![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Title: Learn to be Lonely Chapter 22/?
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
chocgood84
Rating: NC-17 for brief violence and sexual content
Pairing: BtVS Spike/Xander
Author’s Note: Yes, I am aware that the timeline is a little screwed up and that Giles didn’t own the Magic Box until after Adam and after Dawn arrived. But in my reality, who’s Dawn? Adam what? Also, a huge spanking thanks tokitty_poker1 for being my official L2BL beta.
Disclaimer: These character’s aren’t mine, never were; I don’t get any profit for this hobby, so don’t sue – Thanks.
Warning: Brief violence, nudity, and hetero and homo sexual content and situations. And some h0t man-luvin.
This can also be found in my LJ Memories, as well as on my website.
It started raining while they were passing through the tollway on I-88, just outside of Oakbrook. Sprinkles at first, then drops, then sheets of cold water were falling from the rolling sky. Even though it was after midnight, traffic was heavy with people making their pilgrimage to and from the city for the holidays. Audi minivans and Mercedes station wagons were dodging each other, like synchronized drivers in the car commercials, as everyone raced to wherever they were going.
Spike swore around the cigarette dangling from his lips as he almost missed the exit to I-290 towards Chicago. Cutting off half a dozen people, he dashed across the three lanes of congested traffic, pouncing on the brakes when the cars ahead of them came to a full stop. “Oi! Where’d you people learn to drive!?” he shouted.
“You know, I could drive, if it means that we don’t, uh, die.” Xander peeked through squinted eyes just in time to see the semi beside them swerve, its horn blaring and its wheels halting as Spike screeched around it and down the ramp.
“Balls, luv,” Spike snorted, tapping ash from his cigarette out the cracked window. “Should be there soon, anyway.”
“Tell me again why we’re going to Chicago?” Xander asked, shoveling a handful of cheese puffs into his mouth. They’d stopped in DeKalb to get gas and snacks.
“Believe me, Xander, once you see it, you’ll know,” Spike grinned, glancing over at him for a second before looking back out the rain-spattered windshield. “Except maybe New York, it’s one of the best cities in the world to hide, and to play.” Spike’s eyebrows bounced. “All kinds of bars for…alternative residents such as myself.”
“So you’re saying we’re coming here because there’re all kinds of baddies?” Xander rolled his eyes again and adjusted the heat vents away from his face and towards the quickly-fogging window.
“Not just that, luv.” Spike’s lead foot dropped a little more and the car lurched forward. The traffic was moving faster now, spread out a little more as they passed by the exits to the suburbs. “Chicago knows how to live, how to party. It’s got jazz, shopping, eating. You just have to wait to see it.”
Xander sighed as he stared out the window at the light poles and subway stations racing by. There was a fog rolling in with the rain and, with every yard they sped, the fog got denser and denser, forcing Spike to drop the speed below one hundred. “Are you sure it’s going to be safe here? I mean, with all the demons and whatnot?”
Spike chuckled. “’S another one of the great things about this city. You’re surrounded by crooks wherever you go, and you still feel safe as houses. I remember last time, when me and Dru passed through in the twenties. We went to this big party the mayor threw. Quite a guest list, too. Capone himself showed up.”
“AL Capone?” Xander’s jaw dropped, and he turned to look at Spike. “At the mayor’s party?”
“Told ya this city’s crooked, didn’t I?” Spike reminded. “Turned out to be one hell of a party, at that. Won big at the tables in the back room, too, I did.”
“He didn’t try to like…I dunno, kill everyone?” Xander wondered.
“Like I said, you’re safest when you’re in the midst of it all. Besides, at that time Capone was running the city, not the mayor – he was more of a, what do you call it? Figurehead, that’s it. Like the Queen.”
“Hmph,” Xander responded. “Learn something new every day.”
As they crested the hill and rounded the bend, passing the exit to Harlem, the fog cleared, leaving only the curtains of rain around them. But through the rain, Xander could see the city rising before them. From his vantage point, it looked kind of tiny, but still it looked beautiful. Huge buildings soared into the clouds, calling out like beacons with their tower lights and glowing windows. It wasn’t like L.A., where the buildings were more spread out. Here, it seemed like they were all huddled in one small area, crowding against each other to keep warm in the storm. He recognized the Sears tower from one of his history books. The buildings around it seemed dwarfed by the massive black structure, which looked like building blocks stepping up into the clouds.
“Wow,” he breathed.
“Yeah,” Spike responded as the city continued to grow and spread before them. Before long, they were passing under the stock exchange building and the expressway ended, turned into Congress. On the left was a library that towered above them, on the right was a University building climbing a few stories above that. Spike turned north off Congress, roaring through the downtown area – “the loop”, as he called it. The streets here were deserted, probably because of the storm. By now the rain was falling with hammering “tat tat tats” on the roof of the car. It sounded like hail, only smaller, fainter.
They finally lurched to a stop outside an ancient – but gorgeous – looking hotel with a marble entranceway and perfectly sculpted masonry up the front of the building. Red lights pronounced this to be the “Palmer House Hotel.” A smaller sign beside the gilded front doors read “A Chicago Tradition in luxury and comfort.”
Xander startled as the passenger side door was opened for him by a man – an honest to God doorman? – wearing an old-fashioned bellhop’s uniform, a red double-breasted suit with brass buttons and a tiny matching hat on his head that reminded him of the Shriners. A wide smile graced his lips, and when he spoke it was a voice of confidence, charm and respect.
