Title: Depth Perception

Summary: Xander & Dawn, post-Chosen, mildly humorous.

Disclaimer: Not mine, don't hurt me.

Thanks to: Dot, Melissa, Jen, Vic, and Pete, as always.

"Happy Christmas!" Buffy grinned as she hurled the box at Dawn's head. Dawn ducked reflexively.

THUMP.

Dawn yelped. "Sorry, Xander!"

"Ow," Xander said as he rubbed his shoulder. "'Sallright, kid, if it hadn't been me it would've been you." He struck a heroic pose. "I'm always suffering for you Summers women. Whaddaya got in there, Buff? A lead weight with '1000 tons' across the front in comical white paint?"

Buffy gave him a Look. "Yes, Xander, that's exactly what's in there. Let me get yours."

"Just hand it to me, okay? Don't be cruel to the man with no depth perception!" he yelled after her as she went into her bedroom.

Dawn picked up the gift and sat down at the table. Xander took one last look off the hotel balcony, at the others playing in the pool, surrounded by the lush greenery. He pulled out a chair to join Dawn. The sound of the metal chair scraping on the concrete was surprisingly restful after the events of the last few months.

Dawn examined the tag and groaned. "She's still on this unspecial kick. 'To my unspecial sister, love from your unspecial sister.'"

"I still can't believe she relaxed enough to actually go on a vacation. An apocalypse just wouldn't be the same without her."

"I guess she figured thousands of Slayers might just be as good as one Buffy Summers," Dawn said solemnly. She tore open the gift -- and groaned again. "Oh, no."

Xander leaned forward, resting his elbows on the wrought iron table. "Not a figurine?"

"A figurine," Dawn confirmed, burying her face in her hands. "Of a dog," she said in a muffled voice. "She thinks I like dogs, and she's bought me eleven so far, and I can't tell her I like dogs but not this cutesy crud. I'm not eight any more!"

Xander patted her on the back in mock sympathy. "I guess some things never change. Buffy may be unspecial now, but she's still late with Christmas gifts -- and she still finds sucky gifts."

"Very sucky," Dawn said. She took a deep breath and sat back up, with a brave little smile on her face.

"You gonna tell her?"

Dawn shook her head. "I can't. I don't want to hurt her. Besides, she can still kick my ass."

Xander picked up the statuette. "I like the little pink ruffles around its neck. And the umbrella is just darling," he observed.

Dawn groaned again.

Buffy emerged from the bedroom, smiling brightly. "You like it, Dawnie?"

"Do I!" Dawn stood up, a huge smile on her face. "Thank you so much!" She gave Buffy a big hug, ignoring Xander miming putting his fingers down his throat.

Buffy handed Xander a small, flat box. He looked up at her, but she only smiled, gesturing for him to open it.

He took off the lid, pushed aside the layers of green tissue paper, and there was her face.

Anya's.

Xander exhaled, a long, slow breath of sorrow, and lifted the frame out of the box. The frame was silver. The picture itself was golden. Anya, captured in a moment on the beach, hair back but one hand raised to push back some wandering tendrils. The sun was on her left, and she laughed as if she'd just thought of a new sexual position.

Which she probably had.

"Oh, Buffy," Xander breathed. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Buffy said quietly, watching his face. "I'm going to change for the pool. You guys come down when you're ready."

She left. Dawn put a hand on Xander's shoulder. "Not always sucky," she said.

"Not always sucky," Xander agreed.