know how."

In a soft voice, Jim asked, "What would happen if we attempted a mind meld? Would it be dangerous?"

Spock looked at Jim with hooded eyes. "Possibly. I am not fully recovered and my discipline is not what it should be. We could both be hurt." He steepled his forefingers together again and rested his chin on them. "For myself, I am willing to accept the risk. I find this half life unbearable."

Jim ached to hear Spock speak his pain so bluntly. He reached out and gently touched Spock's hands. "I will do anything for you, Spock."

Spock nodded and reached toward the meld points on Jim's face, fingers spread, and paused inches from contact. "Jim, I am ... afraid."

Jim's gaze locked with Spock's own lost one. "Me too. Do it." He leaned into Spock's fingers. Spock breathed deeply, closed his eyes, and said the ancient words.

Jim was back in the reactor room, Spock dying in front of him. He felt again the physical, mental and spiritual anguish of their bond ripping apart at the moment of Spock's death. The shock of pain rocked them both. Somewhere, one of them, or perhaps both, screamed, "No! Don't leave me!" Jagged shards of memories swirled chaotically about them, a whirlwind of experiences from one and a hail of inchoate emotions from the other forming a seething maelstrom. Through it all, Jim could sense Spock's lifeforce, separated from him by the barrier of their mutual agony.

"SPOCK!"

Jim flailed, needing to reach him somehow, needing him more than ever, but never had Spock's mind been so disordered! He realized that the careful barriers left by the healers were tumbling down all at once. Spock's unprotected spirit was being buffeted by the chaos, buried under the shards like the devastating sandstorms of Vulcan swallowing whole outposts.

"Jim?"

Jim snarled and struggled against the soulwinds shaking them both. His aura flared with fierce determination. He 'looked' down at his naked metaphysical body, the light almost too bright to bear. He flung one golden arm out into the chaos. "Spock! Take my hand!!" He reached with every battered sense he had, straining to find Spock, finding nothing but the storm. "SPOCK!" He saw something. A blue spark...growing...until Jim realized a hand glowing with brilliant blue fire parted the darkness, reaching for his own. He reached with everything within him. Spock's face appeared, violet flames in his eyes as he grasped Jim's hand. "I have found you, t'hy'la." Spock pulled them together and calm enveloped them...the eye of the storm cradled their spirits....as they hung in the vaults of their minds, pillars of flame, golden and cerulean, intertwined.

The painful emptiness inside both of them was replaced with a rushing stream of love and need and belonging that flowed between them like a great current. Kirk felt along the newly reforming bond, reaching for Spock, finding him in a blaze of ecstasy.

Jim's love, longing, desire, admiration, adoration, and respect, surged through the mind touch, tangled up with memories of the two of them, playing chess, Spock injured on Gamma Trianguli VI, Kirk confessing his love, Spock's departure for Gol, V'Ger, the joy of the first time they made love...

Spock's answering memories poured forth, clasping hands with Kirk in sickbay, a shore leave on Vulcan, a special evening at their house in San Francisco...as the memories flowed between them faster and faster it became impossible to tell who was producing them. Jim never knew which of them brought forth the memory of their bonding.

They pulled out of the meld slowly. Jim opened his eyes and looked at Spock. The black eyelashes were spiky with gathered tears. The corners of Jim's eyes crinkled with a tiny smile, though his own eyes were wet as well. He sent a pulse of love along the newly reborn bond and Spock gasped slightly, his eyes holding his pleasure and rejoicing.

Jim spoke, softly, "Parted from me and never parted."

"Never and always touching and touched," Spock said, completing the ritual pledge. His eyes searched Jim's face. "From the moment I saw you, I knew you should be mine. I have been drawn to you, yet it has been painful to have you near. I now understand why these things are so"

Kirk closed his eyes. "Painful? I'm sorry."

