Making Spirits Bright ~ a Green Glass Christmas Interlude
by
Bluespirit

Fandom: Lord of the Rings RPS
Pairing: Sean/Orlando
Rating: PG
Summary: A very merry Green Glass Christmas!
Word count: 2 016
Series: The Green Glass Universe

Disclaimer: The following story is a work of fiction. The author is not making any claims as to the real life sexualities or preferences of the people portrayed here. This is purely for entertainment, not profit.

Notes:
1. Just a little festive vignette set within my Green Glass universe.
2. Huge holiday hugs to the amazing Xanthe for the fastest beta in the history of the world!

Dusk was falling as they walked along the Strand. It was Christmas Eve and the pavements were busy with the bustle of last minute shoppers and office-party revellers, the atmosphere happy, if a little raucous.

Orlando grinned as a group of children were shepherded across the road, merrily singing 'Jingle Bells' at the top of their excited voices.

"That's my favourite Christmas song!" He laughed, smiling up at Sean as they strolled side by side.

"I know," Sean chuckled, wrapping an affectionate arm around Orlando's shoulders. "You've been singing it in the shower all week."

"What? I haven't, have I?" Orlando asked, glad that the winter chill was keeping a blush at bay.

"Only before I've got in there with you," Sean whispered, leaning closer to Orlando's ear, his warm breath teasing the soft skin. "For some reason you don't seem coherent enough to sing when we share the shower.…" He winked, his eyes dancing wickedly in the reflected light of the shop fronts as they passed by.

Orlando giggled and pressed closer. "Well, that's hardly surprising!" Sharing a shower with Sean was an amazingly sexy experience and something that he was now helplessly addicted to. All that tight, firm muscle glistening as rivulets of water cascaded across sweet, golden skin. How was he supposed to remember his own name, let alone the words to a song, when faced with all that wet masculinity, just waiting for his worshipping lips?

"So, where are we going, anyway?" Orlando asked as they passed The Savoy. Sean had been rather mysterious, saying only that he'd arranged something for them and that Orlando should dress casually but warmly. The temperature had been dropping steadily all day and the darkening sky was almost cloudless, so Orlando was glad of his thick coat and gloves, and the knitted cap that his gran had made for him. Sean, of course, managed to look warm but also impeccably elegant and handsome in a long black overcoat and buttery soft black leather gloves. The halogen wash of the streetlights was highlighting his blond hair to gold and Orlando felt himself glow with pride - this man, this beautiful man, was *his*.

"We'll be there soon," Sean smiled, his face giving nothing away. "I want to surprise you, sweetheart."

Orlando sighed happily; Sean was such a romantic and he loved him for it. He laughed. "Hey, it's not going to be another 'little surprise' like the football thing is it?"

They'd been having a quiet dinner with Craig and Dave last night, when Sean had asked if they had any plans for New Year's Day. He'd then proceeded to casually mention that not only did he support Sheffield United but also that he actually owned the club and asked if they would like to attend the first match of the New Year in the executive box. Poor Dave's face had been an absolute picture - he'd shouted 'yes' so quickly and loudly that they'd all collapsed into fits of laughter while Dave had just sat grinning and nodding like a mad man. Craig had cheekily rolled his eyes at the prospect of 'another thrilling ninety minutes watching paint dry' until Sean had mentioned the champagne brunch beforehand; at that point Craig had suddenly become all smiles, smacking a big kiss to his 'petal's' - Sean's - cheek.

"I'm hoping you'll like what I've got planned, baby. I just thought it would be a nice thing to do - for us to share on our first Christmas Eve together. But I don't think the shock will be enough to nearly give you a heart attack like poor Dave!" Sean laughed, a long, low sound that Orlando loved. "Anyway," he added, slipping his arm from Orlando's shoulders to hold his hand firmly, "here we are now."

They were standing in front of a very grandiose, imposing stone frontage. "Somerset House?" Orlando said, a little confused. "Dave didn't actually die from the shock of hearing about the footie, you know…we don't have to register his death or anything!" He giggled.

"You've been hanging around with Dominic too long," Sean groaned at the joke, a broad smile warming his face as he led Orlando under a stone archway. "They don't use it for that anymore. Now it houses some galleries and…*this*…."

They stopped just inside a large courtyard. It was enclosed by the four wings of the old eighteenth century palace and there, at its centre, was a beautifully illuminated ice rink. Tiny white lights twinkled in the ornamental box hedges and richly decorated garlands festooned every surface. Tasteful spotlights lit the architecture of the classical façade and flaming torches added an almost whimsically baroque air to the spectacle, whilst piped music quietly filled the night with Christmas favourites.

Orlando smiled in delight, his face alight with happiness. "Oh, Sean…this is so…oh, wow…just so beautiful…."

Sean squeezed his hand as they walked further into the courtyard.

"Oh, look!" Orlando whispered excitedly, pointing to a tall Spruce, strand after strand of golden lights dancing in its branches. "They have a tree too! Oh, it's so pretty - with all the lights and like, the gold bows and everything. I love it! This really is a winter wonderland!" It was a completely magical, enchanting sight. "But where is everyone?"

Sean looked adorably shy for a moment. "Um, well, I'm a patron of the trust that runs all of this and so I said that I'd like it for a few hours…."

Orlando just shook his head in amazement. "You got all of this…for us?"

