christmassnow.html   Title: Christmas Snow 1/1 
Author: Icecat62 
Rating: G 
Genre: Gen 
Category: AU Romance 
Pairings: FraserFrannie 
Spoilers: None. 
Teaser: Fraser remembers Christmas' past. 

Standard Disclaimer: due South and it's characters belong to Alliance. I
just use them for fun. Hopefully they will return to their world unharmed
and ready for other people to play with them. 

Originally posted to RedSuitsYou@egroups.com - December 2000. 
  

    Walking out of the den, Fraser made his way to the back door. Stepping
out onto the porch, he stared out at the fresh snow that coated the ground
like a blanket of white. His chest constricted tightly as he thought of
another porch that he use to stand on and stare out at the snow. Every
Christmas he would pull his coat and mittens on and stand out on the porch
to wait for his father to come home. At least he would stand there until
his grandmother felt he was out there long enough. 
    Resting his head against a post, he closed his eyes, trying to imagine
his father walking down the path to the cabin carrying a bag full of toys
and an actual Christmas turkey like the one he read about in 'A Christmas
Carol'. He was lucky if his father showed up a day or two after Christmas.
More often than not, the only reminder that he had a father was a card
with an emotionless Christmas greeting. One that you would give to an
acquaintance and not a son that you loved. 
    Each Christmas that passed him by, he felt another piece of him being
whittled away. The small remnants of Christmas love from his mother were
slowly fading away. Clenching his hands into fists, he tried to remember
the sound of her voice as she sang carols as they decorated a tree. It was
always a small evergreen or fir when she was alive. After she died, he was
lucky if his grandparents put up a bush or anything for that matter. 
    He jumped as a hand rested on his arm. "Frase, why aren't you inside?
Ray's gettin ready to make the toast." Francesca looked him in the eyes
like she always did. She never shied away from anything. Just like his
mother. Cocking his head to the side, he looked down at her. For the first
time, he saw the resemblance. Small and delicate the two woman both had
strong spirits. They both found the bright spots where there was only
darkness. 
    She gave him a sad smile. "You miss your family don't you?" "How did
you..." "Frase...it's Christmas. This is the time of year when you miss
the people that you know you'll never see again. My pop may have been a
bum, but for some reason whenever Christmas rolls around...I miss him."
She shrugged her shoulders slightly. "I know you miss your mom and dad,
but you have...us." 
    She smiled up at him, the hopeful look in her eyes was unmistakable.
He knew what she meant. He had her if he wanted. All he had to do was ask.
All he had to do was wrap his arms around her, say he loved her and she
would be his forever. Someone that would be there for him. Someone to love
again. He could feel the warmth spread through his soul. Taking her by the
hand, he smiled back. "It feels good to know I have...family." 
    The door opened spilling golden light out onto the back porch. Sounds
of laughter and happy voices mingled with the scent of cookies and
candles. "So that's where you two are! Get in here! I wanna make the toast
and Ma won't let me if everyone's not here." Grabbing Francesca by the
arm, Ray pulled her away from Fraser and into the kitchen. 
    Sighing, Fraser smiled slightly and followed her into the warm embrace
of the Vecchio home. It was Christmas Eve, a time to remember and reflect.
He had all night to think about what he wanted and what he was about to
do. Francesca was going to find something more on Christmas morning than a
small gift wrapped in silver foil. She was about to get what she asked for
ever year from Santa. A red serge wrapped Mountie.