Title: Silent Night? Not at HSU!
Author: Laure, Sappy Mediator
Rating: WWS (Winter Wonderland Sap)
Sap Warning: Well...sap, and Mary Sueism galore
Disclaimer: Not mine, yada yada yada
Timeline: Dunno, haven't read any of the other Xmas fics that have come in since Christmas Eve morning.
Thanks: to Darry for the suggestion for what Commo gives me...or tries to.

Laure awoke the moment Commo slipped from their bed, but she kept her eyes closed, trying not to smile as she imagined him fetching her present. He'd been very secretive the last several days, and she'd caught him in close conference with Quintus a couple times.

At her approach, they'd always broken off their conversations and tried to look innocent.

Several minutes passed with still no presents, and finally Laure opened her eyes and frowned in concern. The RB was getting better at hobbling on the cast, but he still tended to fall down a couple times a day. Sliding from the bed, she gave Little Spike a casual pet, and pulled on her robe. She tiptoed to the door and carefully cracked it open.

Commodus stood in the middle of her office, hands on his hips, a petulant pout on his lips as Quintus waved his arms in apparent exasperation.

"This vexes me greatly."

"Apparently Bulgaria isn't for sale. I offered them all the gold and jewels, and explained that Lady Laure would be a benevolent ruler, but they prefer to be a Republic or something like that."

The former emperor of the world scowled even more. "If I had more time, I'd take my army and invade them."

"Sire, you've seen the war movies. No one fights with swords and bows and arrows anymore."

"Then we shall get some of these curse missiles."

"I believe they're cruise missiles, and I think that it's illegal for individuals to purchase them," Quintus hesitantly corrected.

Snorting in disgust, the RB asked, "Did you inquire into purchasing a smaller country then? How about Sardinia?"

"There are no countries for sale, my Lord."

"What is this world coming to?" Commo sighed heavily.

Closing the door very carefully, Laure failed to contain her giggle of joy.

He'd tried to buy her an entire country! That was just about the sweetest thing...

*****

An hour later, Commo returned to the bedroom, a chagrined look etched into his handsome face. Propped up in her bed, Laure glanced up from her book--Darry's idea of a joke gift, she supposed, 'Villains through History and their Gory Deaths'--and smiled at the sight of a small, poorly wrapped present in his hands. The bow was bigger than the box.

He hobbled to the bed and slowly dropped to one knee, handing her the box. "It's not what I wanted to give you..."

"Shhhh." Taking the box, Laure unwrapped it, sticking the bow on Little Spike's head. Inside was a jewelry box from the oldest and most distinguished jewelry store in Estrogen County. Trying not to appear too eager, Laure opened the box. Nestled on velvet was a pair of gorgeous amethyst and diamond earrings.

"I know amethysts are only semi-precious stones..."Commo began, only to be interrupted by Laure's lips on his.

"Hush. They're my favorite, and they're purple, and they come from you. I adore them."

"They were made for a queen Amy something, but I convinced the shopkeeper to let me purchase them."

"You make me feel like a queen." She set the box aside and tugged him to his feet as she rose from the bed. Hand in hand they walked over to the small, decorated tree that sat on a table in front of the window. As she'd distributed all her presents the evening before, there was only one present left-- a gaily decorated envelope. "I know you've wanted to open this for weeks."

Commo grinned like a child and tore into the envelope, pulling out a piece of paper. As he read the contents, his eyes lit up and the lines of tension and worry disappeared from his face. "Is this true?" he finally managed to gasp out.

"Yes. We'll go after our trip to Alderan. I'll hit the January white sales in Beverly Hills, and you can play your eighteen holes with Tiger Woods."

Laughing, Commo lifted Laure off her feet and spun her around, before kissing her in joy. "It's the best present ever," he declared.

*****

"He wanted to buy you a country?" Darry asked, laughing into her cup of tea.

The two Ho's sat in the nearly deserted pub, sharing a quick Christmas/Hanukkah cuppa, before returning to their respective EAs.