“Checking in, sir?” he asked.
“That we are,” Spike replied as he rounded the front of the car, draping his arm across Xander’s shoulders. “Bags are in the trunk, and take care of the car, would you?” he asked, placing the car keys and a fifty dollar bill in the man’s gloved hand. “Our room will be under the name of ‘Bondsworth.’”
“Yes, sir,” he enthused. “Right away, sir!”
“‘Bondsworth?’” Xander cracked as they passed through the doors – held open by two other doormen – and into the breathtaking lobby. In the center of the room was a giant, twinkling Christmas tree that soared two stories above them. Lush red velvet drapes framed the huge windows, dark leather armchairs and darker wooden tables surrounded two separate fireplaces, with little clusters throughout the great hall.. The floor was dark, probably granite – the heels of Xander’s boots clicked loudly as they crossed towards the enormous dark marble desk on the right side of the room, centered between two escalators. The counter of the desk matched the floor. On the opposite side of the room was a wide staircase with carefully sculpted iron balustrades and red carpet leading up into the hotel. On either side the staircase were two banks of brass elevators. Glancing up, Xander saw the ceiling was gilded with a mural was painted on it, covering them like a great canopy.
“What?” Spike smiled. “It’s a family name. I ate ‘em a couple decades back.”
“Well, what’s my name, then?” he whispered as they approached the clerk at the desk, a young blond woman wearing the same old-fashioned uniform.
“Good evening, gentlemen. Checking in?” she asked, smiling at each of them.
“Yes, we are, luv,” Spike charmed her. “The reservation is under Bondsworth.”
“Oh, yes sir, Mr. Bondsworth!” Her already perky smile perked up even more. “We’ve been expecting you! Your suite is all ready, just as you requested.” She pulled out a set of keycards from behind the counter and gave them to ‘Mr. Bondsworth’. “I’ll have someone bring the bags to your suite in just a moment
“Ta, luv.” Spike flashed one of his patented ‘charm to kill’ smiles at the girl, and they turned towards the elevators on the left side of the room. “Your name is Alex Bondsworth. We’re here honeymooning.”
Xander nearly halted in his steps, his mouth doing that funny fish thing. Spike turned and laughed out loud at him.
“Relax, pet.” Spike linked his arm through Xander’s, guiding him towards the elevator. “It’s just so’s not to arouse suspicion.”
“I, uh, I, um, well, that makes sense,” Xander stuttered when his mind finally jumpstarted itself and caught up with the conversation. “Right. Honeymoon. Suspicion. Good.”
Spike chuckled as he pressed the button for the elevator, rewarded a moment later by the brass doors sliding open before them. Once in, Spike pressed the button for the top floor, and with a satisfying “ding” the doors closed and they began their ascent.
“Some hotel,” Xander said, smiling at his reflection in the brass, still amused by seeing only himself.
“Only the best for us,” Spike replied, pulling Xander tight against him and pressing a cool kiss against his forehead.
“I guess so,” Xander laughed as the elevator came to a stop and the doors slid away, revealing a short hallway before them with only five doors. Spike guided him past 21A, 21B, 21C, and 21D until they came to the door at the end of the hallway. The sign read “Suite 21E.” Sliding the keycard in and opening the door, he all but pushed Xander over the threshold.
The foyer of their suite was almost as impressive as the lobby had been. Marble tile on the floor, two matching leather chairs separated by a small coffee table, on which rested a large vase of fresh flowers. The walls were dark oak paneling, on which were hung several expensive-looking paintings. Two pillars separated this foyer from the living room ahead of them.
After hanging up their coats in the closet, Spike took Xander’s hand and led him through the foyer and into the living room, which reminded him of the set of Masterpiece Theatre, dark and rich with natural colors. Oak and maple, marble and silk and velvet dominated the room. Heavy ruby-colored drapes covered the windows. Three large leather sofas created a semi-circle around a fireplace, which held a roaring fire. On the mantle hung a giant LCD television. There were tables and chairs strewn throughout the room, a large desk at one end and a chaise lounge at the other. Oriental rugs covered the hardwood floor in places.
“You like it, Xander?” Spike was watching as Xander spun slowly, taking in each part of the room with his eyes, snapping mental photographs of every detail, down to the old-style telephone on the desk.
“I, um, yes, of course I do. It’s gorgeous.” Xander hugged him tightly.
“Good,” Spike chuckled. “The kitchen’s through there – we won’t be needing it.” He gestured to the dark curtains on the far left of the room. “And the bedroom is this way,” he added, picking Xander up and carrying him through the French doors at the other end then placing him gracefully in the middle of the high king-sized canopy bed. Spike climbed on top of him, placing chaste kisses on his lips, jaw, cheeks.
“Spike, this is nice.” Xander yawned, suddenly sleepy, as he raked his fingers through Spike’s hair. “Thanks.”
“I’d do anything for you, Xander,” Spike whispered against Xander’s cheek, nestling his face onto Xander’s chest. “Want you to know that.”
“I do…I know.” Xander smiled, tightened his arms around Spike and closed his eyes.
