Okay, so Cindy Brewer issued a challenge, "Use the frog as described in the story (The Christmas Frog) in any season of the show. Doesn't necessarily have to be a Xmas story either." And this is my response; I just love these things! I don't think there is a challenge I haven't answered since I joined the list! Usual disclaimers, no spoilers. Any DP can put this wherever they want, and Mel can archive it at the www.fkfic.com site, all others please ask. Enjoy! A Frog for Christmas (1/1) By: Cousin Mary (Jenkins) Jan. 1998 Nat sat at her kitchen table, numerous Christmas catalogs spread out before her. It was that time of year again; time to wish peace and goodwill towards your fellow man by sending them junk Federal Express. Nat sighed. Well, far be it for her to buck tradition. She slowly began flipping through the catalogues. She was getting Grace a nice pair of earrings, Nick a sweater, Tracy that membership to the 'Weapon of the Month Club' she had hinted at (sometimes that blonde really scared her.) An hour later she had only one name left on her list. Amy, her niece, the hardest of all. Nat reached for another toy catalogue. What -was- she going to get that kid? She was at that weird age, when most toys were too young and everything else was too old. And she sure as heck wasn't going to give up her 'favourite aunt' status by giving her tube socks! She flipped quickly past the board games and colouring books, absently tapping her credit card against the edge off the table. Suddenly she froze. That was something she -had- to buy. "No, I shouldn't." She whispered to herself. But the temptation was too great. Grinning from ear to ear she quickly reached for the phone. She gave the toy company her credit card number and the address where she wanted it delivered, before she had time to reconsider. "That was probably a -big- mistake." She told herself. But she couldn't seem to stop giggling any way. She reached for another catalogue. She still had to find a gift for Amy. ~~~~~~~~~~~ Two weeks later and still a few days to go until Christmas, Nat was finishing up in the morgue late one night. She was the last one there, as usual. And was just sliding the last of her 'customers' into cold storage when she heard a noise behind her. She slammed shut the cooler's door and spun around. "Who's there?" She called out. "My dear doctor," Lucien Lacroix stepped out of the shadows and raised an eyebrow at her. "I thought you'd be expecting me." "Oh, God Lacroix!" Nat put her hand to her chest, "You nearly scared me to death!" She told the ancient vampire. She looked puzzled then, "What do you mean, I should have been 'expecting' you?" The former Roman General then held forth what had caused him to seek the coroner out. A large stuffed bullfrog wearing a Santa suit. "Oh." Nat said and grinned. "You weren't supposed to open it until Christmas." She scolded him lightly. Lacroix glared down at her for a moment. "What, may I ask, is the meaning of this- item?" "It's-it's a gift." She stammered. The frog was even more absurd in person than it had seemed in the catalogue, it was almost four feet tall, nearly round, and completely ridiculous. "A token of my esteem, if you wish." She tried to fight the smile that threatened to take over her face. He raised his eyebrow at her words. "That is rather a dubious comment considering." He said drolly. "Don't you like it?" Nat asked, she stepped closer and touched one of the frog's flippers. The toy began a croaking rendition of 'Jingle Bells.' The 2000 year-old master vampire nearly dropped the thing right there. Nat laughed, he obviously hadn't discovered the toy's 'talent.' Lacroix did not like being laughed at. "Do you think this is a game?" He hissed in her ear. He set the frog down on her desk. "Do you actually believe that because of your 'relationship' with Nicholas I will allow you to mock me?" He asked sharply. Nat took a step back. Lacroix looked angry. She was used to seeing him as a dignified and elegant man; sometimes she forgot just how fearsome he could be. He -was-, after all, a killer, and she was here in the morgue with him, alone. "I- I didn't mean anything by it." Nat stammered, "Nick doesn't even know, I was just…" She trailed off, not sure why she -had- sent him the darn thing. Suddenly he changed again. Gone was the vampire, again Lacroix was the charming and refined gentleman. "Indeed?" He raised an eyebrow, apparently her admission that Nick didn't know she had played Santa surprised him. "Ah," She averted her eyes, looking anywhere but at him. Her heart was pounding a mile a minute; it went even faster when she realised he could probably hear it. "No more frogs I promise." He stepped towards her and placed one slim pale finger under her chin and tilt up her face. Nat blushed, but looked him straight in the eye. His cool blue eyes bore into hers for a moment. He seemed to come to some sort of decision but said only, "Good night Doctor Lambert." And left the morgue. Once he was gone Natalie leaned against the counter for support. That had been -very- close. Her life hadn't flashed before her eyes, but geez she did not want to go through that again! She waited for her heart rate to return to normal then gathered up her coat and purse and went home, knowing she wasn't going to get any sleep that night. