| Restitution | ||
| A/N: Well, here we are folks... we've come to the end of our story. It's been a difficult road for Spike. I've taken him through the ringer. But it was all necessary, and I think, played out very nicely for him in the end. This was all about Spike receiving just exactly what he deserved, and a few very important people in his life making amends. Story Dedication: For Kantayra... Rating: R I'd like to thank so many people for their wonderful feedback. You guys kept the encouragement coming, and I can't ever thank you enough. Lou, Kate, Tammy, Mandi, Luba, Michelle, libraflyter, Kantayra, Patty, Jodi, She, Tramster, lola and sister cuervo to name a few. Lots more to thank too... I send you all big *hugs* Thank you to Kantayra for issuing the challenge. She is one of the most incredibly awesome writers out there. *bows down and kisses her toesies* heh There's a certain scene in the epilogue, in which Xander and Spike play pool and talk, which I dedicate to Kate O'Connor, aka Jinxed_Wood. You all know her for her fantastic fic called 'How to Get Ahead in the Otherworld' She has a super fantabulistic imagination, and I thank her for the idea ;^) The blurb directly below about 'Love' is something I wrote at the Ghost of the Robot Forums, in the Off-Topic threads, and I think that it very much applies to this story... well, in my view of things anyway. Now... on with the happy ending. Shannon (Limerickgirl) Epilogue - Rest
What does love mean to me? It means that despite my utter failings, you'll still greet me in the morning.
~~*~~ Christmas Eve... Buffy wakes to find a strong arm wrapped firmly around her, a smooth, big hand possessively holding her breast. Waking up like this is the most wonderful thing to her. Spike folds her into his embrace each night. They fall asleep, they turn and move as sleeping people do, but then as the late morning hours approach they fold back into each other again, and she wakes first often, like this, feeling thoroughly and wonderfully safe. Buffy warms Spike's flesh. She gives off such warmth that he naturally absorbs her heat. She also finds this a wonderful thing, because she hates to be too hot in bed, apart from sexy-hot that is! She often had to lie at the very edge of the bed when Riley stayed with her because he'd suffocate her with his sweaty bed heat. But this... this is exquisite. Spike isn't too hot, isn't too cold. In fact, he's just right. He's perfect for her. He's everything she ever thought she could want. Buffy can't help but smile and thank any deity that's listening for this wonderful gift. To think she could have lost this. Mustn't think about it anymore. Soon Buffy feels Spike's hand begin to knead her breast and she turns slightly, not disturbing his grasp, to greet him. "Good morning sleepyhead," she teases. "Is that all it is? Still morning? Needa get some kip, luv... I'm shagged," he says as he grins against her shoulder. "Um, no... you actually aren't... well, yet anyway." She offers him a wicked grin, and he kisses her shoulder, then licks his way up to her neck. "Sounds very promising, pet. Can't move though. Gotta handful of slayer tittie and I don't wanna let go just yet." Buffy bursts out laughing... "You are so corny! What am I gonna do with you?" "Well, you can start by reaching back and grabbing my big bad..." Buffy cuts him off as she flips over, presses his back down onto their new bed, and slides down onto his very impressive big bad. "You were saying?" She gives him a squeeze and the blissful 'wowed' look that he was sporting only moments before is replaced with a deep desire-filled gaze and the type of sensual moan hot enough to melt the polar icecaps. As they worship each other with touch and connection, they look into each other's eyes and see only the unguarded, unbridled emotion felt by two people so deeply, desperately in love. Buffy's hair drapes around Spike's face as she lowers herself down towards him, needing to be closer. Spike wraps her hair around each of his hands and tugs her down so their noses are touching as their hips meet and thrust in time with each other. "Say it, Buffy…" Spike breathes out the words, so close. "Tell me…" "I love you, Spike… love you so, so much." Their lips meet in a deep, ravenous kiss and as they reach that perfect moment of release they cry out each other's names and press themselves even closer together, not wanting to be apart in the slightest. Buffy and Spike have their own definition of Heaven. And it's right here within each other's arms.