When he felt hot fingers gently stroking his cheek, Kirk's eyes flew open. Spock shook his head very slightly. "Don't be sorry, Jim. I lost you just as surely as you lost me." Spock's fingers traced over Kirk's lips. "And I have suffered as well. Though not as much as you, I think. I did not know what I had lost, at least, just that I had lost something ... essential."

Spock pressed his lips against Jim's, a soft, delicate kiss that was over before Jim could react to it. Spock spoke softly, "I love thee, t'hy'la."

Eyes glittering with gathered tears, Jim replied, "And I love thee."

Spock kissed him again, long and lingering. Kirk leaned forward into the kiss -- the feel of Spock's mouth opening to him and their tongues touching took thought away from him in a dazzling rush of joy. Suddenly, instantly, he was fully hard. He moaned and, without letting their lips part for a moment, pushed Spock back until he was laying on the blanket with Jim pressed up against his side.

One hand opened Spock's uniform jacket, while the other wrapped around Spock's head and fingered an ear tip. Spock made a small noise in his throat at the touch and reached a hand up to Jim's waist, sliding under his sweater and stroking the soft skin he found there.

The warm fingers accompanied by cold air made Jim inhale sharply at the contact and he pulled away from the kiss. "Spock. You'll be cold here. We should..." He stopped with a gasp when Spock's fingers found a nipple and pinched sharply.

"You will keep me warm, t'hy'la," Spock said softly, his lips moving across Jim's with the words, sending a shiver through Jim's body. Jim moaned and pressed into another kiss. He had been starving for Spock's kisses for months and each one was like a feast.

Kirk helped Spock sit up and removed his jacket and, breaking the kiss for a lonely second, his turtleneck shirt. He ran his fingertips down Spock's chest, from the hollow at the base of the throat to the waistband of his pants; it was a simple caress, but it made Spock moan and arch up toward him. Kirk smiled at the unexpected reaction and repeated the touch with a long, slow glide of his tongue. Kirk savored the taste and feel of Spock's skin, softer than he remembered it being.

"Ohhh, Jim." Spock cried as his hands clutched at the blanket underneath them as he fought for control. Jim nibbled along the edge of Spock's ribcage and then up to an olive nipple. When his teeth grazed the hard bud, nipping gently, Spock groaned and his head thrashed from side to side.

Jim pulled away and smiled, one hand supporting his weight and the other resting gently on Spock's belly. He could feel Spock's panting breaths and the muscles twitching under his hand. Jim leaned down and licked an elegant ear from soft lobe to firm point, then whispered, "You're so sensitive." He began exploring the shape of Spock's ear with lips and tongue and slid his hand from Spock's belly down, over his trousers, to the hard cock straining against the fabric.

Spock raised his hips to press himself more firmly into Kirk's hand, making a small noise in the back of his throat. Jim abandoned the tempting ear to kiss his way along the tendons in the long neck, gave a swirling lick in the hollow at the base of Spock's neck, and then peppered kisses over a firm, black-furred pectoral. Each touch, each lick, each kiss brought a new sound from Spock, moans and pants and small mewing noises, like a kitten.

The noises drove Kirk wild and he suddenly needed *more*. He sat up abruptly and tore off the rest of Spock's clothes and his own and lay down full length on top of his lover. They both groaned at the joy of their skin touching over their whole bodies and began simultaneously to thrust against each other. Very quickly, Spock shouted and his cock throbbed and shot his cum between their bellies.

Jim bit the inside of his cheek to stop his own orgasm. Gathering up Spock's hot fluid Jim coated his cock and his fingers and began to stretch Spock's opening. He gripped his cock hard, backing his arousal down a notch, and forced himself to remember that, no matter how familiar, this was a virgin body he was preparing to enter. He was as thorough as possible, gently stretching the hard muscle with his fingers until Spock moaned and pushed back against him.

Kirk groaned at that and lifted Spock's knees, spreading and opening him, and pressed his cock into Spock's passage, almost overwhelmed by the gripping heat and tightness. He entered slowly, with short thrusts, until he was fully seated. He looked down at Spock laying under him, his face completely open in passion and began to thrust deep and hard.

