Couple: B\A, D\C, G\J, X\A, W\O

Rating: PG. I kept it pretty non-angist. This is a light, fluffy, Christmas fic.
Disclaimer:They are owned by the Evil Whedon. *GRR*
Archiving: Permission is granted to archive this story please make sure credit is given.
Feedback: Pretty please?
Dedication: All my fellow B\A Shippers! Luvz! Happy Holidays!
PLEASE READ NOTES BELOW!
Here goes...
Doyle is not dead. Oz is didn't go and find himself. Dawn's not around. Riley, Riley who? You can pretty much pick it up along the way. This is TWO years after Buffy graduates college.
Summary: Buffy hasn't seen the gang in years, now that she's back for a Christmas party, Angel revels a deep secret.

Buffy,

You are Cordially invited to attend the annual Scobbie Christmas Sleepover. (Which you haven't attended once) Please come or I'll send Xander and Oz to pick your Slayer Butt off the couch and Carry you here! Hope to see you!

December 23rd at 2:00 PM through December 25th
Love,
Queen C

Buffy sighed as she closed the invitation. She hadn't seen the whole gang since the Hellmouth closed two years earlier. As soon as the End of Days past and Sunnydale was Safe, the watchers council, for the first time ever, resigned Buffy from her post as slayer. That was all Buffy needed. She packed her bags that night, said good bye to her friends and family, kissed Angel one last kiss and left for New York. Buffy didn't exactly fit in at New York but It was sure as Hell better then the Hellmouth. Or so she thought.

Buffy quickly collected her thoughts .'It has been TWO years and If I don't go this year, Cordelia WILL sent Oz and Xander'. She laughed at Cordelia's method of getting her attention. Buffy placed the invitation in her purse and proceeded to pack a bag.

***

"A little to the left, no, right," Cordelia commanded as Willow and Oz stumbled to keep up with her Commands. "Perfect!"

Willow and Oz stepped back to look at the newly hung wreath on the door. Angel Investigation's Hotel never looked so beautiful. It was carefully trimmed with the finest Holly and ribbons. The tune of Jingle bells was softly drifting through the building. The whole place gave off a warm and comforting vibe. The only thing missing was the tree, which wouldn't be decorated until Christmas Eve when Buffy was here, that is if, she came.

Xander Joined Willow, Oz, and Cordy in the main Foyer. "This place looks great. It makes me feel so happy! I love Christmas!" Xander said cheerfully. His smile gleamed, which often happened to him around Christmas time.

A pained expression passed across Willow's face. "Do you think Buffy will show this year? I mean She did go through something pretty dramatic when the Hellmouth closed and it's good that she's getting out and like starting her life over again but we miss her."

Cordelia ran her hand through dark brown hair. " Well, I did threaten her on the invitation, not that It would do much good to a slayer or anything."

Oz couldn't help but sigh. "Christmas has always been great, but wheneverBuffy's here it always makes the place Better. She just has that special effect on the people and places she's around." Willow tilted her head slightly to look at Oz. He caught Willow's look. " Well, she does!" Oz insisted.

"She'll be here." A voice said from behind them. They turned to see Angelstanding at the foot of the steps. " I know it."

****

Giles and Joyce, a now happily married couple, continued to decorate the back room of the hotel with missal toe. The fire place gave off an eerie glow in the room. It was, without a doubt, the most romantic place to be with a loved one. Anya, Cordy, and Willow joined Giles and Joyce.

Anya and Xander were still together. Knowing Xander it would be another year before he got up the guts to propose to Anya, so we'll let them be. Cordelia and Doyle were now a happily married couple, and she was pretty cool with the whole half demon thing. Oz and Willow were engaged, they planned to get married this upcoming summer. Oz pretty much had his Wolfy situation under control. Before that he was, as Willow once said, a spaz.

The girls admired the work Giles and Joyce had done to the room. It was definitely the room where the tree was going.

"Now, where did our Boys go?" Joyce asked, taking her attention off the decorations.

