A/N : Thanx so much to everyone that reviewedthe first little Xmas ficlet; kargrif, Spuffyfan4eva, Mariana, freezyboncoolipants, GoldenAng99, TammyDevil666 (btw, WIP means Work In Progress). Glad you all liked it so much. Here's the second fic, four years later, and the third one will be up in a couple of days...
(For disclaimer, etc. - see Chapter 1 and 'Our Little Family')

Story 2 of 3 : The Meaning of Christmas December 2004

"She's so excited about this" Buffy enthused "I expected her to be nervous but it turns out that's just me" she admitted as they walked slowly through the school auditorium, with a whole load of other parents and relatives.

"She'll be perfect luv" Spike told her with a smile "she's spent enough time practising, and it's only one little bit of a song"

"This is a big deal Spike" Buffy briefly stopped walking and almost caused a pile up "It's our daughters first time on a stage and in front of all these people"

She looked more terrified than the Little Bit had, Spike realised.

"I know, pet" he nodded, trying to keep her moving towards their seats "Just thankful they do these things in the evening. Seems bloody stupid to keep the kids up so late but at least us vampiric fathers get to see the show" he smirked, whispering the words that others should not hear.

"Y'know Becky was so thrilled when I told her you could come" Buffy smiled, remembering just how happy her little girl had been to know this was one special event Daddy was allowed to attend. So many others he'd missed out on before, because of his 'sun allergy'.

"I know she understands that I can't do stuff her mates Dad's do, like take her to the park and all" Spike sighed "but I also know she wishes I could...I do too" he admitted as they stopped by two spare seats near the front of the room.

"Me too" she told him, kissing his cheek "but hey, you're here for this"

"Looks like we're just in time too" he pointed out as a teacher came on stage to start the show and Buffy and Spike quickly slid into their seats.

"Hey Mom" the Slayer whispered "I'm so glad you're here"

"We wouldn't miss it for the world, sweetheart" her mother assured her, squeezing her hand. She remembered Buffy's first appearance on the school stage as if it were yesterday and it seemed crazy to think she was now about to see her grandchild.

"Xander, Willow, and the others are standing at the back" Giles leaned across her to speak to Buffy "It took a while to park the car apparently and we couldn't save enough seats for everyone" she smiled as she turned to see her friends all crammed in by the doors. Willow gave a little wave but Buffy didn't have time to wave back as Spike alerted her to the fact the show was starting.

- - - - - - - -

Spike wasn't entirely thrilled to be sitting through a whole kids nativity play when all he really wanted to see was his little girl's part in it. So far she'd been on the stage exactly twice and both times stuffed up near the back so she was barely visible. Still, her big moment was coming, he knew, and all the pain of listening to Joseph stammer through his lines and watching Mary drop the baby Jesus would be worth it when his little girl got to do her part.

"Oh God" Buffy audibly gasped as her daughter walked out into the centre of the stage, dressed in the angel costume it had taken Joyce hours to make. Three other small girls stood to either side of her but the eyes of her parents, grandparents and all the Scoobies were fixed on Becky alone as the narrator, an older boy, spoke.

"And the angels watched over the baby Jesus, singing him softly to sleep" he said grinning at his own mother as Becky spotted her parents and waved to them.

Tears came to Buffy's eyes as she and Spike waved back and the teacher began to play a familiar melody on the piano and Becky sang the first little bit of Silent Night alone before the rest of the little angels joined her to complete the verse of the song.

Spike sat there in the second row, Buffy's hand gripped in his, staring straight ahead at his little girl. It was in that moment as he watched her smile and sing her heart out that he realised something...

- - - - - - - -

"Was I really good, Daddy?" Becky asked as Spike tucked her up in bed a while later.

"Better than good" he promised her, "Bloody brilliant" he whispered, hoping Buffy wouldn't hear from the door. Becky giggled and wrapped her little arms around his neck, hugging him tight.

"I love you, Daddy" she told him before she lay down to go to sleep.

"Love you too, baby" Spike told her, pulling the covers up under her chin and kissing her forehead, "Sleep tight" he whispered as he went over to the door, turned out the light and left the room. He headed back down the stairs and found Buffy waiting for him on the couch.

"What's with the look, Slayer?" he asked as he approached, "I know that face too well, now what's up?" he pressed as he came to sit beside her.

"I was gonna ask you the same thing" she admitted, "You've been all weird since the play, all quiet and kinda dreamy" she told him, looking down at her hands "I know Christmas isn't a great time for you I mean, hello, vampire and all that's unholy but..."

"That's just it Buffy" he interrupted her, making her look up, "Reckon it's Christmas that's got to me" he told her with a half-smile, "I think...I get it now"

"I don't understand" Buffy shook her head as he took her hand in his and studied the ring upon it, the one he'd given her as a symbol of his love.

"I know what Christmas is in the bible sense, son of God born in a stable and all that, and I always used to believe it as a human and sometimes even now I wonder about it" he admitted "but Christmas isn't just about believing in that story" he had realised "it's about love and being with the people you care about and...Buffy, when I saw Becky up there, all done up in her little angel outfit, singing that song" he smiled with obvious parental pride just at the thought of it "she's what Christmas is about Buffy, mine at least. I've never felt love like I have for you and her. I believe in you two and that love I have for you, more than anything else in the world, and I think that's what matters, right?" he tried, but she didn't answer him "Or possibly I'm not making any sense at all and I've just made myself look like a complete nancy boy" he said bitterly, looking away.

"No, Spike" Buffy put her hand to his face and made him look at her, smiling despite tears in her eyes "I'm glad you get Christmas now" she told him honestly "and I love that you love Becky and me so much, I can't even tell you what it means to me"

She leaned in then and kissed him tenderly. It really did mean so much to her that Spike was willing to turn his unlife upside down just to be with her and Becky and make them happy. His love for them exceeded anything she'd ever known. What he'd just said to her was so beautiful she couldn't keep back the tears that formed in her eyes and ran down her cheeks.

They curled up on the sofa together, and she realised she never felt so safe as when she was wrapped in his arms. So comfortable and peaceful and after a day of both stress and excitement, Buffy soon fell asleep right there.

Spike smiled as he looked down at her peaceful face.

"Merry Christmas, Slayer" he whispered, kissing the top of her head, before closing his eyes and letting sleep claim him too.

End of Story 2

A/N2 : Hope you liked this, please let me know either way by reveiewing, and look out for the third little fic in a couple of days, as well as an update on the main story of 'Our Little Family'.