Rum and Cookies

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Happyverse Series: Part 4/15

AUTHOR: JodyorJen
EMAIL: jodyorjen@yahoo.com
DISCLAIMER: All hail Joss Whedon, UPN, the WB, FOX , Mutant Enemy and 20th Century Fox Film Corporation. GO team!
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Follows "Holiday Cheer", but stands alone. Buffy and Spike just got engaged and are living together with Dawn. Xander and Anya are still happily engaged. Willow is magic free and she and Tara are getting back together..
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Part 4: Rum and Cookies

Spike leaned against the doorway to the kitchen, relishing the sight before him. Buffy sung along to the little radio that belted out "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" as she flipped cookies onto racks to cool. The kitchen counters were covered with wire racks, mixing bowls, and pastry tubes of frosting. She had a red Santa hat perched on her head. Buffy was wearing Joyce's special Christmas apron, a hideous confection of red and green gingham accented with rows of tinsel trim. As she pirouetted back around to the oven she caught a glimpse of Spike out of the corner of her eye. "Hey honey! Did you get all the stuff?" Spike held out the box and bags in his hands for her inspection. "Why did you buy so much rum?" she asked, puzzled.

Spike raised his eyebrows at her. "Two words: Xander. Anya. Any questions?"

Buffy glared at him. "You are going to be very, very nice tonight, aren't you? It's Christmas Eve."

Spike put the box and shopping bags down on the floor and grabbed Buffy around the waist. "The only way that I am going to be very nice for you is if you are very nice to me. Whatcha going to do for me, Slayer?" He nuzzled her neck as his hands slid up her chest. She moaned as she pressed her neck harder against his mouth. She wrapped her arms tightly around his waist as she pressed herself snugly against him. They ignited. Spike ripped off the stupid Santa hat and grabbed the back of Buffy's head. He kissed her deeply and thoroughly. Buffy threw him off balance and they both fell to the floor. Spike started pulling off her jeans and flipping up the apron. "Want you, need you," he muttered Buffy lay back on the floor, eyes closed, breathing hard. Just as Spike succeeded in getting her pants off, the oven timer buzzed.

"The cookies! My cookies!" She tried to sit up, but Spike was having none of it.

"Screw the bleeding cookies," he growled.

"They'll burn," she pled, as he tried to unlock her knees.

"I don't give a bloody damn," he said. "I have a sweet little cookie right here." Flustered and irritated, she

pulled her apron down. He pulled it up. Down. Up. Down.

"Let me turn the oven off and we can go upstairs," she said coaxingly.

"I don't want to go upstairs. I want to shag you, right here, right now. On the kitchen floor, in your precious little apron, with sodding Christmas tunes playing in the background, alright?" said Spike loudly. Buffy's eyes lit up with anger and her jaw clenched. Uh oh, thought Spike. Now I've done it.

"You are ruining Christmas!" she yelled. She threw him off and marched over to the stove. "If you made me burn my cookies, I am going to kick your ass!" Spike figured that at this point a hasty retreat was in order. He booked it down to the basement. Buffy failed to notice that the case of rum went with him.

Down in the basement, Spike paced back and forth. A licorice twist hung out of the corner of his mouth as he spoke into the cordless phone. "Hello? Sharon? Yes, this is Spike. I need an arrangement sent over here pronto. Yeah, stuck my foot in my mouth again. What kind of thing will she like? Something bursting with holiday cheer. Greens, pinecones, forest type stuff. Hell if I know. That's your bit. Card? The same as usual. Yep, put it on the tab. Appreciate you doing this so close to closing time. Thanks." Hanging up the phone, he stopped, closed his eyes, and exhaled loudly. "Right then."

Flopping down on the couch, he looked around the room. Sitting on the coffee table were a bunch of snacks and toys that Buffy had bought him to give him something to do when he got the urge to smoke. Licorice sticks. Rubik's Cube. Juicy Fruit gum. A Game Boy. Pixie Sticks. Silly Putty. A thousand piece puzzle of Big Ben. Within easy reach, over on the floor, rested a nice case of rum. Tough choice. Getting completely pissed because his fiancée had lost her mind to holiday insanity? It was highly tempting. Playing with the Rubik's cube? Infinitely more likely to lead to snogging with Buffy later. God, he was whipped. He stuck another Twizzler in his mouth and concentrated on getting all those little blue squares on the same damn side.

