Breaking the Fall

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Part Three: Lessons on Mistletoe

David stared, stunned, as he struggled to accept the words he had just heard, to make sense of them, to interpret them any other way, but he couldn’t. Silver eyes kept on him, watching his face and expression, but when he tried to speak, no sound came out. Luke quickly looked down, both terrified and shamed now as he’d admitted his sin, and pulled his knees tight to his chest.

"Will you ever forgive me?"

It came so soft, and for the first time, David could hear the voice of heaven in his words, so otherworldly in it’s perfection and hesitancy that his breath caught. For a fleeting instant, he wanted nothing more than to pull the man into his arms, just hold him and comfort him till not a trace of pain remained, but he forced the thought back as soon as it came. Foolishness. He shut his eyes briefly.

"Why me?"

"If you wish it of me..." The soft voice came hesitant again. "I can leave you." David heard the reluctance behind the tone and his eyes lifted abruptly to find the other’s gaze lowered, obviously troubled. "I meant no ill will, I just...I couldn’t bear to see you die last night...not when I had the power to prevent it." When David made no reply, he sighed and pressed down absently at his robes, flattening them once again from their previously wrinkled state. "I would pray for your understanding...but I am afraid God no longer answers my call..." He stood from the bed, his white garment falling easily down to his bare ankles once again. He moved for the door. "I wish you, well, David."

"You’ll freeze out there you know." The angel paused, hung in his doorway and glanced back. "Not to mention...without you around to protect me..." He leaned back to his elbows, facing the man in the doorway. "...I could just as easily walk the twenty feet from here to the bathroom and finish what I started last night. No one would stop me."

Luke just watched him, confusion defining his features as puzzled over the man before him. David rolled from the bed, stood, and slipped on his shirt. "Of course, I understand if you don’t care now." He began buttoning from the bottom up. "I’ve pretty much been a bastard." Blue glanced up with a frown. "In fact, I really don’t know what you think you see in me...but for one of heaven’s angel’s..." He finished and moved forward till he stood directly before the smaller man. Lifting the other’s chin with his fingers, he questioned quietly. "Don’t you think you can do better?"

Silver just stared, silent for the longest while before he shook his head ever so slightly. "I’m not an angel anymore...I am as you are...a mortal." He caught his lip and continued even quieter, lowering his gaze. "...and I don’t know what you’re talking about...you’re the most beautiful man on earth."

David blinked, staring in disbelief, and finally he snorted. "Just shows how much you know...come on, let’s find you some more appropriate clothes..."

Ten minutes later, David stood just before the inquisitive young male as Luke, for the first time, gazed over his reflection, more than slightly transfixed as he turned in front of the mirror. First he simply looked, then began experimenting, fascinated by the object’s perfect and instant imitation of his every move. Finally, David just laughed.

"A bit narcissistic for a holy being, aren’t you?"

Luke blinked, never taking his eyes from the glass. "I told you...I’m mortal now." He reached out a tentative hand, then pulled it back abruptly as his reflection mimicked it instantly. A small frown formed on his features in his confusion. "What is this thing?"

"It’s a mirror...surely you’ve seen them?"

"Well...I’ve seen human’s use them...but what’s it’s purpose?"

"So you can see yourself." David stepped up behind him and the smaller man tensed slightly in surprise as his mirror image showed the same, the other man’s calm features eyeing him through the glass. He flushed even at the minor inspection and glanced over backwards, acutely aware of the other’s close presence behind him. Noticing this, cool blue flickered down and David chuckled lightly. "My clothes are too big for you anyway."

Luke shook his head. "They stay on me...and cover me plainly...is that not the point?"

The other man shrugged. "No hurt in looking decent in the process...staying warm is important too...and I have a feeling some loose jeans and a raggedy dark T isn’t gonna do much for you in that area." He frowned slightly, looking over the slender man before him before shrugging off the jacket he’d taken to wearing, even in the house. "Here. Try this."

