9.) Merry Christmas: Merry Christmas
by Mooncalf
Disclaimer: Buffy The Vampire Slayer and related characters are owned by Joss Whedon, WB and Mutant Enemy. I can only take credit for the new main characters I have created and various other vampire minions which may wander into my stories. I created them, so they are mine. Don't sue as this is just pure fanfic.

SUNNYDALE – DECEMBER 1999

Xander had decided to walk Buffy home after patrol. Buffy thought it was sweet, but she guessed it had more to do with the fact that he was lonely. It had been four weeks since Eli’s death and none of them had heard from Esme or Eve since that night outside the Bronze. She was proved right about his loneliness when he asked her about Esme.

‘I haven’t seen or heard from Es since it happened. Do you think she’s over it yet?’

‘God, I don’t know. It’s a lot to cope with, losing a brother like that…not being able to stop it or anything. But Giles did say that they’d need a proper grieving period…I guess a month is what it takes.’

‘But what if it’s more than a month, what if she never gets over it…I’ll never see her again. Or what if she can’t cope with it by herself and goes nuts, or tries to kill herself…what if she tries to find that silver stake…’

‘Trust me, she’s never gonna find that thing…and she wouldn’t want to either.’ Buffy remembered watching it turn to dust with Spike, as it was still sticking out of his stomach when he died. She was absolutely certain that it’d never come back…where else could she possibly get one?

‘You think so?’

‘I know so. Maybe she’s just avoiding all the Christmas cheer; those carol singers can drive you nuts…’

‘Buffy, look out…’ A vampire made an attempt to grab her and she staked him with a flick of her wrist and he burst into dust.

She acted as if nothing had happened until Xander stopped in his tracks and stared open-mouthed at her. She looked back at him and held her head high.

‘It’s all in the reflexes.’ She said proudly, and then they carried on walking.

**********

‘Well guys, it’s nearly Christmas!’ Cheered Cordelia in the study hall of Sunnydale Community College. ‘In fact, it’s the last day of college today…no classes, nothing to do but spread Christmas cheer…’

They all stared blankly at her false cheer.

‘Party on the last day?’ Again, blank looks. ‘Swap presents?’ She added weakly. Finally someone decided to humour her.

‘Ah ha, now we know what you’re up to Cordy, if you’re not compliment-fishing, your gift-fishing.’ Said Willow.

‘Well, don’t worry…no one forgot you, we were just a little pre-occupied that’s all.’ Said Buffy.

‘Oh, I didn’t mean…well I wasn’t really…okay, I guess I was, but I can’t help it, I love Christmas.’ She said.

‘Yeah, and Christmas presents.’ Said Xander and Oz simultaneously.

‘Well, don’t you guys like presents?’ She asked bewildered.

‘Nah, I prefer the Christmas food.’ Said Xander, rubbing his stomach.

‘Oh yeah.’ Said Oz dreamily. Willow elbowed him playfully.

‘What about you Giles?’ Asked Buffy, once again Giles had wormed his way into their study hall with an excuse about needing a book. Really he just wanted to be around them as he missed Eve so much. ‘I’m a crackers kind of a girl…oh, and of course I love the partying.’

‘Hmm? Oh, Christmas…yes…I suppose it’s got to be decorating the tree, in the traditional way of course.’

‘Mmm.’ Said Willow. ‘Popcorn on string…which I’m not allowed to have.’

‘Oh yes, not that ghastly tinsel stuff…too tacky.’ Agreed Giles.

‘Yeah, and some little candles, real ones…although mom won’t let me on account of the fact that last time we used real ones, it burnt down the tree.’ Said Cordelia.

‘Oh, I see…well I suppose electric lights on strings are safer…a-and more blinding, of course there is the fire risk of the bulbs overheating.’ Giles muttered.

‘Oh yeah, that happened once too…another tree bit the dust…or the ash.’ Said Cordelia.

‘You don’t have a lot of luck with Christmas tree’s do you Cordy?’ Said Buffy.

‘Nope, mom doesn’t let me help anymore…she thinks I’ve got a Christmas tree jinx. I don’t know why she never just ordered a pre-decorated one anyway…safer.’

‘Yeah, she causes spontaneous tree combustion.’ Said Xander.

‘So, what about these presents? I’m dying to give you mine!’ Said Cordelia excitedly, changing the subject quickly before they got onto the subject of Christmas present stockings…the times she’d dropped them accidentally onto the open fire...