Buffy walked down the basement stairs. She carried large evergreen centerpiece brimming with roses, candles, and pinecones. "Spike?" She peered around the corner and saw him crashed out on the couch. The Rubik's cube was dismantled on the table, lying on the empty bag of licorice. Placing the centerpiece gently on the floor, Buffy crawled on top of her sweetheart, resting her head underneath his chin. She snuggled on top of him, cherishing the smell and feel of him.

He stirred underneath her. "Buffy?"

He blinked down at her, looking sleepy and feline. A lazy smile crossed his face as he pulled her up and kissed her. Gently, delicately they embraced, every gesture a testament to the depth of their feelings. He broke away from the kissing to murmur, "I'm sorry I'm such a pain in the ass. I didn't mean to upset you."

She looked up at him, smiling. She smoothed his hair with her hand as she spoke. "I'm sorry I'm so snarly. I just want things to go well. I want a Merry Christmas and I can't wait to tell everyone that we are getting married."

He sat up and arranged her on his lap so that they were snuggled together. "I really think we should tell the niblet before we tell everyone else."

"Well, I think it will be more fun to tell everyone all at once. Tara invited Willow to a Yule thing, so Will won't be here. Not that I’m not glad they are making up. And I'll have to call Giles, which should be a really interesting conversation. So I guess I don't actually know what I want to do."

He held her hand, his fingers running over the diamond solitaire she had accepted the night before. "Well, whatever you want. Six of one, half dozen of the other." He held her tightly, and she felt secure and protected. "I am one lucky bloke, Slayer. I can't believe that you really want to marry me."

She turned to face him. "Well, believe it." He kissed her, and she broke away, straddling him. "I love you so very much," she said, as she leaned down and bit his neck. He growled and leaned his head back, offering his neck to her. She scraped the flesh of his neck gently with her teeth. He grew hard underneath her, and she ground against him. She bit harder and harder until he was writhing underneath her, barely restrained by her hold on his waist. Huskily, she whispered, "I’m the lucky one."

She stood up and pulled off her clothes. Spike joined her, pulling off his pants. He tossed her gently on the couch, rolling on top of her. He slipped inside her, more than ready, stiff with need. He bit her neck and shoulder, making her moan. Wanting to break his control, needing him to melt for her, she slipped her hands underneath his sweater and pulled her mouth to his chest, biting down. With a pained noise, his focus snapped as he grabbed her hips and thrust up into her, screaming her name. Buffy crashed, shattering all around him, feeling dizzy with the rush of her release. He slumped forward, lying on her chest as they basked in the afterglow.

She whispered in his ear. "That was a better apology than the flowers."

He smiled at her, kissing her forehead. "You know, I like the making up. Let's skip the fighting part next time."

She got up and put on her clothes. She held out her hand. "Up time, lazybones. I need you to make the eggnog and help finish icing the cookies. Plus, we need to get dressed up." She peered down at her tiny gold wristwatch. "We have an hour and fifteen minutes before Tara drops off Dawn. Come on, Mr. Pokey." Spike pulled himself together and followed Buffy up the stairs, toting the case of rum and the centerpiece.

Put a collar on me, Spike thought, I've been domesticated. Buffy had dressed him in a red sweater with snowflakes on it. He hadn't said a word. Now here he sat, at the kitchen counter, icing cookies. Holding a pastry bag, he put the finishing touches on a Santa Claus. Looking around to see if Buffy was nearby, he drew in tiny fangs. He smiled at his handiwork. He wondered if anyone had ever tried to turn Santa Claus. He shook his head. Of course not, Santa Claus wasn't real. He took a sip from his mug of blood. Looking thoughtful, he took an unfrosted cookie and dipped it in the blood. Mmm, yummy. Dipping away, he finished off the cookie and downed the last of the blood. Taking a gingerbread man off the rack, Spike switched pastry bags. He outlined the little man in white frosting, drawing in his face and tiny buttons down his front. He had gotten better at this in the last week or so.

A rush of chilly air came into the house as Dawn came in the back door. She launched herself at Spike. The pastry tube whipped in the air and a big blob of frosting fell on the cookie's head. "Dawn!" said Spike. "Look what you made me do to my gingerbread man!"

