Christmas Spirits

Disclaimer: All I want for Christmas is… Spike. But until then I own nothing.

Summary: A little more Christmas.

Reviews: PLEASE. Thanks. Readers rock but reviewers rule!

A/N: drookit duck: here's your update. 'Christmas Angel' was meant to be a one shot but you had to ask for an update so these people took over my computer and made this happen. I sat down to write another chapter of 'As I Will Be' and this is what showed up. Hope you all like it. Thanks to everyone who reviewed 'Christmas Angel' you inspired me.

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No one noticed the appearance of the two extra guests at the Christmas gathering. Well, almost no one. The blond vampire standing off by himself away from the others almost choked on the beer he was sipping. Quickly casting a hasty look around the room to see if anyone else saw what he did, he came to the conclusion that he was the only one afflicted with the ability to see them. After coming to that realization, he decided that the best way to cope with the unexpected development was to ignore the ladies as best he could. He was now suffering a severe case of the wiggins. He'd almost gotten used to the idea that Joyce would be with him, albeit invisibly, all the time but to see her there with someone he hadn't laid eyes on in more than a century shook him to the bottom of his well worn scuffed boots. He downed the rest of the beer in his hand and silently moved into the kitchen to get another one. He was still wondering what possessed him to even be there in the first place. It'd seemed like a good idea when Joyce told him to bring the gifts she'd provided. Now he was wondering why she'd decided to make her presence known here.

Dawn followed Spike into the kitchen wondering why he was suddenly acting so skittish. She liked the blond vampire and since her sister had been back, she wasn't allowed to spend as much time with him as she used to. She snuck up on him as he peered into the refrigerator searching for another beer.

"Little Bit, don't you know it's near impossible to sneak up on a vamp?" Spike smirked as he turned with an unopened bottle in his hand.

The teenager smirked back. "I know. But it's fun to try. Especially with a vamp as nervous as you suddenly seem to be. What's wrong? Santa leave you coal?"

Spike glanced around to make sure the teen was the only female to follow him into the kitchen. Relieved that they seemed to be alone, he sighed. "No, Bit. Santa didn't leave me coal. Santa doesn't visit vamps."

He opened the beer and took a long swallow. He had a sudden flashback of Dawn sitting on a bed with a bottle of pills in one hand and alcohol in the other. Slamming the beer down onto the counter with a shudder, he turned haunted blue eyes to the teenager he loved as a sister. Not that he would admit it. She was shocked by the expression in the sapphire eyes.

Putting a small hand on his arm, she gazed up at him worriedly. "What's wrong?"

Determinedly shaking the vision from his head, he looked at her. Oddly relieved that she was alive and well in front of him and not somewhere all alone. "Nothing Bit. Just remembering a bad dream." He told her quietly.

She nodded. For some reason she decided not to pursue the subject. Whatever had put that look in his eyes was not something she felt prepared to deal with. She gave him a quick unexpected hug and went back in to the living room.

He closed his eyes. A tingle trickled down his spine and he knew he was no longer alone in the room. Reopening his eyes, he saw Joyce and the last person he ever expected to see again, his mother. Without a word, he bolted for the basement door and flew down the stairs. He sought a dark corner and slid down the wall until he was as small as possible. He clamped his arms around his head and crouched there rocking on his heels. He'd turned his mother hoping to spend forever with her, taking care of her, but the demon he'd unleashed had turned on him and he'd been forced to stake her. Seeing her there had brought it all crashing back.

"Why? Why did you send me here? They don't want me. They're only tolerating me because I brought presents. I need to leave. I can't do this. I can't face her. Not after what I did. I killed her. Twice. It's Christmas, just wanted to spend a little time with them. The Slayer and the Niblet." He stopped babbling as the tingle returned to his spine. He lowered his arms and wrapped them around himself. He glanced up fearfully and saw that they'd followed him. A tear slipped down his too-lean face as the features of his beloved mother drew closer.

