Author: Nightmelody
Title: Christmas Baby
Review: nightmelody@hotmail.com
Type: Au Christmas Ficlet, total fluff
Pairing: Spuffy
Rating: R
Disclaimer: Playing in Joss’ toy box.



CHRISTMAS BABY


Los Angeles, Christmas Eve, 2004

Buffy sat in her father’s living room, trying to watch some old holiday movie and not be miserable.

Dad and his new live in, Doris, had been drinking since before dinner, and were pretty lit. Dawn, who despised Doris (and rightly so, Buffy thought,) had made plans to spend Christmas Eve at her steady boyfriend’s house. Which was a far better environment for her then her own home, Buffy acknowledged. Trevor had a real family, the kind that had little kids waiting for Santa, and midnight mass followed by a midnight supper. Dawn wouldn’t be home until two in the morning.

So Buffy was stuck in LA with nothing to do but drink and watch television. All her friends were in England, enjoying a jolly holiday with Giles in his huge flat. But she had decided to fly to LA to spend the holidays with Dawn and Dad.

I need to move here, she thought. Dawn has only Dad here in LA. She needs a woman around. Not Doris.

She did know a few people in LA, of course. Angel, for one, but they hadn’t been on friendly terms since she had found out about the whole-don’t-tell-Buffy-about-Spike coverup. And Spike...he was in LA, running some type of private investigation business. The one time she had seen him, at Wolfram and Hart, he had been friendly but distant. Not intense or intimate, or annoying. Very unSpike like.

Dawn saw him now and then. They went to dinner and movies, and she had dragged her boyfriend to a few of their visits. Dawn said that Spike approved of Trevor, whatever that meant. At least Spike was here for Dawn, if Dad fell totally off the wagon.

Right now Dad was planting slobbery lips all over Doris’ arm. Looked like he was running from the wagon as fast as he could go.

She had to get out of here! Buffy grabbed the keys to her rental car. “Hey Dad, Doris. I just thought if some last minute shopping I need to do. I’ll be back in a while.”

She drove around a while, found a Wal Mart. She went in and ended up buying a bunch of Christmas stuffed toys for Dawn. And a new cherry red lipstick for herself.

The clock in her car told her it was only nine thirty. Would this night never end?.

What if she called Spike? She had his number. Dawn had it posted on her cork board and Buffy had saved it on her cell phone. Just in case. Maybe he could give her an idea of a gift Dawn would really enjoy.

Yeah, right.

She rang the number before she could chicken out. Spike picked up on the fifth ring. He sounded a little annoyed.

“Hey, Spike.”

There was a pause. “Buffy?”

“Yeah. Did I catch you at a bad time?”

“Of course not. Where are you calling from?”

“The Wal Mart by my Dad’s house. I was doing a little shopping for Dawn. Do you have any ideas for a gift for her?”

He suggested they meet and gave her directions to a bar not far away.

Buffy found it with minimal trouble. It was in an area with several bars and restaurants, all fairly busy with young adults out socializing. She parked on the street and walked the block or so to their meeting place.

As she passed an alley she heard an odd, muffled cry. Someone in trouble? She jogged down the alley.

A figure entered the alley on the opposite end and she caught a glimpse of white blond hair. No! It couldn’t be!

“Spike!”

“Buffy?”

Buffy was too astonished to move. He was dressed in blue jeans–blue!–and a gray and blue knit shirt. And running shoes. “Spike?”

A wail sounded from the dumpster nearby. Spike leaped up onto the dumpster and fished something out.

“Well, hello, sweetheart,” he said in a soft, almost reverent voice.

“Huh?”

He slipped back down to the ground, holding a tiny, newspaper wrapped bundle to his chest.

“A baby? Is it a baby? Oh. my. God. Spike! It’s too small! We have to get it to the hospital Right Now!” Buffy was jumping up and down in agitation.

Spike grinned at her. “It is. And she’s fine, as far as I can tell.”

“Lemme see! She’s too small. Are you sure it’s a girl?”

Spike gave her a Look.

