Buffy was awakened by the wonderful aroma of cooked chocolate. Rolling onto her back and stretching, she blinked lazily up at her husband. "Um...morning."
Angel smiled back and set a mug of hot chocolate down on the night stand next to her. She pushed herself up and he bent to kiss her, then she reached for the mug. "Good morning to you, too, and Merry Christmas."
"Oh, yeah." Her smile widened. "Merry Christmas." Their first as a married couple, they were spending it alone, planning to go to London for New Years, and having spent Christmas Eve with Connor.
"Want me to whip up an omelet or some french toast for you while you shower?"
"Is that your way of saying I'm stinky?" she teased, then moaned as the chocolate burst on her tongue.
"Well, we were rather sweaty last night."
Giggling, she slipped from the bed, mug in hand, and padded towards the bathroom. "If we have any blueberries, French toast, please. If not, an omelet is fine."
"We do." One of his favorite things was cooking for his wife and watching her savor every taste. Blueberries were her favorite fruit so he tried to keep them in stock.
*****
Emerging from the bedroom showered and dressed in comfortable knit pants and a hoody over a tank top, Buffy was caught beneath the mistletoe hanging in the entrance to the kitchen and thoroughly kissed.
"You had a blueberry," she said, smiling as she tasted the sweet/sour flavor on his tongue.
"Had to make sure they were ripe."
"Perfect."
Arm and arm they entered the kitchen and as Angel went to scoop the fried bread pieces onto a plate, Buffy sat down at her place and picked up a small gold-wrapped box decorated with a red silk bow in the shape of a rose.
"Is this a special gift?"
"Every gift is special, I hope, but, I couldn't wait any longer for you to open this one."
Buffy gave him a curious look as he joined her at the table, then put aside her plate for a moment to open the box. Inside was a key. An ordinary key. Her curiosity turned to confusion until she took out the key and found a folded piece of paper beneath it. As she unfolded it and saw the image, her eyes widened and joy burst from her in a cry of delight.
"You said we couldn't afford it yet."
"I had some help on the down payment from some friends."
Two months before, on their search for the perfect little house, Buffy had fallen in love with one 1920s cottage in a little down just south of San Francisco, but she knew it was out of their price range so had tried to hide her excitement.
She should have known better. Angel was so attuned to her moods, it was impossible to hide something this big.
And, now that house was theirs.
"I love you," she choked out and slid from her chair onto his lap.
Angel cuddled her close and they kissed. "Merry Christmas, Buffy."
"It's the best Christmas ever, Angel."
End