[Author's Note: Ahh, semi-songfic! The part in brackets [~like this~] are occasionally modified lines from "Old City Bar" by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, "Christmas Eve and Other Stories" album. | This is an "additional scene" after the ending of Crystal Souls so make sure you've read that first or this won't make sense! ^_^ ]
The grandfather clock directly below the stairwell chimed once. Dorothy glanced over the mahogany banister at it, then continued on her way down, carefully clasping the tin candleholder that bore a dim light. Once entering the now-silent ballroom she had no need for the candle, for the grandly decorated nine-foot pine had enough colored lights to rival the stars. She padded across the room, her slippers making a faint tapping sound. She wore a thin-strapped, white flannel nightgown and nothing to protect against the cold yet still she considered stepping out into the snow; she wasn't sure why, possibly some childish urge. Her cousin and Miss Une were asleep in their rooms, and the servants had the next two days off. She was the only one awake.
She set the candle down on a nearby table then stepped over to the glass doors leading to the patio. A few stray snowflakes drifted lazily, most likely disturbed from the roof by the wind, for the entire patch of sky that she could see was clear, dark blue, dotted with faraway stars. Absently she pushed the door handle downward, easing the doors open ahead of her and not even seeming to realize they had been unlocked. For a moment she only stood and breathed in the crisp air, a chill immediately taking hold of her. Despite this she stepped out onto the slate and walked westward with one hand trailing along the stone balustrade, her gaze on the ground. She paused a few feet from where she knew the patio met the wall. She tilted her head enough to glimpse the stars, her eyes roaming until a slow movement became clear from the corner of her right eye.
Wisps of hair being gently swept by the wind. Someone else was also still awake this late.
Dorothy turned half-way, her mouth opening only a little in surprise. "Quatre..? Why are you still here?" He didn't respond. In fact, his face was a stone-hard, pensive expression as he gazed out across the yard, and she was certain he was oblivious to her. His arms were folded tight across his chest; she wondered how long he had actually been standing out here. When she moved closer she saw the tears that had gathered in the corner of his eye. She turned to try to spot what he was staring at. Unaware that she was shivering, she gazed at the distant shapes of other homes, trees, and streetlights that lay below the incline on which the mansion sat. She saw nothing out of the ordinary. Then she gave a start as something warm settled over her shoulders. Quatre pressed his tuxedo jacket closer around her and pointed over her shoulder. "There." She followed the line of his finger until she saw a star just over the horizon that seemed a little brighter than the rest but otherwise not unusual. She began to turn to question the point but he spoke first. "A star for you to wish on."
Dorothy clamped her jaw shut and returned her gaze to the horizon. She closed her eyes, feeling Quatre move away. For a moment she merely took comfort from the warmth of the jacket. Then she made her wish. When she at last turned to him, his visage had softened but there was no trace of a smile. "Let's go inside before we both freeze," he said softly.
Once inside, with the doors closed and locked, she tried to return his jacket but he waved it away. He went to the fireplace adjacent the doors and mechanically prodded the dying embers into a smoldering fire around the log Dorothy was quick to bring over. He set the poker aside then leaned against the end of the mantle. She remained in front of the hearth, holding the jacket close around her. "So, why are you still here?" she repeated softly.
"Well, Miss Une went inside for the night, and I started to think about various things...apparently losing track of time." He chuckled in a somewhat bitter tone, running his hand back through his hair. "I guess it's a good thing you happened to come out there, or I might have been frozen by morning."
Dorothy declined a comment, seeking out a chair to rest on before she began to pace from nerves. One was located about four steps away on the opposite side of the mantle. Quatre didn't seem to mind the abrupt distance separating them. "And why are you still awake, Miss Dorothy?"
"I...don't even know. I couldn't sleep, I guess."
"You guess?"
She looked over at him.
"You weren't, say...thinking of anything at all?" he hinted.
Her gaze returned to the floor. "I don't know. I don't remember."
"Hmm." Quatre put his back to the mantle. "Just wondering."
They fell silent. The fire emitted an occasional crackle, holding back utter quiet. Dorothy watched the light flicker over the hearth.
[ ~ And the snow it was falling ~ ]
[ ~ The starlight was calling ~ ]
[ ~ The fire was low ~ ]
[ ~ And the night ~ ]
[ ~ Christmas Eve ~ ]
"Why did you tell me to make a wish?" she asked softly.
"I never said you had to."
She glanced at him again, her face impassive.
"It seemed like you needed one," he amended gently. "What did you wish for?"
"If I told, wouldn't that impede it from coming true?"
"That depends on the possibility of it coming true."