Xander wasn’t sure what time it was. It felt like late afternoon, but the room was completely dark; he could barely make out his surroundings. The only thing he knew for certain was that there was no one else in bed with him. “Spike?” he called out. There was no answer. Still pretty groggy from such a deep sleep, he stretched slowly and carefully climbed down from the bed. He couldn’t remember seeing any lamps when he’d been carried into the room so he stumbled through the darkness, hands outstretched in front of him until he found the wall and followed it along to the doors. The doors opened with a soft “click” and he squinted his eyes against the glow of the fire and the flickering lights of the TV.
“Spike?” he repeated.
“I’m here, Xander,” Spike called from the seating area. Xander opened his eyes a little wider and found Spike curled up on the couch facing the fireplace, shirtless, with a blanket spread over his lap. “Finally wake up?”
“Mm…yeah,” Xander said around the gravel in his throat. “What time is it?”
“Late afternoon. Sun’ll be down in about an hour. Want something to eat?” Spike asked, gesturing towards dishes of food spread out on the coffee table.
“Yum, I’m starving,” Xander admitted, noticing his stomach growling. He rounded the sofa, stopping to kiss Spike on the forehead, and plopped down next to him, reaching out and serving himself a little of everything. “I can’t believe I slept so long. Did it finally stop raining?”
“Yeah, after a time.” Spike nodded towards the television, where a newswoman was explaining about the rare winter weather Chicago had been having. “…freezing rain finally stopped, as the sun poked its head out from behind the clouds this afternoon, giving the holiday shoppers a break. This is the first December in more than fifteen years in which Chicago has seen no snow. The experts are blaming this rare late-autumn weather on global…”
“Have you ever noticed that, wherever you go, the news ladies are always the same?” Xander asked, gobbling down a piece of toast with raspberry jam. Around a mouthful of sausage, he explained, “same hair, same accent, same everything. It’s creepy!”
“Only you would think anchor women are creepy after all you’ve seen,” Spike laughed.
The newswoman continued on with a story about holiday shoppers mauling each other over the latest “must have” toy. “Can you believe it’s only a few more days till Christmas?” Xander asked. “Doesn’t really seem like it.”
“Why not?” Spike asked, stretching his arm across Xander’s shoulder.
“Well…I don’t know. I’m away from, uh, everyone else,” Xander sighed. “Don’t get me wrong, I’d rather be with you right now –”
“It’s okay, Xander, I get it. It’s not the same; I understand.” Spike lay his head on Xander’s shoulder.
“No, it’s not,” he mumbled. “Also, no Christmas tree. Sounds weird, given that I’m a SoCal boy, but we always had a tree, you know? At least, I did.”
“Makes sense.” Spike nudged Xander with his nose and kissed him softly on the cheek before getting up from the couch and making his way toward the bathroom. Xander balked and nearly choked on his bacon as he noticed Spike was completely naked. He turned back and flashed a fangy smile at Xander. “I’m going to shower and get dressed. We’re going out!”
“Mmmm…” Xander sighed. He wasn’t sure whether he meant the room service delivery or the image of a naked Spike washing himself in the shower. “Damn, I think I like this city.”
“I swear when you said ‘go out’ I thought you meant, like…barhopping,” Xander said as he slipped his arms into a Kenneth Cole leather jacket, his skin purring against the soft satin lining.
“First off,” Spike explained, circling Xander and surveying the crisp new leather approvingly, “I don’t barhop. Secondly, I want you to be dressed for the weather. And thirdly, it’s about time you started dressing to your potential.”
This was the fourth store they’d walked into in two hours. Spike had already purchased more clothes for Xander than Xander had owned his whole life. They’d started out in Nordstrom’s department store, but Spike had gotten bored there. So they’d gone into J. Crew, where Xander had gotten a few new pairs of jeans and a suit (why he needed a suit was beyond him, but Spike had insisted), and Spike had gotten some new things as well – some leather gloves, a black trench coat, some fancy shoes. Afterwards, they’d run into some other designer Xander wasn’t familiar with – Boss something – where Spike loaded him up on new shirts and belts and a couple of hats. So now they were here, in the midst of Ground Zero of holiday shoppers, as Spike glanced over every leather jacket in the store and Xander tried them all on, saying yes or no. So far, there were 16 ‘no’s and 3 ‘yes’s. At times, Xander felt like one of those paper dolls. But most of the time, he enjoyed it. I could get used to this, he thought as he shifted uncomfortably in his new shoes.
“One day you are going to tell me where you got the money for all of this, right?” Xander laughed as Spike made his third rotation around him, finally deciding that, yes, this jacket was suitable.
“Came with the name, luv,” Spike said absently as he hailed over one of the salesmen. Xander turned to look at his reflection in the mirror as Spike spoke to the man. He almost didn’t recognize the man staring back at him. A dark grey button up shirt with the top two buttons undone, dark blue faded jeans and shiny new leather loafers. The jacket he was trying on fell just below his hips, a polished black leather coat that zipped up the front, with quilted satin lining that felt so soft against his skin. He almost looked…gulp…respectable.
“Okay, Xander, I think we’re done here,” Spike said, handing a credit card to the salesman, who scurried off with all four coats that had made the cut to ring up the purchases. Spike hadn’t let Xander see how much anything cost, nor the total bills. He figured it was more than he’d made in the last two years working construction. “Everything will be delivered to the hotel tonight. Let’s move on, shall we, luv?” he asked, offering his arm to Xander.
