Summary: It's Duncan's birthday, and Amanda means well. She does.
Why should you read this? Because everything Killa writes is brilliant. Wait wait wait. Okay. There are other reasons. The spot-on character voices. I'm a sucker for those. The well-meaning scheming of the daring and incomparable Amanda Darieux. The fact that Duncan and Methos are utter idiots who cannot be brought together without well-meaning scheming, and if they had just told her everything, she could have-- Well, she couldn't have, but surely they could have worked something out sooner.
Also there's a scorchingly hot threesome with deep emotional connection between these three that should never be passed up.
↳ Pairing: Elijah Mikaelson x Fem!Reader
Warnings: angst, mention of death
Word Count: 2185
Summary: After being married for 1000+ years, Elijah is forced to endure his first Christmas alone after his wife had died
Taglist: @rainbowvamp wished to be tagged
A/N: So I decided to write a holiday themed story. Sorry, if it's too angsty but I think it turned out decent. Okay, no, I've really no idea what I was writing for half the time. Anyway, happy holidays!
Elijah could swear he could hear his heart cracking with each laughter that echoed through the rooms. Each smile was a new knife through his already bleeding soul. Never in a thousand years had he wished for death more than now. It was simply too much, all of it utterly unbearable without his beloved wife Y/N. Christmas had always been his and Y/N’s favorite holiday, because it had always brought the entire family together. Much like it had now, except for his better half. How was he supposed to be merry and jolly, when half of him had died not so long ago?
Something caught his eye then, forcing him to abandon his tortured thoughts for now. His dark brown eyes watched as Rebekah was trying to decide where to hang Y/N’s ornament on the lush Christmas tree in the middle of the courtyard.
“Leave it, please, Rebekah,” he spoke quietly, knowing his sister would hear anyway.
“I just thought, perhaps,” the blonde started but was cut short by her older brother.
“I know what you thought you were doing yet I am asking you to leave it be,” his tone had told her what words had left out, and Rebekah put the ornament back in its box. She offered him a sympathetic smile before turning her attention back to the tree.
ㅤ
“For God’s sake, Elijah, she only meant to honor your wife by hanging that ornament,” Marcel’s voice prompted the Original to avert his eyes from Rebekah, “She misses her too, you know?”
“Yes, Marcellus, thank you for pointing out the painful truth, that I am not alone in my grief,” he didn’t mean to sound so harsh yet no matter what he did nowadays, he always came off as angry and bitter.
“Hey, I get it, man, you’re angry and need someone to take it out on, but how-,”
“Easy, gentlemen, you wouldn’t want to make a scene now, would you?” Elijah hadn’t even noticed Niklaus approach them, it was only when he had quietly cut Marcel off that Elijah took any notice of him, “Give us a moment, will you, Marcel?”
“Sure, good luck with that,” Marcel mumbled as he turned and made his way to Rebekah. Watching him wrap his arms around Rebekah sent an agonising wave through Elijah’s entire body. The Original held his breath as before his eyes he could see himself doing the same only last year. Y/N admiring her ornament, her thumbs delicately feeling the golden patterns, as Elijah wrapped his arms around her from behind, gently leaning his chin against her shoulder. He blinked and could no longer see himself holding his wife, in their stead he was watching Marcel hold his sister. Once again, Elijah was painfully forced back to reality.
“No one here is even remotely capable of imagining what it must be like for you, brother,” it wasn’t often that Niklaus spoke with such gentle voice. Elijah sighed as he pushed himself off the wall he had been leaning against, not really being in the mood for his brother trying to relate to his pain.
“No, how could they? I was only married for as long as I’ve lived,” his voice struggled to make way through his gritted teeth and clenched jaw.
“Don’t do this, Elijah,” Klaus urged him quietly as to not attract the attention of the others.
“Why not? Niklaus, I have nothing left for me here, only painful memories and ghosts of my past.”
“You have your family,” Niklaus reminded him.
