Pairing: W/T

Angst Rating: PG & a little bit of a cliffhanger

Disclaimer: I in no way, shape or form own the characters from BtVS, they're owned by Joss Whedon/Mutant Enemy. All original characters are in no way connected to them except by me in this forum. No money is involved this is simply for my own pleasure.

Feedback: Always – all kinds, but constructive is preferred.

Author's Notes: I have decided that since I also have "Dry Heat" that I'm working on, and I want to work on chapters for both stories, so I plan to limit myself to one chapter each and try to post to each once a month until further notice. Thank you to everyone that is reading, and per the norm, there is no beta on this so if you see anything glaringly wrong feel free to pm me with it & I'll take care of it. Also italics are for emphasis.

Baby, It's Cold Outside

Sleep was hit or miss that night after I left Buffy's – I don't think what I did would even actually qualify as sleeping. I spent more time tossing and turning, only to stare at the ceiling than actually sleeping. Just before six, I crawled out of bed so I could shuffle down the hall and into the bathroom. The made the water a little hotter than normal to help ease some of the tension that had seeped into my body during the night and to try to clear some of the cobwebs hiding in my mind.

As I stood under the shower head I thought even more. I realized as I scrubbed the shampoo through over my scalp one of the reasons I felt so bad was because I was embarrassed. I mean, how would I feel if a complete stranger came into where I work and started telling me how to do my job? It wasn't quite the same, but the principal was. I had invaded not just her living space, but I had tried to usurp her position in the hierarchy in her home.

The neon sign of understanding that read "DUH", flickered on above my head, and shampoo ran into my eyes. Well… it served me right, but now I got it. The situation would have been completely different if Tara hadn't been there and it had been just the four of us. Buffy and Joyce knew me and weren't threatened by me. Ah, but Tara… well, I had really put my foot in it, and not in a good way.

All of these thoughts swirled in my soggy mind as I dried off and dressed for the day. I wandered into the kitchen to put on a pot of coffee; I knew Erik would be leaving today to go see his parents for the holiday. I decided to scramble some eggs, and at the last minute bacon sounded good too, so it set some in a pan to get crispy. I knew the smell of coffee would bring Erik out of bed, and I made sure I had enough eggs to cook some for him when he came down. After pouring some eggs into the hot skillet, I set the bowl in the fridge to wait.

I had just put food on my plate and poured a cup of coffee when he staggered in stretching and rubbing his eyes. At least he wasn't scratching "unmentionable" places. That I can always do without baring witness to; but he is a guy and it's inevitable even if he was pretty good about not subjecting me to the horror of it regularly.

"Morning," I said.

"Mmornn," he yawned.

"Hungry?" I asked as I watched him bump into the counter by the coffee pot.

"Yeah…hungry…coffee," he mumbled.

I chuckled and pulled the eggs from the fridge, and re-lit the burner. "Here, have my plate," I said as I slid my plate towards him. "You have to get your own coffee, though."

"Thanks, Will. You're the best." Erik smiled at me before he moved to stared sleepily into the cabinet looking for a coffee mug.

"They're in the dishwasher, I ran it yesterday morning before work," I shook my head. "Are you sure you're not hung over or something? Maybe coming down with, oh I don't know, some sort of brain ailment that's making you act like you need a padded helmet?" I asked suspiciously.

"Hmmm? Yeah, I'm up. No hangover, no helmet, I promise," He mumbled as he took his first sips of hot coffee. "Ahh, now that's good stuff."

With the pan hot I poured the eggs in, munching on a piece of bacon while I waited. Erik picked up his plate, and then shuffled over to the kitchen table. I stirred my eggs watching Erik with amusement as he took the pot of coffee to the table and downed his coffee while crumbling the bacon over his eggs.