[ ~ And here was the danger ~ ]
[ ~ That even with strangers ~ ]
[ ~ Inside of this night ~ ]
[ ~ It's easier to believe ~ ]
"Then...I think I will keep it to myself." Once more her gaze returned to the swaying glow of the flames.
"As you like." She watched his shadow as he crossed the hearth to face her. "However, Miss Dorothy, may I request one thing?" Slowly she raised her eyes to his earnest visage. He held out one hand then bowed at the waist. "A last dance before I leave for the night." He remained poised that way until she gave her answer in the form of placing her hand on his. He straightened as she rose, a smile gracing his countenance. She let the jacket slip off onto the chair.
[ ~ If you want to arrange it ~ ]
[ ~ This world you can change it ~ ]
[ ~ If we could somehow make this ~ ]
[ ~ Christmas thing last ~ ]
No music was needed. They easily fell into the rhythm of a waltz. All there seemed to be in the next few minutes was them, the snow, the dance, and the gentle light from the candle. For in that moment those were all that Dorothy needed. The warmth and knowledge of someone else knowing exactly what she was going through. And not just someone, but a friend. She wasn't certain what she had considered Quatre to be up until then and now she did. She allowed a smile to show through at last.
[ ~ By helping a neighbor ~ ]
[ ~ Or even a stranger ~ ]
[ ~ To know who needs help ~ ]
[ ~ You need only just ask ~ ]
The silent music ended too soon, as do all songs. Quatre made another bow, gently squeezing her hand. "Thank you, Miss Dorothy. I'm afraid, however, that I must leave now. I don't want to overstay my welcome."
She wanted to reply that he was welcome anytime, then remembered that it wasn't her house to extend such invitations to. Instead she curtsied. "That's all right. Thank you, Mr. Winner."
She saw him to the door, where he reclaimed his coat and hat. "Good night, Dorothy. I hope you can get some sleep now."
"Good night, Quatre. Have a safe trip home." She leaned on the door as he started down the walkway.
"I hope we can talk again sometime," he called back.
"Maybe we can meet next Christmas Eve," she answered by way of ending the conversation. She closed and locked the door, then moved to retrieve the candle from the ballroom. She had also intended to put out the fire in the hearth but it was already fading to ashes. She shivered at the cold as she reached for the poker to spread out the embers but paused when she saw that Quatre had forgotten his jacket. Absently she picked it up and draped it over her shoulders. She meandered over to the tree and lowered herself to the decorative rug beneath it, sitting with her legs folded to the side. Without focusing on any particular thought she gazed at a glass ornament in the shape of a multi-pointed star. Parts of it were frosted so that it reflected the lights differently from whatever angle it was viewed from.
Dorothy reached out to turn the ornament. She noted that it seemed more like living crystal than plain glass. The light it reflected appeared to have a pale blue tint. She released it to cover a yawn with her hand. With her mind now hazy from lack of sleep she didn't bother to get up to go to bed. Instead she curled up in front of the tree and within minutes was fast asleep.
[ ~ And the snow it was falling ~ ]
[ ~ The starlight was calling ~ ]
[ ~ The fire was low ~ ]
[ ~ And the night ~ ]
[ ~ Christmas Eve ~ ]
Dorothy awoke sometime the next morning while sunlight streamed through the windows, made brighter by the snow. She sat up with a wordless murmur, rubbing her eyes then groping for the robe that usually hung next to her bed. Except that she wasn't in her bed so her hand scraped the needles of the tree. She blinked and took a good look around her. She remembered coming downstairs, she remembered the candle, she remembered sitting down by the tree. But the rest must have been a dream...It had been too surreal to be real...
"Cousin! There you are!" She heard the whir of Mariemeia's wheelchair. "You look like you just woke up! Did you fall asleep there?" The red-head chuckled as she stopped at the edge of the rug.
"I...guess I did," Dorothy mumbled. She rubbed her right temple. "I was having a strange dream..."
"It probably would have been more comfortable in bed." Mariemeia giggled then turned her wheelchair around. "Please come help with breakfast, then we can open presents!"
"All right." Dorothy braced her arm to push herself to her feet but stopped when her fingers brushed a piece of familiar fabric. She turned. It was Quatre's jacket.
[ ~ And in case you should wonder ~ ]
[ ~ In case you should care ~ ]
[ ~ Why we on our own ~ ]
[ ~ Never went home ~ ]
[ ~ On that night of all nights ~ ]
[ ~ We were already there ~ ]
(c) 2000, 2001 Autumn Loweck. This work may not be copied, distributed, or reprinted without the author's permission. Characters of Quatre R. Winner, Dorothy Catalonia, Lady Une, and Mariemeia belong to the creators of the GundamWing series, Sotsu Agency, Sunrise, Bandai, and whoever else in Japan involved in this most cool anime.