Scary Ghost Stories

Spike took one last drag from his cigarette and stomped it out. He checked his watch and was pleased to see that his shift was finally over.

"Hey Spike!" called Paul Reed, his relief.

"Hello, Paul." He nodded to the man.

"You ready for Christmas?" Paul asked.

Spike nodded absently.

He knew that this would be Paul’s first Christmas without his wife. Spike knew this, because he had been the one to kill her.

"How about you?" Spike inquired, tentatively.

"I’m short two ‘Tickle-me Elmos’, but other than that, Jenny and Peter will have a nice Christmas. Or as nice as they can without their mother."

Paul swallowed and looked away.

Spike felt a sharp pang in his stomach. Guilt.

"I’m sorry, mate."

"Not your fault. Well, see you later." Paul said, and began his first rounds for the day.

Spike watched him go, knowing full well that it was all his fault.

The ghost of Cindy Reed appeared behind him.

"Look at him. Look at what you’ve put my family through." She glowered at him.

Spike ignored her as best as he could, and started walking home.

The ghosts always showed up when he started focusing on his guilt. The only thing that made them leave was ignoring them. However, that became very difficult when they invaded his mind giving him images of their lives, and what he had destroyed.

Cindy sent him an image of her husband and two young children crying as her coffin was lowered into the ground.

Spike broke into a run, tears starting to stream down his cheeks. He tried to outrun her, but that was impossible. Her laughter clung to him as he ran.

He ran to the only one who could help him.

*****

Giles awoke to desperate pounding on his front door. As soon as he recognized what the sound was, he leapt from the bed, and ran down the stairs.

It was Spike, and he was hysterical.

Giles quickly ushered him inside, and made him a stiff drink.

The watcher didn’t have to ask what had happened. Spike had come to him a few times before because of the ghosts. The blonde vampire hadn’t wanted Buffy to know about it, saying that it was his burden.

Giles understood, and so it was he that Spike came to when it happened.

"Is it Cindy again?" Giles asked.

He nodded.

Cindy Reed was the only ghost to come more than once. In fact, she had started appearing to him almost every other day. Giles was sure that this had to do with Spike seeing Paul at work. Seeing the vampire’s haunted eyes, the watcher was glad that the ghost was only visible to him.

"You’ve got to let go of the guilt, Spike. It’s spilt milk. You cannot be held accountable for your soulless actions. Just let it go…" Giles murmured the same phrases to him over and over, until Spike fell asleep.

Giles stood up and yawned.

He’d wake the vampire up in an hour. Spike should have plenty of time to make it home before sunrise. And then he could get back to bed as he had the day off due to the Holidays.

*****

"It’s just another day!" Spike snapped at an indignant Buffy.

His head was pounding, and his temper short from need of sleep. At least the ghost was gone. He didn’t know if he could handle arguing with Buffy while Cindy Reed taunted him.

The slayer huffed and dropped onto the sofa.

"I can’t believe you volunteered to work on Christmas Day. You know, it might not mean much to you, but it means a great deal to me! What am I supposed to tell my mom?" she whined.

Spike held his hands up defensively.

"First off, I’m not working Christmas day, I’m working Christmas NIGHT! Secondly, I did not volunteer! The boss said, ‘Spike, you’re working.’ And I said, ‘yes sir.’"

His defense was met with silence. He sighed.

"Buffy?"

He walked around the sofa so she could see him.

Buffy looked away, pouting.

Spike knelt in front of her, and grabbed her hands.

"Luv, the other guys have kids. I won’t be responsible for some kid having to spend Christmas without his dad. Believe me, I know what that’s like." He confided.

Buffy stared at him a minute, then smiled.

"And that’s what I’ll tell my mom! She can’t fault you for that!" she hugged him.

The moment was interrupted by the crunch of someone eating popcorn.

"Anya, haven’t we talked about eavesdropping?" Spike grumbled, glaring at his roommate.

The ex-demon glared back.

"Well, if you don’t want other people to listen, then you shouldn’t shout." She argued.

Spike just shook his head and turned back to Buffy.

"I’m going to take a shower and get some sleep. We still on for tonight?"

Buffy nodded and gave him a sweet kiss.

Anya came over and sat next to Buffy after Spike left.

"So, how’s mortal life?" Buffy asked, grabbing a handful of popcorn.

She sighed dramatically, "Not very well."

"Spike called me fat, and told me to get a job." She frowned.

"Spike called you fat?" Buffy demanded.

Anya was even thinner than Buffy, and that was saying something.

"Well, he said I needed to ‘pull my own weight’."

"Oh, so are you looking for a job then?"

"I’ve tried, but no one wants to hire me because I don’t have an ‘official’ education. It doesn’t matter that I’ve been alive longer than any human being on Earth! No, I have to have some stupid piece of paper that says I went to school!" she ranted.