"Oh, they went to go get a tree, and why do we need tree?" Anya asked scrunching her nose up.

Giles smiled. "Well, it is a rather interesting story..."

"It's Tradition." Joyce said cutting off Giles long, upcoming story. He gave Joyce a disappointed look. The kind of look a three year old gives there mother when they ask them to do something they don't want to do. Evidently in earned him a playful whack in the chest from Joyce.

"MOMMY!" Four year old, Ryan, shouted from the other room.

After Giles and Joyce had married during Buffy's junior year of college they were blessed with a little girl by the name of Ryan.

"In here Honey," Joyce shouted.

Ryan entered the room with her 'I'm a pissed four year old' face on. Ryan almost had the same exact personality the as her half sister. The only difference was the Ryan had long brown hair and blue eyes.

"Is Buffy coming this Christmas?"

Giles took this opportunity to look at the others in the room. " Is there any word from her?"

"I don't even know if she got the invitation. I mean we haven't spoken to her since Cordy and Doyle's Wedding." Willow said, shrugging her shoulders slightly.

Ryan became frustrated "So what do we know, is she coming or not?"

"We don't know, sweetie," Cordy said, trying to satisfy the girls complaining.

Ryan pouted. " Well, she has been gone a really, really, long time!" She continued her rant by stomping her feet and shoving her hands on her hips. Ryan spun on her heels and stormed out of the room.

"Just like her sister!" Giles observed.

Suddenly an ear piercing shriek rung out from the foyer. The group exchanged glances and tore to the next room.

" BUFFY!" Ryan shouted as she launched herself into Buffy's arms. She embraced the four year old tightly as she spun in a circle.

She placed Ryan on the floor and tuned to find her mother, step father(ex-watcher) , A X-demon and two best friends staring at her.

Buffy smiled and shrugged her shoulders. " I got this piece of paper saying that If I didn't show I'd regret it!" Joyce smiled as she ran over to hug her daughter.

Giles followed Joyce. He hugged is slayer, his daughter and so much more. He gave her a quick kiss on the forehead. Willow, Anya, and Cordy practically bounced over to Buffy. They hugged Buffy for all that is was worth.

"So I'm afraid to ask, but where are those boys?" Buffy said only half wanting to know.

Ryan suddenly spoke up. " Uncle Angel promised he'd bring me the BESTESTChristmas tree ever!"

Buffy swallowed roughly, loud enough for everyone to hear.

"And then he will. Angel never breaks a promise," she said softly, "but, how can he be outside getting the tree of it is 2:30 in the afternoon?"

Glances were exchanged throughout the group. Ryan looked at everyone like they were crazy.

"What? Why wouldn't he..." Ryan started but was stopped by Cordy's hand over her mouth.

"He took the sewers." Giles said flatly.

Buffy gave Giles a funny look. " Right," was a she could say.

Suddenly voices could be heard from outside. The door opened to revel Xander, Oz, Doyle, and Angel struggling to bring a really big, but beautiful tree in through the door.

"You know Xander, you just had to get the get the BIGGEST tree !" Oz grunted as the pulled on the tree's trunk.

"This isn't the Biggest!" Xander insisted "We could've done better!"

"SHUT UP!" Angel and Doyle shouted in unison.

They continued to struggle until they all noticed Buffy.

Angel dropped his end of the tree. She was amazing. Her beauty had only grown with age. Although she was 25 she looked as young and fit as she did when she was 17.

Angel's deep trance of thought was interrupted by Xander's shouting.

"BUFFSTER!" Xander screeched as he dropped the tree and hugged Buffy. Ozand Doyle dropped the tree also and threw their hands up in the air. They weren't going to get the tree in through the door with Angel staring mindlessly at Buffy and Xander's annoying shouting. They gave up and walked over to hug Buffy also.

The tension between Buffy and Angel was dangerous, It felt like it was going to snap at any second.

Xander whispered something to himself like 'Nothings changed.'

Buffy finally managed to move herself from the spot she swore she was glued to. She slowly approached Angel. When they were close enough to kiss, Buffy wrapped her arms around Angel and pulled him into a tight embrace. The last time they were together, it had been the end of days...

