Naturally, it was always almost impossible for anyone to get any sleep on Christmas Eve. It just wasn’t done. Everyone, no matter who you were, got excited about the oncoming holiday and didn’t want to miss the very first rays of Christmas morning to pass by unseen. However, late night vampy patrol was not what Xander Harris expected to be keeping him up this year.Wrapping his arms tightly around himself, Xander glared about the mostly void of life graveyard. It wasn’t as if he really cared that he wasn’t home; home around the holidays was probably one of the few things in the world that was worse than vamp hunting in general. It was just damn cold. Southern California was supposed to be warm, not cold and biting, damn it.
Willow and Oz were off some ways away, her leaning against a tree and him against a headstone. They looked cozy wrapped up in knit hats and scarves, armed with their stakes. The couple barely took notice of the dreary landscaping as they chatted about their plans for the next day. Oz had decided to forego a holiday concert at the Bronze so he and Wills could be together, just the two of them. The happiness shared between the two almost caused Xander’s stomach to lurch.
‘Remember, you are happy for them,’ Xander thought, suppressing a shiver. ‘Yeah, happy…at least she has someone to make her smile this year, instead of being forced to listen to my bellyaching about the family.’ He thought glumly as he sidestepped a fallen vase full of decaying orchids. Ahead of him walked Buffy and Angel, likewise deep in discussion.
‘Probably asking him out for some couply time at the Bronze before he slinks off into the darkness again, cause some yuletide fear,’ Xander smirked. He stopped short and looked around, his shoulders slumping. So much for vamp hunting; everyone was off in his or her own world. A fledge could probably take on the whole lot of Slayer and Slayerettes right now and no one would notice until after someone was whacked against something hard and painful.
Tossing the stake onto the dead leaf strewn yard, Xander sat on a cold stone bench beneath a sprawling cypress, inhaling deeply.
“Pathetic,” Xander wrinkled his nose. He leaned back against the thick tree trunk supporting the bench, crossing his legs. He barely registered the shuffling of leaves from behind him.
“Bloody right, mate,” A voice spoke. Xander sat up immediately, trying to brandish the stake he flung on the ground and looking pretty ridiculous while he was at it. Spike laughed and sat next to Xander, shaking his head. “But are we talking about the same thing?” The blonde vampire asked with amusement. Xander scowled.
“If you are calling me pathetic, Peroxide Boy, I am gonna stake your ass so fast,” Xander threatened. Spike smirked and pulled a long box from within his duster. Xander’s eyes were fixed on the box; it looked like a…present. It was wrapped in shiny red paper with a single white ribbon surrounding its middle. Xander glanced up at Spike’s face, quirking an eyebrow.
“I come bearing gifts,” Spike extended the box to Xander. The dark haired boy hesitated, but accepted the gift.
“Ooo, what is it, a brand new stake? For me?” Xander asked as he slipped the white ribbon from around the package. “Ya know, Christmas presents are only supposed to be opened on Christmas, and this is only Christmas Eve,” Xander said as his fingers played at the edge of the shiny red paper. Spike looked up and shrugged, motioning for Xander to continue.
“Maybe, mate, but I think it’s past midnight, you’re safe,” Spike assured Xander. Xander likewise shrugged and tore off the paper, flipping the lid of the box off and onto his lap.
When Xander looked into the long red box, the last thing he had expected to see was a necklace. A sturdy looking silver chain took up most of the inside of the box, and in the middle of the chain was the strangest pendant Xander had ever seen: a three-inch sterling silver railroad spike.
“Uh,” Xander started. He hadn’t a clue as to how he was supposed to react to having received such an unusual gift, especially from someone like Spike. “Thanks?” Spike chuckled.
“Put it on, love,” Spike sat up, his blue eyes glittering. Xander looked at Spike with great suspicion. Spike rolled his eyes and snatched the silver gift from its box, motioning for Xander to present his back to him. When he hesitated again, Spike pushed him to sit facing away from him. With greater gentility than Xander had expected, Spike fastened the necklace around Xander’s throat and sat back again. When Xander turned back to Spike, the blonde vampire couldn’t help the smile. “There. Beautiful.” Spike stated.
“What’s beautiful?” Willow asked, piping up. Both Xander and Spike glanced up as Willow, Oz, Buffy and Angel intruded on their quiet exchange. Willow’s eyes immediately fastened on the glinting silver jewelry now adorning her best friend’s neck. “Oh, Xander, that is beautiful! Weird, it is a railroad spike, but it’s still so pretty!” Willow burbled. Xander blinked. Angel raised an eyebrow, shooting a glance at Spike. Spike looked rather pleased with himself.
“William, can I talk to you for a minute?” Angel asked quietly. Buffy narrowed her eyes, wrapping her arms around Angel’s arm. Angel rolled his eyes and unwrapped Buffy’s arms from him. Spike, thoroughly disgusted by the site of his Grandsire with the bint, stood and began to walk away. Angel had to resort to gripping Buffy by her wrists and holding them at her waist, but she finally got the hint and let him follow Spike.
