Merry Christmas to All!

[out_there]

Hey, it's officially Christmas morning! *bg*

I've uploaded the Christmas icon gifts I made for people to my LJ User Pics, because it was the easiest way to get them online. Just scan down, and they're at the bottom. As I went through them, I realised there's only a few people that I'm not sure if they've received it, namely shellah, hnix, sinbrat, slodwick (although there's a good chance you may not appreciate my dodgy sense of humour in that icon, Slod) and weredonut.

Since I'm posting these, I might as well post the Christmas ficlets written for people as well.

For celli, a Dan/Casey SN ficlet:

Three Little Words

Of all the people Dan possibly expected on his doorstep in the middle of Christmas afternoon, Charlie McCall was pretty low on the list. In fact, when he opened the door, he would have been less surprised to see Isaac juggling than a ten year old Charlie, standing all alone.

"Charlie." He grinned, and tried not to sound as if Charlie had interrupted a very quiet, and very solitary, pity party. "What are you doing here?"

"Hi, Uncle Danny," Charlie said and smiled, a wide smile that Dan was used to seeing on Casey's face. Charlie shrugged and continued, "Dad's in the elevator. He left a bag in the lobby."

Dan frowned. "Yeah, but..." he paused as he saw Casey coming down the hallway, awkwardly carrying what appeared to be several bags of groceries. Dan couldn't help grinning at the stricken look on Casey's face, as his hold on the bottom bag became more and more uncertain. Stepping forward, Dan saved the bag from falling to the floor. "What are you doing here?" he asked, as he led Casey and Charlie inside.

"Celebrating Christmas," Casey replied cheerfully as he placed the bags on the kitchen table, raising an eyebrow at the open bottle of Jack Daniels.

Dan screwed the cap back on and put the bottle away in one of the top cupboards, out of Charlie's reach. "I thought you were spending Christmas with Lisa and Dr Bob?" Casey shot a look over at Charlie, who was flicking through television channels. Dan thought he probably shouldn't refer to Lisa's new boyfriend like that in front of her son.

"We had lunch over there," Casey said, pulling out bags of chips and chocolates. And a bag of potatoes.

"And then?" Dan queried, thinking Casey looked far too happy with himself.

"Well," Casey stalled as Charlie wandered over to the kitchen. Looking over his shoulder, Dan saw that he'd settled on the Charlie Brown Christmas special. Smart kid.

"We decided it would be more fun over here," Charlie interrupted, grabbing a packet of chips. "Do you have a bowl?"

"Yeah, in the..." Dan started, but Casey had already opened the cupboard and passed Charlie two large bowls. Charlie took them carefully. His face screwed up in concentration as he poured the packet of chips into one of the bowls, and then opened the chocolates, pouring them into the other bowl.

"Besides, Dad said you were spending Christmas alone. No-one should be alone at Christmas, Uncle Dan," Charlie declared as he held the chip bowl out to Danny. Dan picked up a handful of chips and started munching, but Casey continued unpacking, pulling out a turkey breast and mini-Christmas puddings.

"Thanks, Charlie," Casey said, looking at the bowls. "Could you take them over to the TV?"

"Sure." Charlie placed them on the coffee table and was quickly distracted by watching Snoopy dance.

Casey stopped unpacking for a moment, and leaned towards Dan, pressing a hand against the small of Dan's back. Dan knew he wouldn't do any more in front of Charlie. "Merry Christmas, Danny," he said gruffly.

Dan swallowed and relaxed against Casey's hand. "Merry Christmas, Case." Casey beamed and Dan knew Casey understood what those three words really meant.

The End

***

For dammitcarl, a little SV ficlet set in her Nicky AU

The Perfect Gift

Lex awoke to the sensation of Clark's hand trailing softly against his side. He cracked an eye open and squinted at the alarm clock. Not a bad way to wake up at... 6.20am. He'd actually managed to sleep later than last year.

"Are you awake?" Clark asked softly, leaning over him.