***

"We Don't know if I'm going to make it out of this!" Buffy cried.

"You will!" Angel insisted.

"And if I don't?"

"There are NO ifs!"

"Tell me you love me!"

"I love you"

"And I love you"

"We're going to make it through this!"

"Don't be so sure!"

***

Buffy slowly pulled away from Angel and walked back to stand by Cordy.

"That must be some sun screen you're wearing." Buffy said. Angel gave her a confused expression. She realized that she might have to spell this one out for him. "You were outside, in the middle of the day."

Angel laughed nervously. He looked at the others for support. "Oh, yeah, well... It isn't that bright outside. It's cloudy. Maybe it'll snow."

Buffy seemed satisfied with the answer. "Maybe. Snow would be nice."

Buffy then noticed the decorations all over the hotel. Every inch of the hotel had a holiday ornament, ribbon, or special touch.

"Oh my God. You guys, this place looks great!"

Willow jumped with excitement "You see the wreath, Oz and I put that up."

Ryan joined in to. "Yeah and guess what I got to pick out the tree topping."

Buffy laughed at Willow and Ryan's excitement.

"SO I'm guessing all of you are all ready for Christmas?" When everyone nodded yes, Buffy winced. " Man, am I behind. I haven't even started Christmas shopping yet."

Cordelia looked like she was going to faint. "Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and you have NO shopping done?"

"You've awakened the shopping queen from her slumber." Xander said very dramatically.

Cordelia gave Xander a digested look. " For your information Xander Harris. The shopping part of me was NEVER asleep!"

"Great! " Doyle said looking at the heavens. "Please help me!"

Cordelia grabbed her jacket, purse, and Buffy's hand. "I am taking Buffy for the Christmas shopping experience of a life time!" Buffy gave Angel a 'Help me now' face. Angel could only laugh in return.

"Oh, I'm coming too!" Willow shouted and ran after Cordy and Buffy.

After the girls were out of sight Xander turned to his girlfriend "Why didn't you go honey?"

Anya gave him a funny look. " You think I'm that stupid to go shopping with Queen C?"

Doyle laughed and shook his head.

Joyce noticed that Angel was staring blankly at the door. She approached Angel slowly.

"She's grown up." Joyce said startling Angel.

"She's beautiful." He said softly, pulling his head away from the door to look at Joyce.

"Does she know?" Joyce asked

Angel smiled slightly. " Not yet, but she will. Soon."

***

"So let me get this straight," Cordelia babbled on. " You teach Mythology at a local High School?"

Buffy nodded. " It was something I knew to much about, Giles was very proud when I first told him."

"I think It's great!" Willow said. " You're doing something you are good at and have lots of experience in."

The girls had spent the last two hours roaming around the Los Angeles Shopping complex. To Cordelia it was a dream come true, to Willow it was a maze, to Buffy it was somewhere where you can spent LOTS of money.

Buffy had picked up presents for everyone. The only person who's presents didn't come from this complex was Angel's. Buffy had gotten his gift from a store in New York. A very nice, expensive, magic type store.

Cordelia stopped to throw the soda she was drinking in the trash. " So, where to next?"

Buffy and Willow looked at each other and then back at Cordelia.

"We've been to each store twice." Buffy said

"And I can't carry anymore bags!" Willow said showing her hands full of bags.

Cordelia huffed and rolled her eyes. " You two have no sense of shoppingpleasure."

Buffy and Willow stared at Cordelia with hard eyes.

"OK, we'll go home!"

***

The four men were being lazy in the back room while Anya and Joyce prepared dinner.

"It's weird to see Buffy again isn't it Angel" Giles asked

Angel stared at the blazing fire. "Yeah it is."

Xander and Oz exchanged a glance. "So Angel, do you think that Buffy is still going to want to be with you after you tell her the big surprise?" Xander asked

Oz rolled his eyes at Xander. " Gee Xand, could you put it in meaner terms?"

