Yay my triumvirate is back, haha.

g120- Feeling all non-reviewy :-O! I'm shocked and horrified. .::turns away in offence::. haha. Glad you're feeling more reviewable again. And ooh getting part four today then? What a coincidink- got mine today as well. Was vair happy. hehe. I just get a sad when I come to the end of the issue because it's all like good and break of too much goodness makes me feel bad (hehe) and it's a whole big wait till AUGUST for next issue! Pfft. Glad you thought the sex scene was written well- was a bit apprehensive about it- I was also worried like an eleven year old was going to come across and have her/his innocence stripped away from them in a paragraph (Hello I don't want that festering on my conscience. I wanna be fester-free. Or at the very least...fester-lite) Thanks for reviewage.

Rabidreject- Thanks for review. Glad you liked and don't worry, Joyce is now in the clear.

zigpal- Thanks for clappage and compliments of greatensss hehe. And yah- another Buffy-crying job for Joyce. It's happened with every boyfriend...pfft. And don't worry, when Riley returns they will be a distinct lack of getting away with it.

A/N: So this is an extra chapter inspired by The Body of all episodes.

December 25th 2000

"Snow is falling, all around me, children playing having fun. It's the season, love and understanding. Merry Christmas everyone"

"I don't think you were in Sunnydale when it snowed two years ago, were you?" Willow asked Tara casually as she slipped on her dark green top over her pants, the lyrics of the song playing on the stereo prompting Willow's memories. She looked at Tara across their dorm room and her girlfriend shook her head.

"No, I only moved here last year…for college you know? But I heard about it on the news though"

"Time for presents and exchanging kisses. Time for singing Christmas songs"

"Ooh," Willow gave a look of proud approval; "Sunnydale makes the headlines for something more than mysterious deaths" She headed over to the windowsill and looked outside. The weather was colder than it had been in their senior year of High School, but it was nowhere near cold enough for snow…and there was no resurrected vampire for the Powers that Be to save this year either.

"So what time to we have to be there?" Tara asked, drawing Willow out of her thoughts

"Room is swaying, records playing all the old songs you love to hear. Oh I wish that everyday was Christmas, what a nice way to spend the year"

"Be where?" Willow asked obliviously.

"At Buffy's…." Tara prompted with a laugh and Willow's eyes filled with recognition.

"Oh…well, Buffy said about 2 o clock I think…so I think we've got a little while yet…."

"Oh well, uh good…" Tara said and Willow raised her eyebrow, sensing that her girlfriend was getting at something.

"What is it?"

"Well…" Tara turned around and walked over to the dresser behind her and pulling open the top drawer. Willow craned her neck to try and see around her, to see what she was doing. She pulled out a small package, obscured from Willow's view before closing the drawer again.

"We're gonna have a party tonight. I'm gonna find that girl underneath the mistletoe and kiss by candlelight!"

Tara turned around to face Willow again and she saw her lover's eyes light up in pleasant surprise when she saw the small present being held in Tara's hands.

"Tara, you didn't!" Willow exclaimed, "I thought, I thought we already did prezzies?"

"We did…" Tara agreed, "I just got you a little something else as a surprise"

"Ooh," Willow exclaimed cheerily taking the small box Tara was handing her eagerly. She paused as she went to open it, a frown forming on her face.

"What's the matter?"

"I didn't get you anything extra…" Willow sulked guiltily.

"It doesn't matter," Tara assured her with a small smile, "Just open it"

Willow pulled the decorative top off the little box carefully and slowly to find pink tissue paper inside. Balancing the box on top of its lid in one hand she poked through the crinkly, pink paper carefully until she could see the item wrapped inside.

"Oh Tara!" Willow exclaimed blissfully, holding up the amethyst bunny-shaped key ring.

"I saw you looking at it in the store…and, well I thought you should have it," Tara's smile then faltered, "You do like it don't you? I mean, you weren't looking at it because you thought it was awful or anything…."

"It's perfect," Willow told her, smiling, as she headed forward and gave her a warm kiss on the lips, pouring all her thank yous into it. "And now," Willow continued as they pulled apart, "Now I feel even more guilty about not getting you something…'"

Tara smiled cheekily.

"Well, carry on later where that kiss left off…. and we'll call it even"

"You little minx" Willow grinned.