Janice stares at the ceiling, a dreamy look on her face. She's forgotten all about Dawn and shopping and everything, but the hot noises coming from above. "Janice?! Gross!" "Oh," she practically whispers, "isn't that the hottest thing you've ever heard in your entire existence?" Obviously Janice is a lost cause. "Newsflash! I get to hear the hot and sweaty morning, noon and freakin' night!" Dawn can't help the little grin that graces her mouth then. "Aha! You don't think it's so gross, do you? C'mon, admit it!" "I'm happy for them, Janice. They were meant to be together." Dawn looks away, she really is so happy for both of them, and sure, this is what she wanted all along. "So we gonna go to the mall, or what? I don't think I wanna stick around for round eight hundred and nighty nine." "They do it that much?" Janice's jaw hangs frighteningly low to the floor. "This?" she points to the ceiling… "This is just the wake up sex… wait til they really get going." Dawn rolls her eyes. "Can we get to the mall now? There's only like, seven hours of Christmas shopping left, and I'm only half done my list." Janice looks up once more, disappointed with the sudden quiet. "Yeah, let's go. Gotta find the perfect gift for Eddie." "Oh, please don't tell me you've decided to fall for Eddie. What happened to Gio?" "Puh-lease… he's SO ancient history." Dawn grabs her coat and stands at the bottom of the stairs… "Buffy! Spike! We're going shopping! Won't be back till we're done! I'll help you with the dinner the minute I get in… promise!" Dawn hears a thud, a crash and muffled giggles. She's almost sure Buffy has just said, "You better!" but then, they might have been completely ignoring her, and that might have been, "Ooh leather!" She takes that as an 'Off you go Dawnie!' and nudges Janice out the door and off to the mall.
Spike lazily ran a finger down her cheek, along the delicate line of her jaw and then across her swollen, well-kissed lips. "I haven't cooked a bird in over a century, luv. Can't remember how. But I can chop the veggies for you, if you want. I'm good with knives." He gives her a lecherous grin and a quick wiggle of the eyebrow, yes, that one… "Veggie duty for you, then mister. Maybe you could help me with the gravy?" "Got lots 'n' lots o' gravy for you, my girl…" he leans closer and nibbles the tip of her nose. "Mmm hmmm… hey! Stop that! We have to get the house ready… everyone's descending upon us tonight, remember? Is the basement all ready? I mean, really ready? 'Cause we're gonna have some fun tonight, all of us." "It's ready luv… I promise." "Go down and make sure?" "Anything for you, my love." He doesn't move, just nibbles her nose some more. "Spike?" "Mmm?" "Much as I love you and love this?" "Mmm?" "Move yer ass." "Mmmhmmm."
"Buffy?" God she loves it when he says her name… she'll never, ever get tired of hearing it coming from him. "Yes, Mr. So-incredibly-gorgeous-I-want-to-spread-whipped-cream-on-you-and-eat-you-up?" He looks at her slightly open, sensuous smile and momentarily forgets what he was going to say… but somehow then reality comes crashing back and he looks at the floor. "They're not gonna really accept my being a part of your Christmas, you know… Betcha they can't picture the Big Bad getting' all nostalgic around the tree and all that rot. Just warning you, luv. I mean… even I'm surprised at me… imagine how the others are gonna feel." Buffy looks at the man she loves and sees genuine worry in his eyes. "Spike… we've been together every single minute since that night of the storm. They've watched us, been around us… they've accepted you. They know I love you. They know you're here now, and not in that awful lair. They know that you love me, and Dawn… and they know you'd never hurt me. They don't have a problem anymore Spike. Trust me." "I do trust you, pet… but it's Christmas. And that means time for all good things. Not demons like me. I'm sure they won't see this the way you do." "You're wrong, love. Christmas is about loving and sharing and forgiving." "I know that… I remember." He slides his hands around her waist and pulls her close. "I remember when I was a lad, and my Mum would be baking and roasting and wrapping gifts and getting me to help. I remember feeling like the luckiest lad in the world. Christmas for me and my Mum was always so special." His expression turns a little dark and he nestles his face into her hair at her shoulder. "Lost the meaning of Christmas a long time ago, luv. Buried it with a lot of things. No place for a demon at Christmastime." He lifts his head again to search her eyes. "Don't say that. You're not like that anymore. You are so much more than that." She looks into his eyes and strokes his cheek. "You're my man… every part of you is mine, and every part of you is welcome, and