Home For Christmas

I know, I know, it's a strange piece, but I'm a strange author so you'll just have to live with it. So what if there are inconsistencies because Willow's Jewish/Wiccan? Leave me alone, I had to get the song out of my head some way! Lyrics from "The Only Gift" by 'N Sync.

I looked outside at the snow sadly. Last time it had snowed here, I had been with Oz. And now he was gone, and I didn’t know if he was going to ever come back. I sighed and turned away from the window. It didn’t do me any good to brood, I’d learned that from Angel. Everyone was spending Christmas with their loved ones, but, being Jewish, I didn’t celebrate Christmas, and it’s not like my parents would have come back for Hanukkah anyway. Still, they say Christmas is the time for making wishes. There’s only one thing I want.

I was making my list
I was checking it twice
In the middle of this
I got tears in my eyes
For in my foolish heart
There was one simple truth
The only gift I wanted was you

I sighed and turned to the tree Buffy had insisted on putting up in our room. It took up a lot of space, but I had to admit, it was beautiful. The radio was playing some Christmas carol so I turned it off, then stuck my present for Buffy under the tree. We were having a sort of Christmas party here on the 26th, and I, too, was expected to buy presents. So, Buffy had given me coffee and sent me on my merry way to the mall. Apparently I’d gotten gifts for Oz, and tears came to my eyes as I began to wrap them.

I was trimming the tree
I was stringing the lights
While the radio played
'Silent Night'
There were presents you sent
Though there were quite a few
The only gift I wanted was you

The mail came by, and a present in the mail – a spell book from him. I sighed as I read the inscription and began to cry.
“Willow, I love you. Soon. Love always, Oz.”
Soon was not soon enough. I needed him now.

You need to be home with me
Alone with me
Holding me next to the Christmas tree
Kissing under the mistletoe
As candles glow
Please come home soon,
It's not the same without you

Spike checked in on me at some point, orders of Giles. He saw me crying and frowned. “’ey, now, Red, don’t cry. The wolf’s a bloody idiot, that’s what ‘e is. Any sane person would ‘ave stayed here if they ‘ad someone beautiful as you.” He sat down next to me and put an arm around me nervously. “Cheer up, luv. Things can only get better.” His words were true – I don’t think it could get worse. He softened, kissed my forehead once, and headed towards the door.
“I’ll be ‘eadin’ out now, luv. If you need me, you know where I’m at.” And he was gone.

As the bittersweet night
Had come to an end
I was saying goodbye
To a family and friends
And they all wished me well
And they knew that I knew
The only gift I wanted was you

Without Spike, the dorm room was overpoweringly silent. I didn’t want to go outside; didn’t want to join in the holiday festivities of the campus, what little there were. Pretty much everyone was gone anyway. I wouldn’t have cared if Oz were only here. I sighed again and threw myself onto my bed.

You need to be home with me
Alone with me
Holding me next to the Christmas tree
Kissing under the mistletoe
As candles glow
Please come home soon,
It's not the same without you

The decorations in the room were much too cheery for my mood. For that matter, so was the snow. And the music on the radio, and the silence.
I hate Christmas.

Deck the halls with boughs of holly
Fa la la la la, lalalala, la la la la la la
The only gift I wanted was you

Some carolers, all coupled up and happy, passed under my window. Stupid them. Happiness leads to heartache; don’t they know anything? I sighed and got up to close the window.

You need to be home with me
Alone with me
Holding me next to the Christmas tree
Kissing under the mistletoe
As candles glow
Please come home soon,
It's not the same without you

I started replaying memories through my head of all my happy holidays as I sullenly watched the snow fall. Each one just served to remind me of how lonely I was. Buffy had Riley and her mother; Xander had Anya; Cordelia had Angel; Giles had Sharon/Cynthia, whatever her name was. And Spike, Spike didn’t have a soul so his loneliness didn’t bug him. Vampires have it good on that point. Let’s just face it; my life sucks without Oz. I wish he was here.

I was making my list
I was checking it twice
In the middle of this
I got tears in my eyes
For in my wishful heart
There was one simple truth
The only gift I wanted was you

A solid knocking at the door broke me out of my thoughts, and I turned away from the window as I got up and went to open the door. Maybe it was Spike again.
"Am I too late?" A dripping wet, grinning Oz stood there, holding a sprig of mistletoe. I began to laugh as tears of joy sprung to my eyes, and he stepped in to embrace me for the first time in what had seemed like forever.
"I missed you." he murmured, before kissing me softly. "I love you." I told him. "I love you." As we kissed, the carolers out in the hallway clapped. He let go of me regretfully, and I brushed a few remaining snowflakes off his shoulders and out of his newly-dyed green hair before pulling him into my room. It would be white by morning. But all I noticed was the man holding me in his arms who I loved with all my heart and all my soul, home at last, for Christmas.

For in my wishful heart
There was one simple truth
The only gift I wanted was you

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