Christmas Time
AN: Hey all! Yeah, yeah, I know it's not Christmas. So sue me! - But not really, cause, that would be bad. :)
I wrote an x-tra long chapter this time, to sort of make up for my absence these past weeks! So I hope you forgive me.
Please keep reviewing - I love reviews so much!
Buffy ran into the kitchen. "Oh my god!" she exclaimed, reaching into the oven. Dawn appeared at the door.
" What's wrong?" she asked sarcastically. " Burn your Christmas ham?"
Buffy turned to her, shaking her oven mitt at her pest of a sister. " No! My chocolate chip cookies. And now I don't have any - cookies - and now, I have to make the peanut butter ones, and what if - what if someones' allergic to the peanuts, and - " Buffy was wide-eyed, thinking of the tragic possible situations. " And what if - " Dawn broke in.
" Buffy. It's okay. No one will care what kind of cookies you make, believe me. And you've already transformed the house into Santas' " - at Buffys' glare, she changed her words - " a holiday wonderland?" she asked hopefully. Buffy nodded, satisfied. Willow would be on her in a minute if she said otherwise. Dawn continued. " So don't stress."
Buffy looked into the living room from the kitchen. It was true, she mused. The tree was around eight feet tall, and decorated the whole nine yards. What does that mean? she wondered. The whole nine yards. Now it's gonna bug me all day. Sigh. The lights were up and everywhere; the doors, the windows, the staircase, and outside it got even worse - lights galore. There were stockings and candy, and Buffy even had one of those little aprons that was all Christmasy. There was even a few Hannukah deocrations around for Willows' sake. The presents were all wrapped neatly and were under the tree. Except for one. Angels' was still upstairs in her bedroom. Wordlessly she handed her apron to Dawn.
" I have to get something upstairs really fast. Will you be okay?"
Dawn rolled her eyes. " Yes, the twelve year old will be alright in her locked house on Christmas Eve. Go! Get dressed now, even. I'll manage. The guys aren't even coming for another - " she looked at her watch, " forty - five minutes anyway." Buffy smiled gratefully at her little sister, and ran upstairs.
*****
Angel fingered Buffys' gift one last time, then slipped it back into its box. He had been going to wrap it, but had decided against it, as the box was quite ornate itself - bejeweled with sapphires' and diamonds, and inlayed with gold. Heck, even the actual gift was enough. He was really hoping she liked it.
Spike tapped him on the shoulder, and Angel started. When Spike saw the box, he whistled. " Wow. It's the Box. Haven't seen that thing forever. Why'd you get it out now, mate?" Realization came over him at that moment. " Wait a second - you're giving it to her, aren't you. To Buffy?" He was incredulous. " The things' been in your family, what, generations upon generations now?" Angel turned to Spike, unamused. He returned evenly, " Yes. It's very special. Buffy is special to me too. In fact," he said with a look, "She's more precious to me than this gift ever will be - worth more than the diamonds and the sapphires and the gold, and even what's inside. And that is exactly why I am giving this to her." He turned back around.
Spike held up his hands in surrender. " Alright, mate. Don't get your panties in a bunch, now." Angel glared at him and Spike almost fell over in his laughter. Teasing the bloke was just too easy, thought Spike. But most of the time 'easy' was enough. He continued when his laughter subsided. " But seriously. I was just asking, tha's all. Wondering why it was out after so many years. You finish getting ready now," he said as he started to leave. " Gotta match the gift and all." Then he was gone, chuckling all the way to his room.
Angel finished getting ready, rummaged through the pile of silk shirts on his bed, and finally found his car keys. With that, he yelled out to the living room where his aunt was that he was leaving, and climbed into his Plymouth.
*****
"Xander!"
Willow yelled up the stairs of her best friends' house. His relatives had almost started their drinking games, and she didn't want to stick around for that. Last year his Uncle Roary had called her "sweetheart" as he made his way to the bathroom to throw up. Not fun. She called again.
"Xander!"