Spock moved in his mind as he moved in the Vulcan's body and they shared their sensations and emotions. He was surrounded and supported by Spock's love and the joy that they both felt was like a bottomless ocean. Jim could feel himself moving inside Spock, and could feel himself being penetrated and filled. He felt his own bliss, and Spock's. The pleasure multiplying as it flowed between them.

It was more than Jim could take, emotionally and physically, and he thrust into Spock once, twice and came screaming, "Spock!!". He felt Spock shudder under him and come again with a wordless cry. He felt the shudder and the orgasm as though in his own body.

They rested in each others bodies and minds, being healed by the flow of energy and life between them, recovering from their wounds. They slowly returned to themselves and held each other close. No words were necessary, all that they needed to know flowed between them through the bond.

When Jim felt Spock tensing with the effort of not shivering with the cold, he got up and fed the fire. Spock's warm brown eyes watched as Kirk gathered their clothes and cleaned them both off with a soft cloth. The touch of the washcloth on Spock's stomach caused the muscles there to bunch and twitch.

Kirk smiled, then stood and started pulling on his clothes. "Spock, you've never been so sensitive before."

Spock nodded and picked up his shirt, but did not put it on. "Indeed. The climate of Genesis was milder than that of Vulcan." He moved closer to the fire for the warmth and considered. "I would speculate that formerly my skin was toughened by the sun, wind, and heat of the desert."

Jim sat down behind Spock and wrapped his arms around the lean chest. Jim idly ran a finger down Spock's side. Spock let out the slightest of moans and Jim chuckled. "I like it."

"I, too, find the sensation most pleasant," Spock said, resting his head on Jim's shoulder and relaxing into his arms.

Jim held his bondmate tightly to him and his soul soared with Spock's on their joy. He sent a wave of love through the bond and felt Spock's own love in response. He looked around the house, marveling at how alive it seemed now, almost humming with potential and energy. All was as it should be.

END

SPIKE/XANDER

Title:  We Wish You a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Author: Witch Hazel
RATING: G
Pairing: Spike/Xander
Fandom: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Disclaimer. All characters herein are from "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," and are created and owned by Joss Whedon.  Not me.  Joss is a god.
Note: Part of the Slash Advent Calendar Challenge situated at:
http://www.kardasi.com/Advent
Feedback Email address: jaiken2002@aol.com
Note. This is a dialogue only story I thought I'd try for a challenge.  It is a first-time story, intended to be contemporary with the current television season.  I hope you enjoy it in the holiday spirit!
Beta: Min was the most awesome beta-reader in the world and improved my story 10-fold.

WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR

"So,  you got a date for New Years?"

"Go to hell."

"Right.  I have a reason for asking by the way."

"And here I was thinking you just found my life endlessly fascinating."

"Uh huh.  Living in your parents' basement, bowling on Monday nights, watching 'Smallville' on Tuesdays to fuel your superhero fantasy, and planning on ringing in the New Year with a six-pack of Rolling Rock and your left hand.  Keeps me on the edge of my seat, that."

"This from the man who is hanging out with me in my parents' basement.  Who's pathetic now?"

"We both are.  But you're more pathetic than I am.  I mean, you don't even like me."

"Which makes me less pathetic by the minute."

"Oh shut up and answer the question."

"I forget the question."

"Do you want to go out New Years Eve?"

"With you?"

"I'm the one asking.  The only one asking, last time I checked."

"Go out with you?  On a holiday?  A holiday that generally involves drinking, dancing and kissing?"

"I don't dance."

"I'm so relieved.  Are you out of your mind?"

"It's not like you've got anything better going on, now is it?"

"Better than what?  Dating a freaking monster!?!"

"Well, it wouldn't be the first time."

"Leave Anya out of this."