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~. The next day Nat sat at her desk and looked at the frog on her desk. Lacroix had left it there. She idly wondered what the day crew had thought of it. She poked at its foot with the blunt end of her pencil. The frog again broke into its cheery carol. "Girl what is with you?" Grace asked. She was worried about her friend; she seemed so blue lately! Maybe it was Det. Knight, Nick hadn't been coming around to often in the last couple months. But that hadn't appeared to bother Nat before… Maybe it was the holidays? Working at the morgue Grace knew a lot of people got the depressed around the holidays. "Nothing." Nat sighed. She pushed the frog over, he rolled back to his usual squat. Her fear was gone now, she was feeling vaguely bored? 'Bored? How can I possibly be bored?' She thought to herself. But there it was: boredom, tinged with a little annoyance. How dare Lacroix pull that 'master vampire' garbage with her? "Okay." Grace said doubtfully. She decided to change the subject, she grinned. "Where on Earth did you get that frog?" Nat smiled. She didn't care what Lacroix thought. She still liked the stupid thing! "Out of this catalogue." The coroner held up the glossy magazine she'd brought with her. "Ooo!" Grace exclaimed snatching the booklet from her friend. She flipped through it, "Look they promise Christmas delivery for anything order before the 23rd!" She announced in amazement. "Really?" Nat asked, her eyes began to gleam. "Let me see that again, okay?" ~~~~~~~~~~~~. "Deck the halls with bows of holly, Fa la la la la-la-la-la-la!" Nat sang under her breath as she made herself some tea. It was four in the afternoon Christmas Eve, and she was home alone. She sighed. Richard's widow and Amy were at Sarah's parents in Vancouver. Nick had gone to Paris, probably to see Jeanette though he had denied it. All of her other friend's were with their families and though she'd been invited she hadn't felt like intruding. She sighed again. "Well Sidney." She addressed her cat. "Looks like its just you and me fella." He seemed content with that and cuddled in her lap as she settled into her couch. Her tea was still too hot so she put it down to cool. She reached for the remote. "Maybe we'll watch 'A Christmas Carol' huh?" As Sidney seemed to have no opinion on their night's viewing Nat chose channel eight and promptly fell asleep. A few hours later she woke up. The TV screen was black, though she didn't remember ever turning it off. She looked down at her coffee table. "The tea is probably -really- cool by now." She mumbled wryly. She looked towards the windows, even though it was pitch black outside she could still see the flurries of white flakes as they fell. She carefully removed a sleeping Sidney from her lap and stood up. She groaned slightly as her body protested to her stretching. She reached her arms above her head and joined her hands together. She leaned a little to her left, then to her right. She froze then, arms still high above her head, as she spotted something sitting on her kitchen table. She cautiously looked around her apartment. She didn't see anyone. She dropped her arms and approached the object slowly. It was a four- foot tall stuffed cat. She pressed one paw and it began to meow the 'Twelve Days of Christmas.' "Lacroix?" She called out quietly. "Are you still here?" Suddenly he was right behind her. "Hello Doctor Lambert." He whispered. "Ah, Merry Christmas?" She said timidly. Lacroix pressed himself against her back, with the table in front of her she had no place to go. The vampire didn't comment on her Yuletide wish. "I thought you said you weren't going to be sending me anything else?" He asked in a neutral voice. Nat wasn't sure if he was upset with her or amused by her latest gift. But she was suddenly -very- aware that she was only wearing the oversized T-shirt she slept in. "Uh," She laughed nervously, "What I actually said was that I wouldn't send you anymore -frogs-. This is a -cat-." She pointed out needlessly. "Indeed." He definitely sounded amused now. Nat started to relax a bit. But then he added, "And just why did you send it to me?" "Um, I'm not sure." Nat mumbled, intensely aware of the man pressed against her back. She should move she knew, or at least protest a bit. As if sensing