DISCLAIMER: I only own Hopie, Anni, the Bunny, and ideas and characters not
associated with BtVS and AtS. All others are property of Joss Whedon, et
al.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I'm sitting in the airport with my laptop, and my plane will be loading in a little bit, so this chapter is approximately as long as I can write sitting here. Thanks to everyone who reviewed, and because you asked for it, here's the Christmas Eve fluffiness with just the Angel family. The next update will be Christmas day with everyone and their dog, I promise. Please review. Consider it a Christmas gift to me.
WARNING: very very fluffy chapter
A Very Hopie Christmas: Chapter Five
It was a very cozy scene. Hopie was sitting on Angel's lap, drinking a cup of hot chocolate with eight marshmallows in it. Cordelia had collapsed on the sofa after a whirlwind of gift wrapping frenzy. Connor was trying very hard not to stare, entranced, at their Christmas tree. He wasn't succeeding. Hopie wriggled a bit, coming dangerously close to spilling hot chocolate on Angel. Angel just smiled and pulled the little girl closer, feeling the tug of love he always felt when he looked at the tiny child he considered his own. The bunny was sitting comfortably in his cage in the corner, feasting on vegetables, as his cage had been lauded with green munchies and carrots by every member of Hopie's immediate family. "Hey Momma," Hopie said suddenly. "What are you going to name the bunny?" Cordelia thought for a moment, realizing that she needed just the right name for that very special bunny who had saved her life. "Leo," Cordelia said finally. Connor looked up. "Like from Charmed?" he asked. Cordelia gave him a strange look. "You watch Charmed?" "No comment," Connor replied. "Connor and me watch Charmed," Hopie said happily. Cordelia shot Connor a chastising look. "Don't you think she's a little young for that?" she asked him. Connor shrugged. "She's not too old for evil elves and demons," he pointed out. "Good point," Cordelia conceded. Hopie got off of Angel's lap, handed him the hot chocolate and went to sit next to the bunny's cage. "Hi, Leo Bunny," she said. The bunny looked at her with his purple eyes and twitched his little bunny nose. Hopie sighed happily, the kind of little kid sigh that takes up the whole room and turns easily into a giggle. "Daddy, come say hi to Leo Bunny," Hopie instructed. She looked up to see Angel looking very guilty. "Did you steal one of my marshmallows?" she asked. "No," Angel replied, swallowing the marshmallow. Cordelia muffled a laugh. Angel got down on his hands and knees and looked at the bunny. The bunny batted his eyes at Angel. Hopie batted her eyes at Angel. Angel sighed. "What do you two want?" he asked. "Leo doesn't like the cage," Hopie pouted, sticking her lower lip out slightly and giving her daddy puppy-dog eyes. The bunny twitched his nose sadly. "Cordy?" Angel asked, not willing to field this request because he knew quite well that he would give in after precisely three more eye bats. "Sure," Cordelia said. "Why not? It's Christmas Eve, after all." Angel carefully lifted Leo out of his cage and set him on the floor.
"Christmas Eve! Christmas Eve!" Hopie started bouncing around the room happily, singing her joyous little song, making up the lyrics as she went along. "It's Christmas Eve. We have a tree and it's preeeetttttttyyyyyyy." Angel and Cordelia shared a knowing smile at their daughter's antics. Leo hopped behind the little girl, following her, and Cordy could have sworn that the bunny was hopping in time to Hopie's music. Hopie finally landed in front of her brother. "Watcha doing?" she asked Connor, who was staring, mesmerized at the tree. He shook his head. "Nothing," he replied, but he couldn't keep the soft smile from his eyes. "The tree is pretty, huh?" Hopie said. Connor agreed that yes, the tree was indeed pretty. Hopie frowned for a moment. "It needs something," she said. Instantly, she was hopping off, the bunny in her wake. When she came running back, she was holding several small knives, a few arrows, and a handful of stakes. "No running with the stakes," Angel and Cordelia both said automatically. Hopie slowed down and set down the weapons, picking them up one at a time and fixing them firmly into the Christmas tree amongst the more traditional decorations: a stake next to the reindeer ornament, knife right next to Santa Claus, and arrows woven into the popcorn and cranberry chains. She sat back, observing her work critically. "Now it's beautiful," she said. "See how the knife shines? Isn't it pretty, Connor?" she asked. Connor nodded and picked up the little girl, sitting her in his lap. "Yes," he said. "The tree is very pretty." Hopie snuggled down into Connor, and Leo the bunny hopped into Hopie's lap. Soon the little girl, worn out from the day's trials and her excitement at the prospect of Santa coming, fell soundly asleep in Connor's lap. Leo drifted off, Hopie's arm wrapped carefully around the bunny in a soft hug. Angel smiled at the image before him: his son, looking contented, holding his sleeping daughter, who was in turn holding a sleeping bunny. They made a gorgeous picture in front of the Christmas tree, the tender expression on Connor's face reminding Angel that they were finally a family, that his son was a doting older brother. He looked at his daughter's mother. Cordy looked no worse for the wear after the trying experiences of the day. She, too, was looking at the children. Angel came and sat next to her on the couch, and Cordelia climbed onto his lap. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer to him. Their noses a mere centimeter apart, they stared at each other quietly. "I love you," Angel said softly. "I love you too," she replied, sinking into the wonderful feeling as she pressed a gentle kiss to his lips. "We are so blessed," Angel commented, realizing the irony of that statement: for so long, he had been cursed. The two kissed again, and Cordelia settled comfortably into Angel's arms, laying her head on his chest. The two sat there, feeling the warmth of their bodies and the warmth of the fire in the fireplace as they watched Connor fall slowly asleep, with Hopie curled up on his stomach, the bunny still in her arms. When the clock struck midnight, Angel looked at Cordelia. "Merry Christmas, love," he said. "Merry Christmas," she mumbled sleepily, settling back into her Angel- pillow. Contented, Angel fell into a deep sleep, holding the woman that he loved in his arms. The lights on the tree shined brightly, reflected at wonderful angles by the blades Hopie had inserted in the tree. None of the four of them awoke as a certain bearded, jolly gentleman crept silently down the chimney. Seeing the tree, he chuckled, carefully removing a stake for himself. Some kids left him cookies; Hopie Chase Angel had left him a stake. Since it was dark outside, he figured that having the stake wouldn't be a bad idea, even though most vampires tended to give him a wide berth as he was delivering presents. He filled their stockings one by one: Angel, Cordelia, Connor, and Hopie. Finally, he pulled a tiny Christmas stocking out of his bag and filled it as well, hanging the Leo stocking next to the others. As he went to exit, he paused, hating to leave the picturesque scene. They were such a beautiful family. "Santa?" Hopie questioned, waking up. Santa pressed his finger to his lips, indicating her sleeping family. Hopie nodded seriously. "Thank you," she whispered before falling back asleep, "for everything." Then Santa rode off out of sighting, wishing a Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.
TBC. yeah, I know that was fluffiness to the extreme, but I had to do something for all of those Cordy-Angel lovers out there. The next chapter will be funnier, and I promise Lindsey, Faith, Anni, Willow, Wes, Buffy, Spike, Dawn, Xander, Anya, Gunn, Fred, Lorne and the rest of the gang will all get some screen time!
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I'm sitting in the airport with my laptop, and my plane will be loading in a little bit, so this chapter is approximately as long as I can write sitting here. Thanks to everyone who reviewed, and because you asked for it, here's the Christmas Eve fluffiness with just the Angel family. The next update will be Christmas day with everyone and their dog, I promise. Please review. Consider it a Christmas gift to me.
WARNING: very very fluffy chapter
A Very Hopie Christmas: Chapter Five
It was a very cozy scene. Hopie was sitting on Angel's lap, drinking a cup of hot chocolate with eight marshmallows in it. Cordelia had collapsed on the sofa after a whirlwind of gift wrapping frenzy. Connor was trying very hard not to stare, entranced, at their Christmas tree. He wasn't succeeding. Hopie wriggled a bit, coming dangerously close to spilling hot chocolate on Angel. Angel just smiled and pulled the little girl closer, feeling the tug of love he always felt when he looked at the tiny child he considered his own. The bunny was sitting comfortably in his cage in the corner, feasting on vegetables, as his cage had been lauded with green munchies and carrots by every member of Hopie's immediate family. "Hey Momma," Hopie said suddenly. "What are you going to name the bunny?" Cordelia thought for a moment, realizing that she needed just the right name for that very special bunny who had saved her life. "Leo," Cordelia said finally. Connor looked up. "Like from Charmed?" he asked. Cordelia gave him a strange look. "You watch Charmed?" "No comment," Connor replied. "Connor and me watch Charmed," Hopie said happily. Cordelia shot Connor a chastising look. "Don't you think she's a little young for that?" she asked him. Connor shrugged. "She's not too old for evil elves and demons," he pointed out. "Good point," Cordelia conceded. Hopie got off of Angel's lap, handed him the hot chocolate and went to sit next to the bunny's cage. "Hi, Leo Bunny," she said. The bunny looked at her with his purple eyes and twitched his little bunny nose. Hopie sighed happily, the kind of little kid sigh that takes up the whole room and turns easily into a giggle. "Daddy, come say hi to Leo Bunny," Hopie instructed. She looked up to see Angel looking very guilty. "Did you steal one of my marshmallows?" she asked. "No," Angel replied, swallowing the marshmallow. Cordelia muffled a laugh. Angel got down on his hands and knees and looked at the bunny. The bunny batted his eyes at Angel. Hopie batted her eyes at Angel. Angel sighed. "What do you two want?" he asked. "Leo doesn't like the cage," Hopie pouted, sticking her lower lip out slightly and giving her daddy puppy-dog eyes. The bunny twitched his nose sadly. "Cordy?" Angel asked, not willing to field this request because he knew quite well that he would give in after precisely three more eye bats. "Sure," Cordelia said. "Why not? It's Christmas Eve, after all." Angel carefully lifted Leo out of his cage and set him on the floor.