"Did you try McDonalds?" Buffy asked.

"They wanted me to wear a stupid uniform and clean bathrooms. I don’t clean bathrooms." She sniffed, "Besides, they want a copy of my birth certificate and social security card, which I don’t have."

Buffy sighed and shook her head.

"Maybe you ought to go back to school." Buffy told her.

"They all want papers that prove I exist. According to the government, I don’t." she pouted.

Anya turned on the television, and settled in to watch the news.

Buffy got an idea and jumped to her feet.

Anya gasped and dropped the popcorn.

"Oh, sorry Anya! I just thought of something I need to tell Spike."

Buffy hurried to Spike’s room and let herself in.

He wasn’t in there, but she could hear the shower running.

Trying not to grin, she tip-toed toward the partially open bathroom door.

"I’ll just stick my head in and ask real quick." She told herself.

She peered around the door, and all words died in her throat.

Through the glass door of the shower she could see him. His back was toward her, and she had a great view of his backside.

Heat rushed to her face, and it had nothing to do with embarrassment.

Her eyes trailed hungrily up his naked, glistening body, stopping at his shoulders. They were shaking.

Shaking?

Spike was crying.

Buffy’s mouth dropped open in shock. She had never seen him cry.

She went back into his room and lay down on his bed to wait for him.

Buffy had been asleep only a few minutes when she felt him climb in bed and wrap his arms around her from behind.

"Are you trying to torment me?" he asked, running a hand up her side from hip to breast and back again.

"No, I had a question." She said, and stretched.

"Spike! You’re naked." Buffy accused keeping her head turned away.

Spike chuckled and pulled her closer.

"You know I sleep naked."

"Yeah, but…"

"Buffy, I’m tired. It’s been a long night, and I need to sleep. So, if there’s something you need to ask me, do it fast, cause you’re not going to be able to wake me up for a while." He murmured into her hair.

"I was going to ask you where you got that fake birth certificate and social security card." She said.

"Willow."

"Oh, good! I can ask her when we go shopping. And speaking of, what do you think I should get her for Christmas?"

Silence.

"Spike?"

But he was dead to the world.

*****

"The only Christmas present I have left to buy now is yours." Buffy told Willow as they got a table in the mall courtyard.

"You mean my Hanukkah present?" Willow corrected.

"Of course!" the slayer grinned at her.

"So, how are things with you and Spike?" the red-head asked, taking a sip of her cappachino.

Buffy frowned, and told her about seeing Spike cry.

"You saw him naked?!" she squealed, sloshing her drink down the front of her shirt.

Buffy smiled and waved at the passersby who were staring at her from Willow’s outburst.

She gave her friend, who had flushed pink, a stern look.

"I’ve told you that I’ve seen him naked before." She whispered.

"I know, but you did it on purpose this time." Willow accused.

"Just a little Christmas present to myself." Buffy smiled, then frowned again.

"What should I do?" she asked.

"Well, I think you’re right in thinking that if Spike wanted you to know what was wrong he’d have told you. I think you should wait, and let him come to you." Willow advised, cleaning up her mess.

Buffy nodded, and they were both quiet for a minute.

"Do you have anymore gifts to buy?" Buffy asked her.

"I don’t know what to get Anya." Willow said.

"I’ve got an idea…"

*****

TBC…

Christmas Episode part 2/2

Anya sniffed and dabbed at her eyes with a tissue. She’d spent almost all day watching a Christmas Eve movie marathon, and was now feeling thoroughly depressed. She and Spike didn’t have a Christmas tree or anything. It wasn’t fair. Even the ‘who’s’ in Whoville had got their presents and dinner.

Spike was like the Grinch. Only, his heart wouldn’t grow any sizes, and so she’d be doomed to have a miserable Christmas. A few hours ago she’d waken him up to ask for money to buy a Christmas tree. He’d yelled at her, and revealed that he didn’t have any money to spend on Christmas.

She had just eaten the last bag of popcorn. There was now no more food left in the apartment. She didn’t dare tell Spike, he’d probably just yell at her again. Her stomach grumbled, and she cursed the gods again for making her mortal, with mortal needs.

This was the state that Giles found her in.

"Hello, Anya. I’ve come to talk with Spike." He told her.

"Good luck, all he does is yell."

Her stomach growled very loudly.

"Oh, Perhaps you should go make yourself something to eat?" he asked, hoping to keep her away so he and Spike could talk in peace.

"We don’t have any more food, and Spike won’t give me any more money. Hey, can I borrow a few dollars? Popcorn is cheap, and it’s all I need." She asked, hopefully.

Giles looked at her in shock.

"Tell me you eat other things besides popcorn?"

"Sure. I eat chocolate, cheese, and cookies." She told him.

