Title: Merry Christmas, Buffy Summers (Part 7:3 of the 'Coming Home' Series)
Author: DivaDelilah (divadelilah@aol.com)
Description: Series after Buffy's return. Spoilers Season 6. Also an answer
to Licious's Xmas challenge (See first part for requirements)
Disclaimer: In short, not mine. Joss/Fox/SandDollar/Mutant Enemy/UPN own all.
Distribution: Fanfiction.net, Death Marked Love (http://www.angelfire.com/tv2/spikefic/coming.html
), Willow's Ripper, anything else I okay, including award sites and various
lists. Hell, just tell me where it's going.
Feedback: Mmmmmmmm…feedback. @dr00l@
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Willow answered the front door, squealing when she saw who was there. "I
thought you guys weren't coming until tomorrow! But I'm so glad you're here!
Buffy and Spike will be so excited!" Angel gave Willow a look and she amended
her statement. "Okay so Buffy will be excited. And so will the rest of
us, excluding Spike."
Cordy grinned. "Angel wants the baby to stay asleep for awhile. Where
do we set up the porta-crib?"
Willow frowned slightly. "Well if that's what he wants… Tara and
I live in Joyce's room, Dawn is in hers, Buffy and Spike live in her room, so
I guess the guest room is open for Angel and the baby. Everyone else will have
to bunk in the den downstairs. Sorry," she said shrugging.
"Thanks Willow," Angel said, rushing ahead of Cordy to set the crib
up before she got Connor upstairs.
Dawn rushed in, cooing at the baby, but stopped short when she saw the looks
Angel was giving Cordy. So that's what Willow was telling Tara about. Interesting.
Wonder where Cordy will sleep then? Oh my God! Dawn's mind stopped working
as a very cute guy followed Wesley in, loaded down with luggage that looked
like Cordelia's. Who in the hell is he? she thought, her eyes glazing
over.
Tara nudged her gently. "Close your mouth, you'll catch flies." When
Dawn gave her a dirty look, she smiled. "Besides, he's too old for you."
Cordy and Angel came down the steps just then, and Giles came out of the kitchen,
cleaning the steam from the tea kettle off his glasses. "Angel, it's good
to see you. Weren't you supposed to be coming tomorrow? Not that we mind, of
course," he corrected himself quickly.
"Before we get down to business, why don't I be the polite one, as usual,
and introduce everyone," Cordy cut in. "Where's Buffy and her pet
vamp?"
"They went to the mall to do some last minute shopping. Xander followed
along," Dawn volunteered. She smiled at the new guy and when he smiled
back, she blushed, muttering something about being right back. She practically
bolted up the back stairs to re-apply her makeup.
"What's gotten into her?" Anya asked in confusion.
Tara smiled conspiratorially. "She's that age. She'll be back in a few
minutes."
Cordy caught her eye and grinned. "I'll bet. Well, let's go sit down and
chat before Buffy and the idiots get here. Giles, do I smell tea?" she
hinted.
"Yes, Cordelia. I'll just go get some…supplies from the kitchen,
I suppose."
"I'll help," Tara offered, squeezing Willow's hand before she left.
Everyone draped themselves onto chairs, couches and the floor, waiting for
Giles to return. Tara came back into the room with a tray full of mugs and condiments,
followed by Giles with the tea and croissants. Dawn came running down the stairs,
obviously having primped while she was gone. Toying with one strand of hair
self-consciously, she claimed her favorite chair from Tara, who'd been saving
it for her.
Once everyone was settled, Cordy began. "This is Fred, who we found in
an alternate dimension, where I was Queen. She'd slipped into it by reading
this weird book when she worked at the library…" Angel cut her off
with a look and she rolled her eyes at him. "And this is Gunn. He's an
urban vampire hunter who works with us. Everyone knows Brood Boy and Wussley,"
she said, grinning mischievously.
"Thank you so much, Cordelia," Wesley said, sipping the tea. "Earl
Grey, Rupert?"
The other Englishman nodded. "How is everything in LA?"
Cordy groaned. "God. We have had the worst couple of months… and
now I'm the only person who can get Connor to sleep. I feel like an au pair
and I'm not even being paid well," she complained.
