Buffy and Spike have left Xander and Anya with Halfrek at the Bronze. They're making their way towards the UC Sunnydale campus to find Jackie, the girl whose wish inadvertently sent forth Kulgari demons to Sunnydale. Buffy picks up the pace as they approach the edge of the campus with Spike lagging a little behind.
Spike: Hey, slow down a little!
Buffy: Getting a little out of shape?
Spike: Piffle. I just don't know this bloody campus like the back of my hand the way you do.
Buffy: Stevenson Hall is right around the corner. (takes off running) Come on!
Spike lets out a sigh before taking off after Buffy. He follows her till he momentarily loses sight of her as she rounds the corner of the dorm building. He catches up just in time to see a Kulgari demon come around from the opposite side of the building, behind Buffy.
Spike: Buffy, behind you!
Buffy turns, but the Kulgari knocks her to the ground with a swift swing of his arm. Spike runs forward and charges the demon, taking it to the ground. The demon throws him off, and he comes back again, throwing punches. Buffy recovers, rises to her feet, and gets ready to rejoin the scuffle with Spike, but he stops her.
Spike: I've got this (ducks a swing from the Kulgari). Go find the girl (punches the demon in the gut). End her wish (kicks the demon forcefully).
Buffy turns and sprints through the doors of Stevenson Hall, looking for room 219. At the end of the hall she spots another Kulgari demon.
Buffy: Oh this just keeps getting better.
Meanwhile, back at the Bronze…
Xander: Just out of curiosity, Ahn, did you ever grant any wishes like this when you were a vengeance demon?
Anya: No, when I granted a wish, people got exactly what they asked for.
Halfrek: She means that literally. One time when-
Anya: (holds up the pendant threateningly) Hallie!
When Anya holds up the pendant, Halfrek mumbles something under her breath, but neither Anya nor Xander notice.
Xander: Yes, please. No more vengeance stories for tonight. I've experienced the other realm kind of wish, and let me tell you, it's not pleasant.
As Xander says this, a Kulgari demon steps up behind him.
Halfrek: That's too bad.
The Kulgari demon knocks Xander over the head, sending him to the floor.
Anya: Xander!
Anya jumps up to help Xander, and in the process, drops the pendant. Halfrek picks it up and turns to take off.
Anya: Halfrek, don' t you dare!
It's too late, as Halfrek, putting the pendant back around her neck disappears in a cloud of smoke. Anya turns back around to face the demon.
Anya: (to the demon) Damn, how many of you are there? You're worse than bunnies.
The demon swings and misses the first time, but succeeds the second time in sending Anya to the floor.
Anya: Okay, maybe not worse than bunnies…
Xander gets back up, grabs a bar stool, and lifts it above his head, aiming for the demon's skull.
Meanwhile, at the Summers' House…Dawn: So…
Dawn's single word breaks the silence, as she sits at the table with Willow, Tara, and Giles, serving demon guard duty. The four of them stare around the room randomly as the Kulgari sits in the chair opposite them, still unable to move.
Willow: Do you think they're okay?
Tara: I'm sure they're fine.
Giles: Anya has experience with vengeance demons and the others certainly know something about what they're doing. I suppose they are handling themselves well.
Willow: Yeah, I just wish I could be more useful.
Giles: Don't say 'wish.'
Willow: Oops.
They sit in silence again, waiting to see if Willow's word of choice leads to any bad consequences. Nothing happens, and they resume staring around the room aimlessly.
Dawn: Anyone want pumpkin pie?
Back in Stevenson Hall…
Buffy: (to the demon, who is standing in front of a dorm room door) Excuse me! Is that room 219?
The demon charges towards her.
Buffy: I take that as a yes.
Buffy pulls her stake out of her jacket and drives it into the demon as he lunges forward. The demon falls to the ground, and Buffy, hoping the wound will buy her time jumps over the fallen demon and breaks down the door of room 219 to find a girl sitting at her desk with headphones on. The girl jumps and pulls the headphones off, staring at Buffy in shock.
Jackie: What the…who are you?
Buffy: The Grinch who saved Christmas. Did you make a wish tonight? Did you tell it to a tall woman with curly brunette hair and a pretty necklace.
Jackie: Yeah, how'd you know?
Buffy: Long story; you need to undo that wish. Innocent people are getting hurt.
