ApplePearPlumCherry

Part 4 of the Christmas Cards 1999 Series

Disclaimer: The characters and situations from �Buffy the Vampire Slayer� and �Angel� aren�t mine and never were mine. The are and remain the property of Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and the WB Network. The author has received NO monetary recompense of any kind whatsoever.

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Feedback- Absolutely.

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�Merry Christmas!� Olivia said cheerfully as she opened the door.

�Merry Christmas to you,� Xander answered, smiling warmly and handing Olivia a box of cookies.

�Yeah, whatever,� Anya grumbled, pushing past him into the house.

�Christmas not real big with ex-demons,� Xander said apologetically, following her in.

The table was stacked with sandwiches of at least a dozen varieties, three pitchers of different kinds of punch, and a huge bowl of salad. Anya regarded it skeptically.

�I thought you were supposed to have turkey, or ham, or something,� Anya said.

�This is a traditional Yorkshire Christmas meal,� Olivia said. She handed Xander a box of matches. �Would you be so kind as to light the candles for me,� she said.

Xander took the matches. �Sure,� he said.

Giles was sipping brandy in the living room, while Spike sat sullenly nearby.

�We�ll be eating in a few minutes,� Olivia announced.

�Wonderful,� Giles said, rising.

�Yeah, bloody marvelous,� Spike grumbled.

�At least you�re not tied to a chair, like Thanksgiving,� Anya pointed out.

�As one ex-bad guy to another,� Spike sniped at her, �would you mind not trying to cheer me up.�

Anya shot a disgusted look in Spike�s direction, which the vampire returned in kind. Reluctantly, the two joined the others at the table.

Olivia placed a large, beautifully painted tankard in front of Spike. �I heated some for you,� she said, �seeing how it�s Christmas and all.�

�It would be Christmas before I warmed up blood for a vampire,� Giles murmured.

�Please,� Olivia scolded, �we should be pleasant to our guests.�

Giles seemed about to retort when he realized Olivia was quite serious. �You�re right,� he said, chagrined, �I apologize.�

Spike didn�t answer, but sniffed at the tankard. It was warmed nicely.

�For the rest of you,� Olivia said, �we have ham, roast beef, turkey, cheese, cucumber, tuna, tomato, cream cheese, and� never mind, we have a little of everything.�

Anya and Xander both reached together, but Giles cleared his throat sternly and they returned their hands to their laps.

�Xander,� Olivia said, �would you please say the blessing.�

Anya rolled her eyes, and Xander�s head snapped up in surprise.

�Bloody hell,� Spike snarled, and he stood, scooped up his blood and marched away.

�I�m sorry about that, Olivia,� Giles said, �but you see, um, how can I put this� religious ritual is anathema to vampires.�

�Oh, I didn�t even think,� Olivia said, �I should go talk to him.�

�Don�t bother,� Giles said.

�No, I want to,� Olivia pressed, �you go on ahead.� And she left them to follow Spike.

�She�s so soft-hearted,� Giles said wistfully, as he reached for a turkey and bacon sandwich.

�You�d have to be Mother Teresa to feel sorry for Spike,� Xander said, stuffing a ham and cheese club into his mouth.

�She could probably do better,� Anya added.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Olivia opened the door of the darkened bedroom. �Spike?�

�Go away,� Spike said sternly.

�I want to apologize,� she said.

�Sure,� Spike replied, �come on in. What am I gonna do about it?�

�I didn�t know about the blessing,� Olivia said. �I don�t even normally have one, it�s just it�s traditionally good luck to have the darkest-haired guest light the candles and say the blessing. And I�m sorry.�

There was a long moment of silence before Spike finally answered. �It�s not just that,� he said, and there was another long pause.

�You�ve been very kind,� Spike said at last, �probably because you don�t know me very well. But doing Christmas and playing human is probably the most appalling thing that�s happened to me in what could safely be described as the worst six weeks of my life with no end in sight. So if it�s all the same to you, I�d like to be left alone.�

�I didn�t realize,� Olivia said softly. �I�m sorry.� And she closed the door.

She rejoined the others at the table and nibbled the edge of a cucumber sandwich. �This is all very strange,� she said to no one in particular.

�But at least it�s never boring,� Xander answered.

�I�d actually be pleased with boring, for a change,� Giles said.

�Don�t feel bad,� Anya said, �everyone knows the whole Christmas season is just a time when expectations are so inflated it can never live up, and everyone just ends up depressed and resentful, anyway.�

There was a stunned silence as all stared at Anya, and she looked up unselfconsciously.

�So are we having mince tarts or not,� she said.

Part 5- May Your Days Be Merry and Bright
Main Menu ~ Christmas Cards 1999