TITLE A Vampire Is Not Just For Christmas
AUTHOR Vivienne
RATING PG-13
DISCLAIMER All BTVS characters and certain other aspects of this story belong to Joss Whedon, Fox, ME and associates.
SUMMARY The gang gather in Sunnydale for Christmas. Tara has more than Christmas on her mind.
SPOILERS AU Sunnydale. Vampires and witches, yes. Demons and Hellmouth, no.
AUTHORS NOTE I’ve been circling anxiously for a while, but found this challenge irresistible. It took just a little prod from Wayland (Clare). Many thanks to her for her patient beta-ing.
FEEDBACK Feel free!
[center]A Vampire Is Not Just For Christmas[/center]
The weather forecast for the Christmas holiday was fifteen degrees and sunny, with the possibility of an occasional rain shower. The day before Christmas Eve the temperature plummeted and the skies darkened. That night it snowed. Heavily. The next morning there was a scramble as the townspeople rummaged through their closets and attics for cold weather clothes from their last ski-ing or camping trip. The pock-pock of logs being hastily chopped and the hum of surprised central heating systems rapidly dominated the morning air.
It shouldn’t have been snowing in this part of California, of course. Strangely, the phenomenon went unreported by the media, but then, this was Sunnydale.......
[center]***[/center]
‘Spike cannot possibly share the basement with Buffy and Angel, I can hardly put Oz’s cage in with either of them and what will Cordelia say when she realises Willow and Tara have the en-suite? What on earth am I going to do?’
Giles rubbed his hand over his brow, took off his glasses and cleaned them, put them back on and rubbed his brow again.
Willow put two bags of groceries down on the kitchen table, picked up the sheet of paper that Giles had been studying and said, ‘Easy. Put Oz’s cage in the garage and let Buffy and Angel have an actual bedroom. We can black out their window. Spike can have the basement.’
‘Yes yes, that’s all very well, but that will mean parking the Citroen on the drive.’
‘No big?’ said Willow.
‘It’s snowing,’ said Giles, looking horrified, ‘and anyway, what about Cordelia?’
But Willow had gone upstairs, leaving Giles to solve the conundrum of how to distribute a very singular group of guests around his new home so they would be at minimum risk of killing one another.
[center]***[/center]
Outside the Bronze it was quiet. The snow lay thickly in the deepening dusk, softening its industrial appearance and muffling the traffic noise. The other-worldly atmosphere was enhanced by the coloured lights Tara had strung around the entrance. Inside the Bronze it was equally peaceful.
Tara stood, hands on hips, and surveyed her handiwork with satisfaction. She and Willow had spent much of yesterday conjuring up the mass of ivy, mistletoe and red-berried holly that, interwoven with tiny lights, now adorned every nook and cranny. It delivered the magic that the entrance promised, Tara realised with pleasure, absent-mindedly patting her inside jacket pocket. Reassured that its contents were still safely in place, she picked up a large poster and went outside, locking the doors behind her.
[center]Christmas Eve Private Party XITA AND THE FOOMATICS RUPERT GILES XANDER HARRIS Entrance by Invitation Only
8:00pm – 8:00am[/center]
Tara secured the poster firmly to the door and framed it with coloured lights. The noise of an engine made her look up to see Xander’s truck pull around the corner. She watched as it parked, smiling at the sight of a large conifer strapped to the back. Xander and Anya jumped out and hugged her cheerily.
‘Fame at last!’ said Xander, spying the poster, ‘Only third billing though? I’m not sure my manly ego will survive the night. I might need extra flattery and attention. A lot of extra flattery and attention.’
‘If your ego gets any bigger we’ll have to widen the shop door,’ said Anya, taking Xander’s arm. ‘Xita? You got Xita and the Foomatics?’ she said, turning to Tara.
‘Willow’s favourite band,’ said Tara. ‘Don’t say anything if you see her before tonight, it’s a surprise.’
‘But how could you....?’ Xander trailed off, embarrassed.
‘Afford to pay a top band to come to Sunnydale on Christmas Eve?’ Tara grinned. ‘I was in school with Xita way back. I got her out of trouble a few times, so she owes me one.’
‘Cost-effective,’ breathed Anya admiringly.
The three of them put the tree up beside the entrance and had it decorated in no time. Before they went their separate ways Tara gave Anya the keys to the Bronze so that she and Xander could bring in the food and open up at seven.
‘I’m going to be on the door,’ said Anya proudly, ‘I will be checking all invitations very thoroughly.’