The smaller man blinked as he took the heavier piece of attire and looked over it curiously before slipping it over his shoulders experimentally. David smirked. Truthfully, his clothes fit reasonably well on the smaller man with only a few minor problems, namely around the waist and shoulders. Luke almost matched his height (almost), standing only about one or two inches below him at the most, but his build was tiny. Talk about delicate men, the former angel looked more petite than a lot of women, and that said something. David wasn’t a particularly large man, but his clothes looked close to sheets in some aspects when put on Luke. The jacket looked no better.

Finally, he gave up. "Come on. If you’re gonna insist on keeping me alive, the least I can do is get you some proper clothes..." Luke looked up from the mirror again to find the other back at the closet, searching for another jacket. Upon discovery of the necessary item, David pulled back with a mild look of satisfaction and nodded for the other to follow as he lead his way out. "The Christmas rush will probably make this miserable...be prepared."

Luke gave only a minor look of stunned confusion before doing as instructed. The instant they made it outside, the cold struck him with a sudden icy blast and he shivered instinctually, bringing his arms tightly around his rapidly freezing form. David glanced back at his dilemma and raised an eyebrow.

"Something wrong?"

The smaller man caught his lip with another shudder. "H-how do you s-stand it? Surely this weather isn’t h-healthy...?" The other only grinned in response, chuckling lightly.

"Probably not. It’s called winter. Come on, get in the car." Luke only rubbed his arms again before following after, teeth chattering as he made it to the car. Once inside, David gave him a brief glance. "You know...last night you were out in weather at least as bad...not to mention barefoot and half dressed...what’s the change?" Silver eyes lowered, platinum hair and lashes hiding his expression. David frowned slightly. "That bad, eh?"

Luke flushed and glanced up. "God’s protection kept me safe from harm...last night...heaven’s light had yet to leave me." David half-expected more, but when the man kept silent, he didn’t push.

An hour later, despite traffic, crowds, and the usual holiday insanity, Luke stood safely behind the closed doors of a Wal-Mart changing stall; David made a habit of never shopping anywhere else. Currently, his attention was focused on persuading the smaller male out. Luke promptly ignored each argument, only pleading each time for the return of his ‘previous’ garments. David, in turn, promptly ignored each request.

"Look...you’ve gotta come out sometime...I can’t wait here forever. Just pick something, put it on, and get out here. I’m sure you look fine."

"I don’t care..." He sensed the hesitancy behind it, Luke’s will slowly weakening. "It’s all...too tight...it doesn’t feel right..." David almost heard the pout behind his words, the nervous, breathless tone coming through plainly and betraying his anxiety. "Please give me back the other clothes?" It sounded so desperate, he almost gave in, but the curiosity of what the other could possibly want to hide ruled out his sympathy, and he shook his head with flat determination.

"Nope. You either come out in that...or you come out naked." At the sudden, complete silence, he fought the urge to laugh, wishing for the world he could have seen the man’s face at that moment. Finally, the door opened, slowly, and Luke stepped out with obvious reluctance. Even with his head down, David saw the blush, but that hardly held his attention for long on sight of the man’s now much more prominently displayed body.

"Holy shit..."

Silver eyes snapped up. "W-what?" He looked utterly perplexed. "What is holy about-"

David waved his hand dismissively, eyes raking greedily over the form before him. "In this case just take it as a compliment." Luke looked dissatisfied and unconvinced to say the least, but put up no further objection.

For an angel, Luke looked like a god. Behind his purity, beauty and innocence, the man hid a whole world of things simply impossible to enjoy beneath the baggy cover of white drapes. David briefly made a mental note never to let the man dress himself again. After his host’s careful selection, Luke now wore a neat, nicely fitting black turtleneck (that somehow continued to make it’s way up ever so slightly across his stomach), which he found himself repeatedly tugging down on, and full length, semi-tight pants.