Xander was upstairs, frantically trying to finish wrapping his last gift. He breathed a sigh of relief at its finish. Yes! Done, he thought. He did a double take. Okay, so the wrapping wasn't the greatest, but... what the heck. It was him, after all. What else would they expect from a Xander? He called down to Willow.
"I'm coming, Will!"
He grabbed his paper bag of gifts and ran downstairs. He peeked into the living room and grimaced. The drinking games had begun. No wonder Will wanted to get out of there. Will had been tapping her foot impatiently, wearing a bright and cheery red sweater with a Christmas tree on it. Xander looked at it quizzically. Willow looked down, then sighed. " Look, I'm just trying to ya know, fit in with the decor at Buffys. And... it's the spirit, right?" Xander looked at her doubtfully. Willow broke. " All right, I'm rebelling against my very - Jewish parents. This is me, going against
them. Okay?" Xander pulled her out the door, replying,
" Better hop off the outlaw train Will, or you'll land yourself in jail."
They climbed into Ozs' van, which had been waiting. Today it was red with green polka dots. Xander figured it to be the Christmas spirit. Cordelia and the owner were waiting inside. Cordelia pulled him down next to her. " Took you long enough," she muttered. Xander became sickeningly sweet. " Oh, I'm sorry sweetie. I was busy wrapping your Christmas present. But if you like, I'll gladly turn back time, not go broke buying it, and have been in the van early. Is that all right, sugarlips?"
Cordelia punched in the arm and hissed, " Shut-up!"
Xander just chuckled.
*****
Angel was the first to arrive. As he rang the doorbell, he felt that Buffys' gift was still in his pocket. It was.
The door opened, with a pleasant Joyce behind it. " Hello Angel," she said. She looked at his attire for the evening.
" You got dressed up quite a bit didn't you?" He smiled. " As Spike would say, gotta match the gift." Joyce smiled back, impressed. " Well, I have to go out and grab some last minute presents for Buffy and Dawnie. I'll be back in a few hours. Have a good time!"
Angel stepped into the house. He immediately was greeted by an excited Dawn in her pajamas. " Hey Angel! Do you want to go up and surprise Buffy?" Angel bent down to her eye level. " No, actually. I have something in my car to deliver to a certain young lady first. You might know her. Goes by the name of Dawn Summers?"
Dawn squealed and ran out to his car. Laughing, Angel followed.
At that moment, Buffy descended the stairs. Dressed in a blood red velvet halter dress, she was stunning. Her blonde hair was upswept and curled around her face, and she wore no jewelry save for her gold bracelets. Her eyes were smoky and her lips stained red, and she beamed at the thought of Angel.
Angel and Dawn came into the house. As soon as Angel looked up, he was caught; trapped inside Buffys' gaze. She herself was trapped in his eyes' too. He is so gorgeous, she thought. His chocolate brown eyes entranced her: he wore a shirt that almost matched her dress perfectly, and tight black leather pants. Yum, she thought distantly. The couple was shook out of their reviere by Dawns' loud, obvious cough. Buffy smiled apolegetically at her sister, and she heard a car pull up in the drive way. " Dawnie, I think Xanders' here," she said with a grin. Dawn had the sweetest crush on Buffy's best friend. Even though he was dating Cordelia, Dawn didn't seem to mind "flirting" with him. Buffy supposed she thought she could steal him away from Queen C.
Dawn let out another squeal and ran outside to meet the arriving guests. Angel took Buffy by the hand and gently tugged her. She smiled at him... her Angel, her perfect, normal boyfriend who was the best thing that had ever happened to her; she was sure of that. Angel was having similar thoughts.
At that moment, the gang came inside. Dawn skipped in, almost dropping the load of presents in her arms. Buffy shot up an eyebrow at Willow. Willow broke ( for the second time that night.) " Okay, Buffy, I know I may have went a little overboard on the gifts, but..." she looked at Buffy and sighed in defeat. " All right, I definitely went overboard with the gifts..." she noticed Buffys' amused stare at her sweater. Willow crossed her arms over herself and said defensively,
" I'm rebelling here. Xander, help me out here." Xander nodded in return. Buffy sighed and led them into the living room.