"I don't know." Angel finally said. " I mean for all I know she has a boy friend..."

***

"So you don't have a boyfriend?" Cordelia asked

"Nope," Buffy said. "Keep your eyes on the road Cordy."

"So, Umm...any reason?" Willow asked.

Buffy looked at the car floor. " Well it is kind of hard when you are still ..."

***

"In love with her." Angel said.

Doyle finally spoke up. " So you think she has moved on?"

"I don't know. I mean It isn't like I can say... Hey! Have you..."

***

"...Moved on?" Cordy asked

Buffy inhaled sharply. "No, haven't gotten there and I know for a fact that I'll never..."

***

"... Be over her." Angel continued.

"When are you going to tell her ... you know ... the BIG surprise?" Doyle asked

"Tomorrow, Christmas Eve. I'm surprised that she didn't notice it when..."

***

"... I hugged him. He was warm." Buffy said.

Willow and Cordy caught each other's eyes in the rear view mirror.

***

Later that evening, that is, after Joyce and Anya's delicious dinner, the whole group was crowded around the fire place and the undecorated Christmas tree.

"Can't we decorate it now?" Ryan wined from her father's lap

"No honey." Cordelia said softly. " We have to wait until Christmas Eve."

"But I don't want to!" Ryan shouted.

"Would someone shut the kid up?" Doyle asked"Hey!" Buffy shouted, delivering a punch to Doyle's upper arm. " That's my half sister you're talking about!"

Doyle winced in pain as rubbed his upper arm. " Man, you must still have some slayer macho powers left because that was no ordinary punch."

Buffy gave Doyle an apologetic look.

Giles took off his glasses and glared at Buffy. "The council said you would lose your slayer abilities once you stopped patrolling and training." He placed his glasses back on and looked sternly at Buffy." Unless you are still patrolling and training, which you shouldn't be doing without back up."

Buffy looked at the ground and began to twiddle her thumbs.

"You've been patrolling?" Her mother asked, completely blown away.

Buffy pulled her glance from the ground and looked at her Mom. " It get bored sometimes and I need to go kick some undead ass."

Xander let his head roll back. "You've been patrolling? Buffy, what are you thinking? You don't have a back up. For all we know one day you are going to get the better end of the pointy stick instead of undead Fred!"

Buffy rolled her eyes at Xanders outburst. "Well, what would you like me to do? My whole life was planned out for me. I was the slayer, slayers die early. One goes down another pops up. I never gave much consideration to what my so called future held."

"I mean you guys all have great jobs and your married or engaged, but I don't have any of that. I just want something of my own. I need something solid, something I can hold on to."

"So getting yourself killed is the better answer?" Anya asked

Buffy stood up and threw her hands up in defeat. "Who says I'm going to get killed?"

"Who says you won't?" Xander asked.

Cordelia waved her hand, signaling everyone to shut up. She got up from her seat and slowly approached Buffy. " Listen, I know this is not what you need to here and I understand, well, not really but ... anyway, the way I look at it you're on a mission. You're trying to find your place in the world. We just don't want you getting hurt."

Buffy inhaled and exhaled deeply.

"Have you considered coming back to California? I mean you could work with Angel and I. Ever since Wesley left we've been looking for another partner." Cordelia asked

"There isn't anything here for me." Buffy softly replied.

"There's Angel."

Buffy turned to see Ryan standing beside Cordelia and Buffy.

Buffy took a moment to try and get her emotions under control. " What do you mean, there's Angel?"

"He loves you. He told me he did. And since you don't have a boyfriend, I'm thinking we could do some match making." Ryan smiled proudly, little did she know she said the worst thing you could ever say to Buffy.

Buffy stood stunned. She wanted to run, get away and act like this 4 year old never said anything, but part of her wanted to stay.

The others looked at Angel, hoping he would say something, anything. Just when Angel started to get up from the couch, Buffy made a dash for the door.

***

Angel decided that it would be best not to go after Buffy, but wait until she got home to talk. That was a mistake. At almost two thirty in the morning, there was still no sign of her. Alone on the couch, Angel sighed and placed his face in his hands.

