AUTHOR: Goddess Isa
EMAIL: goddessisa@aol.com
SUMMARY: It's the night before Christmas, the night before Xander's wedding, and stuff happens. =)
RATING: TV-PG
SPOILER: Slight spoiler for the 12/19 eppy of Buffy
DISCLAIMER: Everyone belongs to Joss. I belong to no one. Heehee. I love being all powerful.
WEBSITE: http://planetslaythis.homestead.com
AUTHOR'S NOTES: This is a one-shot. So there.
DEDICATION: Justin Randall Timberlake, for restoring my faith in men. Sort of.
12/23/00
"I look at you," Samuel said sincerely, "And I see love. I look at you and I see my future."
"Are you watching Felicity so you can pawn Javier and Samuel's wedding vows off as your own?" Willow asked, smiling as she came into the living room with a mug of coffee in each hand.
"No," Xander said defensively, accepting his. "I just wanted to look at Keri Russell."
"Just last week, you said she makes your skin crawl."
"She does, but in a good way."
"Kind of like Anya?" Willow teased.
Xander smiled instantly at the mere mention of her name. "Not anymore."
"It's strange," Willow sat beside him on the couch. "You used to sleep over my house all the time when we were kids. Especially at Christmas."
"I remember."
"And you're sleeping over tonight, and........"
"And?" Xander pressed.
"And I know it's the last time," she finished quietly. "And I'm sad."
"You don't know that it's the last time."
"You're getting *married*, Xander."
"So?" he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and hugged her. "Just because I'm married, that doesn't mean I'll never sleep over. What about research parties?"
"We never have those anymore," Willow said. "Not since Buffy went all Bimbo Slayer on us."
"Yeah, but we will now that Fish Boy's history." Xander smiled.
"I hope so," Willow brightened up.
"And what if there's an earthquake?" Xander asked. "We'll have to hide in your doorway."
"Why?" Willow laughed. "What's wrong with your doorways?"
"Nothing, but yours are wider."
"Remember," Willow leaned her head on his shoulder, "When we were kids and you spent Christmas at my house and my mom asked you what you were getting in your stocking?"
Xander nodded, smiling. "It was the only Christmas tradition she really knew anything about."
"And when you told her you didn't even have a stocking, she couldn't believe it."
"She went to Wal-Mart even though it was eleven p.m." Xander smiled. "She bought us each a stocking and filled them with candy and Matchbox cars."
"I still have all of mine," Willow said. "That was the only time I've ever known her to *go* to Wal-Mart."
"That was one of the nicest things anybody's ever done for me, Will." he blinked away tears. "I love those stockings."
"Me too," Willow whispered. "Xander?"
"Yeah?"
"Merry Christmas."
"Happy Hanukkah."
"Thank you." she pulled a blanket over the two of them and they drifted off to sleep.
"Love you, Will," he mumbled before passing out from nervous exhaustion.
"Love you, too."
*****
The next morning was a hectic Christmas as usual. Everyone went over to Buffy's for dinner, then to the Church for Xander and Anya's midnight wedding. After that, they headed over where it all began, Sunnydale High School, to celebrate until Xander and Anya's plane left Christmas Day at six a.m.
"Xander," Willow approached him around two-thirty, "I've got a tote bag Anya wants to take with her to take souvenirs home in, but it's at my apartment."
Xander sighed. "I'll go with you to get it."
"Great. Come on."
Willow chattered on the entire drive to her and Tara's apartment. When they got there, Willow opened the door and let Xander in first.
He gasped when he saw the tiny tree they used to celebrate with as kids set up in the center of the room. Beside it on the wall were the two stockings from when they were kids, plus identical ones for Tara and Anya.
"Will--"
"Surprise!" Anya came in behind them with everyone else. "Are you surprised?"
"I'm....."
"This is my wedding gift to you guys," Willow said. "The tree and the ornaments and the stockings. Congratulations."
Xander was speechless. He just stood there in awe until Anya finally wrapped her arms around him and gave him a big kiss.
"I love you," she whispered. "And I love your friends. I can tell how much this means to you."
Xander just kissed her back.
"Open your stockings, you guys," Tara said enthusiastically.
Anya tore at hers like a little girl. She beamed when she saw the contents.
"How did you know I love Whatchamacallits?" she asked, tearing into one and eating it in two bites.
Xander was more reserved with his, checking out the familiar chocolate orange, the caramel Santas and his favorite, dark chocolate Stars of David. He dumped the rest of the contents out and shrieked.
"Matchbox Cars!" Anya squealed. "I love these things!" she looked at Willow. "How did you know?"
"I just did," she shrugged.
"Thank you," Xander whispered.
Willow could only nod.
*****
Later, when the happy couple was on their way to the airport, Buffy was helping Willow clean up when she noticed her best friend crying.
"Will?" she rushed over to her. "You okay?"
"Yeah," she rubbed her nose with a paper towel. "I guess I just always thought I'd be Xander's wife."
"I'm sorry, Will."
"Don't be. Look how happy he was. And all I gave them was a tree and some stocking stuffers."
"It wasn't the stuff you gave him, Will," Buffy pointed out. "It was *why* you gave them to him."
"I don't know what you mean."
"When Xander gets back from Hawaii, I'm pretty sure he'll explain it to you."
"Okay. I can wait." she turned the water on to start the dishes. "Buffy?"
"Yeah?"
"He *does* love her, right?"
"More than I ever woulda thought."
"Okay. Just making sure. Buffy?"
"Yeah?"
"Think he'll divorce her?"
Buffy smiled. "Five years, tops."
"That's what I wanted to hear."
"That's why I said it."
"You're the best, Buffy."
"I try."
"Wanna give me a Christmas present now?"
"I already did," Buffy looked confused. "You said you loved the watch."
"I do, but I need something else."
"What?"
"Go kiss Angel."
"WHAT?"
"Just do it."
"Well I wasn't gonna argue...." Buffy mumbled before setting off the complete the given task.