"Dear Heart, I didn't mean to distress you. We got special permission to visit today. I saw the altered reality that Joyce showed you and knew you would be having a hard time dealing with the memory of it." Anne soothed her son. Crouching down beside him, she ran a hand over his now-mussed platinum curls. "What have you done to your hair?" She asked with a twinkle in her eyes that were identical to his own.

"M-mum? It's really you?" He whispered, unsure of whether this was a good thing.

She cupped his face with her hand. "Yes, it really me. I've missed you dreadfully. My son, my precious son, what have they done to you?"

He remained in his defensive crouch and turned his face from the one person he'd ever loved unconditionally. Now that he knew he hadn't condemned her to eternal damnation, he felt a little better but the fact remained that he'd murdered his own mother. It was an unforgivable act and he would be dust before he asked for the forgiveness he craved. She looked exactly as he remembered her. Her soft blue eyes and her loving smile were just the same and it was killing him to see her.

"William? Darling boy, what's wrong? Look at me. I came all this way to see you and you won't even look at me." She pulled his face back around and gave a soft cry at the bleak despair on his lean features.

"I'm the monster who killed you. You shouldn't even be looking at me. Why are you here?" Spike asked quietly, turning his face away again with a wrench.

"Sweetheart, I love you. You're my own darling boy and I know you didn't mean any harm by turning me. You just wanted to make me better and spend the rest of time with me. I got that. But, Dear Heart, I wasn't like you. When you turned me I became a demon without any humanity. You seem to have avoided that curse. You retained more humanity than other vampires. I didn't realize that it would haunt you for so long. Joyce has been guarding you and she tries, but really Darling, you make it hard. We're here because we wanted to make sure they were treating you right on Christmas. I know what Christmas means to you, what it's always meant. How you loved Christmas. I can't imagine that changing over the last century." Anne ran her fingers through Spike's tousled blond curls. Any doubt he'd had about whether or not this was his mother faded at her words. Only his mother would know about him and Christmas. Slowly he unwrapped his arms from around his torso. Pushing up, he stood and extended his hand to help her up. She held out her arms and he moved into her loving embrace with an unneeded sigh.

"Mother." He breathed. "I've missed you so much. I'm so very sorry for what I did." He stopped abruptly. He hadn't meant to say that. The last thing he would ever do was ask for her forgiveness, he didn't deserve it.

"It's okay, William. I love you." Anne held her beloved son tightly. "I forgive you."

He released her as if she'd turned into a cross. Pushing her away, he turned his back to her, he hunched over as if in pain. "You can't." He told her, refusing to turn back around. "What I did was unforgivable. So don't, just don't." His voice broke and he pulled away as she tried to get him to face her.

Joyce decided it was time to intervene. Their time was running short and she wanted to go back upstairs before they had to leave. "Spike. Stop being stupid. Nothing is unforgivable. If you are truly sorry for an act, then it is entirely forgivable. Your mother has just told you that she does forgive you. She knows how much you've regretted your actions. She also knows that you were not being selfish when you did it. You thought you were helping her. So accept it. Don't make me come over there." She warned him.

Spike turned his blond head toward the two women he loved so much. "Mother." He gazed at Anne. He turned his sapphire eyes to Joyce. "Mum."

He turned around fully and extended his arms. Both women walked into his embrace and held on tightly, showing their special vampire how much they loved him.

Joyce looked at his handsome face. "Now, can we go back upstairs? I think they're getting ready to open presents. Don't you want yours?"

Spike scoffed. "They didn't get me presents. They all hate me, except for the Bit. And Buffy wouldn't let her get an evil disgusting thing like me a Christmas present." The bitterness was evident in his voice.

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Upstairs, Xander looked around. "Were did Fangless go?"

Dawn smacked his arm. "It's Christmas. Can't you leave off the names? Just for today?" She asked heatedly.

The male Scooby had the grace to look abashed. "Okay, just for today." He promised the teenager. "Now, presents?"

Tara glanced around. "We really should wait for Spike." She observed quietly. "I got him a present so he should be here."

Willow looked at her girlfriend in surprise. "You got him a present? So did I."

