Once a winter's eve

AN: This was written for my dear Reike as a Christmas Pressie. Merry Christmas to you. Please enjoy.

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The air was crisp outside as Leo strode through the freshly fallen snow, he was wrapped up as warmly as he could; steam rising from his mouth. Christmas was his favourite time of year, the music, the smells everything that it involved. Something cold and white landed on his nose and he glanced upwards, it had started snowing and Leo smiled secretly to himself. The first snow for three years, chaos would ensue.

The town was busy; people crowed the market place, trying to see all that was being displayed on different stalls. Gingerbread, candy canes, woollen shawls and wooden toys were stacked high. Leo pushed his way through the crowd, heading towards the back of town where the lights weren’t bright and the emotions didn’t run so high. He glanced at the gingerbread men and his hand shot out, grabbing one on his way past the stall. Sophia would enjoy it, even if it was wrong to steal but they’d been so kind to take him in. As the lights grew fewer, Leo found himself in front of his door faster then he’d expected. He pushed it open and stepped into the cold single room.

“Leo! Honey how come you’re late?” He was wrapped in a secure hug and smiled down at his mother.

“Mr. O’Shea wanted me to finish the rocking horse I’d been making. It had to be finished for tomorrow.” He kissed the top of his mother’s head.

“That man always makes you stay late. ALWAYS! And does he pay you more; no he doesn’t, not even at Christmas.” Leo shook his head good naturedly and pulled off his coat and the fingerless gloves from his hands.

“I invited him over for Christmas eve.”

“You didn’t! Why Leo, he’s a horrible man.”

“No he isn’t, just lonely. Where’s Sophia? I brought her something.” He held up the gingerbread man and soon had a heap of little sister sitting on top of him.

“For me? Oh thank you Leo.” He caught the look his mother send him, that clearly stated what she thought he’d done. Stolen…which he had. “Are we going to have a Christmas tree this year?”

“No not this year Sophia…maybe next year ok?” He patted his little sister’s head and then went to sit in a corner, carving a piece of simple wood into his little sister’s Christmas present. “But we can go to church tonight.” Sophia clapped happily.

“And then you can sing.” Slowly Leo nodded his head smiling.

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The church was freezing and William cursed propriety again for making it compulsory for him to have to appear here. The third Duke of Havarshire checked his pocket watch and groaned, the mass wouldn’t start for another 15 minutes. It seemed that every year he was cursed to spend Christmas in the freezing building of God that was crammed full of unmusical peasants. He heard their heavy boots slowly clumping into the church and settle somewhere at the back. He sniffed, good they were staying well away from him but their stench still filled the building anyhow. He frowned and pinched his nose, hoping (against his better knowledge) that the service would be over quickly.

The procession of the priests alone took over half an hour, and William prepared himself for a long night. As the singing began, William wished he was deaf; it seemed that this year all the peasants wanted to make away their lack of singing skills with volume. They sang so loud this year that he nearly didn’t hear the creaking of the door that signalled that someone was late for the service. William turned to see who dared come late, especially when he was present. A tall dark haired boy was pushing a little blond girl into the back pews. William frowned, if it had been up to him, he’d have both whipped, so they would learn the necessary respect.

The priest rambled on about sin and redemption, and obviously all the things that didn’t involve William. He shifted on the uncomfortably hard bench and frowned more as the second hymn of the night was started. Oh come all ye faithful, in Latin…it would be mangled beyond recognition by the rubble behind him. However a clear voice rose beyond the clamour of the crowd, silencing them as they listened intently.

Adeste fideles, laete triumphantes
Venite, venite in Bethlehem.
Natum videte, Regem anglelorum

Venite adoremus, venite adoremus,
Venite adoremus, Dominum.


William knew that that voice had to belong to the boy who’d just entered and like an selfish aristocrat he wanted it for his own. Wanted it exclusively, after all, it was wasted on those uncultured peasants. He smiled to himself for the first time that evening he would simply wait after mass and take that pretty voice home with him, so that he would be entertained on Christmas eve. Smirking, William tapped the guard standing next to him and whispered instruction into his ear.

