Okay, so Cindy Brewer issued a challenge, "Use the frog as described in the story (The Christmas Frog) in any season of the show. Doesn't necessarily have to be a Xmas story either." And this is my response; I just love these things! I don't think there is a challenge I haven't answered since I joined the list! Usual disclaimers, no spoilers. Enjoy! A Frog for Christmas (1/1) By: Mary Jenkins Jan. 1998 Nat sat at her kitchen table, numerous Christmas catalogs spread out before her. It was that time of year again; time to wish peace and goodwill towards your fellow man by sending them junk Federal Express. Nat sighed. Well, far be it for her to buck tradition. She slowly began flipping through the catalogues. She was getting Grace a nice pair of earrings, Nick a sweater, Tracy that membership to the 'Weapon of the Month Club' she had hinted at (sometimes that blonde really scared her.) An hour later she had only one name left on her list. Amy, her niece, the hardest of all. Nat reached for another toy catalogue. What -was- she going to get that kid? She was at that weird age, when most toys were too young and everything else was too old. And she sure as heck wasn't going to give up her 'favourite aunt' status by giving her tube socks! She flipped quickly past the board games and colouring books, absently tapping her credit card against the edge off the table. Suddenly she froze. That was something she -had- to buy. "No, I shouldn't." She whispered to herself. But the temptation was too great. Grinning from ear to ear she quickly reached for the phone. She gave the toy company her credit card number and the address where she wanted it delivered, before she had time to reconsider. "That was probably a -big- mistake." She told herself. But she couldn't seem to stop giggling any way. She reached for another catalogue. She still had to find a gift for Amy. ~~~~~~~~~~~ Two weeks later and still a few days to go until Christmas, Nat was finishing up in the morgue late one night. She was the last one there, as usual. And was just sliding the last of her 'customers' into cold storage when she heard a noise behind her. She slammed shut the cooler's door and spun around. "Who's there?" She called out. "My dear doctor," Lucien Lacroix stepped out of the shadows and raised an eyebrow at her. "I thought you'd be expecting me." "Oh, God Lacroix!" Nat put her hand to her chest, "You nearly scared me to death!" She told the ancient vampire. She looked puzzled then, "What do you mean, I should have been 'expecting' you?" The former Roman General then held forth what had caused him to seek the coroner out. A large stuffed bullfrog wearing a Santa suit. "Oh." Nat said and grinned. "You weren't supposed to open it until Christmas." She scolded him lightly. Lacroix glared down at her for a moment. "What, may I ask, is the meaning of this- item?" "It's-it's a gift." She stammered. The frog was even more absurd in person than it had seemed in the catalogue, it was almost four feet tall, nearly round, and completely ridiculous. "A token of my esteem, if you wish." She tried to fight the smile that threatened to take over her face. He raised his eyebrow at her words. "That is rather a dubious comment considering." He said drolly. "Don't you like it?" Nat asked, she stepped closer and touched one of the frog's flippers. The toy began a croaking rendition of 'Jingle Bells.' The 2000 year-old master vampire nearly dropped the thing right there. Nat laughed, he obviously hadn't discovered the toy's 'talent.' Lacroix did not like being laughed at. "Do you think this is a game?" He hissed in her ear. He set the frog down on her desk. "Do you actually believe that because of your 'relationship' with Nicholas I will allow you to mock me?" He asked sharply. Nat took a step back. Lacroix looked angry. She was used to seeing him as a dignified and elegant man; sometimes she forgot just how fearsome he could be. He -was-, after all, a killer, and she was here in the morgue with him, alone. "I- I didn't mean anything by it." Nat stammered, "Nick doesn't even know, I was just…" She trailed off, not sure why she -had- sent him the darn thing. Suddenly he changed again. Gone was the vampire, again Lacroix was the charming and refined gentleman. "Indeed?" He raised an eyebrow, apparently her admission that Nick didn't know she had played Santa surprised him. "Ah," She averted her eyes, looking anywhere but at him. Her heart was pounding a mile a minute; it went even faster when she realised he could probably hear it. "No more frogs I promise." He stepped towards her and placed one slim pale finger under her chin and tilt up her face. Nat blushed, but looked him straight in the eye. His cool blue eyes bore into hers for a moment. He seemed to come to some sort of decision but said only, "Good night Doctor Lambert." And left the morgue. Once he was gone Natalie leaned against the counter for support. That had been -very- close. Her life hadn't flashed before her eyes, but geez she did not want to go through that again! She waited for her heart rate to return to normal then gathered up her coat and purse and went home, knowing she wasn't going to get any sleep that night. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~. The next day Nat sat at her desk and looked at the frog on her desk. Lacroix had left it there. She idly wondered what the day crew had thought of it. She poked at its foot with the blunt end of her pencil. The frog again broke into its cheery carol. "Girl what is with you?" Grace asked. She was worried about her friend; she seemed so blue lately! Maybe it was Det. Knight, Nick hadn't been coming around to often in the last couple months. But that hadn't appeared to bother Nat before… Maybe it was the holidays? Working at the morgue Grace knew a lot of people got the depressed around the holidays. "Nothing." Nat sighed. She pushed the frog over, he rolled back to his usual squat. Her fear was gone now, she was feeling vaguely bored? 