"Merry Christmas Everyone!"

"Santa Baby, stick a sable under the tree for me. Been an awful good girl, Santa Baby so hurry down the chimney tonight"

"Ahn, we don't have time for…" Xander tried to resist as Anya stood there in the doorway to their bedroom, red and white jingle bells underwear with a see through red negligee. He looked at his watch. They really needed to go. They were going to be late for Buffy's. But Anya had yet to change out of her sexy ensemble and the music was still playing the uncannily appropriate song.

"We've had time for it all day so far…." Anya smiled, her right leg making its way slowly up and down the doorframe.

"Think of all the fun I've missed. Think of all the fellers that I haven't kissed. Next year I could be just as good. If you check off my Christmas list."

Xander shook his head to clear it. He really couldn't be distracted by Anya right now. It was twenty to two as it was.

"Anya…that's exactly why we have to get going now," Xander countered as he admired her outfit once more, "And you have to get dressed."

Anya sulked.

"You're no fun"

"I really do believe in you. Let's see if you believe in me"

"Anya, we've just had fun. A lot of glorious, full-filling fun…. but well, we've gotta be at Buffy's in a little bit now and we don't exactly have time for…. erm, more fun…"

"Fine." Anya accepted huffily, walking back into the bedroom with a pace that showed she was clearly unimpressed and unhappy with his decision.

"So hurry down the chimney tonight"

"Clarence! I want my life back! Clarence!"

"Why do we watch this film?" Dawn asked Buffy as the two of them sat on the sofa together watching the black film on the TV screen.

"Because it's Christmas and we have to," Buffy replied, her eyes still on It's a Wonderful Life.

"Why?"

"Because…. there's a rule"

"But it's so depressing," Dawn argued, "I mean shouldn't Christmas films be more…. cheery?"

"Well it is at the end…" Buffy reasoned, looking at her little sister, "With the singing and the money collection with the neighbours…" Dawn just continued to stare at her, looking unconvinced. "Fine, we'll turn it off," Buffy agreed, standing up, "You go put some music on"

"Just made it in time," Xander announced as he and Anya pulled up in his car outside the Summers residence. Giles may live there now, but Xander felt the house would always bear that tag name.

"Hmm…" Anya looked at him disapprovingly, clearly showing she believed that they would have had time for a little extra, before she stepped out of the car, slamming the car door behind her. Xander just rolled her eyes in acceptance before taking the keys and stepping out of the car himself.

"Come on Anya," He said, walking over to her, to lead her up the path. He kissed her before they started walking and in that small moment she let him now what he'd missed out on at home. When they pulled apart, she was smiling showing she was happy for now.

"Do you think they'll be more gifts?" She asked eagerly as Xander knocked on the door, "For me I mean?"

Xander had quickly realized how fond Anya was of the present scene.

"I don't care about the presents underneath the Christmas tree. I don't to hang my stocking there upon the fireplace"

The music poured through, reaching the couple's ears as the door opened to Buffy stood there, smiling at them with a grin that could only ever be worn at Christmas.

"Hey you guys!" She greeted them cheerily, pulling them both in for a hug and so pulling them into the house. After they broke the hug she closed the door. "Merry Christmas"

"Right back atcha," Xander smiled, already feeling the Christmas glow in the house reaching him. He never had Christmas at his own house with his own family, but here he always felt like he should feel at the holiday period. And the group of people that he was celebrating it with felt so much more like his family than his blood kin. He listened to the song carefully until he recognized the lyrics, "I'm surprised by the music choice Giles," Xander commented lightly on the Mariah Carey choice as he watched Giles come into the room and put a pile of plates to be set out on the dining table. Giles merely looked at him silently, the personification of not-happy and left the room just as silently.

Buffy stifled a laugh.

"I'm sorry," She apologized to Xander, "It's just…he's been unhappy with Dawn's choice of music all day…for the periods we didn't have films on that is"

"Pop not his genre preference then?" Xander grinned and Buffy shook her head, trying not to laugh again.

"Definitely not."

"So where is the Dawnster?" Xander asked, looking around just as Anya asked, "Where are the presents?". Luckily Buffy only heard Xander's question.

"Oh she's helping Mom and Giles in the kitchen," Buffy explained, "And by helping I mean hindering." As if to further prove her point the sound of a crash came from the kitchen followed by Dawn's 'whoops'.

