Since the other one is full...

[heartof_thezone]

The other card is HERE. And, if it's already filled, I'm not filling it again. Because I'm the damn Queen and I don't want to. :p

chilly
wish
pie
hospitality
Gift of the Magi

shepherd
lights
merry gentlemen
silver bells
religion

spirit
hot cocoa

Comments

[heartof_thezone]

for leg warmers"Honey," El started, moving into the living room. She held up what looked like a pair of socks and frowned. "What happened to your sweater?" Dree turned and looked over her shoulder

[heartof_thezone]

for adventIsadora stood against the wall, at the far end of the bar; Isabella was near the door to the hallway; and Ira was sitting at one of the tables. All three of them were silent, their focus entirely on her. CJ left the room an hour ago, though she hasn't noticed. Her pacing was making him dizzy and, while he wanted to be there for her, he couldn't offer her any sort of condolence

[heartof_thezone]

for pine cone:

"HEY!" Wyatt leaned down and picked up the object that had just hit him in the forehead. Giving it a shake, he held it up and glared at Dree. "You threw a pine cone at my face." Dree was trying not to laugh as he dropped the pine cone and charged her

[heartof_thezone]

for shepherd:

Breckin opened his eyes at the feeling on a cool hand on his forehead. "There are those beautiful eyes," Dree said quietly. She smiled as the boy's mother set down a bowl and rag next to her. "Mommy's here," she told Breckin, and reached up to lightly tap his nose. His eyes closed slowly, and the corner of his mouth turned up, which made Dree smile again. Pushing up, she offered the seat to Breckin's mother and placed a hand on the woman's shoulder.

It was becoming more difficult for him to respond, and Dree knew his time was getting short, but she couldn't bear to tell his mother. As she stepped away from the corner, Dree looked up and scanned the room. She'd had the children moved to the assembly hall, once the numbers became too great for the hospital.

At least, here, the children weren't alone.

[heartof_thezone]

for ciderTrey stood along the back wall with Massey and watched the crowd. It wasn't much of a celebration, by Laethriel or Celcian standards, but the people seemed to be having a good time. They'd been asked there under false pretenses - the Council knew an assassination attempt was going to take place, and they knew the target. What they didn't know was who was going to 'pull the trigger' and how they were going to pull it off

[heartof_thezone]

for Misrule:

The cheers from the Great Room had the girls in the kitchen smiling as they finished preparing the holiday meal. Kids were running in and out, sneaking what bites of food they could and promptly being shooed back out by their mothers.

"I think we're about ready for everyone to gather," Isabelle said. Rebecca pulled a tray from the oven while Adora and DG were putting spoons in the various dishes on the table. Andy was putting bread into a basket, Kenna was helping Kasey and Lulu set the table and Brenna was trying to corral the kids.

Dree moved over to the doorway and looked at El, Mason and the Cain men, laughing about something. "Hey, Lord Cain of Misrule," she said, grinning at a paper-crowned Travis - who was holding the newest member of Clan Cain - and waved to the unruly masses.

"You wanna do your duty and command the troops?" When everyone under ten annuals stopped what they were doing and looked at Travis, she smiled and nodded.

The right man had definitely been appointed to the job.

[heartof_thezone]

for St. Nick:

Dree smiled as the balding king beamed, his eyes dancing as he leaned to kiss her hand. "It is my great honor to welcome you, Empress." Dree let out a small laugh and nodded to him, bowing slightly. "I am Grednickendos, and I am your servant, while you are here."

For a moment, Dree considered asking someone to find the most boring book in the universe, just so that he could read it to her. "It is also my honor, Emperor..." She winced slightly, realizing that she didn't entirely catch the pronunciation. "G-" she stuttered and cleared her throat. "May I call you Nick?" she asked, wincing slightly as she was probably committing some gross error in protocol.

Grednickendos glanced down and repeated the shortened name a few times, testing it out, then looked back to Dree and grinned. "Nick," he said, with a proud nod. Dree closed her eyes and smiled, letting out the breath she'd been holding, and covered his hands with hers.

"You're a saint."

[heartof_thezone]

for Christmas party:

El and Trey stood in the doorway, watching Dree and Max. "Go," Trey said, looking at El and nodding to the door. "I'll stay."

El frowned and shook her head. "I'd rather not." Trey pushed off the door frame and ran a hand along El's arm.

"Somebody's gotta go, Elly-Belle," he told her, "and we both know she won't go." El pulled him out of the doorway and poked him in the stomach.

"Why don't you go?" she asked with a smile. Trey chuckled and pulled her close.

"Because you look better in a party dress," he said in a low tone, pressing a kiss to her neck. "You go to the Ozma's party," he started, running a hand up her side, "and I'll make it worth your while, tonight." El groaned and Trey smiled as his hands moved back down her sides and rested on her backside.

Pulling her against him, Trey traced her jawline with his nose and smiled. "And you can make all the noise you want, because she won't hear you." El made a face and tried not to smile.

[heartof_thezone]

for spiritDree looked down as Max stepped up next to her chair and waited. She set down her pen and turned to reach for him. "Hey, Monkey. What's up

[heartof_thezone]

for sprinkleGarrett stood on the porch and stared at Dree in confusion, entertainment and slight concern. "You are crazy!" he hollered, trying not to smile

[heartof_thezone]

for wish:

Ozma pulled out the chair at the large table and unfolded the page she'd received. Seeing a hand that had clearly spent a great deal of time trying to get the letters just right, she smiled and sat down in the seat to read the note.

dear miss ozma

i wish to ask you for something please. it is too early but i think that what i wish is hard to get. i wish very much that daddy can come home. mommy is very sad and she thinks that nobody knows it but i do. she tells mel that she is happy and she tells daddy gare and grampa that she is happy but she does not look happy. daddy always says that she is too pretty to be sad and it makes her smile but he is not here to tell her so she does not remember. i will give you back the harmonica because i want this more and i will not get in any more fights and i will learn my words and i will be very good.

love max

[heartof_thezone]

for religion:

My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness. - Dalai Lama

They watch as she continues to move through the room, stopping at each bed and offering the brightest smiles to everyone she speaks to. They know that this is eating her, from the inside out, but she won't let it show. They've heard the pleading from every mother, every father, every brother and sister.

She has never truly screamed to the sky, begging them to do something. Perhaps it's because those times when she did, before, she got no answer. She doesn't bother to ask for their help, their guidance... they know that any answer they can give won't be enough.

There is nothing they, as Gods, can do about this.

But, what she is doing for the people... it's more than she'll ever know.

[heartof_thezone]

for lightsDree sucked in a breath and cried out at the pain coursing through her body. She couldn't swallow and the smell was horrific, but Dree managed to open her eyes. Fighting a snort, she found that opening her eyes hadn't helped much. There was a glow at the end of the hall - she thinks it's a hall - but it's not bright enough to make out anything