I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas

Gauge had made these reservations month ago, because during Christmas time he just liked to be alone. The resort had tried to call and cancel his reservation, something about the resort being bought out but he refused. This was his time away from home and because of that he paid triple the price for his wonderful suite as a way of keeping it but money never mattered to him.

He had been at the resort for the better part of the day, he got all settled in his room and took a shower so that he could go out and scope some of the ladies and maybe have a light snack. That earlier part had been a bit more difficult for him lately. Ever since that stupid fairy tale, he couldn't stop thinking about Eliza, which was not like him. Those memories of getting her into bed just didn't seem right. They were there but he couldn't remember that sensual touch that came along with it.

He got out of the shower and dried off and came walking out of the bathroom with nothing on when he was completely caught off guard. There stood Eliza.... but how in the hell did she get in... more importantly why was she here "What are you doing in my room?" He asked as he raised a brow.... was she stalking him?

"Umm... I do believe that I was in here first. As a matter of fact I reserved this specific room months ago." He spoke back with a look on his face that he was not happy that the staff had just given away his room key. No offense to Eliza but he had been in the room since the check in time so there was no way that he was going to be the one leaving.

"I come here every year, what are you doing here? Doesn't your how hold a ball or some crap for Christmas?" He was clearly not phased by the fact that he was standing stark naked in front of Eliza. As a matter of fact he wasn't phased at all.... okay maybe a little he was standing at attention but he didn't always have a choice over how his manhood responded to people... he was a man.

"Or you could just not look, this is after all my room I can walk around however I want to." He replied with a shrug and didn't move from his spot. He was going to be stubborn about this after all this was supposed to be his vacation.

"Besides its nothing you haven't seen before." His tone a little calmer as though it shouldn't matter, after all they had already had sex once before... right?

"Actually I did get the memo which is why I paid three times as much to have my room." He explained as she got snippy with him. He didn't have to stand there and take that because this was his room.... why did he even care what she thought... ohh that was starting to drive him nuts.

"Well neither do I so it must have been a pretty lousy lay." He replied, part of him wanted her to hate him it would make it easier to get her off his mind that was why he had come here to begin with so he could get past all that fairy tale bullshit and get back to his life as he liked it.

"You have fun with that." He gave her a wave, hopefully she would get a room all her own then he wouldn't have to deal with her or her drama at this point. "Feel free to leave the key they gave you behind." He spoke before he walked over to the full stocked bar that came with his room. The man was in desperate need of a drink at this point. Urg she got under his skin and he didn't like that at all.

Gauge poured himself a strong glass of whiskey and carried the glass over to the luggage he had brought with him. He then opened up one of the bags and pulled out a pair of black slacks and laid them out on the bed. Drinking the contents of the glass he set it down on the table and then walked back over to the bathroom. He was glad that woman was finally gone so that he could get on with his day.

As he was about to brush his teeth he heard the phone to his room ring. Raising a brow he walked over and picked it up to hear someone on the other end of the phone apologizing profusely for the mix up. Then he heard the words that just seemed to haunt him. "Thank you." he spoke in a frustrated tone as he set the phone down. They were stuck together.

Not long after that he heard the sound of Eliza returning to the room "Oh please, make yourself at home." He spoke in a mocking tone "But the bed is mine" He added and walked over to the laid down naked on the bed with his hands behind his head, as a way of claiming it.

Gauge never claimed to be a gentlemen, sure he could be if he wanted to, but this wasn't one of those times. It would be different if he actually invited Eliza to stay here with him but he hadn't. This was supposed to be his time alone, but thanks to a hotel fuck up the pair was stuck together.

"Eh, well I never claimed to be a good guy." He replied as he watched her make up the bed in the sofa.

Sure part of him felt like a dick but it was a feeling he was used to.

After laying there for a little while he sat up and walked over and got another drink from the bar. He then decided that maybe it would finally be time to put some pants on after all he had some plans to attend to.

Walking back over to the bed and pulled out one of his suits and got dressed. He left off the tie, he had never been a fan of those.

Once he was dressed, he took his bags off the bed and walked over and put them in the closet before walking over to the night stand and taking his pocket watch off and attaching it to the suit.

Looking at the time, he still had time before he had to leave so he walked over to the balcony door and opened it. Walking up to the railing he cleared it of snow and then leaned forward looking out. What a wonderful fucking Christmas this was going to be.

Gauge continued to look out at the scenery with this blank sort of look on his face. He was thinking about Christmas's past, his family and friends that were long since gone and wondered if the world would be different had he changed any of them. Yes there was some emotions found in the man, especially here.