Dawn looked around at everyone. "So did I. Is there anyone here that didn't get Spike a present?" They all exchanges surprised looks but no hands went up.

"Giles? YOU got Spike a gift?" Dawn squeaked. The Watcher removed his glasses and got out a handkerchief. Cleaning his glasses furiously, he nodded. For the life of him he couldn't figure out what possessed him to buy a Christmas present for the one being he disliked almost as much as he hated Angel. He'd been in the mall shopping and he'd seen something that he'd known instinctively the blond menace would like. The compulsion to buy it had been overwhelming. He'd almost forgotten it until just now. He'd picked it up and brought it with him without even thinking about it.

Buffy sat there thoughtfully. She'd gotten Spike a gift as well but couldn't remember just why she'd done it. She hadn't been surprised to see him at the door this morning even though she'd specifically told him he wasn't invited for Christmas. Their relationship was not the type to promote spending holidays together.

"But why did we buy him presents?" The Slayer asked incredulously. No one had an answer.

Dawn brought their attention to the brightly wrapped packages Spike had carried in with him. "He got us presents." She said.

Xander made a face. "Probably stolen."

"Christmas presents should never be stolen." The quiet British voice startled the entire group. "I have never in the entire time I've been an evil soulless thing have I ever stolen a Christmas gift." He continued before taking a long swallow of the beer dangling from his slender fingers. "So go ahead then, see what I got you." 'Kinda curious to see for myself.' The vampire thought with a tiny smile.

Dawn walked over and took Spike's free hand. Dragging him over to an empty chair, she pushed him down and took a place on the floor by his feet. "So, who's playing Santa?" She asked brightly.

"I'll do it." Buffy volunteered from her place by the tree. She began passing out the gifts, making sure everyone had at least one before handing them another. Spike was stunned speechless as she handed him the first one and then again when the second one was passed to him. He sat there looking at the gaily-wrapped packages in his lap without touching them.

Dawn noticed and pinched his leg. "Ow! Bit! What'd you do that for?" He yelped.

Anya paused from ripping open her own gifts. "Because you're supposed to see what you've been given instead of just looking at the wrapping." She stated.

Slowly, Spike picked up the first gift. Checking the tag, he noted the name of the giver in shock. "Watcher? YOU gave me a gift?" He asked in bemusement.

Giles ducked his head and worked at the tape on the box in his lap. "Just open it." He mumbled.

Spike did as he was told and ripped the wrapping off, dropping the item as his system received yet another shock. Shakespeare. The watcher had gotten him a leather bound, gold leafed edition of the complete works of William Shakespeare. He just sat there staring at it as if he feared it would disappear.

"Rupert." He breathed. "I don't know what to say." He picked the book up and opened it reverently, unaware of the total surprise on everyone's faces, especially Giles. He looked up, sapphire eyes shining. "Thank you."

Giles smiled, the first true smile he'd ever directed at the vampire. "You're welcome."

The gifts piled up. It occurred to Spike sometime in the middle of the whole thing that Joyce had somehow orchestrated the entire stack of gifts now piled up in his lap. Dawn had gotten him two packages of t-shirts, one red and one navy blue. She told him she was tired of black. Xander had gotten him a carton of cigarettes. Anya, a set of videotapes, the titles of which he'd immediately hidden from the teenager at his feet. Buffy had gotten him a new sword and Willow had provided him with a box of herbs and spices for his blood. Tara had the second most surprising gift, a book that matched the one Giles had given him but it was a book of poetry from the eighteen hundreds. He flipped through it to the index and was stunned beyond belief to see his own name listed, his human name that is. He was immediately gratified that no one knew his human name so she couldn't have possibly known he was published. HE hadn't known. His shocked blue gaze met Tara's amused smoky blue eyes. He closed the book sharply. Somehow she knew.

"Thank you. I don't know what to say." Spike told them all quietly.

Xander looked up from the leather tool belt that he'd gotten from Spike. "Spike, this is really nice. Thanks."

