Spike was giddy. Even he couldn't believe that William the Bloody,

Spike, the Scourge of Europe, was giddy, but he had a good reason.

For two weeks, Buffy, his Slayer, had been out of town, and today,

she was coming home. He was literally wearing a hole in his black

plush carpet as he paced the room waiting for the sun to set. Just

as he was making his tenth turn around the room, his doorbell rang.

He made his way to the door completely prepared to kill whomever was

at the door for interrupting his giddy revelry. As he opened the door,

he found himself with an armful of clinging Slayer. The force of her

impact drove them both back until the backs of Spike's knees hit the

edge of the couch, and they both ended up sprawled unceremoniously.

"Miss me?" Buffy asked, smiling down at him.

"Not a bit," he teased as he buried his face in the crook of her neck

and breathed in her scent.

"Well, if you didn't miss me, I'll just go back home..." she taunted as

she made to stand up, but she found Spike's hands pinning her down.

"Oh, you're not going anywhere," Spike growled as he caught her lips

with his own. They kissed forcefully until they were interrupted by a

loud banging on his door. Buffy and Spike continued to kiss hoping

that they would just go away.

"C'mon, Buff, we know you're in there!" Xander shouted from outside

the door. Buffy glared at the door as Spike glared at her.

"Um, Slayer, luv, did you forget something?"

"Um...yeah. Spike, I invited the gang over for a party."

"What? Oh, no, Slayer. I don't do parties."

"C'mon, Spike, for me?" she pouted.

He closed his eyes. "I'm not having a party."

"If you do, I'll wear the leather catsuit again." He reopened his

eyes and met hers. Then he sighed.

"Alright, but you owe me." Buffy bounced of him and walked to the door

just as Spike pushed himself up off the couch. Before she opened the

door, she watched him start to leave the room.

"Where are you going?" she asked.

"To get the presents," he replied nonchalantly.

"Presents?" Buffy whispered as she pulled the door open. Xander staggered

through the door as he tried valiantly not to drop the box of presents he

was carrying. Cordelia followed behind him carrying a small jewelry box,

and she was followed by Willow and Oz. Oz carried two bags worth of presents.

"Um, Buff, where do you want these?" Xander asked trying to see over the

box.

"Just set it down, Xander," Cordy snapped.

"So, where's Deadboy the Second?" Xander asked as he set the box down next

to the couch.

"If you call me that again, I will conquer my fear of sharp wooden things

and kill you," Spike commented as he carried his own presents into the room.

"So, now we open gifts?!" Xander asked, ignoring Spike's threat.

"Only if you pass them out," Buffy replied. Xander took the bags from Oz and

began handing out the packages to their respective recipients. Finally all

the presents were gone, and everyone had a neat, little pile of gifts

surrounding them. "On the count of three...THREE!" With that everyone

except Spike tore into their gifts; Spike, of course, was a little more

reserved.

"Buffy, it's beautiful!" Willow exclaimed as she held up a palm-sized

crystal.

"It's a smoke crystal. According to Giles, it can be used in all kinds

of rituals," Buffy replied with a smile.

Everyone finally finished with their presents and sat around admiring

their gifts. Buffy had gotten everyone something while she was in LA,

and Cordelia's gifts were 'from the finest shops in Paris'. Willow had

gotten everyone a Beanie Baby (tm), and Xander, with his infinite

sense of humor, got Spike a vile of Holy Water and Oz a dog collar.

Oz got everyone a CD, while Spike's gifts leaned more toward the

macabre. The look on Xander's face when he'd seen the fake severed hand

covered in blood was enough to keep the vampire laughing for centuries.

The Scooby Gang sat around reminiscing about other holidays past for

hours until both Cordy and Willow were falling asleep on there

respective boyfriend's shoulders. Oz gently woke Willow, and Xander

did the same for Cordelia. As the four Slayerettes stood, Xander

picked up the pile of gifts left unopened in the center of the floor,

and offered to take Giles his presents.

"Wait, Xander," Spike ordered as he pulled a large rectangular present

out from beside the couch. On the front was the word 'Watcher'.

"Jeez, Spike, he has a name," Xander commented as he placed the gift

on top of the others.

"Happy Holidays," the gang offered as the walked out the door.

"Well...that was...." Spike trailed off as the door closed.

"Oh, you liked it. Admit it," Buffy responded. Then she stared at

the floor. "You didn't get me anything," she commented, trying to

hide the disappointment in her voice.

"That's because, pet," he kissed her temple and produced a small ring

box out of his pocket. "I was waiting until they were gone." He slid of

the couch and knelt on one knee in front of her. "This doesn't mean it'll

happen tomorrow...or anytime soon, but," He opened the ring box to show

her the diamond surrounded by rubies. "Will you marry me?"

Buffy's eyes clouded with tears but she managed to nod. With a small laugh

she pulled him to her and kissed him gently. Spike slid the ring onto her

finger, and he pulled her down onto her chest. They lay there with Buffy's

body cradled against his, until Spike broke the silence.

"Slayer, thank you for the art supplies," he whispered.

"Your welcome. I noticed how much your were wasting trying to draw...whatever

it was. By the way, what did you get Giles?"

"Something to make the holidays a little more bearable, pet."

_________________

Giles sat at his small kitchen table and stared at the last present he

had yet to open. It was Spike's, and he wasn't sure if he was going to.

Finally curiosity got the better of him, and he opened it carefully.

When the gift was finally revealed, his breath caught in his throat.

Angel's picture of her had been her in death, but this...this was her

in life. From the curl of her hair to the teasing smile on her face,

Spike had managed to capture the very thing that was her. A single

tear slid down Giles' face as he stared down at the drawing of Jenny

staring back up at him.

*Fin*

Comments? Send too Samantha McCullah

Get me back to Angel of the Night!

Get me back to Spike's Corner!

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