Chapter Four



To the Future...





With a mug of hot chocolate warming his hands, Angel contentedly watched the city lights spread out below him. It had only been two short days, yet it felt like weeks had passed since he had last stood looking out the window from this same exact spot. There was still even a little bit of Christmas eve left to enjoy. But not much, it was nearly midnight.

He turned around to watch the others enjoying themselves. Buffy was sitting on the couch talking to Spike. Spike's face was aglow under Buffy's attention. Angel wondered if that was what he used to look like when he was with the blonde Slayer. He had not yet completely resigned himself to their relationship, but he had to admit that Spike was a better choice than Riley. Spike seemed to worship the ground Buffy walked on. She needed someone like that.

Brunette Faith was in one of the corners of the room, locked in quiet conversation with Robin. They had a long way to go, Angel reflected. He wished them luck. They needed it.

Scattered around the rest of the large room were the rest of the crew. Cordelia was happily chatting away with Giles, Wesley, Fred, Xander and Gunn. Lorne was wordlessly humming some Christmas carol, warming up to lead everyone in some Christmas cheer. Dawn and Connor were together, talking quietly. From the look on their faces, they could have been in the middle of Grand Central Station and still only have eyes for each other. Willow stood alone, a sad, thoughtful look on her face. If it hadn't been for her, there would have been no Christmas to celebrate, but she didn't have the look of triumph on her face.

Then Angel smiled.



Willow tensed for a moment as hands gently placed themselves on her shoulders. Without looking she knew that touch.

"Miss me?" Oz whispered into her ear.

Willow turned with a welcoming grin, "A little . . . So, how did you know I would be here?" she asked cutting her eyes to Angel.

Oz's eyes followed her glance. A wide, wise smile appeared. "You might say an Angel told me."

Angel turned away, hiding his widening grin as he whistled tunelessly under his breath.

"So," Oz said, "I heard you've been having a hard time."

Willow shrugged, "A little . . . "

"Wish I could have been there for you."

"That's all right," Willow said. She studied the mug of hot cider in her hands. "Uh, you know I'm gay . . . "

Oz nodded. Then kissed her.

Willow touched her lips. "Th. Tha . . . That's. That was nice," she stuttered.

"Let me try it again. See if I can do it a little better," Oz murmured, his voice a soft, throaty growl. He tipped Willow in his arms, kissing her deeply.

Willow sighed, wrapping her arms around Oz. "I think I'm going to have to rethink a few things. I think I need another kiss to help me think."

"Glad to," Oz said, kissing her again.





Dawn glanced over to where Willow and Oz stood. She grinned, watching them kiss. Connor's eyes follow Dawn's glance. "Looks like she's happy to see him," he commented.

"She does, doesn't she?" Dawn agreed. She pulled on Connor's sleeve. "I think I need a bit of fresh air."

"But . . . " Connor began. Giles had picked up a guitar and was starting to strum it. "Giles is going to sing," Connor said. "I heard he's great singer."

"We can hear just as good up on the rooftop," Dawn said, pulling Connor out of the room and toward the stairs to the roof.

It was so cold on the rooftop that Dawn's and Connor's breath misted in the air. The moon was high in the horizon, brilliantly lighting the rooftop. Millions of stars had appeared in the black sky, forming a blanket overhead that stunned even the most jaded.

Dawn tilted her head, looking teasingly at Connor through thick brown lashes. "I think you owe me dance," she said.

Connor bowed deeply with a broad grin. "Glad to oblige, m'lady," he said, taking her in his arms. They danced around the rooftop, listening to the music of their beating hearts.

Large fluffy snowflakes began to float around them. Dawn laughed in delight. Looking up into the falling flakes it felt like they were flying. "It's a miracle!" she exclaimed with delight. She spun around in circles, dancing lightly as if she could dance right up into the sky.

Connor clasped her to his chest. He looked down into her glowing eyes. "No," he whispered, "You're the miracle." He tipped her back, kissing her laughing lips.





Bells from nearby churches began to chime in the new day. The air seemed to be filled with heavenly music everywhere. Cordelia looked under the Christmas tree curiously. "There seems to be a lot more presents there than I remembered," she commented.

Buffy knelt down under the tree and pulled out some of the gifts. Reading the tags on them, she smiled. "They're from Santa Claus," she said in surprise. She began handing out the gifts. "Hey, Spike," she said, "There's even one for you."

"That comes from saving the world," Spike said. He shook the box. "Probably filled with coal."

Buffy found the present that Santa Claus had given her and Angel. "I think we can open this now," she said.

"What's on the card?" Cordelia asked.

"It says," Buffy said, reading the card, "Now that you have saved the day, here is a glimpse of your future."

"Weird," Cordelia said. "Open it!" she urged impatiently.

Buffy quickly ripped open the present, sending pieces of paper flying everywhere. Inside was a framed picture. The picture showed the Scoobies and Angel's gang together at Christmas time. Except for Spike and Angel, they all seemed to be a few years older. Standing with them were Gru, Joyce, Anya and Darla. In front of the adults were several teenagers.

"Odd picture," Spike commented, "I think Ol' Saint Nick is pulling our chains. Gru, I could swallow, but Joyce, Anya and Darla . . . Aren't they just a little dead?"

"You never know," Angel replied, thoughtfully taking the picture from Buffy's hands. "I'm always expecting Darla to show up again at any time. She's come back from the dead more than once already."

"But my mom and Anya," Buffy said doubtfully.

"Miracles do happen," Angel replied. He ran his fingers across the picture. "I wonder who these kids are?"

"Hmmm," Spike said, pointing to a blonde boy and a brunette girl, "These two look a bit like Connor and Dawn."

"Couldn't be . . . " Cordy said.

Willow took the picture from Angel. "These children are the beginning of a new generation of Champions," she said, seeing into future.



"What's that?" Dawn said, finally coming up for breath from her long kiss with Connor. "I hear bells. Sleigh bells."

"Sleigh bells?" Connor echoed.

Gunn came up on the roof, followed by the others, "What's that sound?" he asked.

"Sounds like sleigh bells," Fred said, pushing past Gunn.

"It's snowing," Giles said, removing his glasses and cleaning them.

"Impossible," Wesley said, "It doesn't snow in L.A."

Faith nudged Wesley in the ribs, "What do you call that cold white stuff, then?"

Wesley held out his hand, catching a few flakes. "Snow?"

Buffy walked across the rooftop in wonder. "Just like it did in Sunnydale. Remember, Angel?"

"I do," he said, looking thoughtfully at Dawn and Connor.

"Sleigh bells?" Lorne said. "Jingle bells, jingle bells," he broke into song.

Suddenly a strange shadow passed by the moon. It looked like a sleigh led by nine reindeer including one who had a glowing red nose.

"Ho, Ho, Ho," said a cheery deep voice, "Merry Christmas to all. And to all a good night."

Connor clasped Dawn's hand, placing in it a golden bell, "Merry Christmas," he said softly.





The End!

Oh and have a Merry Christmas!