Everyone was in awe as they stepped into the warmth of the fireplace. Buffy hadn't really wanted it, saying that it wasn't nearly cold enough outside for a fire, but her mother had insisted. And, as it had always seemed, her mother turned out right - it was a very nice touch. Everyone arranged themselves on the furniture: Dawn on the floor in front of the fire, Willow, Oz and Xander on the couch, Cordelia in the chair, and Buffy and Angel on the love seat. As they settled in, Buffy started to get up to get her friends' drinks, but Angel had pulled her back down into his lap. " Sweetheart, no one needs a drink - " he shot Cordelia a look, who had been about to protest his comment, - "Just be comfortable, all right? You've worked so hard for this night already... it's perfect." He pressed his lips to hers, and her body relaxed almost immediately. Dawn got up impatiently on the floor and asked, " When can I - I mean, we - open gifts?" Buffy broke her kiss and replied, " Dawnie, you know you can't open any of your presents until Christmas morning. She wants to take pictures, remember?" Dawn grumbled but sat down. Willow glanced at the clock, then jumped as if stricken. " Oh!" Xander looked at the clock, gasped, and began scrambling for the remote. Buffy looked confused; then she looked angry when Xander almost knocked over a vase. Willow finally found the remote on the side of the couch and tossed it to Xander. He breathed a sigh of relief as he found the right channel and sank back into the couch.
"A Charlie Brown Christmas?"
Cordelia looked perturbed. " You almost destroy Buffys' house for a Charlie Brown Christmas?" She whacked Xander on the back of his head. He cringed and rubbed it. " Cor..." She whacked him again. " My present had better be positively great, or no closets for a week!" Xander had a look of horror in his eyes that was hilarious to the women-folk in the room. The girls snickered. Xander muttered something unintelligible.
*****
A few hours later...
Dawn had fallen asleep during A Charlie Brown Christmas. Angel had carried her upstairs to her room. When he returned, the group decided to begin their gift-exchange.
Xander went first, then Willow; then Oz and Cordelia. All the couple gifts were very sweet and thoughtful, even Xanders' - he had given Cordelia a beautiful pair of silver earrings. She had forgiven him, nonetheless.
Buffy went next. Willow gasped as she opened Buffys' gift. " Buffy! This is... wow." She held up the blouse Buffy had given her. " But isn't it a little... short?" The blouse was tied at the waist, midriff-baring. Buffy waggled her finger at her best friend. " No Will, it's perfect. You are so wearing that in the spring!"
Oz opened his gift, and replied in usual Oz - fashion: " Dictionary. Cool." Buffy shrugged. " I thought that when you do say something, you'll have more words to say."
Xander laughed at Buffys' gift to him. " Buffy, this is great. How did you know I wanted to learn to date?" Cordelia whacked him over the head again. " I think she was looking more at the 'For Dummies' part of the title. Though on second thought, that might come in useful. You should learn how to date properly. God knows you haven't learned in all of your sixteen years."
Cordelia beamed at her gift: a pair of plush red dice for her car, with "Queen" embroidered on them.
Finally, Angel opened his gift from Buffy. It was a long black leather duster, and Angel gasped when he saw it. " Buffy, how did you buy this? It must have cost you - " Buffy shushed him, putting a finger to his lips. " It doesn't matter. It's for you." Angel quickly took the box out of his pocket. "Oh my God, is he proposing to her?" Xander yelped. Yet again Cordelia whacked him on the head, and Willow shushed him.
Buffy was in awe as she traced the boxs' ornate cover. She breathed in sharply as she looked up at Angel.
" How did you...?"
Angel smiled and said, " Just open it. I'll answer your questions' afterwards."
Buffy drew open the cover slowly. Inside she found an ornate silver cross necklace. She fingered it softly. Suddenly, she leaped around and began kissing Angel passionately on the mouth. He was by no means refusing; he was rather enjoying it. The females' 'aawed' at the sweet couple. Xander began to fake-gag. Oz just sat there.
