FIC: The Meaning of Christmas A/F PG-13

Title: The Meaning of Christmas
Author: Ms Hyde
Email: mshydehj7@aol.com
Pairing: Angel/Fred
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Fred teaches Angel the meaning for Christmas.
Disclaimer: Don't belong to me, only to Joss... Not making money, please don't sue...
A/N: This assumes a previous sexual and emotional relationship between Angel and Fred, specifically my story Shameless Smut. It helps if you read that one first, but not entirely necessary.




Graphic made by angelus2hot specifically for this fic! Thanks for that!

THE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS

“Angel, it’s Christmas.” Fred shook him again, trying to rouse her lover. This was the time that she’d been waiting for.

As a child, Christmas had always been her favorite time of year. She loved the music, the lights, the decorations, and being with family. It was the only time of year that she got to see everyone in her family: grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Christmas always seemed to end too early for her.

The only time she had ever gone without celebrating December 25th was when she was in Pylea. For the first couple of weeks, she had tried to keep track of the time. It had become too difficult. In Pylea, there were no seasons, no change in weather. It was constant. Time was of no consequence to Pyleans.

Fred had become accustomed to that lifestyle. However when she had been rescued, she embraced the concept of time again. She began to anticipate Christmas once again.

It was difficult getting the others involved in Christmas. Cordy, Wes, Gunn, Lorne and Angel didn’t get the concept of spending time with the people that they loved on one specific day. However, Lorne loved singing Christmas carols. The beings of Angel Investigations had created their own family with each other and spent a tremendous amount of time together. It wasn’t the quality of time like Christmas. Christmas was special.

Fred had all but given up on trying to teach the gang about Christmas, until she became romantically involved with Angel. The Furies had brought them together, and they’d been together ever since. It wasn’t until she got some exciting news that she felt the Christmas spirit again.

That’s when she decided to teach her lover about the meaning of Christmas. It was a daunting task, but it was worth the reward she was going to give him.

From the moment she had announced that she wanted to celebrate the holiday, she had been met with resistance on his part. She had decorated the hotel on her own. She had somehow fixed it so that Christmas music played throughout the building constantly. She had dragged him out to countless sing-alongs, Christmas pageants, and nativity shows. Some of them, he had enjoyed, but most were near torture.

For the most part, he humored her. She had a new glow about her, and it was near contagious. It was a new aspect of her personality that he could admire and love about her. Everyday with Winifred Burkle was a new adventure. Their relationship wasn’t perfect, but it worked.

Fred nudged him again. “Angel, it’s Christmas.” He groaned in response, his eyes refusing to open. “Darlin’, it’s time to get up.”

In one quick movement, he had her pinned to the mattress beneath his body. She gasped and then smiled up at her sleepy vampire, his eyes still heavy with drowsiness. “Why don’t we just stay in bed a bit longer? I’m sure I could find the energy to make love to you.”

She had to admit that she loved the idea. Having Angel inside her, connected with her was the best feeling in the world. Christmas only came once a year, and she was eager to share that with him.

With all the tenderness she felt for him, she brought his lips to hers in a soft, lingering kiss. “I love you, Angel. It’s Christmas, and I want to share with you what that means to me. I promise, tonight, we can make love.” She paused. “There are things you need to know.” She had a gleam in her eye, and Angel couldn’t wait to see what she had in store for that day.

The first thing Fred did was make breakfast for the two of them. She was well aware that Angel didn’t normally eat solid food, but he ate a few bites of pancakes for her sake. This seemed to mean so much to her, so he would do whatever she wanted that day. This day was for her as much as she was making it for him.

After breakfast, Fred led Angel by the hand down to the lobby. She had decorated the lobby in early December. However there were a few additions that he noticed. It was astonishing the amount of time and effort she had put into this one day. She had added a big Christmas tree decorated with colored lights, silver tinsel, and beautiful ornaments. Under the tree was a small pile of wrapped gifts.

Angel glanced out the doors of the Hyperion, it was snowing. He shoved the door open. Fred said with a giggle, “I’ve always wanted a white Christmas, but never lived in the right climate.” She pointed up to a tiny machine that she had designed and put together. “I made my own white Christmas then.”

Looking down to meet her gaze, he said, “You’re amazing, love.” She burrowed into his side and wrapped her arms around his waist. He kissed the top of her head. They stayed there watching the snowfall as if it were real, despite the seventy-degree weather. If Fred concentrated hard enough, she could swear she felt a bite of cold.

With their arms wrapped around one another, they returned back inside. The couple sat down on the floor at the foot of their enormous tree to open gifts. Angel hadn’t been prepared as well as she had, but she had yet to share her news.

After exchanging and opening their gifts, they stationed themselves in front of the television back in Angel’s suite. Angel lit a fire in the fireplace and they snuggled together for the rest of the day while watching Christmas movies. For hours, they watched White Christmas, It’s a Wonderful Life, A Christmas Story and others along the same theme.

Around six o’clock, Angel got up to rebuild the fire. Fred wandered over to the double doors leading to the balcony to peek outside. She opened the curtains cautiously to guard Angel from any sunrays. Realizing it was safe, she opened them wider. The sun was below the horizon, and the sky was turning different shades of purple and blue. Christmas was ending, but it had been a perfect day.

When Angel had finished with the fire, he made his way over to his lover, his family. It was in that moment that he realized the meaning of the whole day. Christmas was about family, treasuring and spending time with those you loved.

He wrapped his arms around her waist and molded his body to her small frame. He rested his chin on her shoulder as she held his arms closer around her middle. Angel finally said, “Thank you for today, my love.”

She smiled, understanding that he had found the meaning of Christmas after all. She treasured that she could teach him that. It was quite the accomplishment.

Quietly, Angel said, “I wish I could give you something just as special as you’ve given me today.”

Fred smiled, knowing that he had, although he was still unaware of it. This was the time. It was perfect. She couldn’t ask for a better time to tell him. “Angel? I have something to tell you.”

He cradled her closer, thinking she was just going to tell him that she loved him. That was the normal way of things.

She took a deep breath to steady her nerves. “I’m pregnant, Angel. We’re going to have a baby.”

Angel was silent for a few moments. He wasn’t sure he had heard correctly. It wasn’t possible, but having Fred as his was a miracle in itself. He finally turned her around in his arms, so he could look into her eyes.

Fred was feeling on edge. She’d revealed the secret she’d been carrying around for five weeks. It made no sense in the world that Angel could father a child with her, but stranger things had been known to happen. She had talked to the Furies soon after learning the truth about her pregnancy. It turned out that their power included making men fertile.

She turned around in his arms at his prompting and looked up at him. As usual, his expression was unreadable. He asked, “Are you alright?”

She nodded. “I’m fine.”

“Are you sure?”

Excitedly, she nodded.

“How? When? How did we do this?”

“The Furies.”

“And you’re okay?”

“Everything’s perfect. The doctor says the baby’s going to be here in seven or eight months. Everything is progressing, as it should. You’re going to be a daddy, Angel.”

Angel finally smiled. “We’re going to be a family. Baby, it’s a miracle.”

“Merry Christmas.”

He pulled her into his arms as he said, “Merry Christmas, my love. I love you.”

“I love you, my Angel.”

The End