Lex rubbed his eyes blearily and scowled at Clark's early morning smile. "What happens if I say no?" he grouched.

"Well," Clark said slowly, making a great show of thinking about the answer. "You won't get to open your Christmas presents." Lex heard a muffled gasp and looked over to see his fond smile reflected on Clark's face.

"I could always get Nicky to open them for you..." Clark continued, still playing along for their unseen audience.

"Okay, but only if I get to open Nicky's," Lex said as he shifted back and sat up in bed, awaiting Nicky's entrance.

A small outraged figure suddenly appeared in their doorway. "Papa!" Nicholas cried, glaring at Lex, his shoulders squared in a way that always made him think on Clark and, to a lesser extent, Jonathan Kent. "You wouldn't really open my presents?"

"Of course not, Nicky," Lex said and beckoned their son over. Nicky beamed and ran across the room. A second later, his arms full of Nicky, Lex remembered that the next time Nicky dived into a hug, Clark needed to be the one to catch him.

Clark caught the expression on his face and laughed, then leaned over to pick Nicky up. "How about we go downstairs and see what Santa brought you?" Clark asked Nicky, who nodded back enthusiastically. "And we'll leave Papa to get some sleep," Clark said cheerily, grinning at Lex. "Say, for an hour or two?"

Lex nodded, smiling thankfully as Clark pecked a quick kiss on his cheek and left with their excited, squirming son. Clark always managed to give him the best Christmas presents.

The End

***

For seperis, a short QaFUS Justin/Brian drabble

One Early Present

Brian sighed as he opened the door, already shrugging out of his heavy winter coat. He closed his eyes for a second, expecting the mess of wrapping paper and ribbons that the room had been when he left this morning. Instead, everything was neat and tidy. He looked around suspiciously for a moment, and then saw the lone red ribbon that stretched across the floor.

Grinning to himself, he followed it to the bedroom. The ribbon led all the way to his large bed, where Justin was sprawled, naked apart from the occasional red bow.

Well, Justin had always known how to create a visually pleasing picture.

Brian stood back in the doorway, admiring Justin's artistry in the wide bow around his neck. The ribbons that bound each of Justin's legs to the bed frame had been tied with the same precision and care, but the bow around his wrists, securing them to the headboard, was messy and lopsided.

Justin grinned at him, shifting his hips in obvious invitation and Brian had to lick his lips at the tasty picture it produced. He pulled off his jacket and kept his voice casual. "You know it's only Christmas Eve?"

Justin laughed and arched his back, pulling the ribbons taunt. "I thought you deserved to open one present early."

The End

***

For happyminion, a short SV/Justice League fic set in her Chloe/Wally AU

The Beauty of Christmas is the Presents

"Lex?" Clark asked, eyeing the clock on the wall warily, "Don't you have an early meeting tomorrow?"

The frown of concentration stayed on Lex's face as he stared at his laptop. "Got rescheduled," he explained, tapping the mousepad.

"Then what are you doing?" Clark asked as he walked around the desk. "Ebay, Lex?"

Lex looked over his should at Clark. "Christmas shopping."

Clark snorted and leant down to wrap an arm around Lex's waist. "Firstly, it's 3am on Wednesday morning. Secondly, it's November. Thirdly..." Clark paused, distracted by the screen. "Kids toys, Lex?"

Lex shrugged. If it was anyone else, he'd say Lex looked sheepish. "I'm thinking of donating to the orphanage this Christmas."

"You donate to the Metropolis orphanages every Christmas, Lex. And I know for a fact that you don't personally buy all the toys yourself," Clark said suspiciously, and then he noticed the age ranges on the screen. "You're Christmas shopping for the twins?"

"There's no need to sound quite so amazed, Clark," Lex bristled, flipping the laptop screen closed.

"I'm not. It's just..." Clark paused and a wide smile lit his face. "It's sweet, Lex. It's really, adorably sweet. But the twins are only two years old." Lex looked up at him blankly. "Regardless of how much time you spend picking out their gift, they'll probably have more fun playing with the wrapping paper," Clark finished gently, pressing a kiss against Lex's cheek.

