Au Contraire, Au Pair

Spoiler Alert!!! Santa's not real. Sorry, kiddos. Thanks for reviewing, and pray for continued rain in my forecast! It's keeping me from doing anything but write...
~~~~~~~~

Chapter 15

Buffy sat back from her desk frowning at her what was in front of her. She wanted it to be perfect. She heard footsteps outside the door, so she hurriedly put away her project and pulled a notebook in front of her. William walked in a heartbeat later.

“Buffy, your mum called and said to meet her at the shop in thirty. Promise to be home for dinner?”

She walked past him and swatted his bum as she passed him. “Yep. I’ll be back by 6:30.”

She walked down the hallway to the front staircase when she felt William sneak up behind her and swoop her up and around his back, holding her legs with his other arm. She laughed and struggled to get down, but half-heartedly. He started bouncing up and down making her laughter form a staccato. “I said promise....”

“Okay! Alright! I promise.” He swung her back around and set her on her feet, took her chin in hand and planted a kiss on her upturned face. She grinned back and pinched his chest. “Oww!!”

“Serves you right. See you tonight.” She grabbed her purse and keys and set off to meet her mom for lunch and Christmas shopping.

Joyce was waiting outside the bookstore/ café when Buffy arrived. After hugs and comments on how they each looked, the went inside and ordered some lunch. Buffy had been so busy this fall that they had only gotten together a handful of times, but they did talk regularly on the phone. She knew that Buffy and William were interested in each other, and after her initial shock and concern over their age differences, began to see the happy changes in her daughter’s life.

“So, are you going to tell me how you did on your finals, or am I going to have to beg you for any and all information now?”

Buffy had been waiting for this. “Three B’s and an A minus. Yay, Buffy!”

“Oh, honey I’m so proud of you! To be honest, I was worried that you weren’t going to get much studying in,” pointed look, “but I am so glad to see you are getting your priorities straight.”

“I do. Mom, it’s overwhelming sometimes how great things are right now. Please know that I am really happy. Are you okay with this?”

“Buffy - I won’t lie. I was ready to gut this Mr. Giles when you told me you were, well, ‘seeing’ him. I’m sure you can imagine what I must have thought. But he is really a lovely man. And it’s apparent that he truly cares for you. But honey, aren’t you worried that you are missing out on life? You aren’t even twenty yet -“

“Next month, mom.”

“Baby, I know you think this is the most wonderful thing in the world. I’m not so old that I can’t remember how that feels. I just don’t want you to make the same mistake your father and I did. Have you thought about what this would do to his son if you should change your mind?”

“How can you ask me that? That’s all I’ve been able to think of. Mom, I love James like he was mine. I can feel it when he hurts, and when he’s happy I think my heart will burst. I juove ove him with everything in me. Can you understand?”

“Honey, that’s how I feel about you.” She reached over and took her daughter’s hand. “You sure have grown up. I guess I just want you to be my little girl, but you aren’t anymore, are you? I just needed to hear you say it, I guess.”

“Mom, I’ve never felt more confident and happy, ever. He’s a good man.”

“I know. I can see by his son that he is. But - I’m too young to be a grandma!”

They laughed and paid the c. T. The next several hours were spent looking for just the right Christmas present for their lists. Buffy was trying to decide on roller blades or a skateboard for James. She already had William’s present decided on. Buffy’s mom pushed a box into Buffy’ hand. It was a Playmobile set with dragons and castles. “This way you don’t have to worry about him breaking his neck.”

“Thanks, mom. He’ll love it.”

“It’s what grandmas are for.”

After several gratifying hours of shopping and gossip, Buffy arrived at the house for dinner and was pleased to see William and James outside stringing up lights on the trees lining the front walk. “You’re here! Mom’s here, Dad!” Her heart caught in her throat every time hlledlled her that. He had only done it a handful of times, but each one was burned into her memory.

“Is that big box for me? Can I see? Is it a Playstation 2?” Buffy reached down and hugged him with one arm keeping him away from peeking inside the large bag. She looked panicked over his head to William, but William gave her a little nod and mouth, “Santa took care of it.”

She made her way in, threatened James with a stocking full of coal if he tried to sneak a peek. She checked to make sure all of her gifts were secreted away, including the one in her desk for William. She headed downstairs to make her contribution to the eating of whatever delicacy Cook had prepared for that night.