"Isn't that the sweetest thing you've ever heard?" Laure replied, a bit dreamily.

"A tad megalomaniacal if you ask me.

"I didn't."

"Yes, you did."

Laure stuck her tongue out at her best friend. "How many more days of hammering and screwing do I have to put up with from next door?"

"Well, Cic is nearly done with the matching dressers, so only a few more days of hammering. As to screwing..." The Nurse winked and grinned.

Laure rolled her eyes.

*****

On returning to her suite, the Mediator met her Padawan, who was flushed and grinning.

"Quintus give you something wonderful?"

"Oh yeah..."

Laure grinned back.

"I just wanted to thank you for my new crossbow. I'll use it responsibly, I promise," Kymira said, trying to look honest and innocent at the same time.

"Just don't hit anyone important. Aim for Xani," Laure snickered.

"Gotcha. One Xani-kebab, coming up."

As her Padawan strolled out, Laure wondered if she was joking.

'Oh well,' she thought, with a shrug of her shoulders. 'He'll just use the Force to deflect any arrows headed his way.'

*****

The Blue-Grey game was just reaching halftime when a loud, emphatic knock came on her door. Rising from her lounging spot on the bed, Laure walked over to the door, wondering who it might be. Christmas Dinner wasn't for another hour, and most of the Ho's were spending the morning in celebration with their EAs--or the General, if they were lucky enough to get pre-dinner appointments.

Opening the door, Laure scowled and pushed Xani backwards, stepping out quickly so that Commo wouldn't see who it was.

"What do you want?" she asked caustically, once the door was shut behind her.

From behind his back, the Greysider pulled out a bouquet of pink roses. "For you, a peace offering."

Hesitantly, Laure took the flowers, automatically raising them to her nose. They smelled heavenly. "They're my favorite."

"I know. I'm not totally oblivious or self-centered, you know."

Laure cocked an eyebrow at him, and he returned the look, grinning wickedly.

"Does Dor know you're here?"

Xani shrugged. "I'm not doing anything wrong. I just figured, this being the season of forgiveness and all..." He shrugged again, his shoulders rippling under black silk.

"I like holding grudges."

"Yeah, me too. But, as much as I love wickedness in a woman, aren't you getting tired of the sniping?"

"...Nah." Eyes twinkling, she sniffed the roses again. "But, thanks for the flowers, Xani."

His grin turned rueful and he bowed slightly. "No matter what my princess says, Laure, you are a Ho of the first caliber."

"For that, I won't snipe at you for the rest of the day, how about that?"

"No encouraging the Hippie to toss me in a snow bank?"

She sighed heavily. "The things I'm asked to do...Sure, fine, whatevah."

Nodding, he turned and headed for the far door. On reaching it, he glanced over his shoulder, murmuring, "I do love Dorotea, you know."

"Of course I know, Xani. Now you just have to become the person she deserves to have loving her."

With another nod to her challenge, he left the office. With one more sniff of the roses, Laure returned to her beloved RB, musing on what might have been, but quite happy with what she had.

*****

Dinner was a typical Ho affair--loud, boisterous, excellent food, too much wine. The General presided over one end of the long banquet table with Da Mastah at the other end, his glowing, pink clad Wench at his side. A lottery held a month earlier had organized the rest of the seating.

Darry had won one of the two positions next to the General, but in a moment of uncharacteristic generosity she had given it to Emmy--who otherwise would have been relegated to sitting in the middle, and really, no one wanted to listen to her complain about that all meal. Emmy had been uncharacteristically gracious, only muttering once behind the Nurse's back at how ungrateful the red-head was.

The other seat went to some dewy eyed freshman who spent the whole meal watching the General's every move, not touching her own food.

Jamie--Nekkid Chef--had prepared a scrumptious feast of turkey, ham, smoked salmon, and goose, potatoes cooked four different ways, a wide variety of veg and salads, and vegetarian lasagna for those non-carnivores. Desert was a trifle loaded with rum in a bowl large enough to take up two of his carts--he'd had to strap them together with some of Dande's spare duct tape. Twenty different cheeses followed the desert, including a whole wheel of Stilton.