I joined Erik on the other side of the table, and we ate in companionable silence. The sky was grey and covered in full, fluffy clouds. It had started to snow lightly as we finished eating and sipped at our coffee. The street and yard slowly became dusted with a thin layer of pearly white snow as we sat watching. Erik topped off his own cup then without thinking reached over to do the same for me emptying the pot.

"What time are you leaving for your parents?" I asked softly

He looked at the clock on the microwave. "Well, now we know the roads will be wet, and I still have to shower and throw some clothes together. Probably in a couple of hours; that way I don't have to speed to be there for dinner. What are your plans for the day?"

"I think I'll go into work for a while. Brenda's throwing this universal holiday party later this today, so I'll keep myself busy until then and just come home." I shrugged.

He nodded. "Sure you don't want to come with, Will?"

I smiled. "Nope, I'm good. Really. I have a date with Charlie Brown and The Grinch. So would you like your present now?"

"Ooo, gifties. You know how I love a good gift, or any kind for that matter." Erik said his eyes sparkling like a child's.

"You sound like a girl." I laughed. "Okay, I'll be right back," I said as I skipped out of the kitchen and up to my room. I heard Erik come up the stairs after me and waited for a moment in my room.

We met in the hallway, and handed each other a prettily wrapped gift. His was long and slim, and mine had two boxes. One was large and deep with another slim box on top. We giggled and went downstairs to sit next to one another on the couch.

"You first! Open it, open it!" I urged him bouncing and poking him in the ribs

"Alright already! Stop with the poking!" He laughed and squirmed away from me.

He made short work of ripping into the paper and opened the long velvet case. We had done some windows shopping while we out house/apartment/whatever hunting for me, when he saw this watch and he practically drooled over it every time. After the last time we saw it I decided to go after work and get it for him. He just stared for a moment at the watch, then turned and pulled me into his lap and a rib crushing hug.

"Will, you're the best! How did you remember?" He asked.

"Air, please," I wheezed until he let me go some. "Well, it could have been the trails of drool you left behind you every time you saw it that gave it away," I giggled. "After the last time we were in Old Colorado City, I went back for it the next day. I did good?" I asked playfully.

"You did good," He said and gave me another squeeze. "Open yours."

I moved off of his lap, and leaned up against the arm of the sofa, curling one leg underneath me. I pulled the two boxes apart, and shook one then the other. The slim box didn't make much of a sound but I could tell there was something in it, and the larger box rattled. I opened the slim box first, and when I pulled the lid off, a gorgeous deep forest green silk scarf lay there neatly folded in front of me.

"Oh, Erik," I whispered as I took it carefully out of the box. "It's beautiful." I rubbed it gently against my cheek, grinning. I hung the scarf around my neck and went for the larger box. As I pulled off the paper I could see that the box was gold, and when I got the top clear I could see "Godiva" imprinted on it. I laughed loudly.

"Silk and expensive chocolates? You really know how to treat a girl!" I laughed and pulled him close for another hug and kissed his cheek. "Thank you, I love it!"

"Me too, I love the watch. I got a gorgeous thing for a gorgeous thing and something decadent to keep you company since you'll be alone for Christmas. You didn't celebrate Hanukkah this year, so I thought you deserved it. But I'll be back for New Years and we can paint the town red." He said with a goofy grin

"Deal," I agreed giving him a one-armed hug before I got up. "I'm going to put these away, and then I'm going to go into work. Be careful, and call me when you get there, okay?"

"You got it, hon." He said with a smile, then stood up. "I think I hear a shower calling my name. Have fun at your party, too."

"Yeah, it should be interesting. It is Brenda after all," I laughed. "I'm a little scared of what she has planned."

"You should be." Erik snickered as he went up the stairs.

I watched my breath swirl in front of me as I got into my truck, then drove to the nearest Starbucks™ drive thru; ordering my favorite extra large, triple shot mocha and to be festive I had a shot of peppermint added before heading in to work. Since it was Christmas Eve, and I "technically" didn't "have"to go into work at all that day. I really wasn't looking forward to the forced joviality of the chrismannukasolstice party later but, I knew there was no way out of it without really hurting Brenda's feelings. Besides I was in the need of some of the mindless activity that only work could provide.