“Family,” Elijah snorted, “Family stays together, brother. Ours rarely does, and whenever our family went their separate ways, she would always remain with me. Y/N was my family, Niklaus,” only the ignorant wouldn’t hear the pain in his voice, the longing for his other half.
“Then ask yourself this, brother, would she want you to abandon your family now?”
“It would be wise of you not to continue this now,” Elijah warned his younger brother, his eyes flashing an angry spark.
“All of us mourn her, Elijah, but life is for the living. You know as well as I do that Y/N would want you to live yours and find joy again,” his brother put his hand on Elijah’s shoulder, giving it a comforting squeeze. Slowly, Elijah reached up and removed his brother’s hand, his eyes never leaving Klaus’, and when he spoke, his voice was void of any
emotion.
“You are right, Niklaus, life is for the living,” he was leaning closer to Niklaus, his face now inches away from his brother’s ear, “But I do not feel like I belong with the living. I died as I held my dying wife in my arms while her life’s blood pooled out of her.”
ㅤ
“I see you two are having a merry discussion,” Freya’s voice filled the room. Elijah straightened himself and adjusted his suit jacket, clearing his throat as he realised that everyone in the room was looking at him and Niklaus.
“Not for long, I believe I shall take my leave now and leave the festivities to you. I find myself to be in no mood for this after all,” with a curt nod he excused himself from the rest of his family, starting to make way across the courtyard.
“Elijah, wait, you should at least open your presents,” Rebekah’s voice sounded almost alarmed, as if she was pleading him to stay for something of utter importance.
“I doubt he’s in the mood of opening little boxes with hidden trinkets inside, sister,” Kol’s remark made Elijah mentally roll his eyes, though it did little to slow his pace. He needed to leave, he wished he had left them long before. He couldn’t recall what had possessed him to make him agree to this charade to begin with.
“Although there is one gift he most certainly should open before he storms off into the night,” Kol continued. There was something about the way in which he said this that made Elijah slow down.
“It’s from all of us,” it was Freya’s voice that made him finally stop. Elijah closed his eyes and let out a sigh. If opening one silly present was his way out of this madness, he would gladly open it.
“One present, and then I leave. Is that understood?” he asked as he turned around on his heel, facing his siblings.
“Only the one,” Freya said reassuringly, her face displaying a hint of a smile.
“Very well, where is it?” Elijah asked impatiently, wanting this to be over with.
“In the study. Better hurry, brother, before this lot change their minds,” Niklaus urged him with a smirk.
ㅤ
He had to admit, he was curious as to why his present was in the study while all the others were gathered up under the Christmas tree. Yet Elijah decided not to inquire about it, fearing it would result in him having to be here longer than he wanted to. It was more than in his current interest to leave the compound behind him and journey on in his newfound solitude. His beloved Y/N had left him and so he intended to spend the remainder of his days, however many or few he had left, on his own. Alone. With his heart forever closed and sealed shut, it seemed like a good decision.
As he reached the study, he noticed the French double doors were closed. He looked behind him and saw that none of them had followed him. A suspicious eyebrow was rising higher than the other, as the Original’s hand clasped the door-handle and turned it softly. He felt himself hold his breath as he pulled the doors open. He assumed his eyes were resting on his present, his entire being frozen in place, not being able to move, breathe or speak. It was only when she smiled that he felt himself start to regain some feeling over his body.
“Merry Christmas, my love,” Y/N’s sweet voice sent a current down his spine. With a gasp he threw himself forward towards where she was standing. The human steps feeling too small and slow to his liking, he used his vampire speed to reach her. His arms went around his wife, pulling her close to him. Elijah could feel his heart pound inside his chest, a loud hammering sound he was certain the whole of New Orleans could hear. He kept her in his embrace for a while longer before pulling away, his eyes roaming over her face and body, as if to make sure she was really there.
“How?” was all he could manage as his eyes were tearing up.
“Would you believe me if I told you, it was a Christmas miracle?” Y/N asked as her own eyes glistened with tears.