What he neglected to tell anyone was that this resort was located on some property his family had owned many years ago. In a sense this was home and where his family line had continued to grow through the ages despite some ups and downs. It wasn't his parents property but when one was a vampire family was family. Hell there was a couple of distant cousin, nieces, and nephews that worked here so he always tried to come around this time of year and see how they were doing because no one knew who he was. So yes the stone hearted bastard cared, even just a little bit.

Looking over his shoulder when Eliza came out and held something to him, he raised a brow. Standing up he turned and took hold of the leather bound journal and traced his fingers over the crest. There was something he had not seen in a long time, and he just stood there quietly as she walked away.

Why had she given him this? More importantly where had she found it? Most of the stuff from his family line had been destroyed over the years as his name carried little value as the time went by.

Looking up he sighed, damn it, now he was going to have to do something in exchange.

Walking into the room he closed the door, then walked over to the desk and set the journal down. "I'll have house keeping come up and change the bedding, I'll take the couch." He spoke as he poured himself a drink.

"I will be heading down for dinner shortly you are welcome to come." His voice carried a sense of calm before he drank from the glass. He then walked over to the room safe and opened it. He pulled out a box and closed it back up and then walked into the bathroom where Eliza was. "If you care to join you are welcome to where this." He spoke and opened the box, which contained an elegant diamond and blue topaz necklace.

He then walked back out of the bathroom without so much as another word as he went back over and sat at the desk with his legs propped up starring at the crest on the journal.

Gauge had a long history that many people didn't know about, so seeing his family crest was a bit of a surprise as most of his family history had been burned. His female descendants had been accused of witch craft, many of his male descendants were killed in war, and his family name just held little value in this day and age.

As he waited for Eliza to get ready he opened the journal, and began to flip through what appeared to be the empty pages of a journal never used, but he knew better. The books his family had kept were always blank looking it was how the family kept their secrets.

He ran his finger over the pages and felt the soft imprint of ink and he could tell off of the curves that it was an old journal. It very well could have been one of his own, but he would have to bring up the ink in order to find out. Instead he just closed the journal and tossed it back on the desk, he wasn't going to worry about that now.

When Eliza came out he stood up and fixed his suit. "You look beautiful." He commented in a calm manner and held out his arm for her to take, yes he could be a gentlemen despite what many thought. He then guided her down to the dining room where they would be having their meal.

As they got to the hostess stand, he was asked about being on of the Townsend's that had helped establish this town, which he denied. It wasn't a complete lie but he had not actually been there for it.

"Please feel free to order whatever you like, I'll be paying this evening." He commented as he looked over the menu..... he wondered if Eliza would think of this as some date... or if he should be thinking of it as some date, but shook his head at the thought and just looked to see what he would be having.

Gauge gave a slight wave of his hand to Eliza's apology and made a face that told her not to worry. He had been an asshole himself, but usually he spent this time of year alone and was allowed to be the Scrooge he really was without anyone seeing him. So, seeing her get the same room as him, instantly set him off because he had planned on being alone. "It's no big deal, we're old and allowed to get cranky from time to time." He spoke as his eyes scanned the menu.

Fuck it, he wasn't going to go with anything incredibly fancy, just some large slab of beef with the fixings.

He set his menu down and then picked up the glass of water, before taking a sip he couldn't help but to exam the crystal, he knew awhile back most of it had been stolen and he wanted to see if his donation had been put to use properly. He then set the glass down and ran his finger over the brim and listened as a soft hum came from the glass. Well done then at least the money went where it was supposed too.

Once the waitress returned Gauge ordered himself a New York strip with bake potate and a salad. He also ordered a bottle of their best Champagne and bourbon to have with his meal.

After the waitress took their orders he held over the menu. "So, truthfully, how come you aren't at home having a ball this year?" He asked, he was curious as to why she hadn't even tried to find another venue or something.

Gauge rose a brow when Eliza said she didn't want to play pretend.. wasn't that what all vampires did on a daily basis. They pretended to be human, and pretended like the people around them weren't just live stock waiting to be slaughtered. "Well that sounds boring." He spoke with a curve of his lip, but he did know how she felt. The holidays were his least favorite time of the year.

"Really? I find it rather easy, now acting like I care whole different story." He could act happy all he wanted to. Just slapped a smile across his lips and spoke in a chipper manner like the people around him were his best friend, but actually caring whether or not he was pulling that off... totally different beast there.

"Well so much for being alone. Looks like we are stuck together." He leaned forward a bit to speak that last part though he wasn't sure why. Eh maybe it wouldn't be so bad, well until he wanted to have sex that could be a problem. Guess he would be visiting more rooms then just his own.

"Where is your little fledgling... I figured you'd have her attached at the hip with you since that nasty little incident and her being in a wheel chair and all." Opps, he just let his asshole side out again, but really Gauge was better at being an asshole then a proper gentlemen but at least he put up an effort for a short while.