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Chapter 4 - Four Days Until Christmas
Xander woke early. Not wanting to disturb Spike, he crept up the ladder and made himself a tea. He’d have to remember to ask Spike if they could get some coffee. Not that Xander minded tea. It was just that he was more of a coffee man.
Balancing the mug of tea and a few biscuits, Xander quietly made his way back down the ladder. Spike was still sound asleep and was curled up in a ball right in the centre of the bed. With quite a lot of careful maneuvering, Xander was able so slide back under the covers without squashing the sleeping vampire.
Xander leant over to pick up his mug and, for the first time, he noticed a book lying on the table. It was a dog-eared and obviously well loved book of all Charles Dickens’ Christmas stories. Xander smiled to himself and thumbed through the volume. This was so sweet. Spike was so sweet. He could not do enough to help him feel at home and it warmed a little spot in his chest that had been cold for so long.
Xander sipped at his tea, crunched a biscuit and started reading.
**
Spike woke slowly. He was as content as a cat on a lap. A beautiful warmth drew him along the bed and he curled up around it, purring and nuzzling and…
“*Ahem*”
Spike uncurled himself from Xander’s leg and sat up.
“Xan.”
“That’s me.”
“Erm, sorry about that. I was asleep and...”
“Its okay, Spike.”
“It is?”
“Yeah. Felt nice.”
Ooopsie, that was a bit of an admission. Best move on quickly.
“Spike.”
Spike was still reeling from the ‘felt nice’ comment.
“Mm?”
“What's the plan for tonight? If there is a plan, that is. You might wanna just go and kill something. I don’t mind if you want to go alone. You must be sick of me by now. I could always go and...”
“Stop for a breath, pet, before you turn blue. We’re going shopping.”
Xander visibly sagged.
“Again?! But…but…but....do we have to?”
“No. We don’t have to. But I’d like us to. Got sommit special in mind, I reckon you’ll like it.”
Xander was suspicious and he studied Spike’s face for any sign of a trick. Finding none, he gave in.
“Alright then. It won’t take long, will it?”
“Time will fly past, luv.”
Xander got the feeling that Spike hadn’t quite answered his question.
**
Xander had the urge to groan again.
“Spike, we’re in the mall again. I thought you said I would like this.”
“Positive you still will. C’mon, it’s this way.”
Spike grabbed Xander’s hand and led him though the crowds. Or was that, barged him through the crowds?
“Sorry…excuse me…sorry about that…could you just move, oh sorry……excuse me…Spike! Slow down, you’re going to cause a fatality in a minute.”
Spike came to an abrupt halt and Xander barreled straight into the back of him.
“Ooof! Spike!”
“Here we are!”
“The Bombay Company.”
“Yup. Ready?”
“For what? What are we gonna do in there?”
Spike cocked his eyebrow and laughed.
“Well, there’s many things that we could do in there, but I think they’d kick us out on our asses.”
Xander hit him.
“Don’t be a smart ass vamp.”
“We’re gonna shop, pet.”
“What for?”
“Christmas decorations.”
“Huh? What for?”
“For the crypt.”
“Really? I didn’t think that you did that kind of thing.”
“I don’t usually. No point, not when there’s nobody to share it with.”
“And now?”
“Got you now. I know you won’t stick around forever, but as we’re spending Christmas together, I thought we could celebrate it…together. I know you love the whole festive thing, fairy lights, tinsel, garlands and shit like…and stuff like that and I just thought it would be nice. We could decorate together. We could get a tree on the way home, make it look all nice, bake some cookies. I just wanna make it all nice for you, give you a Christmas to remember.”
It was a good thing that Spike didn’t need to breathe, otherwise he would have been unconscious by now.
“You’d do all that for me?”
Spike found the floor most fascinating and he shifted uncomfortably.
“Yeah. You deserve a nice Christmas,” he said quietly.
Xander let out a slow breath and spoke to himself.
“For me.”
Spike looked up and found that he was nose to nose with Xander again.
“Thank you, Spike.”
Xander leant in the last couple of inches and placed a small chaste kiss onto Spike’s lips. He pulled back and took Spike’s hand and squeezed it.
“Shall we?”
Spike, being rather taken aback, could only manage a shaky smile and a faint nod.
**
“Oh. My. God. This is…look at…everything is so…”
“Impressed, pet?”
“Duh!? Everything is so…”
Xander caught sight of a price label.
“…expensive.”
“Naah. Quite reasonable, it is, when you consider how nice it all is.”
“It’s like Aladdin’s cave in here.”
Spike watched with warmth in his heart as Xander walked in a little circle, eyeing up all the decorations. It was like watching a kid who was in a toy shop for the first time.
“I take it you like, then?”
“Like? I love. We never had *anything* like this. I was lucky if we got a tiny plastic tree with a couple of chipped baubles and a wonky star. This stuff is so traditional looking. Maybe kinda like…English? All Victorian and stuff.”
“Yeah, that’s sort of why I like it. I knew you would.”
Xander blushed a little.