"Anya, that’s not really healthy…" he began.

"Don’t I know it! You have no idea the kinds of stomach problems I have." She started to cry again.

"I need help! I haven’t been a mortal in a very long time, and we didn’t have grocery stores back then! Everyone I ask for help thinks I’m playing a joke on them! The Kroger down the street has forbidden me from coming back!" she wailed.

"Okay, calm down! We’ll think of something."

Twenty minutes later Xander arrived, looking anxious.

"What’s the problem, new demon to fight?" he demanded upon seeing Giles.

"No, I need you to take Anya shopping."

"Shopping?" He asked, disbelievingly.

"Yes, grocery shopping. And make sure she gets some healthy food! Maybe some Christmas decorations." Giles said handing the teenager his credit card.

Xander opened his mouth to protest, but shut it when he saw the look of pure excitement on Anya’s face.

The ex-demon was grinning at Giles, then she shook her head and frowned.

"Spike says we can’t accept charity." She told them.

"Then it’ll be my Christmas present to you." Giles said, exasperated.

"But I don’t have anything to give you."

"Well, buy enough food to make a nice dinner, and I’ll eat with you. That’ll be your Christmas present to me, okay?" he asked.

Anya thought it over for a minute.

"Okay. My first Christmas dinner, I’m so excited." And she practically skipped out the door.

Xander sent Giles a ‘you owe me’ look and followed.

*****

"Giles?" Spike asked as he made his way gloomily out of his bedroom, "What’s going on?"

"We have a few things to discuss." He answered, watching Spike warm up a cup of blood.

"Buffy’s okay?" The vampire asked quickly.

"What? Oh, yes. She’s fine."

Spike quickly finished his ‘meal’ and sat down across from Giles at the kitchen table.

Giles cleared his throat.

"This isn’t easy, Spike, I know you’re dealing with a lot right now, but there is one responsibility that you’ve been neglecting."

Spike raised his eyebrows in a question.

"Anya." The watcher told him.

Spike rolled his eyes.

"What’s that bird whining about now?"

"You mean besides lack of food, or purpose in life? Spike, you did offer to take her in, and she is new to human life."

"But I haven’t been human for a long time myself. I don’t know the kinds of things she needs!" he defended.

"I know, but you have friends that would be more than willing to help you out if you’d just ask. And it probably wouldn’t hurt if you could be a bit more patient with her. She’s scared to ask you for anything because she doesn’t like being yelled at." Giles said, not unkindly.

Spike deflated a little.

"Bloody hell, she didn’t tell me we were out of food! She wanted to buy a huge Christmas tree and I told her I didn’t want to blow money on a soddin’ tree. She called me a Grinch." He smiled.

Giles didn’t say anything.

"I don’t mean to yell at her. I’ve got a short temper as it is, and with this damn ghost…"

"What?" Giles demanded as Spike paled whiter than he’d ever seen.

"She’s looking at me from the other side of the room." He whispered.

The watcher could feel the hair raise off the back of his neck, but got up and stood in front of Spike to block his view of the ghost.

"Spike, listen to me. It’s not a real ghost. It’s part of your own mind that won’t let go of the guilt. You’ve got to let it go!"

"How? How can I do that?" Spike asked, desperately.

"Do something to make up for what you did. I know you can’t bring her back, but maybe there’s something you could do for her family? Maybe getting their forgiveness will help you let go."

They sat in silence for a few minutes. Then Spike grinned.

"You have an idea?" Giles asked him.

"Yeah, where can I find a couple of ‘tickle-me’ elmo’s?"

*****

Buffy cursed and kicked at a head stone. Spike hadn’t shown up to help her patrol. This wasn’t like him. Something must have come up.

The slayer was already in a foul mood. Her mother had gone to Cincinnati on an art-buying trip at the beginning of the week. She was supposed to be home last night, but her flight had been delayed because of a snowstorm, and she probably wouldn’t get home ‘til tomorrow afternoon.

Buffy had consoled herself with the thought that she and Spike could spend some quality time together, but he had failed to show up. She decided to give up and go home, but seeing her house all dark and empty sent a stab of loneliness straight to her heart. Well, Anya would be better company than nothing she decided and headed for Spike’s apartment.

*****

Spike hoisted the bag over his shoulder and walked toward the Reed’s front door. Unable to wipe the huge grin off his face, he rang the bell and waited expectantly.

He could hear little feet hurrying to the door. Then a squeal of delight as a young pair of eyes saw him through the window.

"Daddy! Daddy! Look, it’s Santa! Hurry, Daddy, let him in!" the two youngsters demanded as Paul made his way to the door.

"Ho, ho, ho." Spike said to them from underneath the huge Santa Claus costume.

It had been much to big, but was the only costume the shop had left, so Spike had stuffed it with pillows.