When I got to the gallery not a soul was around, as I expected and hoped for. Over the months I had earned myself a set of keys to the building. I let myself in and turned on the heat in the gallery, before walking right into the workshop. I put in my ear buds and began to work. I had some sheets I could cut for a few of the artists so they would be ready when they came back after the holidays. With music pouring in through my ears, I got my torch going. Then I spent the next several hours cutting sheet metal and pipes to specs, all the while losing myself in the heat and drumbeats.

I decided to do pieces that were often requested by the artists next. I had bent two dozen slim pieces into pigtails, and was well into an even thirty spirals when Brenda tapped me on the shoulder. I must have jumped a good foot off the ground squealing. She was also lucky that at this point I had enough experience under my belt not to turn on her with the torch going. That would not have been pretty…or pleasant to smell.

"What the hell, Brenda? I could have hurt you!" I yelped.

"What are you doing here, Will?" Brenda asked.

"What does it look like? I'm working," I huffed.

Brenda just looked at me like I had grown a horn in the middle of my forehead. "And you're here working because…"

I set the torch aside, and pulled my gloves off. "Because there was work I could do, and I needed something to occupy my mind and time. I know I don't have to be here, but you didn't say I couldn't be either, so I came in this morning." I rushed out in one breath, tapping my gloves nervously against my leg.

Brenda cocked her head to one side as she studied me. "What's up with you, Will?"

I shook my head. "Nothing, I just have a lot on my mind and wanted to work. It helps me sort through thing, you know? I use the mindless repetition and when I come back to whatever it is, everything seems clearer."

"Are you sure you're okay?" she asked.

I just nodded and started to slip my heavy gloves back on.

"Uh, I don't think so," Brenda said. "If you're here, I'll put you to work decorating. Maybe that will put you in the holiday spirit." She smiled.

"Oh, noo…can't I just work here in the shop?" I groaned as I put my torch down and pulled my gloves off again. "You really don't want me to help you decorate, I suck at it. Besides, hey, Jewish here! I don't really do the whole Christmas decorating thing."

Brenda laughed, and for some reason it sounded faintly sinister. "Oh, Willow, Willow. I will direct, and you will hang. All you have to do is follow my instructions, and hey, no thinking for you! Mindless, just like you wanted."

"Fine, you win... boss. But if you think I'm dressing like an elf, you're out of your mind." I answered.

Just after two o'clock I hung the last decoration while Brenda finished the last bits of lights on the gorgeous Colorado Blue Spruce tree that must have been a good twelve feet tall. The lovely silvery needles reflected the gentle pulsing of the white lights along with the glass decorations neatly woven throughout its branches. Brenda had also placed scented candles around the gallery that were waiting to be lit.

I plopped down in a chair across from the tree and watched Brenda circle it checking for holes in her decorations. I looked at the lengths of popcorn strung on thread that I had hung, little dancing reindeer, snowmen, menorahs, dreidels, candy canes, two Yule logs, mistletoe in four places. And I began to wonder just how long Brenda had been working on all of this, since I was fairly sure Brenda had lost her cotton-pickin' mind as I looked around.

"You could go light the candles," Brenda said as she continued to circle the tree.

"With what? A blow torch?" I snickered.

"Ha, ha, laughing girl. Keep it up, I do have an elf costume around here somewhere from last year," she huffed.

"You wouldn't dare," I said eyeing her warily.

"Aww, c'mon, Will. Tis' the season, after all," Brenda said stopping to look at me and smile.

"And again with the Jewish over here," I said. "If you try to get me in an elf suit, I am soo out of here. You don't pay me enough to put one on."

Brenda laughed, and pulled a lighter out of her pocket and threw it at me. I ducked as it flew over my shoulder, skittering along the floor when it landed.