"I'm sorry," A soft voice came from behind.

Angel turned to see Ryan, dressed in ear pajamas, at the end out the couch.

Angel reached out to pull Ryan on him lap. She snuggled closed to his chest, much like Buffy used to.

"It's OK, it wasn't your fault," Angel replied.

"Yeah it is, I made Buffy upset and then she ran away."

"She'll be back soon." Angel promised. "I hope."

***

The early morning sun peered through the hotel windows. Buffy, dressed in a blue tanktop and fleece pants, walked down the hotel steps to see Angel and Ryan sound asleep on the couch. For a brief moment she was happy, content. She tiptoed quietly over to the sleeping figures. She removed Ryan from Angel's lap and place her down on the other side of the couch. She then looked at Angel. She hesitantly lifted her hand and dragged her finger nails across his cheek bone. It was just enough to wake him out of his sleep.

"Morning," Buffy said softly, trying not to wake Ryan.

Angel blinked a couple times, just to make sure it was really her. "Hey, when did you get in last night?"

Buffy gave Angel a thin smile and walked around to sit next to him. "Around three."

He turned to look at his watch, which read six A.M.

"You only got a couple hours of sleep, do you want to go back to bed?" he asked. Aftergetting no response, he turned to see Buffy fast asleep. He smiled at the sight and pulled her onto his lap. He closed his eyes and let the sensations of her being so close wash over him. Angel slowly stroked her hair and silently prayed that tonight would go as he dreamed.

***

The day progressed on quickly, last minute shopping, present wrapping and the occasional snooping for presents took place. No one bothered to discuss with Buffy the events that occurred last night. It was best not to, they all saw her a few days every year and they weren't going to blow it by fighting.

To show Ryan there were no hard feelings, Buffy promised Ryan that she could be the one to put the first ornament on the tree and the Angel, for the top of the tree.

***

The afternoon quickly passed,. The collection of presents at the tree's base piled up slowly with assorted sizes, shapes, and colors of boxes.

The rushing and the hard work finally paid off as the evening came. One by one the group gathered in the room preparing to decorate the tree. The only person missing, unbelievable, was Ryan.

"Where's the kid?" Oz asked from his seat on the couch, next to Willow.

"Nobody move!" Ryan shouted as she made her grand entrance into the room.

Everyone turned to see a very prepared 4 year old . She was equipped with the latest style Santa hat, thanks to Cordy. It was complete with a bell tassel and all.

"What's with the shouting, Ryan?" Willow asked as the four year old made her way access the room to the tree.

She turned to face her family with a death glare. "Buffy said that I was going to be the one to put the first ornament on the tree and I just wanted to make sure that no one took my job!"

Buffy felt several pairs of eyes on her, she shrugged her shoulders and gave an innocent smile.

"You know for a second there, I thought Ryan was going to pull out a stake." Xander said.

"Nope, Buffy said crossbows are more effective," Ryan informed the group.

Buffy laughed nervously as she got looks from her parents. "So, are we going to decorate this tree or what?" She said in effort to change the subject.

"Oh, wait!" Cornelia shouted. "I put up mistletoe and I want pictures of everyone kissing there honey!" But, after getting a look from both Buffy and Angel, she wished she'd kept her mouth shut. "Or not."

Buffy shook her head, trying to keep that Christmas sprit. "No, it's fine Cordy. Give me the camera and go get Doyle."

Angel watched Buffy carefully. She was doing better then he was in this situation.

Two by two the couples got their pictures taken under the mistletoe. Ryan felt left out, so Angel joined her in a kiss. When everyone assumed the fun was over they began to make their way over to the tree, only to be interrupted by Ryan.

"Wait! Buffy hasn't kissed anyone yet."

Buffy eyed her sister like a haw, silently telling her to shut up, but Ryan did no such thing.

"Look! Angel hasn't kissed a grown up yet either! See where I'm going with this match making thing?"

Before Buffy could respond, Angel pulled her under the mistletoe.

