DISCLAIMER: Hi all! I know I've been gone forever but it now looks as though I might be able to write in a more human and humane way. *g* This is just a little Christmas spec I worked up after going shopping with my Mom yesterday. Hope you all like. Merry Christmas to all! Oh, I don't own em. I'm not making money. Don't sue, attack, disembowel, stretch, burn, gut, pillage, or rape me in any way be it figuratively or literally. Hell, don't even think about it. No spoilers are here that I know of, save for TVL.

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"The crowds are atrocious, the decorations are hideously garish, and I still am having a wonderful time. How can this be?"

Lestat threw back his head and laughed out loud, his voice melting in with those of the other Christmas shoppers. It wasn't so much the words that had spurred him into such a fit, for he had been giddy as a hyperactive adolescent the entire evening. More likely it was the atmosphere. Gabrielle smiled a bit at her son's side, still looking vaguely unsure about the entire episode. There was something unsettling about robotic, dancing Santa Clauses and edible Merry Christmas underwear, but still it was fun to mingle with the mortals and especially with such good company. Lestat calmed his laughter soon enough and kissed her cheek with all the affection she had come to expect from her youngest son. For just a moment she remembered what he had been like as a child, watching the snow fall from his room in the castle's tower with eyes that seemed to sparkle in the moonlight. She could feel herself softening for only a moment, and struggled to build up her icy exterior once more but in vain. Anyway, what was the use? And he was trying so very hard to show her that the mortal world could be fun. Would it break his heart, she wondered, if he knew that she wouldn't stay long?

"Gabrielle, I never thought I'd hear you say such a thing. You mean to say that you of all people are actually enjoying yourself?"

She smiled a little, and Lestat thought his heart stopped to see it. The way the red and green lights from the stores surrounding them on all sides fell upon her face only made her appear the more lovely. A smile though, that was more than he had expected to glean from her -- especially in a mall of all things. She didn't really seem to belong there, her hiking boots were caked with who knows how much mud and grime and her hair looked as though it hadn't been cleaned, let alone combed, in years. But even in such meager dress she was a vision. The archangel Gabrielle. She certainly fit the description.

Looking at her, though, had made an idea come to his mind, and a mischievous smile spread across his lips. Gabrielle frowned, for she knew exactly what such a look could mean, but before she could utter a word of protest her son and maker had lifted her from the mall bench and carried her at an inhuman speed into a department store. When her feet at last made contact with terra firma again she was furious. "How dare you! Do you think that just because you happen to have been a male when you died you somehow have the right to maneuver me where you wish? Lestat de Lioncourt, I should take you over my knee and spank you right here."

Lestat only laughed, his eyes twinkling. "Really, Gabrielle! I am far too old for that and you know it! Besides for starters you never spanked me in my life, and secondly I'm too fast for you." He winked. "And besides, who could be upset after what I have in mind for you?"

Gabrielle backed away, her eyes darting about instinctually for any available exit. "Lestat … "

"I only want to buy you something."

"That's very nice, but …"

"A present! Maybe even several since we're here."

Gabrielle looked around the store, but it really was obvious what Lestat had in mind. A dress shop, and an expensive one too. There was a poster of a woman in some strange gown with the word Vogue neatly typed in the upper right-hand corner, and another poster brandishing a woman of similar dress emblazoned with the title Cosmopolitan. These words meant nothing to Gabrielle, except that somehow Lestat had managed to lure her to a dressmaker's service for one reason.

She sighed. "Lestat, you know we have never exchanged gifts and for good reason. Christmas is a tradition for those with faith in the birth of Christ. I have none. Please don't buy me anything. I don't need it."

The boyish excitement seemed to waver for a moment, and memories of lonely Christmases returned to her, of her son wandering through the cavernous belly of the castle with no one to play with and no one to care. Everyone off celebrating Christmas save for them. A boy only wanting to do good in a godless household. Perhaps another tactic would be less hurtful, she mused. "Lestat, be honest, where will I of all creatures where such a dress?"

Lestat regained his optimism once more and smiled. Behind the counter a sales representative was emerging from the back room complete with tacky grin. Gabrielle sighed in frustration. "Why, to the Christmas party, naturally. The entire coven is going to be there. Surely a dress would be nice, don’t you think?"

"What if I were to tell you that I had no plans to attend such a gathering? What if I told you that I don't like the company? What if I told you that I only came to New York to find you and to threaten certain corporation owner living in this area who just happens to be strip mining in my favorite jungles?"

"I would still be here with you trying to buy a dress."

Gabrielle glanced once more at the bright colors of the Christmas lights adorning the store rooms, and then at the bright eyes and hopeful look of her golden son. She sighed. "Lestat … I don't think this will be a good idea."

"Come on, it isn't so difficult. I'll tell you what. If you buy a dress here, then I will as well and we will both have clothing for the party."

She glared up at her taller son, only becoming more angered by the mocking grin on his lips. "No. I will not have my son seen wearing a dress in public."

"Only in private then, hmm?"

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing. So, are you game then? Will you just buy one little dress? It can't hurt."

The next few hours were a whirlwind of fabrics, colors, and feeble protests for Gabrielle, but as much as she hated to admit it she was actually enjoying herself. It had been so very long since she had tried on anything resembling fashionable ladies clothing, and the choices Lestat made for her were not only beautiful but highly expensive. At first she was angered by his assumption that she would even attend the party, but soon enough she was choosing dresses at nearly the same frequency as her son until Lestat stepped back and simply let Gabrielle handle the choice of dress. Finally, after venturing into several boutiques and trying on countless items a fitting piece of clothing was selected. Lestat positively beamed with joy when he saw her step tentatively out of the dressing room. Gabrielle's golden hair was still filthy but done up in a tight braid so as not to ruin the clothing, which was itself a wonderful piece of art: a blue taffeta Christian Dior dress, form fitting and with a low cut portrait neckline which exposed her shoulders and abundant cleavage. Lestat paid for the clothing, as well as some accessories and a bottle of shampoo.

As mother and son exited the mall, Lestat with a dress bag flung over his shoulder and Gabrielle clutching a hand held plastic bag from the store, each were smiling happily. Lestat led the way to his car, which was really on loan from Louis for the night -- he hadn't been certain of how his mother would react to a ride on his Harley Davidson -- and loaded the packages into the trunk. When Gabrielle tried to help, he simply took the bag from her. She frowned. "I can take care of myself you know."

"I know."

Silence as the trunk was packed, then closed. "Thank you."

Lestat looked at her, stunned, before recovering himself. "It looked good on you. How could I not buy the silly thing? And anyway I can't pass up an opportunity to make you conform now, can I?"

Gabrielle shook her head and smiled slightly, the coldness still present though not as prevalent as before. "Not for the dress, Lestat, though I must thank you for that as well. I meant for taking the time. For showing me this place during such a season. Mortals can be like cattle, but for once I am leaving with very few complaints."

The snow was falling again. Louis would be waiting at the hotel. New York could be a beautiful city in December. "Perhaps if you were to visit more often…"

Gabrielle smiled and opened the driver's side door, settling herself into the seat. "Don't push your luck. Now, hand me the keys."

Lestat reluctantly tossed the keys to Louis' car to his mother before climbing into the passenger seat. "Now be careful with the car." Gabrielle only chuckled ruefully in response as she started the vehicle smoothly and began to pull out of the parking space. "So, does this mean I can plan on finding you at the party tomorrow night?"

"Probably."

" Do I still get to wear a dress?"



~ Fin