“Spike!” Buffy stamped her foot. He raised his eyebrow. “Can I hold her?” She asked in a much smaller voice.

“Well, I don’t know, Slayer. She’s part demon. I don’t want you doing anything crazy.”

“I Would Not Hurt A Baby!” Buffy bellowed. “Really?’ She asked in a softer voice. “Part demon? Is she cute?”

“She’s very cute, aren’t you, sweetheart? Here, I’ll let you hold her if you promise to be careful.”

“Spike!” He raised his eyebrow again. “Ok. I promise.”

Spike placed the baby into her arms.

She was tiny, not even a foot long, and had a ruffled flap of pink skin behind each ear. Her eyes were big and alert, nose a snub, round face, round button of a mouth. Tiny webbed feet and hands waved vigorously. Her skin tone was pale porcelain , and soft butter blond hair grew upwards, creating a curl along the top of her head.

“She looks exactly like my kewpie doll.” Buffy breathed, stoking the baby’s soft hair. “She has dimples.”

“Weren’t those dolls before your time, Slayer?”

“It was my grandmother’s. And the name is Buffy.”

Spike skinned off his shirt and handed it to her. He was wearing a grey wife beater underneath. Buffy carefully wrapped the baby in it. She tried to ignore the biceps.

“My car is a ways away. Where’s yours? ” Spike led her down the alley, his arm draped protectively around her shoulders.

“Just down the block.” When they got to it, Buffy insisted he drive so she could hold the baby.

“Where to?” Spike asked.

“Maybe we should go ask someone what she is? Maybe find a demon pediatrician? Cuz we have no idea what she eats.”

“Right. How about we go see Wesley? He will at least know who to ask.”

Buffy made Spike put her seat belt on for her, since her hands were full.

Wesley lived in a rather nice condo. Spike knocked. Twice.

Finally Wes answered his door. His hair was messy, and he was wearing a terry cloth robe over bare legs.

“Spike! Is there trouble? And Buffy?” Wesley looked confused.

Spike didn’t wait for an invitation, he’d been to Wesley’s place several times. They barged into Wesley’s tasteful living room.

Harmony came out of a hallway, wearing a form fitting red sweater dress with a low scoop neckline edged in white fluff. She was barefoot, and her lipstick was smudged.

“Ho ho ho,” Spike said in a suggestive voice. “And how long have you been getting a little cold comfort there, mate?”

“Ah, well, um-” Wes sputtered.

“None of your business, Spike. Hey, Buffy. You have a baby!” Harmony moved closer. Spike glided next to Buffy and slung an arm around her.

“Oh, please, like I’d hurt a baby. Not enough blood for the trouble,” Harmony spat at Spike. She looked at the baby. “And it’s sooo cute! Who could even think about eating something that cute. I mean, I’m evil and all, but I’m still a girl.”

She and Buffy sank down onto the couch, admiring the little one.

“I’m drowning in estrogen,” Spike said. Wes nodded. He poured them both a scotch.

“So, what is she?” Spike finally stopped the love fest.

“Well, I’d say she’s part pixie. Or nixie. Very rare, but there are records of human- pixie hybrids. Not so much in this century, of course.” Wes said.

“How can we find out what to feed her?” Buffy asked. “She’s too pwecios to expewiment on, isn’t she.” She rained tiny kisses on the baby. Then she let Harmony hold her, who did the same.

Wes and Spike watched in astonishment.

“Uh, I’ll do a little research, shall I?”

“Isn’t Anita in Accounting a pixie? You know, little Anita Pearl?” Harmony said.

“Oh. Yes. I thought she was a brownie.” Wes said.

Harmony shrugged. “Brownie, pixie–aren’t they all the same?”

Wesley soon found Anita Pearl’s address and saw Buffy and Spike to the door in unseemly haste.

“Well, Merry Christmas. And thanks,” Buffy called.

“Yeah, and don’t drain him dry, Harm.” Spike yelled.

“Not gonna happen, Spikey. Wesleywoo is my honeypoo.” Harmony was wrapping herself around him as the door slammed shut.