**********

Christmas Eve was here and James was buzzing all over the house trying to pin down a grownup long enough to convince them that they should, they HAD to open at least one present before he went to bed. Every time he passed Cook, she shoved a sausage ball or piece of fudge in his mouth to try and gain some peace. She succeeded in inducing a sugar coma, and they got him off to sleep earlier than Buffy had expected.

Once they were sure he was out for the night, they each went to their hiding places and got the Santa Gifts out to assemble and set out. William was in charge of screws, bolts and batteries, and Buffy had stickers and final layout approval. As midnight arrived, William went out to the gardener’s potting shed, got a pair of rubber boots and made a few footprints in the ashes of the fireplace. He looked up at Buffy and grinned, proud of his vigorous stomping.

“Need evidence the old man was here, won’t he?”

She said, “I had the same idea, sort of.” She pulled out a piece of red flannel that had a trim of white fur attached to one length, and then on one side had stamped:

Property of S. Claus
Please return lost coat to N. Pole

The top part had been made ragged, as if the whole thing had been torn from a garment. She hung it on the edge of the fire screen, as if someone was in a hurry to get up and on to the next house.

“Aren’t you clever! He’ll be tickled.”

“My parents really wanted me to believe in Santa. I think I carried this to school until the fifth grade, trying to convince people he was real.”

“That was yours? Wherever did you find it?”

“My mom brought it to me. I think she was excited to share the Santa experience with a kid again.”

“Remind me to buy your mom anything she asks for. Lovely woman. So, she’s trying to pass on the Summers' traditions, eh? Does that mean she gives her consent to our relationship?”

“I didn’t think of it that way. I guess she does. She wants me to be happy. You and James make me happy, so hence the approval.” Buffy grinned at him, then moved close to sit next to him and watch the lights on the tree.

“Buffy, it’s past midnight. Happy Christmas.”

“Haven’t you been in America for, like, a long time now? Merry Christmas.” She nuzzled his neck and planted a few kisses along his jawline.

“Do you mind if I give you a present now?” He reached behind where they were sitting and pulled out a long box. She untied the ribbon and saw a beautiful silk negligee among the tissue paper. “You know what my present is, don’t you?” He waggled his eyebrows at her.

She took him to bed and thanked him properly.

******

“Mom, Dad he came! He was here! Look! Get up! Come on, wake up...” They felt the mattress shifting with the weight of James bouncing up and down as hard as he could trying to wake the sleeping couple. He flopped down between them and showed Buffy and his dad the evidence of Santa’s late night stop. “Get up!! Come on, Cook’s already up and she couldn’t believe he tore his coat. She said he was going to get in trouble with Mrs. Claus.” James laughed and ran for the door.

William was already standing, and walking to the door, rubbing the sleep away from his face. Buffy stretched her limbs and smiled at the sight of William heading for the door with his hair standing up all over his head, feet dragging on the floor. “It’s only 6 in the morning.... I have a lot to learn, huh?” She swung her legs over the side of the bed, and reached for the matching robe that came with her present.

Cook was wrapped in a large flannel blanket and was nursing a cup of coffee. She looked at them with a look of the long suffering, then motioned her head to the coffee service on the table. She had also set out a plate of scones, fruit, biscuits with sausage and cheese in them, and orange juice. Buffy planted a kiss on top of her head and helped herself to a scone.

James immediately began tearing into his presents, with “oohs” and “ahhs” over each one. Buffy reached behind the tree to give Cook her gift, “ach, you shouldn’t have.” She opened it and found a shawl inside, her family’s tartan was the pattern. She stared at it so long, that Buffy made a motion to grab it away and murmured, “I thought it was your family’s I may have been wrong.”
Cook grabbed it back, took Buffy in one arm and squeezed until she heard Buffy gasp for air. “I’ve missed the sight of the McAlisters colors, girlie. Ach, you will surely be the death of me.” With tears in her eyes, she muttered something about an extra goose or pie and hurried off to let her tears fall freely away from the eyes of her employer.

“I guess that one was a hit.”

James found the large box from Buffy, opened it and yelled, “AWESOME!”

William laughed and said “make that two.”

Buffy bit her lip and handed William the gift she had been working on in secret for the past several weeks. He opened a medium sized box to find the back of a picture frame. He turned it over and saw a charcoal drawing of the three of them, all cuddled in a large chair and reading a book together. She had it matted and framed. Upon closer inspection he found a small brass plaque at the base that read, “For my boys on our first Christmas together of many. I love you.”

“Did you do this?”

“Do you like it?”

“I’ve r ber been given anything more wonderful in my life. James, come here and see what Buffy has made for us.”