loved… and home. And we have Christmas at home, Spike… and that means you're a part of Christmas too..." His arms tighten around her waist and he lifts her, nuzzling his face along the delicate flesh of her neck. He places her on the counter and she wraps her legs around him, running her hands through his soft wavy hair. She rubs her cheek along his hair then, as he covers her exposed skin with soft little kisses. Buffy loves his hair like this. He's let it grow a little and let the roots go. Makes her weak at the knees every time she looks at him, because he's even more beautiful than the statues she's seen of the Greek gods… oh, those Greek gods have nothing on her Spike… especially below the belt! As Spike starts unbuttoning her blouse the front door opens and Xander and Anya walk in, heavy laden with bags of presents and food. "Please tell me you're not gonna be preparing food on that countertop now that you're practically having sex there. I mean, points for doing it in the kitchen, but c'mon Buffy! You gotta use that surface for food!" Ahh Anya. Buffy and Spike sigh and frustrated sigh, and Spike quickly does up her buttons. "Right, Anya, don't know what we were thinking." "Oh, I do! You were thinking, let's have hot, steamy kitchen counter sex! I mean, it's one of my favourite places in the house to do it!" Xander blushes… It's still difficult for him to fathom the Buffy/Spike sex. "Ahn, honey…" "Oh, right, now's not the time… blah, blah, blah." "Oh, hey Giles called and said they'll be over in about an hour. And Willow and Tara are on their way." "Thanks, Xan… Hey why don't you guys go downstairs? Anya and I can get into the making of the very delicious desert items." Buffy hauls Spike in for a kiss… "Special desert for you later," she whispers. "Ahem! Spike! Let's go down and do manly things and leave the women to the household duties!" Xander grabs three cans of beer from the fridge, a huge packet of Doritos, and heads down. "Later, luv… Oh and hey, I invited Clem and he's bringing some presents and stuff. And I want everyone to just smile and accept it, no matter what it is, ok?" Everyone agrees to lie to Clem if they have to. Spike grabs a Christmas cookie from under the foil and makes a dash for the basement stairs. "Hey! Those are for later!" "Come and get it back, so!" he says with a mouthful of cookie. "Men." Buffy *hmphs* and Anya *hmphs* right along with her.
Xander looks around at the great job they've done with the basement. Spike had actually helped him and Giles set it up. There's a long couch, a few bean bags on the floor, Spike's old TV in the corner, and a great big shaggy rug in one area, and then there's lots of bookcases filled with all sorts of books… from Buffy's crappy romance novels, to some of Giles more recent texts that he hoped Buffy might actually read, to Spike's own books, which surprising to Xander, are poetry mostly, and Shakespeare. There's even a rack of videos beside the TV full of old Black and Whites and even some of Dawn's Disney flicks mingled in. Looks so comfortable, the place, and lived in, and loved. To top it all off, they put in the massive pool table, much to Xander's complete and utter joy. Spike's too! They choose their cues and chalk them up. "Coin toss?" Xander asks. "Better than the last idea." "Hey, I figured you'd suck at Baseball history." "And I didn't think you'd make us wait that long while you looked up my answer to your trivia question… only to find out I was right!" "Coin toss it is… so heads or tails?" "Tails." Xander flips. "Damn." "'S'alright Harris, this'll be a warm-up." They play in silence, muttering the odd curse here or there. Only Xander of course, because Spike is potting everything. The silence starts to get deafening, when Xander decides to break it. "Spike?" "Yeah?" "How'd you do it? Change, I mean…" "Don't know where you're goin' with this, man… you talkin' about me fightin' on the good side now?" "Yeah…" Xander takes his shot and the ball nicks the corner of the pocket, veering off towards the opposite end of the table. "Happened over time I guess. Like, I hated you for ages, I did. But when I was living with you though, I decided that if even I could kill you I just wouldn't. Kinda got some history between us, you know? I'd hate to wipe that out, no matter how much you pissed me off." Spike takes a shot and pockets the ball, a triumphant grin on his face. "But you have no soul. I just find it so difficult to see how you could possibly feel anything for anyone… Having said that though, I kinda have to admit that you're unique. I mean, look at Angel with no soul. Now that's a nightmare. But you're different." Spike wonders whether he should be thanking Xander or not, and watches as he takes another shot and misses. "Harris, you have to