Chapter 15. Ms. Claus. Sorry so late and I know Christmas is over and almost here again, but I got wrapped up in other stories and couldn't find a place to finish this.

Buffy stands up and looks at him with sad eyes. She sees Xander scratching his head and looking at her. He is so hurt with the letter that she sent him. She can tell from the way he is looking at her. The two stand in the same spot in silence.

"What are you doing here?" asks Xander, breaking the silence and really not trying to sound so mean, but unfortunately, he did.

"I wanted to talk," says Buffy in a meek voice. She doesn't know how to begin to tell him what she really wants to tell him.

"About what?" Xander tries to play dumb because he knows what she wants to talk about. He just doesn't know why she wants to talk about it.

"The letter." Buffy looks down at her music box, then stares at the letter that is lying on Xander's bed.

"And?" Xander tries to keep his cool from remembering what the letter had said. He then sees something that he wasn't expecting. Buffy had tears streaming down her cheek. It broke his heart to see her cry.

"I'm sorry."

"Sorry?" Xander turns around because her crying will only make him weak. "You broke up with me in a letter. How could 'I'm sorry' make this all better? I thought we had something." He turns to face her.

"I can explain. I was thinking too rationally and I thought that we came from such different worlds…How were we supposed to make this relationship work?"

"Together, that's how we could have made it work." Xander turns back around.

"What were you going to tell your parents when they ask you, 'oh, when are we going to meet your girlfriend's parents? Where do they live?' 'We can't because they live in the North Pole.'"

"I don't care what they think. I'm in love you and that's all that matters. So, the hell with my parents." Xander approaches her.

"No, they matter. They…did you just say you love me?"

"It doesn't matter now. Aren't you missing a Christmas dinner?" Xander backs away from her.

"Yes, I just wanted to leave a Christmas present I forgot about." Buffy places the music box on the bed.

"What Christmas present?" Xander is curious to whom she had a Christmas present for.

Buffy walks over to Xander and grabs hold of him. She turns him around. "Me." Buffy then pulls him into a passionate kiss. As she releases, Xander just stares at her.

"So, how about that Christmas dinner?"

Buffy breathes a sigh of relief and smiles at him. She pop kisses him. "I love you, too."

"So, what should I wear?"

"Something warm."

"Right, North Pole."

They both laughed and held each other for a while. Then Dawn comes over to Xander's room and sees him hugging Buffy. She is happy for her brother and Buffy to be back together. Buffy pulls away and sees Dawn.

"What did I tell you about knocking?" says Xander.

"Well, I never listen to you anyway," says Dawn with a smile. "So, what's with the break up letter?"

"It was a mistake," says Buffy. "I was thinking too much with my head instead of my heart." Buffy stares at Xander.

"I'm glad you two are together," says Dawn. "Or I'd have to take over his position at the company."

"Dad wouldn't let you do that," says Xander.

"How would you know?"

"Cause dad's not crazy."

"Hey, I can handle it."

"Sure you can."

"Never underestimate a girl's capabilities, Xander," says Buffy.

"So, what are you guys going to do now?" asks Dawn.

"I'm going to the North Pole to meet Buffy's parents," says Xander as he goes over to his closet and takes out his winter coat.

"Oh, really? The North Pole. That is so cool."

"You ready?" says Buffy as Xander comes over to her and takes her hand. The two look at Dawn.

"Well, you guys have a good time." Dawn turns to go. Xander and Buffy look at each other, then at Dawn.

Back at the North Pole, Joyce is already setting the dinner table for supper. Giles is seated at the head of the table. Willow and Oz join them like always, sitting to Giles' right. To his left is an empty chair next to where Connor sits. They all look at the empty chair.

"Don't you all be gloomy tonight," says Joyce.

"I miss her every Christmas," says Giles with a sigh. "And the one Christmas I'm free, she is not here either."

"Giles, you know why she isn't here."

"I know."

"I guess she'll be spending Christmas day with him," says Connor.

"I suppose," says Giles.

Joyce walks over to Giles and kisses him on the forehead. Giles smiles at her and she heads over to the other side of the table.

Then as they are ready to eat, they hear the front door unlock. They all look at each other, then turn their eyes toward the door. The cold winter winds blow inside the room and a set of footsteps can be heard near the entrance. The footsteps become louder as they approach the dining room. First comes Buffy with a smile on her face.

"Buffy. My sweet princess," says Giles, wanting to get up and hug her. Buffy quickly comes to his side and hugs him. Giles places his hand on her cheek and holds his hand tight with hers. She pulls away and goes over to the entryway of the dining room.

"Is there room for me?" asks Buffy.

"Of course," replies Giles.

"Make that two." Xander comes into the dining room, grabbing Buffy's hand.

"Oh, you must be Alexander Harris."

Xander stares at Giles. He can't believe that he is in the presence of Santa Claus. Never in his life would he believe such a thing, but there he is and it's simply magical.

"Oh, come sit," says Joyce as she places plates for the two. "It's so good to meet you in person." Joyce grabs Xander's other hand and holds it tight.

"Oh, Mom?" says Buffy. "Could you set another plate, please?"

"For who?"

Xander and Buffy look over to the entryway of the dining table and signal for the other visitor to enter. Everyone watches as the new person enters the room.

"Dawn," says Connor, surprised and happy to see her again. He gets up from his seat and goes over to her. "I thought I'd…"

Dawn puts her finger against his lips. She smiles and shows him the necklace that he gave her.

"Don't you believe in miracles?" says Dawn. She gives him a smile.

"I do now."

"Well, let's not stand here all night. Let's eat," says Joyce.

Everyone agrees and sits down. Each couple sits together, of course. Buffy sits next to her father and Xander next to her. Dawn and Connor sit next to them. Oz and Willow are trilled to see their best friend so happy and are even surpirse that Connor would actually fall for a girl that isn't Buffy. They all eat and chatted amongst themselves.

Though he still notices her and he still felt jealous that some other man is making her feel happy, Connor is happy for Buffy. She has found a good man to love and to his fortune so has he, a girl in his situation.

Buffy's parents couldn't be any happier. He makes Buffy smile and happy. It's like that old school girl crush feeling, but times ten. Joyce and Giles smile at each other as they watch the two love birds talk.

Buffy has received the best gift of all, love. It's such a precious gift and it is only given to people on special moments in their lives. Buffy never thought that love, which she has encountered plenty of times during her trips to different cities every Christmas, could ever come into her life. Love surprised her for the first time, though she had thought she knew all about it. Not everyone is wise to know about such a complex emotion as love, but when you feel it inside one's heart, it's like magic.

Should I end it here or should I make a sequel. LOL. For this Christmas. If I start writing it now I might just finish in time for Christmas. LOL.