Spike snickered. “ Enjoy her, old boy. I trained her well.”

“Spike! Not in front of the baby!” Buffy gave him an I’m-about-to-stake-you look.

“Right.”

Chapter Two


Anita Pearl lived in a pleasant little middle class home, twinkling with Christmas lights. Plastic deer with plastic holly leaves in their antlers crowded her porch.

“I didn’t know demons did Christmas. Or lived in houses like this.” Buffy said.

“Lots of different types of demons. Some are very family oriented. A lot like humans.”

Anita was about three feet tall, with slick brown hair and huge brown eyes. She listened to them in silence and then let them in.

The living room was decorated in greenery and a small tree surrounded by gifts was in a corner. A tiny brown man sat in a small recliner, asleep, with the remote in his hand.

“My husband, Henry. Now let me see her.”

Buffy reluctantly handed the baby over.

“Mm hmm. Part nixie. Those are like us–we’re pixies, though Henry has some sprite blood. Part human.” She glanced at the couple. “You can tell by her size. She’s much larger than a true fey. But she’s very young, probably only a couple of weeks old. You can tell because her umbilical cord is recently gone.” She touched the baby’s bright pink belly button..

“What do we feed her?”Buffy asked.

“Well, normally babies this age are still nursing. But canned cat food makes a good formula. Just run it in a blender with a little milk to make it runny, and put it in a bottle. Probably eats every three or four hours.”

“Is there like a book, like a baby book? And is there someone we need to contact, like an adoption service?”

“I do have a book. It’s old, from when my own were children, but it gives all the basics. And, no, there’s no legal formalities.”

She went to a book shelf in the dining room and returned with a thick book and handed it to Buffy.

“‘Raising the Fey Child’” Buffy read. “‘With individual chapters for Nixies, Pixies, Elves, Leprechauns, Brownies, Seelies, Sprites, and Undines.’ Wow.”

“And here is a web site.” She handed Buffy a piece of note paper. “ It has a forum, too, so you can ask questions and get advice there.”

“Do you have any idea who her mother might be? Or who might know?” Spike asked.

Anita shook her head solemnly. “All the fey are disturbed right now. Many are moving around, trying to find safe haven. And many fey children require warm water for half the day, in order to grow. Very difficult to provide when you’re on the run. And since she’s a half breed,” the little woman shrugged. “the tribe may have decided they couldn’t raise her.”

“Why are the fey on the run? Are they in danger?” Buffy asked.

“Yes.”Anita looked at her solemnly. “ All the new slayers. To most of them, a demon is a demon. Our people are heading for remote places.”

Buffy was silent for a moment. “I’m sorry. When we did that spell we were thinking about ubervamps. I didn’t even know much about demons like you.”

“You knew Clem. He’s some type of fey.” Spike said.

“Oh. I never knew what he was.”

“And Willy. He’s half demon. Brownie, I think.”

“So, now you’re telling me all this?”

“Yeah. But back then, we didn’t have too many options against the First.’

“True,” Anita said. “The First would have annihilate the fey, too. We’re not Evil enough.”

“I will try to educate the new slayers, Anita. I’m sure something can be done.”

Anita smiled at her and patted her hand. “You’re a good girl.”

“Now, what’s this about a water requirement?” Spike asked.

“Oh. Warm water. A bath or hot tub. They sleep in it.”

“Won’t she be in danger of drowning?” Buffy clutched the tiny bundle to her breasts.

Anita giggled. “They’re like baby seals, honey. Or dolphins. And often mom and dad sleep wet, too. It’s so good for the skin.”

“I have a hot tub,” Spike murmured.

Buffy turned wide eyes upon him. “Great. Because I don’t think my dad and Doris are ready for her.”

“How hot do you keep your water, Mr. Spike?’ Anita asked.

“Uh, ninety eight point six.”

Buffy rolled her eyes.

“That’s just perfect. She’ll love it.”

Chapter Three


They thanked Anita and left, heading for Wal Mart.

