Chapter 19: Christmas!

The Christmas season was busy for Pratt winery and Buffy became busy with her finals. Time flew so fast but to Buffy and her long lonely nights of tears, it seemed like ages had gone by.

Finally the day school ended for the year, Buffy got into her red car and drove to the jet port. She was so excited she had barely taken the time to write her name on the top of her History exam.

Spike's jet was due in any minute and she just had to beat him in. Her timing was perfect as she opened the gate door and raced down the walkway just in time for his jet door's to open.

Buffy didn't even pause for breath as she leaped into his arms barely giving him enough time to steady himself. Knowing how happy Buffy would be, he had jumped off the edge of the plane ignoring the stairs to brace himself against the sides of the jet plane. Spike once again smothered her with kisses whispering over and over again, "I'm here and I missed you so very much. I did. I missed you."

Buffy kissed him over and over again as well whispering, "Me too. Me too."

Her hands were all over him as though making sure he was in good order. Once Spike's baggage was loaded into the car, Spike walked towards it still holding Buffy who had her legs and arms wrapped around him tightly. He sat her down on her seat and grinned, "So did you really miss me baby?"

Buffy's eyes were still wet with tears as she nodded her head up and down so hard Spike swore he thought it would fall off. He chuckled as he watched her eyes grow big as she noticed the boxes in the back of the seat. "Are any of those for me?"

Spike laughed with a nod, "Some are. One is for Aunt Jenny. One is for Joyce and Giles and your new sister Dawn, and the smaller ones are for Oz, Willow, Anya and Xander. I figured I should bring them something since we are spending the day after Christmas with them and all. Then I got one for Drusilla's nibblet. I'm not the father and stuff but the kid still deserves to get gifts. It's nothing big, just a few outfits and a toddler jeep she can play in."

Buffy nodded, "Don't worry Spike, I'm not upset. I understand that you feel some responsibility for the kid. It's not the kid's fault, that his mother cheated on you or that her father is a sorry excuse for a man. As for the gang, I got little things for them too figuring it would be the nice thing to do. You should see Willow and Oz's apartment. Well it's Oz's right now but when Willow finishes school this year, she's moving in. It's amazing. You can so tell he's a rock star by the number of closets full of clothes that he has already…"

Buffy continued to talk as she sat by his side with her hand on his thigh and her head on his shoulder the whole ride to Aunt Jenny's. A week and half didn't seem long enough and she had so much to tell him even though they talked a few times a day.

After spending four glorious days with Aunt Jenny, she was to fly to Las Vegas to visit her folks while Buffy and Spike returned to Buffy's house. Joyce and a begrudged Giles had agreed to let Spike stay in the house and had really no choice but to let them stay together since Joyce had her baby two weeks prior.

Giles had been reminded by Joyce that she was 17 almost 18 and had her own rights to do as she pleased. Giles didn't like it but he chose not to focus on what it meant to have them sleeping in the same room as he spent his time with Joyce and the new baby, Dawn rather than with Buffy and Spike. This left Spike and Buffy to do as they pleased.

They enjoyed the winter air being careful to bundle up when it was chilly. They decorated a Christmas tree, hung lights outside on the house and even decorated the lawn with plastic snowmen and Santa Clauses that Spike had found in the attic in an old box.

The night before Christmas, Buffy and Spike were making a mess of the kitchen rolling out sugar cookies. They smelt delicious but they had flour all over them and the counter and floor.

Giles walked into the room just as Spike was licking her cheek to remove the green icing he had placed there a few seconds prior. Giles cleared his throat stating in a loud and angry tone, "I'm letting you stay in my house because you have no where else to go. This doesn't give you the right to have sex with my daughter wherever you please. If you still cannot control your hormones at age 19, then leave this house at once. With hormones like yours, I wouldn't be surprised if you aren't shagging a secretary at the winery already since you can't have my daughter with you to please you all the time."