"For you, baby," Sean smiled softly.

It was so typical that Sean would only use his influence, which was obviously considerable, to arrange something like this for him - he'd never think to do it for himself. Orlando hugged him tightly. "Thank you, thank you so much - this is wonderful - a really awesome idea!"

Sean's arms wrapped around him and pulled him closer. "I'm glad that you like it. I know that you've talked about going skating with Samantha when you were kids and so I thought you might want to do this." He smiled tenderly and kissed him, a sweet, brief press of lips that warmed Orlando to his heart. "So, shall we get skating?"

Orlando grinned and kissed Sean again before eagerly pulling him towards the ice rink. "Absolutely!"

~

It turned out that neither of them were particularly brilliant skaters but they were both decent enough that they could glide across the ice fairly gracefully. There were a couple of false starts, of course. Orlando had forgotten just how slippery ice could actually be and only Sean's quick reflexes kept him upright when he first stepped onto the rink - their impromptu cuddle leading to giggles and then to kisses and *finally* to some skating.

And so they circled around, holding hands and happily laughing and chatting as the time passed quickly.

"Enjoying it, sweetheart?"

"I love it!" Orlando grinned. Feeling a little more adventurous, he pulled away and whizzed around Sean before coming neatly back to his side with a loud, "Ta-dah!"

Sean grinned. "Pretty fancy footwork! I'm impressed - you'll be wowing me with your triple salko next!"

Orlando giggled and promptly nearly tripped over his feet. "Oi! That's not fair - you're putting me off, making me laugh like that!"

Sean chuckled and took Orlando's hand once more. "Never!" He winked and they continued to skate.

~

Eventually it was time to leave, a couple of hours having flown by in a flurry of playfulness, laughter and shared smiles. They changed into their shoes and thanked the attendants who wished them a cheery 'Merry Christmas'.

Sean put an arm around Orlando's shoulders and Orlando hugged his waist. They stopped near to the Christmas tree, its lofty, bejewelled branches casting twinkling reflections around them as they looked back at the ice rink.

"Thank you - this has been incredible, like, completely unbelievable - thank you so much," Orlando murmured, a little breathless with emotion. It had been wonderful to spend time with Sean like this. It was as if the noise and bustle of London didn't exist, the real world didn't encroach on this enchanted little courtyard with its lights and ice and tree. It had been magical - a perfect Christmas Eve and a memory that he would treasure - yet one more in his ever growing store of beautiful moments with Sean. "It's been like stepping into another world, almost…."

Orlando felt his face grow warm and lowered his eyes. He wanted to tell Sean how special this had been, how much it meant to him that Sean had done this for him - for *them*.

"I know what you mean, baby," Sean murmured softly, stroking his knuckles down Orlando's cheek and gently lifting his chin. His face shone with love in the flickering torchlight and his eyes twinkled with emerald fire. "It's been like sharing a fairy tale with you." He smiled and drew Orlando closer. "I love you, Orli."

Orlando felt himself melting in the heat of Sean's loving gaze. "Mmm, I love you too…."

The kiss was warm and deep, and completely blissful. Orlando gave himself over to the feel of Sean's soft lips, the taste of the sweet tongue claiming his mouth and the quiet sighs of pleasure whispering across his skin. Oh, how he loved this man….

Slowly their lips parted and Orlando smiled, slightly dazed, into Sean's tenderly smiling face.

"Ready to go home, baby?"

"Yeah," Orlando nodded and then added playfully. "I was hoping that you might want to come in for 'coffee and…kisses'?" On one of their early dates he'd asked Sean if he'd wanted to come in for 'coffee and kisses' and now it had become a kind of in-joke between them. The 'coffee and kisses' was much more about the kisses than the coffee - especially as neither of them even drank coffee! And of course, the kisses now invariably lead to more….

"Sorry, not tonight," Sean said quietly.

"No?" Orlando asked, startled. He'd thought that they were spending the night together - and waking up together on Christmas morning. It had been the only present that he'd wanted - to wake up with the man that he loved.

"Not 'coffee and kisses', sweetheart," Sean smiled, pressing a brief kiss to Orlando's cold nose. "It's Christmas and we've just been ice skating so I think it'll have to be 'cocoa and kisses'!"

"Oh, you!" Orlando laughed, half-heartedly thumping Sean's shoulder and then cuddling more closely into the strong body holding him. "'Cocoa and kisses'…you had me going there, for a minute!"

"Sorry, sweetheart," Sean chuckled, trying - and failing - to look contrite. "Of course I'm coming in," he murmured softly, his voice lowering to a throaty purr that promised so much more. "I want all of those kisses…. I want to spend all night making love to you and to wake up with you in my arms."

Orlando felt a warmth burning deep in his heart. They wanted exactly the same thing - simply to be with each other, the ultimate Christmas present. So…cocoa and kisses in front of a warm fire with the man that he loved - what could be more perfect? He smiled up at Sean and as he did, soft, white flakes began to fall, a dusting of snow quickly turning everything to powdery-silver.

Sean glanced skyward and smiled, the corner of his eyes crinkling in the way that Orlando adored. He gently brushed a few stray flakes from Orlando's cheek. "Merry Christmas, baby."

Orlando looked into Sean's eyes, cherishing the happiness that he saw there and smiled joyously in return. "Merry Christmas, Sean…."


The end

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