A/N: Again I say, pretend it's x'mas time :D
Chapter 6
December 24, 1997
I went Christmas shopping today and I gotta say the mall is packed with people. I guess no matter how early they start the Christmas sales and all that people still fall for the last minute Christmas rush. As I was walking around the mall I came to pass upon a baby store. They had the most adorable Christmas decorations out of all the stores I have seen. On their window display was a little carriage and inside was a mannequin baby in a red sweater matching the two taller mannequins beside it clearly to be assumed as the parents. As the image lure me closer, I saw a couple pushing a stroller with a little baby girl inside, come out of the door. As they strode off, I can’t help but feel my heart sink. I know that the one thing that Spike wants is a baby. Something I think I could never give him, at least for now. For months we have been trying but nothing happens. He always assured me that it was okay, that our baby will come in the right time but I know deep down inside he was always disappointed with me. I wish I could give him the one thing he yearned for… his little Christmas wish.
“Are we done with the shopping then?” Joyce asked as she entered the kitchen and went over to the cupboard looking for something.
Buffy was by the quarters’ table wrapping the gifts she had bought the day earlier. One would wonder who she would really need to buy gifts for. She was new here in England and hardly knew anybody but she wanted to give Joyce, Mr. Giles and of course Willow something for Christmas, as they say Christmas is the time for giving. They have been the mall for over four hours before the two had actually started to buy something.
“So what do you think of this one?” Willow held up a red sweater modeling against her body as she looked into the mirror. She and Buffy had decided to take the day off to finally start and hopefully finish on the much a due Christmas shopping.
From the racks Buffy was looking through, she looked over at Willow direction and walked over behind her. “I don’t think reindeers look very good on you, cuz.” She patted the redheads shoulder as Willow gave out a huff and returned it on the rack finally giving up and exiting the shop.
“So, have you heard from Lakeside yet about that job?”
“Uh-huh,” she nodded, “They called me the other day and I got in!” Buffy said excitedly, “They wanted an answer in a couple of weeks. As if I needed time to think really. I mean I’d take it in a jiff! But of course I didn’t tell them that… don’t want them to think I’m too eager.” Buffy said pretty proud of herself for her self-control, before she would have jumped up and down and thank the person on the phone a thousand times. But that was the old Buffy, the new Buffy is much more serious, she’s in the ‘real world’ now. And if that meant being professional and all that crap then she’ll do it.
“Well… good for you, Buff. I’m happy for you” Willow congratulated her cousin. “The perfect Christmas gift from Santa huh.” Buffy put on a bright smile as she continued strolling around the stores, finally the job she had been waiting for right in front of her. On to being the head nurse and maybe study medicine? ‘Nah…’ her mind joined in.
As they continued their stroll, “I think we should take a seat Buff, cause I swear I think my foot is gonna fall off…” Willow trailed off but Buffy wasn’t paying attention as she stopped deadlocked on something on the store’s window display and let the redhead continue walking until she noticed nobody was at her side and turned back to see cousin staring into the window of the shop as if hypnotized. She could almost actually imagine Buffy looking at the window as if it was the gates to heaven as she followed her into the shop.
“Buffy?” Joyce inquired as she stood before the blonde waving her hand from side to side, which cause Buffy to be pulled away from her reverie.
“Yeah,” Buffy shook her head for good measure as she turned back to the task she was performing. “Me and Willow had a great time, can’t wait for tomorrow!”
“That’s good then. At least some people around this house are excited about the holidays.” Joyce whispered to herself as she grabbed the tray of tea and started for the door.
“Who’s that for?” Buffy inquired as she placed the last of the tape and placed the present she had wrapped in the box beside her.
“The O’Conner’s are in the study, I thought I’ll bring them tea.”
“Oh, why don’t I do that,” Buffy offered as she stood from her place, “you need to get started on dinner soon anyway.” she took the tray from Joyce with a smile.
“Oh my…” Buffy heard Joyce exclaim as she made her wait out the door. “Time sure flies fast.” And couldn’t help but give out a giggle.
As she walked over to the study, she passed by the main hall and noticed how much the house looked livelier with the lights and the little ornaments they have put up around the house. It had taken a lot to persuade William to agree with her to put up the decorations but she did it. Somehow he always seemed to go along with her at the very last second, as if he was making her go through all the trouble of persuasion just to fool around with her to know how far she would take it.
