The couples sat about Gile's new apartment as he filled them in.  "It appears that Santa Claus has decided to reek havoc on Sunnydale this year.  I had stopped by the grocery store to pick up more cranberries for our meal tomorrow, when I heard a rather odd noise coming from the alleyway.  When I went to inspect it, I saw him.  All dressed up in the red suit as you would expect and even wearing a hat.  He was hunched over two small bodies that seemed to be mutilated just as the ones we've been finding recently.  His face was ghastly when he turned to me, eyes all white as though he were possessed.  The bodies that have been materializing as of late must have been connected to him."

            "Ho, ho ,ho," Xander added blandly.                                                        

            "See, no one believes me.  Did I not tell you he was a demon?" Anya demanded.

            "So what do we do?  We have no clue where to find him, and even if we did, how do we kill him?" Buffy questioned.

            "Children." Anya began.  "He eats children."

            "Oh, one of those kind is he?" Spike questioned.  "You know, I always shrugged this particular myth off and now I know why.  Disturbing isn't it?"

            "Wait a minute Anya, you mean it eats kids?" Buffy asked.

            "That would explain the dead children that have been appearing throughout town," Giles added.

            "He tortures them too," she stated. 

"Santa Claus is a baby eater.  Who would of thought?" Xander asked.

"I'm so happy!" Anya smiled.  All heads turned to her.  "What?  Not about the evil Santa, but the fact that I finally knew something you didn't!  You all always get to figure things out first or kill the bad guy why I get stuck standing in the background looking pretty."

            Buffy shook her head in disbelief, "So where do you think he'll go?  Why is he here?"

            "Probably got the munchies," Xander said.

            "But why Sunnydale?  He knows I'm here.  The whole demon world knows that Dawn and I are slayers and that we protect the Hellmouth.  Everyone knows Spike's switched sides and that the gang is always on alert.  Why mess with us?"

            "Maybe he's been out of the loop, Pet.  He seems somewhat reclusive." Her husband offered.

            "Or maybe he knows you're here and that you have children of your own.  Nothing tastier than slayer/vampire kids I bet," said Anya.  All eyes in the room widened.

            "The kids!"  Buffy yelled.

            "Nicky's over there too!  Let's go!" Xander barked as they all jumped to their feet and raced for the coat rack. 

            "I figured something out again didn't I?" Anya beamed.  With that, the Scoobies piled into Buffy and Spike's old jeep and sped off to Revello Drive.

            Less than five minutes later Buffy burst through the door.  "Dawn!" she yelled.  "Dawn, you here?"

            "Shh," the girl whispered from the couch.   "I just got Joyce back to sleep.  She said she was hearing things on the roof.  I told her it was probably reindeer."

            "God Lord Almighty I hope not!" Xander exclaimed.  Spike was already racing up the stairs to check on the children as Buffy looked out the window. 

            "Giles, call Willow again.  Have her come over as soon as she can," she said wide-eyed.

            "Whatever for, Buffy?" the older man asked.

            "Because I think we may need backup," she stated as she drew the curtain back.  Small human shaped creatures were marching up her sidewalk, all gray and wrinkled with glowing yellow eyes.  "Looks like Santa's elves have decided to make a little visit."

TBC