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~~~~~
"She's an out bound, mellow downed
Easy feet on garden ground
Sunny weathered good time child."
~~~~~


"Come on, luv...wake up!"

"No, thanks."

Spike gave her shoulder a gentle shake, then swatted her
lightly on the behind. "Hey! You're gonna sleep right through
Christmas."

Buffy rolled over in bed. "I was dreaming," she mumbled, her
voice slurred with sleep. "Then YOU gotta come along and wake
me up right when I'm getting to the good part."

"Come on." He prodded her insistently. "Time to go downstairs
and see if Santa was good to you this year."

"Santa was pretty good to me last night." She gave him a sassy
smile. "And he also gave me a beautiful necklace."

Rubbing the sleep out of her eyes, she stretched and sat
up, surprised at what she saw. "You're already dressed."

"Yeah," he nodded. "For a couple of hours. Now...it's your
turn."

Buffy looked him over. He even had his boots on. "Did you go
somewhere?"

Spike ignored the question. "Get your lazy arse out of bed,
Slayer."

"Well, what's the hurry?" she whined. "You got a bus to catch?"

He whipped the blankets off of her, leaving her only the
sheet. "Up!"

"Oh, come on," she said teasingly. "Wouldn't you rather come
back to bed? I'll give you an early...."

Spike cut her off. "I'll take you up on that offer later. BUT, if
you're not out of that bed and getting dressed by the time I
count ten...I'll take you downstairs the way you are, Morning
Glory."

Pretty sure that this was no idle threat, and considering the
fact that all she had was her new necklace and a big smile,
Buffy did what she was told.

Rolling reluctantly out of bed, she pulled on the sweater and
jeans he tossed to her, grumbling under her breath about bossy
vampires who were dumb enough to piss off a slayer.

"It isn't the first time," he said, steering her out of the room
and down the stairs. "Doubt if it'll be the last."


~~~~~
"She's got a sweet, warm, break the storm
Custom tailored, angel form
Unrestricted open smile."
~~~~~


In the living room, the tree lights were glowing cheerfully,
and there were several packages under it that she hadn't
placed there.

But, her eyes were drawn to the mantle over the fireplace. A
large, red velvet stocking hung in the middle of it, a stocking
that she'd never seen before, and in that stocking was...

Buffy gasped, her eyes wide with surprise. "Oh...look at
that." Crossing the room quickly, she lifted out a small and
squirming bundle that was peeking it's head out of the stocking.

Cuddling the puppy against her cheek, she looked back
at Spike. "Is that where you went this morning?" she
asked. "To get this puppy?"

"Yeah. Red took care of her for me last night," he said. "I
had a hell of a time getting her to give it back."

Buffy laughed. "So, when you asked me last night if I
wanted a puppy...you'd already gotten it?"

"That's right."

"And just what were you gonna do if I hadn't wanted
it?"

"Oh, come on, Slayer," he grinned. "Every little girl wants
a puppy."


~~~~~
"Everyone around her
Is hung up on space and time
But still she stays a bright eyed child
With Christmas on her mind."
~~~~~


The tiny dog began wriggling in Buffy's arms, making her
giggle like the child he'd just mentioned.

"D'ya fancy her, luv?"

"Are you kidding me?" she asked in disbelief. "I already
love her. I always wanted a dog, but my mom thought it
was too much responsibility for me."

Spike slipped his arms around her waist, laying his chin
on her shoulder. "What are you gonna name her...and don't
even suggest it," he added when she opened her mouth to
speak.

"Suggest what?"

"What you were about to suggest. I may not be the demon
I was once, s'pecially after falling in love with you, but I draw
the line at having a poodle named after me." He grinned and
kissed her cheek. "Now, if it was a pit bull..."

Buffy sat down on the floor, placing the puppy on her feet.


