Arezue; Desire, William The Bloody
Shots: A Very Dawn Christmas
((Chapter Eighteen))
Dawn awoke slowly to the smell of cinnamon and pie, apple pie to be exact. Rubbing her eyes, she stumbled out of bed and down the staircase.
It had been a week since Kristine's birthday party. Since then, Christmas break had started and Dawn had no school for another week or so. And to top it all off, Christmas was today! The windows were hung with sparkling lights, the halls were decked with holly and – Dawn frowned – had she ever done up the Christmas tree like Buffy had asked her too?
'Who the fuck cares?'
Anyways, it wasn't like any of the above was the best part? No. The best part was that Angel and Connor were driving in from Los Angeles to join everyone else for Christmas; everyone being everyone!
With a squeal of excitement, Dawn bounced down the stairs.
"Oy nibs, sleep well?" Spike asked from his place on the couch. He and Xander sat on the couch, watching some equestrian movie about – Dawn blinked – was it just her or did that look a lot like porn? As to when exactly everyone had realized they didn't have to tip toe around her when it came to the sensual was beyond Dawn but she really wasn't complaining.
Arezue was sprawled on the rug with Anya, chatting away quietly about marriage and sex. When had Arezue become so quiet? Dawn wondered silently but didn't voice.
"Good morning, Dawnster." Xander greeted her. "Dream about that special someone last night?" Xander winked at her and Dawn flushed. Spike chuckled and Dawn rolled her eyes at him. As if the vibrator hadn't been embarrassing enough? But then again, everyone already knew that story.
"That's none of your business!" Dawn could guess that either Buffy or Spike had told Xander who she had a crush on. It was mortifying to know that Spike knew all about her little crush', and from what she had gathered, actually found the idea stimulating to say the least.
"Christmas sex is the best sex there is!" Anya chimed in as always with her two cents. "You should tell – er –" Anya paused, for once in her life seeming to understand that the who was something Dawn didn't want advertised. "- them, who it is, the truth, It'll be the best sex you've ever had." Xander choked on his eggnog and Spike thumped him on the back.
"Oh god! I just got a mental picture of Dawn and – oh! Dawn!" Xander shuddered and Dawn blushed furiously, hoping that maybe Anya's belief that Santa was a demon was true and that maybe he could crash through the fireplace any second now just so that she wouldn't have to have this conversation.
"Does everybody know about this?" She asked, grabbing Xander's glass of eggnog.
"I don't." Arezue piped up finally, sounding a tad bit bitter. She'd gotten even quieter lately and Dawn was starting to wonder if there was something wrong with her. "I happen to be your best friend and I've got no damn clue who the hell you're talking about." Dawn winced at the accusatory tone in Arezue's voice.
"Well, um, it's not that big of a deal." Arezue shrugged, a hurt look passing through her eyes but disappearing quickly. "I like your hat. Very Christmassy." Dawn tried to make up for lying but Arezue just shrugged again, looking uninterested in Dawn's attempt at flattery.
Arezue wore a sleeveless satin red dress with the cutest little green elf hat that Dawn had ever seen.
"Oh!" Suddenly Arezue brightened, pulling something out of her white coat. "I got you one too." She moved it around so that the tiny bell on top of it tinkled.
"Oh my god, I so love you!" Dawn squealed, then realized that she sounded like a little kid. "I mean, cool." She took it from Arezue, ignoring the knowing look that Spike was sending her way. She pulled it on, a sudden thought occurring to her.
"Please tell me you didn't get these where I think you got them." Arezue smirked coldly, looking like her old self again.
"Those little 'Santa's helpers' at the mall were really annoying," She shrugged. "I only did what I did to them because it had to be done, Dawnie." Spike chuckled.
"That's my girl." He moved to peck Arezue on the lips and Dawn frowned, not at all bothered by the sight of Spike and Arezue kissing. There was something really wrong with Arezue. She was so quiet, so distanced lately. And the fact that she was trying to worm away from Spike was another huge give away that something was drastically wrong with her.