The girls in the room exchanged glances. Ryan took the camera from Buffy's hand and backed up in preparation to take the picture.

Angel stared deep into Buffy's eyes as he wrapped his arms around her waist and pressed his body against hers.

"One kiss won't kill you," Angel said as he closed in for a kiss.

"Don't be so sure." Buffy said as her lips met his.

*Flash*

"I got it guys!" Ryan shouted.

***

Buffy and Angel quickly untangled themselves from each other and turned to see a group of people smiling at them. Buffy scolded herself for getting swept up in the moment. Ryan became impatient with all the smiling and staring so she took matters into her own hands.

"Guys, there's a tree waiting to have ornament on it!"

The next half of an hour was spent with tree decorating, laughing, and home made eggnog. With white lights and gold tinted trimming it was, without a doubt, the most beautiful tree all of them had ever seen. The only thing that was missing was the Angel on top. As Giles was just about to lift Ryan up to put the Angel on top she stopped him.

"I don't want to put this on top, I want Buffy to!" Ryan said as she walked over to where Buffy was sitting.

Buffy gave Ryan a confused expression. " I thought you wanted to do this?"

Ryan shook her head and took a deep breath. "Mom, Dad, Uncle Angel, and everyone else in this room have told me things that you did when you were the slayer. They said that you saved everyone's lives almost everyday. So this Angel is you, it's a Guardian Angel, it watches over everyone like you watch over us."

Buffy felt a tear roll down her cheek as Ryan used her thumb to push it away.

"And the sad part is," Ryan continued, "is that you don't have anyone to watch over you. You don't have a Guardian Angel."

Buffy felt another tear slide down her cheek she took the Angel from Ryan's hands and placed a kiss on her cheek.

Buffy walked over to the tree and pulled up a small blue stool. She stepped on the first step and reached for the top of the tree. She was just tall enough to make it. At the last second she stumbled slightly and started to fall, only to be caught by a pair of strong arms from behind. Buffy turned to see Angel pushing her back up to balance. He then lifted her slightly by the hips so she could place the Angel on the very top.

"Thanks," She said as she jumped off the stool

The scene made Ryan smile. "Maybe Buffy does have a Guardian Angel."

***

After the tree was completely trimmed the group began to exchange gifts. Buffy sat Indian style on the trees base and went through the gifts one by one.

"Oh, this one is from Angel to Joyce," Buffy said as she handed the gift to her mother.

Joyce opened the gift to find a beautifully drawn picture of Buffy, Ryan and herself. She looked at Angel in awe.

"You drew this?" She asked

Angel laughed slightly. "I have a lot of spare time."

Joyce returned the smile wholeheartedly. "It's beautiful, thank you very much."

Angel nodded in return.

"OK, the next gift is from me to Giles." Buffy said as she handed the gift to Giles.

Giles opened the gift carefully to find a placket and bronzed stake, under it there was a gold plated inscription.

~To my watcher, friend, father, and mentor

You've given me this and so much more

~I love you

--your slayer

"It was the first stake I slayed a vampire with." Buffy said as Giles pulled his attention toBuffy's face.

He swallowed hard in effort to keep the a sob from escaping his thought. "Thank you Buffy, this means so much to me."

"You earned it." Buffy replied as she turned back to the pile of presents.

"Next gift!" She said a she grabbed a small box. "this one is from Cordelia to Doyle." She passed the box to Doyle, Cordelia moved away from him, afraid of what is reaction would be.

Doyle slowly opened the gift to find a white strip of paper with a box, colored in pink. At first everyone didn't recognize what it was, but then it hit Willow.

"Oh, OH! Oh my God!" Willow shouted

Just then it registered in Buffy's head. She jumped up to stare at Cordelia. Soon all the girls were staring at Cordelia.

Joyce grabbed Cordelia by her shoulders. "Are you? You know...?"

Cordelia shook her head violently and stretched her smile to a maximum.

"Oh My GOD!" Anya shouted as she ran to hug Cordelia.

