Holidays are the best time for stories, and I thoguht I'd write a short Xmas fic about Kenn and Will, this is Xmas Eve...Look out for Xmas Day :-)...Might even do boxing day if you decide you like it...Enjoy & Review! XxX
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Willow is sat staring at the snow falling outside the window, watching Kennedy and the other newbie Slayers throw snowballs at each other and build a Snow-Slayer, complete with stake. It seemed like an age ago that they had leapt onto the School Bus and sped for their lives out of Sunnydale, leaving a crater filled with dead friends behind them. It had only been a few months, but it pained the redhead that she wouldn’t be able to place flowers on Tara’s grave at Christmas time.
Snow is still falling when the sun begins to set, and the newbies head inside to warm up before patrol. Kennedy’s hands are red raw and numb, her feet are freezing and her nose is glowing with pre-cold sniffles, but she wears a grin wider than any other person in the giant hallway of Angel‘s Hotel.
She removes her coat, hat, scarf, gloves and jumper, kicking her shoes into the giant closet before jogging up the stairs to her girl sat waiting. She opens the door quietly and smiles to see Willow in the chair by the window with her back to her, going quietly over to her and placing her cold hands on the back of Willow’s neck she sniggers slightly. The redhead jumps up, defensive before Kennedy collapses into a heap on the floor, laughing hysterically. Willow quickly wipes away the trail of tears running down her cheeks and joins in the laughter half heartedly.
When the brunette finally composes herself, she stands once more. “Happy Christmas Eve baby.” She kisses Willow’s nose, causing the pale skinned witch to wrinkle her face up at the freezing cold touch of her slayer’s nose against her own warmth.
“Is that a national holiday now?” Willow raises her eyebrow at Kennedy, “’Cause I didn’t get you a card.” Willow rolls her eyes as Kennedy sticks her tongue out, forgetting for a little while about her earlier thoughts.
“Well, it may not be a national holiday, but it doesn’t mean I can’t do something special with you does it?” Kennedy leans in and kisses her girl, this time on the mouth, gently. As she pulls back, Willow cocks her head to one side.
“Are we doing something special?” A sly grin comes across the brunette.
“If you wrap up warm, you’ll find out…” She winks and turns, “I’m gonna take a shower while you get ready.”
Willow watches the cocky slayer go into the en suite. She looks after her for a few moments before shaking her head slowly. “Y’know Tara, after you…I thought…Oh, I don’t know what I thought, all I know is that she changed that.” Tears form in the redhead’s eyes. “I hope you don’t hate me for it.” She shakes the thought from her head and turns to the wardrobe.
One Slayer-Shower, and a wardrobe-emptying frenzy later, and Willow and Kennedy stand before Buffy. “You’re trying to tell me that you two want to go for a walk in minus four?” Her eyebrows are raised in disbelief.
“Uh-huh.” Kennedy nods, pulling a stake from her coat pocket, “I got us covered.”
“Fine, but I’m not playing nursemaid if you both come down with something all icky.” And off she heads, a rather large glass of red wine in her hand, “Now if you don’t mind, Giles and I have to play Santa to a tonne of new Slayers.”
Kennedy held the front door for Willow and upon shutting it behind them, laced her gloved hands with Willow’s, leading the way. “Where are you taking me?” Willow creeps, her voice melodic and gentle, but Kennedy won’t tell.
“Ah ah ah…I don’t think that’s gonna work…” Kennedy uses her finger to tap Willow’s already reddening nose. The redhead wrinkles her nose and pouts her response.
Two blocks later and Willow can hear a band playing carols, and a church choir singing. As the band and choir come into view, they stop to watch and listen awhile, Willow leaning her head on Kennedy’s shoulder, a soft smile on her face. Kennedy shifts slightly and kisses the redheads cheek, nudging her hood back a little at the same time. Snow is falling, but not as fast as it had been. Kennedy lets Willow’s hand go and moves through the small crowd to the front, whispering first to the band conductor and then to the choir conductor, who both look to each other and nod.
Willow watches, completely confused until the band starts up again, and Kennedy takes the scarf from round her neck, a nervous look on her face. “Love you.” She aims it at the redhead before taking a deep breath and closing her eyes.
“On this day, snowy day
Let me thank you for the joy you're giving me...
I'm so happy...
I have snowflakes of love smiling down on me
winter bliss when we kiss
Every wish my lips could see
I'm so happy...
I have snowflakes of love smiling down on me…”
Willow stands with her mouth slightly open, hot breath causing a thick mist to billow from her as her breath catches in her throat and her eyes well up.
“Snowy day
Would you please take me away
Away with you...