“Oh please! Those things are always a sham” Buffy could hear William’s voice from down the hall as she made her way to the study. They seemed to be arguing about a benefit or something. As per usual her good spirited employer refused to go and his ever so insistent attorney had to come over and persuade him. That’s what Buffy had witnessed the whole time she was here. Angel would come in, talk about a whole bunch of crap to drag William into benefits and auctions and all that whatnot rich people go to. She still does not understand why the hell he really had to show up, it’s not as if William was the light of the party, in her opinion he’d just make things more boring than they already were.
“They expect you to be there!” Angel argued on as Buffy set the tray on the table and saw Mrs. O’Conner on the couch seemingly getting more annoyed by the minute with the two men shouting.
As Buffy exited the room she was followed by a much relived woman who was right on her tail. “Those can really get it on can’t they?” She shook her head as if trying to get the ringing out of her ears. “You’re Buffy right?” and the blonde nodded. “Can we maybe go somewhere… I don’t really feel like going in there again and risking my eardrums exploding.”
Buffy giggled as she led Cordelia upstairs into Prudence’s room.
“I really like what you did with the house,” Cordelia absently commented as they walked down the hallway.
“Thanks!”
When they entered the room, they saw Prue on the crib sleeping soundly with a smile on her face. “You know, I love it whenever Conner does that… they just look the cutest when they smile sleeping don’t they…” Cordelia whispered as she brushed slightly the hair that had fallen over Prue’s eyes.
“Yes they do.” Buffy looked over at Prue a second longer than necessary then went over to switch on the night lamp. The sun was going to set soon and she wouldn’t want Prue waking up to a dark empty room. Switching the monitor on, the two silently retreated from the room leaving an adorable little angel sleeping. “I guess you better get back, they might have torn each other’s head off by now.” Buffy suggested as she ushered the brunette over to the study where they could almost hear the two voices at the end of the hall.
“I said no and that’s final, Angel. You can’t force me into it this time.” William answered as he turned away from Angel looking through the window.
Cordelia came over to Angel’s side and placed her hands on her husband’s bicep as a means of asking him to leave William be. “Okay.” Angel answered though a bit hesitant, “Well see you tomorrow Christmas dinner?” But William didn’t even flinch as Angel and Cordelia retreated the room saying their goodbyes.
Buffy found it awkward to be standing in the room after all the tension that had just happened. Trying to avoid being noticed by William she carefully went over to the coffee table and grabbed the tray of untouched tea.
“I had the right to refuse right?” William asked to no one in particular not moving from his earlier position. “He knows how this occasion meant to her…”
Buffy just stood there mid pick-up deciding on whether to answer the question or just leave saying nothing. But she didn’t have to think of that soon for William turned into her direction asking the same question yet again.
“I-“ Buffy bit her lip as she set the tray back down.
“He never understood!” William ran his hands through his hair as he walked over to the mantel above the fireplace where the portrait of Dru still stood. “I blame myself… I blame myself Buffy!”
Buffy stood behind him dumbfounded. Aside from the fact that this was the first time he called her by her given name, she didn’t know what to do, should she go and tell him he shouldn’t blame himself and that it was no one’s fault when she didn’t actually know what happened. Should she try to go over to him to give him some comfort or should she just stay put and know her place.
“It was because of me and my stupid leisure pursuits I couldn’t settle down. A simple request and I had to argue with her! Damn myself!”
“I told you to sell that bike, Spike! How many times do I have to say, it’s a dangerous vehicle! Do you really want your daughter to grow up without a father!”
Spike was driving with Drusilla on the passenger seat as they made their way to the annual auction the Collingsworth’s held. “Dru, I can’t sell the thing. I’ve had that bike since I was in high school you know that…”
“Yes. But now you have a family!”
“I don’t’ ride it anymore! What’s the problem anyway! It’s just gathering up dust in the garage!”
“Oh don’t you dare lie to me William! I know you rode it in the race track just last week.”
“Now where did you get that silly idea from, pet?” Spike answered trying to concentrate on the road.
“Angel.”
“That ponce!” Spike said to himself gripping the steering wheel.
“It’s a good thing he did. Or else I wouldn’t have know.” Dru looked over at his direction trying to make him take her seriously. “William please you have got to stop doing that…”
“It’s just a past time, luv. Nothing serious is gonna happen to me.” He searched for her hand and squeezed it gently as he assured her. “I promise.” He kissed the back of her hand.