The salesman came back, carrying the latest jacket – tag-free – and the receipt. He helped Xander into it, thanked them and dived back into the mass of people swarming around the racks. Xander and Spike made their way back outside into the cold night air. He could actually see his breath!
“It’s getting colder!” Xander was practically bouncing.
“That it is, pet. That it is.” Spike stopped in his tracks, turned and looked at Xander and just smiled. Just when Xander was sure Spike was having a stroke, he broke his stare and leaned in to kiss him. “Ready for the next store?”
“Uh, Spike?” Xander said. “It’s not that I don’t appreciate all of this, but I think I’m kinda shopped out. Maybe we could just go back to the hotel? I read in the welcome thingie there’s a pool, sauna and Jacuzzi. Thought maybe we could go down and try ‘em out.”
“Whatever you want, Xander.” Spike pulled out an old pocket watch and clicked it open. When had he gotten a pocket watch? “Only, why don’t we have dinner first?”
“We just ate a little while ago-” At the look on Spike’s face, Xander caved. “Okay, yeah, I could eat. Where to?”
With a grin, Spike hailed a cab. After climbing in, he gave the cabbie the name of some restaurant – “We’re going to The Luxe, mate.”
It had started raining again just before they returned to the hotel. The cab driver was swearing under his breath as he navigated through the flood of ice that was falling from the sky. “Sleet” is what he had called it. Xander giggled, thinking what a funny word it was.
Dinner had been good…better than good. A swanky restaurant on the top floor of some huge building downtown off Michigan Avenue. The food was great, and there was actually a piano being played in the middle of the dance floor. Spike had ordered a really great bottle of wine, two in fact, because they had enjoyed it so much. When the waiter had come to collect the check, Xander could see him doing mental back flips.
Now he was overstuffed with delicious food, and every time he kissed Spike he could taste the chocolate mousse from the rich desert they had shared. Sexy vampire who tasted like chocolate? Now that’s a lot of sugar.
After paying the driver, they rushed through the freezing rain and under the awning into the great lobby of the hotel. It was still pretty early – just after midnight – but the lobby was deserted. Only one lone clerk, this one a young man, stood behind the desk, thumbing through a catalog. “Wait here, luv,” Spike whispered to Xander, and left him standing by the Christmas tree as he went and talked to the clerk. The clerk kept giggling and nodding and glancing over at Xander. Xander saw Spike hand him some money, to which the clerk gave the usual shocked/happy/grateful response.
“Okay, that wasn’t odd in the slightest,” Xander whispered to Spike when he returned, taking Xander’s hand and leading him to the elevator.
“Don’t know what you mean, Xan,” Spike purred, wearing his best “who, me?” expression. “Just making sure all the deliveries came.”
“Uh huh,” Xander said sarcastically. “Whatever.”
They kissed the entire elevator ride up to their floor. Xander’s lips felt bruised when they finally got to their door and Spike popped it open. The first thing Xander noticed was the scent of pine that floated towards him like invisible confetti. He could hear the fire crackling in the fireplace in the living room, could smell the lingering bit of sulfur from the matches struck. The foyer lights were turned off, and only the glow of the fire in the next room illuminated their way.
“What’re you up to?” Xander wondered, taking off his jacket and placing it in Spike’s waiting hand. Spike hung it up in the closet.
“Don’t know what you mean, Xan,” Spike repeated, grinning. “Come on,” he said, taking Xander’s hand and leading him into the living room.
For not the first time on this trip, Xander’s jaw dropped and his breath caught in his chest; tears came to his eyes. Standing next to the fireplace was a large Christmas tree that seemed to fill the whole room. More accurately, it was just a tree – undecorated, naked. He turned to Spike with a look of wonder. “You got me a Christmas tree?”
“I got us a Christmas tree,” Spike said, laughing as he wrapped his arms around Xander. “Wanted this to be special for you.”
“Spike, it’s already special,” Xander insisted, turning to take in the boxes scattered throughout the room, full of everything they – Spike – had bought today. Beside the tree, he could see boxes of ornaments and lights stacked high. “You’ve already done more for me than…than anyone.”
“Can never do enough for you,” Spike whispered, leaning in to place soft kisses against Xander’s neck, ear, cheek. “I wish you could understand how much you fill me. How much, how…different everything seems now that I’ve got you.”
“Believe me, Spike,” Xander smiled tenderly, “I know. Because I feel the same way.”
A few minutes of silence passed as they stood there together, watching the fire and each enjoying the feel of the other in his arms. It felt…nice.
“Well, what do you say we trim this thing, yeah?” Spike said, nudging Xander toward the boxes on the floor. “You get started, I’m going into the kitchen. Had some blood delivered today; I’m starved.”
“Oh, sure,” Xander agreed, realizing that he hadn’t seen Spike have any blood for quite a few days. Not since Cozad, at least. “Go eat, I’ll get started.”
On his way into the kitchen, Spike clicked a button on the wall panel and the room was flooded with music. Heavy, loud, Goth, of course. Not exactly Barbra’s Christmas Album.
Serenaded by Spike singing along from the kitchen, Xander kneeled in front of the tree and started opening up the boxes of decorations and set to work.
They fell asleep on the couch sometime before dawn, arms wrapped comfortably around each other as they talked in the multi-colored glow from the kaleidoscope of twinkling lights wound around the tree. For the first time, it actually feels like a real Christmas, Xander thought as his heavy eyes finally fell closed.