The pants, much to his frustration, hung stubbornly to his hips, refusing to go higher, and hugged his long, slender legs from thighs to knee, exposing the contours of his lower half quite enticingly. His shirt did little to remedy his embarrassment, but wonders for the other man’s rapidly increasing curiosity. The dark collar, though it covered his neck almost completely, brought out instead his loose, silvery white locks, and matching silver eyes. The rest of it literally clung to him, defining every inch of previously unexposed body and turning Luke’s almost feminine curves into a sight for sore eyes. David felt, understandably, very proud of himself.

Seeing the smaller man’s continued nervousness on the subject, however, he almost spoke when two voices caught him off guard.

"But...you’re sure that baby-sitter was qualified? I-...I mean...she-" He turned his head abruptly to the woman’s voice and tensed. Kathryn looked, as she usually did, quite troubled, her hands wringing ever so slightly as her worried eyes glanced to the man beside her. That man though, was what made David livid. Nick, despite the Christmas season, looked as grim and hateful as ever.

"For the last time, Kate, I’m sure she’s fine. You spoil that kid too damn much. What’s the matter with spending a little time with me every now and then, huh? Is it that horrible?" These words only furthered her obvious anxiety, but her words faltered and she merely shook her head.

"N-no...of course not."

The man beside her gave a look that David supposed was his idea of a comforting smile; it looked more like a hungry and lustful sneer. It made his stomach turn.

"Besides, Katy, the more she’s away from that pedophile faggot who calls himself her father-" As if sensing eyes on him, Nick chose that exact moment to turn his gaze, and locked eyes with icy, furious blue on him. He gave what looked like a mixture between a smirk and a sneer as he snaked a hand around the woman’s waist beside him and motioned his head to get her attention. When she looked up, her eyes widened and a bright (relieved?) smile appeared.

"David!" Yes, definitely relief. The addressed man fought the urge to frown at that. Yes, for him, anything to get away from Nick would come as a relief, but he was her husband after all... "Oh, David, I...I didn’t notice you were...I-..." At an almost threatening look from her husband, she shut her mouth quickly, and Nick plastered on a smile dripping with hate.

"Yes...so nice to see you here...David. Katy was worried for a bit after your note...she thought you might go and do something foolish like...kill yourself." David’s stomach clenched and he felt himself pale slightly. So she did understand that thing... "I of course...convinced her she was being foolish...a great...intelligent...man like you would never resort to such low...pitiful...acts of self-redemption." David’s eyes narrowed.

Convinced her, probably locked her in the house! It took a lot not to lunge at the man, forget his surroundings and beat the living daylights out of that-

"David..." His gaze snapped over at the quite, hesitant voice and for an instant, his rage dissipated completely. He’d almost forgotten about Luke. Nervous silver lifted to him. "Can we go now? I don’t like-"

"Ah! This must be what keeps you busy." Nick’s gaze raked over the smaller man, disgust and malice obvious in his mocking tone. "Where did you find him? He looks like a pretty little piece of-"

"Luke?" The addressed man looked up quickly at David’s interruption, and instantly sensed the tension in his voice. "How about you and Kathryn...go find some new clothes or something. I’m sure she can probably do a lot better job than me with that, anyway."

"Nick-" Kathryn gave David a look as if to question, but the other man cut her off abruptly.

"Go play with David’s little boyfriend. He obviously wants to speak with me..." When Nick raised an eyebrow ever so slightly, it almost looked like a challenge, and David began re-thinking his plans not to attack him. After only a second’s more hesitation, the woman finally nodded and Luke, still puzzled, followed after her. Once alone, any look of good-will Nick had kept in place around his wife vanished and he gave a look of pure loathing. "So what is it you want from me, faggot? You’d best get it over with quick, Katy’s being a real bitch about time...apparently ‘worried’ for our little Lacy."

David realized the sudden urge to just punch off that smirk made him childish, but he didn’t care. Even if he didn’t love the woman sexually, he still held feelings for her, he never would have gotten as far as Lacy if he hadn’t, and Nick's easy use of cruel words stung.

