DISCLAIMER: I only own Hopie and Anni; everyone else belongs to ME and Joss Whedon et al.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Chem and film finals tomorrow!!! GRRRRR. ARRRRRG. I am one stressing gidgetgirl, so another short update as a study break. Please review because it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy, and with the worst finals schedule ever obtained by a freshman here, I could use it.
A Very Hopie Christmas: Chapter Three
Hopie eyed the puppies with a speculative look in her eye, and Angel held his non-existent breath. There was no way Cordy would ever forgive him if he let Hopie come home with a puppy, especially if Hopie was calling it a Christmas present for her momma.
Hopie looked at Angel with remarkably puppy like eyes. "I would like a puppy," she said. "But all of these puppies are too small and fuzzy. I need a big puppy. 'Sides, this is for Momma, and Momma doesn't need a puppy. She has you and Connor."
Angel didn't know quite what to make of that statement.
Hopie wandered around the rest of the pet store until she came to a cage with tiny baby bunnies in it.
She pointed at one of them. "See him? That's Momma's bunny. Momma needs that bunny." The bunny she was pointing too was so small that he could fit easily in one of Angel's hands, the hands dwarfing the tiny furry creature to diminutive proportions.
Angel crouched down until he was Hopie's height. "Do you really think Momma wants a bunny rabbit for Christmas?" he asked.
Hopie shook her head, and Angel sighed with relief.
"But she needs one," Hopie replied firmly. "Momma needs this bunny. This is a special bunny." She pointed again to the perfectly white baby rabbit. Angel could have sworn the bunny was looking straight at Hopie. Angel sighed heavily. He wasn't in the mood for a Hopie tantrum, especially since the small girl had learned to "borrow" powers from outside sources. The last thing he needed was for Hopie to borrow some elf magic and blow up the store all because he wouldn't let her get Cordy the little helpless bunny that was staring up at him with purple eyes.
Angel thought for a moment. Since when did bunnies have purple eyes?
Connor was walking around the store fairly aimlessly. Cordelia was keeping her mouth firmly closed, as Connor had shot down most of her suggestions. Even she would have admitted that the tie idea wasn't stellar, but she thought Connor's "you want me to get him a leash?" response was a little abrasive.
Connor's eyes settled on something, and somehow, it felt right. "Cordelia," he said. "Come check this out."
Cordelia walked over and looked at the chess set Connor had indicated. She let out a low whistle. The kid had taste. The entire thing was hand carved out of polished wood, each piece made in stunning detail. She saw the way Connor was staring at the knight, and as she peered closer, she noticed the man sitting on top of the horse bore a striking resemblance to Angel.
"Well that's just kind of weird," she said. Connor thought it was perfect, even though he hadn't the vaguest concept of what chess actually was. When Cordelia informed him that it was a "boring game of strategy," he was elated. He couldn't take Angel down physically, but on the chess board, he stood a chance.
Cordy smiled as she pictured Angel and Connor playing chess together at night time. They would inevitably be insulting each other the entire time, hackles somewhat raised, but it was still a sweet picture, because she knew that they would both love it. She cherished the memories they had yet to make and helped Connor purchase the chess set.
The two of them left the store and walked toward the mall Santa. Cordelia peered closely at the line, but Angel and Hopie were nowhere in sight.
Connor stared at Santa in a very distrusting manner. "He doesn't really have a beard," he said loudly.
A little girl in line a couple of years older than Hopie looked at him suspiciously.
Cordelia poked Connor in the ribs, mentally hushing him.
"Well he doesn't," Connor said. "Why would someone want to dress up like that and…"
Cordelia cut him off. "Because he's Santa Claus," Cordy said loudly for the little girl's benefit. "Remember Connor, we talked about Santa Claus and how he was going to bring you and Hopie toys."
"Weapons," Connor corrected. Cordelia quickly ushered Connor away from the line, but not before she received a very strange look from one of the elves.
"Hopie," Angel said in a sweet voice, "be reasonable, baby. Where are we going to put a rabbit? What's going to happen when some demon comes along and eats it?"
"Pardon me?" an old lady walking by asked Angel.
Angel shrugged.
"Shame on you," the old lady said. "Lying to a child."
"No demon will eat this bunny," Hopie said firmly. "It's a special bunny and Momma needs it."
"Let's look at something else," Angel suggested, anxious to get her out of the pet store.
"No," Hopie stated simply. Angel narrowed his eyes at her. She stared him straight back. They both knew quite well who would win this fight, who always won fights between the two of them. Still, Angel had to try.
"Hope," he said, pulling the full first name card. "Let's go." Instead, Hopie carefully removed the bunny in question from the cage and held it up for Angel's inspection. Angel groaned. It was bad enough trying to stand off against Hopie eyes. Hopie holding that white baby bunny just pushed the cute-o-rimeter past capacity. Hopie batted her eyes at Angel. The bunny batted his eyes at Angel.
Angel sighed and bought the bunny. And a cage for the bunny. And food for the bunny. And more bunny appropriate things for the bunny.
Angel gave the bunny a dirty look.
"This is all your fault," he said. The bunny twitched his nose.
"Can you deliver him tomorrow?" Angel asked, not wanting to spoil the surprise. The pet store man nodded.
Hopie screwed up her forehead in thought. "Momma's gonna need the bunny a lot sooner than that," she said. "Momma needs the bunny now."
The elf saw Cordelia looking at him and stared at her, willing his way into her mind, knowing quite well that the way to the Shanshu child was through her mother.
TBC… yes, I know that this is completely random. One more savior bunny/evil elf filled chapter at the mall, and then Christmas day with the whole gang. Please review, I could use the pick me up.