"Maybe I should introduce our gang," Willow said, trying to derail
Cordelia's rant. "This is Dawn, Buffy's sister. Most of you know that story,"
her face went dark for a moment then she continued. "You all know Giles;
this is my girlfriend, Tara. And this is Xander's fiancée, Anya."
"Fiancée?" Cordy exclaimed. "Wow, you are one brave…ex-demon…person."
Anya smiled broadly. "Thank you, Cordelia. When I think back to when I
first met you, I'm actually glad that you caused me to lose my powers and become
a puny mortal. Otherwise, I never would have met Xander and had-"
"Age appropriate!" Willow interjected. The LA gang looked at her
in puzzlement, and she grinned. "Wait till you hear what comes out of her
mouth once Dawn's in bed."
"Aw, Willow, do I have to? I don't have school and it's Christmas,"
Dawn whined.
"Dawn, I'm not the person to ask. You can ask when they all get back,"
she chided.
"I hate being a kid," Dawn pouted.
"Enjoy it, Dawn. Cause one day you grow up, and you're out hunting vampires
with people like Cordelia," Gunn said, his eyes dancing. Cordelia elbowed
him in the stomach and he doubled over, still laughing.
"Quite true, Gunn," Wesley added, scooting away from Cordy before
she could reach him.
"So should we wait for Buffy to start the 'why we're here' discussion?"
Cordy asked, stretching out on the floor, laying her head on Angel's thigh and
looking up at the group.
Willow cleared her throat, staring at the intimate contact between the two.
"Um, yeah. Why don't you guys settle your stuff into your rooms and check
on the baby for now? We can have the big to do once she gets here."
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Buffy prowled the record store aimlessly, having decided the Sara McLachlan
CD she'd planned to buy Angel was way too cheesy. She'd already bought herself
and Spike a heap of presents at Victoria's Secret, and now she had to finish
out her list. Growling to herself, she left, standing out in front and scanning
the storefronts for an idea. Suddenly, a light bulb went off in her head, and
she giggled to herself. She knew exactly what to get Angel now.
After buying Angel's present, she headed straight for the Baby Gap to buy her
very last present. Browsing through the racks, she finally selected a cute outfit,
adding socks, shoes, a hat, and a few other accessories to it. It's for a
baby. Spike would want me to go kind of crazy, she thought, eyeing the total
she was signing for. She took the bag from the cashier, dropping it inside the
Victoria's bag, and headed for Hallmark to buy some gift wrap.
On the way, she met Spike and Xander, who looked distinctly nervous and sweaty.
"What's going on? Why does Xander look like he's gone three rounds with
the looney?"
Spike glared at her mention of Drusilla. "Now, pet, it's always hard to
buy an important gift for someone you love. He's just scared she won't like
it."
Xander nodded, gulping slightly. "Yeah, Buff. A bit nervous is all."
"Are you guys ready to go home? We're not going to make caroling if we
don't get moving," she said, still watching Xander in puzzlement.
Spike jingled the bags he was still carrying, and smiled. "I know I'm
ready to get out of this nightmare. Whelp, did you drive here?"
"No, I caught a bus. I got lucky and just got on the last one here."
"Good. We'll drive you home," Buffy replied. "Well, Spike will.
We all know Buffy and driving do not a good couple make."
"You got that right," Spike grumbled, remembering having to help
her pass her road test.
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They pulled into Buffy's driveway not too long afterwards, and Xander drew in
the first real breath he'd taken since Spike floored the accelerator leaving
the parking lot. "Buffy, for the love of everything that is holy, how is
that you are perfectly calm and my stomach leapt out the window five minutes
ago?"
"Because Spike drives me places all the time. I've gotten used to it.
And I guess being dead kinda dulls your reaction to life or death situations."
Spike gave her a menacing look. He didn't like when she talked about her death
so nonchalantly. "You ever been driving with the Slayer, mate?" Xander
shook his head 'no', and Spike grimaced. "Let's just say I'm dead, and
you've seen how I drive, yet she scares the bejesus out of me."
Xander swallowed hard. "Suddenly, I don't feel so strongly about Spike's
motor skills." He got out shakily, and looked around. "Hey guys, there's
some weird van out front."