"Dawn, is that you?" Buffy called from the kitchen, "We need help with the food in here!" Dawn grinned, grabbing Arezue's hand and pulling her to her feet.
"Come on, let's go see how many cookies we can eat without Buffy noticing." Dawn didn't notice Arezue flinch at the mention of Buffy as she pulled the vampire into the kitchen.
"Cookies?" Dawn heard Anya say as they left the living room. "Oh, I bet they eat cookies." Dawn blushed at Arezue's words and Arezue shot her an amused look.
"Will you two stop shooting each other those looks and check the oven to see if the cookies are done?" Buffy snapped and Dawn sighed, rolling her eyes.
The kitchen seemed to be a totally different universe then the living room. There was food everywhere, Willow and Tara were dressed in matching pinstriped aprons, there seemed to be an utter abundance of flour and sugar everywhere and, to top it all off, Buffy seemed to be freaking out.
"Arezue, you can cook, right?" Willow asked hastily and Arezue nodded. "Great, you get to make another dessert. Have fun." Willow looked surprised when Arezue didn't object. Dawn shook her head, signaling to Willow that it was best not to ask.
Dawn grabbed a few cookies from a previous batch and pressed one into Arezue's mouth.
"So, what are we gonna make?" Arezue swallowed the cookie, raising an eyebrow at her.
"We?" Dawn pouted.
"I can cook!" Arezue rolled her eyes, seemingly too amused to argue.
"Fine. How about blood pudding?" Dawn blanched and she amended. "Or just chocolate pudding?"
"Okay." Dawn beamed. "I get to lick the bowl!" Arezue smirked impishly, a light dancing in her eyes.
"That the only thing you want to lick?" Arezue grabbed the bowl and walked away, leaving Dawn to figure out exactly what she'd meant.
"Do you - er - want to sing - or something?" Angel asked Connor as the silence in the car became too much to bare. Connor frowned.
"What would we sing?" Angel shrugged, racking his brain for something appropriate.
"You know, Christmas carols?" He winced. The idea wasn't very appealing to him.
"What's Christmas?" Angel frowned.
"Didn't Cordy explain this to you?" Connor shrugged.
"She said something about how you'd dress up in a red suit and give out presents..." Connor frowned as Angel winced, apparently not pleased at the presented image. "I didn't really understand but I didn't tell her." He hesitated. "I like her a lot, dad." Angel smiled.
Of course Connor should like Cordelia. She was pretty much his mother. Which would imply...he couldn't help but smile at the image of himself and Cordelia...
"That's good." He said abruptly, forcing the thoughts he knew he shouldn't be having about Cordelia away. "Speaking of women you like, we're going to see Dawn in a couple of hours." Connor shrugged nonchalantly.
"Yeah. Dawn. Cool." Angel struggled to keep from laughing. The lovesick expression on Connor's face practically rebutted his bored reply. Angel grinned.
"Connor, how about I tell you the wonders of mistletoe?" Connor made a face.
"Gunn told me. Kissing is wrong." Angel frowned, that didn't sound right.
"Gunn told you kissing was wrong?"
"No. Holtz did." Angel clenched his teeth together, his grip on the steering wheel tightening.
"Holtz was an idiot who ruined your life. If you want to kiss Dawn, do it." Connor hesitated.
"So, what I feel – it isn't wrong?" Connor hesitated.
"No, it's perfectly normal." He smiled, something suddenly occurring to him. "Sex is wrong and immoral though. Don't do it." Connor frowned.
"What's sex?"
"Sin."
Tara walked down the stairs and into the living room carrying a big brown box labeled 'Tree Ornaments'. Dawn had gone immensely crazy with the Christmas decorations, hanging holly and mistletoe everywhere (Willow had even jokingly suggested that she just magick up some mistletoe to follow around the person she wanted to kiss). In her frenzy, Dawn had completely forgotten to decorate the tree.
"Ooo, tree ornaments!" Xander jumped up to take them from her. "I was starting to think the poor tree would be stark naked this year." Tara shook her head.