‘I think we can guarantee the total non-presence of gatecrashers if you’re on the door, my love,’ said Xander.
‘Exactly,’ said Anya.
[center]***[/center]
Willow had a pot of coffee on and was busy cutting sandwiches.
‘Tara will be back any minute and people will be arriving soon,’ said Willow. ‘Have you decided where to put everyone?’
‘Yes,’ said Giles peering anxiously out of the window. ‘I’ll do as you suggested Willow, although what I’m going to say to Cordelia I really don’t know. And I’m most unhappy about leaving the Citroen on the drive in this weather. Look at it, four-thirty and it’s already dark. There must be six inches of snow on the ground and it’s still coming down. It’s like a bloody British winter.’ He looked sharply at Willow. ‘Anyone would think that.....’
Fortunately the doorbell rang. Willow ran to answer it, her guilty blushes hidden from Giles, who was left with only her retreating back to look at.
‘Cordy!’
Giles groaned, adjusted his glasses and followed Willow to the front door.
‘Cordy, it’s so good to see you,’ said Willow, hugging Cordelia enthusiastically. ‘Are Buffy and Angel with you?’
‘They left half an hour after me, but the way Angel drives they should be here any second.’ Cordelia disentangled herself from Willow’s embrace and patted her hair back in place.
‘Cordelia, how lovely,’ said Giles.
‘Hi Giles, you too. Now, is someone going to help me with my luggage or are we going to stand here and freeze? What is it with this weather?’
Cordelia was dressed for the weather forecast, that is to say she wasn’t wearing very much. Around her feet were an assortment of flight cases, bags and parcels.
‘Ah yes, I’ll give you a hand with er, all that,’ offered Giles, wondering how on earth Cordelia and her necessities were going to fit in the smallest guest room. He didn’t want to think about her face when she saw it.
‘Hey, guys!’ called a voice from the darkness at the bottom of the drive. They all turned to see Spike appear out of the gloom. He looked tired but was clearly pleased to see old friends.
‘Hey Spike,’ said Willow wrinkling her nose, ‘Ew, hard day’s night?’
‘Drove non-stop from New Orleans and the air-con broke down half-way. It’s a bugger when you can’t roll the windows down during the day. I must say, I wasn’t expecting snow. Nice one Will.’
Giles’s head started to turn to Willow who was making frantic faces at Spike, when a small figure sidled out from behind the folds of Spike’s long, leather coat. A young, very pretty brunette in a mini-dress and candy-cane striped stockings looked balefully at the group on the doorstep.
‘Oh yes, I brought a guest. This is Kajun.’ Giles looked at Spike quizzically.
‘Well, I had to eat on the way here and I didn’t want to stop. Of course now she’s....’
‘A vampire,’ said Giles.
‘Oh Spike,’ said Willow.
‘You could at least have bitten someone wearing Cavallini,’ said Cordelia looking pointedly at Kajun’s legs.
‘Well, you know the rules Spike, I hold you responsible for her behaviour, too.’ Giles sounded very firm.
Spike pulled his invitation out of a coat pocket and waved it.
‘Yes, yes. I know. No biting, no killing, no witchcraft and a truce on all feuds for the duration. Don’t worry, I know the score.’
Kajun looked at Spike, her brown eyes full of horror. She tugged at his coat. He ignored her.
‘Good, you two had better take the basement, in that case.’ Giles scratched his head; coming back to Sunnydale had proved to be a good move, however he was beginning to wonder about the wisdom of buying a four-bedroom house. Honestly, he thought, the whole thing was a logistical nightmare. Now, if he still had his old apartment....
‘Ok, that’s it!’ Cordelia had reached the end of her limited patience. ‘I want coffee, I want a hot bubble bath and I want my room!’
‘Yes, yes, of course. Well you’d better all come in. Come on.’ Giles picked up as much of Cordelia’s luggage as was humanly possible and started up the stairs.
‘Oh Cordy, I have a huge pot of coffee on in the kitchen,’ said Willow appeasingly, ‘a-and sandwiches.’
Slightly mollified, Cordelia followed Willow inside with Spike and Kajun, who was still tugging insistently at Spike’s coat.
[center]***[/center]
Tara drove carefully back to Giles’s. People were out in their driveways with shovels, children were happily pelting each other with snowballs, but the snow was piling up in drifts at the roadside faster than they could build snowmen. Tara reminded herself that they mustn’t overdo it. She made a mental note to take Willow aside and turn off the snow as soon as she got back.