"I hadn't thought of that," Lex admitted, slightly chargrined, and let Clark lead him to bed.

~

Looking around the mess and destruction where his livingroom used to be, Wally was sure it was somehow Lex Luthor's fault. It was as if Scratch had decided to take over the world using wrapping paper.

"Are you sure those four small gifts needed that much wrapping paper?" he asked, glaring at Lex's smug grin. "I'm sure there's a couple of rainforests' worth in this room alone." Which, okay, wasn't necessarily a bad thing, considering some of the rainforest he'd seen, but there was a principle at stake. It was the principle of Luthor making his home a mess.

"At least the girls are having fun," Chloe offered with a slightly strained smile. Wally would bet his secret stash of twinkies that she was thinking of the clean-up duty too. Looking at Pippin and Sylvia, he couldn't deny they were enjoying themselves, laughing and squealing in delight as they ripped and crunched shiny paper in their chubby little hands.

Still, Wally would feel better about it if Scratch wasn't standing there, looking so damn pleased with himself.

The End

***

For thornsilver, an SV fic based on a request she gave me months ago and I never wrote.

The Last Straw

Mrs Delilah Luthor (Lilah to all of her friends) had put up with a lot. Despite the lure of Lex's money, his ability to get himself into danger, and his irritating inability to play pool without flirting and/or gloating, she had managed for nearly a year without dragging him through the divorce courts or trying to have him killed.

She had managed to put up with a dead mother-in-law who was a saint (according to Lex) and a scheming father-in-law who was evil incarnate (again, according to Lex). She had a husband who refused to drink tap water under any conditions, spent hours caressing his sports cars, and viewed embezzling from the family company as an enjoyable hobby. She had stood by him through boring galas and vicious dinner parties. She had smiled politely and resisted the overwhelming urge to roll her eyes when Lex reverted to a bragging twelve year old every time he ran into Bruce Wayne. She had not flown into jealous rages over ex-lovers draping themselves over Lex but even she had limits.

Their first Christmas as a married couple was supposed to be relaxing. A private resort island in the South Pacific, far away from business, from Lionel Luthor or any gravesites that needed to be visited. They were far away from any Metropolis society, and even better, far away from any Smallville teenagers that seemed convinced that Lex lived to solve their problems. Understandably, she wasn't exactly pleased to find Clark Kent on holiday with them.

Perhaps if Lex had mentioned it to her in advance, she wouldn't have been quite so shocked. As it was, when she decided to go for a midday swim in the pool, the last person she expected to see sunbathing was Clark. He lay there, bold as day in a pair of red speedos that left nothing to the imagination.

She'd walked over and nudged him with her foot, and had been even less impressed with his reaction. He didn't open his eyes, just smiled a smooth, sultry smile and stretched as if he were in some kind of porn. His voice was low and husky (and an invitation for sex if ever she had heard one) as he said, "Hey, Lex."

She stared at the miles of golden skin and waited for him to open his eyes. He opened his eyes slowly, staring up through his thick lashes for a second, before his eyes widened in surprise. "Oh. Hi, Lilah," he said, and his voice was once again young and the-boy-next-door, making you think of homebaked apple pies and school vacations.

She stood there for a moment, staring at the muscled tan, those too-pretty lips, those soft green eyes and stunning white smile. Then, without saying a word, she turned on her heel and got a cab to the airport.

Delilah Luthor had put up with a lot, but even she knew when she was beaten.

The End

***

And last but not least, a short Clex Hexed Sex challenge entry for oxoniensis,

The Holiday Season

It's just past eleven o'clock and Clark is wishing that meteor mutants would just take the holiday season off. Everyone else does. There's no school, no banks, no shops. Even the farm, with its daily chores, only gets the minimum amount of care possible at this time of year. It doesn't seem unreasonable that meteor mutants should do the same.

