Buffy grabbed away the colored sugar her ersatz sister had been using to decorate the sugar cookies for the Christmas/Hanukkah/Solstice party they were holding that night. It was Christmas Eve and the girls felt like celebrating the fact that their mother had come through surgery well on the road to a full recovery. What Dawn lacked in coordination, she more than made up in enthusiasm and the sugar was now sprinkled across the cookies, the floor, the kitchen counter, and the bowl of frosting.

"At least I didn't get frosting on the walls like you did, you big spazz."

"Shut up, Dawn. I did not."

"Did too."

"Only because you ran into my arm and made me. Now shut up before you wake Mom up. Why don't you go work on decorating the tree?"

Dawn sighed in the put-upon manner perfected by fourteen-year-old girls the world over. "Fine, Miss I'm Such A Big Shot Slayer. I'll help your dumb Watcher put stuff on the tree."

"He's not dumb. He's the smartest person in the world. And if you're rude to him even once tonight, I'll introduce your butt to Mr. Pointy."

"Like you're never rude to Giles."

"Slayer's perogative. Go on. Get out of here."

Pausing only to stick her tongue out at Buffy, Dawn did as she was told. She found Giles in the final stages of placing the lights on the Christmas tree.

"Buffy said I have to help you with the tree." The girls' tone made it clear she would rather be slowdancing with a Chaos demon.

"And when you put it so gracefully, how can I possibly refuse your help?"

His sour glare over the rims of his glasses softened almost immediately. After all, the girl had been through so much. And he and Buffy had a duty to keep her safe as the only two people who knew the truth of her origins.

"Come on, then. The lights are on, so let's put up the ornaments, shall we?"

By the time Buffy finished with the cookies and came into the living room, the tree was awash in angels, gingerbread men, icicles, Santas, and other assorted holiday trinkets. The Slayer stood leaning against the doorframe for a moment and watched Giles and Dawn work together. They were laughing and indulging in a rare moment of spontaneous silliness as the Watcher draped tinsel over the teenager.

She was surprised at the warm glow she felt at the sight. She'd been certain this would be the worst Christmas she'd ever had. After all, she'd caught her boyfriend going to vampire prostitutes and paying to get bitten and then he'd left with hardly a word. Buffy knew she ought to feel worse than she did. Somehow though, she was doing okay. Her mother was getting better every day, the gang was together and well, and she was watching her Watcher have fun.

It was funny the way the years rolled off Giles when he was having a good time. And his smile was infectious. Buffy was glad they were all seeing it a lot more than they used to.

She shook her head to clear it. She didn't have time for fuzzy thoughts about Giles. She had a party to prepare for.

Later that evening, when all the Scoobies were assembled, Buffy busied herself passing out cookies and eggnog to her guests. Of course, Dawn wasn't allowed any of the eggnog, so she drank cherry soda instead.

After a few minutes, Willow called for attention.

"As you all know, it's Christmas Eve. But some of you may not know that it's also the fourth night of Hanukkah. And since this is an all- inclusive holiday party, I brought along a Menorah so we can acknowledge the Jewish traditions too. If nobody minds?"

"I think that's a great idea, Will. So what do we do?" The Slayer was more than happy to accommodate her best friends' background.

"Well, I have to say a prayer in Hebrew and light candles. The rest of you can just, y'know, watch. But if anybody here knows Hebrew, feel free to join in."

The group gathered around to do just that as Willow performed her ritual, Giles adding his voice to the prayer. The warm glow of the candles added another layer of joyful mystery to the evening.

"Hey, what about Solstice?" Xander demanded. "Aren't we going to do anything for that?"

"Yes. I hear that it involves nakedness." Anya looked entirely too excited at the prospect.

From her perch on the sofa, Joyce looked nervous.

"Yes, well, I think perhaps that wouldn't be entirely appropriate in this setting. After all, Dawn is rather young." Giles came to the rescue.

"I think Giles just doesn't want to be naked in front of us. I bet he has a really small..."

"Anya, I don't think anyone wants to hear the end of that sentence." Xander quieted his girlfriend with a cookie and a kiss. Buffy shot a glare at the former demon. She didn't like hearing her insult Giles.