Willow. Tara reached for the object in her pocket with an overwhelming surge of love that made the car heater quite unnecessary. It was still tucked deep inside her jacket. Relief was quickly replaced by self-doubt. What if...? No. She recalled the phone conversation she’d had with Buffy the day before. She loves you, Buffy had told her, and you know she loves you. Tara dragged her hand back to the steering wheel. Willow loves you; she repeated firmly to herself, she loves you.
Her heart was still intent on making mischief however, for she found her thoughts turning to Oz. It was right that he should be included in the gathering but Tara could have done without him in the mix tonight. She liked Oz, liked him a lot. What he’d done, giving up the girl he loved to keep her safe, was wholly admirable in Tara’s book. If Willow hadn’t been the girl in question she’d be looking forward to seeing Oz again. But what if, what if...? No, no, no. Tara shook her head to dispel all traces of negativity and, as she parked behind Spike’s blacked out Lexus, an anticipatory smile lit up her face.
A second car with darkened windows pulled up just as Tara rang Giles’s doorbell.
‘Hey, Tara!’ Buffy ran up the drive with Angel close behind her. ‘Everything ok?’
Knowing exactly what Buffy meant, Tara patted her pocket conspiratorially.
‘It will be later, um, tonight I mean, at the Bronze, well outside maybe,’ she said, thinking of the bunch of mistletoe she had placed strategically on a bough while they were decorating the tree earlier.
‘Amazing. So if you need any help, you know, people kept out of your way, the sudden appearance of champagne, fireworks and cheerleaders, I’m your woman.’
Tara laughed, ‘The first thing I need to do is get Willow and go stop the white stuff falling before we get snowed in.’
‘I thought that might be you two,’ said Angel with a slow smile. ‘Does Giles know?’
‘Oh no. Hush now, it’s against the Christmas rules,’ Tara said as she heard footsteps coming down the stairs within.
[center]***[/center]
‘Ah, is that the Slayer’s voice I hear?’ said Spike, quickly running a comb through his hair.
‘S-slayer?’ Kajun looked as if she were about to die for a second time.
‘Aw, don’t worry sweetheart, rules is rules.’
‘Unless of course you break them and then I’ll just have to ash you,’ said Buffy cheerfully. ‘Hey all!’
‘But I’m so hungry,’ said Kajun sulkily as everyone hugged everyone else.
‘No problem. Look, we have our own supplies.’ Spike opened the door of a second, smaller fridge in a corner of the kitchen. Reaching inside he took out a bag of blood.
‘Giles, you remembered!’ He waved the blood at Kajun, ‘A-positive, my favourite.’
‘We aim to please,’ said Giles, blushing modestly.
‘Ew,’ said Cordelia, draining her coffee, ‘I’m going up to unpack, enjoy your Christmas menu planning.’
Giles looked pleadingly at Willow, but Tara was whispering in her ear on the pretence of a little nuzzle. As a pre-tantrum wail erupting from the smallest bedroom distracted everyone, the girls took the opportunity to slip unnoticed into the peace of Giles’s study.
‘Oh God, I can’t bear it,’ said Giles, trying to make himself heard above the expletive-punctuated crashes and thumps from above his head. ‘This whole thing is threatening to unravel. Buffy, do something.’
‘Giles don’t worry,’ said Buffy through a mouthful of sandwich. ‘You know Cordy. Once she’s pampered and draped in designer she’ll be sweet.’
‘Have some tea,’ offered Spike, pouring a cup of Earl Grey and handing it to Giles.
‘Oh, what a good idea. Just the thing, yes. Thank you Spike.’
‘So what are you planning on singing tonight?’ Angel asked.
‘Well,’ said Giles, relaxing more with every sip of tea, ‘I thought I’d give them ‘Behind Blue Eyes’ followed by...oh I say, look,’ he peered out the window, ‘I do believe it’s stopped snowing.’
‘Cool,’ said Tara, re-entering the kitchen with Willow.
‘Bloody freezing, actually,’ said Giles, eyeing the girls with suspicion. ‘Never mind. I think I’ll get the car out of the garage and put Oz’s cage up. I wouldn’t mind a hand,’ he said, looking at Angel and Spike.
‘Sure,’ said Angel, ‘why don’t you move the car. Spike and I can do the rest.’
‘Of course,’ said Giles, remembering the speed and strength of vampires.
‘Won’t be long, sweetheart.’ Spike ruffled Kajun’s hair. ‘Then I’ll give you a guided tour of the basement,’ he said, leering at her as he went out.