Finally they broke the kiss. Angel leaned his chin on Buffys' forehead, and she sighed. Buffy straightened and asked her question. " Angel, it's absolutely beautiful... but where did you ever find it? It looks antique."
" It was," he responded. " It's a family heirloom. It's been on my mothers' side for generations. Since they lived in the hills of Ireland, during the seventeen hundreds' I believe. I wanted you to have it Buffy, because I care about you so much. I wanted you to know." Buffy was speechless with joy, but it hadn't escaped her that he had said ' cared about ' instead of ' loved '... but nonetheless. She kissed him again. This time they didn't break apart for a long while.
*****
"Buffy."
Buffy sleepily raised her head at her name. She found her Mom above her. Buffy smiled lazily up at her.
" Hi Mommy." She settled back into sleep.
Buffy felt arms around her waist; big strong arms. She sighed and snuggled into them.
At that moment, Buffy realized where she was. " Oh my God! Where is everyone? Where did my guests go?" she asked meekly. Joyce sighed. " They left hours ago, Buffy. You two were asleep when I got home. I just wanted to let you know that I'm going to bed now. Buffy, you should do the same." Joyce went upstairs.
She rolled to look at Angel. She traced his jawline softly. Softly, she pressed her lips to his. He woke up, responding to her kiss. " You have to leave," she murmered into his mouth. "Why," he murmered back, and started to kiss her again.
She looked at the clock. " Because it's almost Christmas...it's eleven- thiry." He glanced at it, then back at her. " So it is."
She handed his gifts to him as he pulled on his jacket. As he turned to leave through the door, Buffy grabbed him and kissed him hard. He returned it with equal fervor. "Angel..." Buffy breathed heavily. Throatily, he asked, " What is it?"
She took a deep breath. " Nothing." She couldn't tell him, not yet. She smiled. " It's nothing," she softly repeated at his retreating form. She hugged herself tightly, and turned to go inside.
AN: Hey all! Yeah, yeah, I know it's not Christmas. So sue me! - But not really, cause, that would be bad. :)
I wrote an x-tra long chapter this time, to sort of make up for my absence these past weeks! So I hope you forgive me.
Please keep reviewing - I love reviews so much!
Buffy ran into the kitchen. "Oh my god!" she exclaimed, reaching into the oven. Dawn appeared at the door.
" What's wrong?" she asked sarcastically. " Burn your Christmas ham?"
Buffy turned to her, shaking her oven mitt at her pest of a sister. " No! My chocolate chip cookies. And now I don't have any - cookies - and now, I have to make the peanut butter ones, and what if - what if someones' allergic to the peanuts, and - " Buffy was wide-eyed, thinking of the tragic possible situations. " And what if - " Dawn broke in.
" Buffy. It's okay. No one will care what kind of cookies you make, believe me. And you've already transformed the house into Santas' " - at Buffys' glare, she changed her words - " a holiday wonderland?" she asked hopefully. Buffy nodded, satisfied. Willow would be on her in a minute if she said otherwise. Dawn continued. " So don't stress."
Buffy looked into the living room from the kitchen. It was true, she mused. The tree was around eight feet tall, and decorated the whole nine yards. What does that mean? she wondered. The whole nine yards. Now it's gonna bug me all day. Sigh. The lights were up and everywhere; the doors, the windows, the staircase, and outside it got even worse - lights galore. There were stockings and candy, and Buffy even had one of those little aprons that was all Christmasy. There was even a few Hannukah deocrations around for Willows' sake. The presents were all wrapped neatly and were under the tree. Except for one. Angels' was still upstairs in her bedroom. Wordlessly she handed her apron to Dawn.
" I have to get something upstairs really fast. Will you be okay?"
Dawn rolled her eyes. " Yes, the twelve year old will be alright in her locked house on Christmas Eve. Go! Get dressed now, even. I'll manage. The guys aren't even coming for another - " she looked at her watch, " forty - five minutes anyway." Buffy smiled gratefully at her little sister, and ran upstairs.
