The X-Mas Gift

A Story by Le Comtesse Iridith Satania Bathory
 

There were only so many more days left, and Spike still hadn't gotten his Christmas shopping done. He remembered the past years when Drusilla had delighted in a simple candle-light dinner with your every day guests; Miss Edith, Daisy Dru, Sally Grasston, and her other dolls. Of course, Spike would make the dinner himself; usually dead-man on rye with some Sicilian spaghetti, maybe some aged blood-wine from France. But this year, Drusilla had decided to make Spike by a gift for her that "came from the heart". Luckily, she didn't mean it quite so literally as she usually meant things, but Spike was expected to spend at least a week or so finding the perfect gift. Instead, he had forgotten all about it until last night.

Last Night
"Spike, did you wrap up my present in pretty tinsel and bows? Hmmm?"
Spike looked up from the newspaper and gaped at Drusilla. "Present? Pet, aren't you inviting Miss Edith, Daisy Dru, and-"

"SPPPPIIIIKKKKKEEEE!!!!!!! You FORGOT!!!!!! Grrrrrr! You are being very bad! You promised to get me a pretty present! All wrapped up!" Drusilla then proceeded to cry and have a temper tantrum like she hadn't in months. Spike lept up from his over-stuffed chair and ran over to Drusilla on the floor.

"Ducks, do you really think that daddy would forget something that important to you? No, I was just pulling your leg. Daddy's got your present, all wrapped up. There are lots of bows and ribbons on it, I swear." Drusilla stopped screaming and smiled slightly.

"Where is it then, Spike? Can I have my prezzie now? Hmmm?" Drusilla stood up with her hands holding Spike's and looked into his eyes like a puppy waiting for a treat. Spike laughed and shook his head.

"I'm sorry pet. You can't have your pretty present until Christmas. We did agree on that, remember?" Drusilla frowned, then laughed happily.

"You did listen! What a good daddy. I'll wait like a good girl, but then we get to have cake and wine, and open prezzies. I have yours all wrapped up! But you can't see it. Not yet." Then Drusilla pranced into the living room, humming "Santa Clause is Coming to Town".

Back to present day
Spike paced the streets of France. He was relieved that Drusilla had decided to live in France, a place filled with stores, instead of some forgotten place in the Andes. He shuddered at the memory of convincing Drusilla not to go and join the people of Atlantis.

Atlantis Memory
"I want to swim with the people of Atlantis, Spike!!!! Swim swim swim!!"

Spike sighed and sat down on the straw mat that Drusilla had insisted on buying while in the temples of the Buddhists, who had all fled.
"Pet, we can't go to Atlantis. It's gone. Sank some centuries ago. Before you were born."

For that, Spike got a smack from Drusilla with a bamboo back scratcher.

"Drusilla! Stop it ducks, you can stake me with that thing!" Drusilla ceased her onslaught and sat on a mat next to Spike's and began to cry.
"Pet, ducks, stop crying. If we go to Atlantis, there won't be any pretty shops, or anyone to call you princess, or any of those little coffee places you seem to like so much."

Drusilla's eyes grew wide in fear. "No Starbucks? That's bad. Maybe Atlantis is a place not suited for Miss Edith and me."

Spike sighed again, this time in relief. "Pet, why don't we go to France? Paris maybe. I'm sure they have thousands of coffee shops for you." Drusilla smiled happily, jumped up, and pranced out into the Asian Gardens that held the pretty little catfish she seemed to love.

Present Time
Spike paced around the streets of Paris, until he stopped at a dress shop. Dior, or something. But he didn't care because there was a beautiful dress in the shop window. It was a dark velvet, long with sweeping arm things. He thought that Drusilla would like it. He walked inside and approached a rather stuffy looking women at the counter.

"Bonjour! Vous desirez?"

Spike sighed. He liked France, but hated the bloody language. Mainly since he couldn't speak or understand it. He pointed to the dress in the window and held up a credit card. The women squealed happily and ran over to the window. She took the dress off the mannequin while saying, "Tres, tres bien monsieur!! Tres tres bien."

Spike gave her the credit card while thinking of something else to get Drusilla. This was bothering him so much that he didn't even think about feeding on this women, though God knows that the people of France would have been better off if he did. Spike took the box that held the dress, then pointed to a wrapping station that this silly little store had. The lady ran over and showed him an assortment of wrappings and bows that they had. Spike pointed to a silver wrapping that had flower-like things all over it in gold. He then pointed to five of the bows and 3 of the ribbons they had. The women seemed a bit flustered, but she put all the bows and ribbons on the box as Spike had "requested". Spike reached into the pocket of his oh-so-tight leather pants and pulled out a pile of bills and gave them to the women.

Before she could give him the change, he had left the shop.

Spike continued walking until he passed another store. On the outside was some sign that said "Chanel" or something, he really didn't give a muck. Once inside he spoke loudly, "Does anyone speak bloody English in this bloody store?"

A young man walked up to him and said softly, "Yes. Can I help you?"
 
"I want a diamond necklace, like a choker. Something big and sparkly." The man's face lit up like an over decorated Christmas tree as he led Spike over to a case of necklaces.

"I want that one." Spike said, pointing to a necklace that was four strands in the front, filled with diamonds that varied in size and shape.

The man stuttered, "That will be over 8 thousand American Dollars, sir."

Spike sighed and took out a roll of French bills and tossed them to the man.
"There is more than that necklace costs in your hand. If you wrap it up in something sparkly and fancy, you can keep the bloody change. But you'd better make it quick. Deal?"

The man nodded and took out the necklace with shaking hands and put it into a purple velvet box that had gold trim. Spike smiled, took the box, and left the store.

Christmas Day
"Here you go, pet. Your present, like I promised." Spike handed the two boxes to Dru who squealed in delight, much to Spike's annoyance. It sounded to much like that lady from the dress shop. Dru tore the wrapping open and screamed when she saw the dress and the necklace.

"Spike! It's what I wanted! Just ask Miss Edith! A new dress and a necklace!" Drusilla wrapped her arms around Spike's neck as he swung her around the room.
"Wait Spike! I have to get your present. Hold on." Drusilla ran into the living room and grabbed a thin long box and brought it out to Spike. Spike opened it and smiled forcefully.

"Thank you Dru. A Santa Neck tie. What I've always wanted."

 
 
 
 
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