Kajun snarled under her breath and fell into an even deeper sulk.
Buffy made a face and said, ‘Think I’ll go see if Cordelia’s finished with the bathroom.’
[center]***[/center]
Tara studied Willow’s face for signs of a reaction to Oz’s name. To her relief there were none. Chiding herself for doubting Willow, she poured them some fresh coffee.
‘Mmm, great,’ said Willow, winking at Tara, ‘that was thirsty work.’
I’m such an idiot, Tara thought. She smiled back at Willow, losing herself for a moment in the fall of red hair and the sparkle of green eyes. The chime of the doorbell brought her back to her surroundings. She started, spilling hot coffee onto Willow’s arm.
‘Oh my God, oh my God!’ Tara was beside herself.
‘It’s ok, really, it’s nothing,’ said Willow, going to the sink and running cold water over her arm. ‘Kajun, would you get the door?’
Kajun huffed, but stomped off anyway. Tara went to the fridge, returning with a cube of butter.
‘Here, let me rub this on it. It’s better than cold water, takes the sting right out. I’m so sorry Will.’ Tara gently smeared the butter over the scald.
‘Hey, it’s ok. Not so much butter, though. I don’t want it all over my party frock.’
‘Well, let it be for a while, and then,’ she looked up at Willow through her lashes, ‘I’ll lick it off before you change your clothes. Like a cat.’
‘Miaow!’ They giggled.
Kajun came in saying to the new arrival, ‘..so I didn’t get there. I woke up in the back of Spike’s car, and here I am.’
Oz shook the last of the snow off him and strode into the kitchen. Tara’s senses were sharpened to their peak, but they detected nothing more than friendly affection in the exchange of hugs and greetings that followed. Maybe, just maybe, tonight was going to turn out well. Better than well. Yet again she patted the lump that was starting to burn a hole in her pocket. She sighed a little and rejoined the conversation. Willow was telling Oz what Spike and Angel were doing.
‘Great, I’ll go help them. The moon isn’t full yet, that gives me tonight and tomorrow – that’s cool.’
‘We can always order up some more snow for cloud cover if you want extra time, but don’t tell Giles,’ said Tara.
‘Hey, thanks,’ said Oz, and headed out to the garage.
‘He’s a werewolf?’ Tara and Willow turned to Kajun. ‘A freakin’ werewolf?’
‘Um, yes,’ said Willow, ‘problem?’
‘Problem? PROBLEM???’ Kajun tossed her mane of mahogany curls and stamped her tiny foot. ‘I’m in New Orleans on my way to a perfectly good movie, minding my own business, when I get bitten by a vampire. Ok so it’s New Orleans, it was careless of me, but he could have left me at home. Instead of which I end up in California with more vampires; the Slayer AND her Watcher, for Chrissake, a couple of witches, a werewolf and a-a fashion victim. On top of that, I’m expected to drink cold blood and sleep in a basement with Mr Sleaze!’ She folded her arms and looked close to tears.
‘Oh,’ said Willow.
‘Oh,’ said Tara.
‘Spike’s not so bad when you get to know him,’ said Willow gently.
‘He will look after you, really he will,’ said Tara.
‘BUT I’M GAY!!!’ Kajun finally dissolved into loud sobbing. The girls looked at each other and rushed over to comfort the cold little body.
Cordelia came in smiling, her good humour thoroughly restored. She was wearing a bathrobe. A towel covered her rollered hair.
‘Any more coffee? Oh,’ she paused at the tragic little scene in front of her.
‘She’s gay and she’s stuck with Spike,’ Willow looked anxiously at Cordelia.
‘Ew, poor thing...and those stockings,’ she murmured.
Tara took Kajun’s hand. ‘Look, Kajun. Come to the Bronze with us. You aren’t the only gay vamp in Sunnydale tonight. You don’t have to be with Spike.’
Kajun sniffed, ‘Really?’
‘Really. And we’ll find you something to wear.’
‘I’ll find you something to wear,’ said Cordelia kindly, but firmly. ‘Come upstairs with me.’
Kajun’s face broke into a smile and she followed Cordelia out of the kitchen with a look close to adoration.
Buffy’s face appeared around the kitchen door. ‘Hey, I just passed Cordy on the stairs. Am I dreaming or has she just made friends with a vampire?’
The girls had started to explain when all the men – well, vampires, Watcher and werewolf – came back from their chores.
‘Where did Kajun get to?’ said Spike, looking around.