"But we did bring mistletoe," Tara offered. "It's used to celebrate Solstice, but has a Christmas tradition, too."

"That's great for all the people here who have somebody to kiss," grumbled Buffy. Giles shot her an odd look, but nobody else seemed to have heard.

"Come on, Xander. I want to try the mistletoe." Anya was like a small child as she dragged her boyfriend into the doorway for her first ever mistletoe kiss.

It was an enthusiastically abandoned kiss even for the couple in question. The others assembled grew somewhat embarrassed as they watched in horrorstruck fascination. Dawn began timing the embrace with her watch until Joyce covered her younger daughter's eyes.

Finally the two pulled back with dazed and happy smiles. Then Xander did something unexpected.

"Anya, let's get married. Right away. I want to be with you for the rest of my life."

The former demon gazed up at him with shining eyes and nodded her head.

Xander swept her into his arms and the kiss he planted on her left their previous effort in the dust for the embarrassment factor. Giles cleared his throat pointedly, but with little effect so far as the newly engaged pair were concerned. Buffy felt nothing but relief when the doorbell rang.

"I don't know who it is, but I'm glad they're here" she muttered on her way to the door.

"Surprise! Merry Christmas!"

Buffy found herself enveloped in an overabundance of Cordelia's arms. When she managed to extricate herself, she found that Angel, Wesley, and a tall black man she didn't know were also there.

"Um, hi. It's good to see you guys. Come in."

The Slayer wasn't sure what her former companions were doing there, but they were Scooby, so they were welcome.

"Oh, Buffy, this is Gunn. Charles Gunn. He's been helping us out down in LA." Cordelia told her.

"It's nice to meet you."

"Yeah, likewise, I'm sure." Gunn was looking everywhere at once and finally focused his attention on the small blonde before him. He smiled appreciatively at what he saw and Cordelia rolled her eyes, whacking him in the back of the head

"Gunn, stop ogling Buffy and move your butt. It's freezing out here." At least Cordelia hadn't changed too drastically.

Wesley muttered an awkward greeting as he passed Buffy. Angel stood looking at her, unsure of his welcome. She smiled slightly at him.

"Hi, Angel. It's good to see you."

"You too."

"So why are you still outside? I invited you in already."

"Is Riley here?"

"No. And he won't be back."

"I'm sorry."

"No you're not. But it's okay. Now will you get in here? My Mom's been sick and she doesn't need to be this cold. Not to mention I dressed for California, not Vermont."

The weather had indeed turned surprisingly chilly.

Their progress to the living room was halted by Cordelia and Gunn stopped dead in their tracks at the sight of Xander and Anya, who were still on the same kiss they'd been on when Buffy left the room. Brushing past the stunned newcomers, Buffy took Xander by one hand, and Anya by the other and forcibly ended the liplock.

"Guys, my little sister is in the room. She doesn't need to know about this stuff until she's at least fifty-three."

With Xander and Anya out of the way, Gunn looked up and realized he was under the mistletoe and Cordelia was mere inches away. With a broad grin, he pulled her under the weed and kissed her.

When they broke apart, their eyes were shining and nobody seemed to exist for them but one another.

"Damn, but you're fine, Cordy. I-I'm glad you're looking out for my back. I think I'm falling in love with you."

"Really? Oh, Gunn! I love you!"

She threw herself back into his arms. He picked her up and settled her on his lap on the sofa. Buffy looked suspiciously at the mistletoe, and then at her witchy best friend. Willow blushed. That was enough.

"Will, could I see you in the kitchen, please?"

The redhead joined the Slayer in the aforementioned kitchen.

"Care to tell me what you did to that weed?"

"I-it was just a little spell. It won't hurt anybody."

"Okay, so far Xander asked Anya to marry him and Cordelia is making out with a guy who I bet doesn't even know how to pronounce Armani. Tell me how this isn't hurting anybody. Love spells aren't funny, Will."

"But it isn't! A love spell, I mean. More of a love truth spell."

"Hunh?"

"It doesn't make anybody fall in love, but it makes them tell the truth about whether they're in love with someone. They already have to be in love if it makes them say it."