“So, you’re going to leave her with me tonight?”

“What?” Buffy was making a mental list of things to purchase. “No. Of course not. I’m going to stay there with her. You. Oh.” For all she knew Spike had a live in girlfriend.

Spike grinned. “Yeah, you can stay.”

They pretty much bought one of everything in the baby department. Buffy fretted about all the clothing being too big until Spike reminded her the baby would be spending most of her time in the tub.

Buffy also bought some Christmas lights. “Because I know you won’t have anything. And it’s her first Christmas.”

They had to go to one end of the store for canned cat food–Spike insisted on the most expensive- and then to the other end of the store for milk. Buffy insisted on some snacks, for herself. Then they had to back track for a blender.

By the time they got to Spike’s place–a two story condo with trees growing close to the building- the baby was fussing and sucking her fist. They hustled her in and Spike whipped together a bottle.

“Look at that. She likes it.” Spike was so delighted that Buffy let him give her the bottom half of the bottle, while she did some exploring.

Everything was new. And nothing was black. Or crumbling. It was so different from his crypt, Buffy could see no resemblance at all. Until she came to his bedroom on the second floor. Instead of the brown and gold tones of the lower level it was done in dark reds and blues. His bed was covered in a velvet quilt. Gorgeous.

On the lamp table next to the bed there was finally some hint of the Spike she knew. A pile of books, a television remote, and an empty whiskey bottle. Also Dawn’s senior picture, in a gold frame.

“Did you find the hot tub?” Spike, carrying the baby in one arm, pulled the red drapes to reveal sliding glass doors that lead to a glassed in balcony. Tinted glass, she noticed. Potted plants covered the ledge, and the canopy of the tree outside filled the window. It was like stepping into a tiny forest.

“I can give you a t-shirt for the tub, if you’d like. I don’t mind if you want to go in with just your undies, but I probably won’t be able to form a coherent sentence for the rest of the night.”

“Oh,” Suddenly she was swamped with awareness of Spike. Did he still want her? Or was he just flirting? Spike, and her, in a hot tub, nearly naked. She gulped. “Yeah. T-shirt.”

She changed in the bathroom and Spike threw on his swim trunks and hopped into the hot tub before Buffy could see the effect the idea of her wearing a wet t-shirt had on him. He held the baby up over his shoulder, knowing Buffy would want to be there when he put her in the water.

He averted his eyes when Buffy climbed into the hot tub, but not before he saw her breasts jiggle, just enough so he could tell she was braless under the shirt. Pantyless, too? His mouth went dry.

“Okay. I’m ready.”

Spike held the baby over the water and her tiny webbed feet and hands began churning, and her pink gills began to open and shut. Spike placed her on her back. Immediately her arms and legs began moving, and she back floated in a circle. Then she yawned, stuck a thumb in her mouth, curled into a ball, and went to sleep.

“Well, that was easy.” Spike said, a little astonished.

Buffy hovered over the little one, gently stroking her hair. “I want to keep her.”

“Yeah?”

“Do you think I should?”

“You’d make a wonderful mother for her.”

“It might get complicated.”

“You’ve done complicated before, and came through. And I could help, if you like.”

Buffy nodded. “Dawn’s going to be crazy about her. I’ll call her after midnight mass is over, so she can come see her. If you don’t mind.”

He grinned. “Creature of the night, here.”

They were silent for a while, and then Buffy asked, “ Will you help me string up the lights in your bedroom? So she can see them?”

“Right now?” The state of his trunks was still an issue.

“Yeah.”

“Um. Yeah. If you promise not to get upset.”

“Upset? Why would I get upset?”

He shrugged and stood up.

It didn’t take her five seconds to figure it out. “Spike!”

“Bloody hell, Slayer. It’s not like I’m doing it on purpose. I can’t help it. You’re in a wet t-shirt.” He pouted a little as he tied a towel around his waist with jerky movements. “You know the type of effect you have on me.” He grumbled.