Dawn laughed at Spike's crestfallen expression. "That makes the top five list of "Things Evil Vampires Should Never Say". She tapped Spike on the shoulder. He turned to her, still distracted by the cookie trauma. "So? I'm dying here! What happened after I left?"

He looked at her, mischief in his eyes. "Can't tell you, bit. Sworn to secrecy."

"Spike! You have to tell me. I'm dying here. Please? Please?" Dawn bounced up and down, brimming with excitement.

Buffy walked into the kitchen. She looked beautiful, wearing diamond studs in her ears and a red halter dress. "Dawnie, what are you pestering Spike about now? I told you the pierced tongue thing was out of the question."

"Are you guys going to get married or what? I deserve to know. I've been a member of the family longer than he has!" Buffy opened her mouth and Dawn shrieked. She ran over to Buffy and grabbed her hand. "You're wearing it! You're wearing the ring!" Dawn pulled Buffy over to the table and grabbed Spike out of his chair. The three of them joined in a big happy hug. .

"What the hell is going on?" asked Xander, standing in the doorway looking seriously perplexed.

Dawn broke out of the group hug and pulled Xander into one. "It's so great! Spike and Buffy are getting married!"

Xander looked green around the gills. "Getting married? Wait, this is déjà vu all over again. A spell-"

Spike strode over and pulled Xander away from Dawn. His hand clamped the back of Xander's neck firmly. He whispered very softly in Xanders' ear. "Say one thing to burst her bubble, or say anything to upset Buffy, and I will snap you like a twig. Chip be damned." Looking into Spike's face, Xander knew that he was deadly serious.

Point made, Spike broke into a big goofy smile. "Right then. Let's have some eggnog. I made it with lots and lots of rum."

Xander sighed. "Pour me a tankard. While you're at it, grab the bottle of rum and a couple of shot glasses too."

Anya wandered into the kitchen wearing a green sweater and slacks. The sweater had a large Christmas tree on it, complete with metal ornaments and blinking electrical lights. Fabric barrettes shaped like holly adorned her blonde hair. She looked a little pasty. "Hi Buffy, hi Dawn. I was just sick in your bathroom. I keep getting all pukey." Buffy looked concerned. "Do you want to sip on some ginger ale or something?"

"No, I'll be alright. I think that Xander knocked me up, actually. I've peed on a bunch of those little sticks and they all turned blue. But I won't go to the doctor until next week. So Xander told me that I shouldn't talk about it today, since we don't know yet." Floored, Buffy tried to think up an appropriate response.

Anya spied the Christmas cookies on the platter on the table. Dawn sat in a chair, munching away at a snowman. "That would be cool if you had a baby, Anya. I could baby-sit, " said Dawn.

"Ooh, cookies! Shaped like little men." Anya picked up a Santa Claus and bit off his head. "The cannibalistic overtones of eating little people shaped confections is deeply fascinating," said Anya.

She peered at Buffy's hand. "Hey! You are wearing a very valuable diamond on your finger." She walked over to where Buffy was standing and grabbed her hand, the diamond inches from her nose. "Wow! That's some sparkler. Looks like a two-carat, bezel set, G color, S1 clarity, brilliant cut diamond in a platinum setting you got there." Anya wrinkled up her nose.. "Why do you have an engagement ring? And why is it nicer than mine?"

Buffy decided to skip the latter question and focus on the former. "Spike and I are getting married."

Anya looked confused and then gave Buffy a patronizing smile. "I'm sorry, Buffy, but you can't get married."

"What are you talking about, Anya?" asked Buffy, perplexed.

Anya spoke very slowly and carefully, as one might speak to a very small child or a homicidal maniac. "Xander asked me to marry him. I am the engaged girl! I am the bride. If there's more than one bride, it's not special."

Buffy attempted to soothe her. "Anya-"

But Anya was beyond soothing. "I'm special. No one else is getting married! No one! Willow and Tara can't get married, and aren't all back together yet anyway. Spike is a big dead cootie and you're going to die young because you're a slayer and all that. Dawn can't get married legally in this state yet. Giles is in England and no one wants his old sorry ass anyway. It's my moment to shine! You're ruining my happy day!"