Author:
chocgood84Rating: NC-17 for brief violence and sexual content
Pairing: BtVS Spike/Xander
Author’s Note: Yes, I am aware that the timeline is a little screwed up and that Giles didn’t own the Magic Box until after Adam and after Dawn arrived. But in my reality, who’s Dawn? Adam what? Also, a huge spanking thanks to
kitty_poker1 for being my official L2BL beta.Disclaimer: These character’s aren’t mine, never were; I don’t get any profit for this hobby, so don’t sue – Thanks.
Warning: Brief violence, nudity, and hetero and homo sexual content and situations. And some h0t man-luvin.
This can also be found in my LJ Memories, as well as on my website.
It started raining while they were passing through the tollway on I-88, just outside of Oakbrook. Sprinkles at first, then drops, then sheets of cold water were falling from the rolling sky. Even though it was after midnight, traffic was heavy with people making their pilgrimage to and from the city for the holidays. Audi minivans and Mercedes station wagons were dodging each other, like synchronized drivers in the car commercials, as everyone raced to wherever they were going.
Spike swore around the cigarette dangling from his lips as he almost missed the exit to I-290 towards Chicago. Cutting off half a dozen people, he dashed across the three lanes of congested traffic, pouncing on the brakes when the cars ahead of them came to a full stop. “Oi! Where’d you people learn to drive!?” he shouted.
“You know, I could drive, if it means that we don’t, uh, die.” Xander peeked through squinted eyes just in time to see the semi beside them swerve, its horn blaring and its wheels halting as Spike screeched around it and down the ramp.
“Balls, luv,” Spike snorted, tapping ash from his cigarette out the cracked window. “Should be there soon, anyway.”
“Tell me again why we’re going to Chicago?” Xander asked, shoveling a handful of cheese puffs into his mouth. They’d stopped in DeKalb to get gas and snacks.
“Believe me, Xander, once you see it, you’ll know,” Spike grinned, glancing over at him for a second before looking back out the rain-spattered windshield. “Except maybe New York, it’s one of the best cities in the world to hide, and to play.” Spike’s eyebrows bounced. “All kinds of bars for…alternative residents such as myself.”
“So you’re saying we’re coming here because there’re all kinds of baddies?” Xander rolled his eyes again and adjusted the heat vents away from his face and towards the quickly-fogging window.
“Not just that, luv.” Spike’s lead foot dropped a little more and the car lurched forward. The traffic was moving faster now, spread out a little more as they passed by the exits to the suburbs. “Chicago knows how to live, how to party. It’s got jazz, shopping, eating. You just have to wait to see it.”
Xander sighed as he stared out the window at the light poles and subway stations racing by. There was a fog rolling in with the rain and, with every yard they sped, the fog got denser and denser, forcing Spike to drop the speed below one hundred. “Are you sure it’s going to be safe here? I mean, with all the demons and whatnot?”
Spike chuckled. “’S another one of the great things about this city. You’re surrounded by crooks wherever you go, and you still feel safe as houses. I remember last time, when me and Dru passed through in the twenties. We went to this big party the mayor threw. Quite a guest list, too. Capone himself showed up.”
“AL Capone?” Xander’s jaw dropped, and he turned to look at Spike. “At the mayor’s party?”
“Told ya this city’s crooked, didn’t I?” Spike reminded. “Turned out to be one hell of a party, at that. Won big at the tables in the back room, too, I did.”
“He didn’t try to like…I dunno, kill everyone?” Xander wondered.
“Like I said, you’re safest when you’re in the midst of it all. Besides, at that time Capone was running the city, not the mayor – he was more of a, what do you call it? Figurehead, that’s it. Like the Queen.”
“Hmph,” Xander responded. “Learn something new every day.”
As they crested the hill and rounded the bend, passing the exit to Harlem, the fog cleared, leaving only the curtains of rain around them. But through the rain, Xander could see the city rising before them. From his vantage point, it looked kind of tiny, but still it looked beautiful. Huge buildings soared into the clouds, calling out like beacons with their tower lights and glowing windows. It wasn’t like L.A., where the buildings were more spread out. Here, it seemed like they were all huddled in one small area, crowding against each other to keep warm in the storm. He recognized the Sears tower from one of his history books. The buildings around it seemed dwarfed by the massive black structure, which looked like building blocks stepping up into the clouds.
“Wow,” he breathed.
“Yeah,” Spike responded as the city continued to grow and spread before them. Before long, they were passing under the stock exchange building and the expressway ended, turned into Congress. On the left was a library that towered above them, on the right was a University building climbing a few stories above that. Spike turned north off Congress, roaring through the downtown area – “the loop”, as he called it. The streets here were deserted, probably because of the storm. By now the rain was falling with hammering “tat tat tats” on the roof of the car. It sounded like hail, only smaller, fainter.
They finally lurched to a stop outside an ancient – but gorgeous – looking hotel with a marble entranceway and perfectly sculpted masonry up the front of the building. Red lights pronounced this to be the “Palmer House Hotel.” A smaller sign beside the gilded front doors read “A Chicago Tradition in luxury and comfort.”
Xander startled as the passenger side door was opened for him by a man – an honest to God doorman? – wearing an old-fashioned bellhop’s uniform, a red double-breasted suit with brass buttons and a tiny matching hat on his head that reminded him of the Shriners. A wide smile graced his lips, and when he spoke it was a voice of confidence, charm and respect.