"No, it was Dawn's job and she forgot." Anya frowned.
"What kind of child forgets to decorate the Christmas tree?" Doesn't she want wonderful presents that can be exchanged for either cash or store credit?" Xander shrugged.
"And this money obsessed woman, ladies and gentlemen, is the woman I plan to marry." Tara smiled.
"I'm sure you'll both be very happy together." Anya and Xander had finally spilled the beans about their engagement and Tara personally thought it was great. If only California would okay gay marriage…
"When do we get to open presents?" Dawn asked, jumping up to sit on the counter as she watched Arezue beat the chocolate milk into the eggs.
"After dinner." Willow answered her, watching Arezue out of the corners of her eyes. She didn't want Arezue slipping in some sort of poison in when no one was watching. Arezue frowned over at Dawn.
"Aren't you supposed to be helping me?" Dawn grinned.
"I am. I'm your inspiration." Arezue raised an eyebrow at her and Dawn bent over so that her mouth was level with Arezue's ear.
"I'm going to lick the bowl nice and clean when you're all done, remember?" She jumped off the counter and walked away, leaving Arezue to muse over the image.
"Oh my god! They're here!" Dawn squealed as the doorbell rang, running to answer the door. Arezue followed her, bowl and whisker in hand. She truly had no desire to see her father again, but then again, it wasn't as if she had any say in what went on in Sunnydale. She watched as Dawn threw open the door and practically jumped Angel.
"Somebody's gotten taller." Angel laughed and Dawn beamed.
"One day you'll have to look up to talk to me." Dawn told Angel and Arezue realized with a pang that Dawn had more of Angel's love that she could ever hope for. Angel seemed to finally notice her and Arezue straightened up, forcing her features to harden.
"Angelus."
"Arezue." Their voices were perfectly even as they acknowledged each other.
"Connor came!" Dawn suddenly shrieked, hugging an embarrassed Connor. Angel shrugged.
"Tried locking him in the truck he somehow managed to get out." His dry humor went as unnoticed as Arezue as Connor and Dawn stared into each others' eyes, seemingly lost in their own little world as Dawn pointed out the mistletoe above the door and Connor turned ten shades of red.
"Later?" Connor managed to squeak out and Dawn grinned happily. Arezue's eyes narrowed on Connor, first her mother and then her best friend?
"Arezue." Connor smiled hesitantly at her, their last encounter fresh in his mind. "I bought you a present." He held a box up and Arezue beamed, any bad will towards him now gone.
"Mine!" She snatched it from him, pushing the bowl and egg whiskers into Angel's hands, but was stopped from ripping it open by Dawn pulling it away.
"Presents go under the tree." She scolded and Arezue pouted.
"But – "
"No."
"I'll love you forever and ever and ever and…"
"No."
"Dawnie – "
"Nope."
"Please?"
"No."
"Fine!" Arezue snapped. "See if I care!" Arezue huffed, stomping away. Angel blinked.
"She actually listens to you?" Dawn grinned.
"Yep, but just me." She pondered the thought for a moment. "Because I have something she wants." Anya brightened considerably from her post on the rug.
"Yes. It's se-"
"Boots!" Dawn blurted out, eyes widening at Anya's inclination to blurt out anything she wished. "I have these really sexy boots that she wants." Angel seemed to accept this answer so Dawn took his coat, smiling her adorable 'I'm your innocent eight year old who has no idea where babies come from' smile.
"There's no snow at all in LA." Connor remarked to Dawn and Dawn smiled, taking his hand and leading him outside, making sure to close the door behind them.
There was something she wanted from Connor.
Arezue leaned against the counter, watching as Buffy set the table. She and Buffy were the only two in the kitchen and Arezue couldn't help the pangs of jealousy and nervousness that rang through her. What on earth did you say to your husband's mistress?
"Um, thanks for helping with everything." Buffy said softly and Arezue flashed her a cold look, anger coursing through her.
"You're not going to admit it, are you?" Buffy gaped at her and Arezue could practically read the thoughts rushing through her mind: Does she know?