*****
Angel fingered Buffys' gift one last time, then slipped it back into its box. He had been going to wrap it, but had decided against it, as the box was quite ornate itself - bejeweled with sapphires' and diamonds, and inlayed with gold. Heck, even the actual gift was enough. He was really hoping she liked it.
Spike tapped him on the shoulder, and Angel started. When Spike saw the box, he whistled. " Wow. It's the Box. Haven't seen that thing forever. Why'd you get it out now, mate?" Realization came over him at that moment. " Wait a second - you're giving it to her, aren't you. To Buffy?" He was incredulous. " The things' been in your family, what, generations upon generations now?" Angel turned to Spike, unamused. He returned evenly, " Yes. It's very special. Buffy is special to me too. In fact," he said with a look, "She's more precious to me than this gift ever will be - worth more than the diamonds and the sapphires and the gold, and even what's inside. And that is exactly why I am giving this to her." He turned back around.
Spike held up his hands in surrender. " Alright, mate. Don't get your panties in a bunch, now." Angel glared at him and Spike almost fell over in his laughter. Teasing the bloke was just too easy, thought Spike. But most of the time 'easy' was enough. He continued when his laughter subsided. " But seriously. I was just asking, tha's all. Wondering why it was out after so many years. You finish getting ready now," he said as he started to leave. " Gotta match the gift and all." Then he was gone, chuckling all the way to his room.
Angel finished getting ready, rummaged through the pile of silk shirts on his bed, and finally found his car keys. With that, he yelled out to the living room where his aunt was that he was leaving, and climbed into his Plymouth.
*****
"Xander!"
Willow yelled up the stairs of her best friends' house. His relatives had almost started their drinking games, and she didn't want to stick around for that. Last year his Uncle Roary had called her "sweetheart" as he made his way to the bathroom to throw up. Not fun. She called again.
"Xander!"
Xander was upstairs, frantically trying to finish wrapping his last gift. He breathed a sigh of relief at its finish. Yes! Done, he thought. He did a double take. Okay, so the wrapping wasn't the greatest, but... what the heck. It was him, after all. What else would they expect from a Xander? He called down to Willow.
"I'm coming, Will!"
He grabbed his paper bag of gifts and ran downstairs. He peeked into the living room and grimaced. The drinking games had begun. No wonder Will wanted to get out of there. Will had been tapping her foot impatiently, wearing a bright and cheery red sweater with a Christmas tree on it. Xander looked at it quizzically. Willow looked down, then sighed. " Look, I'm just trying to ya know, fit in with the decor at Buffys. And... it's the spirit, right?" Xander looked at her doubtfully. Willow broke. " All right, I'm rebelling against my very - Jewish parents. This is me, going against
them. Okay?" Xander pulled her out the door, replying,
" Better hop off the outlaw train Will, or you'll land yourself in jail."
They climbed into Ozs' van, which had been waiting. Today it was red with green polka dots. Xander figured it to be the Christmas spirit. Cordelia and the owner were waiting inside. Cordelia pulled him down next to her. " Took you long enough," she muttered. Xander became sickeningly sweet. " Oh, I'm sorry sweetie. I was busy wrapping your Christmas present. But if you like, I'll gladly turn back time, not go broke buying it, and have been in the van early. Is that all right, sugarlips?"
Cordelia punched in the arm and hissed, " Shut-up!"
Xander just chuckled.
*****
Angel was the first to arrive. As he rang the doorbell, he felt that Buffys' gift was still in his pocket. It was.
The door opened, with a pleasant Joyce behind it. " Hello Angel," she said. She looked at his attire for the evening.
" You got dressed up quite a bit didn't you?" He smiled. " As Spike would say, gotta match the gift." Joyce smiled back, impressed. " Well, I have to go out and grab some last minute presents for Buffy and Dawnie. I'll be back in a few hours. Have a good time!"
