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Changing Hearts Series - Christmas Thingy -- by Ruby
Rating: PG-13
Description: Willow needs help with a present, sequel to Sordid.
Note: Spoilers -- Wild at Heart, The Initiative.
Disclaimer: Joss owns all.
Willow knelt on the floor in her dorm room and pulled back the flaps on a rather large cardboard box. She heard the familiar creak of the door opening, and she gasped in surprise and shoved the box underneath her bed, sending white styrofoam peanuts flying in every direction.
"Oh, it's you," she breathed as Spike came into the room.
"Nice to see you, too," he grinned, eyeing the mess on the floor around her.
"I didn't mean it like that. It's just--" she stuck her hand under the bed and pulled the box back out.
"I've been trying to put this together for three days."
"What is it?" he asked.
She reached inside the cardboard container and lifted out a wooden object. "It's a coffin!" Spike's eyebrows shot up.
"It's a chest," she explained. "It's my Christmas present for Buffy. I thought she could put her slayer stuff in it. Pretty neat, huh?"
The vampire laughed, "I'll bet she won't get another one."
"Yeah," she smiled happily. "I don't really celebrate Christmas--"
"Don't celebrate--" he paused to heave a forced sigh of exasperation. "No fat men in red suits? No Randy the Red-nosed Reindeer--"
"It's Rudolph!" she giggled.
"Yeah, him," Spike shrugged. "You don't know what you're missing, pet. Have I ever told you about the Christmas that Angelus, Dru, and I spent in London? We came across this group of carolers and--oh, wait. Maybe you'd better not hear that one."
She laughed even harder, "You're probably right. I just like the 'buying presents for people I care about' part. So, anyway, are you any good with your hands?"
He waggled his eyebrows at her, "What did you have in mind?"
She blushed and gestured at the chest, "No. See, it came unassembled. I've tried following the instructions, but I can't get tab A to go into slot B, and I can't even _find_ slot C! It's hopeless!"
"Let's have a look," he pulled the chest toward him and examined its rather lopsided state, "Well, it _is_ for the slayer. Maybe you ought to just give it to her like this."
"Don't be mean," Willow laughed. "It's her Christmas present, after all."
"Yeah, well," he said, reconsidering the coffin. "You need a few nails, or a power drill, or something."
"Well, I can check my sock drawer, but I'm pretty sure I don't have any of those things," she replied dryly. Spike chuckled and placed the chest back in its box and lifted it with him as he stood up.
He reached for her hand, "Come on. We'll have this thing together in no time."
"Really?" she asked hopefully. "Oh, thanks, Spike!"
She opened the door and followed him out into the hallway.
"So, what did you get me?" Spike asked, sounding remarkably like a kid.
"That would be telling," she scolded him.
He pressed the elevator button, his eyes fastened on the redhead, "You really got me something?"
"Of course I did!" she grinned.
"That's good," he nodded as they entered the elevator.
"Why?"
"Save you the embarrassment of standing there empty-handed when I give you yours," he answered.
Her eyes widened in curiosity, "You got me a gift? As in going into a store and buying me something? I can't even imagine! Where did you--"
"That would be telling," he echoed her earlier words.
"Oh, right," she agreed and linked her arm through one of his box-laden ones, squeezing it slightly. "I could get to like this whole Christmas thingy."
He bent his head to give her hair a soft peck, "You will if I have anything to say about it."
The End
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