Christmas Gifts...

Christmas Gifts...

Archived at the Buffy Rebecca verse, Cicelyverse page,

Disclaimer: All BTVS characters remain the property of Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and all other owner/creators of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer series...

Summary: A Cicelyverse tale...The first Xmas after William's transformation in 1880, Spike catches up with friends and family...

A brown-haired, rather short but handsome young man in a slightly worn, but elegant suit and his dark-haired lady strolled down a snow-clogged street. Normally running with mud and unspeakable filth but thankfully frozen and white for the moment...

My God... Spike looked round the street.  Shabby buildings in sad need of paint...A few half-starved figures ferreting through the side alleys...One or two glancing at him and his companion as they walked along...Not a tree or bush in sight...The white new snow on the ground the one saving grace.

Brusset never changes...he thought as he pressed along.

"This is your home...?" Dru beside him looked about...

And to think I took you for a toff that night...

"Clothes make the man, Dru." he smiled. "And the fine lady..." he twirled her in her fine new dress and coat...The dress, black with gold buttons...The coat trimmed with fur.  The finest she'd ever had, she noted yet again.  An involuntary present from a dress shop in London, courtesy her mate.

They'd reached a somewhat less dreary section of the little industrial town...A few trees, somewhat better homes.

"My uncle's home is down the street here..." he pointed.  Dru eagerly stepped forward...

He paused...Dru? he called...

"You understand?  We're not to go in.  Not to speak with them.  I just wanted to see Phil and Amelia.  Remember your promise..."

She frowned.  Not very nice.  Wasn't he proud of his Dru?

She wanted to meet his brother and sister.  Show the little ones her fine dress and coat...

Wasn't she a fine lady now? Miss Edith thought so...

"You promised me, Dru..." he stared at her.

"My Christmas present, you said...You promised to behave."

She fidgeted...Well...

But he was proud of her?  She was a fine lady now?  Good as...That one...?

"A very fine lady, Dru.  Who keeps her word..."

She beamed and nodded...

A rather fine-looking carriage stood parked outside the house...

Nobs...? Dru looked at Spike...

"I thought you said your own here were poor but for..."

"I suppose...It's Henry." Spike paused.

"My best friend...When I was William."

"He must have been looking after them.  Good ole Henry..."

Cicely's cousin...he explained.

Dru frowned at the Cicely.  Her silly boy still hasnt given his fancy lady up yet...

After all Dru has given him.  He still won't forget the one who sent him away so coldly...