"Well," Joyce said as they all sat around at the table, Christmas lights a glowing, "I think we're just about ready for pie" She got up to clear away the dishes and both Buffy and Giles got up to help.

"Think I'll be pretty much ready for barf," Xander told her.

"Xander!" Buffy told him off.

"No, no," Xander corrected her assumption, before looking at Joyce to explain, "barf from the eating. Cause all was good and…too much goodness"

"I'm taking it as a compliment," Joyce told him with a smile and Xander nodded in relief.

"Yes, uh," Giles agreed, "Everything was delicious"

"Well you helped," Joyce pointed out as she collected up more plates, "So joint effort on the delicious front"

"I helped too" Dawn said with pout.

"Yes," Buffy agreed, "You helped make the big mess I had to clean up."

Dawn went to argue further, but Tara prevented an argument starting by telling Joyce how lovely she thought everything was as well.

"Yes," Anya agreed chirpily, "I'm going to barf to"

Joyce smiled wryly as she walked past Anya with the dirty dishes in her hand.

"Everyone's so sweet" She commented sarcastically as she, Giles and Buffy headed into the kitchen.

"How about you Will?" Xander asked, "You in the vomit club too?"

"I had too much nog…" Willow commented, sounding stuffed and as though she was fighting the urge to throw up.

"Oh baby you want me to rub your tummy?" Tara asked sympathetically, before looking to the rest of the group, "She likes it when I…." She trailed off as she caught Willow's look, "…stop explaining things…"

"My nog tastes funny," Dawn, commented, looking down at her glass, "I think I got one with rum in it"

"That's bad," Willow told her simply and Xander nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, now Santa's gonna pass you right by you naughty booze hound!"

Both Dawn and Tara giggled.

"Santa always passes me by," Willow pondered aloud, "Something puts him off. Could be the big honkin' menorah."

"Oh," Tara said to Dawn, "Did you write him a letter?"

"What'd you ask for?" Xander asked, leaning across the table slightly to hear the answer.

"Um guys, hello, puberty?" Dawn prompted, "Sorta figured out the whole no-Santa thing"

"That's a myth," Anya stated simply from her seat.

"Exactly," Dawn nodded in agreement.

"No," Anya countered, "I mean it's a myth that it's a myth. There is a Santa Claus"

Everyone was stunned into silence, as they looked at Anya in intrigued surprise. Xander leaned back in his seat to put his arm over Anya's chair, leaning over to his girlfriend.

"The advantage of having a thousand year old girlfriend. Inside scoop"

"There's a Santa Claus?" Tara asked hopefully with a hint of confusion.

"Mm-hmm," Anya nodded, "Been around since like the 1500s…"

"Are they talking about Santa in there?" Joyce asked, as she eavesdropped slightly on the conversation in the dining room.

"Well it is Anya talking," Buffy debated, "So it's definitely of the possible Category: Highly. I'll go get the rest of the plates…" She walked out of the room to listen to the conversation first hand.

Joyce just laughed to herself, fully enjoying the day. Like the majority of people she loved Christmas. The one time in the year where everything seemed normal, happy, perfect. And for them it meant no key-talk, no glory, no vampires, and no patrol. Nothing. Just a normal family. If their dynamic could be called a normal family. Maybe not normal, but certainly a family.

She turned around to head toward the oven where the pie was waiting and walked straight into Giles who was heading to the fridge for the wine.

"Oof!" The collision caused an involuntary sound of shock to escape from her mouth. After she got her bearings she smiled up at him, "There's never any mistletoe around when you need it is there?"

"We need mistletoe?" Giles questioned with a raised eyebrow and Joyce smirked.

"Not necessarily," She told him before the two shared a kiss. "Definitely not necessary" Joyce commented with smile and then, jobs to complete, they walked in the directions they had originally been heading.

As she reached the oven, she already knew what had happened by looking through the window, before she had even opened the door. It had burnt again.

She put on the oven mitts and pulled the dessert out just as Buffy walked back into the room.

"Damn it! I hate this oven. It burnt" She placed the burnt food on the kitchen island.

"Oh no," Buffy disagreed as she headed over to look, plates now deposited elsewhere, "It's just blackened you know. It's Cajun pie."