Paul grinned at him, tearing up.

"Well, come in, Santa!" He said ushering Spike into the house.

*****

Buffy saw Spike’s car at the address Anya had given her. She could hear joyous laughter coming from the house.

Curious, she crept up to the front window, and stared in shock at the sight that met her.

Spike, in a much too large Santa suit, was sitting in an armchair with two small children, one on each knee. They were talking to him animatedly, and Spike was wearing a smile brighter than Buffy had ever seen.

She leaned close, and listened.

"Santa, Daddy says that Mommy is up in Heaven, and she watches over us, is that true?" Asked Jenny.

"Yeah, ‘sat tru?" asked Peter.

Spike looked over at Paul, who nodded.

"‘Course it’s true." He assured them.

"But, she can’t eat dinner wit us?" she asked.

"No, but you’ll see her again one day. In the mean time, your mom wants you to be happy and play with your toys!" Spike said, holding up the elmo dolls for them.

They happily took the toys, and gave him a hug.

Spike looked up at the ghost that had been silently watching him from across the room.

She had tears in her eyes and looked over her family one last time, before waving at Spike and vanishing forever.

"That was not a figment of my imagination." He muttered under his breath.

*****

"Thank you so much for coming, Santa." Paul said as Spike was escorted to the door. "You have no idea how much this means for them."

Spike just smiled and whispered, "I’ll see you at work on Friday."

With one last wave, he headed to the car.

Buffy was waiting for him. Upon seeing her, he remembered that he was supposed to have patrolled with her tonight. She was probably pissed. But he still couldn’t wipe the grin off of his face.

"Buffy, I’m sorry…" but that was as far as he got before she threw herself at him, kissing him passionately.

"You are the most amazing man in the world, do you know that?" she asked between kisses.

"So, you’re not mad?" he asked.

"Mad? How could I be mad at Santa?" she teased.

Spike just stared at her curiously.

"I’m glad you saw that, Buffy, because I had to use the money I would have spent on your Christmas present to buy those damn dolls." He told her, bracing himself.

Buffy giggled at the scared look on his face.

"Oh, Spike, gifts aren’t what makes Christmas special, it’s being with the ones you love. I’m more upset that Mom won’t be here tonight." She confided.

Spike was relieved.

"Let’s go back to your place and order a pizza, my treat." She told him, and they got into the car.

As Spike drove home he started singing, "I saw Buffy kissing Santa Clause…"

*****

They were pleasantly surprised to see the apartment all decorated and the aroma of a pot-roast coming from the kitchen.

Xander and Willow were trimming a pretty Christmas tree, while Anya and Giles worked in the kitchen.

Buffy gave Willow a skeptical look, until the redhead pointed out the menorah on the coffee table.

"Oh, this is so nice!" Buffy exclaimed happily.

It wasn’t such a bad Christmas after all.

Anya came over to them.

"Dinner’s in an hour, and if you don’t like it don’t tell me. That’s rude." She declared.

The slayer gave her a quick hug and went to help Willow and Xander with the decorating.

Anya was stunned by the hug, and looked at Spike questioningly.

"She’s just caught up in the Christmas spirit, luv." He said, smiling at her.

Anya turned to head back into the kitchen, but Spike stopped her.

"Anya? I think I owe you an apology. I shouldn’t yell at you the way that I do, I really am sorry. And I want you to come to me when you need things. Really, I won’t be mad." he told her.

She looked at him suspiciously for a minute.

"Okay. But I’m going to remind you that you said this." She warned.

"That’s fine." He said, and watched her walk back into the kitchen.

"Any more ghosts?" Giles asked quietly.

"Nope. Thanks mate." Spike said sincerely.

"Hey Spike! Do you want a star or an angel on top?" Buffy asked.

"What do you think?" he answered pointedly.

"Oh, Anya! I want to give you your Hanukkah-slash-Christmas present!" Willow called out.

The ex-demon came into the living room, smiling in anticipation.

"Here you go!" Willow said, handing her an envelope.

Anya opened it and pulled out a stack of papers.

"It should be everything you need! Birth Certificate, Social Security Card, I’ve made you Spike’s cousin. You now legally exist as a citizen of the United States of America." Willow declared.

Anya hugged her, tears streaming down her face.

"Willow also enrolled you in high school. All you have to do is take a placement test, then you can go with us when we start back in a couple of weeks!" Buffy added happily.

Anya turned and hugged Buffy then.

"Yeah, you’re happy now, just wait until you’ve been exposed to Chemistry." Xander said, shuddering.

Anya came to him and kissed him hard on the mouth.

Xander stared at her stunned.

She grinned at him and pointed to the mistletoe above his head.

The End

*Happy Holidays Everyone! And I’ll see ya next year!!!