Just One Christmas Wish

Beating Hearts

Chapter IV

Lawrence stared for a moment.

"I see." Was all he said.

"Indeed." Noel agreed.

"Well, we have two days until Christmas Eve, although today is counted as one of those two days. And this necklacce," He pointed to it. "It will help you find the log, will it?" Taking it in the palm of her hand, Noel said,

"Yes. It's like a heart and the closest it is to the Log, the harder it beats." Lawrence considered this a moment, wondering why the hell he cared so much. But then, he supposed, he sort of needed the Earth for living on and things.

And Noel, too. He had an odd feeling that he needed her for living and things, for he had never felt so alive as he did right now in her presence.
"Lawrence? Mr Blackwood?" Lawrence brought himself back to the present. He smiled at Nöel who was watching him with concern.
"I am sorry, Nöel. I was miles away." Nöel still looked slightly concerned.
"That's fine, Mr Blackwood."
"Shall we begin our search?" Confused, Nöel frowned.
"Our search?"
"For your precious log."
"Oh," Nöel said, surprised. "Why would you help me?" Lawrence went to the door, opened it, glancing back at the angel with a sardonic smile and pretending he hadn't heard what she had asked.

***

"We've searched everywhere."
"Maybe we haven't."
"Is that necklace telling you anything?" Nöel stared at him, despondent. She shook the pendant.
"Perhaps it is broken." Making a noise of frustration, Nöel ran a hand through her shining ginger hair.
"I cannot fail!" Nöel stormed blindly across the snowy fields that they'd ended up in in their desperate search for the Yule Log. Lawrence grabbed her arm and spun her round to face him. Noel struggled but Lawrence held tightly to her wrist.

"Mr Blackwood! awrence, unhand me! Mr--"

"Noel. Stop. Listen to me." He said firmly.

"I don't have time you foolish human! I need to--"

"No. Noel, just listen to me and then I'll let go." Noel wavered. "I promise there is no catch."

Sighing, Noel stopped trying to pull away and looked into Lawrence's eyes, almost stopping his heart, and then kicking it into overdrive.

They were a beautiful honey-gold. Such glorious irises had never been seen!

"Noel," Lawrence said quietly. "I know that finding this log of yours is greatly important in ways I shall never grasp in their entirety and I promise to do all in my power to help you," He noted that her eyes softened slightly. "Which is why I must advise you to simply take a seat and relax."

Slowly, Lawrence released her. For a moment, Noel looked as though she might argue but only sighed again with exasperation. She looked around.

"There are no seats." Lawrence grinned.

"But of course there are." Kicking his feet up, Lawrence fell onto his back into the ten-inch-deep snow. Some of it invaded his coat and slid down his back. He hissed in a breath.

"Ooh, that's cold."

A moment later, Noel had dropped down beside him, a gasp parting her lips.

"You certainly weren't wrong!" She exclaimed.

"Sorry, what was that? I didn't quite hear." Noel laughed so that Lawrence felt his stomach lurch into his chest.

"You'll not hear that from me again, Mr Blackwood." There was a moment of smiling silence as they stared up at the white, fluffy clouds, pregnant with snow. Then Lawrence asked,