"Are you not even gonna talk to me?" Nick snorted. "Oh this is rich, you shoo everyone off, then can’t get the nerve to speak. Do you have some kind of sick crush on me or something?" That near made him choke, but the other man misunderstood. "So that’s it? Trying to get everyone off so you can waste one more moment of my life on your sick fantasies and-"

His words froze as the other man’s hand blocked off his windpipe, slamming his back up against the nearest wall and hissing lowly. "That woman, may not be my wife anymore...but you have no right to treat her like shit...especially around me!" Nick gagged slightly, hands making futile attempts to lessen the other’s grip. "I wasn’t talking, because your speech is so pitifully revolting, I can barely cope with listening to your sick voice, let alone replying." The man looked slightly ashen now, breath coming in choked gasps as David loosened his grip just enough, and hissed closely to his ear with a smirk. "...and for the record...if I ever had fantasies about you...I would have killed my self a long time ago." He let his hand go and Nick collapsed, knees bending and hands going instantly to his throat as he coughed heavily, still choking through haggard breaths.

When he finally got his breath back, his eyes looked positively seething as they narrowed to the man above, but David swore he saw a twinge of fear behind them. "You...I’ll have you arrested...for-"

"For what? Molestation? Threats?" Nick scrambled to his feet but near fell again as David deliberately invaded his personal space. "What are you gonna do, Nicky?" Dark brown eyes grew near impossibly wide, and fear definitely showed. "Whine to the police because...you couldn’t fend of a faggot? Gonna whine that you’ve been..." He flickered a thumb over the collar of the man’s neck, not really able to bring himself to touch him again. "...sexually harassed..." He lifted his gaze and watched the man swallow. "...by a man?" Nick looked near white, not a fleck of color on him.

"David?"

The quiet voice succeeded in snapping both back to reality, and Nick quickly gave another half-choked noise, stumbling away haphazardly as confused silver shifted between them. David looked up and gave his best attempt at a smile, but it turned into more a look of disgust than anything else as it passed by Nick, and finally he gave up on the gesture, simply nodding.
"Come on, Luke...we have places to be."

"But I’m still dressed in-"

"We’ll worry about it later!" David almost snapped it, and Luke looked startled by the sudden anger, but followed after as directed. By the time they made it to the seemingly endless Christmas lines, David looked no less frustrated, and Luke fidgeted ever so slightly.

"David...?"

"What??" He glanced over to his smaller companion and only got a flustered blush in response. He frowned slightly and eased his tone to ask it quieter. "What is it?"

"It’s just...you seem troubled." David raised an eyebrow. "...and aren’t you supposed to remove the store’s merchandise before purchasing?" The taller man blinked, glancing over the other, still dressed fully in his turtle-neck and pants. He flushed and fumbled slightly as he glanced up to the line.

"I...suppose so...yes."

Almost an hour later, taking into account changing, lines, shop trouble, and a minor case of losing purchases, they now stood together, outside, on the rather crowded city streets, bustling from between one crowd to the next. It was slow progress, but steady enough, and Luke enjoyed the view, taking in everything with avid interest.

Amidst their walking, making the rather long trip from storefront to their actual parking spot (no room by the building), the former angel’s eyes continually caught on pair after pair of people holding hands, talking, and even kissing. Watching one particular pair caught briefly directly under a shop archway, his eyes caught on a strange plant. Before he got time to look it over though, one of many street salesmen called out, diverting his attention.

"Mistletoe! Get your handy piece of mistletoe, here! Fifty cents for the first kiss from the love of your life! Make Christmas merrier, or play a joke! All in one handy bundle!" The man looked round, and rather dirty if you looked too closely, but he waved a similar looking plant between his pudgy fingers. That alone held the smaller man’s attention.

"David?" The man looked down at his inquiry. "What is the purpose of selling leaves when one could get them for free simply from a tree?"

David raised an eyebrow. "And here I thought you were this all-knowing, divine being? Who ever heard of an angel that doesn’t know mistletoe?" Luke only looked confused.

"Christmas is the celebration of Christ’s birth. On this day humans rejoice in the coming of our lord Jesus. Mistletoe...has nothing to do with it."