"Shall I open another?" Giles asked, holding up a bottle of wine and Joyce turned to look in consideration. She already felt quite tipsy- she'd always been a bit of a lightweight- sometimes a blessing, other times very much a curse.

"Oh I don't know…do you think we dare?" Joyce challenged him, knowing fine well where things could end up for the two of them if they got too drunk and well…they had to keep up some form of grown-ups-don't-have-a-sex-life façade for the group. Buffy however, answered her question.

"As long as you stay away from the Band Candy…" She thought for a moment, "Or resist any Band Candy activities then I am cool with anything"

At that Giles shrugged at Joyce and opened the bottle of wine. Joyce returned to looking at the pie with a sigh.

"What are we gonna do about this?" She asked, hoping either would have suggestions.

"Simple," Buffy told her, picking up a knife and heading over, "Look all we have to do is cut off a little bit of the burnt-"

She broke off for as she began cutting the pie it leant over the edge and smashed on the floor.

"Buffy!" Joyce shouted more out of shock than annoyance.

"Sorry…" Buffy apologized kneeling down to help her Mom pick up the pieces of the completely destroyed pie and throw them in the bin.

"It's okay," Joyce told her, "But what can I do now?"

"Ice cream?" Buffy suggested lamely, "Simple and already made by the supermarket"

"Ooh," Joyce said, an idea forming in her mind, "Do we have any candy? Like bars?"

Since Giles was nearest the fridge he pulled it open and looked in. He spotted three bars, only wrapped in silver foil, on the second shelf.

"Yes, uh three bars"

"I'll only need half a bar at the most." Joyce told him and he got out one bar for her. It was then that Buffy realized what she was doing.

"You're not doing the thing you used to do for me and Dawn as kids are you?" She checked, "Ice cream with the chocolate flakes and melted chocolate topping?" Buffy's mouth was already watering at the memory and even more so once her Mom nodded in confirmation.

"It's not pie, but it looks damn good," Xander announced as their dishes were set in front of all of them.

"Ooh yay!" Dawn exclaimed excitedly, already picking up her spoon, "Chocorama ice cream"

"The appealing dessert has a name?" Anya asked, before looking at Xander, already scooping up some of the dessert in her silver spoon, "How come we've never heard of it before?"

"It's actually a Mom thing," Buffy explained, "But when Dawn was like six she decided to name it and it kinda stuck…for her…"

Dawn frowned at her sister but it soon became a smile as she began to eat the dessert, her tongue savoring the rewarding taste of the melted chocolate.

Silence fell on the group, Christmas music playing quietly in the background (non-Mariah and non-pop) being the only sound, as they ate their dessert.

In a short while, when they were nearly all finished, Joyce found herself constantly glancing over her spoon to Giles next to her. He returned the gaze, a predatory gleam in his eyes. Acting on impulse she scooped up another spoonful of ice cream and lent across the table to him. He took the spoonful in his mouth, but as she pulled the spoon away he pulled her to him quickly, kissing her, the ice cream pouring and melting in both of their mouths as they continued to kiss, Joyce, for convenience and appeal, having moved to sit slightly on Giles knee.

"Eww! Mom! Giles!" Buffy exclaimed, viewing the display in disgust and the couple pulled away from each other at the sound of her voice. Joyce looked over at her eldest daughter as she sheepishly swallowed the ice cream. "God…I can't believe you. Gross much?"

"Buffy it wasn't that much…" Joyce defended herself and Giles as she reluctantly sat back in her seat. She looked at Giles and rolled her eyes- while Buffy had become so very mature, there were times when she acted ridiculously childish.

"I liked the chocolate," Xander commented lazily as he looked down at his empty bowl, completely unaware of the exchange that had just happened, "There was no bad there"

"It was good. I want more." Anya said with an enthusiastic smile, "Is there any more?"

"Only if I make some," Joyce told her and when Anya looked at her expectantly she shook her head, "N-no…uh, Anya" She tried to make the negative response sound forceful, but failed miserably as she was distracted by Giles' hand wandering teasingly up her leg.

"Xander!" Willow giggled and Xander looked over at in confusion.

"What? What's the sitch? Why laugh at the Xan-Man?"