Angel stepped into the house. He immediately was greeted by an excited Dawn in her pajamas. " Hey Angel! Do you want to go up and surprise Buffy?" Angel bent down to her eye level. " No, actually. I have something in my car to deliver to a certain young lady first. You might know her. Goes by the name of Dawn Summers?"
Dawn squealed and ran out to his car. Laughing, Angel followed.
At that moment, Buffy descended the stairs. Dressed in a blood red velvet halter dress, she was stunning. Her blonde hair was upswept and curled around her face, and she wore no jewelry save for her gold bracelets. Her eyes were smoky and her lips stained red, and she beamed at the thought of Angel.
Angel and Dawn came into the house. As soon as Angel looked up, he was caught; trapped inside Buffys' gaze. She herself was trapped in his eyes' too. He is so gorgeous, she thought. His chocolate brown eyes entranced her: he wore a shirt that almost matched her dress perfectly, and tight black leather pants. Yum, she thought distantly. The couple was shook out of their reviere by Dawns' loud, obvious cough. Buffy smiled apolegetically at her sister, and she heard a car pull up in the drive way. " Dawnie, I think Xanders' here," she said with a grin. Dawn had the sweetest crush on Buffy's best friend. Even though he was dating Cordelia, Dawn didn't seem to mind "flirting" with him. Buffy supposed she thought she could steal him away from Queen C.
Dawn let out another squeal and ran outside to meet the arriving guests. Angel took Buffy by the hand and gently tugged her. She smiled at him... her Angel, her perfect, normal boyfriend who was the best thing that had ever happened to her; she was sure of that. Angel was having similar thoughts.
At that moment, the gang came inside. Dawn skipped in, almost dropping the load of presents in her arms. Buffy shot up an eyebrow at Willow. Willow broke ( for the second time that night.) " Okay, Buffy, I know I may have went a little overboard on the gifts, but..." she looked at Buffy and sighed in defeat. " All right, I definitely went overboard with the gifts..." she noticed Buffys' amused stare at her sweater. Willow crossed her arms over herself and said defensively,
" I'm rebelling here. Xander, help me out here." Xander nodded in return. Buffy sighed and led them into the living room.
Everyone was in awe as they stepped into the warmth of the fireplace. Buffy hadn't really wanted it, saying that it wasn't nearly cold enough outside for a fire, but her mother had insisted. And, as it had always seemed, her mother turned out right - it was a very nice touch. Everyone arranged themselves on the furniture: Dawn on the floor in front of the fire, Willow, Oz and Xander on the couch, Cordelia in the chair, and Buffy and Angel on the love seat. As they settled in, Buffy started to get up to get her friends' drinks, but Angel had pulled her back down into his lap. " Sweetheart, no one needs a drink - " he shot Cordelia a look, who had been about to protest his comment, - "Just be comfortable, all right? You've worked so hard for this night already... it's perfect." He pressed his lips to hers, and her body relaxed almost immediately. Dawn got up impatiently on the floor and asked, " When can I - I mean, we - open gifts?" Buffy broke her kiss and replied, " Dawnie, you know you can't open any of your presents until Christmas morning. She wants to take pictures, remember?" Dawn grumbled but sat down. Willow glanced at the clock, then jumped as if stricken. " Oh!" Xander looked at the clock, gasped, and began scrambling for the remote. Buffy looked confused; then she looked angry when Xander almost knocked over a vase. Willow finally found the remote on the side of the couch and tossed it to Xander. He breathed a sigh of relief as he found the right channel and sank back into the couch.
"A Charlie Brown Christmas?"
Cordelia looked perturbed. " You almost destroy Buffys' house for a Charlie Brown Christmas?" She whacked Xander on the back of his head. He cringed and rubbed it. " Cor..." She whacked him again. " My present had better be positively great, or no closets for a week!" Xander had a look of horror in his eyes that was hilarious to the women-folk in the room. The girls snickered. Xander muttered something unintelligible.
*****
A few hours later...
Dawn had fallen asleep during A Charlie Brown Christmas. Angel had carried her upstairs to her room. When he returned, the group decided to begin their gift-exchange.
