Part 9

 Angel and Spike were sitting in the kitchen, alone in the house for the first time since Spike had shown up. The girls had just left to go to the mall and it was still an hour before sunset. Angel went to the refrigerator and grabbed a bag of blood, pouring it into a mug and heating it up. Spike visibly grimaced as he watched his sire.

 "Jeez, Peaches, how can you stand drinking that stuff," Spike said, disgusted at the thought of being reduced to drinking pig's blood. Angel just shrugged.

 "You get used to it after awhile."

 "I don't think I could. But, then again, not exactly like I have a soul to worry about that's making me do it either," Spike grinned. He was surprised when Angel grinned back.

 "Nope, but you may have a Cordelia that will," Angel teased. Spike was glad that he couldn't actually blush at the older vampire's comment.

"Bloody hell, are you going to start that again."

 "I saw you last night," Angel continued, "when you didn't think anyone was watching. Haven't seen that look on your face in a long time. Not even with Dru." Angel said the vampiress name with a bit of sadness in his voice. He remembered how hurt Spike sounded when he told the others of how Drusilla had left him for a Chaos demon. Spike smiled wistfully at the mention of his former mate.

 "Yeah, well, there is a certain something about her. Can't quite put my finger on it."

 Angel appeared to be in thought, "Could it have something to do with the fact, you always did have a thing for brunettes who had a way with getting under you skin?"

 Spike nodded, "Yeah, that could be one reason." Angel smiled at his childe, happy for him. He had seen the way that Spike had hovered over Cordelia the night before, even offering to get her something to eat or drink. He had a feeling that Cordelia would be very good for the blonde.

 "So how long do you think the girls will be out?"

 Angel looked at his watch, "I'd say most of the night. Mall's open late for the holiday and I'm pretty sure that Cordelia will be taking full advantage of that and the money that we gave her."

 Spike laughed as he remembered Cordelia's face when she was told exactly what her spending limit was. (Typical female. Just loves the whole shopping thing, especially when it is paid for by someone else. But, then again, Cordelia is anything but typical.)

"I wonder how their parents can just leave the two of them alone for the holidays," Spike thought aloud. "It doesn't make any sense. The holidays are a time for family."

 Angel agreed, "I know. It doesn't make any sense." A thought suddenly came to Angel. "Hey Spike, how would you feel about surprising the girls with a special present?"

 Spike was intrigued, "What do you have in mind?"

 "Well, I know that they didn't exactly act all that upset about their parents being away, especially since Willow has other things on her mind, but I'm sure they are," Angel explained. "What if we celebrated the holidays here with them."

 "How?"

 "We could go out and get a tree and some ornaments and decorations. Then come back here and decorate the house for them to find when they got home." Spike was surprised at Angel's suggestion, but liked the sound of it. It had been awhile since either one had celebrated the holidays and the thought of spending it with Cordelia and Willow appealed to both of them.

 "Okay, so where exactly do we start?" Spike questioned.

 "Well, we need a tree," Angel said. "Lights, of course. Ornaments. And decorations for the house. I think maybe just generic ones. Nothing specific for Christmas or anything, considering Willow is Jewish but a practicing Wicca." Angel's mind started processing all the possibilities of what the house would look like decorated. He remembered all of the Christmas cards he always saw this time of the year and the specials on television. He wanted to make this holiday something special.

 "Sounds like a plan," Spike agreed. (This will be fun. I can't wait to see Cordy's face when she gets home. I hope she likes it.) Spike didn't know why, but he wanted to please the brunette cheerleader more than anything. Spike and Angel noticed that the sun had finally set while they were planning the surprise, so they headed out to start the preparations.

 Their first stop was at a tree lot. After quite a bit of arguing between the two, they had finally agreed on THE perfect tree. They arranged for it to be delivered later that evening and then went in search of decorations. They went into the local Target to purchase white light and some blue and white ornaments. The two had decided to go with those colors because they had both discovered that they shared a secret passion for American football, and the Dallas Cowboys in particular.

 They loaded the items into Spike's car. As he was returning the cart to it's place, Angel noticed a Hallmark store in the shopping center. Signaling Spike to let him know where he was going, Angel headed over to it. (I want to get Willow something special, just so she knows that she can always count on me.) Angel walked in, surprised to see Spike right behind him. Both men headed to the wall that held the Christmas ornaments, looking for one that would be perfect for the girl on their minds.

 Spike found the one he wanted almost immediately. He picked up one of Marilyn Monroe in her pose from The Seven Year Itch. (Perfect. Just like Cordelia. Exudes innocence and sexiness, all at the same time.) Angel had also found the one he was looking for. He remembered Willow's story about how Xander had stolen her favorite Barbie doll when they were kids. He wanted to make up for that. He picked up the Holiday Barbie ornament, along with the actual doll. (She needs presents. Lots of presents.) The two men smiled sheepishly at each other, surprised at the other's sentimentality. Suddenly Spike's eyes widen as he caught something in the back of the store. Angel turned to follow Spike's gaze and smiled.

