AUTHOR'S NOTE Thanks to those of you who reviewed! One thing – I think in the show, the Bennett's Bed and Breakfast isn't actually attached to their house. In this story, the two buildings are attached, just fyi.
DISCLAIMER I don't own Harmony or Sunnydale's residents.
…
Luis dropped them off at the bed and breakfast before taking off again. Buffy, Willow, and Xander were met by a blonde woman, her voice tinged with a sharpness that had never really faded. "Can I help you?"
"Chief Bennett sent us here," Xander explained. "Said we could stay here for a few days?"
The woman brightened. "Sam sent you? Come in then!" She ushered them into the house. "I'm Ivy Winthrop. I don't really run this place, but if there's anything you need, don't hesitate to ask."
"Are there any other guests staying here?" Willow asked, her expression very serious.
Ivy looked taken aback by the question. "Uh, yes actually. Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler are here right now." She paused. "Well actually, I guess it's not Mr. Wheeler, it's Martin Fitzgerald."
"Are they in?" Willow interrupted.
Instantly suspicious of the witch, Ivy arched her eyebrows and replied, "No. They're over skating at the park with Paloma as far as I know."
Willow only nodded and wandered toward the stairs. Ivy led Buffy and Xander up the stairs to two adjoining rooms. "You can have these two rooms for the time being. I assume the two girls can share?"
Buffy and Willow nodded, although Willow wasn't paying much attention. She was busy gazing around the house in a daze. Ivy pulled Buffy aside. "Is your friend okay?"
"Oh yeah," Buffy replied. "She gets like this sometimes, but she's fine."
Ivy glanced doubtfully at Willow before nodding and returning to the main level of the house. Buffy pulled Willow and Xander into the girls' bedroom. "Okay Will, what's going on?"
"This is it, Buffy. This is the house," Willow answered.
"Wait," Xander said. "This is the place you sensed? This is the place we've been looking for?"
Willow looked unsure when she nodded. "Although, it doesn't feel right. The energy I sensed isn't…here anymore. Or at least, it doesn't live here."
"You think it might be one of the Wheelers that Ivy mentioned?" Xander asked.
"Maybe," Willow said. "I won't know until I meet them." She blinked and tossed her head as if to clear it. "Things feel strange here."
Buffy put a hand on Willow's back. "Do you want to go to the park to look for them?" she asked.
Willow nodded and together the group headed back down the stairs. They found Ivy in the living room. "Ivy," Buffy said.
The older blonde turned. "Yes?"
"You said that the Wheelers were at the park. We thought we'd like to get to know our neighbors a little bit better," Buffy said smoothly. "How far away is the park?"
"Like, can we walk there?" Xander clarified.
Ivy laughed. "No, I'm afraid not. Not much is within walking distance here. I can drive you, if you like. My son and daughter-in-law were supposed to be there soon. They're taking their son to see Santa Claus."
"Aw, that's nice," Xander said. "You have a Santa Claus at the park?"
Ivy looked slightly put out at Xander's condescension. "Yes. It's nice for the children." She stood up and grabbed her coat and keys. "If you're ready, we can go now."
"Sure," Willow replied. She, Buffy, and Xander ran upstairs to grab their coats and returned shortly. "Let's go."
Ivy led them out the front door toward her car. Willow, however, balked when they reached the driveway. "Will?" Buffy asked.
Ivy looked suspiciously again at the witch. "Are you sure that she's okay?" she asked Xander. Xander did not reply.
Willow was staring intently at the house next door to the bed and breakfast. "Who lives there?" she asked.
"Oh," Ivy said, rolling her eyes dramatically. "Just Sam's crazy old neighbor Tabitha."
"Tabitha?" Willow repeated.
"Tabitha Lenox," Ivy said, nodding. She waved a hand dismissively. "If you ever see her or anything, just ignore her. She's eccentric."
"Oh," Willow replied absently. She followed Buffy and Xander obediently to the car. Once they had all climbed in, Ivy sighed and opened the driver's side door. She did not have the energy to deal with these people. Not this Christmas.
The park was much busier than they had expected. Buffy looked around skeptically. "What are all these people doing here?" she asked.
Ivy laughed shortly. "Well it is Christmas Eve, after all."
Xander looked surprised. "You're kidding." He looked at Willow. "Did you know it was Christmas Eve?"
Willow just looked back at her best friend. "Jewish, remember?"
"Oh right. I keep thinking that you've converted to Wic – " Xander cut off abruptly at Willow's sharp glare. Ivy watched them curiously, but decided to leave it alone. "I mean, yeah. Jewish. Of course."
Buffy had wandered away from Willow, Xander, and Ivy and was standing at the edge of the skating pond. Her eyes had a far-off look in them as she gazed at the people of the town happily skating around in circles. Willow noticed and walked up quietly beside her. "Are you okay?"
"Mmhmm," Buffy said softly. "I haven't seen people skating outside in a long time." She smiled. "I haven't seen people skating anywhere in a long time."
"When was the last time you went skating?" Willow asked.
Buffy laughed ruefully. "I don't remember."
"Well, come on." Willow grabbed Buffy's hand and pulled her toward the small building beside the pond. "Let's go rent some skates."