Xander went first, then Willow; then Oz and Cordelia. All the couple gifts were very sweet and thoughtful, even Xanders' - he had given Cordelia a beautiful pair of silver earrings. She had forgiven him, nonetheless.
Buffy went next. Willow gasped as she opened Buffys' gift. " Buffy! This is... wow." She held up the blouse Buffy had given her. " But isn't it a little... short?" The blouse was tied at the waist, midriff-baring. Buffy waggled her finger at her best friend. " No Will, it's perfect. You are so wearing that in the spring!"
Oz opened his gift, and replied in usual Oz - fashion: " Dictionary. Cool." Buffy shrugged. " I thought that when you do say something, you'll have more words to say."
Xander laughed at Buffys' gift to him. " Buffy, this is great. How did you know I wanted to learn to date?" Cordelia whacked him over the head again. " I think she was looking more at the 'For Dummies' part of the title. Though on second thought, that might come in useful. You should learn how to date properly. God knows you haven't learned in all of your sixteen years."
Cordelia beamed at her gift: a pair of plush red dice for her car, with "Queen" embroidered on them.
Finally, Angel opened his gift from Buffy. It was a long black leather duster, and Angel gasped when he saw it. " Buffy, how did you buy this? It must have cost you - " Buffy shushed him, putting a finger to his lips. " It doesn't matter. It's for you." Angel quickly took the box out of his pocket. "Oh my God, is he proposing to her?" Xander yelped. Yet again Cordelia whacked him on the head, and Willow shushed him.
Buffy was in awe as she traced the boxs' ornate cover. She breathed in sharply as she looked up at Angel.
" How did you...?"
Angel smiled and said, " Just open it. I'll answer your questions' afterwards."
Buffy drew open the cover slowly. Inside she found an ornate silver cross necklace. She fingered it softly. Suddenly, she leaped around and began kissing Angel passionately on the mouth. He was by no means refusing; he was rather enjoying it. The females' 'aawed' at the sweet couple. Xander began to fake-gag. Oz just sat there.
Finally they broke the kiss. Angel leaned his chin on Buffys' forehead, and she sighed. Buffy straightened and asked her question. " Angel, it's absolutely beautiful... but where did you ever find it? It looks antique."
" It was," he responded. " It's a family heirloom. It's been on my mothers' side for generations. Since they lived in the hills of Ireland, during the seventeen hundreds' I believe. I wanted you to have it Buffy, because I care about you so much. I wanted you to know." Buffy was speechless with joy, but it hadn't escaped her that he had said ' cared about ' instead of ' loved '... but nonetheless. She kissed him again. This time they didn't break apart for a long while.
*****
"Buffy."
Buffy sleepily raised her head at her name. She found her Mom above her. Buffy smiled lazily up at her.
" Hi Mommy." She settled back into sleep.
Buffy felt arms around her waist; big strong arms. She sighed and snuggled into them.
At that moment, Buffy realized where she was. " Oh my God! Where is everyone? Where did my guests go?" she asked meekly. Joyce sighed. " They left hours ago, Buffy. You two were asleep when I got home. I just wanted to let you know that I'm going to bed now. Buffy, you should do the same." Joyce went upstairs.
She rolled to look at Angel. She traced his jawline softly. Softly, she pressed her lips to his. He woke up, responding to her kiss. " You have to leave," she murmered into his mouth. "Why," he murmered back, and started to kiss her again.
She looked at the clock. " Because it's almost Christmas...it's eleven- thiry." He glanced at it, then back at her. " So it is."
She handed his gifts to him as he pulled on his jacket. As he turned to leave through the door, Buffy grabbed him and kissed him hard. He returned it with equal fervor. "Angel..." Buffy breathed heavily. Throatily, he asked, " What is it?"
She took a deep breath. " Nothing." She couldn't tell him, not yet. She smiled. " It's nothing," she softly repeated at his retreating form. She hugged herself tightly, and turned to go inside.