Hi Heather,

Here’s a story to cheer you up! If you want to post it on the main board for all the other miserable little test takers go ahead, or if you want I’ll do it. It has your name in it so I guess I need your permission first. I hope you like it!

Usual disclaimers, no spoilers.

Holiday Cheer

By: Mary Jenkins (for Heather Poinsett on the occasion of a bad test score)

(12-97)

Heather and Mary were in a funk. Both had failed miserably at their respected exams and were definitely –not- in the holiday spirit. But here they were, Christmas shopping.

It was Mary’s fault; she’d thought going to Toronto would be fun. You know, put so holiday cheer in their season. It hadn’t snowed yet in Idaho because of the El Nino so she’d figured maybe the ‘Bing Crosby White Christmas’ thing would put them both in a better mood. She’d been wrong. Now they were just cold and miserable.

As they trudged into their fifth store Heather considered killing her friend. She’d meant well, she knew that, but after that last exam… Even a visit from Santa Nunkies couldn’t cheer her up. Well maybe, if she got to sit on his lap. A small smile curved Heather’s lips.

"Do you think my dad would like this?" Mary asked holding up a particularly ugly yellow and green tie.

Her fantasy interrupted, Heather glared at her friend. "No, put it down it now, it frightens me." She joked.

Mary sighed. This wasn’t going well. Heather was unhappy and Mary had just remembered that she hated snow! "Lets go buy ourselves some chocolate."

"We’re supposed to be buying –other- people presents." Heather reminded her.

"Well, we’re almost done, we’ve earned it." Mary insisted; she wanted chocolate now, dammit!

Heather looked down at their empty arms; they hadn’t bought anything yet. "You’re right!" She smiled, "We’ve earned it!"

So intent were our two heroines on their goal they failed to notice the tall pale man next to them until they ran right into him. In the next instant all three were sprawled on the store’s marble floor.

"I’m sooo sorry, it’s all my fault." Mary babbled.

"Indeed." The elegantly dressed man said in a somewhat menacing voice.

He rose to his feet first, then helped both women stand. At the exact same moment both Heather and Mary both realised just whom they’d knocked over. Nunkies!

Heather started to mumble apologies. Mary just stood there, her mouth completely agape.

Lacroix took in the two adorably incoherent ladies in front of him. He raised one eyebrow; he recognised this pair. First he looked to the still speechless Mary, "Big bad wolf." He smirked as Mary gasped and turned bright red as he mentioned her Tracey/Lacroix story.

Then he turned his attention to the slightly more dignified Heather. She was staring too, but her eyes had didn’t have the glazed over look that her friend’s did. "A kilt indeed!" He snorted.

Heather’s eyes widened. He’d read that! ‘Oh, my.’ She thought.

Lacroix was very amused to see these two young addicts before him. He’d been a bit bored lately, and could think of no better way to relieve his ennui than to toy with them both a bit. He smiled slightly at the women. "Come with me, both of you." His smile took on a slightly sinister cast. "I’ll buy you dinner." He laughed.

The hairs on the back of Mary’s neck stood on end. Heather visibly shivered. But what were they going to do?…say ‘no’ to Nunkies?…not likely! So with a shrug, both girls followed the ancient vampire out of the store.

He drove them to the Azure in his black Jaguar. As they arrived both addicts felt totally under-dressed as they entered the elegant restaurant in jeans. "Don’t trouble yourselves with such trivialities." Lacroix told them, sensing their discomfort.

After being seated at a wonderful table. Lacroix ordered for each of them. Mary was surprised when he ordered her a vegetarian meal, ‘How had he known?’ she wondered. Heather was thrilled with his choice for her as well, and even more so when he ordered a bottle of her favorite champagne!

Both girls exchanged a look that said ‘if this is our last meal, we’d better enjoy it!’

As the addicts ate the spectacular meals, Lacroix talked. No matter how good the food was, it was no competition for his voice. Because of Heather’s keen interest, he told them of his time spent in Ireland, and even quoted poetry to them. The addicts nearly swooned; who knew Nunkies spoke Gaelic?

After dinner he took both of his admirers to the Raven. He spent a good hour more telling his about his time in turn of the century Dublin, when he said, "You know, I –had- planned on going to the theatre tonight." He held up tickets to a sold out performance of a hit new play. Both girls leaned forward. "But alas, I only have two tickets." Heather and Mary looked like they were going to burst into tears. "Perhaps one of you can go, and the other can stay and keep me company?"

What were they going to do? Heather and Mary looked at each other, the fact that they were baffled showed on both of their faces.

Mary sighed to herself; the whole reason they’d come here was to cheer-up Heather. Well, she sure looked happy now. Mary took a deep breath and prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice for her friend, she’d give her Nunkies!

"I’ll go," Mary said, in a martyr’s voice. "Heather can stay and keep you company." She sounded near tears.

"No, you can stay." Heather declared. "I’ll go!"

Mary smiled; pleased that Heather was willing to make the same sacrifice for her. "No, it’s all right, I want to see the play anyway." She looked at Lacroix, "But who’ll I go with? I don’t know anybody in Toronto!"

Lacroix gave his usual little half-smile. "That is no problem my dear." He gestured to someone across the Raven.

A tall blonde vampire approached their table. Not as handsome as Nunkies, but still…very nice. "Malcolm, this is lovely young woman is Mary, and she has no one to escort her to the theatre tonight." Lacroix told him.

Malcolm smiled down at Mary. In a strong English accent he told her he’d be delighted to be her date. Getting the tickets from Lacroix he led the slightly dazed Mary away…English accents always effected her that way.

After the pair was gone, Lacroix took Heather’s hand in his. "Now, my dear where were we?" He raised a single eyebrow at her.

"Ah…something about kilts?" Heather suggested with a hopeful smile.

Lacroix laughed loudly, she was so amusing! He gazed into her eyes and stopped laughing abruptly. He gave her a considering look; this could prove to be a most interesting evening!

~~~~Hope this cheered you up Heather!

Your friend, Mary