‘Isn’t she just the spirit of Christmas?’ Said Oz. Cordelia frowned and pulled a designer bag onto the table, she began handing out small, perfectly wrapped parcels. ‘Okay you guys, don’t open them until Christmas day, right?’ She said.

‘Right.’ They all sighed. Then they all began handing out presents to each other, even Giles.

‘We’d better get outside for Dean Miller to make her Christmas speech, then we can all get outta here.’ Dean Miller was the Snyder of Sunnydale Community College…and she had become Buffy’s new nemesis.

‘Sounds good to me.’ Said Buffy. ‘Even if we have to listen to her prattle on for an hour, it’ll be good to finally get out of here.’

‘Yeah, let’s go Mrs.Claus.’ Said Xander to Cordelia. She hit him gently and then took his arm, they all headed outside smiling, but no-one felt particularly happy…even so close to Christmas.

**********

Later that night they were walking down the street heading for the Bronze (Buffy, Xander, Willow, Oz, and Giles.) At the Bronze Angel was already there waiting for them, or at least waiting for Buffy. Cordelia had decided not to join them, she wanted to go to the all night coffee shop and see Pierce, and she said they needed to talk about ‘stuff’. Willow, Oz, and Buffy got up and began dancing wildly, celebrating Christmas…nearly Christmas.

Xander and Giles decided not to dance, as they didn’t have partners…and they didn’t feel much like dancing anyway. Angel lingered by the bar with them.

‘So, have you heard from Eve lately?’ Xander asked hopefully.

‘No, h-have you heard from Esmerelda?’ Giles was equally hopeful.

‘No. I really wish she’d call, I want to know if she’s okay.’

‘So do I Xander.’ So do I.

**********

Outside, Eve and Esme were walking down the street. They were both dressed in black, mourning Eli.

‘We’ve got to try and cheer up a bit.’ Said Eve. ‘Or they’ll just keep asking us how we are all night.’

‘Yeah, I guess so…and then Pierce will just start apologising again…maybe we shouldn’t go.’ Said Esme.

‘We’ve got too, it’s been a month already…’

‘Well maybe a month’s not long enough to get over it!’ Said Esme storming ahead past a group of carol singers. Eve sighed and headed for the Bronze.

**********

Inside the Bronze the others were still partying, except Giles and Xander who were still at the bar. Eve strolled in and quietly went over to them, Giles hugged her happily.

‘I’m so glad to see you, I was worried about you…are you alright?’ Eve pulled out of Giles hug and kept her distance from him. He looked at her sadly, maybe she didn’t like him at all, maybe he was just fooling himself…maybe he should just give up.

‘Yeah, I’m fine…Xander,’ she turned to him, ‘Esme’s not coming tonight, I don’t think. She’s still not over it…maybe you should talk to her about it or something…’ She didn’t have time to finish her sentence as he nodded and headed out the door. She looked at Giles again; he seemed upset about something.

‘I think I’m going to go for a walk.’ She said, not looking him in the eye. ‘Tell Buffy that we are still alive, tell her I said hi and…and tell her thanks for trying.’ She walked out of the door leaving Giles completely alone. He looked over at the dance floor and noticed that the others were still partying.

Well, if they can enjoy them selves and be happy, so can I. He decided not to give up and went out of the door, after Eve.

‘Eve…’ He called, catching up to her. ‘Can I ask you something?’

**********

Xander ran straight to Esme and Eves flat and knocked loudly on the door. She opened it, smiled weakly and gestured for him to come in. He took off his jacket and sat down on the large sofa. She sat next to him and stared at the floor. They were silent for a while, before Xander sorted out what he wanted to say to her.

‘Es, I know it’s hard for you to lose a brother…when he’s been there for you all your life…but believe me, it does get easier.’

She didn’t answer; instead she just stared downwards. She was staring at her open hands as they rested in her lap.

‘Look, I understand if you don’t want to talk to me about this now…maybe you don’t ever want to talk about it…but if you do, I want you to know that I’m here for you. So is everyone else, even Angel…and you can talk to Eve…she’s your sister, what are sister’s for huh?’ He laughed weakly, and then more seriously he added. ‘Es, it will get better, I promise you.’

Xander felt that what he was saying made no sense, and wasn’t helping Esme at all…but he had to try and get her to open up. They sat in silence again.

