---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Sat, 21 Dec 1996 11:08:19 -0600 From: ann raper To: Multiple recipients of list FKFIC-L Subject: Christmas:A Lesson in Manners -- An Interlude Season's Greetings, one and all! This little bit of goofiness is in response to Mel's Christmas Challenge. In the grand scheme of things, it falls between Tenny's interrogation at the station and the polygraph test that is to come. This interlude, however, has no impact on the outcome of the story. It is induced by lack of sleep and a lot of hard work. After this posts, I'll be ISP impaired til January 12. Hopefully, ALIM will be finished, and I'll be caught up on all my fan-fic reading. Thanks to Cousin Jules for last minute proofing and French lessons. I wish you Nunkies in your Christmas stocking, Jules! But please be generous and share! (hint, hint) A Lesson in Manners -- A Christmas Interlude by Ann Raper I walked into the sitting room of Lucien's private quarters. His back was to the door, and he was busying himself around the coffee table, placing and replacing objects under a huge mauve poinsettia. That, in and of itself, was odd, but he was humming "Deck the Halls" under his breath as he went about his work. "Ahem, Lucien?" I said hesitantly. "Um, are you ok, dear?" He looked over his shoulder, straightened up, and turned around smiling, and hid his handiwork. "Ah, yes, ma cherie. I am quite fine," he said in a happy voice. //This is getting curiouser and curiouser. He *never* speaks with a happy tone. What's he up to?// I thought. "I believe there's some eggnog on the bar over there, if you care to have any. Help yourself." He smiled and shooed me away towards the bar, and turned back to the table. "I don't care for eggnog, Lucien. What *are* you doing?" I asked, siddling up behind him. I goosed him in the ribs and he popped straight up. He grabbed me up in an embrace as he turned around. "*That* was *not* funny, Tenny," he said gruffly, but he was smiling as he said it. "I *do not* enjoy being tickled. You will not do it again, will you?" "I don't know, Lucien .... make it worth my while, and I won't," I said with a wink. Then, taking him by surprise, I planted a big ol' kiss on him. After an eternity, or so it seemed, he ended the kiss. "You saucy little wench! I'm a little shocked at you, Tenny." I wagged my eyebrows at him and batted my eyelashes. "And you love it, don't you?" I said with a wicked grin. "As a matter of fact, I do. Now, if you'll run along somewhere else for the time being, I have work to do." "What are you doing, Lucien. Tell me, please. This is all so ... odd." "What do you mean?" "The poinsettia, the eggnog, the little wrapped packages under the poinsettia, you humming. You don't *ever* hum anything. And, mon cher, you are way too happy. 'Fess up, Lucien. What do you have up your sleeve?" "I intended it to be a surprise, but if you must know .... " He was interrupted by Emrys, who looked very displeased with his master. I think it was the foam rubber reindeer antlers on his head. At any rate, Emrys jumped onto the table and batted every last one of the packages from under the poinsettia. I couldn't suppress the giggles as Lucien bent over to pick them up, muttering what had to be curses in another language as he did. "You are a very disturbed feline. I ought to feed you to the stray dogs in the alley" "Miao," Emrys said and stretched gracefully, digging his claws into the red foil that was wrapped around the poinsettia's base, tearing it into shreds. "Come here, kitty-ness," I cooed. Lucien glared at me. I sat down on the leather sofa and patted a spot for the cat. "Poor little Emrys. Having to wear those ridiculous reindeer horns. No wonders hims [sic] pride is hurt," I said with a pout to the cat. Emrys was eating up the sympathy like it was his favorite kitty treat. "Really, Lucien, what has gotten into you? Poor Emrys!" Lucien sat down in an oversized chair across from the couch. "As I was saying, I'm having a bit of a surprise party for those dearest to me. That it happens to fall near this particular holiday is merely a coincidence. It is *not* a Christmas party." He got up from his seat and sat next to me on the couch. "As to what has gotten into me, well, my dear, dare I name it? Could it be love for a particular ivory-skinned, rosy-cheeked, emerald-eyed, auburned-haired lady?" "Really? Who is she?" I asked, but warmed inside by his words. "You really are awful. You *are* quite aware that I am besotted with you, my love. Come here," he commanded, and pulled me to him. He would've kissed me, but someone knocked at the door. "Come in," he called. The door opened and in walked Nick, Natalie, and a dark haired and very beautiful woman I didn't know. Lucien stood to greet them. "Nicholas, I wasn't quite certain you would come. And," he said turning to Natalie, "I see you have brought the lovely Dr. Lambert. Welcome, my dear." Natalie looked as if she would rather be in a snake pit, but she accepted his welcome with a modicum of grace. "I believe you two already know Miss Richebourg. Now, Tenny, my dear, you must meet Janette, one of my dearest and oldest friends." He stepped aside for us to greet each other. I couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy for the relationship they so obviously had. "Enchante," Janette said, as she accepted my hand. She turned to Lucien and said, "Well, Lacroix, you certainly do have an eye for beautiful ladies," as Lucien smiled with pride and nodded. She leaned over to him and whispered, "But don't you think that she might be a *little* on the young side for you, mon ami?" He looked balefully at her, then moved to bar to fetch the refreshments. He set down the tray and bade us all to sit. And sit we did ... for quite a while, in a very awkward silence. There was some talk about the weather and both our radio stations, but it soon died down. "An American friend of mine told me once," I ventured, "that everytime there's a lull in a conversation, someone is thinking about Abraham Lincoln. I wonder what the Canadian equivalent would be?" Emrys made another appearance and went straight for Nick. "Aww, how cute!" Nat exclaimed. "I didn't know you had a pet, Lacroix. What cute little antlers! Awww! Here kitty, kitty." She picked him up and held him out to Nick. "Isn't he cute, Nick. Pet the kitty, Nick. He likes you." "Uh, Nat. Get him away from me. You know I don't like cats." "Oh, hear that poor kitty? Nicky doesn't wike you," she said with a frown. //Thanks, Emrys. At least we have something to talk about, now.