All I Want
For Christmas
Part One – Rescue
The concert hall was packed. Every single seat was filled and there were even people standing in the back, lining the walls.
It was a holiday concert, and there were several different groups performing various pieces: everything from children’s classics like ‘Frosty the Snow Man’ and ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’ to the Hallelujah Chorus and other selections from Handel’s Messiah.
The choirs were superb, the orchestras flawless. And the audience was properly appreciative, either sitting in rapt silence or enthusiastically joining in, and loudly applauding in all the right places.
As the concert neared its end, the final orchestra stuck up a rousing rendition of ‘Sleigh Ride.’ The audience was still cheering as the musicians cleared the stage, leaving only a young girl with golden hair and a violin.
As the noise from the crowd started to fade, the violinist began her song.
It was a new piece, something no one knew, but, though it had no words, it captured the soul of the season, and no one had any doubt that it was meant for just that occasion. There was something in it that captured the heart of everyone present, evoking the very spirit of the holidays as it danced along. It was part joyous tune: of sleigh-rides and fancy clothes, of whirling waltzes and children’s delight in beribboned presents under cheerfully decked trees. It was part somber melody: of glowing candles and prayers chanted in half-known languages, of stories of long ago and wishes for the future. And it was part soothing whisper: of crackling fires and hot chocolate, of deep, white snow and family.
The notes rose and fell, first barely louder than a breath, then crashing into the spellbound stillness, then retreating to quiet sweetness once more.
Offstage, hidden in part by the heavy curtain, stood a boy the same age as the violinist. He’d left the stage with the rest of the orchestra, but had waited to hear the violin, not even bothering to put away his flute. His green eyes, one partly hidden by his shaggy hair, tracked the blonde’s every move.
When the piece ended, stunned silence reigned. No one moved. The only sound was the fading ring of the final notes, hanging almost frozen in the air.
Then someone started to clap. Within a heartbeat, the entire hall was on its feet, the thunder of its approval almost deafening.
The young musician gave an awkward bow, face flushing to a brilliant holiday scarlet at the honor of a standing ovation, and hastened from the stage. In her rush, she plunged headlong into the curtain, barreling straight into the green-eyed brunet.
“Alec!” the blonde exclaimed, blue eyes lighting up as she recognized the victim behind the curtain.
“It was beautiful, Cat,” Alexander said softly.
Catherine blushed again, and impulsively threw her arms around the taller boy’s neck. “I was playing for you,” she whispered.
Alexander tightened his grip on the younger girl’s waist. “I know.”
Catherine pulled back slightly so she could look the boy in the face. “Alec – ”
“Catherine!” a group of women appeared through the curtains, and the two pulled apart.
“Fantastic job!” one of the women gushed.
“Absolutely marvelous!” raved another.
“Excellent performance, Miss Barton,” added one of several men joining the group around the young violin player.
Alexander caught the blonde’s eye for a moment, then took the violin and slid unnoticed from the crowd. He went downstairs to the greenroom, leaving Catherine to her fans. Gently, he put away the violin, then his own flute, after cleaning it carefully.
When he was done, the blue-eyed musician was still MIA, and Alexander decided that it was past time he rescued the young artiste from her adoring public.
Catherine, Alec quickly discovered, had only made it as far as the stairs leading from the backstage area. She was still surrounded.
“Great job tonight, Griffith,” one of the men in the group slapped Alexander on the back as the boy moved past him.
“You, too, Anderson,” Alec nodded at the man, then slipped through the throng to Catherine’s side. “Ready to go?” he asked in an undertone.
“Please,” came the almost inaudible plea.
“Do you need to go to the greenroom before the party?” one of the younger women asked at the same time.
“Of course not!” another other women exclaimed just as Catherine opened her mouth to reply. “It’s practically her party, after all. She wouldn’t want to be late!”
The blonde musician gave Alexander a trapped glance as they were swept off to the Christmas Eve party that was being held for the performers in one of the large rooms below the concert hall.
