Summary: There's Willow, and some holiday
Christmas/Hanuakkah stuff.... :)
Spoilers: Minor, through the fourth season.
Disclaimer: Joss.
Rating: PG
Feedback: It's a perfect yum.
Thanks to Tracy, beta goddess.
by:
Amy
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Buffy burst into the room, her face flushed with the
cold, her eyes bright
and playful. She stopped short when she saw Willow curled up on her bed,
clutching her pillow, and listening to an old Dingo's tape. She sighed,
setting down her backpack.
"Will?" she asked gently. "Why aren't you out decking the halls?"
"I'm Jewish," Willow mumbled.
"You can be Jewish and still have a happy for the holiday season," Buffy
pointed out logically. She sat down on the edge of Willow's bed and patted
her leg. "This is the time for miracles! I mean, I bet it's so nice out
there... If it drops another ten degrees, it could snow again. Come out with
me."
"And the cold is nice?" Willow asked, finally looking at Buffy with red
eyes.
Buffy nodded decisively. "Yes. Very. Come out with me," she repeated.
Willow rolled over. "I don't much feel like it, if that's okay."
"Because you're afraid of the cold?"
"No," Willow said softly. "Because I'm already cold. I want to dwell." She
cast a wan smile in Buffy's direction. "I won't get like I was, I promise...
I'm just feeling a little blue. Isn't that the way you're supposed to feel
during the holidays?"
Buffy sighed. "Sometimes. But not during every single day of the holidays.
Please... Come out with me, okay? We'll get some cocoa at the Espresso
Pump."
Willow bit her lip, and then smiled at Buffy, sitting up. She tossed her
pillow aside and stood, walking decisively to get her coat. Shrugging it
on,
she gestured to the door, and Buffy squealed happily, bouncing off the bed
to
open it.
"Okay," Willow told her in mock annoyance. "But you're buying."
* * * * * * * * *
Six hot chocolates, a lot of giggling, and some quality time later, they
returned home with full stomachs and smiles on their faces. Buffy unlocked
the door and let herself in, stopping dead in the doorway when she looked
around. Willow glanced at her in confusion, brushing past to see what the
fuss was about.
She, too, halted almost immediately. Willow nervously pulled off her gloves
and then her coat, tossing them on her bed as she stepped forward in
amazement.
On every surface, and every place that it was possible to hang something,
candy canes decorated the dorm room. Poinsettias colored everything, the
greens and reds making the room appear vibrant and alive, like the depths
of
a holiday jungle. And on Willow's desk was a shiny menorah, with a single
candle lit. Her brow knitted in confusion. Hanukkah had been over for a
week, to the day. Slowly, she approached the menorah, a soft smile lifting
her lips, warmth seeping into her heart, though she couldn't have explained
why.
"Who's this from?" Buffy asked, still sounding surprised. "I mean, wow."
"Yeah." Willow slid a finger along a silky poinsettia. "I don't know who
it's from. But I think..." She turned to smile at Buffy. "I think it was
just what I needed."
* * * * * * * *
Willow's eyes fluttered open slowly. She rolled over, and was about to say
something when Buffy paused conspicuously, so she fell silent. Buffy
exhaled, in what sounded like relief, and Willow allowed her eyes to slide
closed again.
"Yeah, it went pretty good. I didn't expect so much, though," Buffy
whispered. "Even I was surprised."
Willow sucked in her breath and held it. So Buffy knew who had left
everything in their room, and hadn't told her? She was getting more and more
curious with each passing second. But she remained still and quiet, ashamed
that she was blatantly eavesdropping, but not willing to stop.
"Yeah," Buffy murmured. "I think I can do that. But I need to tell you, it
was pretty hard getting her out today. Even *more* special? What can you
do, leave her a diamond mine?" Buffy joked softly. "It's okay. No, I'm glad
to do it. Just think about how she is right now next time anything like...
that... comes up again, okay?"
Willow bit back a curious smile, and listened to the rest of the
conversation. Unfortunately, Buffy didn't say a name, or reveal-- in any
way-- who she was talking to. But when she hung up, Willow felt good and
warm and cared for.
She slept soundly through the night.
* * * * * * * * * *
For the next seven nights, there were different presents adorning their room
on arrival. Willow no longer struggled with Buffy or put up a fuss over
going out of the house, instead working on new ways that wouldn't raise
Buffy's suspicions that Willow had an idea about what was going on. For her
part, Buffy went along for the ride, content to see Willow's face light up
when they came home and found yet another candle on the Menorah lit, and
something new resting on Willow's bed.
Chocolates, one night. And then a bowl of new and exotic fish. There were
ribbons and necklaces, and books on witchcraft. And lots and lots of candy
canes. On the seventh night, it was small gold star-shaped earrings. When
Willow saw that gift, her mouth opened in delight and she let out a muffled
shriek as she tried them on.
Her eyes darted to Buffy. "Okay, give. Who is he?"
Buffy shifted under her gaze. "What makes you think I know who these things
are from?"
"Well, first of all, you've never once wondered if these presents could be
for you."
Buffy smiled. "They've been on your bed. And, the Menorah. So there."
"Secondly," Willow pointed out, "I heard you talking to him after the first
night." She stuck her tongue out at Buffy, whose mouth dropped open before
a
giggle burst from her lips. "Who is he?"