 Spike walked back, to get a closer look at the Dicken's display. (It's home. It's really home.) Spike reached out a hand to touch one of the houses in front of him. "This is just like where I grew up," he whispered. Angel looked over at his childe, his gaze softening. He walked away from Spike to fetch one of the salesgirl's. (I think it's time I try to make amends with him. I hope this will help.) He told the girl what he wanted and watched as her eyes widen as he pointed out all of the items that he wanted. She grabbed one of her co-workers to help her in the back. Angel walked back over to join Spike.

 "I've tried so hard to forget it all, mate," Spike said as Angel approached. "It was so long ago and I'm not that same person anymore." Angel put his hand on Spike's shoulder.

 "None of us are, Spike," he told the blonde. "But we should never forget. Our past is what shapes our future." Angel noticed that the salesgirl had everything ready for him. He led Spike away from the display and the younger man's eyes fell on the packages at the counter. He looked over at Angel, surprise clearly written on his face.

 "It's my present to you, Spike," Angel explained. "Everyone should have a little something that reminds them of home. Come on, let's go pay for this stuff and head back to the house. We still have a lot of decorating to do before the girls get back." Spike nodded and followed his sire, aware that the breech that had been between them had suddenly become much, much smaller.

Angel and Spike arrived just minutes before the tree. They ushered the man in and had him put the tree in the living room, right in front of the French doors that led to the back yard. Spike gave the man a generous tip and found himself wishing him a happy holiday. The two men then got busy decoration the tree, putting on the lights first and then all of the ornaments. Once they were satisfied with that they proceeded to decorate the rest of the house. Angel allowed Spike the luxury of setting up the village of houses, which he did on a table in the moonroom behind the kitchen.

They hung icicle lights around the outside of the house, grateful that their vampiric natures allowed them the speed and agility to do it within a short time. Spike laid a garland made of pine across the mantle of the fireplace, setting candles along it. There were various other candles, some holiday, other's everyday, strewn around the rooms. Finally the men were satisfied with their work and stepped back to take it all in. The only thing left to be done was the placing of the ornaments they had gotten for the girls on the tree, but they both had silently agreed that the Cordelia and Willow would be the ones to do that. The men sat back and waited for the girls to arrive.

 Willow and Cordelia almost missed the house because of the lights that had been strung outside. "Okay, there weren't lights hanging here when we left, were there?" Cordelia asked, confused. Willow shook her head.

 "Not that I remember." The girls looked at each other before getting out of the car. Each grabbed bags from the back seat and slowly made their way to the front door. Willow used her key to unlock it and opened the door wide, not knowing what to expect. She heard Cordelia drop the bags in her hands as she took in the sight before her.

 All of the lights were off in the house. The only illumination coming from a fire in the fireplace, candles and Christmas lights. The girls made their way into the house, looking for the two men that should have been there waiting for them. They stood in the middle of the living room, turning in place, taking in everything that they saw. (Goddess, this is beautiful.)

 "I take it you like, pet?" Cordelia and Willow spun to see Spike and Angel standing in the kitchen doorway. Cordelia couldn't stop herself. She walked over and gave the surprised blonde vampire a hug.

 "I like a lot." Angel left the doorway and stood over by Willow. "What about you," he said, suddenly unsure of her reaction. He wanted her to be so happy, but was worried when he saw the tears running down her face. (Oh no, what if I've only upset her more. She doesn't want to remember that she's spending the holiday away from her loved ones.) Angel's doubts must have shown on his face, because Willow suddenly wrapped her arms around his waist, hugging him tightly.

 "I love it," she whispered. "It's beautiful. Thank you." She looked up at him, smiling. He returned that smile before bending down and placing a light kiss on her forehead.

 "I'm glad. I wanted something to make this holiday special for you," he said tenderly.

 "Just being here with you makes it special. I don't think I would want it any other way," Willow replied, realizing that it was true. Angel had a way of making Willow feel special and she loved the fact that the two of them were friends. "I'm just kinda bummed because you didn't leave anything for me and Cordy to do."

 "Well, there is one thing that we didn't finish," Spike said as he walked over, his arm around Cordelia's waist. Angel and Willow just stared at the couple, who had the decency to at least look contrite.

"And that would be?" Willow asked. Angel and Spike let go of the two girls and went to the mantle. They took the two ornaments that they bought and handed them to the girls.

 "These are for you," Angel told them. "We thought it would be appropriate that you put them on the tree." Cordelia and Willow looked over at the vampires, touched by their gesture. Cordelia held her ornament and placed it on the tree, right in the center where everyone who looked at the tree could see it. She then went back over to Spike and gave him a gentle kiss.

 "Thank you." Spike smiled at the brunette, before returning his arm to her waist. Willow watched the two a moment before taking her own ornament from Angel's grasp. She laughed when she saw the Barbie figurine, realizing why Angel had chosen it. She placed it near Cordelia's before also bestowing the handsome vampire with a kiss.

"It's beautiful. Thank you very much," she said softly. He looked down at her, his eyes glistening. He held her tightly. "It's the best present anyone could have ever given me."

 "So are you, sweet. So are you." The two couples stood in the living room, listening to the fire crackle and watching the lights play on the features of the house, enjoying the comfort that they had been given. No matter the reasons for them being together, they were grateful to the Fates for allowing them to find each other, and knowing that it was going to be a holiday that they would never forget.
 

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