Disclaimer: WB owns 'Moonlight.' I make no money off this.

Note: This is AU set after ep. 8. We are going to ignore Fleur de Lis. We're ending with the awkwardness between Beth and Mick from the revelation on the balcony. Also, suspend belief a little - it's Christmas.

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Opening scene: Christmas Eve - Mick's apartment.

Mick & Josef are sitting in the living room drinking dinner. It's like every other scene where they hang out, except this time they're both immaculately dressed in suits, the kind you wear to a very important Christmas Eve party. Josef is singing Christmas songs, specifically 'Santa Claus is coming to town.'

Josef: Youuuu...better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout...ah, you're no fun. The freshies get really excited when I sing that!

Mick: What do you have to be cheerful about - you don't even believe in Christmas?

Josef: Not the point, bro. Think of it, the food, the drink, the lovely ladies. Besides, it's cold. And I like the cold.

Mick stares at him.

Mick: The food?

Josef: I, my friend, have got a luscious blonde coming round tonight. Only the spirit of Christmas would be so bountiful... [his fangs flash as he grins widely]

Mick: And the harem doesn't mind?

Josef [chuckles quizzically]: I don't see the pot roast calling out the turkey because they're on the same table...

Mick [in amusement]: Four hundred years to think up come-backs and that's the best you can do?

Josef [shrugs]: So, what's snipping you? Is it the whole Church thing again?

Mick doesn't answer.

Josef: You know I know you go.

Mick: Then why ask?

Josef: You're a vampire. Nearly immortal. You don't need to believe what the cattle do. You go every Christmas. You stand in the corner and never move. And then you leave. And you're miserable.

Mick [with a crooked half-smile]: So, this is all concern for my welfare?

Josef: You still believe the rigmarole about God? Heaven, hell?

Mick [takes a sip of blood]: Belief's a tough habit to break, nearly immortal or not.

Another companionable silence, which stretches for about 10 seconds.

Josef: Considering your bloodthirsty beliefs, I'd have thought you'd be more comfortable going to church.

Mick: Excuse me?

Josef: You know, eat my body, drink my blood. You drink blood that the priest blesses - the wine thing. It's...what's that entirely too long word for it?

Mick [dryly]: Transubstantiation.

Josef laughs.

Josef: Well, isn't this peachy, the vampire's a theological scholar.

Mick is also grinning by this time.

Mick: Basic Sunday school, Josef. What's your point? I'm closer to the church because drinking Christ's 'blood' is a basic tenet of the religion and I also have to drink blood to live?

Josef[sipping]: If by that very convoluted sentence you mean that the church can't afford to be hypocritical about blood-drinking, then yes.

Mick[nostalgic]: You're lucky you never went to Sunday school with Sister Claire. She'd have cracked a rib trying to beat the devil out of you...

Josef: Yet another thing to be grateful for, my friend.

Josef raises his glass.

Josef: A toast! Three fresh blondes, two red-heads and a partridge in a pear tree.

Mick laughs and drains his glass.

Josef: Do you want a partridge in a pear tree? Because I could get one.

Mick: You're insane.

Josef: Yeah. And loaded.[drains his glass] Life's great.