Christmas trees and Baubles.

Spike was struggling up the path towards the house that he and Willow shared.

“Bloody tree, why do I have to do it?”  Willow smiled at her love as he mumbled to
himself about trees and the like.

“Spike you said you wanted a big tree, I would have been happy with a small one.”

“I know pet, I wanted our first anniversary to be special. I wanted to do it for
you.”

“It will be perfect, I’ve got you and that’s the most important thing.”

Spike dropped the tree on the step and wrapped his arm around Willows waist, he
smiled down at her, and he still had trouble believing that he had her in his life.
If he was truthful he had never been happier than he was right now; he had even
managed to make things right with his Sire earlier on that year.  All in all the last
year had been quite a good year.

Just as Spike was about to kiss Willow Buffy came bouncing up the path with Riley
following behind her.

“Oh bloody hell, what does she want now?”

“Be nice Spike, please.”

Spike grinned at her, he wouldn’t upset her for all the world so just this once he
decide to hold his tongue and not hurl insults at the blonde slayer.

“Willow, I was wondering if you wanted to come out with me and Riley tonight, we
thought that we might go to the Bronze.” Buffy had as always ignored Spike; she hated
the fact that Willow had chosen him instead of a nice boring human guy.  But she knew
that when Spike left Willow, which he no doubt would, she would be there to `help`
Willow put her life together again.

“As you can see Buffy we had other plans tonight, we are going to put our tree up and
then we were going to have a nice quiet evening. So no I don’t think `we` will be
coming out tonight, maybe another night.”

“I hate to point this out Willow but you are Jewish, you don’t celebrate Christmas.”
Buffy thought that she had won this one, she had to get Willow out of the clutches of
Spike. She had no idea how she was going to do it, but she was going to somehow.

“I might be Jewish Buffy, but I don’t see what any of this has to do with you, I am
spending the evening with the man I love and we are going to put up our tree.”

Buffy was taken aback by the quiet witch and she didn’t like the way that Willow was
looking at Spike, she had to do something before Willow was hurt by him. It was her
duty after all to look after the innocent and protect the weak and Willow was both of
those things.

For the first time Riley spoke. “Come on Buffy they have got other things planned, we
don’t want to wreck their anniversary it wouldn’t be fair to them.”

Buffy looked at her boyfriend rage evident in her face and eyes; it would have been
enough to make anyone run in the other way very quickly.

“Since when did you become so damn FRIENDLY with HIM?” She jerked her thumb at Spike.

“Since you became so damn obsessed with splitting them up Buffy.” He was barely
holding his own temper, he knew she could be unreasonable and hateful at times, but
this time she had gone too far.

Spike looked right at Buffy his demon was raging demanding that something be done. He
did something that no one was expecting, well no one except Willow who covered her
ears.

“YOU WHAT? GET AWAY SLAYER, AND DON’T EVER COME BACK.” Spike roared at the
dumbfounded slayer, who had the decency to back away from him.

Riley walked up to were Willow and Spike were standing. “I`m sorry Willow, Spike. I
thought you should know what she is going to try and do.
Buffy we are leaving, the next time you see Willow and Spike I expect you to
apologize to them both, I am ashamed to be your boyfriend.”

Riley dragged Buffy towards his car and threw her into the passenger seat. He waved
at Willow and Spike as he walked around to his side of the car. Spike and Willow
waved back. Buffy however was not in the mood to do anything but glare at them.

“I think that we were going to decorate our tree weren’t we luv?”

“Er….Yes I think we were, can you believe her?”

Spike looked at Willow as if she had gone mad; everyone in the gang knew how much
Buffy hated seeing Willow with Spike she had never made a secret of the fact. She had
even tried to wreak everything when Spike had gone to see Angel in LA.  Angel had
luckily seen right through her plan and told her to mind her own business and grow
up. He had understood her worry about the relationship, but she was worrying
needlessly he had tried to tell her, but as usual Buffy knew best.

“Willow I love you dearly, but you are as blind as hell when it comes to Buffy. She
has tried her best over the past year to split us apart, did you ever notice the sly
comments, the looks of pure hate?” He was trying to be as gentle as possible with
her, he didn’t want to upset her on this night of all nights.

“Can we not talk about this right now, I want to go and do the festive tree thing.
And then we can give each other presents and stuff.”

Spikes eyes lit up, he knew what `stuff` she was taking about. He raised his eyebrow
at her, and smiled at his fiery little witch.

Two hours and lots of swearing and broken baubles later their tree was up, and
decorated. Now it was time to turn all the small lights on.

Spike and Willow sat on the floor in front of the tree; Spike had Willows hand in his
own the switch to the tree lights under his hand.  Willows face was beautiful in the
light that the fire and the candles cast on it; her hair was radiant blood red with
just a hint of gold.

“Well pet, ready?” Spike looked at Willow and saw her eyes shinning he could feel the
happiness rolling off her in waves.

“Yes lover I`m ready, lets turn the lights on and compleat the circle of our year
together.” Spike pulled his love in for a kiss to seal their love, as he kissed her
he switched the lights on.
 
 

The End
 

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