"A-admit what?" Arezue just shook her head, avoiding Buffy's eyes.
"It's nothing." She quickly changed the subject. "Is there anything you'd like me to do?" Buffy visibly swallowed, her suspicions obviously confirmed by Arezue's quick subject change.
"Yeah, um," Buffy avoided her eyes and Arezue did the same, looking everywhere but at the woman she currently wanted to strangle. "Wanna help ice the cake? We get to eat any of the excess icing."
"Sure." Arezue took the icing bowl from Buffy and nodded to the freezer to indicate that the cake needed to be thawed out a bit first.
"So," Buffy started uncomfortably as Arezue licked at the icing spoon, pulling the cake out and setting it on the table. "Bet you never thought you'd be making a cake in the slayer's kitchen, huh?"
No, never thought I'd be making a cake in my marriage wrecker's kitchen.
As Arezue began to ice the cake, Buffy rubbed her temples. She had done something absolutely horrible – and the vampire was'n even trying to kill her because ofit - she was almost being nice. What was wrong with her? Had she come back from heaven wrong?
"You know," Dawn muttered to Connor as they sat on the porch, staring up at the night sky. "It never used to snow in Sunnydale. Then in ninety-eight, it just happened; like a miracle." Connor nodded slowly, mesmerized by her
"Like a miracle…"
"Yeah." Dawn smiled. "So, don't you owe me a kiss?" Hesitantly, the two leaned towards each other. As their lips touched, it was like a spark had been lighted. It was the epitome of perfection for Connor; there were just no words for it.
To Dawn, the spark was faint. The kiss was sweet and soft and all the wonderful things a first kiss was supposed to be like; yet, there was something wrong, like it just wasn't the right time.
Like – I'm in love with…
"Wow…" Connor finally managed to say and Dawn smiled sadly.
"Yeah." She reached out to stroke his cheek. "I'm going to spend the rest of my life with you, Connor…" Dawn whispered to him. Just not now.
"That sounds nice –"
"Oh, hey," Dawn cut him off quickly, reaching out to touch his arm before he could fully absorb her words. "Could I have a few moments alone, please?" A look of disappointment crossed Connor's face but he nodded anyways.
"Of course." He left and Dawn stared up at the sky, connecting the starts distractedly.
Things are changing, Dawn pondered sadly. I know the one person I love can never truly love me back, but does that mean I'm ready to love the one who loves me?
Watching the starts twinkle, she made her choice. Somebody's bound to get their heart broken in the end, probably me – but it'll be worth it. She stood up and opened the door, things finally resolved.
"Nibblet!" Spike shouted angrily as she walked in. "You went out without a bloody coat? What the hell's wrong with you?" He grabbed her roughly, grabbing Arezue's coat from the rack and wrapping it around her.
"Ooops?"
"Your bloody nose is fuckin' blue." Spike scolded and Dawn nodded distractedly, angling her head so that she were looking straight into Connor's eyes.
"…gonna catch pneumonia and end up six feet in the bloody ground, you are. Not wearin' a damn coat…" Connor stared questioningly at her and Dawn smiled comfortingly at him to show reassure him that everything would be okay.
I'm sorry
"Nibblet?" Spike was staring worriedly at her. "You alright, love? Zoned me out there." Dawn nodded obediently and Spike sighed, kissing her forehead. "Don't know what it is with you and the ice queen lately. So bloody quiet all the time." He gently pushed her towards the kitchen.
"Go pocket me something sweet, platelet." Dawn nodded, walking away. A single thought ran through her head, how can I do this to Spike? Won't it hurt him?
"Present time!" Willow announced happily as everybody finished up dinner.
"Yay!" Dawn squealed. "Me first!" She jumped up from the table and ran off to the living room.
"Hey –" Anya protested, following Dawn. "Nobody said we were calling dibs already."
"Great." Buffy sighed, "How about – " She glanced around the table. "Willow – and I get dessert?" She figured it would give her time to figure out whether the brunette knew the truth or not.
Everyone quickly agreed, hurrying out. Angel lagged behind.
