A/N: Phew! Sorry this update has taken SO long, I just haven't had the will to sit down and actually right chapter 11, 12, 13. and so on. But, I sat down this weekend and MADE myself do it. Happy? And thank you, those of you who reviewed. I hug you now! The first song you'll see is 'The Girl All The Bad Guys Want' by Bowling For Soup.

Disclaimer: Not mine, never will be.. unfortunatley.

Note: I'm gonna speed this up a little and give it some Xmas-y smut. I know we all value that smuttiness!

Chapter 11: The Vamp Who Stole Christmas

The weeks went by quickly for Buffy and the gang. After Thanksgiving everyone vowed to stay in touch and meet back for the Holidays. Angel and Buffy had been training together, both regaining the lost strength that had dissolved over the years.

Faith had become quiet. She spoke only when told to, or asked. She never really looked at anything but the wall or floor and this worried Angel. He feared that she was becoming a bit catatonic. Once in a while he could hear her muttering something under her breath, things that were ubsurd or ridiculous.

Buffy was getting better but she had started recieving night tremors. She would wake up from a recurring nightmare. A nightmare that included her late mother.

One of Buffy's biggest issues that she was faced with was just that. The death of Joyce. Buffy had never known life without Joyce and the thought of it, just the thought, scared her to point of no return.

She refused to be left alone except when she was in the bathroom.

Angel tried to get her to open up and tell him about the dream, her fear, but she just pushed him away and told him she wasn't ready. So he didn't push the issue as much as he should and he knew that.

There was still no word from Xander except a phone call or two that lasted about ten minutes. He said that he and Anya had decided to get married in May and everyone was invited.

Buffy hoped she would get to see her nutty friend before May, but her doubts blinded her.

It was December 24. Christmas Eve. Although it was only two in the afternoon, Buffy and Angel had already started supper. Faith sat in a chair in the livingroom. Her hands weren't even tied or chained.

She seemed too lost in her own thoughts and dreams to bother with escape, and that didn't upset Buffy any.

Angel seemed to be against Christmas. He said that there was no point of it and he would rather just sit with his love by the fireplace and read a good book, but Buffy insisted on at least supper.

She pressured him into buying a tree but her wholeheartedly denied the most sickeningly beautiful puppy eyes he had ever seen.

"So... Angel?" Asked Buffy as she mixed the squash in a round bowl. He turned from his place at the oven, holding the turkey on a silver platter, and raised his eyebrows. "Hmm?"

She smiled. "The stores are all gonna close soon."

Angel eyed her warily. "And?"

"And the trees are gonna be all gone..."

"No."

"But Angel..." She whined pathetically. "Please? It's not Christmas without a tree!"

Angel sighed dejectedly. "Buffy, honey, it's Christmas Eve, all the stores close."

"Not McGregory's!"

He scoffed. "We're not driving forty-five minutes out of our way to get a tree."

Buffy took a few steps toward him and held out her left hand.

He looked at her like she was crazy. "What?" He asked suspiciously.

"Keys."

Angel chuckled and shook his head. "No way."

"Keys. Now." She said sternly.

The vampire just looked at his beauty incredulously. "No. I'm not giving you the keys to my car. It's--"

"-- It's not snowing." She finished with a smile. "Angel, maybe if we were in New York or something you could pull that one, but I'm not that thick. It's California. The roads are clear, there isn't any ice, and I can drive."

"Not very well."

Buffy managed to look a little hurt. "Angel! Keys!" She shouted.

Angel had to suppress a grin at the petite vixen shouting at him. "How about I drive?"

Buffy jumped up and down and then threw her arms around his neck. "I love you! I do, I do, I do! You're the bestest boyfriend a girl could ever have. And hey! You come with a pair of fangs and really good hearing! What a plus!"

Angel took her hand and led her to the livingroom. He stopped in front of Faith who sat staring blankly into the fire. "We're gonna go out for a while. We'll be back soon, okay?"

Faith just nodded, not even passing a glance. Angel and Buffy grabbed their coats and slipped them on, locking the door on the way out. Buffy frowned to herself.

"Angel, what's wrong with her? She hasn't said more than two words all week. She won't even look at us."

He opened the car door and helped Buffy in, then went to his side and got in, started up the engine. "I think she's loosing the sanity that she had left. Maybe we should take her out."

"Angel that's crazy! She'll go for the kill."

"You don't know that, Buffy. Maybe she just needs people, the holiday spirit."

Buffy laughed. "For someone who hates Christmas you sure seem to be in the 'holiday spirir'. Big ol' grinch."

The Slayer turned up the volume of the stereo. "I love this song!"

It's like a bad movie

She is lookin' groovey

If you were me then you'd be

Screamin' someone shoot me

As I fail miserabley

Tryin' to get the girl all the bad guys want

Buffy sang along with the stereo until Angel changed the station to some classical music. Buffy looked at him with wide eyes. "Barry Manilow? Wow, Angel."

He shrugged and continued to drive.

When the couple reached 'McGregory's', a small convienence store ouside Sunnydale, they spent twenty minutes looking for the perfect tree.

Angel would've been happy with stick that they ran over when they pulled in but Buffy was picky.

"How about this one?"

"No. The tops a little crooked."

"This one?"

"It looks like an overgrown Oscar the Grouch."

"Who?"