‘He died in my hands Xander.’ She finally said, quietly crying. ‘I held him for a split second before he exploded…he exploded on me…I couldn’t stop it…’ At that point she burst into loud sobs and Xander hugged her tightly to comfort her. He couldn’t bear to see her in so much pain…and he realised for the first time that he was in love with her, really in love.

**********

At the all-night coffee shop Cordelia and Pierce shared a booth in the corner, they were pretty much alone in the shop, but they still wanted a private space. They both stared down into their black coffee’s, not sure what to say to each other.

‘Look, Cordelia, I know that there’s a lot you don’t know about me, and what happened back then with the gang and Eli…’

‘So tell me.’

‘Everything?’

‘Everything, from the beginning…like, why the hell did you join them in the first place?’

‘Because of Quill.’

‘So you like, followed you’re rebel girlfriend or something?’

‘She’s my sister.’

‘Oh.’

‘Look, I was eighteen and stuck working in a diner. We were trailer park trash from the wrong side of town. Our father was a drunk and our mom took off with a guy in a Cadillac when I was sixteen, so I was the provider. I used to race my bike at night for extra cash and Quill used to start the races. Then one night I raced this guy, he came into town with a gang of bikers. They were rowdy and shook up our little town. It was the first race I ever lost and I was impressed, so was Quill. She even started dating him…Blade. Then we joined the gang.’

‘But, they’re so evil and you’re so…not evil. How could you have possibly liked them back then…’

‘I was different then…I was stuck in a no-hope job, with a shitty life and I just wanted out. For me and Quill. So I started to rebel, went wild for a long time. We rode round the town on our bikes, terrorising the old folks and the cops… Quill rode on the back of Blades bike until he went out and stole her a little Harley of her own, and then the cops really took notice. We had to get out of town. But before we could leave Blade insisted we screw the two-bit town for everything it had.’

He downed the last of his coffee and looked like he really didn’t want to say what happened next, but Cordelia wanted to know.

‘We knocked over a liquor store, got totally trashed with what we stole. We rode round town throwing bottles of whiskey with lighted rags in them through windows and into cars. Almost the whole place went up in flames, the cops were too busy helping to put it all out, they didn’t have time to chase us. So we made our getaway, via the trailer park to get our stuff. We sent Quill in to get it, we didn’t want our dad to think we were up to anything and I was supposed to be at work that night. We waited outside for half an hour, then me and Blade went in. The whole trailer was trashed and Quill had had the shit kicked out of her. I didn’t know what to do, dad was just standing over her with his belt ready to whip her again, and she was screaming and crying, trying to hide behind the bags she’d packed…’

Cordelia had poured him a second cup from their small coffee pot and he was putting lump after lump of sugar in as he spoke.

‘I don’t really know what happened next…I just remember that he turned to me, said he was gonna beat the hell out of me too and I just lost it. I went for him and hit back, he didn’t have time to grab me before I knocked him down…’

The whole scene came back to Pierce, he could see everything in his head as he closed his eyes. Quill, a trembling wreck getting to her feet, grabbing the bags and standing behind him for protection. Their father pulling himself gradually to his knees and scowling at them.

‘Let’s go.’ Quill whispered, pulling Pierce’s sleeve. They turned to go but Blade stopped them.

‘We can’t just leave him like this, he’ll tell the cops!’

‘Of course we can, you heard her, let’s just go.’

‘Don’t you walk out on me boy! You hear me!’ Their father slurred as he spoke. ‘Always were a no-good son of a bitch…gonna walk out just like you’re mamma…’

‘Shut you’re pie-hole old timer!’ Blade yelled, he pulled a large bladed knife from inside his boot and slashed their father’s throat.

Quill screamed and Pierce was too shocked to speak. Their father’s eyes grew wide as he clutched his throat; he spluttered and coughed up blood before collapsing face down on the floor. As a pool of blood began to form Pierce stared at blade.

‘What have you done…’

‘Hey, I’ve done you a favour…he won’t bother you again. Now come on.’ Neither of them made a move. ‘I said come on!’ He grabbed Quill and dragged her outside as she shrieked. Pierce took one last look and followed them.

In the coffee shop he opened his eyes and saw the sad look on Cordelia’s face.