~~~~~
"She doesn't have to talk a lot
Ain't you glad for what you've got
Pollyanna country dream.
She's not above temptations of
Cloudy, deep November love
Or pennies in a gum machine."
~~~~~


"She's so cute," Buffy said. "So tiny and delicate."

Watching the dog gambol around the room with it's
clumsy puppy bounce, she suddenly snapped her
fingers.

"I know! We should give her a really fierce name like
"Killer" or something, so the other puppies will know
better than to push her around because she's small."

Spike appeared to be pondering the question. "This reminds
me of something, what is it? Cute..tiny..fierce name hinting
death..don't mess with her if you know what's good for you,"
he mused. "It's right on the tip of my tongue, but I just can't..."

"Very funny," she said, giving him a push. The puppy
trotted by, and she scooped it up in one hand. Lifting it
to her cheek, she laughed when a little pink tongue darted
out and swiped her with a doggy kiss. "You need a name,
don't you? Hmm? What sounds good to you?"


~~~~~
"Even in the summer
She can see the signs
That keep her on the honest road
With Christmas on her mind."
~~~~~


The puppy yipped loudly, and a door flew open upstairs.

"What was THAT?!" Dawn came pelting down the stair-
case. "It sounded like...oh my GOD!" she squealed. "It
IS!!"

Buffy smiled at her sister, framed in the doorway. "Isn't
she adorable?" she asked, holding the puppy up for
inspection.

Spike joined them on the floor. Leaning back against the
sofa, he crossed his arms over his chest and watched
fondly as the two people he loved most in the world
played with their new pet.

In the end, it was Dawn who came up with the perfect name.

"What about 'Christmas'? We could call her 'Crissy' for
short."

Buffy was agreeable, and Spike was happy the decision
was finally made.

"Christmas it is then," he said firmly, handing the puppy
over to Dawn. "There's a bag in the kitchen with dog
food and some toys. Why don't you take her and see if
she's hungry, then come back and see what else Santa
left for the Summers girls." He turned and looked directly
at Buffy. "Who have been SO good all year."

She smiled and winked at him.


~~~~~
"She goes down points of view
On anybody's avenue
Looking for the sweeter side.
She's a knock on wood, look for good
Crimson ribbon riding hood
Movin on the downhill ride."
~~~~~


Dawn had barely cleared the doorway when her older
sister jumped into Spike's waiting arms.

"I HAVE been a good little girl, haven't I?"

Spike nodded. "Yes, you have, luv...and last night..." He
growled in her ear. "You were spectacular."

Buffy dropped her eyes in a show of modesty. "I'll bet
you say that to all the slayers."

He was about to kiss her, when the doorbell rang.

"Who the hell is that?" he frowned.

"That's our company," Buffy explained. "Christmas day,
remember?"

He just looked at her.

"Honey...we went over all this," she said. "It's all about
friends and family."

Spike rolled his eyes in obvious frustration.

"The exchange of gifts," she went on. "The having of
dinner." The doorbell buzzed again. "The NOT leaving
them outside in the cold. Sound familiar?"


~~~~~
"Weaving through the arguments
In delicate designs
With rainbows at her open door
And Christmas on her mind."
~~~~~


"Fine," Spike said. "Let the festivities begin." He
grabbed her hand as she began to stand up. "Keep
in mind that I have another "present" for you, and
if you unwrap it in front of everyone, it could be
embarrassing."

Her cheeks tinted with a pink blush, Buffy slipped out
of his arms and stood up. Bending at the waist, she
cupped his face in her hands and kissed him, long and
hard.

"Then I'll unwrap it later, when I can thank you for it
properly," she said sweetly. "I think you'll find that I can
be a VERY grateful girl when I'm treated right."

He caught her hand to keep her there. "Baby," he said
seriously, "I'm gonna treat you right like you have NEVER
been treated before."

She had to kiss him for saying it, and she did just
that as the doorbell rang...and rang...and rang...


~~~~~
"Yes, rainbows at her open door
And Christmas on her mind."
~~~~~


~The End~





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