"And you thought this was a good idea because...?"

"Sometimes it's important to let people know how you really feel. And now we know that Xander and Anya are really and truly in love. Okay, so it's kinda weird and I wouldn't want to be with her, but she makes him happy, which is really strange, but a good, 'cause it's good to have someone love you even if they are a former vengeance demon and all not normal...and I really wish Oz was here. He would have stopped me by now."

"And what happens when two people end up under that plant who don't love each other? It's gonna happen at some point."

"They just say what they really feel. Like if they like each other as friends, that's what they say."

"And what if the emotions don't match up, Will? What happens then?"

"I don't really know. I guess I should have thought of that, shouldn't I?"

"You think, Will? This is awful!"

"So far, it's been pretty okay. I mean, Xander and Anya were already together and it looks like it helped Cordelia and that guy she's here with figure some stuff out."

At that moment, Joyce appeared in the kitchen doorway.

"I think I'm going to bed now, and I'm taking Dawn upstairs with me. This is turning into a kind of party I don't want her to be involved in ever. Is there some sort of Hellmouth thing going on? And who is that boy with Cordelia?"

"Hellmouth thing? I don't think so, Mom. I think it's just an overflowing of the Christmas spirit, don't you Will?" The redhead nodded vigorously. "And Cordelia's friend is called Gunn. He works with Angel. And I think it's a good idea you get some rest. I'll try to get everyone to behave."

Joyce left to get Dawn and Buffy gave Willow a hairy eyeball as they returned to the party.

The Slayer wondered idly how she was going to deal if she ended up under the mistletoe with a certain former Watcher. What if he didn't feel the way she was starting to feel about him? What if he did? Either way, she was sure it had to be badness.

In the doorway to the living room, Angel stood brooding as Wesley brought him a cup of eggnog. Their fingers accidentally brushed against one anothers' during the hand-off and Angel looked up to avoid Wesley's eyes. Then he spotted the mistletoe and, in a rare flash of whimsy, pulled the Englishman to him, giving him a soft kiss on the cheek.

Instantly the two men locked eyes and melted into a long, passionate tonsil hockey session as the eggnog spilled unnoticed to the floor.

"Oh, Angel. I've been in love with you for such a long time" Wesley breathed when he stopped for air.

"I feel the same way. But it can never be, Wes. I'm cursed."

Across the room, Giles cleared his throat in a significant manner.

"Actually, it is my considered opinion that it will be perfectly safe."

"What the hell do you mean, Giles? You remember what happened before! He can't ever, with anyone." Buffy was clearly frightened by the prospect of Angelus' return.

"That's not precisely the case, Buffy. After Angel's return from Hell, I did some research into his curse in case the two of you couldn't control your, um, emotions again, and I found that it only seems to be concerned with heterosexual activities."

"And you never mentioned this before because...?"

"Angel had never shown any inclination to indulge in homosexual behavior. Plus there was the fact that I didn't much like him."

The vampire smiled broadly at his associate. "Want to test the theory, Wes?"

"More than I can say. But perhaps it would be best to wait until we have all the necessary equipment for the re-ensouling ritual ready, just in case Mr. Giles is wrong."

The two moved to a quiet corner to explore their new relationship. Buffy raised an eyebrow at Giles who smiled slightly and shrugged his shoulders.

Xander and Anya moved to Buffy's side.

"We're gonna take off now, Buff. We've decided to go to Vegas and find an Elvis impersonator to marry us tonight. Or possibly tomorrow since we're running out of tonight pretty quickly."

"You're really sure about this, Xand?" The young man nodded. Buffy hugged him tightly. "Then go on and be happy, you guys! Bring me back a tacky souvenir."

The happy couple raced to the door. When they opened it, Anya squealed in delight.

"Look everybody! Snow! It's snowing!"

And, indeed, it was doing just that.

And there was another surprise on the doorstep. A bleach-blonde vampire with a fondness for The Sex Pistols wobbled drunkenly, a bottle of whiskey nearly empty in his hand.

"What are you doing here, Spike?" The Slayer was clearly annoyed to see him.

