The hidden hearts, hidden souls series:

Part III: Brazen Virtue: When sapphire meets cinnamon…

Author- Midnight Faith

Archiving- fanfiction.net, Ace of Harts anyone else just ask

Disclaimer- One day I *will* write a serious disclaimer…

Genre- from one extreme to the other… extreme fluff to extreme angst…

Rating- PG-13

Primary Characters- Lindsey, Lilah, bit of Holland… some W & H favourites making some short guest appearances

Primary pairings- L/Li

Summary- Christmas parties don't always run smoothly…

Note- this is the third in the series after 'A jewel so rare,' and 'A rose from Lucifer.' So you might wanna read them first…

Lilah:

"This is madness isn't it?" I gush happily, wiping the condensation from the passenger window and looking out onto the fluffy, frosted blanket of snow settling over LA. It's five days before Christmas and it's snowing outside. Totally crazy. It *never* snows in LA. Only cloud on the icy horizon is we're in Lindsey's car… going to the Wolfram and Hart Christmas party. 'Fun!' (Notice the use of sarcastic quote marks.) Sure we can stick close (like glue if I've got anything to do with it) but no one at work exactly knows about us, and I intend to keep it that way (note to self: stay away from the tequila.)

Lindsey takes his eyes off the road for a minute to look at me. He smiles at me and I can't imagine my life without him.

"I've never seen real snow before," I admit to Lindsey.

"Aaahhh!" he says playfully, "You're telling me you've never had a real snowball fight before?" He grins at me devilishly, and I can tell what he's thinking (I know him so well,)

"No way!" I tell him, "*Not* in this dress!" I run my hands over the skirt of my crushed, velour gown and can't imagine what a pelting of snow would do to the material, "I spent two months wages on this dress," Lindsey grins again as I think about money trouble. 'And we know where that's got you in the past Morgan…'

We drive into the Wolfram and Hart car park and I moan inwardly. I'm *not* looking forward to this. Not being able to touch Lindsey for at least seven hours is gonna drive me crazy. At least at work we can sneak a few minutes (or hours) now and then. W & H parties resemble being watched like a hawk watches its prey.

He parks the car and looks at me. Shivers run down my spine as he touches my bare shoulder.

"You ready?" he asks. He hugs me tenderly and we break apart reluctantly.

"I wish we could stay in the car all night," I muse.

"We can't," he tells me sensitively and without another word opens his car door and gets out. I take a deep breath and a few seconds later reflect his move. I'm *so* not looking forward to this…

Lindsey:

I watch Lilah pick across the snow delicately not wanting to damage her satin shoes. She bears a strange similarity to a cat, elegant, sleek and beautiful. She looks lovely in the moonlight, the snow catching on her eyelashes. I take her hand instantaneously checking around for any hidden co-workers. She's way ahead of me, but she still clings to my hand tightly, cos with snow comes ice and apparently it seems satin shoes have no resistance against slick surfaces.

"Shit," she says skidding slightly on the ice and sticking onto my arm tightly. I can feel her nails digging into my arm but I wouldn't change any of this for the world.

She looks at me and laughs slightly, almost nervously. I love her best when she's sparkling and blissful, the *real* Lilah Morgan that no one else at Wolfram and Hart knows. Her eyes are alight with a cinnamon, flaming shine.

"Come here," I tell her. She looks at me and shrieks slightly as I carry her as a groom carries his bride over the snow filled car park. Happy thoughts. Maybe someday… She doesn't take her eyes away from mine and she rests her hands around my neck. It makes me feel powerful, protective, like her knight in shining armour.

"We're almost to the front door we almost run into Holland *literally. * I feel Lilah's body stiffen in my arms and he's raising his eyebrows at us and Lilah's practically springing out of my arms smoothing down her dress which looks striking under the starlight.

"Sir, I was just…" I begin,

"Giving Ms. Morgan a lift?" his voice not looking to conceal it's steely cynicism.

"You see my shoes and the ice," Lilah says, bearing some resemblance to a rabbit caught in car headlights. I've never seen Lilah acting so well… weakly.

Holland just nods and gives her a sickly smile before he grabs me forcefully by the tie.

"You leave my girl alone," he snarls. He lets go and stalks off. I look to Lilah who's watching him walk away half scowling after him half looking petrified out of her wits. *What* is going on? I take her by the shoulders,

"It's OK," I say in her ear reassuringly, "He's always been protective of you," she cuts me off by glaring at me, shrugging me off cruelly and walking away. All I can do is follow her into the party with brazen virtue…

Lilah:

OK, anger, calm down Lilah. How dare Holland talk to Lindsey like that? And how dare he talk about me like that like I'm just some *thing* I stalk into the party grabbing a flute of champagne and downing it. The waiter looks at me stunned,

"What are you staring at?" I spit at him. Lindsey's about two steps behind me, he smiles at the waiter and guides me away kinda forcefully. Removed from the main bulk of people. "Let go of me," I seethe at him. He does looking a little wounded. I want to touch him so intensely but I'm afraid my contact might scorch him, like acid through his skin, seeping into his pores.

"Get a grip!" he hisses back, "What's with you?" I look away huffily as Lee stumbles over to us. He's as pissed as *hell*

"Lilah!" he says putting a drunken and stupefied arm around my shoulders. I try to brush him off but he's pretty strong and Lindsey's getting really angry now. Before I know what's happening he's punched Lee straight in the jaw and someone I've never even *seen* before is having to restrain him. I feel a pair of hardy hands on my shoulders, guiding me away from the increasingly vicious scene. It's Brett thank god.

"You OK?" he asks me,

"Yeah," I tell him, "Just peachy,"

"Need some company?" he queries me. Wow he's really question guy tonight.

"No, I'm just gonna go away to my office," I tell him actually running away from him, but not before taking two bottles of wine from the table. With everyone staring after me I dash from the room…

Lindsey:

"Lilah!" I shout after her, breaking free from whoever's holding onto me, "Lilah!"

OK, we're making the scene of the year and people are gonna be talking about this until at least June. I run after her. I've never seen Lilah flee before but she can get hell of a sprint on when she wants to. Eventually she stops running, but I've chased her up three flights of stairs and it's left me kinda breathless. She turns around to me her eyes narrowed into slits of rage. I see she's holding two bottles of wine. "What you were planning on throwing your own party?" I ask her acidly, "Am I even invited or is this just for you, Holland and Lee?" I regret that instantly. She just looks at me; a feeling of horror grows in the pit of my stomach. She steps towards me purposefully,

"I'll tell you one thing Lindsey," she says her voice unnaturally calm, "He's better than you are." Realisation hits me. Lilah and Holland?! I reel back in shock and her eyes light with a fiery passion. She laughs scornfully before her eyes darken and she throws a bottle of wine at my head. I duck skilfully as the bottle smashes against the marble wall. She punches me square on the jaw, catching me off guard, she lunges at me, slashing my cheek with her nails, the second bottle shatters to the floor where we've somehow managed to end up. She shrieks in pain as a shard of glass makes a deep slash in her shoulder. I grab her wrists,

"Lilah! Stop it!" I yell as she kicks me away from her. Somehow I manage to grab her arm and pull her back down to the floor making a deep gash in her cheek. She doesn't fight back she just dissolves in tears, glass sparkling like evil raindrops in her hair. Diamonds of pain. We're both bruised and bloody. My world's spinning with revelation and all I can do is reach out to Lilah tentatively. There's blood gushing from the cut on her cheek and I touch it gently. She springs away. "I love you," I tell her. She doesn't reply…

To be continued…