Anya squealed as she ripped open the envelope that had her name on it. Spike had given her a stock certificate from an up and coming computer company, almost guaranteed to make her money.

Giles looked up from the set of books he'd gotten from the blond vampire. It was a complete dictionary of demon languages. "Where did you get these? I didn't know they existed." He gazed at Spike in puzzlement.

Spike ducked his head. "I have my sources." He mumbled.

Buffy unwrapped the tiny box that had a tag announcing it was from Spike. She gasped at the delicate locket that dangled from the fine gold chain. She opened it and saw in shock that it had tiny photos of Dawn and their mother in it. "Oh my God, Spike." She stopped, unsure how to continue.

"As long as you like it, Pet." He said softly.

Dawn ripped her gift open. She'd also gotten a locket, different from Buffy's but just as lovely. Hers had photos of Buffy and Joyce in it. She gazed up at her favorite vampire. "Thank you." She breathed.

"You're welcome, Bit." He answered shyly.

Willow began hopping up and down in her seat. "Oh my Goddess! Spike, it's awesome! Where did you get it?" She held up the heavy crystal wand. She caressed its faceted length. "It's got a lot of energy. It's a positive source. A grounding wand. It helps channel good magic and repels black energy."

"Thought it would be helpful." Spike said the first thing that came to his mind. Privately he vowed to have a long talk with his guardian angel.

Tara was the last to open her gift from Spike. She gave him a long measuring look before turning her attention to the package in her lap. She gasped. It was an ancient text of magic spells. She carefully opened the leather cover. It was a book of good magic. All kinds of helpful spells were listed in the index. She lifted her gaze to him again.

"Spike, where did you get this?" She asked.

"I never divulge my sources." He smiled, shaking his head.

Everyone sat quietly for long minutes, each admiring the gifts they'd gotten from their friends and family.

Xander was the first to speak, as always. He'd never been good with silence. "So. Has anyone checked the turkey lately?"

Buffy and Willow rushed into the kitchen to find their dinner was perfectly cooked. They had prepared the side dishes earlier and put them on the back of the stove to stay warm until the turkey was done. They'd figured that by the time the gifts were given and opened, it would be ready. They began carrying dishes to the pre-set table and called Dawn and Tara to help.

Xander, Anya and Giles also went to see how they could be of assistance, leaving Spike in the living room alone for a minute. He got up and carefully placed his precious gifts in the chair. Walking over to the corner he'd been studiously ignoring while the gift giving was in progress, he glared without heat at his lovely guardian angel.

"Someday you're going to have to tell me where you got some of that stuff." He whispered. She shook her head in amusement.

"Never divulge your sources." She quoted.

His sapphire gaze stayed on her. "You guided them while they were shopping, didn't you?" He accused.

Joyce nodded. "Everyone except Anya." She admitted.

Spike laughed. "Kinda figured."

Anne placed her hand on his arm. "We must go now." She said sadly. "Well, I must. Joyce will still be with you, as is her job."

"My pleasure." Joyce corrected.

A tear slid down Spike's face, echoed by one trickling down Anne's. "I love you, Mother." He whispered brokenly.

"And I you, my son." She pressed a kiss on his lean cheek and disappeared.

Joyce wiped the tear from Spike's face, kissing the spot lightly. "I'll be here." She assured him and vanished from his sight.

Tara walked up behind Spike. "Are they gone?" She asked, causing him to jump a foot.

"Who, Glenda?" He sputtered.

She gave him a look that made him shift uncomfortably. "Buffy's mom and the other lady. She looked like you, is she your mother?"

He was stunned. "You could see them? Why didn't you say anything?"

She shrugged. "I knew they were here for you. I felt Mrs. Summers there while I was shopping."

He nodded. "Something else, isn't she?"

She grinned. "You weren't that bad of a poet." She told him confidentially, laughing as shock once more covered his face. "Dinner's ready."

"Did Buffy cook?" He asked fearfully.

She laughed at him again. "Come on." She led the thoroughly bemused vampire into the dining room.

Christmas dinner was a rousing success.

Finis