Christmas Eve, Second Floor Common Room

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

Sam sat in the common room, idly flipping through channels. No specials were on, and there was only so long she could watch the Yule log. She sipped occasionally from a glass of red wine.

She was trying very, very hard not to think of her father.

Comments

[can_be_more]

If there's anything wrong, Aeryn's not about to ask in front of everyone, so she sends him a concerned look and hopes he interprets it right.

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

John just shakes his head and smiles again.

Stupid overthinking.

[can_be_more]

"Are you going to stand there all night?" she asks.

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"Um, maybe." Another shrug. "It's a good place to stand. The wall's nice and warm."

[can_be_more]

There's a tiny pause, and then, "All right..." which just means that now Aeryn's really wondering what's going on.

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"Unless there's room for me over there..."

[can_be_more]

There's definitely enough room, but Aeryn moves over towards the arm of the sofa anyway.

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

John pushes away from the wall and takes a seat beside her.

"Thanks."

[can_be_more]

"How are you?" she asks, knowing she's probably not getting the real answer.

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"Good," he says. "Good. How's it going with you?"

[can_be_more]

"Fine," she says. "It's hard for bad things to happen when no one else is around."

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"True." He leans back and relaxes a little. "Haven't seen you in about a day. Where've you been hiding?"

[can_be_more]

"Gym, gift delivery... I've been around," she says. "What about you?"

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"Hmmm. Room, mostly. Sleeping. Wrapping things."

[can_be_more]

"You still have things to wrap?" she asks. Okay, she still has one thing, but there are extenuating circumstances there.

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"Oh no. I'm done." He makes a 'done' gesture with his hands. "Everything's been delivered...excepts yours."

[can_be_more]

"Hm," she says. "I still seem to have yours, too."

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

He smiles slowly. "You didn't have to get me anything, honey."

[can_be_more]

"And I told you you didn't have to get me anything, but it didn't stop you, did it?" she reminds him.

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

He just shrugs and smiles. "I guess not. So," he says leaning over and touching his nose to her shoulder, "what'd you get me?"

[can_be_more]

"If I told you, it would ruin the surprise," she says lightly. "You're going to have to wait."

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"Hmmm." He turns his head so it rests on her shoulder. "This okay?"

[can_be_more]

"I'm not complaining," she says, and takes his hand in hers because she can.

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"Okay, just checking." He nuzzles in tighter and sighs. "Maybe you could stay with me tonight? I mean, when the party in here winds down."

[can_be_more]

Until now Aeryn didn't realize she'd been planning on it. "If you want me to," she tells him.