"Buffy – "
"In the living room, Angel." Buffy said coolly, avoiding his gaze. She knew why he exactly why he wanted to talk to her so badly and she wasn't looking forward to that particular conversation. He could smell Spike all over her, she knew. "I'm busy." She hissed, ignoring the pain that ripped through her at the site of the hurt look on Angel's face.
"Move over." Arezue hissed, settling down on the rug, sandwiched between Angel and Dawn. They all watched as Willow unwrapped a present. Much to Dawn's chagrin, Tara had decided that in order to be fair to everyone, would be to draw numbers – Willow had gotten the 'one'.
"Are you – " Angel hesitated, staring at her uncomfortably. "Okay?" Arezue's eyes misted up a bit and she looked away.
"You can smell it on them too?" She asked quietly as Willow exclaimed over a new blue sweater. Angel nodded and she felt her heart sink.
"Can I move in with you?" The question was absolutely spurious and they both knew the answer already. Angel sighed, slowly sliding an arm around her shoulders.
"You can't just run away from your problems, Char." Arezue scowled, her anger flaring as she pushed him off of her.
"Fuck off!" Angel sighed once more, holding out his slip of paper. He had number two while she had seven.
"Do you want to switch?" Arezue frowned.
"Seven's a lucky number..." She pressed the seven into his hand. "Whatever, luck or not -I always manage to screw up." Angel answered her bitter reply with a slight smile.
"And I'd fix it, princess." Arezue shook her head at him, seemingly thinking.
"Not this time." She said quietly and Angel stared at her, suddenly feeling a familiar sense of dread wash over him as he realized she was reciting the future. "Even you can't save me this time, daddy." She took the two from him and switched numbers with Dawn.
The truth was, she had no idea how to do things on her own. Everyone else had always taken care of her. Yet, as she watched Dawn manage to do so much without help, she wanted to try and do the same now.
"Thanks." Dawn smiled at her, lacing her fingers through Arezue's. Arezue smiled slowly.
Maybe Dawn could help her. Dawn was her best friend, so maybe…
"As great as presents are and all," Dawn whispered as Willow moved on to opened Angel's present. "This could take a while, do you want to – "
"Sure." Arezue and Dawn slipped out of the room and out the door unnoticed.
"Snow's all pretty." Arezue mused and Dawn raised an eyebrow at her.
"Let me get this straight." Dawn said slowly. "You try to convince me to sleep with you the entire time you've known me – but when we're all alone and I'm sending out signals like crazy – you want to talk about snow?" Arezue shrugged.
"I've spent my entire existence having sex with people. It's meaningless t o me at this point." She paused. "Do you want to?" Dawn laughed.
"I'm, like, only fifteen – and your best friend. So, not ready for sex." She reached into her pocket. "But I do have mistletoe." Arezue's blinked, obviously confused.
"Does this mean – "
"Just shut up and kiss me." Arezue moved in but Dawn stopped her. "But first, promise me that we'll always be friends – even if we break up or something." Arezue swallowed.
"Always? You mean you don't just want to have sex with me?" Dawn smiled.
"Pretty much." Arezue's eyes filled with tears.
"Never had a friend before." Dawn nodded, smiling at her.
"That's why I'm here, silly. To make sure you have at least one person who loves you unconditionally." Arezue smiled sadly.
"Thank you." Dawn sighed, rolling her eyes.
"Stop talking and thank me with your lips." Arezue giggled.
"Okay." And their lips met. It was nothing like their first kiss. It was much better; and at least Arezue was paying attention this time.
--NN— Dec 25, 1756 New Wark, England
"Charlotte Jane, sweetheart." Darla nudged Arezue awake.
"Mother?" Arezue murmured sleepily and Darla sighed.
"Yes, it's your mother. Would you prefer to open presents today or wait until next year?" Arezue groaned, sitting up and looking around.
"Why am in the –"
"Fell asleep here last night, lass." Angelus answered from his place on the sofa. "Too much excitement for a child, I say." Darla threw him an annoyed look.
