Distribution: TPWFLD; otherwise please ask.
Disclaimer: Willow and Angel don't belong to me. They belong to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy. No copyright infringement intended.
Rating: G
Summary: Willow has a surprise for Angel.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Willow stood outside the abandoned building waiting for Angel to leave. It was past sunset, and she knew he'd be heading out to patrol soon. She glanced at the boxes behind her, making sure they were out of sight. Then the door opened and she saw Angel step out into the night.
Willow waited several minutes before deciding it was safe to leave the bushes. She dragged the two boxes over to the door, and took a quick look around. When she was sure no one was watching, Willow picked the lock. <Never knew that would come in so handy.> She made her way to Angel's apartment and used the same trick to unlock that door.
Willow flipped on the lights, and brought the boxes to the center of the room. She closed the door, and took a look around the apartment. The place looked so dark and dreary. There was nothing in the place, except some furniture.
"Angel, how can you live in this darkness?" Willow asked herself.
She figured she had at least a couple hours before Angel would return. Time to get busy. Rolling up her sleeves, Willow knelt on the floor and began pulling stuff out of the boxes.
The first thing out was a small Christmas tree. Willow looked around the small apartment, trying to decide exactly where to put the tree. Moving a chair away from the corner, Willow situated the tree, and began decorating. Small, colorful ornaments and lights soon covered the tree. She found an outlet, and plugged it in.
"Well, that's a start. Now, what's next?" Willow looked at the walls. They definately needed some holiday spirit. Willow knelt by the box and began pulling out multi-colored garlands, and wound them together with some lights. Then she went around the room, attaching them to the wall. Once they were plugged in, the room had a different feeling to it.
Willow went back to the boxes and pulled out two stuffed holiday bears. The female bear, wearing a green velvet dress, she set between the pillows on the bed. The male bear, dressed in a red velvet vest, she set on the chair.
Willow dug out a huge Christmas stocking, and laid it next to the tree.
She had made the stocking herself, and had put Angel's name on it. Inside, were small items, one for each year he'd spent without a proper Christmas. It had taken time to find things to put in a stocking for a vampire, especially since candy was out. She had ended up getting some things that were just silly, and she hoped it would make him laugh. Some toy cars, rubber bouncing balls, holographic stickers, a book of silly jokes, a small Maxine calendar, and a giggle stick. She had also added some CDs that covered music that he would've heard throughout his life. And at the top of the stocking, were two Ty Beanie Babies. A '98 Christmas Teddy and an Angel bear.
Once she had the stocking taken care of, Willow took a Christmas CD over to Angel's player, and put it on. She set it to the song she wanted, and then left it there. It was at the song she wanted Angel to listen to first.
Next, she hung a colorful wreath on the inside of the door. A snowglobe with a festive holiday scene went on the bureau. It was time for the final touch. Willow set three presents under the tree. She took the boxes and shoved them into Angel's closet, and took a final look around the room. It looked like a home. Willow placed a card at the end of the bed, and turned to leave the apartment. She shut off the lights, and smiled as the room was illuminated by the colored Christmas lights.
Angel was tired when he entered the building that he lived in. He had never been able to call it home. It was nothing like a home. Angel unlocked the door to his apartment, and opened the door. The sight that greeted him shocked him to his soul.
Angel stepped slowly into the Christmas wonderland. His eyes took in everything, and tears began forming in his eyes. He walked slowly to the bed, and ran a hand over the teddy bear. He carried it with him as he went over to look at the tree. <Who would've gone to all this trouble for me?> But Angel knew the answer to that already. There was only one person around who cared enough to do this....Willow.
As Angel turned to look at all the lights, his gaze fell on the envelope on his bed. Sitting down, Angel opened the Christmas card.
Angel~
I hope you like your surprise. No one should miss celebrating Christmas. You have lived too much of your life in the darkness, so I thought I'd add some light to your life. The stocking is filled to represent each of your missed holidays. I hope they make you laugh. And the presents you may open anytime you like. Merry Christmas, Angel.