The other only chuckled lately. "Yeah...well...let’s just say we ‘humans’, have changed it up a bit." He paused by the shouting salesman and began searching for change. "Just promise me one thing..." The smaller man looked up. "...you let me show what this stuff is good for, ok?"

Luke looked only slightly puzzled. "A lesson on...mistletoe?" The other nodded, handing over fifty cents to pleased and greedy fingers before quickly receiving a small bundle in return. Eying the harmless looking plant carefully, the smaller man finally nodded. "Alright. What is it good for?"

David smirked, pocketing the plant with a quiet chuckle. "I’ll show you later." They resumed their trip to the car, just one more block down, but right before making it, a familiar voice called out again through the crowds and David turned back to squint through faces.

"David! David, wait!" He sighed as his eyes landed on the panting and slightly flushed face of his ex-wife, Kathryn, still loaded by several packages as she caught up with him. "I...I know you and Nick don’t get along..." He snorted, briefly wondering how she found him, but he voiced nothing aloud. "...but I know he doesn’t mean it...really..."

"Oh, yeah, and that’s why he looked so terribly thrilled to find out I hadn’t killed myself, right?" David muttered sarcastically, and she only glared, catching him off-guard with her determination. She usually got flustered when people argued back.

Taking a quick breath, she quickly got out her mission’s purpose. "Lacy misses you, Dave." She met his eyes. "I miss you." He raised an eyebrow. "...and I know...you don’t have to...but...would you come to dinner with us? Christmas dinner?" At his small frown she added hastily. "Not a big thing, really, it’s just...I know she’d love it. She talks about you everyday and-"

"It’s probably best that kid forgets me." David muttered glumly, preparing to turn, but a surprisingly firm hand gripped his shoulder, and an icy blue gaze returned his own.

"She’s not forgetting you, Dave. No matter how much you deny it, Lacy loves you. She’s a smart girl, and she won’t forget. I know you don’t like Nick-"

"He’s a selfish, arrogant bastard." She only sighed, as if taking a stand somehow drained her, and he almost regretted his words. Shaking his head, he conceded. "Fine." She glanced up and David looked less than pleased, but accepting. "Can Luke come?" She glanced over, almost forgetting about the small man by his side. David watched a blush creep to her cheeks.

"Is he...I mean...are you two..."

"Does it really matter?"

Her flush only deepened and she glanced away. "I suppose not...I mean yes, I mean." She covered her mouth and glanced to the curious blue on her. "I mean...it doesn’t matter, and he can come...if you like..."

"If he likes."

"Right. Of course, I mean." She blinked rapidly, obviously flustered now, and gave a tiny mumble beneath her breath. "Dammit, Dave, yes. That’s...all I wanted to ask." She gave a faint smile. "I hope you have a merry Christmas."

Before he added anything, she turned abruptly and disappeared into the crowd. David grumbled lightly. "Yeah...merry Christmas to you too..."

They made it to the car, but soon their quick trip home turned into much more than planned. On sight of everyone around with Christmas trees up and aglow, Luke posed his question, and eventually, the thought of the smaller man decorating a tree, reaching up continuously in that shirt, convinced David (possibly against his better judgment), into purchasing one. Then came ornaments, house decorations, food, and by the end, David near thought he’d go bankrupt (or crippled from all the weight, whichever came first), but he never posed an argument. Somehow, the smaller man’s fascination and glee made up for everything.

o~—~—~—~o~—~—~—~o

Luke grinned, brushing back lightly at a loose, slightly dampened strand of silver as he placed the last, finishing touch atop the tree; an angel. With long, wavy gold hair, and gracefully painted, porcelain features, he almost considered she looked like Anadiel, but pushed that thought from his mind, hastily. No time for home now.

Moving back to the re-lit fireplace, he gave the tree one last, scrutinizing glance, and near jumped as a hand met his shoulder. Spinning around hastily, he locked eyes with amused blue, and felt his cheek heat embarrassingly.