“That what you say now! But how about if something did! What will I do then Spike?”
Spike cracked his jaw from frustration and he let go his wife’s hand as he concentrated back on the road. “Nothing’s gonna happen to me, pet!”
“You don’t-“ Drusilla was cut off as she clutched her abdomen and closed her eyes from a sudden burning sensation she felt.
“Believe in me, Dru! I have been doing this for years!” Spike’s voice got louder with each reason he stated concealing his wife’s wallow for pain. “I have never been injured before. I play with professional clean players only. And you know I would never be reckless for you know I wouldn’t be able to grasp it if something happened to either you or Pru-“ He looked over to the passenger seat to find his wife hunched over the seat sweating from pain. “Dru?” He soothed her back panicking inside as he tried to concentrate on the road.
Drusilla leaned back on the chair eyes closed from pain continuing to clutch her abdomen. Soon Spike saw the pool of blood on her wife’s skirt trailing down her legs as he stepped on the gas.
He had told her everything and she had no idea what to do. Buffy still stood behind William awe stricken. He blamed himself for his wife’s death when clearly it had nothing to do with him. “Why?”
“What?”
“Why was there blood?” It was probably the most stupid thing to say right now but she didn’t know what else to utter, that was the first thing that came out of her mouth.
“Something about soddin blood clotting or something. But it doesn’t matter…” He breathed in hard trying to fight back tears that were ready to fall.
Buffy suddenly found her legs moving on their own as she closed in on him. “It’s not your fault…” Finally they were face to face as William looked up tears straining his cheeks. “It’s not your fault…” she repeated as she caressed his cheek and wiped his tears away. “It’s not your fault…” as their foreheads met.
¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤
“I’m sorry to have woken you up this early Mr. Giles.” Buffy said as she sat by the passenger seat as Mr. Giles drove down the road.
“Oh it’s okay… For whom is this sudden Christmas last minute shopping for anyway… at three o’clock in the morning.” Giles couldn’t help but smile at the girl’s extraordinariness.
“For someone who deserves a proper Christmas.”
December 25, 2003
Merry Christmas! Today I woke up receiving the best news ever. Me and Spike were awoken by the insistent ringing of our bedroom phone. I was of course too tired to get up from bed and waited for a good minute and about a fifteen ringing before Spike actually was awaken and answered the phone with a groggy voice. After hearing what the caller had to say he handed the phone to me then buried his face back on the pillow.
“Hello” I greeted as the doctor told met the news and to my surprise I was speechless, I couldn’t say a single word. I probably looked weird staring off into space without saying anything because Spike took the phone from me and asked what was wrong. I think I looked at him as if dumbfounded because he got up from bed and looked at me with the most concerned look his blue eyes could do.
“Something wrong , luv?” I shook my head. “What is it then?” I looked at him in the eye with a gleeful smile on my face.
“We’re gonna have a baby!” and the look on his face was priceless!
The same “Buffy I think you better come down soon. I think the old man’s knees are just about to give in.” Willow laughed.Buffy was on top of Giles shoulders as she finished the finishing touches.
“Make fun of the old man why don’t you.” Giles retorted.
“Okay. Done.” Buffy announced as she jumped own from Giles. Noticing the exchange of banter the two were getting on, “Willow, why don’t you start the lights up huh?”
Willow gave out a pout but did the request nonetheless. As she plugged the socket in, the tree lighted the room up like stars on a dark night as they twinkled on. The pine tree in the middle of the main hallway was so high that it almost reached the ceiling of the second floor. It was wrapped around with lights and stings of popcorn with some beautifully placed ornaments. One that Buffy especially found in the attic about the entry she found on the diary the other day an ornament that symbolized the couples first year on Culsber Hills.
“It’s beautiful, Buff” Willow said walking into the room as she stood beside Buffy staring up into the tree.
“I agree, Buffy. You have definitely done an excellent job…”
“I did a pretty good job, didn’t I?” Buffy said quite proud of herself. The three stood there in awe for a couple of seconds. Before Willow finally gave up and decided that she needed some shut eye.
"Good idea, Willow. I think we all need that. Merry Christmas everyone." Giles said as they all retreated back to their own quarters.
to be continued...
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