// "Do you want to pet him?" she asked as she handed the cat to Janette. "Non, I would not," she said. "Really, Lacroix, antlers on such a sleek creature? Shame on you. Next you'll be having us do the Macarena! Merde!" "Hey!" Nick said. "The Macarena's a lot of fun!" "Oh, dear," I said. "Lucien, weren't you arranging gifts or something earlier?" "Yes, my dear, I was. I have gotten you each something I thought you would enjoy," he said as he passed out the gifts. There was a flurry of paper and ribbons as the gifts were ripped into with great zeal. "Oh, Lucien! It is beautiful!" Janette exclaimed as she held out a black velvet choker with a ruby and pearl pendant. "It truly is something I will enjoy. Merci." She came over and kissed him on either cheek. Natalie was looking into a box full of cat toys. "Sidney will thank you, Lacroix, for all the goodies," she said. "There should be something in there for you, too, my dear," Lucien said, a frown wrinkling his brow. Natalie dug around the box and pulled out a pair of fuzzy pink slippers and the latest Danielle Steel novel. "How could I have missed those?!" she said. "Thank you, Lacroix." Her gratitude was sincere. "Well, Nick, what did you get?" she asked while looking over his shoulder. "A book," Nick said and he held it up. "_All About Bossy: The Complete Bovine Handbook_. Thanks Lacroix," he said with a catch in his voice. "I've wanted this book for a long time, but haven't been able to find it. Thank you." Lucien sat back and smiled as his nearest and dearest enjoyed their presents. Then he glanced at me and said, "Aren't you going to open yours, ma cherie? I did search high and low for it." "I was going to save it for later, but I'll open it now if you like." He nodded his head and he, Janette, Nick and Natalie stopped their private conversations to watch me open the box. "My, it's a big box," I laughed nervously. I opened it; everyone gasped. "I thought those were all sold out!" Nat said. "How did you get one?" "I do have my connections, Dr. Lambert. Try it out, Tenny." I poked my finger at the little red body in the box and it laughed and said, "Ooh, that tickles!" "I can't believe you got me a 'Tickle Me Elmo,' Lucien. I wasn't expecting this." //Boy, was I so *not* expecting a TOY! A simple bracelet, perhaps. But this! I don't believe it.// "There *is* more, my dear," Lucien said, slightly crestfallen. "I thought you'd enjoy Elmo, but I also thought you would like his attire." "His attire?" I asked. I looked closely at the little guy. //He is kind of cute.// Elmo was wearing a platinum bracelet, enhanced with diamonds, sapphires and emeralds. I took the bracelet off the toy and held it up to the light. I heard Janette and Natalie take in a breath. "Oh my goodness, Lucien! I can't believe you got me this either! It is too beautiful for words." "As are you, my love. Let me assist you," he said, and with quick and deft fingers, he fastened the bracelet around my wrist. "Oh, Lucien! It is too lovely," I said. I frowned. "What is it, my dear? Do you not like my gift?" Lucien asked with furrowed brows. "Oh, no! That's not it. It's just that I didn't get *you* anything, and I feel badly about it. In fact, none of us got you anything. You've been so generous...." Nick put down his book and raised his glass. "I think, he said, "that a toast to our host would be appropriate." We each picked up a glass and waited for Nick's words. "To Lacroix: We may not always welcome the care you give us, but we are truly grateful for your friendship and love. May you have long life and love." He clinked his glass with Natalie, who was looking at him as if he'd grown another nose, while Janette and I said, 'Here, here." Nat leaned over and whispered, "Are you nuts? Did you, by any chance, sample the eggnog?" Nick shook his head and smiled sweetly at her. "I think it's time we were leaving. We have the station party to get to. Janette, may we offer you a ride?" "Oui, mon ami. I would be most appreciative." Janette kissed Lucien on the cheek and whispered her thanks to him again. "Now, Nicola, let us leave Lacroix in peace with his lady friend." She walked to the door. Nat stood up and grabbed her gifts in one hand and Nick with the other. "Yes, Nick, let's go before you start singing 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,' or say 'God bless us, everyone!' " She turned to Lacroix and said, "Thank you for your thoughtfulness, Lacroix. Good night." She pulled Nick out of his chair and towards the door. "'Night, Lacroix. I really have wanted this book. Thank you." With that, the trio disappeared through the door. "Thank you, again, Lucien. The bracelet is most beautiful." "You are more than welcome, my love. Now, where we before the festivities?" "I believe you were about to kiss me." "Ah, I believe you are right. Come here ...." Merry, Merry! Send any comments to araper@venus.seark.net Cousin Annie araper@venus.seark.net Cousin~~ Valentine~~CotK~~ Founder, Nunkies Anonymous