SantaBaby

Disclaimer: Charles Gunn and the rest of the characters and situations relating to �Angel� are the property of Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and the WB Network. No ownership by the author is either intended or implied.

Notes on �Santa Baby�: The quoted song, �Christmas in L.A.,� Is by W. Wolfe. Yes, that�s OUR wwolfe. You can hear an MP3 at the band�s website- http://www.tenfeetfromla.com/
It�s on wwolfe�s solo album, California Deluxe.
Suggested Soundtrack (other than that tune)- A Very Special Christmas, vol. 1 (Various Artists)

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When Christmas rolls around, I get lots of cards
With snow on the roofs and reindeer in the yards
I send back my own with a Santa wearing shades
In a hot pink Camaro by Pacific Palisades
From the skaters down in Venice to the surfers on the sand
And the shoppers on Rodeo and the homeless down on Grand
And the homies up on Adams and the cops and the mayor
And the girls out in the Valley and the stars up in Bel Air
It�s Christmas in L.A.
Put away your snowshoes, put away your sleigh
Walk around in shorts and a T-shirt all day
It�s Christmas in L.A.
Yeah, it�s Christmas in L.A.
-Christmas in L.A. (W. Wolfe)

Gunn stood on the side of the hook and ladder truck as it slowly wound its way through the poorest neighborhoods of Los Angeles, sirens blaring.

It was always the intention of the organizers of the fire department�s annual toy giveaway to be done their rounds well before dusk, but when you were delivering bags of toys from a fire truck by way of a volunteer dressed as Santa Claus on Christmas Eve, things tended to get a bit behind schedule. And whenever you had crowds of unsupervised kids outside after dark, you had a vampire problem.

Which is where Gunn and his people came in. Quite a few of them already had connections at the churches and community centers that were the distribution points for the gifts, so it was easy for them to latch onto the procession and keep an eye out for bloodsuckers. Gunn himself had climbed onto the truck to stay above the crowd and watch both the children and his own soldiers.

So far, things had been pretty quiet, and he hoped they stayed that way. They were at their last stop now, St. Claudius Church, and the Gunn was on his way to a holiday get-together at Angel Investigations, at Cordelia�s request.

He shook his head at the absurdity of that situation. The girl with the visions insisting the vampire hunter share Christmas cheer with the stuffy Brit and the half-crazy vampire with a soul. He hadn�t even attempted to work that one through his mind.

�Quite a turnout,� said a voice above him, startling him out of his thoughts. Gunn looked up to see an older gentleman, his leathery skin the color of Brazil-nut shells.

�Yes, it is,� Gunn said.

�It�s always a blessing to see such generosity,� the man said.

Gunn shook his head. �All due respect, sir,� he said, �these kids need more than toys one day a year.�

The man gave a gentle chuckle. �And I suppose a baby needs myrrh.�

Gunn looked up, confused. �Sir?�

The fire engine came to a halt in front of the church. �let�s help get these toys unpacked, son,� the man said. �Then we�ll talk.�

Two priests, five nuns, and several volunteers directed the firemen down to the church�s all-purpose room, where perhaps fifty children, mostly Hispanic, were waiting. When Santa entered the room with his sack of toys they nearly lost control, jumping up and down and shrieking with joy.

The nuns took charge, arranging the kids in a semblance of order and handing out the packages. Gunn passed by several of the volunteers and one of the priests after assuring himself the area was clear, and each greeted him with a quiet but heartfelt �bless you.�

The man he�d spoken to earlier caught up with him outside the entrance to the sanctuary. �Come with me,� he said, pushing open one of the heavy wooden doors.

Gunn hesitated. �I have someplace to be,� he said.

�It won�t take long,� the man said. �And it could be very important to you, Charles.�

�How did..?� But the man had already entered the church.

Cursing under his breath, Gunn followed him.

The sanctuary was not quite empty, and Gunn choked back the impulse to shout at the older man. �How did you�� he began again when he caught up.

�There are many gifts we give the world,� the man said, interrupting him. �Material things, of course, but that is the least of all. We must reach out to the world. We must give our minds, our talents, our spirits.�

Gunn sighed and crossed his arms.

�You have a different opinion?� the man asked him.

�These kids need families,� Gunn said. �They need good educations and opportunities. They�re not going to get that from a bunch of toys.�

The man didn�t answer right away, instead stepping over to where the votive candles glowed in their red glass holders. �Is that all you see? Toys?�

�What else would I see?� Gunn said.

The man crossed to where a painted plaster cr�che scene was displayed on a platform near the altar, and Gunn followed. The man reached out and picked up one of the Magi figures, the one whose face and hands were painted dark brown, the one said in legend to have come from the Ethiopian lands.

�Gifts have meaning beyond their function,� the man said. �When the Magi came to the infant Christ they brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh.�

Gunn shook his head. �So?�

�These gifts had meanings. Gold as a symbol of His power, because kings are crowned with gold. Incense, used by priests to sanctify holy places, to show He would be a leader of the faith.�

Gunn didn�t speak. He was curious now to see where this was going.

The man replaced the figure carefully in the creche. �And myrrh. A balm used to prepare the dead for burial. Brought to an infant.� He turned to Gunn, and the young warrior felt suddenly small and humble.

�The gifts these children received tonight were more than mere toys, Charles. They were the tangible expression of a world that�s about more than keeping them down. They are a tiny bit of proof that there are people who don�t know anything about these children other than they are children and they are in want, yet these strangers want to give them gifts, something they might otherwise never hope for.�

Gunn looked steadily at the man. There was something ancient and otherworldly reflected in his face. �You have many gifts to give,� the man said, �and what you have will be given again unto the world.�

Gunn lowered his eyes.

�Be generous with your gifts,� the man said. �You never know who you�re giving them to, and how they�ll be passed on. Just as I didn�t know when I gave myrrh to that child.�

Gunn�s head shot up at these words, but he was standing alone before the creche. He sank down into the pew, his legs suddenly weak as water.

�Gunn,� a voice shouted from the doorway, and the young vampire hunter turned to see one of his men, Chain, waiting for him.

�We�re ready to go,� Chain said. �You coming?�

Gunn took one last look at the plaster cr�che, in particular the dark Magi with the solemn and wise expression, then got to his feet. �Yeah,� he said. �I�m ready.�

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