"Just came by to wish all and sundry a merry new year. And to give you all a little serenade since I don't want to bloody watch the sodding Steve Harvey show. Can't get any decent reception on the buggering telly anyway." The vampire stepped unsteadily into the house, cleared his throat and began to sing:

"All I want for Christmas is my two sharp fangs,
My two sharp fangs,
My two sharp fangs
All I want for Christmas is my two sharp fangs
So I can bite your sodding heads off!"

The assembled guests watched as Spike's eyes rolled back in his head and he passed out in a heap, blocking the door.

"Those aren't the real words to that song. I know it." Anya shook her head in confusion. "What are the real words?"

"Let's not worry about that right now. I'm much more concerned with how we're getting out of here in the snow. Uncle Roary's car isn't going to make it in this."

"But I want to get married, Xander."

"So do I, An, but I don't think we're going anywhere tonight."

"Don't worry, Anya, Vegas and all the Elvisi will still be there tomorrow." Tara tried to comfort the girl.

Buffy stood in the living room doorway and watched the scene unfold before her. Suddenly she felt a gentle tap on her shoulder and looked up to see a pair of green eyes looking softly at her through the glasses she knew so well, melting her heart. She then followed the path those green eyes took to the bunch of mistletoe hanging above their heads.

"It is a tradition, after all." Giles told her mildly.

"Tradition, right. And traditions are supposed to be followed, right? 'Cause that's what makes them traditional, and could I possibly babble any more than that?"

Giles simply took her chin in his hand and lifted it as he bent his face to hers, covering her lips with his. Buffy couldn't help kissing him back with enthusiasm. When she felt the tip of his tongue tracing her lips, she opened herself to him.

After a moment, they pulled back by mutual consent only to embrace one another tightly.

"I love you, Giles."

"And I love you, Buffy. I have done for the longest time."

The girl sighed contentedly as she snuggled against her Watcher's solid chest. "So why didn't you ever say before?"

"When should I have? At first you were far too young; I would have been deported. Then there was Angel, then there was Riley. This has really been my first opportunity."

"Good point. But you owe me for making me wait so long anyway."

"Making you wait? How about all the years you've left me waiting for you to be ready for this?"

"Okay, so we owe each other. And I know just how we can apologize. But not here."

Her expression left him in no doubt as to what she wanted from him.

"My place?"

She shook her head. "Snowing. Besides, I need to be here for Mom. My place."

"On one condition." Buffy looked at him questioningly. "We go along to Vegas tomorrow and have our own wedding."

The girl threw herself into his arms, whispering "yes" into his ear.

"That's so cool, you guys! Hey, you can get married by the same Elvis as we do. It'll be fun!" Xander smiled broadly as he made the suggestion.

"I will not be married by an Elvis impersonator, Xander. It lacks dignity. Now if we can find a Jimi Hendrix impersonator..." Giles was cut off when his fiancee smacked him softly in the arm.

"I'm holding out for Tupac. Good night, everybody. We're going to bed. Find yourselves some blankets and feel free to stay since it's snowing. See you in the morning. Oh, and somebody either bring Spike in or shove him out onto the porch. I don't care which." Wesley and Angel dragged the comatose vampire inside.

Once they had gone upstairs, Anya turned to Xander. "I know those words Spike used for that song weren't the right ones. Will you teach me the right words? I want to know lots of Christmas songs."

And so it was that Xander and the other Scoobies spent much of the rest of the night teaching Anya the words to "All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth", "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus", and a host of other holiday songs. If nothing else, it served to drown out the sounds emanating from Buffy's bedroom.

"Oh God, yes! Giles!"

"Aaahhh, Buffy!"

The two lay still entwined and panting as they kissed their way down from the plateau of ecstasy. They whispered sweet words of love in between using their lips for other purposes until they were interrupted by a pounding on the wall from Dawn's room.

"Shut up in there! I can hear you boinking! I'm telling Mom!"

Buffy gazed into her lovers' eyes. "Those monks so owe me."

Giles just laughed quietly and kissed his love.

"Happy Christmas, Buffy. I love you."

"I love you too, Giles."

"Show me?"

"Again? Already?"

A slight wriggle on Giles' part proved that he was ready again already.

"Wow! So that's what a stevedore is."