Buffy sat down. "He's... Someone pretty darn into you, I can say that
much."
"Buffy..." Willow whined, sitting down next to her friend. "Come on!"
"Nope, sorry," she laughed. "Can't. But you won't have to wait for very
long to find out, if he's telling me the truth."
"How long?" Willow persisted.
"Not long," Buffy said again. "And if you ask me any more, you sneaky thing,
I'll be forced to tell you... And I think I would hate myself if I did that.
So don't, kay?"
Willow sighed, then grinned. "Fine. I'll be good. But not long?"
"Tomorrow night," Buffy agreed. She clapped her hand over her mouth. Willow
started laughing.
Her smile was bright. "Thanks!"
* * * * * * * *
But though she knew when the admirer was going to present himself, that night
couldn't come fast enough. Willow had wanted to stay at the room, and
surprise him by waiting for his arrival, but Buffy finally convinced her
that
it would be better to go back, better to be the surprisee. So Willow tagged
along to a movie, The Green Mile, which, while it wasn't very holiday-like,
was wonderful.
She was cried out and felt warm and good inside when she got home. Buffy
paused at the door, and Willow looked at her in confusion.
"Aren't you coming in?"
The Slayer's eyes twinkled. "Nope. I have patrol."
"You usually don't go out for patrol for another couple of..." Willow trailed
off, her eyes widening at Buffy's smile. "Oh. 'Kay. Have lots of good
slays."
"And you have a jolly good time here," Buffy said, raising her voice a
little, "By yourself, going inside and finally being home after hours and
hours."
Willow looked at her, baffled, and hid a smile. "Okay. See you later."
With a parting smile, the Slayer darted off.
Willow unlocked her door and stepped inside. The room was quiet but warmly
toned. Tossing her keys onto the dresser, Willow turned to her desk and was
disappointed to find that the last candle hadn't been lit. Her brow
furrowed. Did this mean that he, whoever he was, wasn't coming? She sat
down on her bed, and jumped, startled, when she realized she had sat on
something.
She turned around to lift it up, and inspected the small box closely before
unwrapping it with abandon. She lifted the lid up carefully.
Inside lay a small sprig of... mistletoe?
Her face dropped unconsciously. "But I have no one to kiss," she murmured
to
herself, sadly.
Suddenly, her closet door opened. Willow bit back a scream of shock.
Oz stepped out.
He smiled gently, understanding her surprise. "If you still want to, you
do
now," he offered quietly.
Willow looked back down at the leaves in her palm and sniffed a little. "I
didn't even let myself hope that it could be you," she finally whispered.
"Is that disappointment, then, that I see on your face?"
She shook her head emphatically. "No! Just... Oh, Oz." Her glassy eyes
flew up to his. "Why didn't you light the last candle?"
"I wanted both of us to do it," he explained. "I thought, that since I
missed the *real* holiday, it might be okay if I made it up like this. And
besides, I wanted to give you some sort of... gesture."
Willow stood. A smile curved her lips; her voice was hopeful. "So... You're
back, then? As in, for good?"
"Only if you want me to be," he said gravely.
Willow flew into his arms. "It's *all* I wanted," she cried. "I was so
lonely, thinking that I would be away from you... That you would be gone
for
the holidays. Everywhere I went, there were people in love, and I kept
thinking that I used to be one of those people except that I still was and
I
was just wondering if you were one of those people anymore and if you still
loved me at all and..." Willow trailed off, sucking in her breath.
Oz held her tightly, inhaling the scent of her hair. "Remember when we
talked about run-on sentences, Will?" he finally asked warmly.
Willow gave a half-laugh, half-sob, her fingernails digging possessively
into
his shirt, holding him as closely as she could. "I missed you so much! Is
everything better?"
"I thought it would clear my head," he breathed, "Being away from everything.
Instead, I could only think of you, of hurting you... Running away from my
problems. I'm sorry, Willow." Oz's voice was hoarse. "I love you."
"I love *you*," she echoed, rubbing her cheek against his.
For a moment, they pulled away from each other, looked into each other's
eyes. Green on green. Oz smiled. "Will?"
"Yeah?"
"That mistletoe?"
"Coming up," she answered readily, lifting it over their heads.
Oz leaned forward, capturing her lips with his. The kiss was soft at first,
and then hot and melting, as he moved his hands up to claim her face in his
palms, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing herself to him.
Hip to hip, chest to chest, toe to toe, they kissed, as close as they could
be in that moment. His hands sank into her hair greedily as he sucked and
licked her lips, hungry for her after so many months. She allowed him access
to the warm recesses of her mouth, loving the taste of his kiss, the taste
that she had been without for far too long.
Finally, they pulled away from each other, breathing heavily. Willow's eyes
shined as she looked at him, every holiday wish she had ever allowed herself
coming true in his gaze. He tugged on her hand, leading her over to the
Menorah, where he held out a lighter and flicked it. A small flame appeared,
and Willow smiled, placing her fingers over his. They reached out and lit
the last candle, and Oz said a Hebrew prayer under his breath.
Willow looked at him, surprised. "How did you...?"
"I've been practicing for about a week," he answered, knowing the question
before it was spoken.
Willow smiled, kissed him again. "Merry Christmas, Oz."
He smiled back, drinking her in with his eyes. "Happy Hanukkah, Willow."
The End