James climbed up into his dad’s lap and looked at their picture. “Oh, wow. Hey, that’s me! It’s our family! Our first family picture. Hey, Dad, I forgot to find my new ornament!”

Buffy looked at William, puzzled. “You’re not the only family with traditions. Each year I pick out an ornament for James and hide it on the tree. There’s one for you, too. Hurry and find it, then bring it back here with me.”

“How will I know which ornament is for me? Or new, for that matter?”

“You’ll know it when you see it.”

She walked over to the tree and quickly scanned it. She saw a small light-blue box held onto the trees branch by a white ribbon. She looked at William and he nodded to her, grinning. She untied the ribbon and sat down on the large chair with him. She opened the cardboard box to find a smaller hinged box inside. Her heart felt like it would beat right out of her chest. She opened it to find a single diamond set on a simple band of platinum. She gasped and looked at William.

James was jumping up and down. “I did a good job of keeping my secret, didn’t I Dad?”

William took the ring and placed it on her finger. She was still so stunned she hadn’t said a word. “Sweetheart, I love you. Won’t you marry me?”

She peppered his face with kisses.

“Is that a yes, then?”

“Yes, yes, yes, I love you, yes.” She followed each yes with a new kiss.

*******

Cook had her shawl wrapped around here, even though the kitchen was warm with the ovens blazing. On occasion she would use the end to dab her eyes. “It’s all so romantic. You two, well you’ve made me feel like a girl again.”

Buffy’s mother was coming for Christmas dinner, and everyone was holding their breath waiting for the final approval. William was pacing in the kitchen, then excused himself to his office where Buffy could hear him muttering under his breath. She could only catch snippets. “Joyce - no, Ms. Summers... Yourghteghter and I... I love Buffy and we.... Christ. I make my living knowing how to piece words together!” Buffy came in laughing.

“She’ll approve. Don’t worry. Do you want me to tell her?”

“Pet, if I can’t face my potential mother-in-law now.... I’m just sussing out the right words. It’ll be fine.” But his green face told Buffy he didn’t quite believe that.

Just then, the door rang. Buffy ran to the front door to answer it. Joyce was standing in the door, arms loaded with gifts. Buffy reached to help take some, and Joyce dropped everything in her arms and grabbed her hand.

“Oh my dear, sweet Lord. How can you even raise your arm with the weight of that thing?”

Buffy looked at her mom, panic stricken. “Honey, I figured this would happen. Didn’t you say he was romantic? It was either today or Valentine’s. I thought Valentine’s Day would have seemed obvious to him, so - I knew.”

William came up behind them. “Hello, Joyce, Happy Christmas!”

“Isn’t it though?” she said wryly. She walked to her son-in-law-to-be and kissed his cheek. “You hurt my daughter and you have me to answer to.” She held his cheek for a moment, smiled, and walked into the house and called out, “isn’t there a little boy who needs more presents?” She walked back to the family room where she knew James would be.

“Help me carry this load, would you?” William bent down and helped gather the gifts. She snuck a kiss and they walked into the family room together.

*******

“I don’t think I have ever been more thoroughly stuffed than I am right this minute. That was absolute delicious, Mrs. McAlister.” Cook decided then and there that Mrs. Summers was perfection personified, and went off to the kitchens to slip a treat bag into her things. “Just to tide her over. A thin thing like that is apt to blow away if you don’t keep them grounded....”

James excused himself to play with his new toys in his room.

“Joyce, we’ll have to make a habit of having you to dinner. If you think your waistline can stand it. You’ve made yourself a new best friend. I want you to feel welcome to come here anytime you feel.”

“Oh, you are good aren’t you? Butter up the mother. But - it works. Buffy, would you help me to the?”
?”

As Joyce headed for the door, William took her by the elbow and planted a kiss on her cheek. “‘Night, mum.”

“Funny. Thank you for taking care of my girl. *sigh* I still say I’m too young to be a grandma.”

“Yes, mom. I’ll make you a shirt that says ‘Hot Aunt - Not a Grandma.’”

“So you’re both funny. Goodnight, sweetheart. Call me if you need to talk?”

“Love you. Everything is going to work out, you’ll see. They make me happy, Mom.”

“So I see. Buffy, I’m fine with it. They are great. Love you, too. Merry Christmas.”

Buffy stood on the front steps and watched until Joyce’s car drove out of sight. She felt William behind her. He wrapped his arms around her to keep her warm and brought her left hand to his lips, and gave her third finger a kiss.


~~~~
More soon.