Spike looked at it, noting the lack of windows. "Hmmm. Looks kind of…sun
proofed love. Thought the Poof was coming tomorrow?"
"I did, too. Maybe something's wrong," she said worriedly.
They grabbed their bags and hurried to the door. Buffy opened it and rushed
in, stopping short when she saw everyone gathered around Angel, who was holding
a small baby in his arms. Her eyes softened, and she pulled Spike in, motioning
toward the living room.
His face was unreadable as he watched Buffy look at her former love and his
child, and Xander's brow creased as he watched Spike.
Dawn's eyes lit up when she saw Buffy and Spike come in. She practically jumped
up, and rushed toward them. "Oh guys, I'm sooooo glad you're home!"
She hugged them each in turn, and they looked at each other warily. "Willow
said I could ask you cuz she wasn't in charge, but I wanna stay up late tonight,
you know cause everyone is here and stuff…please?" she begged.
Buffy looked at Dawn then Spike. "You know I'm not the one to ask, Dawnie.
I didn't set your bedtime."
"Pleeeeeeeeeeease Spike?" she begged.
Angel and Cordelia looked up in surprise. Angel grinned, trying not to laugh.
"You set Dawn's bedtime, Spike? Are you in charge of punishment,
too?" he asked, still holding back a huge guffaw.
Spike glowered at him, then smiled slowly. "Well, I'm not in charge of
Dawn's punishments…," he drawled, smirking lecherously.
Willow and Tara snickered, and Anya scowled. "That was so not age
appropriate! Why do I have to follow the rules if he doesn't?" she whined.
Suddenly, Connor started wailing at the top of his lungs. Spike snickered,
watching Angel try to calm him down, and then buried his face in Buffy's back
to outright laugh when Angel had to hand his son over to Cordy. Connor just
kept on screaming, and the whole LA gang looked at him, mystified.
"Cordelia can always calm him," Wesley explained. "It's very
strange that he's still upset. Especially since he's dry and fed."
Spike poked Buffy. "Give it a try, luv. Something tells me you got a magic
touch."
Buffy looked panicked, but Cordelia nodded. "Go ahead. It can't make anything
worse," she said.
Buffy walked over tentatively. She'd baby-sat when they lived in LA, but somehow,
holding Angel's child made her nervous. She reached out her arms, and took the
squalling baby carefully, cradling him in her arms and crooning. Bouncing on
her toes and walking the room, softly singing into his ear, Buffy held Connor
for a few moments before he stopped crying entirely.
Angel raised his eyes to Buffy, disbelieving. They'd all thought Buffy wouldn't
even know how to hold the baby much less calm him. And there she was, rocking
him to sleep like she did it everyday. Watching her made him remember why he'd
loved Buffy so much: she was just amazing, constantly doing something new and
wonderful. His eyes caught Spike's and he was surprised to see that the eyes
meeting his were slightly misty. And there's yet another person who never
fails to amaze me on a daily basis…
Dawn pulled on Spike's duster sleeve, vying with Buffy for his attention. "So
can I stay up?"
Spike sighed and took off his coat, then dropped into the chair Dawn had been
occupying earlier. His eyes were still on Buffy and the baby as Dawn snuggled
onto his lap and gave him puppy dog eyes. He looked down at her suspiciously.
"Bit, why are you so eager to make the demon girl burst tonight? You know
she can hardly open her mouth until you're in bed," he said, throwing a
grin in Anya's direction.
"But Spiiiiiiike!" Dawn whined.
"Tell you what, Nibblet. We'll go upstairs and wrap the presents Buffy
bought tonight. And…" he whispered in her ear. Her face lit up, and
she grabbed all the bags, bounding up to her room with them.
Angel tore his eyes from Buffy to look at Spike. "You do realize you've
become a father, too?" he asked softly.
Spike sighed heavily and rolled his eyes at the older vampire. "Yeah,
yeah. Bit loves me. I get it. What about you and your…surrogate mother
over there?" he asked indicating where Cordy was taking the sleeping baby
from Buffy to put him to bed upstairs.
"What about her?" Angel said sharply.
"Where's she sleeping tonight? I don't want to wake up to the prick, you
know. My Christmas wish has much more to do with Buffy and a Santa teddy than
you on a killing spree."