‘We had to go with the gang, there was no way we could go back after that…the town was gone, our home was wrecked and he’d murdered our father. But things were never the same between us after that, we weren’t friends anymore…I saw some of the things they did and I didn’t like it. Blade told me about all the people he’d wasted before…my father wasn’t the first. Quill just got quieter and more withdrawn from him. She wouldn’t talk to anyone but me, and she wouldn’t let him touch her…he used to get pissed off, so he’d just go off and screw other girls. Sometimes he actually asked their permissions first, but most of the time he didn’t.’ His voice grew full of disgust as he continued. ‘Then we got to a new town, where we met Caleb. He’d just moved back to town with a friend of his from the city. He was a great guy, me and Quill used to hang out at his place every night to avoid the others…and when he told me he was a vampire it was weird for a while…I wasn’t scared, and I didn’t really care. He told us about Eli too, and that was okay. It didn’t matter what they were…I mean, they were demons, but they were still better people than the guy who was supposed to be my best bud.’

‘Is that why Blade hated them, because they were vampires?’

‘No, he just couldn’t stand it that we had other friends. He didn’t know Caleb was a vampire, and he didn’t even know Eli until afterwards…’

‘Afterwards?’

‘After he went out with Slash and Harp and held up a bar with a shotgun, he took all the cash they had and as much whiskey as they could carry. They got trashed and broke down the door to Caleb’s house, but he wasn’t there…he was over at Eli’s motel room with us. They wanted to break down his door and beat him, maybe kill him. But they found his sisters instead. Quill and I drove Caleb home, when we got there we saw them just driving off, laughing and shouting and waving half full whiskey bottles around. When we got inside it was horrible…Bonnie and Heidi were just lying there, covered in blood…they’d been raped by the three of them until they couldn’t take it any more, they almost died. But Caleb went mad, he blamed us for bringing them here, and for making Blade hate him so much… He vamped out and demanded we take him to their motel before it got light, so we did. When we got there they were all dancing and drinking…it was like an orgy, Slash and Barb, Stick and Sly, Harp and Blade with whores… But everything stopped when they saw Caleb’s face.’

He could see it all again, in his mind…the whores rushing to get dressed and run screaming from the room before Caleb shut and locked the door, throwing him and Quill down on the nearest bed. Blade showed no fear for a moment, pulling his pants up he rushed forward, stumbling slightly because he was so drunk.

‘Who the hell are you!’ He demanded.

Caleb growled, he didn’t bother answering before he grabbed a half naked Sly and savagely ripped into her neck, she screamed a strangled cry and fell weakly to the floor. Blade hurriedly stumbled backwards to get away, searching his boot for his knife. He didn’t have a chance to use it before Caleb leapt on him and bit into his throat.

Pierce could only watch as Caleb got swept away by the bloodlust, the taste of death and the joy of taking fresh blood…it was too much for him to handle watching, his friend was his old self again. He turned on them and made a grab for Quill, slamming her against the wall as he held her neck tightly.

‘Now we’ll see how you like it!’ He shrieked, and even in his vampire form Pierce could see blood red tears of anger and hatred in his eyes. He turned back to Quill and began to beat her.

Pierce made a move to help her but he was knocked back down to the couch as a semi-conscious Blade leapt onto him, he was pouring with blood from his neck wound and begging for Pierce to help him. His huge body weighed him down, he couldn’t move, and he was soaked with Blades blood. All he could do was listen to his sister scream and cry as she was beaten and then feasted on.

Finally Caleb finished and dropped Quill to the floor, half dead. He pulled Blades still struggling body off of Pierce and pulled him to his feet. He looked right into his face and grinned.

‘Shame really, she’d have made a good whore.’

Angrily Pierce tried to fight, but Caleb was too strong and too high on anger and hate to be stopped. There was no escape…

Pierce hung his head wearily over his empty coffee cup.

‘I was the last to die.’ He sighed.

‘Pierce, you don’t have to go on if you don’t want to…’

‘I might as well, I’ve come this far haven’t I?’

He paused to order some food for her and more coffee for them both before continuing his story.

‘When we woke up it was almost the next evening…we remembered everything that had happened, we didn’t feel different…just, we didn’t need to breath. Then Sly opened one of the blinds and burnt her arm. I realised what had happened, we’d been changed. When I told Blade he wanted revenge…I did too, but not his way. So when dusk came me and Quill stayed behind while the others went to Caleb’s house to kill him…but they didn’t stop there, they murdered his whole family, all his neighbours…everyone nearby who saw them go to the house. And when they got back in the morning they were drunk again, covered in blood and high on their first kills. I remember Blade saying, “This vampire shit’s great, you should try it.” I didn’t think it was anything to be laughing about…we were dead as far as I was concerned, dead and we’d been made into animals. But all he saw was the fact that we were strong and immortal. I walked out of the room to get away for a while, before it got light and I was stuck there for the day. Then I heard Quill screaming, so I ran inside.’