her thoughts, Lacroix reached one arm around her and placed one palm on her stomach, pulling her even closer to him. "Why?" He insisted. His voice was low and husky. "Maybe I have a death wish?" She offered; she leaned back into his arms. He gave an amused chuckle. "I think not." He slowly turned her in his arms so she was facing him. He looked down into her angelic face. "No?" She asked quietly, as if she wanted him to explain her actions to her. But she now knew exactly -why- she'd done it. She reached up and touched the side of his cheek lightly, she let her fingers glide across his jaw line and curl behind his ear. She gently pulled his face to hers and kissed him. He kissed her back. Burying his pale hands in her auburn curls. When they parted both were breathless. "I do not celebrate Christmas you know." He said quietly, his voice gave nothing away, but his eyes searched her face almost frantically. Nat smiled slightly. This was about a heck of a lot more then their differing holiday traditions! It was about their entire future together; he was asking her about Nick, vampires, him, her, everything. She had to make a decision; Nat took a deep breath and said. "That's quite all right Lacroix." Her face broke into a mischievous grin. "You can still keep the cat, and the frog too!" For a moment he just stood there, his face carefully blank. Then he gave her the most endearing grin. "That is of course, all I wanted." He teased, then pulled her back into his arms. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~. Well there you go! I used the frog and got to share a little Valentine fun with everyone. Send all nice comments to anteros@juno.com and all bad ones to any random address you like ___________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866] rom anteros@juno.com Sat Jan 9 14:50:28 1999 Return-Path: Received: from m19.boston.juno.com (m19.boston.juno.com [205.231.100.190]) by pulsar.skyport.net (8.8.8/8.8.8) with ESMTP id OAA07047 for ; Sat, 9 Jan 1999 14:50:28 -0500 Received: (from anteros@juno.com) by m19.boston.juno.com (queuemail) id DYJYAMN3; Sat, 09 Jan 1999 14:50:51 EST To: FKarchiver@fkfanfic.com Date: Sat, 9 Jan 1999 12:39:41 -0700 Subject: Happy New Years (1/1) Message-ID: <19990109.125733.6606.15.anteros@juno.com> X-Mailer: Juno 1.49 X-Juno-Line-Breaks: 1,5,10-15,21,26,30,33-34,38-39,42,45,47,49,52-53,57, 59-60,68,79,81-83,85,91,93,99-100,103,105-106,110,112,115,119, 123,125,128,130,134,139,141,143,146,149,152-153,156,158,160,164, 167,170,172,174,176-177,180,182-184,187-188,190,192,194-195,199, 202,204,206-208,211 From: anteros@juno.com (Cousin Mary) Okay this story means nothing, it's brought on by cold medication mixed with…what was it I just drank? All Right then, with Susan's 'sorta' story challenge of 'Was a dark and stormy rat.' Combined with Erika's Tracy in really high heels idea (that I'm stealing, but she already knows and is letting me, so there) to guide me, I produced this Dark Perkulator-Valentine Story. >>Legal stuff-I don't own FK, someone else does, I'm making no money, and I probably won't even remember writing this in the morning so no copy right infringement is intended. Any DP can archive this anywhere they want, and Mel can archive it on the www.fkfic.com site, all others please ask. Enjoy! Happy New Years (1/1) By: Cousin Mary (Jenkins) Jan. 1998 T'was a dark and stormy night. The wind howled, thunder crashed, tornadoes sucked up trailer park residents and volcanoes destroyed major metropolitan areas. Well, at least that's what was happening on Nat's TV. In the real world Nat and Tracy were watching videos, eating ice cream and generally feeling sorry for themselves. This was -not- the best New Year's Eve either had ever spent. Their respective boyfriends were at the Raven, alone, with all of those scantily clad vampire women. It was the first New Years since Jeanette had returned to take back over the popular night club, and she was celebrating by throwing a huge party. And since the blood wine was flowing freely, no mortals were being allowed in. Both women understood the logic behind it. Drunk vampires and mortals didn't mix well, at least not from the mortal's perspective. But still… Visions of Jeanette and Urs danced before Nat and Tracy. It wasn't the mortals they were worried about. "Pass me the Crunchy Monkey will you?" Nat asked, stretching her arm lethargically toward the coffee table, the pint of banana flavoured ice cream was mere inches from her fingers. "Ugh! I'm sick of this!" The blonde declared. "Yeah, but what are we going to do about it?" Nat mumbled. Nick had explained that Jeanette would take it as an insult if anyone she invited failed to attend. So here they were, alone. She leaned further, trying to catch the edge of the carton with her finger-tips. Tracy stood up suddenly. "If