Chapter 13.
"What are we waiting for?" says Buffy. "Lead the way."
"Okay," says Dawn. They all head to the door. "But someone has got to explain this to me."
"Connor, you tell her." Buffy and Xander rush over to his car.
"Thanks," says Connor. He faces Dawn. "Short version. Buffy is Ms. Claus, I'm an elf, we need a sleigh pronto, so we can distribute the gifts around the world." Connor opens the back door for Dawn.
"Are you serious?" says Dawn.
"No time for reactions, Dawn," says Xander as he turns on the car. "Get in."
Dawn gets in and so does Connor.
"Head for the mall," says Dawn. "The only sleigh I know is the one at the display."
When they arrive at the mall, it is deserted. Every store is closed for the night. The four sneak over to the back of the mall nearest the covered parking lot.
"The security," says Xander. "I have a key, but they'll see us in the security cameras."
"No sweat," says Buffy. "I'm all over that. Connor, stay out here with Dawn."
Connor grabs Dawn's hand and she finds it strange for him to do that.
"Holding hand privileges it's a first date thing," says Dawn. "Do you want to call this a date?"
"No, it's not…" Connor tries to explain. "You'll see."
Before Xander and Buffy enter the mall, Buffy closes her eyes and whispers something to herself. As she is doing that she grabs Xander's hand. Xander looks at her strangely because he has no idea what she is doing. She opens her eyes.
"Okay, let's go," says Buffy pulling him over to the door.
Xander shrugs and opens the door with his key. "What did you do?" asks Xander.
"Oh, a little magic." Buffy smiles at that as they head into the mall.
Back outside, Dawn notices something really strange. She sees a bird in midair just floating.
"How?" says Dawn looking at Connor.
"Magic," says Connor. He smiles at her as she keeps looking at the bird.
Buffy and Xander approach the Santa display in the mall that has a sleigh in it. "That'll work." Buffy points her at the sleigh and snaps her fingers. The sleigh disappears before their very eyes.
"Wow."
"Thanks."
They head back the way they came and meet up with Dawn and Connor. Buffy then makes time to resume its course and they quickly head back to the car.
"That was cool," says Dawn. "Can you do that?"
"No, but I'm immune to their magic's," says Connor.
"Wait a minute," says Xander remembering two particular moments when Buffy possibly used her stopping time powers. "Did you use that on our first date?"
"Yeah, I kind of did, but it was an accident," says Buffy. "It was my first time."
"Is that why you were freaked out?"
"That was part of it."
"And you did it again when I was dancing with Anya."
"Yeah, that one was on purpose." Xander smiles at her.
"You can do that anytime you want?"
"Yeah, but I'm really not supposed to. So, keep this between us."
"Okay."
"Come on, Buffy," says Connor. "We haven't got time."
"Oh, yes, we do," says Buffy as she stops time once again. She pulls Xander close and kisses him on the lips for the first time. They felt like it lasted forever and it could have, if Buffy didn't decide to continue time. When they released, they looked at each other and were both happy with the kiss.
"You gotta go," says Xander.
"But I don't want to," says Buffy.
"You know you gotta."
"Okay." Buffy smiles at him and caresses his face then she makes time move again.
"Are you ready?" says Connor, waiting patiently. Buffy nods her head.
"Wait," says Dawn. She walks over to Connor and takes off her necklace that has her birthstone on it. "Here." She puts the necklace on him. "It has my name on the back, so you remember me."
Connor has never received a gift with such love. He looks at the stone and turns it. On the back are Dawn's name and her birth date. He looks back at her and smiles. Then he holds it close to his heart and puts it in his jacket pocket.
"I'll never forget you," says Connor. He caresses her cheek and Dawn closes her eyes to enjoy every moment that he is touching her. Connor then moves closer to her and kisses her on her forehead.
"Come on, Connor," says Buffy.
"Coming," says Connor. He heads over to Buffy and grabs her hand. In an instant, the two disappear.
Dawn goes over to Xander and hugs him. They both look up into the sky and find the North Star.
"She's a keeper," says Dawn as she looks up at Xander.
"I know," replies Xander.
Meanwhile, at the North Pole, the elves are busy transferring all the presents to the new sleigh that Buffy transported to the factory. As soon as Buffy is dressed for the ride, the elves are putting the last presents in.
"Alright," says Buffy standing on the sleigh and getting everyones attention. "Thank you all so much for your hard work. You don't know how much we, my family and I, appreciate it. So, to show my appreciation, Connor, would you do the honors?"
Connor pulls out a small bag full of many things. He then uses the device that makes things big and the bag expands into a huge bag of an enormous amount of presents.
"These are for you," says Buffy. "Merry Christmas. Enjoy." The elves all went to the bags and started to find gifts for each and every one of them. They are so pleased.
Buffy starts to sit down and gets ready to go. Connor starts to go through a list as fast as he can to check everything. He turns to Buffy and looks at her.
"Everything is set," says Connor. "You're ready to go."
"I can't," says Buffy, giving him a worried expression.
"What do you mean you can't?"
"Not without you."
"Me?"
"Yes, you. Besides, you are the man behind Santa Claus."
"No, I couldn't. This is your ride."
"I want you to go with me. Please?"
Connor sees her pleading eyes and could not say no to that. He smiles at her and gets on the sleigh.
"Alright."
Buffy kisses him on the cheek and hugs him tight. She then grabs the riegns of the sleigh. The big doors open for them to ride out into the winter cold night and into the skies.
"Do you want to do the honors?"
"No, you go first."
"Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen!"
"On, Comet! On, Cupid! On, Donder and Blitzen!"
"Now dash away! Dash away all!"
With smiles on their faces and eight forceful attentive reindeers, they rode off into the starry skies above the trees and the clouds. The elves wave goodbye and wish them well on their long journey around the world.
Back at Buffy's house, Giles is sitting by the fire. For the first time in so many years, he has not made the ride around the world, but he could not have picked a more perfect candidate.
"I'm so proud of her, Joyce," says Giles. "I didn't believe at first that she could pull it off. She is a Claus for sure."
"Of course," says Joyce with a smile. "Well, we do have a couple of hours before she comes back. Now we can have some time for ourselves." Joyce pulls Giles off the chair and leads him into the bedroom.
"Joyce?"
"Don't worry; I'll try to be gentle." Joyce grins at Giles as she closes the door.
Meanwhile at Xander's house, Dawn and Xander arrive as the last people of the party are leaving to their homes. The two hurry off into the house, without their parents noticing and head into their rooms.
"Do you really believe all that Buffy said?" asks Dawn as she gets under her covers. Xander sits down next to her. "I mean, was all of that true, or was I imagining it?"
"It was real, Dawn," says Xander. "I believe her. I believe in Santa Claus."
"You know you always did. You just didn't want to admit it."
"You know me too well, Dawny." Xander grins at her. "Goodnight." Xander kisses her on the top of her head.
Xander heads to his room and takes off his shirt. He looks out the window and looks up. He sees a sparkle of light zoom across the sky. Xander then pulls off his pants and slides into bed in his boxers. He sighs and thinks about Buffy. Soon he drifts off to sleep.