“Checking in, sir?” he asked.
“That we are,” Spike replied as he rounded the front of the car, draping his arm across Xander’s shoulders. “Bags are in the trunk, and take care of the car, would you?” he asked, placing the car keys and a fifty dollar bill in the man’s gloved hand. “Our room will be under the name of ‘Bondsworth.’”
“Yes, sir,” he enthused. “Right away, sir!”
“‘Bondsworth?’” Xander cracked as they passed through the doors – held open by two other doormen – and into the breathtaking lobby. In the center of the room was a giant, twinkling Christmas tree that soared two stories above them. Lush red velvet drapes framed the huge windows, dark leather armchairs and darker wooden tables surrounded two separate fireplaces, with little clusters throughout the great hall.. The floor was dark, probably granite – the heels of Xander’s boots clicked loudly as they crossed towards the enormous dark marble desk on the right side of the room, centered between two escalators. The counter of the desk matched the floor. On the opposite side of the room was a wide staircase with carefully sculpted iron balustrades and red carpet leading up into the hotel. On either side the staircase were two banks of brass elevators. Glancing up, Xander saw the ceiling was gilded with a mural was painted on it, covering them like a great canopy.
“What?” Spike smiled. “It’s a family name. I ate ‘em a couple decades back.”
“Well, what’s my name, then?” he whispered as they approached the clerk at the desk, a young blond woman wearing the same old-fashioned uniform.
“Good evening, gentlemen. Checking in?” she asked, smiling at each of them.
“Yes, we are, luv,” Spike charmed her. “The reservation is under Bondsworth.”
“Oh, yes sir, Mr. Bondsworth!” Her already perky smile perked up even more. “We’ve been expecting you! Your suite is all ready, just as you requested.” She pulled out a set of keycards from behind the counter and gave them to ‘Mr. Bondsworth’. “I’ll have someone bring the bags to your suite in just a moment
“Ta, luv.” Spike flashed one of his patented ‘charm to kill’ smiles at the girl, and they turned towards the elevators on the left side of the room. “Your name is Alex Bondsworth. We’re here honeymooning.”
Xander nearly halted in his steps, his mouth doing that funny fish thing. Spike turned and laughed out loud at him.
“Relax, pet.” Spike linked his arm through Xander’s, guiding him towards the elevator. “It’s just so’s not to arouse suspicion.”
“I, uh, I, um, well, that makes sense,” Xander stuttered when his mind finally jumpstarted itself and caught up with the conversation. “Right. Honeymoon. Suspicion. Good.”
Spike chuckled as he pressed the button for the elevator, rewarded a moment later by the brass doors sliding open before them. Once in, Spike pressed the button for the top floor, and with a satisfying “ding” the doors closed and they began their ascent.
“Some hotel,” Xander said, smiling at his reflection in the brass, still amused by seeing only himself.
“Only the best for us,” Spike replied, pulling Xander tight against him and pressing a cool kiss against his forehead.
“I guess so,” Xander laughed as the elevator came to a stop and the doors slid away, revealing a short hallway before them with only five doors. Spike guided him past 21A, 21B, 21C, and 21D until they came to the door at the end of the hallway. The sign read “Suite 21E.” Sliding the keycard in and opening the door, he all but pushed Xander over the threshold.
The foyer of their suite was almost as impressive as the lobby had been. Marble tile on the floor, two matching leather chairs separated by a small coffee table, on which rested a large vase of fresh flowers. The walls were dark oak paneling, on which were hung several expensive-looking paintings. Two pillars separated this foyer from the living room ahead of them.
After hanging up their coats in the closet, Spike took Xander’s hand and led him through the foyer and into the living room, which reminded him of the set of Masterpiece Theatre, dark and rich with natural colors. Oak and maple, marble and silk and velvet dominated the room. Heavy ruby-colored drapes covered the windows. Three large leather sofas created a semi-circle around a fireplace, which held a roaring fire. On the mantle hung a giant LCD television. There were tables and chairs strewn throughout the room, a large desk at one end and a chaise lounge at the other. Oriental rugs covered the hardwood floor in places.
“You like it, Xander?” Spike was watching as Xander spun slowly, taking in each part of the room with his eyes, snapping mental photographs of every detail, down to the old-style telephone on the desk.
“I, um, yes, of course I do. It’s gorgeous.” Xander hugged him tightly.
“Good,” Spike chuckled. “The kitchen’s through there – we won’t be needing it.” He gestured to the dark curtains on the far left of the room. “And the bedroom is this way,” he added, picking Xander up and carrying him through the French doors at the other end then placing him gracefully in the middle of the high king-sized canopy bed. Spike climbed on top of him, placing chaste kisses on his lips, jaw, cheeks.
“Spike, this is nice.” Xander yawned, suddenly sleepy, as he raked his fingers through Spike’s hair. “Thanks.”
“I’d do anything for you, Xander,” Spike whispered against Xander’s cheek, nestling his face onto Xander’s chest. “Want you to know that.”
“I do…I know.” Xander smiled, tightened his arms around Spike and closed his eyes.