Buffy lost it. "It's all about you, is it? I'm the one that has to save the world. I'm the one that gets to do all the monster fighting. I had the whole coming back from the dead thing. I deserve a little happiness, too. You're a selfish brat!" Anya looked like she was going to cry, but Buffy was on a roll. "I hope you are pregnant. I hope you're pregnant with twins! When I'm walking down the aisle, looking all beautiful and radiant, you'll be waddling down the aisle like a great big pumpkin!" Anya broke down in tears, collapsing in a kitchen chair. Her great, racking sobs filled the room. Dawn and Buffy stared at each other.

"Apologize," Dawn hissed between her teeth. "That was really rude, Buffy!"

"I'm gonna be fat!" Anya wailed as she sobbed.

"I'm sorry, Anya. I didn't mean it. I'm sure that if you're pregnant, you'll be all pretty and not so fat. You'll be a beautiful bride. Spike and I aren't planning on a big wedding thing anyway. Don't feel all competitive. Please stop crying. I'm so, so sorry," said Buffy.

Anya looked up, her eyes red. "You promise my wedding will be nicer than yours? It'll look more expensive?"

Buffy patted her shoulder. "I promise, Anya. My wedding will be insignificant next to yours. It will be thrifty and small, cross my heart."

Dawn handed Anya a tissue and she blew her nose. "Well, okay then."

They all gathered in the basement, sitting around the large television that Spike had bought when they turned the basement into a family room. Cookies, snacks, sodas and a large punch bowl filled with eggnog sat on a folding table pushed against the wall. Spike and Buffy snuggled in his recliner as Xander and Anya relaxed on the couch. Dawn stood next to the television, waving the DVD of The Grinch Who Stole Christmas in the air. "Okay so what you do is, when anyone says "Who", you have to take a drink."

"Dawnie," said Buffy," you can't drink Spike's eggnog. It has rum in it." Dawn rolled her eyes and pointed at her Coke on the coffee table.

"I don't think you can drink it either, Slayer. My eggnog has enough rum in it to get you drunk just by smelling it. You're a toddling lightweight when it comes to liquor. You'll be three sheets to the wind fifteen minutes into the bloody picture. Right after that, you'll be asleep and drooling." Spike spoke very distinctly, a sure sign that he was well on his way to being smashed.

Buffy turned to look at Spike. "I do not drool. Not ever. Besides, I'm not that much of a lightweight. Eggnog's not a serious alcohol drink. It's a light, fluffy, holiday beverage."

Spike raised his eyebrows at her. "You got all tipsy last night on a half glass of champagne, love. Be reasonable. Eggnog's got a ton of sugar in it to cut the bite, but it hits hard. You couldn't get through a glass of the stuff and walk."

Buffy pressed her nose into his. "Wanna bet?" Spike smirked at her. "I think Cindy Lou Who could drink more eggnog than you." Xander, Dawn, and Spike laughed. Buffy looked irritated. Anya looked blank.

"Okay, Lucy and Ricky, I'm starting the movie now. Everyone get your tasty adult beverages," said Dawn.

Spike poured himself and Buffy heaping full glasses of eggnog. Xander poured himself one, grabbing a can of ginger ale for Anya. "What's the matter, demon girl? Afraid to try my kick ass eggnog?" asked Spike.

"Xander won't let me indulge in alcohol because he fears what it may do to our fetus," explained Anya. Xander smacked himself in the forehead while Spike looked immensely amused.

"Harris! You git! You of all people a dad-" Catching the looks he was getting from Buffy and Dawn, he changed direction on that one. "Congratulations! That's really- neat," he said sincerely.

They all settled down with their drinks. Xander and Anya looked at each other, smiled into each other's eyes, and held hands. Buffy settled back on Spike's lap, his hand wrapped around her waist. Dawn flopped on her stomach in front of the television. As the ending credits rolled, Dawn turned back to look at the sleeping couples. Buffy and Spike slept wrapped around each other like kittens, tucked tightly into each other. Xander and Anya were spooned around each other on the couch, his hand resting protectively over her abdomen. Dawn tossed throw blankets over each couple and turned out the light.

In the living room, Dawn watched the lights blinking on the Christmas tree. They reflected onto all the brightly wrapped gifts under the tree. Sitting on the couch, she pulled back the curtain and looked up into the dark night sky. Clear and sparkling, a star shone brightly, twinkling down at her. She thought of Spike and Buffy, and how much they loved her and each other. They were really going to be a family. Looking up at the star, she whispered "Thank you." Dawn had received her Christmas miracle.

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JodyorJen - jodyorjen@yahoo.com