Hold me so closely
Like the moonlight lights the sky…”
The choir starts to back her up a little as the crowd start to sway, Willow begins to regain control of herself, and starts to enjoy the performance. Now appreciating that her girlfriend does indeed have a good voice.
“In my dreams of soft winter breeze
Eases my mind, but when I wake
there's nothing but leaves
Still, I'm happy...
I have snowflakes of love smiling down on me…”
Kennedy’s nervous look is replaced by a grin as she begins to realise that everyone is enjoying themselves, she begins to move instead of just standing there she walks up and down the front row of the crowd.
“Oh, how I imagine the day we met
And those tingles from those little butterflies...
Reminiscing, I get so happy
I just break down and cry”
Tears are in both women’s eyes as Kennedy finally looks over at the green eyes of her lover, she begins to walk over to Willow, parting the crowd as she moves.
Candlelight burning bright
Underneath a cool, starry night
You and me, endlessly, it's the greatest gift
that love could give to me
She pulls the redhead to her and starts to slow dance for a little while, still singing she holds her closer, gently pushing the hood back further, smiling at Willow’s face, glowing with cold and happiness.
On this day, snowy day
Let me thank you for the joy you've given to me...
I'm so happy...
To have snowflakes of love smiling down on me.
Kennedy leans forward and kisses her girlfriend softly, once again lacing her right hand with Willow’s left and then pulling gently, indicating the continual of their walk.
A few blocks down, Willow shivers noticeably and Kennedy smiles. “Time for the second present of Christmas Eve I guess.” She stops and Willow notices an old fashioned Coffee Shop in front of them.
“Mochas?” Her eyes light up.
“That’s right…” Kennedy once again holds the door, while Willow takes off her hood and goes inside. Kennedy pulls off her beanie and follows her.
“One Mocha with all the toppings, and one hot chocolate, same please.” She places the money on the counter and turns to Willow. “Why don’t you go find a table you like the look of baby?” Willow kisses Kennedy’s cheek and heads over to where there’s a tree by a two seat table.
Kennedy carries the tray to where Willow’s sat with no problem, and places the Mocha, complete with whipped cream, marshmallows and cocoa powder. “Wow.” Is all the witch can say as Kennedy sits down with a cup that looks exactly the same.
“I wanted to make our first Christmas special.” Kennedy smiles, Willow can’t tell if the brunette is cold, or whether there was a slight blush beneath all that bravado.
“You’re doing a wonderful job of it so far.” Willow sips at the Mocha, trying not to think too much.
“Two down, three to go.” The slayer winks and Willow looks shocked.
“Five? B-but, it’s not even Christmas yet!” She looks like she might babble, but Kennedy cuts her off.
“Well, think about what tomorrow will be like then huh?” She flashes her an innocent look and sips the hot chocolate, purposely getting cram on her nose. Willow laughs at her.
“If you wanted a lick, why didn’t you just say so?” Willow leans over and tries to lick Kennedy’s nose, but the Slayer is too fast for her and rubs the cream off onto Willow’s nose too, sharing the stickiness. Then she licks Willow’s nose first, eventually letting the redhead return the favour.
They reach their third stop about an hour later. It’s a florist, but all the lights are out. Kennedy pushes the buzzer for the flat above the shop.
“Hello?” A voice answers over a speaker.
“I spoke to you this morning, you told me you’d have my order, and to push the buzzer when I needed it.” Is all she says before the woman can be heard coming down the stairs to the door.
She unlocks the shutters over the shop door and bustles inside without a word, fetching both sets of flowers out. The florist hands the flowers to Kennedy, before taking an envelope from her, locking the shutters and bustling back up the stairs.
There’s one set of twelve red roses, which she hands to Willow who blushes and is lost for words. And one Christmas wreath, filled with holly and miniature Poinsettia, a golden bow tied across the top.
“That for the door of the Hotle?” Willow asks, as the brunette re-laces their free hands.
“Something like that.” Kennedy smiles, a little sadly.
“Two to go.” Willow squeezes Kennedy’s hand as they reach the park. The brunette leads her inside. The place is deserted, one single park bench covered in snow overlooks a snow-laden playground, dimly lit by streetlights in the winter night sky. Kennedy and Willow walk over to the bench, and the brunette takes her scarf off, using it to knock the snow from the bench seat.
“Sit down, there’s something I want to show you.” Kennedy indicates the bench, and Willow sits down, placing the roses by the side of the bench and watching her girlfriend finish knocking snow off so she too can sit.
“You were saying?” The redhead asks, as Kennedy stuffs her sodden scarf into her pocket.
“Right, I was thinking, a few weeks back, about what to get you for Christmas, and I came up with a thousand and one things…But one really stuck in my head, and here it is.” Kennedy indicates the bench.