She got out of the tub, walked over to him, and gave him a kiss he felt down to his toes. Then she let him go–he was too stunned to move–slipped into the bathroom and exchanged her wet shirt for two towels. “I’ll get the lights.” She scampered off down stairs.

“What have I gotten myself into now?” He muttered as he pulled on a pair of black sweats. He wasn’t sure if he should be elated or terrified.

Buffy returned with the lights and they strung them along the balcony ledge in near silence. Both of them kept glancing at the baby, who was sleeping peacefully, her gills flapping with regularity.

“Do you remember that night you held me after I got kicked out of our house?” She asked, leaning over the tub to stroke a tiny foot. The colored lights reflected in the water, creating a lovely effect.

“Course I do. Could never forget that night.” Spike leaned against the hot tub next to her and touched the baby, too, his large hand nearly the same length as the tiny baby.

“ You said that you’d seen the best and the worst of me. That you saw me with perfect clarity.”

“Mmhmm.”

“Tonight, in the alley, when you pulled the baby out of the dumpster and stood there, looking at her? I saw you with perfect clarity.” Buffy stood up and looked right at him.

“Did you?” His eyes searched her face but he stood with his hands at his side

She reached up and held his face in her hands. Her green eyes met his brilliant blue ones. “You’re the one, Spike. I love you. You’re in my heart so deep you’ve become...family. My family.”

She crushed her lips to his and tears, hers and his, mingled. Spike’s arms snapped around her in a grip that would have cracked the spine of a normal girl. She could feel his face change, his fangs extend against her mouth. He buried his face against her neck. “Sorry. Little overwhelmed. Seeing you, holding you. Hearing you. Never thought we’d even see each other again. I could stay in touch with you through Dawn, a little...and now you’re here in my arms and talking like you plan to stay.”

“If you’ll have me.”

“Have you, now,” he growled into her ear. It sent shivers down her spine, to her core.

Spike picked her up and carried her to the velvet covered bed. He put her down and fell on top of her.

“The baby?” Buffy murmured against his lips.

“She’ll be fine. We can hear her.” He was running his tongue up and down her neck while his hand pulled her towels free.

“Buffy, Buffy,” He moaned, back in human face. “Stop me now if you don’t want this. If you just want the friend and comrade thing. Gotta be sure.”

“I want you to be my lover, my friend, my vampire, my man.” She slid her hands to the waist band of his sweats and shoved them down, so he would know exactly what kind of role she wanted him to have in her life. “And you can be the little one’s daddy.”

“Kay. No more talk now.”

Their lips fused together in a hungry wild kiss that didn’t end until Buffy was breathless and dizzy. Her heart was pounding so hard she shook with it, and her veins were filled with electricity instead of blood.How had she ever thought she could live without this, without him?

Spike slid down to her pink tipped breasts and cupped them together, groaning as she rolled her hips against him. His lips found one sweet nub and he suckled there while his cool fingers plucked the other nipple with the softest touch. He was overwhelmed with the feel of her silky skin, with her scent, that delicious aroma that was all Buffy and all his...

Buffy slid her hand around the hard shaft that was pressed tightly to her thigh. Her fingers feathered around him, causing him to groan and jerk his hips convulsively. Drops of slick liquid had already begun to leak from his slit and Buffy massaged it into the head, making him gasp.

His hand left her breast to find her core. She was so wet the moisture was covering her thighs. He gently explored every bit of her, that which he had missed for so long. He glided his finger over her soft outer lips, pinching them gently, combing her hair with his fingernails. Then he spread them and found her delicate folds within, which he fingered and gently tugged. Her dripping pussy was next, and she welcome his two fingered invasion with a long moan, and clenching muscles. Pulling out he dipped low and found her small puckered opening, reacquainting himself with all her delights. Last he found her swollen clit, which she pushed eagerly against his fingers.

“Oh, god Spike. In me now? Please? With your hand...”

He knew what she wanted. He plunged his hard cock inside her, his fingers remaining, circling that wet nub. Her legs folded around him with all their strength and she thrust her hips to meet him. Her creamy heat made him tremble on top of her, her pulse pounded around him, her inner muscles undulated around him,.and he was consumed with her. “Love you so much, Buffy,” he choked out. “It’s our first time...”

