Disclaimer: I don't own Buffy. I do own Sophie, Lily, Jesse and Echo :)
Eventually, Willow zapped Anya with a tiny bolt of magic to force her into releasing the other woman, who quickly ran away with 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' in hand, crying out in victory.
"Why did you do that for?" Anya growled. "I almost had it!"
"You almost got yourself arrested!"
"You're exaggerating!"
"Am I?" Willow cried. "How badly would you have been willing to hurt that woman if I hadn't shown up when I did?"
"Well.."
"Exactly! I know how much Xander loves that movie, I really do.."
As her friend began to rant, Anya's attention wandered, until her gaze fell on the two empty strollers, her eyes widening in horror.
"Willow.."
"Don't interrupt! How would Xander feel if he had to spend his Christmas visiting you in.."
"WILLOW!" Anya shrieked, grabbing her friend's face and turning it towards the empty strollers. "OUR BABIES ARE GONE!"
They looked at each other for a moment, then did what anyone would do in their situation. Screamed, grabbed the strollers, and dashed madly through the store, frantically yelling their children's names.
Meanwhile, Tara, Sophie, and Faith were still searching in their store, when Tara's cellphone rang.
"It's Willow" She grinned. "Maybe she's found something.." That grin fell away as soon as she answered the call. "Will, slow down, I can't understand you. They what?! Okay, calm down, everything's going to be fine" She was trying not to panic as much as Willow obviously was. Faith and Sophie exchanged worried looks as they listened. "No, don't be sorry Sweetie. We all know what Lily's like with her powers. Faith's with me and Sophie. We'll call if we find them."
"Find who, T?" asked Faith with a frown after she had hung up.
"Jesse and Lily escaped from their strollers and wandered off."
"What? Again?!" said Faith in disbelief.
"Yes, again" Tara sighed. "Come on, let's go find them.."
Buffy had become slightly distracted by a 50 % off Shoe sale when her cell rang.
"Hey, Anya. Did you find.. What? Again?!" She yelled into the phone, unaware that she'd just echoed her Wife's reaction to the situation. "No, Anya, I know this is bad but stop screaming so loud, you'll scare people. I'll run up to customer service and get them to put out an announcement. I'll call you back if I find them, just try to stay calm, okay?"
"This is all your fault!" Anya snapped at Willow after Buffy had hung up. "Passing your stupid powers onto your daughter?"
"Me?" Willow yelled. "Oh no, this was definitely a you thing! We would have been watching them if I hadn't had to stop you.. Why are we even arguing? We need to find our kids!"
"I mean really, again?" Faith asked no one in particular as they began a whole new search. She was piggybacking Sophie, who's legs had grown tired. "Jeez, I thought, 'Rugrats' exaggerated about how often this stuff happens in real life but apparently I was wrong."
"Well, most babies don't have magic powers" said Tara. "Lily! If you can hear me come out right now!"
"Hang on!" cried Lily suddenly.
"What is it, Little Red?" Faith glanced around quickly.
"Do you see them?" asked Tara, also looking around.
"No" said Sophie, "But I can feel Lily."
"Show us the way then, kiddo" said Faith.
"That way!" Sophie pointed, and the adults followed.
Luckily, Jesse and Lily were not completely alone in the crowded Mall, because it just so happened that a certain member of the Powers-that-be had taken it upon herself to be Jesse's Guardian Angel.
Cordelia, remaining invisible to the Mall's patrons, walked behind the toddlers, making sure no harm befell them. She knew that, really, she should grab them both right now and take them back to their frantic Mothers. On the other hand, nothing could happen to them while she was watching. What harm could it do to help them accomplish their little mission first? Cordy nodded, her decision made. She raised a hand making a sparkling trail, visible only to them, appear before the children's eyes.
"Sparklies!" cried Lily excitedly as she began to follow it, dragging Jesse along behind her.