“Most people would think I was more the singing snowman kinda guy. You know, cheap and tacky? Although, and I’m going to contradict myself now, I always wanted a singing snowman. But you know what I mean?”
“I know, luv. So where should we start?”
“What’s the budget?”
“No budget, we got enough to cover us, easy.”
Xander smiled at the ‘we’ and ‘us’ part.
“A wreath! Always wanted a wreath that you didn’t have to go to a funeral to see.”
“I hear you. Wreath it is.”
And there starteth the shopping.
A nice natural wreath, complete with berries, was chosen and things soon escalated to a matching centre piece for the sarcophagus and matching garlands to drape and hang all around the crypt.
Next came festive candle holders plus candles, ornamental Santa and, lastly, a ton of decorations for a tree. Xander tried to be conservative with their purchases, but it was hard when you had Spike egging you on all the way.
They finally left the shop over two hours later, barely able to carry the mountain of stuff that they had bought.
Next stop? Tree lot.
“How about that one?”
“Naah. Too small, Xan. You’re not thinking *big* enough. How are we gonna fit all those decorations on a tiny tree like that?”
“That’s a good point. I just don’t want you to spend any more…”
“Hush, pet. Don’t want to hear it. Told you I was gonna give you a good Christmas and I bloody well meant it. Big tree equals good Christmas, yes?”
Xander beamed. “Good math.”
“Good. Now, how about that one?”
“As beautiful as it is, I don’t think we could fit it in the crypt. How are we getting the tree home, by the way?”
“Special delivery. I know a guy.”
“You know everyone.”
“That I do.”
“How about that one?”
“Yeah? That one’s good. You like that one?”
“Mmmm, smells nice.”
<i>Like you,</i> Spike thought. “Yeah, it does. This the one then?”
Xander simply gave him the puppy eyes.
“I guess it is. Oi! Clem! We’ll take this one!”
The floppy eared demon waddled over and waved at the two friends.
“Hey, Spike, how’s it hanging?”
“Little to the left, little to the right. You know Xander, don’t you?”
“Sure!” Clem extended a hand and shook Xander’s vigorously. “Hey, Xander. How’s it hanging?”
“Um, I’m not sure how to answer that.”
Spike grinned and interrupted. Time was growing short.
“Clem, how fast can you get this fine looking tree to my crypt?”
Clem pretended to have a quick think. Spike, being Spike, had already checked this with Clem and at the same time he had set other devious little plans in motion.
“Reckon an hour?”
“Nice one. Cheers, mate.”
Xander wandered off to admire some more trees and Spike took the opportunity to pay Clem for his services and slip him some extra.
“That’s for the you know what. Don’t start ‘til morning, though. The boy should be away with the fairies by then.”
Clem nodded briskly, his large ears flapping like a panicked duck.
“Got it. No problem. You can rely on me.”
Spike looked around and spotted Xander gazing up at tree that was covered in fake snow. He quietly approached and placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Changed your mind, pet? Like this one better?”
“No! The other one is perfect. I was just thinking.”
“Thinking what?”
Xander sighed and turned to Spike.
“Snow.”
“Snow?”
“I just wish it would. Wouldn’t it be great? We could throw snow balls or build a snowman…”
“I’m starting to think you’ve got a snowman fetish.”
Xander hit him. “Can I just say, Euuww!?”
Spike pulled Xander away from the tree and back towards the car.
“Time to go, luv. You can dream about leather clad snowmen in the car.”
“Spike!”
**
“How much longer?”
Spike positioned the centre piece and glanced at his watch.
“Any minute, pet.”
“’kay...Are the cookies done yet?”
Spike could see that Xander was so very close to bouncing.
“When the timer goes ting.”
“’kay…Can we listen to it again?”
Spike reached over to his battered stereo and pressed the play button. Suddenly chestnuts were roasting on an open fire and Spike felt his stomach growl.
“Bloody hell, this song always makes me hungry. Could murder a bag o' chestnuts.”
“I’ve never had them.”
“Missing out. I wonder if you can get them around here.”
Xander grinned to himself. Spike wasn’t the only one that could organise nice Christmas things. He was going to save it until a bit later, though.
“I always fancied an open fire.”
“Yeah? Me too. Romantic, they are.”
“Mmmm,” Xander agreed.
Spike took a deep unneeded breath and gently pulled Xander towards him. He stroked one hand across a warm cheek and leaned in close.
“Maybe we could have an open fire next year?” he whispered.
Xander swallowed and had to concentrate hard on staying upright lest his wobbly knees failed him.
“Next year?”
Spike nodded silently. He looked calm on the exterior but his insides were screaming for a reaction.
“Okay.”
Spike let a smile play on his lips before his took Xander’s mouth in a gentle kiss. Xander moaned quietly as Spike lips feathered over his. He needed more, he needed to feel Spike’s tongue swirling around his mouth and his body pressed against him. In a move that was bolder than Xander would have ever have thought he could manage, he coiled his arms around Spike’s waist, pulled him closer and invaded his mouth with his tongue.
*Ting*
They pulled apart and grinned at each other. Xander was flushed and panting and Spike was wide eyed and stunned.
