Title: Worth Saving
Author: Sophie
Pairing: Spike/Fred
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Not mine
Spoilers: Destiny.
PART VI - Mistletoe
Spike closes the door of his apartment, which consists of a bedroom, a bathroom and a small salon, but still it's his own place. Situated on the last floor of the Wolfram & Hart building. Angel finally gave it to him, and to Spike's surprise, without too much groaning. Spike doesn't know if it's the Christmas spirit, but he has also received a salary for the case he has been helping with. Which is about bloody time.
He still hasn't got an office though. He has to work on that a little bit more.
In the meantime, he wants to do some Christmas shopping. Buy himself some more clothes. Also, he wants to find a present for Fred. He figures that if they go to the mall together, she will give him a clue as to what she might like. A fancy dress, a pretty necklace, a book.anything. He just wants to see her eyes shine when he gives it to her.
He scolds himself. He's becoming an even greater poofter with Fred than he ever was with Buffy.
But the girl touches him. Deeply. Differently than Buffy, but not less.
Lately, he's been thinking a lot about Fred. Since that walk on the beach, something has changed. It's subtle, but he feels it. He tries to come up with excuses to go to the lab. Not that he needs any, she was clear on the fact that he can come anytime, but then he's too tempted to spend all his time there. To follow her like a faithful puppy making moon eyes. And that expression brings back painful memories. Been there, done that, got the soddin t-shirt.
Of course he knows that Fred would never treat him like Buffy did back then. But she might hurt him. Unconsciously of course. Her kindness, those gorgeous brown eyes, that sweet smile are as lethal to his heart as Buffy's punches and disdain were. He slows down on his way to the lab. Maybe it's not such a good idea to spend so much time with her then. Maybe he has to be clearer with her on the fact that he's not ready yet. That, at some point, he will need to see Buffy to have a proper closure. And Hell, if Buffy arrives and jumps in his arms, he probably won't be able to say no to her. Then again, he doesn't know what he feels for the Slayer now, after all these months. He still loves her, of course, but.Fred has awoken something in him. Something precious and worth protecting. And he doesn't want to hurt her, never. He'd rather go to Hell than do that.
The lab door is open. Fred and Knox are sitting at one of the tables busy on some experiments. Spike knocks and Fred raises her head. Her face brightens when she sees him. "Spike! Hey!"
Right. Spending less time with her? Not an option.
"I thought you might want to help me do some shopping," he says.
She smiles. "Oh sure! If you give me a few minutes, I'll finish this." She goes back to her microscope and starts to explain some scientific stuff to Knox. Spike listens to her talk. He doesn't get a word of what she says, but it doesn't matter. Like Harris said once three apocalypses ago 'Smart chicks are so hot.'
They are done, and Knox puts his jacket on. "Don't forget we have the annual Wolfram & Hart Christmas party tomorrow," he tells the other two.
Fred frowns. "If it's anything like the Halloween party, I think I'll just pass."
"Oh no, you have to come, Boss. I wasn't there for Halloween but it was some sort of spell, right? Besides, Santa is coming," he added with a goofy smile.
Fred smiles. "Right. Because all the nice and innocent people at Wolfram & Hart still believe in Santa Claus."
Knox looks at her, dumbfounded. "Of course we do. Why wouldn't we?"
Fred looks from Knox to Spike, then back to Knox. "Uh.because Santa doesn't exist?"
"Actually, he does," Spike intervenes.
"What? Really?" Knox nods vigorously and Spike goes on, "A friend of Buffy told me once. She was an ex-vengeance demon, had been around for a thousand years. Anyway, she said that Santa did indeed exist, but he used to be evil. His main hobby being the disembodiment of children."
Fred's face falls. "What? But that's horrible!"
"I don't know the whole story, but one day he decided to stop slaughtering kiddies and to redeem himself. Hence the bringing of gifts once a year."
"I'm pretty sure we must have something on him in the Files and Records section. He used to be one of our biggest clients," Knox adds.
"Oh my God. I don't think I wanted to know that."
Spike comes to her, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Sorry, pet. We didn't want to upset you."
"Yeah, sorry Boss. I thought you knew."
"Are you alright?" Spike asks, caressing her hair.
She shrugs and smiles at him. "Yeah. It's just that for a moment I felt like the day that stupid Holly Mercer told me he didn't exist. I cried for two days. Too bad I don't know where she is now. I could rub it in her face."
"Well, if I don't see you anymore, have a merry Christmas then," Knox tells them before leaving.
Spike waits for Fred at the threshold.
"Where do you want to go?" she asks him, putting her coat on.