Willow continued to giggle girlishly but pointed out her own cheek. Xander put his hand to his own right cheek and felt a sticky substance. Pulling his palm away he saw melted chocolate. He tried to rub at it, but it made the spill spread and Willow giggled more. Buffy grinned at her hyperactive friend. To save Xander's face-literally- Joyce silently handed him a clean napkin and he rubbed the chocolate successfully away.

"Oh-kay…" Dawn commented slowly as she stood up, viewing the giggling group. She began to pick up the adults' glasses, "no more rum-filled nog or wine for any of you" They all pouted at her and her Mom even tried to snatch the glass of red wine back, but did so with out much effort so showed she wasn't really too bothered. "And we're going to do something simple and innocent…like a board game"

"Run, run Rudolph! Santa's gotta make it to town! Santa make him hurry, tell him he can take the freeway down!"

The Chuck Berry Christmas song blasted out of the CD player as the group sat around…. a game of monopoly. There had been just enough pieces for everyone to play and for one person to be banker. Joyce had insisted on being banker as she had claimed it was the only way she could ensure Buffy and Dawn didn't cheat against each other, either by taking money for themselves or taking it away from the other.

"Can't we play Life?" Anya asked for the fourteenth time.

"Why do you wanna play Life so much?" Buffy asked.

"Because in that game she always wins," Dawn told her.

"And in this one I'm losing," Anya whined, "I can't even afford myself any properties and Mayfair's completely out of my league." She looked at Giles in annoyance, "And I keep landing on your hotel-ridden places" She looked at Joyce, "Loan me some cash," She whispered urgently, clearly taking the game desperately seriously.

"Said Santa to a girl what would it please you most to get? She said a little baby doll that can cry, sleep, drink and wet and then away went Rudolph whizzing like a saber jet!"

"Damn!" Anya exclaimed, "I landed on the straight to jail box again"

"Have yourself a merry little Christmas. Let your heart be light. From now on our troubles will be out of sight"

Sure they were just in their living room. Sure there was only one other couple dancing besides them. Sure the music was only pouring out of their simple CD player. But slow dancing was always romantic and always fun. Joyce rested her head on Giles' chest as they swayed to the music slowly. Her eyes closed as the exhaustion from the day's events seemed to take over, but she still kept dancing, her arms wrapped around him and his arms wrapped around her.

"Have yourself a merry little Christmas. Make the Yuletide gay. From now on our troubles will be miles away."

Anya and Xander, the other couple, also danced together, swaying slowly to the music. It was the only time Xander had known Anya not to comment on what was going on as she just danced silently in his arms, a blissful and peaceful smile on her face. Xander could smell her shampoo- strawberries-, her perfume- berries, and her- apples…it has always been apples and it had always been pure Anya. All those scents just made Xander happy, at peace with everything for once. When Anya was in his arms, he had never been surer everything was going to be okay.

"Here we are as in olden days, happy golden days of yore. Faithful friends who are dear to us, gather near to us once more"

Willow and Tara sat on the sofa while Buffy and Dawn sat on the floor at their feet. They had enjoyed watching the couples dancing for a small while, before turning to other things. Willow threw mini marshmallows at Dawn who tried to catch them in her mouth and both of them got more and more giggly with each passing marshmallow.

Buffy and Tara just talked. Nothing major, just very casually and lazily setting the world to rights with their amusing comments. Buffy loved this. She'd never had this in L.A, even before she became the Slayer. It had been a different type of group of friends then. Not once that lasted. Just a popularity circle. Instead of the Cordettes it had been the Buffettes. These, these were a family of friends. Buffy remembered the words she had said to Tara's, the Tara in front of her who had become such a close friend in such a short time, she remembered what she had said to Tara's Dad. 'We're family'. And now as she sat surrounded by the people she loved the most at a time in the year when that's exactly what everyone should have, she never felt the statement was more true.

"Through the years we all will be together if the Fates allow. Hang a shining star upon the highest bough. And have yourself a Merry little Christmas now"

Tara, Willow, Xander and Anya headed down the path away from 1630, reluctant to leave but knowing they had to anyway. It was well into the early hours of Boxing Day now.

"Bye!"

"See you!"

"All the best!"

"Merry Christmas!"

"Merry Christmas!"

"Same time! Same place!" Xander called back before speaking directly to Joyce, "Same dessert!"