get lower down to the cue… you're too high up to really line it up." Spike demonstrates and pots the next ball with ease. Looking up, he finds Xander studying him quite intently, but figures he hasn't seen the demonstration at all. Still on the subject of the lack of soul, then... Alright. "Having a soul doesn't make you good. You should know that. I mean, what did the soul do for Bundy? What I'm trying to get at is, having a soul doesn't mean you have the right feelings. And not having a soul doesn't mean you have the wrong ones. Love and hate and passion and protection and possession are things you either have, or you haven't. Angelus never had them to begin with. I did. Well, maybe 'cept for hate of course. Angelus had enough hate for a thousand demons." Spike waits for Xander to take a shot, it is after all a warm up round. When Xander doesn't move, just stares at him a little with a questioning expression on his face, Spike puts down his cue and approaches him. "You got a problem with me, Harris? 'Cause if you do, spit it out, right now. Right here. I wanna know if you're gonna be able to get through this evening without any hang-ups. Let's deal with it right now before Buffy has to start worryin' about damage control through dinner." Xander slowly starts to smile and it makes Spike wonder what's next. Didn't he tell Buffy that this might be uncomfortable for the others? Isn't this just what he was talking about? Xander shocks him then when he picks up the pool cue and bends down for his shot, pocketing the ball with ease. He smiles and straightens up. "No problem, Spike. I was just wondering when I stopped looking at you as just an evil vampire, and started seeing you as a friend." He grinned wickedly. "Your shot, Walking Dead." Spike feels the tension leave his body and lets out his unneeded breath. "Good bloody shot, Pilsbury." "Oh that one is so old… get a new one, Spike." "What, like Gilligan maybe? 'Cause you know, sometimes when I think about the Scoobies I think that name is a little off. I mean, you're more a Gilligan's Island kinda crew. Rupert's the Professor, Willow is Maryanne, Buffy is definitely Ginger." He waggles his eyebrows at Xander, which nets an *eyeroll* of massive proportions. "Sorry man, our group's just not gonna fit that bill. You're forgetting Thurston Howell the third and his lovely social climbing wife. Plus, you haven't nailed down the Captain. Who would that be, Spike? You?" Xander laughs then… "You'd be the Captain! You'd just love to smack me around the place!" Spike didn't expect to be beaten at his own game, but seeing as it's Christmas he figures he can let Harris have this one. "Scoobies is much better. What with you having had Dogboy around and all. I was wrong." Xander can't quite believe it. Spike backed down. Spike… backed down. "Yeah, I could kinda see your point though. Imagine all of us, trapped on an island full of demons." "Kinda like we are now, right? 'Cept, Sunnydale's not an island o' course. Oh that was waaay off the plot. Forget I said it." Xander guzzles down his beer then and lets out the mother of all belches. Spike stares at him in wonderment. "What?" "Shit, Harris, damn near ripped your own throat out with that one." "I'm good, no? Got technique." Xander puffs out his chest. "Got wind. Got a gut too. Don't know where technique fits in." Xander watches Spike take a sip of beer and waits. Spike sips and then gulps, keeping a close eye on Xander the whole time. Finally he slams down the empty can and looks Xander in the eye… "Wait for it… wait for… BRRRRRRRRRRRRUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURRRRRRRP!" The force of Spike's belch is something Xander has never encountered, and he stares at the Vampire in awe. They both look up then when they hear Buffy and Anya up in the kitchen yell, 'Xander!! Gross!!' and they grin conspiratory grins. "That was… WOW! I think you might have hit the Richter Scale with that one, man! And like, you just answered about a million questions I had about you! You can burp! And that means…" "Don't even say it!" "You can fart!" "Don't you dare! I burped! I've done my dutiful bonding! I'm not gonna go down that road mate!" "C'mon! It's just us down here! Have at it!" "Christ, you're worse than Clem! I'm gonna go upstairs if you mention farting again." Xander backs down with his hands waving in front of him, in a gesture of surrender. "Rack 'em up, Mr. Riggermortis. I'm gonna do some serious damage with this cue." Spike stares at him… just a short while ago, that phrase would have given him a moment's pause. No doubt there were probably many times Harris would have liked to have shoved a pool cue through his heart. But now, he can feel a difference. Things have changed, and Spike likes it just like this. "Racked and ready."