~Willow
Angel grabbed up the stocking, anxious to see exactly what was hidden inside. He couldn't remember the last time he had been so excited about anything. Carefully, he took out the two Beanie Babies and set them on the nightstand. They would remain there always. Reaching his hand into the stocking, he began pulling out the items. Angel's laughter grew as he pulled out trinket after trinket. Others may have considered the gifts silly or childish, but to him they were more priceless then jewels. Each item had been picked out by Willow. He took everything, and laid them gently into a drawer in his nightstand. Later, he would find some way to display everything. As he took the CDs over to his player, he noticed the machine was on and set at a certain spot. Knowing that Willow had probably done that, he hit Play. Sounds of Christmas music filled the apartment. He listened to the song 'Let There Be Peace On Earth' by Vince Gill.
Let there be peace on earth, let it begin with me
Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be
With God as our father, brothers all are we
Let me walk with my brother, in perfect harmony
Let peace begin with me, let this be the moment now
With every step I take, let this be my solemn vow
To take each moment, and live each moment
In peace eternally, might there peace on earth
And let it begin with me
The tears that had threatened to spill earlier, now ran down his face. Angel decided he'd leave the presents until Christmas Day, he'd already had his share of presents for the day. He needed to give Willow something that would let her know how much her gift had meant to him.....how much she meant to him. And he knew the perfect gift.
Angel grabbed his coat, and left the apartment. He headed to the mansion, and quietly entered through a back door. With Spike and Dru gone, he'd only have to worry about flunkies. Moving silently into a hidden room, Angel dug through a pile of antiques and artifacts. Collected throughout the years, he had abandoned them here long ago. Finally, he located what he was looking for. Opening the box, he smiled. It was as beautiful as he remembered, it would be the perfect gift for Willow.
Willow sat at the computer, but was too anxious to concentrate. She figured Angel had gotten home by now. Did he like her gift? Was he angry with her for invading his privacy? A knock at her balcony doors broke into her thoughts. She cautiously opened the door. There was no one there.
"Hello?"
As she was about to close the door, Willow noticed the box lying on the ground. She picked it up and brought it into her room. Picking up the card, she read.
Willow~
Words cannot express how I feel right now. Let this gift be a beginning. A beautiful rose, for a beautiful woman. Under reflection of light, it is said to show a million colors. Thank you for bringing color and light back to my life.
~ Angel
Willow carefully opened the box, and gasped in shock. With gentle hands, she lifted the object out of the box. Sculpted into the shape of a rose, the crystal acted as a prism of shimmering lights. It was the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen. She held it to her chest and began crying.
"Willow?"
Willow looked up and saw Angel standing in the doorway. She set the rose on her table and ran into Angel's arms. He hugged her tightly.
"Oh, Angel. It's gorgeous, but you weren't supposed to get me anything. I just wanted to make sure you had a Christmas to remember."
"And it's one I'll never forget. Willow, no one has ever given me such a gift. I will treasure it always. Just as you wanted to do something special for me, I wanted to give you something special as well."
"We are certainly two peas in a pod, aren't we?" Willow asked.
"I always thought so."
"Merry Christmas, Angel."
"Happy Hanukkah, Willow."
Angel gave Willow a tender kiss, then pulled her back into his arms. They stood like that for what seemed like hours. But, it was soon time for Angel to leave.
"Did you open your other presents?"
"Not until Christmas Day, I want to wait. Maybe you'd like to come over, and help me celebrate."
"I'd like that, even though I don't celebrate on that day, I'd love to spend the day with you."
"I'll see you then."
With a final kiss, Angel left. Willow watched until he disappeared. She walked over and picked up the rose. Holding it to her chest, Willow curled up on her bed. A smile crossed her face. She had wanted to give Angel a gift that would make him happy, and she had succeeded....beyond her wildest imagination. Because, not only was Angel happy, she had received a holiday surprise of her own.
Willow's last thoughts before she drifted off to sleep were that she was anxiously awaiting the new year. It was going to be very interesting.
THE END