Angel smirked. "That'll go great with that hat you're wearing."
"Oh, bloody hell. I had almost forgotten about this blasted thing. Buffy
and the blonde witch made me wear it. My hair was all… they made me wear
it. I'll never forgive them," he muttered.
Angel's demeanor changed and he looked at Spike earnestly. "She's sleeping
downstairs with Fred and the crew. Only Connor and I are sleeping upstairs."
"Great. Bleeding baby crying all night. Merry Christmas, Spikey,"
he grumbled, trying to mask the relieved look on his face. He nodded once at
Angel, and called to Buffy. "Going up to help the Nibblet wrap the stuff
we bought."
"Okay," she answered distractedly. She went back to talking to Cordelia
and Fred about Connor's birth. It took her a full five minutes for her brain
to realize what Spike had said. Her eyes widened and her hand flew to her mouth.
From upstairs, Dawn's voice could be heard. "Oh ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwww! Buffy!"
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Buffy plastered a fake smile on her face as she returned from upstairs. The
people in the living room looked everywhere but at her, trying to conceal the
fact that they'd heard most of the ruckus. Angel kept his eyes averted completely,
having heard every 'Spike, you idiot!' and 'Gross, Buffy', and was having trouble
keeping from laughing. "What? Why is everyone acting like I have the plague?
Is there a big wart on my nose?" Buffy asked.
Angel burst out laughing, and everyone else soon followed. Buffy blushed a
cheery Christmas red, and dropped into the armchair muttering something about
'idiot vampires'.
Angel only laughed even harder, leaning against Cordelia, who was giggling
next him on the couch.
"Buffy, do you realize if we had a nickel for every time you said 'Spike,
you idiot' or some variation we'd be rich?" Willow asked.
"Or conversely, every time Spike says 'Bloody hell, Slayer' or something
close?" Xander chimed in.
"You act like an old married couple," Tara offered. The laughter
stopped and Tara blanched. "N-not that I m-meant you should.." she
trailed off, her shyness getting the best of her.
Willow smiled and hugged her. "I agree," she whispered in her lover's
ear. "But I think you just gave Giles a coronary." They giggled, ignoring
the looks everyone was giving them.
"What's wrong with being married?" Anya asked. "I've read the
best orgasms come from a happily married couple on their wedding night."
The LA gang stared at her, gape mouthed. Gunn nudged Wesley. "Did she
just say…?" he whispered out of the corner of his mouth.
Buffy grinned. "Hence, the age appropriate warnings."
Anya pouted. "I hate when everyone stares. Just because I'm honest and
have the guts to say things other people wouldn't… And besides, Spike says
sexy things all the time and no one chastises him!"
Xander put his arm around Anya. "Honey, that's because he could make us
all an after dinner mint. Well, except for Buffy, because…there's no need
to go there on that one."
Buffy raised an eyebrow. "And what makes you think he doesn't have more
discriminating tastes than to eat you, Xander?"
"Buffy!" Cordelia said, her eyes twinkling merrily. "I'm not
sure if this conversation is age appropriate for me, even."
Giles rubbed his temples, trying not to wish he was somewhere else. "Well,
then if you don't mind, I'll think I'll go home for now. I know we'll be getting
up bright and early for presents," he said, smiling as best he could. The
last thing he wanted to hear about was Buffy's preference for sexual relations
with the undead.
Buffy frowned. "Well, if you want to, sure. But don't think you won't
be missed," she said following him to the coat rack. Clucking her tongue,
she picked Spike's duster up off the floor and hung it on an empty peg.
Giles looked back at the laughing crowd, and shook his head. "Somehow,
I doubt that, Buffy, but thank you for saying that. I'll see you in the morning."
He kissed her cheek and stepped outside, walking to his car quickly.
Buffy watched him get in, waved, then closed the door. Rejoining the party,
she sat in the overstuffed chair, and grinned. "So now that Dad's gone
and the kiddies are in bed, what do we do now?"
Spike vaulted over the stair railing and headed for the dining room. He returned
with a huge grin and several liquor bottles. "I say we toast the holiday."
Xander ran for the kitchen and came back with sodas and the traditional eggnog.
"Spikey boy, for once, I am so with you, man."
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