"Would you get that, Spike? It's probably Giles." "Sure, luv." Spike kisses Buffy's cheek softly before he goes to the door and he hears her sigh contentedly behind him. "Ah, Watcher… and Katherine… and hey! Clem! How's it goin' mate?" Giles and Katherine make their way to the kitchen as Clem comes up the path to the front porch, carrying a large basket. "Can't talk yet, Spike! Can I put this somewhere?" Spike hears a curious sound coming from the basket. "Uh, sure mate, put it in the basement, yeah? For now anyway." "Oh, thanks… boy oh boy something smells good!" Clem rushes through the kitchen and straight downstairs, leaving Buffy, Giles and Katherine wondering what the? Giles turns and takes Katherine's coat and kisses her softly on the forehead. "You look so beautiful, Katherine. I'm so very lucky," he whispers. Katherine blushes enough for ten people and grasps his hand, entwining her fingers with his. Buffy smiles as she watches the displays of affection between her Watcher and his lovely woman, and thinks that with all these gifts she's been given, of love and friendship and family, there could only be one other thing to make this Christmas perfect. Sadly, it would never happen. Her mother is gone. But perhaps she's looking down on Buffy this very moment. And Buffy knows beyond a shadow of a doubt that Joyce would be so very happy to see the full house she has. This is what she always wanted. Clem breaks Buffy's deep thoughts when he bursts back into the kitchen, beaming… "Merrrrrry Christmas!" he shouts. Buffy howls in laughter at the sight of him. He's wearing big baggy red Santa pants, a huge Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer sweater and a fluffy Santa hat that's hanging down to one side. "Oh my god, Clem!!" she shouts as she rushes over to him, "You look awesome!" Clem blushes a fairly pretty pink, "Aw shucks, Buffy… it's just festive." "Thanks for coming," she says as she hugs him again. She finally lets him go and turns back to her preparations for the big dinner. Just then they hear singing outside, and Spike looks at Clem. "Carolers?" Clem asks. "Carolers," Spike confirms, looking through the window. "How's about you and me go greet 'em? You know, bein' all festive, and whatnot." He gives him a lecherous smirk and Clem knows exactly what he's on about. He hurriedly joins his best friend at the front door. "On three?" he asks. "Three, mate… ready? One…" Buffy wonders momentarily where Spike has disappeared to. "Two." Little Jimmy Murphy and little Sara Heinz along with ten other adults and children burst into a loud rendition of 'Joy to the World' right at the steps of the Summer's residence, all smiles and Christmas cheer. Buffy suddenly has a sinking, unsettling feeling. "Three!" Spike and Clem open the door as the carolers begin the second verse, and as Buffy rounds the corner, half sprinting, she hears "Merrrrrrry Christmas!!" from Clem and Spike, sees tentacles shoot out through the Santa cap and around Clem's head and hears the earth-shattering screams of little Jimmy and little Sara as they run for their lives, music sheets and hats a-flying! The silence in the doorway is deafening, and Spike kicks himself as he thinks that perhaps that wasn't the brightest plan… but was it ever fun! Slowly Spike and Clem turn around, expecting to be on the receiving end of hateful glares and sharp words… only… Buffy's hand flies up to cover her mouth at the sight of the villainous pair. She hadn't noticed that Clem had given Spike a Santy hat as well, and seeing them both looking so terribly roasted washes away any rebuke she'd mustered. She just couldn't be angry. "Stand right there. Don't move," she says rather firmly, and neither of them move a muscle. They hear her rustling around in a drawer, and as Xander walks by them he whispers, "You guys are toast. Hah!" "Um, Spike? How long do we gotta stay like this? I gotta take a leak." "Don't wanna piss off the Slayer, mate. Though, can't figure for the life of me why she needs us to…" Buffy cuts him off when she snaps the camera and the flash momentarily blinds them. "That one's for our album." She says to Spike then snaps the Polaroid again. "This one, Clem, is for you." "Er, we have an album?" He looks at Clem who gives him such a warm smile. "We have an album!" "Hey! How come he gets to scare away the carolers? No fair!" Xander is clearly miffed at the fact that Spike's getting away with this. Last year he wanted to scare off the annoying Off Key Carolers but no, nobody wanted to join in the fun. Xander walks away, defeated, but then kinda chuckles and thinks, man… Spike's got it good.
