Nocturnal Bravura

Buffy hummed jingle bells as she fell asleep in William’s lap.

William found himself being catapulted into the past.

FLASHBACK
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William try to keep his legs steady. It wouldn’t be so bad if she was just sitting on his shoulders however Lizzie kept leaning forward.

“Can you reach the bloody thing or not!” William groaned.

Dawn looked up at her sister.

“It looks too tall. Walk over to the other one that made steps one and two.” Dawn suggested. Buffy looked and saw it being carried away.

“OH NO!! Someone’s buying it!” Elizabeth screamed.

“WAIT!” Dawn screamed.

William did his best to maneuver himself around.

“What does The Bit thinks she’s doing?” William asked.

“Dunno but it’s obviously working.” Lizziid. id.

“Come here guys!” Dawn yelled.

The previous claimers of the tree in question took a step back. William walked slowly over to the tree petrified Elizabeth would fall off his shoulders. He stood in front of the tree and waited. Lizzie reached forward causing William to wobble.

“Again with the leaning.” He warned.

Lizzie grabbed the top of the tree and smiled down at Dawn.

“Perfect height.” Lizzie announced.

William dropped to his knees slowly. Lizzie jumped off a brushed herself off.

Dawn looked at over at the couple.

“Again, I’m really sorry but we need this tree. See there are three Summer’s Family step to finding the perfect Christmas tree. The first is that when we shake it not too many needles fall off that because if they do well then you are vacuuming constantly. Second is that it has to be really smelly not in a bad way just smell like really piney so when you walk into the room you totally know it’s Christmas. The last step is that Lizzie has to be able to reach the top of the tree on my Mom’s shoulders to put our star on. But this year Mom...” Dawn’s voice trailed off.

Lizzie hugged her sister from behind.

“I am sure we can find another one.” Lizzie said smiling at the couple is front of them.

The couple looke eac each other.

“Actually we were thinking about something smaller. Besides who are we to take away the perfect Summer’s Family Christmas tree.” The man replied looking down at the two girls.

William mouthed “Thank You” to them as they walked away.

“O.k. Dawnie here’s the money now go line up and pay.” Lizzie said.

Dawn took the money from her hand and stood in line.

Lizzie looked at William.

“Thanks for substituting for mom this year.” Lizzie said.

Joyce had been diagnosed with cancer two months after they moved to Sunnydale. The doctors were confident they caught it in time to stop it however Joyce was in chemotherapy and was very weak. Every other year The Giles Family spent the holidays is England this year Jenny elected to stay behind to be here for Joyce and the girls. William fully expected his father to take William much to his shock and Spike’s chagrin Rupert insisted Spike accompany him instead.

William coulill ill see the way Lizzie’s face fell when she found out she would not get to spend the holidays with Spike. Then the young would be pair were dealt another blow. Rupert came home and announced he and Spike had to leave that very day! Some sort of emergency with the family. Lizzie and Spike weren’t seeing each other yet. William was actually very impressed with Spike’s restraint. He was taking his time getting to know Lizzie. He treated her with the utmost respect. It only pained William more. He offered to take his brother’s place for the trip abroad but Rupert insisted. When both the boys questioned their mother. Jenny was uncharacteristically quiet. She just told the twins their father had his reasons.

Lizzie smiled watching her sister.

“Not a problem Pet.” William said staring down at Lizzie.

Lizzie looked down at her watch trying not to seem antsy. William knew Spike would be calling soon.

“Pet why don’t you run home Lil Bit and I can handle it.” William said.

“No, it’s o.k.” Lizzie said trying to be noble.

William rolled his eyes.

“Bloody hell women you’re practically jumping out of your skin if you run all the way home now you will be able to catch the call now scat!” William demanded.

Lizzie got a huge smile across her face and hugged William tightly.

“Thanks!” She screamed scampering off.

William waited by the tree for Dawn to return.

“It’s ours.” Dawn said proudly.

“Where’s Lizzie?” Dawn asked.

“She went home come on let’s go.” William said helping the attendant carry the tree to the car.

After the tree was tied and secured William and Dawn buckled themselves in.

Dawn let out a huge sigh.

“What is it Bit?” William asked.

“You should have told her a long time ago.” Dawn said matter of factly.

“What do you mean?” William asked.

“My sister, you should have told her a long time ago you were in love with her.” Dawn said.

“Da...Dawn..” William stammered turning three shades of red.

“Don’t worry you’re not obvious. I can just tell. If you deny it I bring up every time I saw you staring at her trying not to.” Dawn said.

William knew better than to argue with her. He was actually relieved he could finally confess it to someone even it was a nine year old girl.