* * * * *
Nearly two hours after the end of the concert, Catherine managed to get away from the crowds by excusing herself to the cast bathroom.
Alexander found her there fifteen minutes later.
“I wondered if you’d fallen in,” the flutist quipped when he discovered the blonde perched on the sink counter, head back against the wall, dozing.
“Alec! Thank goodness!” the girl launched herself off the counter. “I thought I was going to die in here!”
Alexander chuckled.
“You have to get me out!” Catherine raced on. “I can’t take any more of it!”
“And you can’t just tell them to leave you alone.” It wasn’t a question.
“That would be rude,” was the unnecessary reply.
“Of course,” Alec nodded in sympathetic understanding, though his green eyes were laughing. “Lucky for you, I have a plan.”
“Really?”
“Really. Now, go mingle again – don’t worry, it’ll only be for a few minutes – and when I give you the signal, meet me outside the stage door. I’ll be waiting.”
“But how will I get away?”
“It won’t be a problem. Trust me.”
“But – ”
“Trust me.”
Aqua eyes met emerald for a long moment, then the yellow head nodded.
“All right. What’s the signal?”
“You’ll know it when you hear it,” was the evasive response.
“When I hear it? Alexander Griffith!”
“Trust me!” the brunet winked, and vanished, the door swinging silently shut behind him.
Catherine grumbled about people who got a kick out of abandoning those who really needed them, but returned to the party as she’d been told.
Barely five minutes later, a deafening ringing noise filled the air.
There was a sudden stampede for the exits.
Catherine grinned. “I’ll know it when I hear it,” she muttered, and headed for the stage door.
Part Two – White Christmas
Alexander was waiting outside, as promised, holding Catherine’s coat in one hand, and looking very pleased with himself.
“You pulled the fire alarm,” Catherine felt it needed to be said aloud. “I can’t believe you did that!”
“Anything for you, Cat,” Alec replied, and slung his arm around the girl’s shoulders as they walked away from the hall.
Catherine laughed, and looped her own arm around the boy’s waist.
* * * * *
A short bus-ride and a quick walk later, the two reached Catherine’s house, entering through the kitchen door.
“I doubt anyone will be home until tomorrow,” Catherine explained as she led the way through the dark house.
“It’s almost tomorrow, now,” Alexander replied, glancing at his light-up watch.
“Maybe we’ll get some snow,” Catherine commented. “We haven’t had snow for Christmas since I can remember. Every year I’ve wished for it, but it’s never happened.”
“Me, too,” Alexander said softly. “I’ve always hoped that someday…” he paused, then went on, “that someday I’d be able to share a first-snow kiss with someone. Someone special.” He took the violinist’s hand.
Catherine beamed, and squeezed the hand holding hers. “That would be wonderful.”
They moved down the hall together.
“Close your eyes,” Catherine commanded a minute later.
“What?” Alexander started. “Why?”
White teeth flashed in the dim light as Catherine grinned. “Trust me.”
Alexander scowled, but obeyed, closing his eyes tightly and letting the younger girl lead him forward.
“Stay there for a moment,” Catherine said, letting go of Alexander’s hand.
Something clicked, then Alec felt Catherine’s presence again at his side.
“Now,” came Catherine’s voice. “Open your eyes.”
Alec slowly opened his eyes, and gasped in surprise.
They were standing in a large parlor that had been decked out for Christmas. An enormous tree, heavily laden with ornaments, lights, and strings of popcorn, stood in one corner. The mantle over an old-fashioned fireplace boasted a miniature nativity scene with brightly colored china figurines. Snowflake doilies covered the windows and hung from the ceiling on silver strings. Even the exquisite piano had been decorated with fake snow. The entire room was lit only by the strings of white Christmas lights on the tree and the electric candles on the tables. In was like walking into a wonderland.
“It’s beautiful, Cat,” Alexander breathed.