"Who's the mother here, Angelus?" Angelus scowled.
"She was up half the night, nattering on about that ridiculous tea set you promised her." Arezue rubbed her eyes, trying to block out the argument. "And, Darla, we're vampires. We don' celebrate –"
"I wanna open presents!" Arezue screeched and both of her parents fell silent. Darla rushed to her side.
"Is something wrong, darling?" Arezue frowned.
"I think that warlock I ate last night cursed me. Said I'd see death and misfortune everywhere…" She rubbed her forehead. "Bad nightmares, mummy. Bad…" Darla and Angelus exchanged worried looks. Angelus strode over to her.
"What is it, lass?"
"A key, a watching man, a baby with blue eyes," Arezue tilted her head to the side, thinking. "And a man named William."
"That's nothin' new." Angelus grumbled under his breath. A man named William seemed to be in every dream Charlotte Jane had.
"Well," Darla forced a smile onto her lips. "Why don't we start opening presents now? Some special little girl has two dozen presents." Arezue's eyes widened.
"Presents!" She pushed past both her sires to get to the tree faster.
"You're spoiling her." Angelus snapped and Darla raised an eyebrow at him.
"Only half the presents were bought by me. The other half, however, were –"
"Were bought due to your nagging." Angelus snapped and Dawn clenched her jaw.
"Arezue, darling," Darla turned to the childe currently counting presents and trying to figure out what came after seven. "Your mother and father have a social –"
"I'd hardly call the master's court a social."
"Quiet Angelus!" She turned back to Arezue. "And the nurse will take care of you in our absence." Arezue frowned.
"But what of the presents, mummy?" Darla laughed.
"Sweetheart, you and Arietta will have tons of fun opening them together." She buttoned up her coat.
"Arietta!" Angelus bellowed for the vampire nurse who immediately came scuttling in at his voice.
"Yes, master?" Angelus ignored Arezue who'd begun to cry loudly.
"The mistress and I will be leaving for a social. Charlotte Jane will need help opening her presents."
"And be sure to clean her up afterwards for the party tonight." Darla said coldly, not even bothering to glance in the nurse's direction.
"Mummy!"
"We have to leave, dear." Darla's voice told her clearly that protesting would get her a thrashing and nothing else.
"Papa!"
"You heard your mum, Char." Angelus replied, kissing her goodbye.
As they walked out, Arezue turned to Arietta.
"Opening gifts by yourself is a bore." Arietta sighed.
"But, miss, I – "
"You're not my mother!" Arezue snapped and Arietta sighed.
"I'm your nurse, dear." Arezue wrinkled her nose, grabbing a present.
"I'm not an infant. Or some toddler that needs – aagh!" Arezue shrieked, bursting into tears, eyes widening with fear.
"If anything happened to the fledgling master Angelus would make sure she burned come sunrise.
"What is it, childe?" Arezue sniffled, holding out her index finger where blood was forming.
"The paper bit me!" She whined pathetically and Arietta couldn't resist laughing, drawing the little vampire into her arms.
"You are quite something else, Miss. Arezue." Arezue huffed.
"Of course, I am. My mother and father are – "
"- the master's right hands. I know, dear." Arezue frowned, put out by the dismissal.
"Will you open presents with me?" Arietta nodded.
"It's my job, miss." Arezue nodded sadly. Of course, why would anybody spend time with her unless it was their job?
Angel watched from the window with a sinking heart as Dawn and Arezue kissed. He'd been elected to find the two.
"They out there?" Buffy asked and Angel nodded listlessly.
"Yeah." He stepped away from the window. "They'll probably be in soon." Xander shrugged.
"Okay, who wants more cake?" Connor took some and Angel turned to him, making the resolution to focus more on the one kid he had a chance of actually knowing.
"You'll get a stomach-ace." Angel reprimanded him but let him eat the cake anyways. Arezue didn't want him in her life so he'd make do with Connor.
Arezue always ended up coming to him for help in the end anyways. After all, she'd said so herself.
((I always manage to screw up))