Shaking snow from his blond head like a dog, Spike stomped his feet on the mat and entered the pub. Inverness on Christmas night was as cold as a witch's tit and a blizzard was whipping in from the sea.
But he'd made a promise. Too many years he'd been unable to keep it, but that wasn't a new thing. Their agreement to meet every year on Christmas usually ended up being every five or six years and it was rare that they found each other two years in a row.
Still, when you had eternity what did a year or a dozen mean in the grand scheme?
A quick glance around the nearly empty but cozy common room in the three-hundred year old building told him his companion wasn't here yet. Heading for the bar, he ordered a bottle of twelve year old Glennfiddich and two glasses, then carried them over to a secluded table near the fire. He shrugged out of his duster and sat, pouring golden liquid into one of the glasses. He'd wait a bit, then, if still alone, toast absent friends before heading back into the snow.
The door opened, letting in a blast of cold air and swirl of snowflakes and Spike looked up and smiled.
The elegant gray wool coat was a far cry from a kilt, but Duncan McLeod was easily recognizable. It was the eyes.
They held the same sadness as Spike's own. When you lived forever, there were a lot of regrets.
Still, on spying him, Duncan smiled and strode to the table. Spike rose and they clasped arms in manly fashion.
"It's been too long."
"Seven years," Spike replied. "Had a couple of apocalypses to deal with." They sat and Spike poured the second glass.
"There's something different about you," Duncan said, eyes narrowing shrewdly.
Spike snorted and lifted his glass. "To a whole new world."
Duncan nodded and toasted, then they both drank. "To surviving." Draining his glass, he refilled both of them and lifted his again. "To long life."
"May it never be boring."
Both men chuckled and drained their second drinks.
"So what is it, William? What's changed."
"The whole world, Duncan." Spike shook his head slowly. "Last you saw me I was tracking Drusilla down. Everything went to hell after that."
"She never forgave you for teaming up with the Slayer?"
Snorting, the blond vampire shook his head again and took another drink. "Never forgave me for falling head over heels for the Slayer."
"Now that's a tale deserving of crisps." Grinning, Duncan beckoned a bar maid over and ordered bowls of snack foods as Spike began to spin his tale.
*****
"So, who would ever have thought that when I saved a vampire from being burned at the stake and he turned around and saved me from having my head chopped off one snowy Christmas night, the demon would turn into a hero?"
"Not a hero, mate."
"Sounds like you're one to me. You fought for your soul, William. That has to mean something."
"I thought so, but..."
"She doesn't think so?"
Spike ducked his head and shoved a handful of pretzels into his mouth. "Dunno. Haven't seen her."
Duncan chuckled and clouted him in the shoulder. "Don't tell me you're scared of a barely out of her teens girl."
"You don't know Buffy."
"You know, when you say her name, your eyes get all soft and misty and full of hope."
"Prat!"
"Love's a wonderful thing, William. I'm glad the demon I've met on Christmas over the years has found a way to know that."
"Yeah," Spike sighed. "So...how's Amanda?"
Duncan flushed and ducked his own head.
End