“A bench?” Willow raises one eyebrow.
“Not just a bench…” She leans over and knocks the snow from a brass plaque in the centre of the top slat on the back of the bench.
‘In Loving Memory of Tara Maclay. Loving partner, and much missed friend.’
“Oh…” Willow’s eyes fill up, tears threatening to fall, “Kennedy…” She whispers, burying her head in the brunette’s shoulder.
“Shh, it’s okay, I didn’t mean to upset you…” She strokes her hands through Willow’s fiery hair as the redhead cries.
“You didn’t upset me, this means a lot.” Willow mumbles into the fabric of Kennedy’s coat, sniffing as she pulls back.
“I thought we could put the wreath here for her, I’ll let you have time here for a while, I’ll go sit on a swing or something.” She looks at Willow, who shakes her head profusely.
“We are we, and we can do this together. Okay?” She stands up and Kennedy follows suit.
“Okay.” She takes Willow’s hand as they share the wreath between them.
“Tara, this is Kennedy…” Willow takes a deep breath, “I love her.”
“And I love Willow.” Kennedy squeezes Willow’s hand a little.
“We wanted to say Merry Christmas.” Willow vision blurs slightly.
“You’re sorely missed by everyone who knew you, and even some who didn’t.” The brunette sighs sadly as the pair bend to place the wreath on the bench before Willow picks up her flowers and they head back to the Hotel.
“One to go.” Kennedy lets go of Willow’s hand and lays her arm around the redhead’s shoulders. It takes around five minutes to reach the front door of the Hotel. Kennedy leans forward and rubs her nose against Willow’s. “That’s an Eskimo kiss.” Willow blushes and kisses the brunette’s cheek,
“That’s a peck.” The redhead notes, dragging Kennedy inside.
When they get inside Willow pushes Kennedy against the door, taking no notice of the bunch of pyjama clad Newbies that are heading up the stairs. “I love you.” She gushes, kissing her lover. The kiss gets heated and their hands begin to move over too many layers of clothing before there is a loud joint cough from behind them.
Willow’s eyes fly open and bug out of her head, as she blushes violently. She turns slowly to see all the Newbies staring at them. “Uh-” Kennedy promptly cuts her off.
“You do know Santa won’t come ‘til you’re all asleep right?” She pointedly glares at them as they roll their eyes and turn to continue their journey up the stairs to their rooms.
“You wanna go upstairs?” Kennedy licks her lips, Willow looks away, her cheeks firing up once more. Kennedy laughs and starts to remove layers of her own clothing, and then layers of Willow’s clothing, stuffing them in the closet with everything else.
Barely noticed Kennedy pats her pocket and breathes a sigh of relief before grabbing Willow, and the roses, and carrying them up the stairs. Willow giving a little scared scream before clinging on for dear life as Kennedy jogs with her and the flowers up the staircase.
When they get inside their room once more, Kennedy places the redhead onto the clean bed sheets. She goes over to the window and puts the roses on the chair by the window and goes back over to the bed.
“I do love you, you know that right?” Chocolate meet emerald as both women’s gazes begin to melt into one another. Willow swallows, struggling with words. Giving up, she just nods. “Good.” Is all Kennedy can manage as she pushes her hand into her pocket and pulls out a box.
Willow looks afraid. “No!” Kennedy stops her before the Willow-babble in her head can commence, “I’m not…Just…Open the box.” She smiles, seeing Willow’s face relax a little.
The redhead takes the box and opens it, a ring is inside the box, but it has celtic knots worked into the metal, Willow smiles. “It’s beautiful.” She leans over to kiss Kennedy.
“There’s an inscription…” Kennedy tells her upon breaking the kiss.
‘Willow and Kennedy. Now and Forever.’ Willow smiles with a tear in one eye.
“I’m so lucky you know.” She puts the ring onto her right ring finger and pulls her Slayer into a hug.
“You think we should put pyjamas on and snuggle up warm in bed?” Kennedy teases, “Santa won’t come you know…”
Willow pouts, “B-b-but…Presents and…Christmas…Santa has to come!” She jumps up from the bed and goes over to the dresser, taking out pyjamas and throwing them towards Kennedy. She takes out another pair and begins to undress, pulling the pyjamas on. Kennedy follows suit, smiling slyly.
It’s about half past one when Kennedy opens her eyes and wriggles out of bed, she heads out of the door of their room and towards one of the empty guest rooms she’s been hiring from Angel personally. She slides the card into the lock, and prepares herself for a challenge that really was going to test her Slayer-Stealth…Fill the room with presents without waking Willow up. |
