Buffy looked at her jewelry box as she grabbed her purse. She took a deep breath and stepped closer to it. This shouldn't be so hard. She opened the lid and looked at the ring tray.
There it sat in the pink velvet of her girlish treasure trove. She stroked the rounded silver dome of the skull and considered the ruby eyes of her engagement ring. Returning it was the right thing to do, but she wanted to hold on to it. Her brief engagement had been more fulfilling than any relationship she'd had before, and wasn't that the saddest commentary on her miserable life.
She plucked the ring from its place and put it back on her finger. It wasn't the ring she had dreamed of as a little girl. It was a garish, ugly bit of metal and stone, but he had placed on her finger reverently. She could still see the longing in his eyes as he stared up at her. She blinked away the tears that always threatened when she remembered losing his adoration.
This shouldn't bother her. It hadn't been real. She looked up and pulled the ring from her finger.
The ring was going back where it belonged. She clenched her fist around it, got up, and shoved it deep into the pocket of her jeans.
She checked her reflection in the mirror and headed out of the room. Keeping him waiting wasn't going to make this any easier. She shut off the lights and closed her door as she exited her bedroom.
Grabbing her new winter coat, she snagged the cooler from its place by the door. She plastered on a sunny smile for her watcher. He needed her to be strong. He needed her to be the slayer. She examined the pair of Englishman waiting for her. Their apparent ease with each other was tempered by Spike's rolling eyes. His patience was near an end. She had no idea how he was going to make the long drive. Being forced to sit in one seat for that long would be torture for him.
Spike raised his scarred eyebrow and looked pointedly at the cooler clutched in her hand.
"What? Only the undead get to bring snacks? Mini bars are expensive." Buffy stuck out her chin in her best imitation of Willow's resolve face.
"A weapon's chest, two large suitcases, a smaller bag for your fripperies, and a bleedin' cooler?" He ticked off each item on his fingers, holding his hand up and moving it to show Giles. "This is traveling light?"
"Must every interaction I have with the two of you devolve into some sort of childish display?" Giles grumbled.
"We try our hardest." Buffy winked at her watcher.
"Yes, well, I do believe you should be very thorough." Giles was sliding into lecture mode. She sighed, and shoved her cooler in next to Spike's. "These creatures are..."
"Dangerous. They are quick, agile, and operate on instinct." Buffy smiled and walked over to Giles. "I've been listening. I have notes. I have photocopies from the demonology text that described these things."
"And she has a vampire chauffeur that will be bloody useless if we don't get a move on. Our travel time is going to be tight as is." Spike rolled his hips suggestively. "Or do you want to stop at some cheap motel along the way? Check out the magic fingers?"
Buffy ignored Spike and grabbed Giles' arm to stop him from threatening the vampire. She ducked under his chin and wrapped her arms around her watcher, hugging him until he closed his arms around her as well.
"You don't have to worry about Spike. He'll get us there and do his part. He has that weird keeping his word thing you lot from across the pond all seem to get." Buffy stepped back, breaking their embrace. "We will be back before you can miss us, well, me."
"Will you get in the car, Slayer? Dust will not drive for you, and the watcher wouldn't let me paint the windows on this here jalopy." Spike rolled his eyes.
"Don't forget who has the pointy wood here." Buffy enjoyed the embarrassed blush that bloomed on her watcher's face almost as much as Spike's snicker. They both thought she was so clueless. She didn't want to disappoint. "What?"
Both Brits shook their heads quietly.
"Can we get going, Spike? We're wasting moonlight." She hopped in the car and waved to Giles. "We'll be back in no time."
He nodded and shut her door while Spike settled into the driver's seat. She didn't bother to look at the vampire. Her gaze was latched onto her watcher. She could see his concern, so she waved cheerily.
The engine purred, and Spike slid the car into drive. She clutched the door with her free hand and continued waving as they pulled away.
"We're coming back, Pet."
"I know that, but I don't like leaving him behind. It's Christmas time and I'm off to kill demons with you. Kinda not the picture I had in my head."
"Holiday with a vampire does sound a bit like some Anne Rice novel." Spike rolled his eyes. "Half the fledges I stake want to be called some poncy name from her bleedin' books. It's humiliating. There are standards, you know?"
"I know. Like I want to spend my time killing off the costumed freaks. Where do they find the frilly shirts and velvet jackets anyway? Is there a specialty shop somewhere in town?"
"If there is, we need to burn it to the ground." Spike growled.
"Then we can have Willow work her mojo to make sure the damn thing can't come back." Buffy giggled and Spike smiled at her.
"Best watch yourself, Pet. You'll land yourself on the jolly old elf's naughty list."
Buffy grinned and watched Spike relax. He had no idea how naughty she wanted to be. There was this thing between them. It had been there in the alley where he first threatened her and it was there now. Being near him felt right. It shouldn't be so easy, but, without the pressure to be perfect supplied so constantly by her friends, she could be a little naughty. She glanced out the window and watched the darkened world pass by. Maybe, she could be a lot naughty.
She was tired of being good. Angel had left her so she could have a normal life, a good life. She snorted. There was no rosy future for her with a studly, someone special and two children. The white picket fence he had pictured would be shoved into undead hearts.
Spike got that. He hadn't promised some rosy future despite all her crazy wedding plans. He had stroked her face and promised to keep her alive as long as he could, and it had been bliss. She bit her lower lip.
She was going off to kill demons for Christmas. There was no normal. There never would be, but maybe there could be something better? If she could just be brave and do what she wanted to do, there might be some happiness.
"Do you get lonely? I mean the holidays are hard when you're alone, right?" Buffy fastened her gaze on the oncoming traffic and waited for a response.