"Can we have a toast?" Giles asks… "A toast!" they all agree and raise their glasses full of rich Merlot, even Dawn's. "We are all very different, aren't we? All from various backgrounds and upbringings," He looks at Clem, "Dimensions," looks at Spike then and Anya, "Centuries… and of course, religions." He gives Willow a nod and she nods back. "We all have distinct qualities and abilities. We work together, and we struggle together, and we win together, and laugh together… and sometimes," he looks at the picture of Joyce on the hutch beside him, "… sometimes we cry together too." Giles raises his glass and the others follow suit. "In all of this, all the trials and tribulations and moments of joy and heartache, we remain… together. When we started, we were just four strong. And look at us now. We're stronger than we ever were. We're sure, and steady and capable. We have more power between us than most of the nasties of this or any other world could ever hope for." Giles takes a deep breath, and the others watch him intently. Buffy holds back her tears as best she can, because to her, this man is like her father… Better. Better than her father ever was. And he's accepted her. And he's accepted Spike. And he's not let her down in the slightest. "We welcome Spike, and Katherine, and Clem to this... family. With all the warmth in our hearts we open our doors, and make room, and ask you in. Would you join us? Would you stay? Because we're so much better with you than without, and we can't imagine our lives without you in them." Giles hardly has the chance to set his glass on the table before Buffy, Katherine, Dawn, Willow and everyone envelops him in the greatest group hug he has ever experienced. And for the first time in a long time, Giles lets a tear fall for his happiness.
"Gotta say, Buffy… what happened to you? You're like, Martha Stewart or something!" Dawn says with a giggle. "Says the girl who was too busy shopping to help!" "Hey, I was shopping for you, Buffy… " "How about we all head downstairs? We could shoot some pool, watch some videos, that sorta thing." Xander offers. "Don't forget the hot ones." Spike reminds him, "This time of year you gotta have a few hot ones." "Haven't had 'hot ones' in ages, Spike. Good plan." Giles agrees. Spike gives him a friendly nod, "Let's get the kettle on then." "Oh! Can we each open one present?? Please?? I so wanna have some Christmas eve prezzie basking!" Dawn bellows from the sitting room. Buffy looks at Spike who nods with Giles and Xander and Anya. "OK, one giftie each!" Spike looks very distant then and pulls Buffy aside. "Be back in a minute, luv. Got something for you… was gonna leave it till the morning, but don't wanna wait really." Buffy reaches up and threads her fingers through his hair. "I have something for you too," she says and plants soft, loving kisses on his gorgeous lips. "I love you," he whispers as he looks deeply into her eyes. "And I love you," she whispers back, smiling. Giles grasps Katherine's hand tighter as he listens to the girl he considers a daughter reclaim her love, over and over with her words and her kisses.
