MayYourDaysBeMerry

Part 5 of the Christmas Cards 1999 Series

Disclaimer: The characters and situations from �Buffy the Vampire Slayer� and �Angel� aren�t mine and never were mine. The are and remain the property of Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and the WB Network. The author has received NO monetary recompense of any kind whatsoever.

Archive- Sure, but email me and let me know where it�s going.

Feedback- Absolutely.

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Buffy and Willow walked along with the crowd heading towards the exit of the Staples Center. The slayer was clutching the program from "'It's a Wonderful Life' on Ice" to her chest and talking excitedly.

"Didn't you think Nicole Bobek really did a wonderful job as Violet," she said, "I mean, the skating is so difficult, and yet she's not the star, so it's, like, totally thankless. She just shined, but she didn't show off and take away from the story, you know. And that triple-toe-loop when George gave her the money to pursue her dreams..."

To say Willow was not as interested in ice skating as Buffy would be to make the understatement of the year, if not the decade. But Willow had to admit her friend's enthusiasm was infectious, and she had ended up enjoying herself.

"And I don't think I've ever seen Todd Eldredge skate a role more suited to him than George Bailey," Buffy went on, "he was able to convey all the complexities: the anger, the despair, the ultimate redemption. Didn't you think he was great?"

"Oh, yeah," Willow said, "he was really fantastic. And it didn't even matter when fell. He got right back up like a trooper."

"I'm sure that was a rut in the ice," Buffy said defensively. "They just had a hockey game last night, and it probably wasn't zamboni�d properly."

"I guess," Willow agreed.

Suddenly Buffy stopped and grabbed Willow's arm. "I don't believe it," she said, all the buoyancy drained from her voice. "Is nothing sacred?"

Willow followed Buffy's gaze and at last saw what she was looking at. Behind a souvenir stand, waiting for the crowd to thin, was a man in a long black coat. Beside him was a figure in a full, long cloak with a hood drawn low over its face. As Willow watched, this figure raised a pale blue, mottled hand and re-adjusted the hood. She saw a flash of its face, also mottled blue with scaly protuberances, like a reptile. Between it and the man were two small children in Eskimo style coats.

"Kidnapping children from the ice show," Willow said. "That's just so wrong."

"Get ready to run for help if there's trouble," Buffy said, handing Will her program. Then she hurried the long way around the stand to catch the villains by surprise.

The man and the demon still had their backs to her, surveying the crowd. Buffy grabbed the demon's shoulder and spun it around. "Where do you think you're taking those kids," she demanded.

"Wha..." the demon said confusedly.

"Hey," the man said angrily.

"Mommy!" the children cried in unison.

Buffy's fist froze halfway to the demon's face. She looked down at the two children. "Mommy?" she asked.

"Yes," the man said, still highly piqued. "She is my wife. We have the same right as you to bring our children to the ice show."

Buffy lowered her hands. "I'm sorry," she said, "I didn't realize..."

"Wait a minute," the man said, his tone suddenly changing, "aren't you the slayer?"

Buffy blinked in surprise. "What?"

"You are," the man insisted. "We live in Sunnydale, too. We moved so my wife could be closer to her work. I have to tell you, you're doing a great job."

"She's the slayer?" the children said, awestruck. "Wow... cool..."

Buffy started to back away. "Well, sorry for the misunderstanding..."

"Not at all," the demon said, "I'm glad to know the slayer would defend my children so quickly if there were a real threat."

Buffy shrugged nervously. "Well, you know..."

"Before you go," the man said, "do you mind if I just get a picture of you with the kids? Only take a second."

Before Buffy could answer, the man had pulled an instamatic out of his pocket and snapped a photo of Buffy and his family. "Thanks a lot," he said, taking Buffy's hand and shaking it. "Keep up the good work," he said. "Remember: all the decent, hardworking demons out there are pulling for you."

"Thanks," Buffy mumbled, then quickly made her way back to Willow.

"What was that all about?" Willow asked.

Buffy smiled, still slightly dazed. "I guess I have fans," she said.

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