Christmas, Day 8!!
Title: "Once Upon December"
Rating: U
Pairing: Jack/Stephen
Summary: Jack and Stephen dance.
Author's Note: For everybody at perfect_duet, Merry Christmas!! :D The song that inspired this was “Madame de Pompadour” from “Doctor Who: The Girl in the Fireplace”.
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The snow was falling steadily in huge, soft goose-feather flakes; the candles were guttering low and with the absence of the guests the heat of the room was fading as the fire died in the grate. Stephen shivered. He stood gazing out of the drawing room window watching the snowflakes flurry on the wind in the darkness, the muted sounds of the night somehow having the effect of lowering his humour. He sighed. This was not the way he was supposed to feel… but then last Christmas he had been in the company of a wife as well as his only child. This was the first Christmas Stephen had spent on land at home in Woolcombe (At least where he thought of as home) since Diana’s passing, and the memories of happy times spent in these rooms weighed heavily on him, stooping his shoulders. He had taken her death badly, but now he faced the Festive Season alone the reality of it had affected him more than he had ever supposed, and it were as if she had died over anew.
Behind him he sensed someone enter the room, and the doctor was not in the least surprised when a moment later a large, bear-like arm wrapped itself around his skinny waist and warm breath tickled his ear.
“Now, dear soul, what is all this? I thought you were looking forward to this evening.”
“I did not feel like dancing,” Stephen replied flatly, not turning his eyes from the window or the swirling snow; nor did he relax into the embrace that encircled him as he usually would not have hesitated to do. This, perhaps, was what Jack noticed of all, and he drew back a little, a worried expression in his previously mirthful blue eyes as he regarded the thin, pale form of his friend.
“Come, Stephen, you have never been shy of me before.”
Stephen sighed again, turning from the window at last, but not finding the strength to fix his gaze on Jack. The doctor’s grey eyes bore a pained expression as they took in the slightly straining buttons of the captain’s magnificent new waistcoat.
“I am sorry, my dear. I lack a much needed levity of spirits. I… It is difficult for me, you must understand. I know you mean well, and your generosity means much to me - yours and Sophie’s - yet I cannot help but feel I intrude on your happiness. Joy has no need, nor want, for sorrow.”
The hold around the doctor tightened, Jack’s other arm encircling him.
“Stephen, look at me.”
Finally Stephen lifted his gaze. Jack’s eyes looked down at him, their colour the warm blue of the ocean or a summer’s sky. Never the cold, cool blue of frost, Stephen thought. They could not ever be so unfeeling. In itself that gaze alone went some way to melting the chill surrounding Stephen’s soul.
Jack held him for a moment, a smile curling at one corner of his mouth, then he released Stephen from his arms.
“Come, brother,” he said softly, stepping back and holding out his hand to his friend in invitation - an invitation for what the doctor did not know. Puzzled, and somewhat curious as to what Jack had in mind, Stephen placed his hand in Jack’s to be drawn into a gentle embrace again, then spun round carefully on his heels and found himself held as a lady would be in preparation for the Viennese Waltz. Jack wagged his head to what Stephen recognised as a beat of three-time.
“The band has gone home, but I daresay we can think up our own accompaniment.”
On their third time round Jack steered them to the centre of the room, and the captain’s eyes looked up at the ceiling, an amused smile curling at the corners of his mouth and Stephen followed to friend’s gaze to see what had caused such a detour. Above them, attached to the great crystal chandelier, were several sprigs of greenery bearing small, white berries.
“Mistletoe,” Jack said softly.
Stephen made no reply, save his own mouth forming a smile in return.
“Merry Christmas, my dear.”
Rating: U
Pairing: Jack/Stephen
Summary: Jack and Stephen dance.
Author's Note: For everybody at perfect_duet, Merry Christmas!! :D The song that inspired this was “Madame de Pompadour” from “Doctor Who: The Girl in the Fireplace”.
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The snow was falling steadily in huge, soft goose-feather flakes; the candles were guttering low and with the absence of the guests the heat of the room was fading as the fire died in the grate. Stephen shivered. He stood gazing out of the drawing room window watching the snowflakes flurry on the wind in the darkness, the muted sounds of the night somehow having the effect of lowering his humour. He sighed. This was not the way he was supposed to feel… but then last Christmas he had been in the company of a wife as well as his only child. This was the first Christmas Stephen had spent on land at home in Woolcombe (At least where he thought of as home) since Diana’s passing, and the memories of happy times spent in these rooms weighed heavily on him, stooping his shoulders. He had taken her death badly, but now he faced the Festive Season alone the reality of it had affected him more than he had ever supposed, and it were as if she had died over anew.
Behind him he sensed someone enter the room, and the doctor was not in the least surprised when a moment later a large, bear-like arm wrapped itself around his skinny waist and warm breath tickled his ear.
“Now, dear soul, what is all this? I thought you were looking forward to this evening.”
“I did not feel like dancing,” Stephen replied flatly, not turning his eyes from the window or the swirling snow; nor did he relax into the embrace that encircled him as he usually would not have hesitated to do. This, perhaps, was what Jack noticed of all, and he drew back a little, a worried expression in his previously mirthful blue eyes as he regarded the thin, pale form of his friend.
“Come, Stephen, you have never been shy of me before.”
Stephen sighed again, turning from the window at last, but not finding the strength to fix his gaze on Jack. The doctor’s grey eyes bore a pained expression as they took in the slightly straining buttons of the captain’s magnificent new waistcoat.
“I am sorry, my dear. I lack a much needed levity of spirits. I… It is difficult for me, you must understand. I know you mean well, and your generosity means much to me - yours and Sophie’s - yet I cannot help but feel I intrude on your happiness. Joy has no need, nor want, for sorrow.”
The hold around the doctor tightened, Jack’s other arm encircling him.
“Stephen, look at me.”
Finally Stephen lifted his gaze. Jack’s eyes looked down at him, their colour the warm blue of the ocean or a summer’s sky. Never the cold, cool blue of frost, Stephen thought. They could not ever be so unfeeling. In itself that gaze alone went some way to melting the chill surrounding Stephen’s soul.
Jack held him for a moment, a smile curling at one corner of his mouth, then he released Stephen from his arms.
“Come, brother,” he said softly, stepping back and holding out his hand to his friend in invitation - an invitation for what the doctor did not know. Puzzled, and somewhat curious as to what Jack had in mind, Stephen placed his hand in Jack’s to be drawn into a gentle embrace again, then spun round carefully on his heels and found himself held as a lady would be in preparation for the Viennese Waltz. Jack wagged his head to what Stephen recognised as a beat of three-time.
“The band has gone home, but I daresay we can think up our own accompaniment.”
On their third time round Jack steered them to the centre of the room, and the captain’s eyes looked up at the ceiling, an amused smile curling at the corners of his mouth and Stephen followed to friend’s gaze to see what had caused such a detour. Above them, attached to the great crystal chandelier, were several sprigs of greenery bearing small, white berries.
“Mistletoe,” Jack said softly.
Stephen made no reply, save his own mouth forming a smile in return.
“Merry Christmas, my dear.”