Pairing: W/S friendship (sort of)
Summery: Spike has a change of heart for the holidays.
Disclaimer: Joss owns all, of course.
Distribution: be my guest, just let me know where.
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`Blimey! Me ears are about to fall off!' he thought as he tried in vain not to hear the very off key singing of Christmas Carols going on downstairs. "Come on, `ave a heart and shut up!" he yelled, and suddenly the singing ceased. "Well now, that's more like it."
Spike settled himself as comfortably as he could in the tub, and hoped that the sounds of Christmas cheer would soon come to an end. But that was not to be as he heard footsteps making their way up the stairs and towards the bathroom.and then the door flew open.
Giles stood behind the others as they filtered their way in, and began to strum on the guitar while the other three opened their mouths and began to sing. The blonde vampire's eyes widened in horror and disbelief at the sounds emanating throughout the room, and he covered his ears with the hopes of alleviating the pain their singing caused.
"Hey, Giles. I don't think Mr. Big Bad is in the Christmas spirit. Maybe we should sing to him some more." Buffy finished, and everyone laughed. "Maybe Giles could dress up like Santa, and Spike could sit on his lap and tell him what he wants for Christmas."
"Oh, you think yer sooo funny, don't you, Slayer? Well let me tell you something. If it weren't for this bloody chip, I'd be eating Chris Kringle over there and his little half wit elves too!"
"Pooh-pooh on you." Buffy stuck her tongue out at him. "C'mon guys, The lights are going to be turned on in half and hour."
"Oh, that's right! Let's go, Willster! Can't break with tradition, now can we?" Xander said excitedly and bolted out of the room and down the stairs to grab his jacket. "Hurry up, pokey Joes!" he yelled, and Giles and Buffy headed out the door.
"I'll be there in a sec." Willow said to their retreating backs, and once they were safely out of earshot she turned to Spike. "Merry Christmas, Spike." And with that, she leaned down and kissed him on the cheek, then quickly fled the room.
The vampire reached up with a chained hand and wiped the spot where kiss was, when he happened to notice something on the floor...keys! He looked around, making sure no one saw, and quickly picked them up and waited for the sound of the door closing-signifying that the others had left.
"I'll show you a Merry bloody Christmas." He mumbled to himself, followed up with a maniacal chuckle as he quickly unlocked and removed the chains that bound him to the awful tub. He jumped out and stretched out all the kinks, then walked to the door and poked his head out before leaving.
He raced down the stairs and stopped before a tree covered in decorations and gifts wrapped sitting beneath it. A grin spread across his features as a thought came to mind, and he sat down and began to rifle through the packages.
"Sooo, who shall I start with? Fluffy, maybe? Or the bookworm? Maybe I'll start with the whelps! Yeah!" he said, and began shoving gifts around. "Hah! Found one!" he said excitedly, when something caught his eye. Beside Xander's present was a gift wrapped package with a name written on it.Spike's name.
"What the hell?" and he took the package and quickly unwrapped it. Inside was a note which her removed and read.
Spike
I know the holidays are a time to be with your family, and I'm sorry that you can't be with yours. I know how it feels, cause I can't really be with mine either.my real family that is. I left you the keys so you could get out for a little while.please don't do anything I'll get into trouble for? And here's a little something to make the holiday's not quite so lonely. The other part is in the fridge for you. I hope you like them.
Willow
He finished reading, then looked in the little box only to see a silver chain with a.
"Cor! It's a little spike!" he exclaimed as he stared unbelievingly at the gift. He attached the chain around his neck, then got up and went to the refrigerator to see what the second part of his surprise was. Upon opening, he saw a rather large thermos with a note taped on it. He took the note and read it aloud.
"Dear Spike. I hope you like the necklace, I couldn't resist when I saw the tiny spike on the end. The thermos is for you too. I went to the Red Cross to get it. Give enough money and people will sell you anything-no questions asked, ha-ha. It's human blood. Enjoy. Merry Christmas. Willow." He looked at the thermos. "Is this bird for real?"
He took the thermos and poured the red liquid into a mug, then placed it in the microwave to warm it up. At the sound of the `beep', he took his mug and went out the front door and sat down on the step, sipping from his steaming mug as he listened to the sounds of carolers somewhere down the street.
* * * * *
"That was so pretty!" exclaimed Buffy as they made their way into house, dropping their jackets onto the sofa.
"It was, indeed, a lovely sight to behold." The watcher responded, not noticing Willow as she looked at the tree. "I say, what is that?" and the room fell silent as sounds of Silent Night filtered down the stairs from the bathroom.
All four looked to one another and quickly ran up the stairs to see what was going on with the holiday prisoner. They entered the room, and there he sat, still in the tub and chains around his wrists.
"What's up with you?" Xander leaned in and sniffed. "Nope, no alcohol."
"And how do you propose he would have gotten hold of any while chained?"
"Oh, yeah." Replied Xander sheepishly.
"Who cares?" Buffy shrugged. "Can't we just forget about him for one night? Its Christmas Eve."
"Yeah! Get out! This `ere is my room if you don't mind."
"Buffy is correct. I have some egg nog in the refrigerator and a Christmas movie for us in the VCR."
"What's the movie, Giles?" The slayer asked.
"It's called `A Christmas Story'."
"Oh oh! I love that movie. C'mon guys!" with that, Buffy and Giles followed Xander out. Willow looked to the door, and then to Spike.
"Merry bloody Christmas to you too! Ya bunch `o Ponces!"
"Spike, do shut up!" came the disembodied voice of Giles, causing Spike to giggle.
"I believe you have something that belongs to me?" and she held her hand out. Spike, with his trademark smirk, handed her the key. "I'm glad you didn't make a mess that I wouldn't be able to explain."
"Think nuthin of it, Red. And," he pulled the chain from its hiding place under his shirt. "Merry Christmas."
"I wasn't too sure. I thought you might run away or something."
"Yeah, well." he cleared his throat. "Maybe next year I will." He gave a quick nod towards the door. "Now bugger off with ya! Let me wallow in my captivity. Alone!"
"Alright." She smiled and kissed him on the cheek. "Merry Christmas, Spike."
"Yeah, whatever." He replied as she walked out the door.
"By the way," she said as she peeked her head in. "You have a beautiful singing voice." And with that she was gone. Spike smiled and tucked the necklace back into his shirt, leaned his head back and hummed to himself, when next he heard.
"Why is there a mug in the sink with what looks like blood in it?"
"Uh.my fault, it was my fault." He heard Willow stammer. "I had some tomato juice before we left and I forgot to rinse it out." Spike couldn't help but laugh.
end