"Ugh!" Dawn said in disgust, "How creepy is that?"
The small creatures stood no more than two feet tall, though their arms were nearly touching the ground. They had pointy ears and long claws that gleamed in the Christmas moonlight. They grunted as they approached the door. The door shook from their hard pounding as Buffy and the others tried their best to block the door with furniture. The banging continued for a few minutes before ceasing completely.
"Spike!" Buffy yelled. No answer. The gang stood as still as they could, breathing as quietly as possible, and listened for the slightest sound. Then up on the roof there arose such a clatter, they sprang up the stairs to see what was the matter. Away out the window they flew like a flash. They tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. When, what to their wondering eyes should appear, but Santa in his sleigh, and Spike… beating on what looked like reindeer.
The horned demons where were charging at the bleached blonde as he fought courageously against all eight of them. Buffy joined her husband's side as she yelled back to the others. "Dawn! You and Xander get back downstairs and take care of those elves! Giles and Anya stay with the children!" The gang departed and did as they were told. Giles sat beside the small girl on her bed and mumbled a small chant, successfully placing her in a deep sleep for her own protection. He soon did the same to the two small boys.
Dawn and Xander ran downstairs to find the window opened. A cold breeze blew the curtains and the branches on the lit pine. Dawn rushed over and closed the window as she and Xander put themselves on full alert for the small demons. They prowled slowly, searching for the creatures who were nowhere in sight. Suddenly, Xander felt something claw onto his back and he screamed. "Got it!" Dawn yelled as she approached him, but she too found an elf on her back. Throwing them to the floor, the two raced for the weapons chest and pulled out the largest swords they could find. They turned to find the living room floor covered in angry little demons.
Up on the rooftop reindeer paws blocked the two from Santa Claus. Spike had taken down two of the hoofed demons, and Buffy three. Now only three were left to block the creature with the evil smile in the Santa suit. The antlered demons were far uglier than any reindeer could possibly be, and had the largest set of fangs Buffy had ever seen. Spike gallantly jumped on the back of one as it began to buck wildly. He grabbed a hold of its neck and a sickening snap could be heard as the creature fell down quickly. Two to go. Now it was Buffy's turn. She back flipped off the chimney and behind on of the creatures, then charged at it, successfully knocking it off of the roof. It lay still on the ground below. Then together they ran full speed at the last and soon it too was sprawled dead on the grass.
Dawn and Xander fought fearlessly as they swung their blades side-to-side, mowing down the evil creatures before them. They had managed to destroy at least half of the small army and were still making way. Without warning, a brave elf latched on to Xander's hand and bit down hard, causing the man to drop his weapon. It took hold of the sword and ran at him, flailing it in the air and growling at the top of its lungs. However, it was quickly beheaded by Dawn. "Well that was anti-climatic," Xander teased as the brunette reached his side again.
"I thought it was a little pathetic myself," she agreed. "Points for spunk though." The last of the demons came running at the two, grouped close together.
"Up for a little elf bowling?' Xander asked as he grabbed Will's bike and sent it sailing at the crowd. All of the little men were knocked down and soon the new slayer and new watcher had dispatched of them with their swords.
Spike and Buffy stared down their enemy. With wink of his eye and a twist of his head, he soon gave them to know they had so much to dread.
"So, you the Claus?" Spike asked defiantly.
"In the flesh," the creature grinned, exposing pointy and crooked teeth.
"Well, I for one am disappointed," Buffy sighed as she told her husband, "his eyes just don't twinkle. His dimples aren't merry."
"And where's the belly that shakes like a bowl of jelly?" Spike mused. "I'm completely disenchanted. But I must say, I did laugh when I saw him, in spite of myself."
"Sorry to let you all down," he smirked. "Guess they embellished my features over the years."
"I'd say," Spike agreed. "So what is it you want fat man?"
The demon's face grew into a grin, "I just wanted to meet the famous Summers. I figured we'd get along quite well. Heard you had a set of twins too. Thought I might stop by for a snack."
"Ah," Spike answered. "Sorry mate, this isn't a buffet. And you can't honestly expect us to join hands and start a love train when you want to eat our children."
Santa sighed. "Oh, well. Thought it was worth a try," he shrugged. "I do have a present for you though. They're waiting downstairs for you."
"Oh, you mean the vertically challenged groupies of yours?" Buffy questioned. "We met. Can't say I was impressed. I'm sure they're all dead by now. My sister seemed to dislike them a bit, and she always gets rid of things she can't stand. It might be hard to get elf out of the carpet though. Honey, you'll probably have to bring down the steam cleaner from the attic again in the morning."
Santa didn't seem too amused. A low growl could be heard in the night air.
"Uh, oh," Buffy teased. "Seems I pissed off Chris Cringle. Guess I won't make the list this year."
"Well, he's already on mine," Spike glared at the demon before them. "Since when did cookies and milk stop being enough? Now you have to eat the little ones too? You know, you really should cut back. Try the Subway diet. If it worked for Jared…"
"Enough of your insolence!" Santa shouted. "Is this all some joke to you? Do you think I'm powerless?"
"I'm sure you're extremely intimidating to those foot stools downstairs, but I must say that a white beard and a fuzzy red suit doesn't exactly strike fear in my heart," Buffy taunted.
"Well then," Santa smirked as he began to grow twice his size, "maybe now it will."
TBC