"There's that mall two blocks from here. We could take the black Lamborghini I saw in the garage," he says with a smirk.
"You're such a guy," she giggles, pausing at the door to switch the lights off. She suddenly notices something above them. Spike follows her gaze and smiles.
There's mistletoe hanging on the doorframe. He raises an eyebrow. "Did you hope to get a kiss from science boy?" he asks, unable to prevent the twinge of jealousy.
"Oh, no! I.I didn't put it there. I didn't even notice.and it's a stupid tradition, really. I mean, you're a vampire, so you don't have to respect it, right?"
"Some traditions can be good," he replies. He loves it when she babbles, all flushed and embarrassed. She's so adorable.
A little voice in his head reminds him of his earlier resolutions to clear things with her, to avoid being too close. But it would take being a saint to resist that expectation in her eyes, that sweet mouth of hers slightly half-open and begging to be kissed.
He places his lips softly on hers. He hears her gasp. Normally it just has to be a friendly peck, but Spike doesn't want to let go. He suddenly grabs her by the waist and presses her against him. Her hand rises to his face and she opens her mouth, allowing him entrance.
He always thought that kissing Fred would be somewhat sweet and calm. Soothing.
Well, it's not. There's a passion in her he didn't expect. And what was supposed to be a nice traditional kiss is slowly turning into a heavy make- out session. But mostly, there's that sensation overwhelming him. The feeling that he's wanted, desired, cared about. Loved. All those sensations are enveloping him when he kisses Fred. And that's totally new to him, and damn scary.
He gently breaks the kiss but doesn't let go of her. Their eyes meet. She has a confused look - but a happy one, too. "That was one Hell of a Christmas kiss," she says, giggling.
Spike does everything he can to control the urge to kiss her again. And it's one of those rare times in his life/unlife when he's speechless. No cocky repartee, no knowing smirk. He's just looking at her with what he suspects is awe on his face.
"Spike?"
"Yeah, love?"
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Like what?"
"Like.like you want to kiss me again. Because, you know, if you do respect the tradition, then one kiss is enough."
"Is it enough for you?" he asks, his blue eyes plunging into hers.
"No," she admits softly.
"Then sod the tradition," he whispers before kissing her again. Then he remembers they are in the hallway, and reluctantly stops. He grabs her hand and kisses her palm.
"Merry Christmas, Fred."
Her smile is the brightest he's ever seen. "Merry Christmas, William."
PART VI - Mistletoe
Spike closes the door of his apartment, which consists of a bedroom, a bathroom and a small salon, but still it's his own place. Situated on the last floor of the Wolfram & Hart building. Angel finally gave it to him, and to Spike's surprise, without too much groaning. Spike doesn't know if it's the Christmas spirit, but he has also received a salary for the case he has been helping with. Which is about bloody time.
He still hasn't got an office though. He has to work on that a little bit more.
In the meantime, he wants to do some Christmas shopping. Buy himself some more clothes. Also, he wants to find a present for Fred. He figures that if they go to the mall together, she will give him a clue as to what she might like. A fancy dress, a pretty necklace, a book.anything. He just wants to see her eyes shine when he gives it to her.
He scolds himself. He's becoming an even greater poofter with Fred than he ever was with Buffy.
But the girl touches him. Deeply. Differently than Buffy, but not less.
Lately, he's been thinking a lot about Fred. Since that walk on the beach, something has changed. It's subtle, but he feels it. He tries to come up with excuses to go to the lab. Not that he needs any, she was clear on the fact that he can come anytime, but then he's too tempted to spend all his time there. To follow her like a faithful puppy making moon eyes. And that expression brings back painful memories. Been there, done that, got the soddin t-shirt.
Of course he knows that Fred would never treat him like Buffy did back then. But she might hurt him. Unconsciously of course. Her kindness, those gorgeous brown eyes, that sweet smile are as lethal to his heart as Buffy's punches and disdain were. He slows down on his way to the lab. Maybe it's not such a good idea to spend so much time with her then. Maybe he has to be clearer with her on the fact that he's not ready yet. That, at some point, he will need to see Buffy to have a proper closure. And Hell, if Buffy arrives and jumps in his arms, he probably won't be able to say no to her. Then again, he doesn't know what he feels for the Slayer now, after all these months. He still loves her, of course, but.Fred has awoken something in him. Something precious and worth protecting. And he doesn't want to hurt her, never. He'd rather go to Hell than do that.
The lab door is open. Fred and Knox are sitting at one of the tables busy on some experiments. Spike knocks and Fred raises her head. Her face brightens when she sees him. "Spike! Hey!"
Right. Spending less time with her? Not an option.