"Am I really that scary? Or was the tree so beautiful...you just didn’t hear me come up?" Luke fumbled, only flushing all the brighter as no formed sentences came out. David chuckled. "Well, it’s..." He glanced to his watch. "...after dinner...and too early for bed, ready for that lesson on mistletoe?"

"Oh." He watched the smaller man visibly relax, relief evident. "Yes, I suppose."

"Good." David moved over closer to the fire and sat cross-legged, motioning for the other to do the same; Luke complied. "Now..." He fumbled briefly through his pocket before producing the small, only slightly mangled, piece of plant. "...mistletoe...is an ancient and sacred tradition." Luke giggled and he glanced up abruptly, raising an eyebrow as he held up the plant. "What, you don’t believe me?" The smaller man flushed, but kept up his grin.

"Oh...no...it’s just...you sound like you’re making it all up."

David narrowed his eyes and continued with mock sincerity. "Oh? Well...if you know so much...would you like to lead this lesson?" At the other man’s silence he gave a quick nod, falsely stern. "I thought not. Now, as I was saying-"

"What’s it for?" David glanced up again, but this time Luke continued stubbornly. "You said it had a great many uses, and-" A finger met his lips and his speech froze.

"Well...it’s for kissing of course."

Luke’s brow furrowed in confusion, disbelief evident as he looked to the scrawny plant. "You kiss the mistletoe?"

David stared, blinked, and finally dropped his head to his hands. "I've failed you."

"What?" The other man kept silent and Luke glared in frustration now. "What is it? If you don’t kiss the mistletoe, then what-" Firm, warm lips met his, pressed tightly to him and stopping all speech instantly with a stunned gasp. Wide silver stared, transfixed, as that demanding warmth began to move against him, slow, and unhurried as their mouths entwined, and he felt sure he knew no feeling like it. As his lashes fluttered lower, he only managed a quiet ‘oh...’ before David’s movements cut off all sound completely, and he thought he just might melt, right there and then, in the other man’s arms.

When David’s mouth parted ever so slightly against his, he felt his heart flutter, and he barely registered the hand on his hip till it pulled him forward, though by that point, he couldn’t have cared less. His knees spread openly across the man’s lap, landing him dead center of the other’s hold, and David chose that moment to coax his lips open.

First one flick, then another; a heated, wet tongue slipped in the valley between his lips, and Luke gave only a small gasp at the pleasure it sent through him. Taking this move as consent, David pressed forward more daringly, and took full entrance into the smaller mouth. A shaky moan rewarded him, and nervous fingers gripped to his shirt.

"D-david..."

The addressed man smirked at the sound. God his name sounded delicious when spoken like that. Shit, anything Luke said sounded delicious right about now. His hand traveled up, sliding along the small of the man’s back and dragging the knitted, soft black sweater material up with his touch. Luke’s hot, rapid breath panted across his wetted lips as they parted briefly, and the feel of it near drove him to insanity. He hastily recaptured the teasing mouth, and instead of pulling the man closer to him, he pushed back.

Luke felt his heart might burst. Everything felt so tight, hot, and hazy. He couldn’t think, couldn’t see, couldn’t breathe. He foggily registered David’s hands on his chest, pushing him back, but instead of panicking, he only gave a tiny whimper of disappointment when lips left him. The carpet broke his fall, silvery locks fanning out on the maroon base like some fairy tale princess, and David took no time in remedying his loss. Lips met his firmly, coaxing a low moan from deep in his throat and laying full siege to his mouth.

Fingers pressed at the base of his top, slipping neatly beneath the giving material and raising it experimentally. Luke felt the first twinge of panic, his body tensing in response as David’s press continued, and he caught his lip with a nervous whimper.

"David...w-what..."

David only made a murmured hushing noise against him, sliding his hand higher and gathering the dark cloth in its wake. Luke tossed his head, suspended between burning desire and the weight of this sin. A flickering thumb graced over a single tight nub beneath his sweater and his eyes shot open with a prominent gasp as he bucked by instinct into the touch.

"Oh, god..."

