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| DISCLAIMER: All hail Joss Whedon, UPN, the WB, FOX , Mutant Enemy and 20th Century Fox Film Corporation. Theirs not mine. "Ooh, cookies! Shaped like little men." Anya picked up a Santa Claus and bit off his head. "The cannibalistic overtones of eating little people shaped confections is deeply fascinating," said Anya. She peered at Buffy's hand. "Hey! You are wearing a very valuable diamond on your finger." She walked over to where Buffy was standing and grabbed her hand, the diamond inches from her nose. "Wow! That's some sparkler. Looks like a two-carat, bezel set, G color, S1 clarity, brilliant cut diamond in a platinum setting you got there." Anya wrinkled up her nose.. "Why do you have an engagement ring? And why is it nicer than mine?" Buffy decided to skip the latter question and focus on the former. "Spike and I are getting married." Anya looked confused and then gave Buffy a patronizing smile. "I'm sorry, Buffy, but you can't get married." "What are you talking about, Anya?" asked Buffy, perplexed. Anya spoke very slowly and carefully, as one might speak to a very small child or a homicidal maniac. "Xander asked me to marry him. I am the engaged girl! I am the bride. If there's more than one bride, it's not special." Buffy attempted to soothe her. "Anya-" But Anya was beyond soothing. "I'm special. No one else is getting married! No one! Willow and Tara can't get married, and aren't all back together yet anyway. Spike is a big dead cootie and you're going to die young because you're a slayer and all that. Dawn can't get married legally in this state yet. Giles is in England and no one wants his old sorry ass anyway. It's my moment to shine! You're ruining my happy day!" Buffy lost it. "It's all about you, is it? I'm the one that has to save the world. I'm the one that gets to do all the monster fighting. I had the whole coming back from the dead thing. I deserve a little happiness, too. You're a selfish brat!" Anya looked like she was going to cry, but Buffy was on a roll. "I hope you are pregnant. I hope you're pregnant with twins! When I'm walking down the aisle, looking all beautiful and radiant, you'll be waddling down the aisle like a great big pumpkin!" Anya broke down in tears, collapsing in a kitchen chair. Her great, racking sobs filled the room. Dawn and Buffy stared at each other. "Apologize," Dawn hissed between her teeth. "That was really rude, Buffy!" "I'm gonna be fat!" Anya wailed as she sobbed. "I'm sorry, Anya. I didn't mean it. I'm sure that if you're pregnant, you'll be all pretty and not so fat. You'll be a beautiful bride. Spike and I aren't planning on a big wedding thing anyway. Don't feel all competitive. Please stop crying. I'm so, so sorry,� said Buffy. Anya looked up, her eyes red. "You promise my wedding will be nicer than yours? It'll look more expensive?" Buffy patted her shoulder. "I promise, Anya. My wedding will be insignificant next to yours. It will be thrifty and small, cross my heart." Dawn handed Anya a tissue and she blew her nose. "Well, okay then." They all gathered in the basement, sitting around the large television that Spike had bought when they turned the basement into a family room. Cookies, snacks, sodas and a large punch bowl filled with eggnog sat on a folding table pushed against the wall. Spike and Buffy snuggled in his recliner as Xander and Anya relaxed on the couch. Dawn stood next to the television, waving the DVD of The Grinch Who Stole Christmas in the air. "Okay so what you do is, when anyone says "Who", you have to take a drink." "Dawnie," said Buffy," you can't drink Spike's eggnog. It has rum in it." Dawn rolled her eyes and pointed at her Coke on the coffee table. "I don't think you can drink it either, Slayer. My eggnog has enough rum in it to get you drunk just by smelling it. You're a toddling lightweight when it comes to liquor. You'll be three sheets to the wind fifteen minutes into the bloody picture. Right after that, you'll be asleep and drooling." Spike spoke very distinctly, a sure sign that he was well on his way to being smashed. Buffy turned to look at Spike. "I do not drool. Not ever. Besides, I'm not that much of a lightweight. Eggnog's not a serious alcohol drink. It's a light, fluffy, holiday beverage." Spike raised his eyebrows at her. "You got all tipsy last night on a half glass of champagne, love. Be reasonable. Eggnog's got a ton of sugar in it to cut the bite, but it hits hard. You couldn't get through a glass of the stuff and walk." Buffy pressed her nose into his. "Wanna bet?"Spike smirked at her. "I think Cindy Lou Who could drink more eggnog than you." Xander, Dawn, and Spike laughed. Buffy looked irritated. Anya looked blank. "Okay, Lucy and Ricky, I'm starting the movie now. Everyone get your tasty adult beverages," said Dawn. Spike poured himself and Buffy heaping full glasses of eggnog. Xander poured himself one, grabbing a can of ginger ale for Anya. "What's the matter, demon girl? Afraid to try my kick ass eggnog?" asked Spike. "Xander won't let me indulge in alcohol because he fears what it may do to our fetus," explained Anya. Xander smacked himself in the forehead while Spike looked immensely amused. "Harris! You git! You of all people a dad-" Catching the looks he was getting from Buffy and Dawn, he changed direction on that one. "Congratulations! That's really- neat," he said sincerely. They all settled down with their drinks. Xander and Anya looked at each other, smiled into each other's eyes, and held hands. Buffy settled back on Spike's lap, his hand wrapped around her waist. Dawn flopped on her stomach in front of the television. As the ending credits rolled, Dawn turned back to look at the sleeping couples. Buffy and Spike slept wrapped around each other like kittens, tucked tightly into each other. Xander and Anya were spooned around each other on the couch, his hand resting protectively over her abdomen. Dawn tossed throw blankets over each couple and turned out the light. In the living room, Dawn watched the lights blinking on the Christmas tree. They reflected onto all the brightly wrapped gifts under the tree. Sitting on the couch, she pulled back the curtain and looked up into the dark night sky. Clear and sparkling, a star shone brightly, twinkling down at her. She thought of Spike and Buffy, and how much they loved her and each other. They were really going to be a family. Looking up at the star, she whispered "Thank you." Dawn had received her Christmas miracle. -TBC- |
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