"Hey, now! You've got me climbing things, and now you're throwing stuff at me! I want hazard pay for this!" I groused as I got up and had to crawl under a table after the lighter. "I'm delicate, you know."

Apparently Brenda found that statement quite the riot. She laughed for the next fifteen minutes until she was in tears. I stood in front of her with my arms crossed over my chest and scowled at her while she howled in delight.

"What is it with everyone today? Have you started hitting the nog already? It's a little early even for you, Bren," I snarked.

"Keep it up, I see pointy shoes with little bells on them in your future," she threatened again.

"Yeah, yeah," I muttered walking towards the first candle. I shot her a look over my shoulder as she went back to circling the tree and now humming Christmas carols.

I shuddered a bit; because honestly, I was a little worried she might be serious about that damn elf costume.

I stayed in Brenda's good graces, and avoided the elf suit that somehow did manage to make an appearance. Once I saw it I relaxed, it would never have fit me, as it was Brenda sized. I think she must have been snorting mistletoe mixed with candy canes; that outfit was truly a sight to behold, and one that has scarred my fragile little mind, I'm sure of it.

The party was still going strong when I slipped out to head home. The moon had been full a few nights prior; and while it wasn't completely full anymore it was still large and a gorgeous shade of pale yellow against the inky night sky. I was just at the door of my truck when I heard the sound of bells. I stopped and rested my head against the cold glass before I turned around. There stood Brenda in all her elfin glory, hands on her hips, one belled foot tapping in annoyance.

"You were going to just slip out?" Brenda asked sounding hurt.

"Bren, I'm not sneaking away. You were busy, and I'm tired. It's time for me to go home," I said.

"You could have said goodbye, Will. I thought you were enjoying yourself." Brenda said softly.

"I did, I was. I just…" I shrugged.

"You know you don't have to be alone, right?" she asked.

I walked over and gave her a hug. "I'm okay, I promise. I was your willing holiday minion most of the day after several hours in the shop. I'm just tired I swear. Make someone else help you clean up." I smiled.

"As long as you're okay, then I'm okay," She replied.

"I am. Go on with bad elf self," I said laughing. "Besides, we're on for New Year's. It'll be the three of us, and we'll have a blast."

Brenda giggled and nodded, bells jingled with her movements and I stifle my own giggle. She pulled out a candy cane from I'm not sure where, and offered it to me. I took it with a smile, and gently tapped her on the nose with it.

"Get back to your party, Santa's little helper," I said and pushed her back towards the door. "Night, Bren."

"Night, Will. Be careful." She called over her shoulder, the sounds of her bells echoing in the chilly night air.

I walked to back to my truck and didn't even wait for it to warm up before I pulled out to head home. It was still relatively early when I got home. The house was cold and dark when I walked in, so my first stop was the thermostat to turn it up and take the chill out of the air.

I turned on the light in the living room before I went upstairs to change. I sat on my bed and put my phone on the charger and saw a text from Erik telling me he was safe in Denver and his parents sent their love. I also saw that I had missed a call from Buffy earlier in the day. She hadn't left a message, so I just left my phone beside my bed.

I trotted down the stairs in flannel pajama bottoms, a raggedy old sweatshirt, and fuzzy socks. I flopped down on the couch with my favorite afgan in horrible shades of olive and rust my Nanna had made me years ago, and put my feet up before I turned on the television. I laid there and caught the tail end of the Snow Miser/Heat Miser's song in "The Year Without a Santa Claus".

I was debating with myself on the merits of popcorn over the deliciousness that is hot coco, when there was a knock at the door. I wasn't expecting anyone, and I didn't think it would be anyone for Erik either. I left the chain on the door and opened it enough to peek out.

"Hi… umm, can I come in?"

I closed the door, resting my hand against it flummoxed. Then it hit me that there was still someone standing on the other side of my front door. Quickly removing the chain I jerked the door open again.

"Tara?"

TBC…