Xander wasn’t sure what time it was. It felt like late afternoon, but the room was completely dark; he could barely make out his surroundings. The only thing he knew for certain was that there was no one else in bed with him. “Spike?” he called out. There was no answer. Still pretty groggy from such a deep sleep, he stretched slowly and carefully climbed down from the bed. He couldn’t remember seeing any lamps when he’d been carried into the room so he stumbled through the darkness, hands outstretched in front of him until he found the wall and followed it along to the doors. The doors opened with a soft “click” and he squinted his eyes against the glow of the fire and the flickering lights of the TV.
“Spike?” he repeated.
“I’m here, Xander,” Spike called from the seating area. Xander opened his eyes a little wider and found Spike curled up on the couch facing the fireplace, shirtless, with a blanket spread over his lap. “Finally wake up?”
“Mm…yeah,” Xander said around the gravel in his throat. “What time is it?”
“Late afternoon. Sun’ll be down in about an hour. Want something to eat?” Spike asked, gesturing towards dishes of food spread out on the coffee table.
“Yum, I’m starving,” Xander admitted, noticing his stomach growling. He rounded the sofa, stopping to kiss Spike on the forehead, and plopped down next to him, reaching out and serving himself a little of everything. “I can’t believe I slept so long. Did it finally stop raining?”
“Yeah, after a time.” Spike nodded towards the television, where a newswoman was explaining about the rare winter weather Chicago had been having. “…freezing rain finally stopped, as the sun poked its head out from behind the clouds this afternoon, giving the holiday shoppers a break. This is the first December in more than fifteen years in which Chicago has seen no snow. The experts are blaming this rare late-autumn weather on global…”
“Have you ever noticed that, wherever you go, the news ladies are always the same?” Xander asked, gobbling down a piece of toast with raspberry jam. Around a mouthful of sausage, he explained, “same hair, same accent, same everything. It’s creepy!”
“Only you would think anchor women are creepy after all you’ve seen,” Spike laughed.
The newswoman continued on with a story about holiday shoppers mauling each other over the latest “must have” toy. “Can you believe it’s only a few more days till Christmas?” Xander asked. “Doesn’t really seem like it.”
“Why not?” Spike asked, stretching his arm across Xander’s shoulder.
“Well…I don’t know. I’m away from, uh, everyone else,” Xander sighed. “Don’t get me wrong, I’d rather be with you right now –”
“It’s okay, Xander, I get it. It’s not the same; I understand.” Spike lay his head on Xander’s shoulder.
“No, it’s not,” he mumbled. “Also, no Christmas tree. Sounds weird, given that I’m a SoCal boy, but we always had a tree, you know? At least, I did.”
“Makes sense.” Spike nudged Xander with his nose and kissed him softly on the cheek before getting up from the couch and making his way toward the bathroom. Xander balked and nearly choked on his bacon as he noticed Spike was completely naked. He turned back and flashed a fangy smile at Xander. “I’m going to shower and get dressed. We’re going out!”
“Mmmm…” Xander sighed. He wasn’t sure whether he meant the room service delivery or the image of a naked Spike washing himself in the shower. “Damn, I think I like this city.”
“I swear when you said ‘go out’ I thought you meant, like…barhopping,” Xander said as he slipped his arms into a Kenneth Cole leather jacket, his skin purring against the soft satin lining.
“First off,” Spike explained, circling Xander and surveying the crisp new leather approvingly, “I don’t barhop. Secondly, I want you to be dressed for the weather. And thirdly, it’s about time you started dressing to your potential.”
This was the fourth store they’d walked into in two hours. Spike had already purchased more clothes for Xander than Xander had owned his whole life. They’d started out in Nordstrom’s department store, but Spike had gotten bored there. So they’d gone into J. Crew, where Xander had gotten a few new pairs of jeans and a suit (why he needed a suit was beyond him, but Spike had insisted), and Spike had gotten some new things as well – some leather gloves, a black trench coat, some fancy shoes. Afterwards, they’d run into some other designer Xander wasn’t familiar with – Boss something – where Spike loaded him up on new shirts and belts and a couple of hats. So now they were here, in the midst of Ground Zero of holiday shoppers, as Spike glanced over every leather jacket in the store and Xander tried them all on, saying yes or no. So far, there were 16 ‘no’s and 3 ‘yes’s. At times, Xander felt like one of those paper dolls. But most of the time, he enjoyed it. I could get used to this, he thought as he shifted uncomfortably in his new shoes.
“One day you are going to tell me where you got the money for all of this, right?” Xander laughed as Spike made his third rotation around him, finally deciding that, yes, this jacket was suitable.
“Came with the name, luv,” Spike said absently as he hailed over one of the salesmen. Xander turned to look at his reflection in the mirror as Spike spoke to the man. He almost didn’t recognize the man staring back at him. A dark grey button up shirt with the top two buttons undone, dark blue faded jeans and shiny new leather loafers. The jacket he was trying on fell just below his hips, a polished black leather coat that zipped up the front, with quilted satin lining that felt so soft against his skin. He almost looked…gulp…respectable.
“Okay, Xander, I think we’re done here,” Spike said, handing a credit card to the salesman, who scurried off with all four coats that had made the cut to ring up the purchases. Spike hadn’t let Xander see how much anything cost, nor the total bills. He figured it was more than he’d made in the last two years working construction. “Everything will be delivered to the hotel tonight. Let’s move on, shall we, luv?” he asked, offering his arm to Xander.