Spike frowned wiping his hands off on the towel in front of him, "I wasn't having sex with your daughter, secondly I have perfect control over my hormones and thirdly, I would never cheat on your daughter. I love her even more than I love myself and would never hurt her that way. She trusts me, why can't you?"

Giles frowned, as he said nothing more and walked away. Buffy sighed as she finished decorating the last of the red icing cookies and put them aside. Not feeling in the Christmas spirit anymore she stood up whispering softly, "Can we go for a walk? I could really use a walk. I want to get out of this house for a while."

Spike nodded accepting her hand and they fell into a comfortable silence as they walked. When they finally reached Restfield Cemetery, Buffy turned towards Spike, "Why does he hate us so much? He should love me. I always hoped somewhere deep inside that I'd be his one and only daughter so he would have to love me enough to let me live my own life. Now there's Dawn and she's as cute as a button but I won't have that argument anymore."

Spike turned her face towards his with a gentle guide of his finger on her chin. He made sure he had her full attention before speaking, "I don't agree with Giles and wish he would grow up and see things aren't so bloody black and white like he hopes but I know he's acting with his heart. He wants what is best for you but unfortunately sometimes what is best for a person is to let them live their own bloody lives making their own bloody mistakes. Imagine riding a bike with your dad always holding the back of it. Sure you would never fall or get hurt but you would never learn to ride alone. You would never be able to fly down a hill with your hands wide out because he would always be running beside you keeping your pace steady. That's what this is like. He's so busy running beside you keeping you on a leash that he's taking away the good things in your life. It will get better luv. It has to. Besides the way I see it, with Dawn there to share his love, he might be more willing to let you go when the time comes and it's right. You just have to be patient with him and me. We will get through this."

Buffy nodded sitting down on the bench in the park. She could remember when there had been no benches in the park when they first came here. Eventually two had been added and now it was second nature to use them. She let out a sigh as she whispered, "Promise me, we will make it through this?"

Spike nodded, "I promise we will make it through this."

Buffy smiled as she whispered, "Then take me home and make love to me." Spike did just that.

As Spike had predicted, Christmas went well because Giles and Joyce were focused on the new baby rather than Spike and Buffy.

The day of Christmas was spent with the morning opening up presents. Giles had even gotten Spike a brand new planner but then had ruined it shortly after by saying it would be perfect for him to add the numbers from his little black book. Both had ignored his comment and instead focused on the beautiful grape farm painting Joyce had bought for Spike and the pocketknife Buffy had brought for him that was engraved with their initials.

Buffy received a loaded laptop and a camera with a built in microphone so that her and Spike could do video conference calls together. He had learned about it from his job and wanted to share it with Buffy so they could see each other during the next few months they were apart.

Giles didn't like the gift but said nothing as he disappeared upstairs to set up Dawn's new things in her room. Joyce stayed behind watching the duo set up the new laptop curious to see how it worked. The group talked about Spike's job and Joyce smiled the whole way finally asking, "So what exactly are your plans for your future? You're taking classes are you not?"

Spike nodded, "I am. I'm majoring in English as originally planned and minoring in business and accounting to help run the business. I plan to be able to write on my spare time."

Joyce nodded then spoke quieter after Buffy left the room to get Spike a screwdriver that he needed, "What will you do with Buffy? She's waiting you know…waiting on you. She has put her life on hold. What are your plans with her, William?"

Spike nodded, "I know. She's going to graduate this year. She wants to go to Oxford as you probably know."

At Joyce's nod he continued, "Well I'm going there now so we will go back to being together."

Joyce frowned, "Are you just going to date forever?"

Spike shook his head, "No I hope to marry your daughter."

Joyce nodded looking satisfied with that answer, "Well if you change your mind, be nice and let her go."

Spike frowned but nodded, "Will do but I do plan to spend forever with her."

Joyce smiled, "Then you have my blessing."

Spike looked proud and continued to be proud even after Buffy returned with his requested screwdriver. Nothing more was said about the topic and the group settled into Buffy rambling about the senior plans and dates of things as Spike handed her his planner for her to enter the dates to allow him to plan around them.