A/N: Again I say imagine it's x'mas =) Thanks ever so much for keeping the reviews coming, they're very much appreciated =)
Chapter 7
December 25, 2003
That was the predicament that morning and boy was Spike excited. After he got over the shock, he leaped out from bed, literally shouting "We're gonna have a baby!" down and hall and came back to bed hugging and kissing me like a mad lunatic! Not that I minded.
Later that night after the family Christmas dinner we had where Spike proudly announced to his family that I was pregnant, he led me to the den where we sat in front of the fire cuddling and simply enjoying each other's company. Out of nowhere he suddenly pulled out from his pocket a single black velvet box. As I opened it I saw the most adorable little Christmas ornament. It was made up of two white turtle doves with beaks meeting as if kissing and in the middle was a baby turtle dove sitting looking up at the two older doves. And of course I melted. He said he couldn't possibly resist it when he saw it on the shop window earlier that day. Isn't he just the sweetest! As I hang the ornament on the Christmas tree, I realized that Spike did get his little Christmas wish.
**********
"Can you please pass the butter?" Joyce asked from her seat at the table. It was Christmas morning and the household staff at the Bennedicts' mansion decided to celebrate the holidays by eating breakfast at the atrium. The snow was falling from the sky; small snowflakes were landing on people's windows. The weather outside was perfect for a day out, make snowmen, snow angels and a good ole snow ball fight. "So, what are your plans for the day?" she asked as she bit down on her bread.
"Well... we-"
"Good morning everyone!" Buffy came into the room with Prue on her right arm, "Merry Christmas!" As each said their greetings Buffy took a seat on the empty spot between Willow and Joyce. "So, how’s everyone doing this morning?" She sat Prue on the high chair that stood beside her.
"I was thinking maybe we have a little bit of snow related fun!"
"I'm gonna prepare for a little Christmas Dinner..."
"Opening presents!"
"Games?"
"Oh! Can we make smores? I looove smores!"
"Good morning." William came into the room with his usual coat and tie, a briefcase in one hand as he went over to the counter to get his morning dose of caffeine.
"Merry Christmas, Mr. Bennedict!" Buffy greeted and he just answered her with a nod.
"Joyce." he called, "where's my coffee?"
Joyce rose from her seat, "I thought maybe you'd want eggnog today... or maybe hot chocolate..."
"With little marshmallows!" Willow added as he held her cup up to see.
"No. Coffee would do just fine."
"What?!" Willow exclaimed clearly shocked, William looked at her with a raised brow which caused her to lower her voice, "I mean... you used to love hot chocolate...not that you couldn't change what you like..." Willow trialed off a she realized that she was babbling.
William just smiled in amusement, "I'd just have the coffee."
As Joyce prepared the pot of coffee Buffy stood from her seat asking, "You're going to work?" William gave her a duh look. "But it's Christmas..."
"Does the sun stop shinning on Christmas? Do people stop breathing on Christmas? Do-"
"Okay...! I get the point."
"By the way," he took a sip from his coffee, "I need to talk with you for a second." Buffy stood there waiting, "Outside..." Buffy grabbed the spoon Prue was playing with before she followed William out the door.
"What's this?" He pointed to the big pine tree that Buffy got that morning. She had been lucky enough that a store was even open that early. She and Mr. Giles had been driving around for almost an hour until they came to spot a lone man in front of his door having a few drinks with his buddy clearly to celebrate the holidays. She had asked if they had had any trees left, the man had none then Buffy asked if by any chance he knew a place where she could find one. His buddies had laughed at her saying it was impossible to find an open store this early in the morning let alone find a lone tree this time of the year especially on Christmas day itself. A kind man named Riley Finn had pulled her aside saying an apology for his friends’ reaction saying that it was because they have had a quite to drink. He asked why a pretty lady like her would be needing a tree this late of the season and night. Buffy had told him her reasons about William and Prue and how she thought this might help them both. Hearing this, Riley said that he might have a spare tree out back that he was suppose to reserve for his own home but seeing as Buffy needed it more he would gladly give it to her. At first Buffy was hesitant but Riley insisted thus she took it handling him the cash to pay for the tree but Riley declined saying that it was on the house with that he went back to his buddies as Buffy and Giles dragged the big pine tree back home.
"A Christmas tree."
"Yes I can see that. What is it doing here?"
"For decoration..." Buffy answered as if it was the most logical thing which it probably was.
Silence fell as William observed the thing giving it a once over. "I like it." Buffy smiled feeling proud of herself. "I want it out." Buffy's mouth formed an 'O' shaped, "I want it out by tonight"
"Why?"
"You're really pushing it aren't you Ms. Summers?"
"But its Christmas." she reasoned.
"I know, you think I don't know what a bloody calendar is?"