"My turn," Dawn says as she walks towards Spike and hands him a gift wrapped in silver paper, tied with navy ribbon. "I hope it's ok." Spike looks up at his Nibblet and is totally stunned. He truly never expected anything from anyone. Carefully he unwraps the gift and smiles as he opens the rectangular box. Inside he finds an exquisite journal, just waiting to be written in, waiting for hopes and dreams and experiences, and, Dawn thinks to herself, some more of that poetry. Spike swallows and reaches for her, pulls her down to sit with him and Buffy, and he hugs her so tightly then, wraps her so snugly to himself. "Nibblet, you're the best, luv… really, I love it. Thanks." Dawn snuggles between her sister and her favourite vampire and all seems so totally right with the world, especially when Spike hands her a little velvet box. Dawn opens it and squeals when she finds a sterling silver necklace with a thick silver celtic charm, and matching earrings. She squeezes him so tight and thanks him over and over. Spike strokes her hair and tells her how very welcome she is. Willow and Tara exchange gifts with each other and then stand up and walk over to Clem. "For you," they say together. "Me? What? No… really? Wow thanks guys!" Clem unwraps the rectangular box and finds an earthy red silk shirt neatly folded within. "Oh wow! Just like I was saying, Spike! My colour! Oh, girls, thanks!" He gets up and shuffles over to them, enveloping them both in a hug. Xander and Anya look at each other, knowing that it must be their turn, and Anya slowly makes her way over to Spike. "It's a special version of… um… whatever it is. It's a surprise you see, so I can't tell you. So go on, open it!" Spike is flabbergasted at this stage… that's two presents he's received tonight. Two more than he ever expected. He carefully unwraps the box to find a crimson colored mug inside. He lifts it out and reads what's printed on the side in bold white letters. "98.6… Hah! Thanks!" Everybody giggles and Anya looks pleased. "Well, it's our way of saying you're A-OK. That mug can sit proudly anywhere amongst our households!" "Thanks very much Anya, and Harris." "So," Dawn points out to Buffy and Spike, "Looks like you two are last." "Well, uh, not actually. You see, I kinda planned to be last… if that's ok with all of you of course!" Clem adds cautiously. Everyone nods and Spike reaches beside him as Buffy reaches behind her. "Will we do this together, luv?" "We really should," she says with a slight nod. Spike hands her the gold-wrapped package and she reads the beautiful writing on it, just like the writing from the poems, she notes with a big smile. She hands Spike his gift as well, and he kisses her temple as she starts to unwrap her present. They both gasp at what they find. Spike holds up two delicately framed poems. The very poems he lost all those months ago! He looks up at Buffy with wonder. She's too busy holding back the tears as she leafs through the pages of a beautiful, small, leather bound journal… the words '~Buffy, my love~' printed in gold on the front. Inside she finds beautifully handwritten copies of the very poems he had written her… the ones Giles gave her, and so many others… and something more. In the middle of the little book she finds a dried, pressed rose, and the words on the page tell her it's the rose she gave him that stormy, wonderful night when she made him finally see that she loved him… and she can't quite hold back her emotion. "You had these," he whispers, holding his original poetry in hand. "How?" Dawns sees what they're talking about and swallows hard, wondering if she'd be in big trouble for not saying anything. "Giles found them, and gave them to me to that night you rescued Dawn." Buffy explains. Spike glances at Giles then and gives him a questioning look. Giles merely nods and smiles. Buffy and Spike hold each other so tightly then, grasping their gifts so closely. They have more presents for each other as well, but they can wait till morning. These things couldn't wait. They needed to be seen and shared, and everything is exactly as it should be. "Hey! Well, that leaves me then I guess!" Clem announces, before he walks over to a dark corner of the basement and retrieves his basket. "Now, uh… I hope you guys will be happy with this, because hey, really, really big thing for me, ya know? But I wanted you all to know how much you mean to me, and Spike, so I offer you these…" He places the basket in the middle of the rug and opens the lid, to reveal five beautiful sleeping kittens. "There's one for you and Katherine, Mr. Giles, and one for you, Xander and Anya. One for you of course, Willow and Tara, and one for you Dawn." He