“Is this real, are you really here?” Elijah whispered as his fingers lightly caressed Y/N’s features, each touch telling him that he was not dreaming or seeing things.
“Yes, I’m really here,” his wife could barely manage as tears of happiness streamed down her cheeks.
“You’ve come back to me,” was all Elijah could choke out as his emotions got the best of him. Pulling Y/N back into a tight embrace, he heard himself let out a sob as he felt her own arms wrap around his frame.
Elijah did not know for how long they had stayed like this. He was almost afraid to pull away, afraid to lay his eyes upon her again lest she would turn out to be a trick of his grief-filled mind. He took a deep breath and pulled away slightly. When he saw the familiar face of his beloved Y/N, he felt relief wash over him. As if reading his mind, his wife raised her hand and rested it on his cheek, her thumb lightly caressing his skin.
“I know you must be afraid of this being a mere dream, but I promise you, my love, it’s not,” she was trying to reassure him, her face expressing her sincerity.
“Even if this was but a dream, it’s one I don’t ever want to wake up from,” he whispered as he closed his eyes, leaning his forehead against hers.
“I’m here and I’m not going anywhere,” Y/N whispered.
“Don’t ever leave me again,” Elijah pleaded quietly.
“I won’t,” his wife kept reassuring him.
“You did this?” Elijah asked as he felt the presence of the others in the study with them.
“Someone had to, you were useless without your better half,” Kol was first to speak, his standard mischievous smile working its way onto his boyish features.
“You knew, all this time you knew and never said anything?” Elijah’s voice grew lower, feeling his heart slowly fill with anger.
“Of course, we knew,” Rebekah declared matter-of-factly, “But seeing how the whole ordeal was an unsure thing at best, we decided not to tell you in case we failed.”
“They didn’t want to give you any hope, in case it failed,” it was Y/N’s voice that prompted Elijah to look at her again. Her face expressed compassion and understanding.
“They didn’t want to break your heart all over again,” she added softly. Elijah could feel his facial muscles relax some at his wife’s words. She was always the mediator in their family, perhaps even the glue that kept this family together.
“It was only when Freya returned that we knew she had succeeded,” Niklaus spoke as his hand gestured towards their older sister Freya.
“So this was your doing then?” Elijah asked.
“Believe me, brother, it took much more than my magic to restore Y/N,” Freya pointed out before glancing over at Y/N and giving her a wink.
“All of which is very fascinating, and we will tell you all about it as we sit down for dinner like a proper, civilised family,” Y/N’s eager voice urged everyone to return to the courtyard where the feast would be taking place.
ㅤ
Elijah waited for his siblings to leave them before clutching his wife by her elbow, beckoning her towards him.
“Before we join the others, there is something I must tell you,” he spoke quietly, not wanting anyone to hear what he had to say.
“What is it, my love?” Y/N asked him, her face expressing confusion mixed with concern.
“There are no words to express the sorrow my heart felt at your untimely passing. It was like I had died with you,” he took her hands in his and gave them a gentle squeeze.
“I felt no hope, no consolation, only this dark and empty pit where my heart used to be,” he continued as he watched his wife’s lips curl downwards in a sad smile.
“You do not realise it, but, Y/N, you truly are a Christmas miracle.”
Y/N didn’t say anything, only leaned in and let their lips meet in a gentle kiss. It was soft and sweet, yet it held the promise of there being another thousand kisses like this one. As Elijah enjoyed his lover’s kiss, he finally felt whole again. He felt alive. She was alive again, and so was he. A Christmas miracle.
Sharp, brutal pain erupted from the left side of Grimmjow’s face, something striking him as he slept.
With a yelp, the Espada was on his feet, wide awake and ready for revenge. “WHO THE FUCK-?!”
He was cut off by another strike, this time to the back of his head, sending him forward into the living room table with a terrible crash. Pain exploded once again as the table folded and splintered beneath him, his hands pressing into broken glass and shattered wood. “What the FUCK!?” He groaned as he flipped on his back, seeing who was above him.