they can go to a party so can we!" "Oh no we can't!" Nat said, not liking the gleam in the younger woman's eye. If they showed up at the Raven they'd be drained, no matter how Nick or Vachon might object. Meeting Nat's eyes Tracy knew what she was thinking. "Maybe not -that- party." She allowed, "But surely two young attractive women can find -something- to do on New Year's Eve!" "I don't know Trace." Nat said, "I don't exactly feel like going to some seedy single's bar." She added. Tracy sunk back into the sofa, her head in her hands. "We can't just stay here! It'd be like admitting defeat." Not particularly liking that sentiment, Nat started to wrack her brain. Where could they go? "Well, there is -one- place." Nat said slowly, not quite believing she was even going to suggest this. Tracy's head snapped up. "Yeah? Where?" She asked eagerly. "There is that big masked shin-dig at the old Damson Building." Nat said. She'd done it in her college days and vowed never to do it again but, then again…it was better than staying in and watching Tracy climb the walls. "I'm sure we could sneak in." She offered in a whisper. Tracy began to grin. "Yes! Get dressed, then we'll swing by my place and then…" She paused, eyes gleaming. "We'll crash it!" >>>>>>>>>>>> An hour and a half later the two women, heads swimming with their own bravado, stood outside the Damson Building. Thirty-five imposing stories of steel and concrete loomed above them. Natalie had let Tracy fix her up, so there she stood in a full-skirted blue ball gown, her hair flipped up in a huge bun, and wearing entirely too much make-up under her half-mask. Nat wanted to turn around. She was having serious doubts about their scheme, they looked ridiculous and they were now planning to crash the fanciest party in town. Of course Tracy hadn't faired much better at Nat's hands. She was in a tight silver cocktail dress, black tights and three-inch high heels. Nat had curled and teased her hair into a huge cloud of yellow fluff around her painted face. Nat had used some old Halloween grease paint to transform the mild-mannered Tracy Vetter into something very exotic. She'd painted peacock feathers all over her the upper portion of her face. The final touch had been the tiara she'd found sitting on one of Tracy's teddy bears, she'd pinned it into her hair and forced her to wear it. Tracy personally thought she looked like the old Barbie doll her brother had once put through the dishwasher. But she saw the building as a challenge to be conquered, and she sure as hell wasn't going home now! So, the intrepid pair approached the front doors. And were promptly turned away. "No ticket, no admittance." Had declared the stony-face guard. "Well, we tried." Said Nat, secretly relieved. "We're not done yet!" Announced a determined Tracy, her chin jutting out. No party was going to get the best of her! Despite the fact that they were both normally pretty level headed women, Tracy and Natalie were under considerable strain. They were both in demanding, traditionally male-dominated careers, they were both dating complicated older men, and said men were unholy blood-sucking creatures of the night. So maybe they can be excused their next, not-so-sensible actions. They walked around the side of the building, trying all the doors. Eventually they found an open one, however it led-not- to the party. The two slowly slid into the dark room. It was some sort of storage room. It was full of decrepit looking crates, of who-knows-what. There was no way into the party from here. Dejected, the women left. They walked around the building but all the other doors were either guarded or locked. "Well," Tracy said, "Only one thing left to do." "Go home?" Nat sighed, she didn't want to give up now. There was a principle involved dammit! She didn't quite remember what that principle was, but she was sure it'd been a good one. "No," Tracy stubbornly said, "The sewer." She'd learned a thing or two from Screed. "There's probably a way into it from the basement." Nat's eyes went wide. "No way am I crawling into the sewer!" Her protests fell on deaf ears though. Minutes later our dynamic duo slipped under the city through a storm drain. They were in luck, a tunnel led directly into the basement of the Damson Building. They slowly crept up the stairs toward the party. They could hear the party goers through the door. They were almost there. Suddenly, out of no where, a rat leapt into Tracy's hair. The blonde muffled a scream and shook her head violently. The rat went flying, Tracy slip off her heel and impaled it. "Well that was a dark and stormy rat!" She whispered, trying to smooth her locks into some semblance of order. She had no idea where the tiara was. She didn't care either, they were going to that party if it killed them both! "Tracy." Nat