Pierce tried to force away the memory of that night, of seeing Blade hurting Quill.

‘He raped her, and beat her…then he beat me…and I didn’t see what happened next, I got knocked out. All I know is that Quill lost it and he lost an eye. You’d have thought he’d be angry, but once he got his glass eye and saw the effect it had on people, for scaring them, she became his favourite. But he still always tried to touch her when she didn’t want him…that’s the only reason I stayed, to look after her…she’s been through so much, because of me not having the guts to get her out.’ He hung his head in shame.

‘Why didn’t you just leave and take her with you?’

‘Eli suggested that, but she was scared about joining other vampires…in case they turned out like Caleb. It wasn’t his fault, but it scared her to think about it…and Blade scared her into staying. He always said he’d hunt her down if she left, and then he wouldn’t let her say no again…and sometimes, when he was really drunk, he didn’t. I couldn’t stop him though…with everyone else holding me back.’

‘Why didn’t you tell Eli about Caleb and his sisters sooner, maybe he could’ve helped you stop them and get away…’

‘I wanted him to join first, to see what they were really like…to see what they did, how they controlled us and made us go along with everything they did. But before he could join he had to race Blade, so he took my bike and won. They let him join, but just before the initiation I told him the truth. He decided that we should kill Blade, Slash and Barb…if they were gone the others wouldn’t bother going after us. He was gonna go after Blade, me for Slash and Quill for Barb. But he missed Blades heart…I managed to get hold of Slash, to hold him back long enough for Eli to run. He wanted us to go with him, but we had to stay and hold them off. I told him we’d be fine, and that he should never come back. Just get out of town and he did. That was the last I ever saw of him until we came here.’

‘Was Blade really pissed?’

‘Oh, y’know, just a little. He wanted to kill me, but Quill begged for my life…my afterlife. Blade said he’d let me live if she said yes for once. If just for once she gave her consent and did everything he said, so she agreed…to say yes, just once. And that was it…she sacrificed her body for one night so they wouldn’t kill me, after everything she’d been through… So I had to stay, even though I hated him and couldn’t bear to think about the things he’d made her do, for me…’ He looked urgently into her eyes, almost desperate for her to understand and to believe him. ‘But I never killed, I always used the blood banks, or hospitals…even animals sometimes. Quill did the same, except when he required her to hunt.’

He sounded bitter…but that was the end of it now, there was nothing else to tell. They sat in silence for a few moments as the truth settled in. Then Cordelia made shapes with her curly fries to try and make him laugh, she just barely succeeded. She smiled and decided to lighten the mood a little more, to show him that whats past is past and she wouldn’t hold it against him.

‘So where did you get the silly nicknames from?’ Bad idea.

‘Blade cuz he used to use a knife with an enormous blade to cut people up in rumbles with the gang. Harp cuz his weapon was a harpoon, Barb cuz she once won a fight with some girl over Slash by strangling her with barbed wire. Sly because she used to have a brother called Sylvester, but she hung him from the tree in her front yard because he scratched the paint on her bike.’ Cordelia winced slightly as the tales got worse and worse. ‘Stick because he once held up a tobacco store with a think branch of wood, and he beat to death two sales assistants and the deputy sheriff.’

Cordelia lost her appetite and pushed her plate away. She was afraid to ask the next question, but she did it anyway.

‘What about you two…Pierce and Quill…?’

‘Quill because on her first date with Blade she took him down to the creek, but she fell over and landed on a wild porcupine…she had porcupine quills all over her butt for a week.’ He smiled, Cordelia giggled. ‘And me, just cuz I was the only one in the gang to have a pierced ear…Quill pierced it for me.’

‘Not really as dangerous as the others then huh?’

‘Nope, but at the time it didn’t matter…no-one needed to know what they stood for, they just sounded good.’

‘And what about you’re real ones?’

He smiled, seeming to forget everything that he’d said so far, his brooding expression faded. ‘My sister’s name is Cherry, Cherry Burroughs. I’m Randy Burroughs.’

Cordelia burst into a fit of hysterical laughter.

‘It’s not that bad CORDY. But I’m still keeping my gang name.’