One angry, glowing pink eye stared down at him, arms crossed over a small chest. “Will ya stop your complaining already?” the small girl snarked, lime green hair sticking out from under her helmet. A bright green eye patch covered her left eye, but Grimmjow could also feel the malice spilling out from that one as well. “I’ve been tryin’ to wake your ass up for over fifteen minutes now, so I had to take some drastic measures! I can’t help it if you’re a dumbass who sleeps deeply through everything! Geez, you’re almost worse than him!” She jerked her thumb behind her to a figure that Grimmjow couldn’t quite make out yet.
As Grimmjow’s vision adjusted, he could make out more of his new visitor, her small frame illuminated by the light of the Christmas tree, which had flickered to life only moments before. The small girl that stood before him was decked out in what looked like a metal pot for a helmet, her green eye patch, a red and black plaid blanket for a cloak that was held together by a gold holly leaf broach, and a long, white night gown that was covered in dirt and grime. She stood barefoot in the living room, bare thin arms uncrossing and her hands resting on her hips.
Behind her was what looked like… a man, laying vertically, but floating above the floor. Long brown hair dangled from his motionless head, wearing dirty white gloves, a green coat and scuffed up green pants. He, too was barefoot.
“Wait a minute.” Grimmjow sat up, squinting as he studied the two figures that stood before him. “I know you two idiots.”
The small girl scoffed. “Doubt it, we just met today!” She shook her head. “Ya must’ve hit your head pretty hard there, Grimmjow.” With far more flair than needed, she shot her right arm out, her make shift cloak fluttering in the air dramatically. “I am the Ghost of Christmas Present, and I-!”
“Yer that stupid little kid that hung around with Starrk!” Grimmjow, standing now, towered over the girl, his lips parted in a haughty smirk. “Lilynette Gingerbuck, am I right?” He pointed behind her. “And that’s probably Starrk there with ya, knocked out cold as per usual. How’d ya get in here?”
Stamping her foot furiously, the spirit growled. “I am not Lilynette! I just told ya, I’m the Ghost of Christmas Past, you moron! Pay attention!”
“Oh, really?”
“Yeah, dumbass, really!”
“Then who’s that behind ya?”
Sparing a glance behind her, the spirit said, “Uh… he’s also the Ghost of Christmas Past. We’re a team.”
Rubbing his face in frustration, Grimmjow sighed. “How the hell’re ya both the same damn spirit, huh?”
“That’s… that’s not important!” The small spirit crossed her arms once again, defensively. “What’s important is I have a lotta things to show you, and I ain’t got much time to do it. So, shut yer damn trap and come with me!”
Fanfic: The Party by Seek_The_Mist
Fandom: The Raven Cycle
Pairings: Ronan/Adam
Rating: Teen and up audiences
Summary: The engineers of the Glendower Consulting Firm are on track for a classy Christmas Party. They didn't expect the Cabeswater Lounge Bar to accidentally overbook them with a social centre/art consortium that will wreak havoc on their plans.
Adam Parrish definitely did not expect to meet someone at an office party gone wild.
Read it on Ao3!
Second and last Pynch Secret Santa, written for the lovely @bollywood-and-phoenix-feather *___*
I hgope you’re all having the raddest 25th ever! <333
Fanfic: Snow Fever by Seek_The_Mist
Fandom: The Raven Cycle
Pairings: Ronan/Adam
Rating: Teen and up audiences
Summary: Adam gets to spend his first Christmas at the Barns, only to find himself struck with a fever. The Lynch brothers and Opal still manage to fit all the stereotypical activity for a Christmas Eve night and make Adam better in the process.
Read it on Ao3!
Now that the Pynch Secret Santa is finished, I can officially present you one of my TWO works for it ;)
The other will be up tomorrow to properly celebrate Christmas.
Have a nice Christmas Eve (or just general Happy Holidays) <333