Buffy knew he meant it was their first time as real lovers. She feathered her fingers over his face in a tender caress. “Love you, Spike. Come together,” she managed to gasp. She pulled him down until all his body weight was upon her, so she could bury her hands in his hair and push her tongue into his mouth.

He cupped her head in both hands now, knowing she was about to fall apart. With each withdrawal of his slick cock he glided up and over her sensitive clit, then plunged back within her, all the while kissing her with abandon. They came like that, melded together in ecstacy.

Afterwards they curled together, eyes locked. “Our first Christmas together,” Buffy murmured.

“The first of many,” Spike whispered.

“Many,” Buffy echoed, smiling.


Epilogue


Dawn showed up at Spike’s around three in the morning, curious about Buffy’s excited phone call, demanding she come to Spike’s, right away.

Spike let her in, wearing only a pair of black sweat pants. He was grinning broadly.

“Ohmygosh. Are you two back together?” She squealed. Spike nodded. Dawn gave him a bear hug.

Then she saw Buffy, sitting on Spike’s tan leather couch, surrounded by Christmas stuffed toys, and wearing a pair of sweats and a t-shirt that were obviously Spike’s. In her arms was a tiny pink wrapped bundle that was holding all of her attention.

“Buffy?”

“Dawn! Look what I got for Christmas!”

“I thought you got Spike for Christmas,” Dawn said in a snippy voice. Buffy just wrinkled her nose at Dawn and held up her pink bundle.

“A baby? But she’s so tiny.” She looked at Buffy in astonishment.

“She’s part nixie. Spike found her in a dumpster, and gave her to me. And I’m going to keep her. She’s my daughter now. Mine and Spike’s.” The couple exchanged a long glance.

“Can I hold her?” Dawn yelped. “And what have you named her? Can I help pick out the name? You’re not going to tell Dad, are you? And you’re staying in LA, right? With Spike? Cuz you just can’t take her away to England! That would be so wrong!”

Buffy and Spike burst into laughter, and the three began to talk, all at once.


“Oh, that is so sweet,” chimed a tiny voice from the small balcony above Spike’s living room. “She’s going to be very loved, isn’t she?” The speaker was a tiny woman, with tiny wings and a gilt halo upon her flossy blond hair.

“Oh yes, very loved. And I’m a grandmother, at last!” Anne said, gently wiping her happy tears away on the sleeve of her white robe.

“Me, too, Anne. Oh, what a joyous day!” Joyce said. “Our children, together and happy at last.” She looked fondly upon the little family. Dawn was holding her niece and there was a lively discussion about names going on.

“I’m just–overwhelmed!,”Sobbed the tiny angel. “I was so afraid my daughter was lost to a cruel fate. A dumpster!” She gave a tiny shudder.

The two larger angels encircled her in their arms. “There, there,” Anne said. “We know exactly what you’ve gone through.” She and Joyce exchanged glances. “Our own children–why, you don’t even want to know the unspeakable things we’ve seen! But that is all behind us, now.”

“Yes,” said Joyce. “This is a new beginning. For all of them.”

“And for us!” Anne spoke quite tartly. “Now we can begin enjoying our afterlife.”

The smallest angel fluttered on still unsteady wings, the better to hear the conversation. She returned to the balcony with a blissful smile on her face.

“They’re naming her Joyce Anne Noelle Summers, but they’re going to call her Noelle. That stubborn boy of yours still won’t tell them his last name.”

“Trust me, you don’t want to know! Summers is a much, much nicer.” Anne said.

The angels remained, spending Christmas morning with their beloved children.

“This is the happiest Christmas ever.” Buffy said. “ I only wish Mom could be here.”

Spike looked at her. “Somehow, I think she knows. Our loved ones are rejoicing with us.”

Buffy nodded, her eyes shining and Dawn draped an arm around each of them. “Yes. Our family is rejoicing together.”


The End