'Bored? How can I possibly be bored?' She thought to herself. But there it was: boredom, tinged with a little annoyance. How dare Lacroix pull that 'master vampire' garbage with her? "Okay." Grace said doubtfully. She decided to change the subject, she grinned. "Where on Earth did you get that frog?" Nat smiled. She didn't care what Lacroix thought. She still liked the stupid thing! "Out of this catalogue." The coroner held up the glossy magazine she'd brought with her. "Ooo!" Grace exclaimed snatching the booklet from her friend. She flipped through it, "Look they promise Christmas delivery for anything order before the 23rd!" She announced in amazement. "Really?" Nat asked, her eyes began to gleam. "Let me see that again, okay?" ~~~~~~~~~~~~. "Deck the halls with bows of holly, Fa la la la la-la-la-la-la!" Nat sang under her breath as she made herself some tea. It was four in the afternoon Christmas Eve, and she was home alone. She sighed. Richard's widow and Amy were at Sarah's parents in Vancouver. Nick had gone to Paris, probably to see Jeanette though he had denied it. All of her other friend's were with their families and though she'd been invited she hadn't felt like intruding. She sighed again. "Well Sidney." She addressed her cat. "Looks like its just you and me fella." He seemed content with that and cuddled in her lap as she settled into her couch. Her tea was still too hot so she put it down to cool. She reached for the remote. "Maybe we'll watch 'A Christmas Carol' huh?" As Sidney seemed to have no opinion on their night's viewing Nat chose channel eight and promptly fell asleep. A few hours later she woke up. The TV screen was black, though she didn't remember ever turning it off. She looked down at her coffee table. "The tea is probably -really- cool by now." She mumbled wryly. She looked towards the windows, even though it was pitch black outside she could still see the flurries of white flakes as they fell. She carefully removed a sleeping Sidney from her lap and stood up. She groaned slightly as her body protested to her stretching. She reached her arms above her head and joined her hands together. She leaned a little to her left, then to her right. She froze then, arms still high above her head, as she spotted something sitting on her kitchen table. She cautiously looked around her apartment. She didn't see anyone. She dropped her arms and approached the object slowly. It was a four- foot tall stuffed cat. She pressed one paw and it began to meow the 'Twelve Days of Christmas.' "Lacroix?" She called out quietly. "Are you still here?" Suddenly he was right behind her. "Hello Doctor Lambert." He whispered. "Ah, Merry Christmas?" She said timidly. Lacroix pressed himself against her back, with the table in front of her she had no place to go. The vampire didn't comment on her Yuletide wish. "I thought you said you weren't going to be sending me anything else?" He asked in a neutral voice. Nat wasn't sure if he was upset with her or amused by her latest gift. But she was suddenly -very- aware that she was only wearing the oversized T-shirt she slept in. "Uh," She laughed nervously, "What I actually said was that I wouldn't send you anymore -frogs-. This is a -cat-." She pointed out needlessly. "Indeed." He definitely sounded amused now. Nat started to relax a bit. But then he added, "And just why did you send it to me?" "Um, I'm not sure." Nat mumbled, intensely aware of the man pressed against her back. She should move she knew or at least protest a bit. As if sensing her thoughts, Lacroix reached one arm around her and placed one palm on her stomach, pulling her even closer to him. "Why?" He insisted. His voice was low and husky. "Maybe I have a death wish?" She offered; she leaned back into his arms. He gave an amused chuckle. "I think not." He slowly turned her in his arms so she was facing him. He looked down into her angelic face. "No?" She asked quietly, as if she wanted him to explain her actions to her. But she now knew exactly -why- she'd done it. She reached up and touched the side of his cheek lightly, she let her fingers glide across his jaw line and curl behind his ear. She gently pulled his face to hers and kissed him. He kissed her back. Burying his pale hands in her auburn curls. When they parted both were breathless. "I do not celebrate Christmas you know." He said quietly, his voice gave nothing away, but his eyes searched her face almost frantically. Nat smiled slightly. This was about a heck of a lot more then their differing holiday traditions! It was about their entire future together; he was asking her about Nick, vampires, him, her, everything. She had to make a decision; Nat took a deep breath and said. "That's quite all right Lacroix." Her face broke into a mischievous grin. "You can still keep the cat, and the frog too!" For a moment he just stood there, his face carefully blank. Then he gave her the most endearing grin. "That is of course, all I wanted." He teased, then pulled her back into his arms. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~. Well there you go! I used the frog and got to share a little Valentine fun with everyone. Send all nice comments to anteros@juno.com and all bad ones to any random address you like