drabble

ponders_life's birthday drabble; Oz/Xander dancing, somewhere in the world of my story Grace. Here you go sweetie, hope you enjoy it.
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The smell of cider and pine filled the house on Christmas Eve, and outside the world was coated in a clean layer of white snow. It was almost perfect, except sadness and anxiety hung thick in the air.

He silently watched the man who sat on the floor, listlessly putting wrapped packages under the sparkling tree. Xander knew Oz was trying his best for Paddy, who was long since in bed, but what the boy did not pick up on was painfully obviously to him. This Christmas draped over them both like a pall, knowing as they did the threats that remained to their safety, and the uncertainty of their future. But he had experienced enough bad holidays to know that he wasn't going to suffer through another one, not when he finally had a family to care about.

The local radio station was playing their non-stop holiday music thing, and suddenly Xander knew what to do. Walking over to Oz, he put out his hand and pulled him to his feet, then tucked him into his body like a puzzle piece. Xander started to sway as the strains of 'White Christmas' wafted from the speakers. He was no dancer, as the brief stint in Oxnard had proved beyond a shadow of a doubt, but this he could manage, and within a few moments Oz relaxed and nestled his head under Xander's chin.

"It's gonna be a good Christmas," Oz mumbled into Xander's robe, sounding very much like he was trying to convince himself more than anything, and it made Xander smile.

"Yes, it is," he replied, brushing a kiss across Oz's forehead and tightening his arms around that slender waist. And for once, Xander believed.