"She is out of this.  That's why you're lonely enough and horny enough to go out with me."

"I am not."

"Are too."

"Am not."

"Are too."

"Are too."

"Ha!"

"Damn!  That was supposed to confuse you."

"I don't confuse quite so easily when the topic is sex."

"We're talking about sex?  You and I are talking about sex?  As in you and me?  Sex?"

"Why not?"

"You're a freaking monster!"

"Oh, that again.  I have a soul now."

"Big deal."

"Angel has a soul."

"I never liked Angel."

"Oh, yeah.  I knew there was something about you I dug.  You're the only one in this hell mouth of a town who doesn't like Angel."

"Never have."

"He's sleeping with Cordy now, you know?"

"I really don't like that guy."

"Gets all your women, huh?"

"Buffy is not my woman."

"Not for lack of trying on your part, mate."

"I was a kid.  A walking hormone.  And best friend or not, she is a hottie."

"You can say that again."

"I'd rather not."

"So what about you and me?"

"I don't do guys.  Or vampires.  Demons I do.  Slayers I do.  Faith.  Not Buffy…"

"You and Faith?  Shit.  I am suitably impressed."

"What, Cordelia and Anya didn't impress you?"

"Well, yeah, now that you mention it…"

"Damn straight.  I'm the best laid geek West of the Mississippi."

"Not lately, you're not."

"Shut up."

"We can fix that."

"You really have lost your mind.  You do realize that, don't you?"

"Listen, this is a fantastic compliment I'm paying you here.  My last lover was Buffy.  To choose you next is saying something, don't you think?"

"That you're desperate?"

"Exactly."

"Thanks a bunch."

"But you're desperate, too."

"Not that desperate."

"So what are you doing New Years, again?"

"Going out with you?"

"I thought so."

"Uh…"

"Now what?"

"Well… it's only the day after Christmas."

"Your point being?"

"New Years Eve is five days away."

"True."

"That's a lot of days."

"Admit it.  You're more pathetic than I am."

"What?!?"

"A minute ago you were aghast at the thought of shagging me, and now you're practically begging for it."

"I wasn't aghast.  Actually, I'm not sure I've ever been aghast in my life."

"Well you sure acted that way."

"I was avoiding intimacy.  It's part of my charm."

"That it is."

"Mmmm…"

"You're not a bad kisser."

"Your skin is kinda' cold."

"Yeah, well, I'm a vampire."

"And what goes with that again?  Super strength?  Biting?"

"Oh, I get it.  You only love me because I'm a monster.  You've got a monster fetish, you have."

"I don't love you.  I don't even like you."

"Monster groupie."

"Guilty as charged."

"Ahhhh…"

"Now isn't this better than talking?"

"So why are you still talking?"

"Good point."

"Shut up."

"Make me."

"Mmmm…"

"Oh my…"

"Shut.  Up.  Or I'll leave."

. . . . .

"Can I talk now?"

"Only if you have something very very important to say."

"I do."

"Then you may speak."

"My arm is asleep."

"Oh.  Sorry.  Better?"

"Yeah, thanks.  And… Thanks.  This was definitely the most fun Christmas present I've ever gotten.  And I got a bike with a banana seat one year."

"It wasn't a gift.  I did it for myself, too."

"I know.  Thanks."

"You're welcome."

"Merry Christmas, Spike."

"And a Happy New Year to you, Xander."

JIM/BLAIR

Title: Full Circle
Author: Ambiguous719
Pairing: Jim/Blair
Series: The Sentinel
Summary: Blair feeling used, Jim fixes him
Rating: G
Disclaimer: No infringement intended, and no money is being made from this. We don't own the characters. They do.
Feedback: bluemagic8888@juno.com
Part of the Slash Advent Calendar at http://www.kardasi.com/Advent

FULL CIRCLE
by Ambiguous719

Blair Sandburg was exhausted.