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Leo stopped to talk to the priest after mass finished. Smiling as Father Matthew praised his singing, he watched Sophia run off to play with the bakers children.

“You have a beautiful voice Leo, why do you not join the choir and praise the lord for all.” Leo shook his head and watched his little sister smiling. “Leo!” His eyes snapped towards Father Matthew who stared at him in horror. His lips opened to form words but they never came as something hard hit him on the head and he blacked out.

Groggily Leo opened his eyes, groaning at the thudding pain in his head. His vision was out of focus and he wondered where he was, because he certainly wasn’t lying on the cold hard ground in front of the church.

“Ah, you’re awake.” Leo turned his head towards the voice and saw a hazy shape sitting next to him. “Good. To make this clear boy, you are in my manor, you are mine and you will sing to me every evening.” Leo snapped to attention and glared at the unclear man sitting next to him.

“I what?! No. I have to get back to my family, its Christmas Eve tomorrow.”

“Today boy, you slept through all of yesterday. It’s Christmas Eve today.” Leo ran the scenario through his mind, if he was in a manor, then he was with some rich snob and who’d believe him.

“Why are you doing this?” William was shocked by the calm note in the boy’s voice as he rubbed his eyes, trying to get them to focus on him.

“Because I wanted you. Your voice is wasted on those peasants. You can spend Christmas entertaining me and then perhaps you can entertain me during the night as well.” He reached forward and grabbed the boy’s crotch.

“It’s Christmas…” William stared at the dark haired boy in disbelieve. Why wasn’t he angry, perhaps even shouting at him. “I will sing for you, but I will not be your evening’s entertainment. I will go home and spend Christmas with my family.”

“If you say so boy.” William knew better.

He had Leo singing all evening long until the boy’s voice faltered and stumbled over the notes. William made the boy dine with him, enjoying the discomfort that the boy found himself in, when having to figure out which cutlery to use.

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Leo was lying wide awake next to William’s naked form. His backside ached and he stared down at the man who had so easily forced him into acts which he wouldn’t even have dreamt of the night before. The man’s sleeping features were pleasnt, a low tinkling caught his attention and he was blinded by a bright green light.

“Hello Leo.” Leo jumped, staring into the features of a floating boy. His hair was green, his eyes were green, his clothes…pretty much everything except his skin was green. Leo clamped a hand in front of his mouth to stop himself from screaming. “Don’t look so shocked now, this is going to be fun the boy clapped his hands and spun around.”

“Who are you?”

“I’m the ghost of Christmas Past.” He bounced up and down enthusiastically. “Not your Christmas Past mind you. His.” And he nodded towards the sleeping William. “Come I’ll show you.” Leo’s hand was grabbed and he himself pulled out of bed completely naked.

”Hey! Wait! I need some clothes.” But all protests did no good as the ‘ghost’ pulled him upwards and through a blinding green light that had appeared at the clap of his hands.
When Leo opened his eyes he found himself in the middle of a huge hall, curiously he looked around. There were old armours and grand pictures, tapestries hanging off the walls.

“Where are we?”

“Psst, you’ll see Leo. Oh this will be fun.” The Ghost clapped his hands again. Quick steps were heard, light ones, those of a child and more heavy ones that followed.

“MASTER WILLIAM!” A child came into view, hastily followed by a man in livery. “Master William hold yourself.”

“But Jack, mother and father are coming home and its Christmas and we’re going to sing songs and then there’ll be presents.” The child bounced excitedly, his previously neat hair flopping all over the place.

“Yes Master William, they said they would be home.” The child raced to the door, bouncing around excitedly. Leo stared at the child…the face seemed familiar until he realised it was in fact the Duke as a child. He also realised suddenly that he was stark naked and the man in livery was staring straight at him.

“I need clothes…I’m surprised he hasn’t jumped me yet!”