“I’m glad you like it,” Catherine replied, voice equally soft. She rose onto her toes and kissed the taller boy gently on the mouth before resting her head against his shoulder. “Sing for me?” she asked, warm breath ghosting across Alec’s neck.
“Of course.” Alexander sat at the piano, caressing the keys. “Any requests?”
“‘White Christmas’?”
Alexander nodded, and began to play.
“I’m dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten
And children listen
To hear sleigh-bells in the snow…”
As Alexander’s rich voice filled the parlor Catherine lit a fire in the grate, then moved to sit on the bench next to Alec. She closed her eyes as she leaned against her boyfriend, content to just let the music wash over her.
“I’m dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white.”
The last threads of the song faded away, leaving only the crackle of the fire to break the silence.
“Will you sing?” Alexander finally asked. “I’d hoped to hear you sing at the concert, but – ”
“We can have our own concert,” Catherine cut him off. “Just for us.” She was silent for a long moment, then – “I know we agreed not to do presents this year, but that piece I played earlier,” she was blushing fiercely, “the one I played at the concert on my violin, I wrote it for – ”
“I know. Thank you.” Alexander gave the blonde a quick kiss, then rose from the bench and began to pace, looking suddenly awkward. “I know I can’t match your song,” he said in a rush, stopping and fixing his gaze on the fire. “It was so beautiful and I know you worked so hard on it, and I could tell it came from your heart. And I know we decided not to do real presents, and I know that I could never afford to get you anything like you deserve – not that there’s anything you really need anyway, what with your family being as powerful as it is – but I still really wanted to get you something, I just couldn’t find anything that I felt was enough. So…” he turned to face Catherine. “Cat, what do you want?”
The girl smiled, but didn’t answer. Instead, she began to play, then to sing.
“I don’t want a lot for Christmas
There is just one thing I need
I don’t care about the presents
Underneath the Christmas tree
I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
All I want for Christmas
Is you…”
Alexander moved to lean on the piano, feeling the music reverberate through him as Catherine’s voice rang out clear and sweet.
“I won’t ask for much this Christmas
I won’t even wish for snow
I’m just gonna keep on waiting
Underneath the mistletoe
I won’t make a list and send it
To the North Pole for Saint Nick
I won’t even stay awake to
Hear those magic reindeer click
‘Cause I just want you here tonight
Holding on to me so tight
What more can I do
Baby, all I want for Christmas
Is you…”
Alec turned away again, blinking rapidly as the pure notes continued to fill the air.
“Oh I don’t want a lot for Christmas
This is all I'm asking for
I just wanna see my baby
Standing right outside my door
Oh, I just want you for my own
More that you could ever know
Make my wish come true
Baby, all I want for Christmas
Is you…”
Catherine let the music die away as she stood and crossed the room to wrap her arms around the older boy. “All I want for Christmas is you,” she whispered.
Alexander kissed her fiercely, returning the tight embrace. “You have me,” he murmured when they finally broke apart. “Always and forever, Cat.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.”
They kissed again.
Somewhere in the house, a clock began to slowly chime.
“It’s midnight,” Alexander said, voice soft. “Merry Christmas, Cat.”
“Merry Christmas, Alec,” Cat smiled, and snuggled close.
They stood there, just holding each other, as the last chimes faded away, then they reluctantly drew apart.
Catherine went to add another log to the fire while Alexander looked around the room again, still trying to take it all in and determined to fix this scene in his memory so he would never forget it.
Cat came to stand beside the boy at the windows.
On closer inspection, Alexander realized that each window had been artificially frosted on the inside as well as on the outside by the cold. And he noticed something else.
Turning to the girl next to him, Alec leaned in close and pressed another kiss to Catherine’s lips, linking his arms around the girl’s waist.
Catherine sighed, arms draping themselves around Alexander’s neck as she leaned into the kiss, pulling the taller boy closer.
“What was that for?” Cat asked when they finally broke apart.
Alec smiled. “It’s snowing.”
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