Sex every night with Jim for the past week and a half was bound to leave anyone exhausted, but when Blair had sex with Jim, it was explosive and wonderful and at the end he was drained literally and metaphorically.

He and Jim had just finished what Jim with his sentinel abilities had turned a three minute fuck into a two hour production. Blair Smiled. /Nothing like having sentinel abilities in order to prolong release./ Jim's abilities gave him an advantage in bed. He could tell when Blair was right on the edge. Then Jim would stop and wait until the moment had passed, then do it again.

Blair's smile faded as Jim left the bed to go take a shower. It was always the same, they would have sex and Jim would fuck him and sometimes he would fuck Jim, then after release Jim would take a shower and Blair would go to sleep. He felt like a whore.

Blair immediately suppressed the wave of self-pity and loathing that threatened to consume him. Even in his mind Blair refused to call what he and Jim did, making love. It was a fuck and he knew it. Jim never said "I Love You" to Blair even when Blair said it to Jim. Blair knew that Jim didn't love him. Yeah he shared Jim's bed and Jim's life but he didn't share Jim's heart, or his soul.

Unfortunately, while Jim didn't love Blair, Blair DID love Jim. Blair felt the kind of all consuming passion, raw lust, and depth of love that cheesy romance novels only dreamed of. He would die to save Jim, be condemned to eternity in the most horrible place being tortured with an all consuming agony in order for Jim to be happy. Blair didn't delude himself that Jim might love him. If Jim loved him, he wouldn't leave to scrub himself clean of Blair immediately after sex. If Jim loved him, he would stay and hold Blair even if he was in the wet spot. If Jim loved him, he would show it in some way.

Blair was able to sum up their relationship in three sentences. Blair served Jim as a Guide. Jim used Blair for physical gratification. And Blair was Jim's whore. It was essentially their relationship.

/If Naomi could see me now./

Despite the fact that Blair prostituted himself to Jim for affection, of which he received very little, Blair would never say anything about how he felt nor would he leave Jim. Because the only thing worse than the life he was living now would be life without Jim. And that was the one thing that scared Blair more than living out his life as it was now until he died.

Blair rolled over and tried to sleep. He shuddered from a cold that had nothing to do with the air temperature. He prayed that Jim wouldn't smell the salt from his tears on the sheets.

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Christmas morning rolled around and Blair rolled out of bed. Sitting on the edge of the bed he groggily wiped the sleep out of the corner of his eyes and attempted to wake himself up. When his mind finally connected to his memories he surpressed his normal shudder.

Jim wasn't even in bed with him this morning. Lately the detective had been coming home early and then fucking for hours on end until finally Blair would pass out exhausted on their bed. Jim was never there when he woke up in the morning. Blair was so used to the hurt that this caused he didn't even register the emotion anymore.

Blair could smell. What was that? Cinnamon? Yep. Definitely cinnamon. Blair stood up and threw on a pair of exercise pants. Grabbing one of Jim's big t-shirts Blair yawned and headed for the stairs. He was curious as to why it smelled like Jim was cooking. Jim had specifically said that they weren't going to do anything for Christmas.

Walking down the stairs, in what was actually more of a controlled fall; Blair arrived at the bottom to see Jim in an apron baking what appeared to be snickerdoodles. Snickerdoodels? How had Jim found out his favorite Christmas cookie? Naomi was unreachable, off in Tibet someplace. And Jim didn't know any of Blair's old friends who would know. So that begged the question, how exactly did Jim find out? Unless, it was just some strange coincidence because there was just no other possible explanation.

Blair knew that Jim knew that he was downstairs. The sentinel had known when Blair had woken up and quite probably had tracked him with his senses to Blair's current position. Blair walked over to the counter where he could see the tray of cookies cooling. Blair thought he saw something on the cookie pan, but he was too far away to see it clearly. Jim intercepted him on his way to check it out.