He felt the other man’s lips curl into a smirk against him, teasing a flickering tongue on the expanse of his neck, and his eyes shut tight again with a shuddered whimper as he shook his head.

"N-no...David...you have to...s-sto...mmm...oh, lord..." His lips parted needily and he groaned, gripping back to the carpet and catching his lip. "Dear Lord, forgive me for my sins..." Hot lips latched to the curve of his neck and a small mewl escaped him as his head tilted back, his body betraying him to desire. "...oh...God help me..."

David’s chuckle vibrated against his heated flesh and wide, fearful eyes met with blue, their silver depths hazed with unholy need and desire completely beyond his control. "You said yourself...God can’t protect you anymore..." He slid his hand completely up, displaying the entire front of the man’s panting, delicately formed chest. "God..." He whispered it lowly, scraping his teeth lightly along the collar of the man’s neck, and relishing in the shiver it enticed. "...has abandoned you."

To be continued in...Part Four: Finding Heaven

Note: Until then...^_~ Christmas finale tomorrow!

Review Replies

Trickster Kitsune: This is seriously one of the msot beautiful stories I have ever read. o_o... I may just be really high-strung from getting ready for Christmas, but this story is so damn full of descriptions! The emotions are, well, emotional. ^_^; And very, very well-done. I can literally *see* Luke in my mind. If I could draw better than a pathetic stick-figure, I'd totaly draw him!

Both him and David are just so sad, they totally need each other. ^^ Though, the near rape David almost commited was a total "whoa" moment. o_o... Poor Luke! But I guess David is quite stressed and confused.

I have a feeling David doesn't really believe that Luke is an angel yet... And I don't know what you have planned, but it'd be cool is Luke had two scars from where his wings were or something. ^_^

Ahhh! I can't wait to read the rest of this story!

*blush* Your high praise is wonderful...if it's the Christmas season I have to thank for such generous compliments...I'm indebted forever! *chuckle* Ah well...stick-figures are just the best thing some of us can come up with. ^_^ Ah yes, angsty...I try to keep all the overplayed emotion out of most of my stories, but I did it in the spirit of Christmas and I'm glad no one seems to mind.

I never thought of that...but that's a cool idea! (I've actually finished writing this, and I thought about adding that idea...but it's been so rushed...I didn't get time. I want you to know I liked it though. ^^;)

Falcon Bertille: A Christmas story! I love it! And, I have to say, I'm very impressed that you can write something of such high quality so quickly. David seems so real to me, and you evoke such a strong sense of sympathy for him. I really, really want him to be alright. The scene in the beginning, with him reading to his daughter, is just beautiful. It's so cute that she thinks of "The Night Before Christmas" as "the mousey story". And I have a MAJOR thing for fallen angels, so I adore Luke. When he sings, while David caresses him, it was so sexy, and sacred, and...sad. Lots of tangled, complex emotions in this whole story, actually.

I may not be able to review as often as I normally do, because of the "Christmas with the family" thing. (I'm actually up at 3:00 AM writing this!) But you can bet that I'll do my best to get online whenever I can. Thanks for writing us such a lovely Christmas fic!

Love,
Falcon

Yay! You stopped by after all! I'm glad you still like it...it really has been rushed. ^^; (No seriously, I've written a four part, thirty-two page short story in three days...T_T). ^_^ I have so much fun writing with little kids in the stories...it seems to come so easy...but then again the type of stories I write it's just kinda hard to do. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Fallen angels! *happy dance* I needed something cliche and Christmasy...but I'm just hoping it'll turn out alright. (The singing...I think it's the part I like best out of this whole peice...^^;)

No problem with the reviews, I completely understand the rush and family thing. (As much as I adore every single one of your reviews) 3:00A.M. O_O I feel so honored...and you're forever welcome!

Aidan Eiram: Please continue, you have such a beautiful story and plot. And character's have so much life in them. So please update soon.

Hey! I don't think I've seen you before...nice to see a review! Thanks so much! I'm glad you like it. I plan to update once every day till Christmas....well...tomorrow...but don't let that stop you from leaving another review! I love them so much!