“Why didn’t you just tell her that first day we met you?” Dawn asked.

“I just met you two.” William said trying to defend himself.

“So did Spike and he made his intentions pretty clear.” Dawn said rolling her eyes.

“Spike can do that.” William said.

“Well it was your right. I mean you met us first. You were there to greet us you did all the hard stuff. All Spike had to do was smile.” Dawn said.

“You don’t like my brother much do you?” William asked.

“It’s not that I don’t like him. I just don’t like the way he looks at Lizzie sometimes.” Dawn replied.

“What do you mean?” William probed.

“Sometimes he looks at her like she belongs to him and only him. It’s kind of scary.” Dawn said quietly.

“Trust me Bit, if I could do the same I would.” William said defending his brother.

“Ewww..” Dawn groaned.

“Let’s get this tree of yours home.” William said.


Lizzie, Dawn and William looked around making sure everything was perfect for the next day. Jenny and William opted not to get a tree seeing as they would be spending the holidays with Joyce and the girls. Jenny was there constantly anyways helping with Joyce. William did all the things that required driving. Taking Dawn and Buffy to school or to the stores. When it came time to trim the tree Joyce laid on the couch helping untangled lights while Jenny, Dawn, William and Lizzie decorated with flourish. When it was time to put the star on the tree. William’s groaned as Dawn directed and Lizzie leaned toward the tree trying to get the sat on all the time on William’s shoulders.

“Bloody Traditions!” William groaned.

“This coming from The Brit!” Lizzie argued.

“You’re not listening to me, to the right Will!” Dawn demanded.

Jenny and Joyce sat on the couch and laughed so hard tears stream form their eyes and their sides ached. After the mothers went to sleep the three kids sat around for awhile eating left over popcorn from their tree trimming, talking.

Dawn yawned.

“I’m headed for bed.” She announced.

She hugged Lizzie than William.

“Nite guys!”

Lizzie stared up at the tree for a minute. William watched her Lizzie turned around and looked at him.

“Lizzie do you think you could do me a favor?” William asked.

“Anything.” Lizzie replied.

“Could you open my present now. It’s just I don’t know if it was dumb of me to get for you and if it is well..” William stammered.

“Will, nothing you could ever get me would be stupid.” Lizzie said

“Please just open it.” William pleaded.

Lizzie took the emerald wrapped package out of his hands. She unwrapped it slowly.

Lizzie gasped.

“You remembered. Where did you find it?” Lizzie asked reverently opening the book.

William smiled harder than he ever had in his life.

“Believe it or not there is only one book named ‘The Best Loved Doll‘. The tricky part was finding it in hardback.” William explained.

“It did not cost too much did it?” Lizzie said fearfully.

William shook his head.

“I can’t believe you remembered.” Lizzie said.

“You said it was the first book you ever read on your own kind of hard to forget that.” William said.

Lizzie’s eyes began to water. She shut the book.

“What’s wrong? You hate it don‘t you?” William asked defeated.

“No! I love it. It’s just that, my present to you sucks.” Lizzie cried.

She handed him her package.

“I didn’t have any money really. With Mom sick and everything. I took all my Christmas money from my Dad and bought presents for Dawnie.” Lizzie explained.

William unwrapped his present. He pulled out a long blue scarf. Lizzie wrapped it around his neck.

“I started making it before when I thought you were going to England.” Lizzie explained.

“Y..you made this?” William asked.

Lizzie nodded.

William looked down in his lap.

“I made this for you too.” Lizzie said tying it around his wrist.

William looked at it fascinated.

It was a simple leather band with a small Celtic knot burned in the center of it.

“It took this leather craft class in L.A.” Lizzie said looking at her handy work on his wrist.

William was speechless.

“Y.. you made me my Christmas presents?” William asked still in shock.

“I told you my presents sucked.” Lizzie whispered.

“Not at all Lizzie. No one has ever done anything like that for me.” William said.

“You like them then??” Lizzie asked hopefully.

William stared into her eyes.

“I love them.” He whispered.

Lizzie smiled. She grabbed the book, and laid down on William’s lap.

She handed him the book and smiled.

William laughed.

He opened the book.

He read to Lizzie around the page that read

“Your not my oldest doll Jennifer. Your dress is a fright and you can’t do a single thing but I do love you, dear Jennifer.”

William looked down at Lizzie who was asleep peacefully in his lap.

Flashback ends
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William watched Buffy sleeping. He touched the dark blue scarf around his neck. She actually did look like she was not in pain for once. The tingling sensation crept up his neck again. William gently slid Buffy’s head off his lap he hid his scarf behind the stone slab, ready to do battle as the crypt door busted open.