Jim gently guided Blair to the table where only one place was set. Blair was at a loss as to why Jim wasn't joining him for breakfast, or whatever it was he was making. After being seated Blair noticed a small business sized envelope that had his name written on it in Jim's neat precise handwriting.

He couldn't breathe. He had no idea what that envelope contained but he was positive that it would indescribably change his future and he didn't know if it was for better, or worse.

Jim was standing just to the left and behind of Blair and Blair could feel the tension radiating off of his sentinel. He gulped and took a leap into an abyss from which he was sure he'd never be able to climb from. Opening the envelope he found that it contained two things, a letter and another smaller envelope with something hard inside.

Unfolding the letter Blair began to read:

Dearest Blair,

I'm sorry. There is no way for me to sum up my sorrow for my actions. You have always said what a repressed bastard I am, and guess what? It's true. When I first fell in love with you I was safe because I was sure that there was no way you would ever want me the way that I wanted you. I was safe inside my shell being able to show you tiny amounts of affection and living in denial that affection was all they were. When we finally got it together and expressed how we felt for each other, you told me that you loved me. I got so scared because everyone who loves me leaves me Blair, and I would die without you. I know this in my deepest hidden recesses Blair, without you I WILL die. A sentinel without his guide is nothing more than some genetic super freak. Jim Ellison without Blair Sandburg is just a discharged aging military man who got scared of love and will remain alone for the rest of his life. Without you Blair, I am nothing. Because I was scared of losing you, you who were the absolute best thing to ever happen to me, I messed us up. I have never told you how much I love you. There are no words in the world to describe the joy that seeing you laugh brings to my heart. No words to explain these feelings inside. No words to show you how much I loathe myself for what I have done to you. I can't believe that I was so unable to tell you I loved you that the sparkle in your eyes has disappeared and your love for me became the chains that bound you to me. I am so unequivocally sorry for the pain I've put you through. If you can still stand the sight of me and all my problems then I promise you Blair Sandburg, that from this day forward I will never stop telling you how much I love, value, and cherish you. I don't deserve the extraordinary person that you are but if you can see fit to let me try to spend each day deserving you then open the other envelope.

Love, with all my heart, Jim

Blair's face was covered in silent tears that had somehow managed to sneak past him while he was reading Jim's letter. Blair would have willingly spent the rest of his days being used by Jim so he most certainly could spend the rest of them being loved by Jim.

He opened the second envelope and inside was a ring. It was made of silver and turquoise with a wolf and a panther intertwined. Blair was unable to tell where one began and the other ended. Blair looked on the inside of the ring and saw an engraving.

On Christmas Day Blair Jacob Sandburg and Jim Ellison Forever and Eternity

Blair slipped it on his finger and tried to stop the tears of happiness, Joy, and Ecstasy that coursed through him like a rampaging flooded river. He jumped up and into Jim's arms and he saw that Jim's face as well was lined by tear tracks and Blair knew that the healing had begun.

And then the words he had waited a life time for were issued from the mouth of the man he loved.

"Blair Jacob Sandburg, I love you more than is humanely possible"

And with that Jim led Blair over to the stove where a huge cookie was cooling. It was the shape of a heart with an arrow through it. And inside taken out by a cookie cutter were the letters JE + BS.
 

MISCELLANEOUS (PREY - ED/LEWIS)

Title: Encounter
Author: Mary Willing Prey
RATING: NC17
Pairing: Dr. Ed Tate/Lewis
Fandom: Other --- Prey
Disclaimer: 1) I am not making any money. 2) I do not own the characters. 3) No copyright infringement of any kind is intended. 4) This story is for entertainment purposes only. It's parody people. Unless the pairing is supposed to be canon, I claim it under fair use.
Summery: Memories
Notes: I am doing a lot of foot kissing to my betas CJ and Diane. They take my stuff and turn it into something wonderful.
Note: Part of the Slash Advent Calendar Challenge situated at:
http://www.kardasi.com/Advent
Feedback Email address: mary willing prey

Encounter