Chapter 6. Ms. Claus.
The next day, Connor keeps avoiding Buffy every time he sees her. She is finding it amusing at first, but then it begins to get a little annoying.
"Buffy, what's up with Connor?" asks Willow.
"I haven't the slightest idea," says Buffy with check list in her hand.
"He seems to be avoiding you." Buffy looks at Willow and then she turns her head around and sees Connor turning around and walking the opposite from where she is.
"Yeah."
"Why?"
"We had an occurred moment and he thinks it has ruined our friendship of some sort."
"Men. I swear, they just don't think." Buffy laughs at that. "Well, what are you going to do?"
"I don't know. My dad didn't have this problem."
"If your dad had a very attractive female elf that had a crush on him, then he would."
"You know."
"Everyone knows. Connor has always had a crush on you. You seem to be the only one who doesn't notice."
"I mean he's sweet and all, but…"
"Come on, Buffy. He's pretty hot." Buffy blushes.
"Why don't you go out with him?"
"I have a boyfriend and you don't. If you're going to take Santa's reigns, then you gotta be with someone. He can be your Mrs. Claus." Willow laughs.
"Very funny, Willow."
"Well, you gotta do something instead of avoiding each other."
"I'm going to try something."
"What?"
"You'll see." Buffy hands Willow her list and pen, then heads over to where she sees Connor. He quickly turns around and walks away. Buffy starts to run and corners him behind one factory's machines. Connor sighs and sees Buffy walk over to him with a smile. "Connor…"
"No, you don't have to say anything, please," says Connor.
"But we need to talk. I know that you have this secret crush on me and I'm flattered really, but I don't love you in the way that you want me to love you. I've never had siblings and you were the closest to one." Connor looks at Buffy's green eyes.
"Can I just ask you for one thing?"
"Sure. What's that?" Connor walks over to her and kisses her on the lips. When he releases, he looks at her and she is surprised. "Whoa. You could have asked first."
"Would you have let me?"
"I would think about it." Connor laughs.
"Friends." Connor extends his hand out to her.
"Friends for life." Buffy smiles at him as she takes his hand. The two walk out of the corner. "You know, you're a really good kisser."
"Are you regretting not getting with me because I don't take charity cases."
"I'm not a charity case."
"Come on, you dropped me solid. You weren't going to give me the time of day."
"Well, right, you'll never know."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"I could change my mind."
"You would?"
"You are so gullible." Buffy smiles and walks away.
"Damn, those lips were good."
"I heard that." Connor waves goodbye to her.
"Oh, Connor?" Buffy turns around. "You're still going shopping with me today, right?"
"Sure."
The two head back to the mall again. This time they had a list of stragglers and had to get them their toys. They headed for the toy department.
"At least it isn't that large," says Buffy. "I mean the last one, whoa."
"Yeah," replies Connor. "I got this new gadget from tech lab."
"What does it do?" asks Buffy.
"It shrinks anything into almost microscopic size. You could totally use this on the sleigh. Less weight, faster the trip."
"That's pretty neat. Can I try it?"
"Sure, just push this button here and aim at something."
"Okay." Connor looks around to make sure the coast is clear and Buffy presses the button. She shrinks a teddy bear. "Travel size teddy bear." They both look at the shelf to try to find the bear. "It's so tiny."
"Almost need a magnifying glass."
"How do you reverse it?" Connor changes the settings and returns the bear back to its regular size.
Meanwhile in the security room, the security guy calls Xander, who is making some calls in the room with him. Xander gets off the phone and looks at the camera. He immediately puts a smile on his face when he sees Buffy.
"She's back," says Xander to the security.
"Yeah, but that's not what I wanted to talk to about," says the security.
"Whatever it is, tell me later." Xander runs out of the room to try to get to where Buffy is. He is two feet away from her and he checks himself in a mirror for sunglasses and then walks slowly over like if he was just going that way and not stalking her. Xander hears her laugh at something when he makes his entrance, but they then start walking away to the opposite side of where he is walking to. He starts to go around in circles with them and gets a little dizzy at this rate. Xander stops and in less than two seconds, he loses them.
"I think this is what this person was trying to explain," says Buffy. "Don't you think we should get into the modern age and have e-mail letters? I think it would be easier at least for those who have computers and e-mail accounts. They can even put pictures of what they want if they don't know the name."
"Sounds like something your dad won't like," says Connor. "He likes the then more than the now."
"I can see that. Last year he gave me a doll for Christmas. Can you say old fashioned, though the doll was pretty." Connor lowers his head and avoids her gaze. "What's the matter?"
"It's…I made the doll for you."
"You did?"
"Yeah, I wanted to give it you in person, but I was afraid."
"It's a beautiful doll. I'm glad I found out that you made it. Very good craftsmanship."
"Thanks."
"Let's take a break from this shopping madness." They already had one cart full of toys and headed for the register. Xander finally finds them, but at the moment is when everyone decides to crowd around the registers and he can't get to them.
"We're half way done. I can't believe we are so ahead of schedule and Christmas is only one day left."
"Oh, thank goodness. No more stragglers."
"I thought you liked shopping."
"I do, but more for me." Connor laughs as the two exit the store, with a whole bunch of bags. They head over to where no one can see them and use the shrink ray on the bags, then Buffy sticks them in her purse. "I love that thing." Buffy then starts to talk to Connor about food and Connor loses her when he sees a Santa display. He sees one of Santa's helpers, a young girl with redish, brown hair give candy canes to the children. Buffy continues on talking to herself. He walks over to the beginning of the line to get a better look at her.
"Excuse me, sir," says the young girl. "You have to wait in line for your turn." Connor looks at her and is mesmerized by her.