It's only Christmas Eve, and Clark's already dealt with three of them in the last five days. As a direct result of the last one, he's currently standing in the middle of the woods, in the middle of the night, and wondering where he actually is. It's late and deserted, so Clark solves his problem the easiest way he knows. He picks a direction at random and speeds through the forest, running until he finds something he recognizes.

Clark comes to a sudden stop as he recognizes Lex's Porsche. Seeing Lex standing beside it, he stumbles over his own feet and blames it on being tired. Instead of coming to a smooth stop, he ends up fumbling noisily into the bushes. Understandably, that draws Lex's attention. "Who's there?" Lex asks suspiciously, slowly looking around, his face gaurded.

Getting to his feet, Clark brushes the dirt off his jeans and stands up. "Hey, Lex," he offers sheepishly.

"Clark," Lex replies warmly, and relaxes against the car. Stepping closer, Clark can't help but notice the lazy sprawl against the shiny finish. Lex's arms are behind him, leaning on the low roof and drawing Lex's pale shirt tight across his chest.

Lex tilts his head to the side, watching him intently. He doesn't ask what Clark's doing here and Clark's too distracted by that heated gaze to think about Lex's lack of questions. Lex leans back further, his graceful fingers casually making a come here gesture.

Clark swallows and realizes that the manor is very isolated. It's just him and Lex here, and he's suddenly very aware of it. Without meaning to, he finds himself walking forward. Lex presses himself up and off the car in one smooth movement that leaves Clark staring, trying to trace the outline of Lex's lean form against the darkness.

Lex reaches out for him, urging him closer with a hand wrapped around Clark's wrist, and Clark has to follow. He steps forward until they're only a foot apart, until he's close enough to smell eggnog on Lex's breath. The space between them seems charged. He feels too close to look into Lex's eyes, so he watches Lex's hand moving against his bare arm instead.

Lex has strong hands with long fingers, and they wrap around his wrist easily, making his wrist almost seem delicate in comparison. He's used to Chloe's and Lana's small hands that seem dwarfed beside his. He's used to feeling like a giant, towering over his friends, but around Lex, he just feels young.

"Are you cold?" Lex asks and his voice is so low that Clark almost has to strain to hear it over the pounding in his ears.

Clark's short sleeves offer no protection against the Kansas winter, but he's not cold. The goose bumps on his arm and the shivers running down his spine have nothing to do with the weather, and everything to do with the way that Lex is just petting his skin, as if he has all the time in the world to enjoy it.

"No," Clark replies breathlessly, and his voice sounds unnaturally husky in the dark silence.

"Good," Lex says, and laughs as if Clark was some witty sophisticate. That deep, throaty chuckle makes Clark's knees unsteady and stirs heat low in his belly. Clark has to reach out, has to touch, and he places a hand on Lex's narrow hip, loving the warm cotton against his palm. But he loves the soft smile on Lex's face even more.

Lex runs his hand up Clark's arm, letting it rest at the nape of Clark's neck, pulling ever so gently. Lex leans forward, as slow as gravity, and Clark's eyes are drawn to Lex's tongue swiping across his lips. Clark's almost holding his breath and this moment stretches like taffy.

Then, there's a distant crash in the woods and something not entirely natural screams. Clark's head twists towards the sound instinctively, quickly correcting the mental tally to four mutants in five days, before turning back to Lex in disappointment. His inner three year old is losing its temper, pouting and stamping its foot, screeching that he wants to spend Christmas Eve with Lex. He doesn't want to give this up to go running around after creatures in the dark, but he knows he has to. If he doesn't, who will?

Hanging his head, he tries to think of something to tell Lex. "I, um..."

"You have to go," Lex finishes for him with a wistful smile. Lex runs his fingers through Clark's hair, gently ruffling it before pulling back with a soft sigh. "Merry Christmas, Clark."

Clark's about to reply, about to stammer an apology or an excuse, but a second scream, closer this time, draws his attention. He's half a step away from Lex before he even realizes he hasn't spoken.

"Go," Lex says firmly and closes his eyes, turning away from Clark, making Clark's disappearance easy.

Running through the woods, Clark *really* wishes meteor mutants took the holiday season off.