The salesman came back, carrying the latest jacket – tag-free – and the receipt. He helped Xander into it, thanked them and dived back into the mass of people swarming around the racks. Xander and Spike made their way back outside into the cold night air. He could actually see his breath!
“It’s getting colder!” Xander was practically bouncing.
“That it is, pet. That it is.” Spike stopped in his tracks, turned and looked at Xander and just smiled. Just when Xander was sure Spike was having a stroke, he broke his stare and leaned in to kiss him. “Ready for the next store?”
“Uh, Spike?” Xander said. “It’s not that I don’t appreciate all of this, but I think I’m kinda shopped out. Maybe we could just go back to the hotel? I read in the welcome thingie there’s a pool, sauna and Jacuzzi. Thought maybe we could go down and try ‘em out.”
“Whatever you want, Xander.” Spike pulled out an old pocket watch and clicked it open. When had he gotten a pocket watch? “Only, why don’t we have dinner first?”
“We just ate a little while ago-” At the look on Spike’s face, Xander caved. “Okay, yeah, I could eat. Where to?”
With a grin, Spike hailed a cab. After climbing in, he gave the cabbie the name of some restaurant – “We’re going to The Luxe, mate.”
It had started raining again just before they returned to the hotel. The cab driver was swearing under his breath as he navigated through the flood of ice that was falling from the sky. “Sleet” is what he had called it. Xander giggled, thinking what a funny word it was.
Dinner had been good…better than good. A swanky restaurant on the top floor of some huge building downtown off Michigan Avenue. The food was great, and there was actually a piano being played in the middle of the dance floor. Spike had ordered a really great bottle of wine, two in fact, because they had enjoyed it so much. When the waiter had come to collect the check, Xander could see him doing mental back flips.
Now he was overstuffed with delicious food, and every time he kissed Spike he could taste the chocolate mousse from the rich desert they had shared. Sexy vampire who tasted like chocolate? Now that’s a lot of sugar.
After paying the driver, they rushed through the freezing rain and under the awning into the great lobby of the hotel. It was still pretty early – just after midnight – but the lobby was deserted. Only one lone clerk, this one a young man, stood behind the desk, thumbing through a catalog. “Wait here, luv,” Spike whispered to Xander, and left him standing by the Christmas tree as he went and talked to the clerk. The clerk kept giggling and nodding and glancing over at Xander. Xander saw Spike hand him some money, to which the clerk gave the usual shocked/happy/grateful response.
“Okay, that wasn’t odd in the slightest,” Xander whispered to Spike when he returned, taking Xander’s hand and leading him to the elevator.
“Don’t know what you mean, Xan,” Spike purred, wearing his best “who, me?” expression. “Just making sure all the deliveries came.”
“Uh huh,” Xander said sarcastically. “Whatever.”
They kissed the entire elevator ride up to their floor. Xander’s lips felt bruised when they finally got to their door and Spike popped it open. The first thing Xander noticed was the scent of pine that floated towards him like invisible confetti. He could hear the fire crackling in the fireplace in the living room, could smell the lingering bit of sulfur from the matches struck. The foyer lights were turned off, and only the glow of the fire in the next room illuminated their way.
“What’re you up to?” Xander wondered, taking off his jacket and placing it in Spike’s waiting hand. Spike hung it up in the closet.
“Don’t know what you mean, Xan,” Spike repeated, grinning. “Come on,” he said, taking Xander’s hand and leading him into the living room.
For not the first time on this trip, Xander’s jaw dropped and his breath caught in his chest; tears came to his eyes. Standing next to the fireplace was a large Christmas tree that seemed to fill the whole room. More accurately, it was just a tree – undecorated, naked. He turned to Spike with a look of wonder. “You got me a Christmas tree?”
“I got us a Christmas tree,” Spike said, laughing as he wrapped his arms around Xander. “Wanted this to be special for you.”
“Spike, it’s already special,” Xander insisted, turning to take in the boxes scattered throughout the room, full of everything they – Spike – had bought today. Beside the tree, he could see boxes of ornaments and lights stacked high. “You’ve already done more for me than…than anyone.”
“Can never do enough for you,” Spike whispered, leaning in to place soft kisses against Xander’s neck, ear, cheek. “I wish you could understand how much you fill me. How much, how…different everything seems now that I’ve got you.”
“Believe me, Spike,” Xander smiled tenderly, “I know. Because I feel the same way.”
A few minutes of silence passed as they stood there together, watching the fire and each enjoying the feel of the other in his arms. It felt…nice.
“Well, what do you say we trim this thing, yeah?” Spike said, nudging Xander toward the boxes on the floor. “You get started, I’m going into the kitchen. Had some blood delivered today; I’m starved.”
“Oh, sure,” Xander agreed, realizing that he hadn’t seen Spike have any blood for quite a few days. Not since Cozad, at least. “Go eat, I’ll get started.”
On his way into the kitchen, Spike clicked a button on the wall panel and the room was flooded with music. Heavy, loud, Goth, of course. Not exactly Barbra’s Christmas Album.
Serenaded by Spike singing along from the kitchen, Xander kneeled in front of the tree and started opening up the boxes of decorations and set to work.
They fell asleep on the couch sometime before dawn, arms wrapped comfortably around each other as they talked in the multi-colored glow from the kaleidoscope of twinkling lights wound around the tree. For the first time, it actually feels like a real Christmas, Xander thought as his heavy eyes finally fell closed.
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