"Nevermind." There was silence until Buffy screamed. "This one! Angel I want this one!"

Buffy's hand was pointing at a large, full green tree with perfection all around. Angel paid for it and then Davis McGregory helped him load it on top of the car.

"Buffy, this is a 1967 Plymouth Belvedere GTX."

She looked at him funny. "So?"

He sighed. "If it scratches the car you're gonna have a very grumpy vampire on your hands."

Buffy kissed him and climbed into the car.

"---I have to eat it everyday and if you ask me why I sayyyy cause Oscar Meyer has a way with B-O-L-O-G-N-A!" Sang Buffy as she and Angel entered the mansion once again.

Angel was dragging the tree behind him and Buffy was carrying a stand. Once the tree was assembled Buffy brought in several bags. She began tearing open boxes of ornaments and lights and tossed some to Angel.

Faith was in the same position she was when the two left, Buffy noticed.

The blonde crawled over to Faith and kneeled before her. "Faith? Hey Faith?" The dark haired slayer snapped out of her reverie. "Hmm?"

Buffy glanced at the tree then grinned. "Wanna help decorate the tree?"

Faith's brow furrowed for a moment. She took a good look around the room and saw the tree and the numerous decorations. She smiled. "Sure, B."

The trio stared at their work in admiration. The tree glistened with silver, gold, green, and red lights. The decorations shimmered against the plastic and made the whole room glow. The fire was ablaze with a ferocity that could capture any eyes that past it.

Faith felt somewhat... cheery. Ha! Cheery? Faith? ... Yes.

Faith had started to open up. She opened up to the people she trusted least and felt better. "I'm gonna head up to bed."

Buffy smirked. "Ya gonna sleep in the bed tonight?"

"Know what B? I think I am." She turned and headed towards the staircase. She stopped mid-step and turned to face the couple. "Umm, Thanks. For everything. Both of you." She swallowed. "And Buffy? I'm..."

Buffy knew what Faith was going to say and she clenched her fists.

"I'm sorry. For everything. And I know you can't forgive me, Hell, I wouldn't forgive me either, but I just want to let you know that if it weren't for you and your lover here I dunno where I'd be. Kinda sappy right? Yeah, I know. After everything I did... I don't know how you do it, B. Wanna gimme a hint 'cause I'm dyin' to know. After everything that's happened to you... after everything you've seen you're still strong and I wanna be like that. I wanna be able to handle it all, to take care of the world, to find someone whose gonna hold me while I sleep and tell me everythings gonna be okay. But for now, I'm the one whose gonna tell me it's gonna be okay." She paused and smiled. "I'm gonna be okay."

And with that valuable speech, Faith walked up the stairs with her head held high and a smile on her a face. A smile that nobody had seen in years. A real smile. Tears threatened to fall but she refused to let them drop. She was gonna be okay. She was gonna live.

Buffy closed her eyes and felt one warm, salty tear trickle along her skin. She too was smiling. "Angel I think we've broken through that barrier. That wall she put up."

Angel wrapped an arm around Buffy's shoulders and pulled her into his lap on the couch. The fire was so warm and toasty, and the tree lit up like a rainbow, Buffy felt at home.

"I think we have. Buffy I'm proud of you too."

"For what?"

"Faith's right, ya know. You're the strongest person I've ever known in my two hundred and some years. You're the most beautiful person-- inside and out-- and I've never known anyone who could handle so much and not break. I want to change too. Like Faith."

Buffy had silent tears falling by now. "Everyone has a reason to change, Angel. What's yours?"

He stroked her cheek, catching the tears that shed. "You. You're my reason Buffy. My reason, my resolution, my redemption, my savior. You are my heart, my love. My happiness. My perfect happiness."

That night they became one. A whole peice of the puzzle that fit together perfectly. They molded into a picture that could capture a heart, a soul. They made love and reclaimed each other's hearts.

Angel was awoken by shivers running cooly down his spine. Wet, warm lips were pressed against his jugular, sucking and nibbling away. He smiled down at Buffy who was sprawled across him.

"Are you evil?" She asked softly.

Angel frowned in confusion. "N-no..." He squinted. "Why am I not evil?"

Buffy shook her head. "I don't want to know... Now get up."

Angel was still in a daze. Why wasn't he Angelus? Buffy was his perfect happiness! "Why?"

"Present time, silly!"

He decided not to question it anymore and slid on his boxers black silk pajama bottoms. Buffy wrapped herself in a robe she purchased the week before and grabbed his hand, pulling him downstairs.

Faith was in the livingroom on the couch, waiting for the two. As soon as she saw Buffy glowing she jumped up in a defensive position. "You screwed him?!"

Buffy nodded slowly. "WAIT! Faith he isn't evil. It's Angel."

Faith didn't want to believe it... but she did. "Right..."

Angel gulped and walked towards the tree. Suddenly the door sounded and a loud thud of knocking interrupted the morning.

The vampire stalked toward the two doors with both slayers behind him. "Who would come so early in the morning?"

Buffy shrugged.

Angel opened the door carefully, making sure to stay out of the light and a familiar face appeared.

"Merry Christmas!" Said the cheery voice grinning, entering the mansion.

"Cordelia?!?!" Gasped the trio all at once.

MWAHAHAH For those of you who were wondering where Cordy went, ... THERE SHE IS!! R&R!