‘Sorry Spike, you lucked out,’ said Tara.
‘She’s playing for the girls team,’ said Willow, chuckling.
‘In fact, I think she’s falling for Cordy.’ Tara twisted the knife.
Buffy laughed, ‘That’ll teach you to check before you bite.’
‘Oh great, bloody marvellous,’ Spike kicked a chair, ‘there goes my Christmas squeeze. What the sodding hell am I going to do now?’ He looked at Buffy, softening his voice seductively, ‘I don’t suppose you....?’
Buffy folded her arms and raised one eyebrow. Angel loomed over her. He raised the other.
‘Just a thought,’ said Spike hastily.
‘Best unthink it,’ said Angel, very quietly.
Spike raised both hands in surrender, ‘Unthunked.’
‘And on that note,’ said Giles, looking at his watch, ‘I think we need to go and get ready.’
[center]***[/center]
Tara stood in front of the cheval mirror anxiously examining her profile. A black silk gown fell in soft tulip-petal waves to her ankles. Cut low at the front and even lower at the back - right to the nipped-in waist - it showed her delightful curves to perfection. She frowned at her hair, still unsure whether to wear it up or down. In the end she settled for up, securing it with a silver comb set with marcasite. She turned to face the mirror full on, tilting her head, smiling at her reflection. For once, Tara actually thought she looked ok. The thought helped to distract her from thinking about what she was planning on doing later that evening. What happened next was, predictably, a much bigger distraction. Willow came in from the bathroom.
Tara caught her breath. Willow had brushed her hair into a shining red waterfall. She had also chosen to wear a dress. Hers ended a good six inches above her knees and was cut from deep green leather so fine and soft that it moved as one with her body. On her feet were matching spider-web stilettos - not that Tara had got that far. She was entranced by the concealed zipper that ran diagonally from the left shoulder of Willow’s dress, across her breasts, around her waist and down, ending on the back hem. Tara thought how very much she wanted to take that zipper in her hand and pull it slowly all the way down until the dress fell in two halves on the floor.
‘Wow,’ she breathed.
‘Wow yourself,’ Willow smiled, advancing toward her.
‘No, you’re the big wow,’ said Tara, taking both Willow’s hands in her own. ‘In fact, on a wow scale of one to ten I’d give Willow, tree, th-th – two hundred and fifty two.’
Willow laughed, ‘Why two hundred and fifty-two?’
‘Apparently I can’t say ‘three’.’
‘Sounds like a good number to me.’
‘Me too.’
They moved closer.
Giles’s voice sailed up over the stairs. ‘Come on you two! We’re all ready to leave!’
‘Uh-oh, better move,’ Willow broke away and picked up her purse, throwing a sea-green faux-fur wrap over her shoulders.
Tara slipped on a black, panné velvet bolero jacket, retrieved her purse from the dresser and followed Willow downstairs.
As the friends exchanged compliments and decided who was going in which vehicle, Tara’s thoughts went ahead of her to the mistletoe on the tree outside the Bronze. Automatically, she felt her pocket. Nothing. For a moment she felt sick. Of course, it was still in her other jacket. She took a deep breath to steady herself, and then headed back upstairs.
‘What’s the matter?’ Willow called.
‘Forgot my lipstick,’ Tara threw over her shoulder, ‘I won’t be a moment.’
‘Girls,’ said Giles with a sigh, checking his watch again, ‘Now, has everyone got their invitations? You know Anya.’
‘You can be my guest,’ Cordelia said to Kajun who looked transformed in silver knit, long boots and no candy-cane. Kajun smirked at Spike, who affected not to notice.
‘I’ll go warm up my engine while you wait for Tara,’ he said to Willow.
‘The rest of us might as well get going, then,’ said Angel.
‘I’ll lock the door,’ offered Willow.
[center] ***[/center]
Tara brought the little box out and held it to her breast for a moment before taking it over to the lamp on the dresser. Carefully, she opened it. The soft light revealed a Victorian engagement ring nestling on a velvet cushion. Small glowing rubies in a double circle surrounded a clear, serene emerald. She took it out and studied the inside of the heavy gold band. The inscription she had agonised over for weeks read simply, ‘Willow & Tara’. Reverently, she put it back in the box, put the box in the inside - the only - pocket of the bolero and pulled over the tiny zipper. Tonight, she thought, tonight might just be the best night of my life. As she went down the stairs she saw Willow’s beautiful, upturned face waiting for her and that was the moment when Tara knew it was going to be true.
[center] THE END[/center]
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