started, "We should leave now, we shouldn't be here. We weren't invited, your shoe is covered in rat blood, and we look like a couple of drag queens!" She threw her hands up in a defeated gesture. "You want to go home?" Tracy's eyes went wide. "After all we've been through?!" "No." Nat admitted, "I said we -should- go." Hopefully there would be no one here that would recognise either of them. She sighed. "Okay, Let's go in." With that, they both took deep breaths and slipped into the party. Streamers were shooting through the air, masked and costumed dancers cavorted on the wide dance floor. Everyone was having such a good time, no one noticed the two extra revellers, rat's blood or no rat's blood. Mission accomplished, the two women began dancing with complete strangers, each other, any one they came across. Nat helped herself to the free champagne. Eventually both met up again at the buffet, where to their delight they found chocolate covered strawberries. They promptly set about devouring the out of season delicacies. "So who's throwing this thing anyway?" Tracy asked around a mouth full a strawberry. "I have absolutely no idea." Nat laughed, this was much better than watching the ball come down on T.V. from her apartment! As the two friends were busily chatting about nothing in particular, and enjoying the hospitality of their oblivious hosts, they failed to notice the approach of an elegantly dressed man. "The TA of B," Lacroix smiled as both women spun around in shock. "The Toronto Association of Broadcasters is 'throwing this thing.'" He clarified. Tracy's eyes went as wide as saucers. Natalie choked on her champagne, barely stopping herself from spraying it all over the front of the ancient vampire's black silk suit. "Shouldn't you be at the Raven?" Tracy asked in a small voice. Lacroix shrugged, "I was there, I decided to make an appearance here as well." He smiled, "Though I did not expect to meet either of you here." Tracy's mouth opened as if to say something, but no words came out. "The jig is up." Nat said in a defeated voice. "We snuck in." She told him. Lacroix's eyebrows shot up in surprise. Many of those here were not involved in broadcasting, merely friends of the hosts. He hadn't realised the two before him had come, uninvited. His lip began to curl in amusement. "Indeed?" "Are you gonna tell on us?" Tracy asked in a child-like voice, her eyes were sparkling now. Her original fear had dissipated, she thought the whole situation was kind of funny. The ancient vampire appeared to consider that a moment, then said. "I suppose not." He then looked at both women sternly, of course that was a difficult task now that he'd noticed how they were dressed. "It was a dare." Nat explained, what showed of her face bright red. "I shall demand a payment for my silence of course." Lacroix hissed. "Oh?" Natalie asked, eyes wide. Maybe it was all the champagne, but she felt no fear at the moment. She was having a wonderful time. "A dance from each of you." He announced with debonair flair. Both women grinned. And Lacroix swept Tracy onto the dance floor. Nat was a bit perturbed that he'd taken the blonde out first. She consoled herself with another strawberry. When they returned Tracy was breathless, but smiling broadly. When he wanted to be Lacroix could be the most charming man in the world! He next claimed Nat in his arms. He smiled down at her. She wasn't smiling however. "Why'd you dance with Tracy first?" Lacroix looked surprised. Was that jealousy he heard? "My dear, I was merely getting the timing correct." His eyebrow rose and he smiled. At first Nat was confused. "Timing?" Suddenly the music stopped and the countdown began. "10-9-8-7-" Began the crowd. "Timing." Lacroix repeated, with what could only be called an evil grin. "6-5-4-3-2-1 Happy New Years!" The crowd finished. Everyone began twirling noise makers, shaking hands,…kissing their dates. "Oh." Nat said, looking up into his eyes. He bent down and kissed her. She kissed him back. It was a long and passionate kiss. Their tongues met. Natalie entwined her arms around his neck. Lacroix pulled her tight against him. When they finally parted, both were most dishevelled. Their eyes met in confusion. Lacroix hadn't meant for anything like -that- to happen, he'd merely been teasing Nicholas's good doctor. But… Natalie felt so confused. What had just happened? Why had she reacted like that? "Uh, Happy New Year Lacroix." She said lightly, turning she disappeared into the crowd. "Happy New Year Miss Lambert." He whispered. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Okay, I'm not sure what that was…blame it on the cold medicine! All nice comments should be sent to anteros@juno.com Bad ones can be baked up in next year's fruitcake ___________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]