smiles when she comes and sits beside him to get a closer look at the kittens. "Oh and there's one for you guys too," he says to Spike and Buffy. Dawn is the first to lift one of the sleeping bundles from the basket, a little ginger one, and she gives Buffy a quick glance to let her know there's no way in hell she can say no. Buffy just smiles and snuggles closer into Spike. Xander is the next to pick out a kitten and lifts a little chocolate one up and carefully places it in Anya's lap. "Hey, nothing at all like bunnies!" Anya sighs in relief. Willow and Tara pick out a little black and white kitten and bundle her in one of their scarves. "Miss Kitty Fantastico's gonna love you," Tara whispers. Katherine pulls Giles along with her to the basket and they both peek in. There's two left. One is calico and the other nearly totally white. Katherine chooses the calico kitten and carefully retrieves it. Giles looks completely unsure all of a sudden and wonders if he can back out at all, till he sees Katherine lift the little bundle up and cradle it under her chin, cooing softly. If he thought he knew it maybe, before, he knows for sure now that he is utterly and hopelessly lost to this woman. "Isn't it the most adorable little thing?" Katherine asks. "Yes, my love… erm, I guess we'll need to get a few things." "Litter, food dishes, playthings… yes." "Right. Um, about the litter…" Spike lets go of Buffy for a moment and reaches into the basket for their kitten. "Look at you... little white tiger, you are," he whispers to it as he nestles it in Buffy's lap. Spike strokes the kitten and has a look around the room. Everyone's so quiet, seemingly deep in thought, content expressions on their faces. Except for Clem of course. He's being a pillar of strength considering he just gave away what he'd consider five choice, tasty morsels. "Uh, guys? I really need to get going. Gonna meet the girlfriend, see? She went to visit with her folks tonight and I'm gonna meet her back at her place." Everyone deposits their sleeping kittens on cushions and they all get up to see Clem upstairs. When they reach the door, he finds himself thoroughly hugged by all the women, and he gets a grand pat on the back from the men. Spike takes him aside on the porch and thanks him for coming. "Great thing you did tonight, mate. Class, actually." "Ah well, it's Christmas. Gotta do the impossible on Christmas, right?" Spike looks at him then with a curious expression and realizes what Clem means. "The impossible. Right. Goodnight, man." Spike and Buffy wish everyone well as they leave shortly after Clem, and very soon Dawn heads up to bed. They leave everything as it is, and quietly head up to their room. Buffy yawns as she strips out of her clothes and Spike watches her, mesmerized by her beauty and the way she feels so free around him. She pulls him over to the bed, undressing him as she goes. She doesn't attack him… she's not frantic, feels no rush. She runs her hands over his naked form then and pulls him down into their new bed, courtesy of Giles and Katherine, and they slip under the midnight blue covers and make slow, sweet love. "Merry Christmas, Spike… I love you," she whispers in his ear, "I'm the luckiest girl in the world." "Merry Christmas, my beautiful girl… I love you too," he says as he folds her into his embrace, stroking her hair as she falls asleep. To think that saying something like 'Merry Christmas' was so foreign to him for so very long, and yet, in such a short space of time he was reminded of who he'd been once, so long ago, what he'd had before he was turned, and what he now has again. It blows his mind to think of it. He once thought that he'd lost weak little William, as he'd always called him, that that part of him had lost all hope and disappeared; lost all hope with him at the tower. But looking down at the sleeping form of his Buffy, and thinking of this incredible evening, he knows that William must have been there all along, and perhaps it was that part of him that kept him going… perhaps when Spike had lost all hope William retained just enough to keep him alive, long enough to see that he really was worth something to someone, and in the end he could be just exactly what Buffy wanted and needed... and loved. And that he could be accepted by all of them for who he was, demon, man, all of it. As Spike allows himself to drift off to sleep he lets the memories of his hopelessness finally fade away and he embraces the gifts he's been given. "I'm the luckiest man in the world," he whispers and closes his eyes.
Thanks for reading everybody! Ye're the bestest! *sniffle* I'm so sad to see it end. 'Scuse me, just gonna go away and cry for a bit! |