Laure claimed that as her own.

After dinner, the Ho's staggered their way back to the rooms for naptime.

*****

Evening was falling and Laure sat in her windowsill, listening to one of the cds she'd received, as she watched snow lightly begin to fall. Commo was asleep, replete from the platter of leftovers she'd brought him, and just slightly tipsy from the bottle of merlot they'd received for Christmas.

Glancing at her watch, Laure rose and silently slipped from the room. Her appointment with the General was in five minutes, and he'd asked her to wear warm clothes. As she headed for his office, she wondered for the dozenth time in the last few days what he had in store for her. He knew she wasn't a huge fan of the outdoors or winter, but, on the other hand, any time spent with him was wonderful.

Passing through the empty outer office, Laure knocked on his half-closed door, then stepped inside the spacious room.

Obi-Wan smiled and rose from his desk to hug her. He was dressed in jeans and a Henley, and looked nothing like a general. She loved him relaxed and young looking, the burdens of his past gone from his shoulders.

"Are you ready, love?" he asked, reaching for his winter jacket and hat.

"Am I dressed warmly enough? It's snowing again."

"Perfect, to both." His eyes ran down her body, admiring her all off-white outfit--boots, snug fitting corduroys, turtleneck sweater, coat, gloves and scarf. With a quick, but delicious kiss, he guided her out the door and down the hall.

As they stepped outside, a breeze blew the loose snow up, blinding them momentarily. When it cleared, Laure blinked, dazed.

At the bottom of the steps sat an old fashioned sleigh drawn by two magnificent pure black horses.

"Merry Christmas, Laure."

All she could do was laugh, as joy and happiness welled in her. Turning to face him, she looked up at him through shining eyes. "Are they really mine?"

"Horses and sleigh, all yours. There are white furs--faux of course--and hot toddies to keep us warm, and acres upon acres of winter wonderland to explore." He held out his arm for her to take. "Shall we?"

Taking his arm, Laure leaned up and kissed him passionately. "Ever make love in a sleigh?"

"Moving or not moving?"

"Either."

"Shall we give both a try?" Sweeping her into his arms, Obi- Wan carried her down the steps to the waiting sleigh.

*****

Hours later--or maybe not, as time with the General always passes a bit oddly--Laure and Obi-Wan returned to his office, cheeks rosy from the cold, but eyes gleaming, and lips nuzzling cold ears, as they clung together.

Once in his bedroom, they stripped out of their damp clothes and cuddled beneath the comforter. Laure rested her head on his shoulder, her fingers idly drawing patterns on his chest.

"You haven't asked for your present," she finally murmured.

"You *are* my present, dearest."

She giggled. "Now, I know you Jedi are taught not to be materialistic, but I also know just how much you love your possessions."

"You all are bad influences," he teased.

Rolling from him, Laure reached into the pocket of her jacket and pulled out a small, gaily wrapped box. "I thought long and hard about this. I mean, what *do* you get a non- materialistic Jedi who has everything and everyone he needs?" She handed him the box.

Pushing himself up into a seated position, Obi-Wan efficiently and neatly unwrapped the box. Inside lay an antique pocket watch. Taking it from the nest of tissue, he opened it and softly read the inscription. "'Obi-Wan, you are my world, and I'll always love you, Laure.' My dear, this is beautiful."

"It was my father's watch. He wanted me to give it to the man who became my world, as he became my mother's."

"I'll treasure it always, as much as I treasure you," he replied reverently, drawing her into his arms. "This is a most precious gift."

"So are you, Obi-Wan," Laure murmured, tears in her eyes.

Leaning down, he kissed away the salty drops and held her tightly.

End

Sorry, Dor, I tried to make up with Xani--in a purely platonic way--but I just couldn't do it. <G>

Happy Holidays, Hos!