“He can’t see you silly. Wait and watch…its assuming isn’t all this excitement.” They watched, the hours ticked by and not once did the little boy stop staring at the door.

“Master William…perhaps they have been held up on the road, they are very icy.”

“NO! They said they’d come! They promised!” Just as the lad turned to glare at the man, the door was pushed open. Dashing forward the boy threw himself at the entering figure. “Oh…Mr.Hargreaves.”

“Yes William, you’re behaviour leaves a lot to be desired. Why are you not studying? Or playing the violin?”

“But mother and father are coming for Christmas!”

“No they are not. Stupid boy, why would they waste their precious time on you? Here is your present they gave it to me.” A little black box was pushed into little Williams arms. “Now go back to your studies, and if they are not finished I will cane you.”

“But…” The little boy’s lip wobbled. A hard smack hit his face.

“Go to your room now. And when you have finished your studies I want you over the desk in my study. If you are so keen on Christmas presents.”

“No!” Another smack hit him and Leo felt his hand being grabbed.

“We should go now Leo. You don’t need to see this.”

“But…” He was pulled along, stumbling as he watched the little boy being dragged up the stairs.

He tumbled out of the green light and onto the bed,

“Rest now Leo…perhaps you will find compassion in your heart…and perhaps understanding. I shall be going now; perhaps you shall get another visit tonight.” A hand was placed over his eyes and he fell asleep immediately.

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William awoke to a strange noise, it sounded like the ringing of church bells and he glared around, wondering whether it was that boy making a row, but he was fast asleep curled up on the bed. His eyes flickering in dream as he hugged a pillow closer to his chest, he really was a beauty. William reached over and stroked the pale cheek; how nice it would be if the boy stayed with him voluntarily. It had surprised him that the boy had put up hardly any struggle at all.

“Hello William.” William jumped and twisted around, coming face to face with a rosy cheeked woman in a bright red dress. Two large bells were ringing around her.

“Who are you?! What are you doing in my room! I’ll call the guards.”

“Now, now, don’t be like that dear. I’m the Ghost of Christmas present. I wanted to show you something. Come with me, come on!” William was grabbed and slung over the shoulder of the HUGE woman.

“LET ME DOWN RIGHT NOW! GUARDS! GUARDS!” But it was too late. They had already left the room and were floating over the little town. “I AM IN MY NIGHT SHIRT RELEASE ME AT ONCE!” The woman dropped him, right through the roof of a shabby looking building.

William found himself in the middle of a little family gathering, but instead of laughing they all looked sad. He scrambled up, grumbling and checking for broken bones. Irritably he pushed at a little girl that was running towards him, but his arm went right through her.

“What on earth?!”

“They cannot see you dear. This is Leo’s family, the young man sleeping in your bed.” William turned to watch them, as a thin face woman gathered the small girl into her arms.

“Mummy…when is Leo coming?”

“I don’t know darling. You said he was dragged off…perhaps the lord will send him to us.” The little girl burst into tears and was wrapped in a tight hug.

“Well dear, this is your doing…but you don’t care do you? You only care about yourself.”

“They’ll get over it.”

“Of course dear.”

“Don’t call me dear.” The little girl cried harder instead of calming down. And a little something started nagging in the back of his mind. “She’ll stop crying soon.”

“No dear, she wont, she’s missing her big brother on Christmas Eve.”

“I want to go now! Take me home!” He was wrapped in the big woman’s arms and in a blinding flash of light; they were back in the bedroom. William turned around to give the woman a piece of his mind but she was gone. He stared at the empty space, starting to doubt his sanity. A stirring in the bed caught his attention, the boy was sitting up. He blinked and rubbed his eyes. “Go back to sleep boy.”

“Please let me go home now.”

“NO! You will stay here. Go back to sleep now. You will stay here and entertain me for the rest of your life.” There, he’d made his point if that stupid ghost hadn’t stayed to hear him out. The boy’s eyes filled with tears and he pulled the blanket over his head. William was about to say something else when he was grabbed from behind and pulled into a black void.