**********

CHRISTMAS EVE – DECEMBER 1999

After partying at the Bronze everyone headed home. Willow had crept over to Oz’s house to get in on his family’s Christmas cheer as she wasn’t allowed any at home.

In Giles’ flat he and Eve had finished the decoration, a traditional style. The main room was covered with sprigs of Holly and Ivy…and mistletoe. They were standing in the middle of the room admiring their handy work and drinking glasses of eggnog, they were under the mistletoe.

‘Thanks for helping me with this Evelyn, it’s very kind of you.’

‘No problem, I was happy to help. It takes my mind off things…and you did ask me to, I couldn’t possibly refuse…besides I like spending time with you.’ She found herself feeling almost nervous in Giles’ presence…that was a first for her.

‘Really? Well, I feel the same…about you I mean.’ She smiled at him, feeling more relaxed. ‘Evelyn, I’m going to be honest with you…there’s never really been anyone for me since Jenny, until now…I find myself attracted to you and, how did Buffy once put it? You have a thing, I have a thing and so lets have a thing together…or some nonsense…this is harder than I thought.’ He sighed and sipped his eggnog. Then he looked into her eyes, this time she didn’t avoid his gaze.

‘You’ve got a bit of nog on your chin there.’ She said, reaching up to wipe it off, and then she kissed him passionately under the mistletoe. When they parted Giles looked shocked.

‘I-I thought y-you didn’t like me…you were s-so…’

‘Giles, I know I was off hand with you at the Bronze, but I just needed to talk to Xander about Esme. I’m sorry I walked out on you like that, I never thought you’d follow me…I thought I’d blown it.’

‘Well now you know you haven’t. Apology excepted.’ She smiled at him. ‘Now where did you say that nog was?’

‘Right here.’ She said and kissed him again. Hmmm, I could get used to this. He thought.

**********

Buffy and Joyce were in Buffy’s living room hanging decorations on the tree.

‘Now, the finishing touch.’ Said Buffy producing a small box of silver crosses, which they proceeded to hang on the tree. ‘Can’t have those evil vamps attacking our tree now can we.’ She said-she still couldn’t believe how well her mum was coping with the whole vampires-are-real thing, but she guessed that part of her relsilient nature had come form her mothers genes, not just her slayer heritage.

‘That’s why I’ve got these.’ Said Joyce, gently kicking a nearby shoebox that was filled with whittled stakes. Buffy smiled and they both looked at the finished tree. It was beautiful, and more than enough to cheer the house up. Especially sicne they were to be alone on Christmas Eve.

**********

Cordelia was in her back yard ‘helping’ Pierce put lights on a large pine tree. He was on a ladder and she was advising from a chair. She thought about how much closer she felt to him now that she knew everything…he wasn’t an evil vampire, a hell-raising biker or a rapist. He was wonderful. When he was done he came down and moved the ladder, she pulled a switch and the tree glowed. They both stood and admired it, embraced for a kiss…then the bulbs on the tree exploded and they ran to the house for cover.

**********

In Xander’s room he was lying on his bed admiring his decoration - a small tree and enough tinsel and lights to decorate the Empire State Building - and watching a Christmas film on the TV, Esme was laying against him and sleeping. He was glad he had convinced her to leave the flat; it was too gloomy for her to be alone in.

He looked out of his bedroom window and noticed that it was snowing…it hadn’t snowed in Sunnydale for years until last year, and he never thought he’d see it again. He turned off the TV and closed his eyes; he didn’t feel like watching ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’ again. Besides, it was on every Christmas…if he desperately needed to see it there was always next year. Lying next to him Esme slept on, the only peaceful sleep she’d had in a month.

Outside children were taking advantage of the thick covering of snow that was forming, it was thicker than last years. The kids made snowmen, had snowball fights and some even lay in the snow making snow angels; up the street every house was decorated with lights and tinsel, some houses even had giant nativity sets on the front lawn, and Xander thought his room was tacky…

**********

DECEMBER 28TH 1999

‘Well, how was Christmas you guys?’ Xander asked cheerily at the Bronze after Christmas was over. ‘Thanks for the magic eight-ball of truth Cordy.’

‘Anytime, I thought you were a little misguided.’ She said.

‘So you thought you’d confuse him even more?’ Asked Buffy. Everyone laughed.

‘But seriously, what is everyone doing on New Years Eve?’ Asked Oz. ‘Cos I thought maybe we could meet up and party here, how about it?’