"I thought you might want to help me do some shopping," he says.
She smiles. "Oh sure! If you give me a few minutes, I'll finish this." She goes back to her microscope and starts to explain some scientific stuff to Knox. Spike listens to her talk. He doesn't get a word of what she says, but it doesn't matter. Like Harris said once three apocalypses ago 'Smart chicks are so hot.'
They are done, and Knox puts his jacket on. "Don't forget we have the annual Wolfram & Hart Christmas party tomorrow," he tells the other two.
Fred frowns. "If it's anything like the Halloween party, I think I'll just pass."
"Oh no, you have to come, Boss. I wasn't there for Halloween but it was some sort of spell, right? Besides, Santa is coming," he added with a goofy smile.
Fred smiles. "Right. Because all the nice and innocent people at Wolfram & Hart still believe in Santa Claus."
Knox looks at her, dumbfounded. "Of course we do. Why wouldn't we?"
Fred looks from Knox to Spike, then back to Knox. "Uh.because Santa doesn't exist?"
"Actually, he does," Spike intervenes.
"What? Really?" Knox nods vigorously and Spike goes on, "A friend of Buffy told me once. She was an ex-vengeance demon, had been around for a thousand years. Anyway, she said that Santa did indeed exist, but he used to be evil. His main hobby being the disembodiment of children."
Fred's face falls. "What? But that's horrible!"
"I don't know the whole story, but one day he decided to stop slaughtering kiddies and to redeem himself. Hence the bringing of gifts once a year."
"I'm pretty sure we must have something on him in the Files and Records section. He used to be one of our biggest clients," Knox adds.
"Oh my God. I don't think I wanted to know that."
Spike comes to her, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Sorry, pet. We didn't want to upset you."
"Yeah, sorry Boss. I thought you knew."
"Are you alright?" Spike asks, caressing her hair.
She shrugs and smiles at him. "Yeah. It's just that for a moment I felt like the day that stupid Holly Mercer told me he didn't exist. I cried for two days. Too bad I don't know where she is now. I could rub it in her face."
"Well, if I don't see you anymore, have a merry Christmas then," Knox tells them before leaving.
Spike waits for Fred at the threshold.
"Where do you want to go?" she asks him, putting her coat on.
"There's that mall two blocks from here. We could take the black Lamborghini I saw in the garage," he says with a smirk.
"You're such a guy," she giggles, pausing at the door to switch the lights off. She suddenly notices something above them. Spike follows her gaze and smiles.
There's mistletoe hanging on the doorframe. He raises an eyebrow. "Did you hope to get a kiss from science boy?" he asks, unable to prevent the twinge of jealousy.
"Oh, no! I.I didn't put it there. I didn't even notice.and it's a stupid tradition, really. I mean, you're a vampire, so you don't have to respect it, right?"
"Some traditions can be good," he replies. He loves it when she babbles, all flushed and embarrassed. She's so adorable.
A little voice in his head reminds him of his earlier resolutions to clear things with her, to avoid being too close. But it would take being a saint to resist that expectation in her eyes, that sweet mouth of hers slightly half-open and begging to be kissed.
He places his lips softly on hers. He hears her gasp. Normally it just has to be a friendly peck, but Spike doesn't want to let go. He suddenly grabs her by the waist and presses her against him. Her hand rises to his face and she opens her mouth, allowing him entrance.
He always thought that kissing Fred would be somewhat sweet and calm. Soothing.
Well, it's not. There's a passion in her he didn't expect. And what was supposed to be a nice traditional kiss is slowly turning into a heavy make- out session. But mostly, there's that sensation overwhelming him. The feeling that he's wanted, desired, cared about. Loved. All those sensations are enveloping him when he kisses Fred. And that's totally new to him, and damn scary.
He gently breaks the kiss but doesn't let go of her. Their eyes meet. She has a confused look - but a happy one, too. "That was one Hell of a Christmas kiss," she says, giggling.
Spike does everything he can to control the urge to kiss her again. And it's one of those rare times in his life/unlife when he's speechless. No cocky repartee, no knowing smirk. He's just looking at her with what he suspects is awe on his face.
"Spike?"
"Yeah, love?"
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Like what?"
"Like.like you want to kiss me again. Because, you know, if you do respect the tradition, then one kiss is enough."
"Is it enough for you?" he asks, his blue eyes plunging into hers.
"No," she admits softly.
"Then sod the tradition," he whispers before kissing her again. Then he remembers they are in the hallway, and reluctantly stops. He grabs her hand and kisses her palm.
"Merry Christmas, Fred."
Her smile is the brightest he's ever seen. "Merry Christmas, William."