Leo had heard the shocked gasp and now sat up in bed to stare at the empty bedroom. What on earth was happening?

“Hello child.” Leo turned to the gentle voice. He looked into the face of a kind old woman; she looked tired as if the troubles of the world were all resting on her shoulders.

“Who are you? Are you a ghost as well?”

“Yes child, I am your ghost of Christmas future. Come with me.” She stroked his cheek and then took his hand, pulling him along.

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William awoke in a cloud of mist. He twisted and turned trying to discern where he was. The mist started to clear but was still ghosting around his feet. A cold hand touched his shoulder and he turned, staring at a figure completely cloaked in black. William was pushed forwards, through the huge ornate gravestones, towards the corner where those that could not afford an expensive central grave were buried.

“What is this why are we here?! Stop this nonsense at once. If you’re trying to show me that I’m dead because I was such a horrible person, you’ve sadly got the wrong area of graves. I would never be buried here.” The ghost gave him another push and pointed at a shabby gravestone right at the back. He lend forward to read the name that was written on it.
Leonard Barker 1882 - 1902

William stared. “What is this? He’s dead but I’m going to keep him with me, he wouldn’t die of some silly poor illness.” A deep voice echoed around the graveyard.

“He killed himself; he couldn’t stand being your caged bird any longer. One day when you were out hunting, he hung himself off the balcony. You became so possessive so violently that he could not cope anymore.”

William swallowed and stared, he wanted the boy true but he did not want to be the cause of death. A cold wind blew and William turned away, his eyes falling on a small gravestone next to Leo’s one.

Sophia Barker 1892-1900

“Leonard’s little sister died of starvation because there was no one to bring the money in after you took him. But it’s not like you care, after all you are more important then some little girl.”

“NO! NO stop it. I don’t want things to turn out like this take me back! Take me back!” The ghost touched his shoulder and William collapsed onto the ground.

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Meanwhile Leo found himself in a grand living room; a fire cracked in the fireplace and threw spooky shadows onto the wall. A large armchair stood in front of the fire. He looked at the kind old lady questioningly.

“Go forward child and look.” Leo stepped forward and found himself face to face with an old frail man who was staring lifelessly into the fire. At first he wondered who it was, until he looked more closely and saw something of the young William in the old man. He felt something tug at his kind heart, the man looked so lonely.

“What is wrong with him?”

“After you…deceased he felt so guilty that he locked himself away. He has hidden from all, even send his servants away. He is a lonely man.” Leo stared.

“Deceased?”

“Well child, now you have seen a possible future. I should take you back.”

“What do you mean deceased?” The old lady took Leo’s hand and pulled him out of the mansion.

“What do you mean with deceased?”

“I have to leave you now child.” She placed him back in the back, next to the other sleeping form. “Sleep. All will be well.” She ran a hand over his eyes and Leo fell into a deep dreamless sleep.
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William awoke with a start in the morning and stared around. With relief he saw the sleeping form of Leo in bed next to him. Quickly he shook the boy’s shoulder.

“Wake up Leo. Wake, get dressed.” Leo woke groggily and looked at William.

“What?”

“Get dressed; I will have the carriage take you back to your family. Quickly.” Leo did not know what was happening to him. He was bundled into his clothes and taken to the carriage. William gave him a quick hug goodbye and waved after the carriage sadly.

20 minutes later, Leo found himself in the arms of his family. They sat around the table full of Christmas cheer, eating the meagre but yet wonderful Christmas dinner but there was something niggling in the back of Leo’s mind. Something that was bothering him greatly.
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IMPORTANT PLEASE READ!

Author’s note: I know this is a cliffy, but this is my Christmas story, and now its up to you to decide whether the proper ending of this story (which will come just before new year) will include a nice sex scene or not. So please tell me what you think and what you’d like.

HUGS AND MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL! Aduial