‘Sounds good, as long as the Dingo’s Ate My Baby aren’t playing…I’ve heard they suck.’ Said Buffy.

Oz pulled a face at her and she laughed. ‘Oh, no, wait! We do suck.’ He smiled.

Cordelia and Pierce headed off to the dancefloor, followed by Oz and Willow. Buffy was asked to dance by a boy from her Psyche class, she thought his name was Todd, but she couldn’t remember. He was cute though. This left only Xander and Esme at the bar by themselves. Esme saw it as the perfect opportunity to talk to Xander properly.

‘I won’t be here for New Years Eve. Me and Eve are gonna leave Sunnydale…’

‘For good?’ Said Xander in shock.

‘No, just for a couple of weeks, maybe more…we need a little time by ourselves so we can really get over Eli’s death.’

‘Okay, I understand…I guess four weeks wasn’t enough time. You will definitely come back though, won’t you?’

‘Of course I will, I’d never leave you like that…besides, Eve can’t bear to be parted from Giles.’ Xander smiled and they both looked across the dance floor over to where Giles and Eve were standing, talking…and kissing.

Suddenly Cordelia appeared and dragged Xander onto the dance floor, and Oz - having swapped partners with Pierce - asked Esme to join him on the dance floor.

**********

NEW YEARS EVE – DECEMBER 1999

The time came, early in the evening, for Eve and Esme to leave, they had chosen New Years Eve to go. They put a couple of duffel bags into the trunk of their car and kissed Giles and Xander goodbye.

Xander closed the passenger door behind Esme and tapped on the roof of the car, signalling that they could go. The two sisters drove off in the snow while Giles and Xander waved to them.

‘Do you really think they’ll come back?’ Xander asked, suddenly wondering if letting them go was such a good idea.

‘I know they will. Come on, we’re missing a New Years Eve party!’ Giles grabbed Xander by the arm and pulled him into his car. Xander hardly had time to close the door before Giles was speeding off towards the Bronze. He had never seen Giles so lively and happy. But he had a pretty good idea that Eve was the cause of it.

It seemed that the O’Riley sisters had quite an effect on you…Xander and Giles were definitely caught under their spell. But they didn’t seem to care, they were in love.

**********

When Xander and Giles arrived at the Bronze the party was in full swing. A few people rushed past them in the doorway wearing party hats, draped with streamers and blowing small cardboard horns wildly.

Everyone was dancing with anyone they could find. Buffy went a little crazy and grabbed Cordelia for a dance, while Xander began enjoying himself and did the foxtrot with Oz. Everyone cheered the two of them on as they strutted down the centre of the crowd. Someone even wolf whistled. Finally Xander spun Oz round too fast sending him crashing to the floor. Everyone laughed, especially Oz who now found it impossible to get up off of the dance floor. Instead he dragged Willow down with him and they stayed on the floor, laughing as Buffy continued to pull Cordelia round to the music as everyone clapped. Although no-one mentioned it, there was beer involved…lots of beer.

After changing partners several times; Giles with Buffy, Xander with Willow, Pierce with Willow, Cordelia with Giles, Oz with Buffy and finally Pierce with Giles…they too ended up tripping over each other; the dance floor filled up with an excited crowd. They each held a drink, a party popper filled with streamers and a loud horn or whistle. The countdown began slowly.

‘Ten…’

‘Nine…’

‘Eight…’

‘Seven…’

‘Six…’

‘Five…’

‘Any new years resolutions?’ Buffy asked above the noise of the crowd.

‘Yes.’ Said Willow. ‘Make every night at the Bronze a party like this!’ Buffy laughed loudly, but was drowned out by the excited crowd as they neared the end of the countdown.

‘One! Happy New Year!’ The crowd let off their party poppers and showered everyone else in streamers, and the sound of whistling and horn blowing was almost unbearable. But it was New Years Eve…in fact it was almost 30 seconds into New Years Day and the Scooby gang had survived another year on the Hellmouth.

A few people shook up soda bottles and began spraying the crowd; Buffy and Xander followed their example and did the same. Eventually everyone had wished everyone else a happy new year and everyone was soaked in soda. The music started once again and everyone continued dancing.

From the doorway a man wearing a long raincoat, looking somewhat like Columbo, looked over at the gang as they danced wildly and sang to the music at the top of their voices.

‘Happy New Year slayer, enjoy it while you can.’ He said, and then he walked out of the Bronze and down the alley


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