Spike had chosen to stop some hundred feet from the small group, by a crumbling mausoleum. Angel caught up to him and immediately turned on the blonde vampire, his eyes rimmed in gold.
“What the hell are you doing, William?” Angel asked. Spike crossed his arms and leaned against the decayed brick of the crypt, his face emotionless. Angel almost growled. Spike sighed unnecessarily.
“Don’t know what you’re talking about, Peaches,” Spike stated flatly. Angel inhaled deeply, visibly trying to keep himself from getting angry.
“You gave the boy your mark, are you completely daft?” Angel asked, his voice edged in a slight Irish accent. Angelus, apparently, wasn’t very happy with his grandchilde. Spike grimaced.
“It’s not like you weren’t going to do it yourself, you know,” Spike began. Angel scowled darkly. Spike blinked. “Oh.” It hit him then; Angel was being jealous. Near-game-face equals jealousy. Spike would remember that. “Look, just ‘cause I did it doesn’t mean you can’t, Gramps,” He held up his hands. Angel shook his head and just as soon as the gold had come it was gone.
“Spike, I’m only going to say this once, okay? You know how I feel…for the boy. I, in turn, know you also want him. I have no reservations against sharing a lover, as long as he remains faithful to me. However, and this is the really important thing here, Will: you gave your mark to him before I could. No matter how you paint it, that is upstaging your elder.” Angel spoke clearly and evenly, his voice now sans accent. He glared at Spike as he reached into his coat, withdrawing a small gift box wrapped in blue and silver paper. He tossed the box to Spike, turning to leave.
“Give that to Xander, but don’t let him know who it’s from yet. You will have him wear it, alongside yours,” Angel’s voice was almost a growl again. Spike silently nodded, tucking the small box into his duster. With that, Angel left, instead of returning to the group, making his way out of the graveyard and more than likely towards his home.
Spike quietly made his way back to the small group of Scoobies. Willow had taken Spike’s seat next to Xander, the two chatted about Xander’s gift. Oz was standing behind Willow, his fingers raking gently through her hair. Buffy was stalking in circles, her arms crossed. Spike sneered at the blonde slayer wordlessly. In truth, he couldn’t stand the wench; she stank of immaturity. Xander would make one hell of a better lover for his Grandsire, not to mention himself.
“Sorry, Slayer, but Peaches has gone off to do some brooding. Looks like you won’t see him again tonight.” Spike said, announcing his return. Buffy glowered at Spike. Willow grimaced, anticipating a fight between slayer and good guy vamp. She quickly stood, bumping into Oz.
“Eh, Buffy, it’s okay, let’s go home, we aren’t gonna find any baddies tonight,” Willow gushed. Buffy scowled.
“We didn’t get to dust one stupid vampire,” Buffy pouted. Willow patted Buffy’s shoulder, leading her away from Spike.
“I know, but that’s okay, we can try again the day after tomorrow! Maybe the vamps take holidays, too?” The girls chatted as they walked off, leaving Oz, Spike and Xander in the graveyard. Oz smirked and dug his hands in his coat pockets, bidding both Spike and Xander a silent good night and happy holiday.
Xander sat and watched as his best friend walked off with a sulking slayer. He sighed and absently picked at the railroad spike pendant. Spike watched him silently for a moment, smiling to himself.
“I guess I should get home, too,” Xander frowned, sticking his tongue out. Spike was about to move out of the way to allow Xander to walk past when he remembered the gift from Angel in his coat. He grabbed Xander’s arm just as the dark haired boy was about to walk past. “What’s the deal now?” Xander asked. Spike, while still holding on to Xander, reached inside his coat and pulled out the box from Angel.
“One more gift,” Spike said. Xander smirked but accepted the box.
“Should I open it now, or wait? And is it more jewelry, cause, you know, I don’t really wear that much bling,” Xander joked. Spike released Xander’s arm and rolled his eyes.
“Just open it, boy,” Spike said. Xander shrugged and tore off the wrapping, and upon popping off the lid to this box again found another necklace. This one was quite a bit more delicate. A slimmer silver chain, not as long, either, held an elegantly crafted silver A as its pendant. Xander carefully picked up this piece and held it in awe.
“Spike, I think someone must have given you the wrong gift,” Xander said, his voice hushed. Spike felt a jolt of jealousy as he watched Xander handle his Grandsire’s mark with greater care than his. He bit back all the numerous snarky comments dealing with Angel, however, as an image of angry Angelus flashed through his mind.
Spike shook his head and carefully took the necklace from Xander’s hands. Again, he fastened the clasp around Xander’s throat and stood back, appreciating the sight of the human wearing two vampire’s marks.
“No, Alexander, it’s the right gift for the right bloke,” Spike said. “Merry Christmas, love.”
The End.