The End


ETA: Just checked LJ. Glad you liked it, Hannah.

Comments

[thornsilver]

Oh thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

[out-there.livejournal.com]

Oh, you hadn't seen that before?

I thought I'd heard back from everyone, and was just posting it for my own ego. Just as well I did post it.

Nothing like a Chrissy pressie that gets lost in the mail! *G*

[jessindistress.livejournal.com]

OMG! *squees*

Your icon!!! :D

I'm not the only one who thinks, "SLASH!" when she hears that lyric!!! :D

Merry Christmas, hon!

~Jess

[out-there.livejournal.com]

I'm not the only one who thinks, "SLASH!" when she hears that lyric!!! :D

*giggles* ahab99 made it for me. Now I snigger everytime I hear that carol!

Thank You!!!!

[oxoniensis.livejournal.com]

I loved reading my fic again, and I'm so pleased I can share it with people now, instead of just squeeing that I've got a Clexy present!

And I adored the Justice League/SV fic, and the Nickyverse fic. I think I've got a bit of a thing about Lex around little children: he might act totally lost, but somehow they love him, and he knows just what to do.

Re: Thank You!!!!

[out-there.livejournal.com]

I loved reading my fic again, and I'm so pleased I can share it with people now, instead of just squeeing that I've got a Clexy present!

It's always more fun to show off your presents!

And I adored the Justice League/SV fic, and the Nickyverse fic. I think I've got a bit of a thing about Lex around little children: he might act totally lost, but somehow they love him, and he knows just what to do.

Yes. I think he'd be uncertain around kids, but he'd treat them like people, not idiots, so they'd love him (just like the rest of us! *g*).

[meadowlion.livejournal.com]

The first and last stories are my favorites. They're both so clear, bittersweet, and inescapably appealing. =o)

(By the way, how's that ending re-write going on your previous SN fic for Celli?)

[out-there.livejournal.com]

Um, first of all, in my defense, I've been on holidays and offline for the last two weeks. Hence, the tardy reply.

The first and last stories are my favorites. They're both so clear, bittersweet, and inescapably appealing. =o)

Thanks! *beams* There's something about a Chrissy fic that includes the dialogue "Merry Christmas" that just *works*.

(By the way, how's that ending re-write going on your previous SN fic for Celli?)

*looks guilty* It... um...

Actually, I haven't finished it yet. The re-write ended up a bit longer than expected, and I just didn't get to it before holidays. Hopefully, I'll get it done tonight/tomorrow, and then I'll email it to you if you're still happy to beta.

*sigh* Timeliness has never been one of my virtues.

[meadowlion.livejournal.com]

Um, first of all, in my defense, I've been on holidays and offline for the last two weeks. Hence, the tardy reply.

That's totally understandable, and I'm so far behind on comments that it's not like I could complain even if I wanted to do so (which I don't).

Actually, I haven't finished it yet. The re-write ended up a bit longer than expected, and I just didn't get to it before holidays. Hopefully, I'll get it done tonight/tomorrow, and then I'll email it to you if you're still happy to beta.

I'm not in any hurry, and I don't mean to rush you at all. I just wanted to check on how it was going to a)encourage you with the reminder that people are still interested in reading it and b)make sure you knew that I'm still available to beta. =) Whenever you get it done is fine.

*sigh* Timeliness has never been one of my virtues.

Mine, either. I tell people that the only time they could count on my being early was when I was born, since then I showed up a month ahead of time. *g*

[out-there.livejournal.com]

Mine, either. I tell people that the only time they could count on my being early was when I was born, since then I showed up a month ahead of time. *g*

*snerk* I was two weeks late!

My tardiness started early...

[meadowlion.livejournal.com]

My tardiness started early...

::giggling:: How ironic of it.

[out-there.livejournal.com]

Bwahahahaa!

Okay, it took me a minute to get your meaning, but... Hee!

[terrible-tues.livejournal.com]

Lovely set.

[out-there.livejournal.com]

Thanks!