'So much for thinking I got through one of his barriers last night.' The other night Buffy thought they had shared something intimate. She had comforted him and stayed with him as long as she didn't even know. He had told her about Dru's death and how until this moment he still blamed himself for it. He had admitted that he had changed and it was not because of his mourning for his lost wife but rather maybe... Buffy had said that it could have been fear and he neither agreed nor disagreed with her. They had spent the night talking about that and useless stuff, and to Buffy's surprise they had gotten along well, something she never thought was even possible. "Until tonight...?" Buffy tried to negotiate.
"Now." Buffy couldn't do anything but give out a huff.
**********
"Come'on Prue.... you can do it... Crawl over to Buffy..." Willow cheered the little child on. They had played around in the snow that morning, Prudence wearing the cutest little set of fur coat and mittens she got from Buffy for Christmas. They had made snow mans, snow angels and even threw a couple of snowballs Giles way which was always fun.
"Ata girl!" Giles cheered her as Prue reached Buffy and she swept her up her arms and bounced her in the air.
After breakfast the group went under the big pine tree by the stairs to start opening some presents. William had asked Buffy to take down the tree before tonight, everyone thought that it was such a waste since they had just set it up that morning and they knew how much hard work Buffy had put into the thing. But the blonde just shrugged it of smiling as if it didn't mean anything which made Willow worry a bit about her cousin.
Joyce had received a sweater from Willow, a handbag from Giles and an apron from Buffy which read 'Iron Chef'. Giles got a hat, a tie to match one of his many tweed coats and one of those gloves for driving. Willow got the reindeer sweater from Buffy, a knitted hat from Joyce and a pair of socks from Giles. When it was Buffy's turn to open her present, Joyce handed her a small box.
"Here, I thought it might help you during you long hours at Lakeside." Inside was a canister full of small packs of instant coffee. Joyce couldn't help but give out a smile. "No, really. Here's the real one." she handed her a small figurine. It was a house on top a hill which read Culstber, "A little something to remember us by." Buffy couldn't help but smile and gave her thanks to her and the others.
After everyone have had a chance to open and give thanks for their presents, they all decided to go outside and have some fun in the snow before lunch. Buffy declined to go with them saying she had to take down the tree first before their 'Boss' gets home and have one of his fits. They all agreed and so Giles and Willow went out with Prue as Joyce got into preparing lunch. Buffy looked up at the tree right in front of her, this was probably the most beautiful thing she had created...'oh well' she thought as they pulled out the ornaments out one by one.
Later as the group was playing a game of charades in the living room, William came home from work. "Okay... sounds like... food? meat? steak?" Buffy nodded vigorously, then placed her hand on her heart then stabbed herself acting dead, "stake!" Willow then did the victory dance just as William passed by amusement seen on his face as he watched them play on.
"Okay, so that's 13 points for me and Willow and 3 points for Joyce and Giles." Buffy recapped the score. She then saw Willow slow down with her dance and looked awkwardly behind her. She then swiftly turned her head, "oh... it's you..."
William's eyebrow rose, "Well, it's so nice to hear that you anticipate my arrival, pet." Buffy just rolled her eyes as she gave him a half-hearted smile.
"Do you wanna join us, Mr. Bennedict?" Willow offered.
"No thank you," he declined, "I'll be in the library if you need me..." with that William retreated back to the library. On the way over he passed by the stairs and saw that the tree had been taken down already, the only trace that the tree was even there were the boxes scattered beneath the stairs. He had come home from the office exhausted, not that he really did anything. Actually the office wasn't really open today. What sane person would make Christmas as a work day? The only reason he didn’t want to stay inside the house was because it reminded him way too much of Dru.
No matter how high he put up his guard against the people around him, no matter how reserved and confident he may seem it still remains that he's sensitive about certain things and Christmas just being one of them. This Christmas everything just seemed to remind him of Dru, every little detail, the atmosphere, the weather, the fashion even the scent of the air especially fresh pine reminded him of her. And it's just torture especially since he still blamed himself for her death. Everyone told him, Buffy last night too, that he shouldn't blame himself cause it was never his fault but for him maybe.. just maybe he could have stopped it, that was something that will forever be at the back of his mind.
He opened the door to the study with a huff as he walked over to the mantle where Dru's picture resided. He ran his fingers across the glass frame, "Why did you leave me, Dru?" he whispered into the air as he clutched the frame in his chest and the tears started to fall.
'Knock, knock' William heard a sound coming from the door. He quickly wiped his tears with the back of his hand as he placed the picture back on the mantel, "Come in."
Buffy peek her head into the door, "Mr. Bennedict?" she asked uncertain as William sat down on his chair behind the big oak table. He ushered her to come in further through the threshold. "We were wondering if maybe you would consider joining us downstairs for a simple Christmas dinner Ms. Joyce had cooked up. It looks really delicious."
William answered her with a smile, "No thank you. But you all go and have fun, I'm sure it would be a feast."
"Okay..." Buffy nodded, "Prue's been looking for you....?"