Jackie: How do I undo it? Wait…she gave me this.
Jackie pulls a tiny pendant, a stone the size of a small button, from her pocket. As she hands it to Buffy, the Kulgari demon enters the doorway of the dorm. Buffy quickly smashes the pendant in her fist, and the demon disappears in a burst of flames. In front of Stevenson Hall, Spike backs off of the Kulgari demon as it disappears in the same fashion. The demon at the Bronze vanishes, and Xander helps Anya to her feet. They walk out of the Bronze and look down the street; there's no sign of Hallie or anymore Kulgari demons. At the Summers' house, the demon disappears, taking the chair it was tied to with it. Giles, Willow, Tara, and Dawn jump out of their seats, startled, but then share a collective sigh of relief as they realize the wish was undone. Back in room 219, Jackie just looks at the empty doorway in awe.
Jackie: Wow.
Buffy: Not as good as time with your family, but I think it was a pretty good Holiday show.
Jackie: Thank you so much. I didn't know-
Buffy: No problem. Merry Christmas.
Later that night, everyone is safe back at the Summers' house, enjoying the rest of their Christmas. The girls are sitting on the couch and around it, Giles is sitting in one of the chairs, and Xander and Spike are by the tree, struggling with an ornament.
Willow: I can't believe we forgot the star.
Buffy: Yeah, (sarcastically) what have we been doing all day?
Willow: You know what I mean. I never forget to put the Star of David on the tree; it's my job.
Tara raises an eyebrow at this, as Willow is on the couch, not putting the star up.
Willow: Well, it's more like my job to remind the really tall people to put the star up.
Anya: What's taking them so long?
They look over at Spike and Xander, who keep taking the ornament from each other's hands.
Buffy: It's a battle to prove who's the manliest.
Anya: My money's on Xander.
Willow: I don't know…I mean, don't get me wrong I love Xander, in the best friend way, but Spike is a little taller. What do you think?
Tara: I don't know; it's tough to call. Buffy?
Buffy: No comment.
Dawn: I'm with Willow.
Anya: But Xander has bigger arms.
Giles: Dear Lord.
Giles looks over at Xander and Spike, takes his glasses off, gets up, grabs the star, and places it on the tree, settling the argument.
Buffy: Didn't see that coming.
Spike: Hey Buffy, come here a second.
Buffy follows Spike into the hall, away from the rest of the gang.
Buffy: You gonna tell me a secret?
Spike: No, I was going to take off, but first, (pulls tiny rectangle shaped box from his jacket) this is for you.
Buffy: Spike-
Spike: Oh come on; just open it.
Buffy takes the top off of the box to reveal a gold necklace with a locket. Buffy pulls it out and opens the locket. On one side is a picture of herself and her sister, and on the other side is a picture of her mother.
Buffy: Oh my God.
Spike: I got the pictures from Red. Well, she doesn't know I got them from her, but…Merry Christmas Buffy.
Buffy: Thank you.
Buffy tears up a little, but pretends not to notice.
Spike: Don't go all Hallmark movie-
Buffy cuts off Spike's comment as she leans forward and kisses him passionately. They pull away and look into each other's eyes.
Buffy: Merry Christmas, Spike.
Dawn: (from the other room) Come on guys; you're gonna miss it.
Buffy and Spike go back into the living room, and sit together on the floor. Everyone is gathered around the TV, except for Xander, who is standing in the middle of the room.
Tara: I've known the Scooby Gang here for over two years, and I still haven't seen the Snoopy Dance.
Willow: Oh, you have to see it.
Dawn: I'm so excited; it better be good.
Anya: Trust me, it is. Sometimes he adds this part where-
Xander: Anya!
Anya: Let's just say I don' t think Snoopy could do it.
Xander: I'm not sure I feel in a very Snoopy dance-mood after getting knocked around by all of those Kulgari.
Spike: Oh come on, you git; don't wuss out on us now.
Xander: A wuss? Oh I'll show you a wuss.
The Christmas program begins on the TV screen behind him, Peanuts theme song playing, and Xander begins to dance, mimicking the cartoon dog's every move.
Spike: (In high-pitched, girly voice) Xander, you're my hero.
The girls all giggle, and Giles can't help but let out a laugh too.
Buffy: Best. Christmas. Ever.
THE END