“Um, I think the cookies are done.”
Spike stared.
“…huh?”
“The cookies?”
“Oh! Cookies…yeah, cookies...that was…cookies…oh, the cookies are done!”
Xander released the vampire and finally bounced.
“Quickly. Get them, oh please, now.”
Truth be told, Spike was as keen as Xander to taste the wares. He grabbed a cloth glove and opened the oven door. The smell of cookies and warm chocolate hit the air and both men moaned their appreciation. Spike slid out the backing tray, laid it on the hob and admired his handy work. Six large cookies sat proudly on the tray. There should have been eight, but Xander had gotten into the cookie dough and there had been a scuffle. Xander had finally released the dough on the promise of another chocolate Santa.
Xander reached out an eager paw towards the cookies, only to be swatted away.
“Ger’ off! They’re bloody hot. You’ll burn yourself.”
Xander pouted.
The door to the crypt banged loudly enough to nearly knock it off its hinges.
“Get that, would you, luv. I’ll just stick these babies on a plate. Cool quicker.”
Xander grinned and bounced to the door.
“Hey, Clem.”
“Hi there, Xander! Where do you want this?”
Xander pointed to a space on the right side of the crypt and Clem merrily carried the tree over and began to pot it.
For the first time, Xander realised exactly how strong Clem was. The tree was a good seven footer, yet Clem carried it like it was a match stick. There admittedly was a small struggle at the door, but Clem handled it with style, grace and madly waggling, infuriated ears. Finally the tree popped through the opening and Clem went to work with a smile.
Xander went back to the cookies and poked one. Yup. Still hot.
“Xan?”
“I know, I know, still too hot…”
“That wasn’t what I was going to say.”
“Oh.”
“But they are too hot!” Spike added quickly “Anyway, just wanna say sommit.”
Spike's voice dropped to a whisper and he cautiously watched Clem, to make sure the demon was still busy potting the tree.
“Whatever happens between us, whatever has happened, and it’s all good by the way, just in case you were worrying. I just want you to know, that it’s not what all this is about.”
Spike gestured at the richly decorated crypt.
“Enjoying the babble, here. But can I say, huh?”
“The stuff. The Christmas stuff. All this. I’m not trying to get you into bed...not that I wouldn’t want to, not that I’m saying that I don’t, cos I do, but, that’s not what this is about...”
“Spike,” Xander said, looking sympathetically at the flustered vampire. “I don’t think that you are trying to seduce me.”
“You don’t?”
“Of course not! You’re Spike. Big Bad. Master of Sunnydale. If you were trying to seduce me, then I don’t think that you would be buying me nutcrackers and baking me cookies.”
“That’s true.”
“All done!”
Clem bounded over like an excited Great Dane.
“Cheers, Clem.”
“My pleasure, Spike. I’d better be off. Got lots more trees to deliver and the night is short.”
“Take care, Clem. Cheers, mate. I’m sure you’ll be *around*?”
Clem gave Spike an over exaggerated wink.
“Oh, sure, I’ll be *around*.”
He winked again and bounded for the door.
Xander turned suspiciously towards Spike, his eyes narrowing.
“What are you up to now, sneaky vamp?”
Spike shrugged.
“Sneakin’.”
**
The credits rolled up and Spike nuzzled at the thick mop of sable that was Xander’s hair. Sated by tree decorating, cookie eating, wine drinking and Christmas film watching, Xander had fallen asleep and was now softly snoring in Spike’s arms.
Spike heard a small rustling from outside the crypt, but he didn’t move from his place on the couch. He was well aware that it was his bat-eared friend that was moving about and doing him a good service. Spike smiled to himself and squeezed Xander a little tighter. Things were going so well. Which was strange; things in his un-life didn’t normally go this smoothly. But the proof was in the pudding. He and Xander had shared the most amazing kiss earlier, and after? There had been no awkwardness, no pushing, and no worrying. After Clem had left, they had continued to have a wonderful evening together.
Firstly, they had decorated the tree. Xander had decorated the same way that one might sculpt a beautiful work of art. The lights were arranged so carefully. Crystal droplets were placed with planning and precision, tinsel was strewn delicately and wooden ornaments and glass baubles were hung slowly and lovingly. It was as though Xander never wanted it to end. After candy canes and chocolates were added (Xander still couldn’t get over chocolate being hung on a tree), they stood back and admired their work. Xander looked a little dazed and Spike crept behind him, wrapping strong arms around his waist.
“One thing left, pet.”
“What’s that?”
Spike had released Xander from his brief embrace and crossed the room to the couch, where he picked up a large gold star. Xander smiled.
“Would you put it up?”
“Course I will, pet.”
Spike smiled at the memory of Xander’s happy face as he had place the star on the tree. Such a simple act, yet it had meant so much.
The rest of the night had been spent laughing, drinking and lastly a showing of the Christmas classic, Ernest saves Christmas. They had fallen asleep in each other's arms halfway through.
This was what Christmas was all about. Being with someone.
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Suki
Blue Fiction