"She's a baby Ms. Summers... she can't differentiate me from Giles or any other male she sees."
"Really?" Buffy challenged him, "Then how come she had recognized you as her Dada before?" Buffy used the exact words Prue had used.
William just followed her with his gaze as she retreated out the study. "Ms. Summers?" He asked when he noticed a black velvet box on top of his table. "What's this?"
"Oh....that…" William waited for her to explain further as silence fell. “Open it…” With that William opened the box and saw something he didn’t really want to see or remember right now. “Do you know what it is?”
William looked up and met her eye, “Of course I bloody know what it is… where did you get it?”
“I found it on one of the boxes… and there was an engraving at the back…”
“And what do you expect to achieve with this, Ms. Summers?” He asked with a raised brow as he raised the white ornament with his hand. It was the three white turtle dove figurine he had given Dru last Christmas, at the back there was an engraving ‘thank you, for the best Christmas present ever -Spike’. How could Buffy have possibly known that this had meant something other than a single token of appreciation.
“I expect you to spend time with your daughter, sir… to give her a second of you precious time, especially this Christmas.” She stated confidently though inside she was shaking, but really what has she got to lose, she was going to quit this job sooner or later anyway, what harm can it really do?
William shook his head, not because of resentment or disagreement but rather because he didn’t really know how to answer her question.
“It’s not too late, William.” She told him as she neared his desk. "making youself and her suffer is not gonna do any of you any good. It's not your fault, William..."
"I can't... she re-"
"Reminds you of Dru?" he didn't flinch so Buffy took that as a yes. "It's not her fault, she didn't wish for any of this... what she needs is a father..." Silence fell as neither said anything and William sank down on his chair head on his hands.
“It’s not that easy….”
“I know, but you have to start somewhere." she tried to meet his eye but he refused to look up, "William.... Spike?... Dru would have wanted you to." He looked up at the mention of his wife's name. "She's in her room." William nodded his head as he followed Buffy up the stairs and into Prudence's room.
Prue was in her room, silently playing with a stuff pig in her playpen, when Buffy and William entered she seized to have heard anything as she continued on playing. William stopped above her looking at her innocently play as if there was nothing else in the world except her and her toys... and he realized that he wanted to part of that world. He wanted Prue to grow up knowing she had a father who didn't just finance her existence in this world but loved her too. He wanted to be part of her life for she was already part of his whether he wanted to or not, she was his daughter and it's gonna remain that way whatever happens and as he said before, he can't possibly grasp life without them, he had already lost the woman he loved the most he's not gonna lose his daughter too.
Minutes pass as he looked longingly at her, Prue picked that moment to look up and stare gazingly to her father. Her innocent brown eyes met his blue ones as she handed him a pink stuffed pig, "go-go" she said as she held her arms up, wanting him to carry her.
William smiled as he obliged with her request and picked her up in his arms, Prue instinctively wrapped her small arms around his neck and placed her head on his shoulder and he never felt so warmed inside, his little girl, his princess in his arms, he's such a moron to have waited this long... but it's better to be late than never. As he rocked her slowly back and forth he couldn't help but break out into song.
Hush, little baby, don't say a word.
Daddy's gonna buy you a mockingbird
And if that mockingbird don’t sing,
Daddy's gonna buy you a diamond ring
And if that diamond ring turns brass,
Daddy’s gonna get you a looking glass
And if that looking glass gets broke,
Daddy's gonna get you a Billy goat
Buffy looked at the picture before her and concluded that they looked adorable together like father and daughter and she had no doubt that William would make an excellent father, he had the singing done right already.
Hush oh hush the night birds call
Hush oh hush the dark must fall
And if that Billy goat don’t pull,
Daddy's gonna get you a cart and bull
And if that cart and bull turn over
Daddy’s gonna get you a dog named Rover
And if that dog named Rover don’t bark
Daddy’s gonna get you a horse and cart
And if that horse and cart fall down
You'll still be the sweetest little baby in town
Buffy gazed at William as he continued to sing and she realized that aside from the obnoxious, rude, self-centered man he had shown her before there was another side to William a side she was beginning to like. He smiled at her when he saw her looking his way, a smile that wasn't just make-face, but a genuine one.
Hush oh hush the night birds call
Hush oh hush the dark must fall
Soon Prue slowly difted off into dream land in his arms, as he placed her back on her crib and tucked her in, he looked at Buffy's way. She was at the threshold of the door prepared to get some rest as she made her way down the hall. William run after her and caught her just before she reached the first step. He caught her mouth in a quick yet sensual kiss then whispered in her ear, "Thank you and goodnight, Ms. Summers." And with that he walked away.
Buffy caught off guard stood there for a good five seconds before replying, "It's Buffy!" she called down the hall making sure to keep her voice low as to not awoke the sleeping child in one of the rooms. "And you're welcome."
to be continued...
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