"Christmas Eve! Christmas Eve!" Hopie started bouncing around the room happily, singing her joyous little song, making up the lyrics as she went along. "It's Christmas Eve. We have a tree and it's preeeetttttttyyyyyyy." Angel and Cordelia shared a knowing smile at their daughter's antics. Leo hopped behind the little girl, following her, and Cordy could have sworn that the bunny was hopping in time to Hopie's music. Hopie finally landed in front of her brother. "Watcha doing?" she asked Connor, who was staring, mesmerized at the tree. He shook his head. "Nothing," he replied, but he couldn't keep the soft smile from his eyes. "The tree is pretty, huh?" Hopie said. Connor agreed that yes, the tree was indeed pretty. Hopie frowned for a moment. "It needs something," she said. Instantly, she was hopping off, the bunny in her wake. When she came running back, she was holding several small knives, a few arrows, and a handful of stakes. "No running with the stakes," Angel and Cordelia both said automatically. Hopie slowed down and set down the weapons, picking them up one at a time and fixing them firmly into the Christmas tree amongst the more traditional decorations: a stake next to the reindeer ornament, knife right next to Santa Claus, and arrows woven into the popcorn and cranberry chains. She sat back, observing her work critically. "Now it's beautiful," she said. "See how the knife shines? Isn't it pretty, Connor?" she asked. Connor nodded and picked up the little girl, sitting her in his lap. "Yes," he said. "The tree is very pretty." Hopie snuggled down into Connor, and Leo the bunny hopped into Hopie's lap. Soon the little girl, worn out from the day's trials and her excitement at the prospect of Santa coming, fell soundly asleep in Connor's lap. Leo drifted off, Hopie's arm wrapped carefully around the bunny in a soft hug. Angel smiled at the image before him: his son, looking contented, holding his sleeping daughter, who was in turn holding a sleeping bunny. They made a gorgeous picture in front of the Christmas tree, the tender expression on Connor's face reminding Angel that they were finally a family, that his son was a doting older brother. He looked at his daughter's mother. Cordy looked no worse for the wear after the trying experiences of the day. She, too, was looking at the children. Angel came and sat next to her on the couch, and Cordelia climbed onto his lap. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer to him. Their noses a mere centimeter apart, they stared at each other quietly. "I love you," Angel said softly. "I love you too," she replied, sinking into the wonderful feeling as she pressed a gentle kiss to his lips. "We are so blessed," Angel commented, realizing the irony of that statement: for so long, he had been cursed. The two kissed again, and Cordelia settled comfortably into Angel's arms, laying her head on his chest. The two sat there, feeling the warmth of their bodies and the warmth of the fire in the fireplace as they watched Connor fall slowly asleep, with Hopie curled up on his stomach, the bunny still in her arms. When the clock struck midnight, Angel looked at Cordelia. "Merry Christmas, love," he said. "Merry Christmas," she mumbled sleepily, settling back into her Angel- pillow. Contented, Angel fell into a deep sleep, holding the woman that he loved in his arms. The lights on the tree shined brightly, reflected at wonderful angles by the blades Hopie had inserted in the tree. None of the four of them awoke as a certain bearded, jolly gentleman crept silently down the chimney. Seeing the tree, he chuckled, carefully removing a stake for himself. Some kids left him cookies; Hopie Chase Angel had left him a stake. Since it was dark outside, he figured that having the stake wouldn't be a bad idea, even though most vampires tended to give him a wide berth as he was delivering presents. He filled their stockings one by one: Angel, Cordelia, Connor, and Hopie. Finally, he pulled a tiny Christmas stocking out of his bag and filled it as well, hanging the Leo stocking next to the others. As he went to exit, he paused, hating to leave the picturesque scene. They were such a beautiful family. "Santa?" Hopie questioned, waking up. Santa pressed his finger to his lips, indicating her sleeping family. Hopie nodded seriously. "Thank you," she whispered before falling back asleep, "for everything." Then Santa rode off out of sighting, wishing a Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.
TBC. yeah, I know that was fluffiness to the extreme, but I had to do something for all of those Cordy-Angel lovers out there. The next chapter will be funnier, and I promise Lindsey, Faith, Anni, Willow, Wes, Buffy, Spike, Dawn, Xander, Anya, Gunn, Fred, Lorne and the rest of the gang will all get some screen time!