All the girls screeching and yelling only confused the guys and Ryan more. Buffy turned to look at them. The looks that were being passed through out the group of guys were signs of confusion.

Buffy looked at Doyle. "You don't know what that is do you?"

Doyle shook his head 'no'

"This means that your going to be a Daddy, Cordy's pregnant!"

At first Doyle looked like he was going to faint, but then the news sank in, he was going to be a daddy! He jumped up and ran to Cordy, Hugging her for all that it was worth. He ran kisses over her face as Cordeila let a few tears of joy slip down her face.

***

The next two hours were full of Thank you's, laughing, and some more eggnog. There were only two gifts left and they were the gifts that everyone was waiting for. Angel's gift to Buffy, and Buffy's gift to Angel.

Buffy picked up her gift to Angel and handed it to him. He smiled slightly and stood up from the couch to face her. He unwrapped it to find it to find a black velvet box, but before he opened it Buffy spoke up.

"I know it's really no use to you, but I thought it would be nice to give you one."

He opened the box slowly to revel a silver cross, almost the exact one he gave her. He lifted the cross, by the chain, out of the box and gave it to Buffy.

"Put it on me," He asked quietly.

Buffy shook her head in protest. "No, you don't need to put it on. I don't need you sacrificing yourself to a burn."

Angel threw the velvet box to Doyle and ripped his black sweater off. Buffy stared at his beautifully toned stomach, her desire for him growing with each passing second.

"Put it on." Angel demanded, determined to break her.

She sighed in defeat. "Fine!" She said this as she slipped the chain around his neck. She held her hand between the cross and his skin. "But when this burns you and hello..." It took her a few moments to figure out what she was feeling. It was a heartbeat, a steady heartbeat. Buffy lifted her headed to look into Angel's eyes. He slowly took her hand out from between the cross and his skin. He pulled her hand up to his heart.

~I was making my list, I was checking it twice~
~In the middle of this, I got tears in my eyes~
~ For in My foolish heart, there was one simple truth~
~The only gift I wanted was you~

Buffy swallowed roughly and tears cascaded down her face, only to by caught by Angel's thumb.

"How?" was the only word she was able to say.

Angel smiled through his now forming tears. "It was a gift from the Powers That Be, It was my redemption, I received it two weeks ago."

Willow and Cordelia shared a glance.

"He's been waiting for this night the past two weeks," Cordelia informed

Xander stood up and walked over to where Cordy was standing. "You should've seen him. He spent hours on hours deciding how to tell you. It was so cute it was nauseating."

Buffy, to stunned to say words, continued to stare at the cross. 'This cross should be burning him, but it isn't.' She was clearing in a state of denial. She turned to look at her mother, who was nodding her head, silently telling her that it was true.

Willow decided that maybe it would be best if they left the two alone. She picked Ryan up and ushered everyone out of the room.

~I was trimming the tree~
~ I was stringing the lights~
~While the radio played Silent night~
~There were presents you sent~
~Though there were quite a few~
~The only gift I wanted was you~

"What does this mean?" Buffy said finally. "What does this mean to you, to me, to us?"

Angel grasped her other hand and pulled them both to his lips. " Say we can start over, say we can try again, say that you still love me."

Buffy almost jumped at his words. She wanted nothing more then to start over, make things better, spend the rest of her life with Angel. She squealed with delight and pulled Angel against her in a tight hug. " Of course we can, Oh my God, I love you."

Angel felt a wave of relief wash over him. He Scooped Buffy up in his arms and spun her around.

When the group outside heard all the commotion, they peeked around the corner to see Buffy and Angel locked in a passionate kiss. Ryan pushed her way through the adults legs to see her Sister and her Uncle Angel kissing.

"See, I was right the whole time. I like playing matchmaker!" Ryan said smiling.

Angel broke off the kiss to pick up his gift for Buffy. It was in a simple red, velvet bag. He opened the draw strings and let the item fall out of the bag and into his hand.

A Silver Claugda ring

He slowly slipped it onto Buffy's right ring finger, where it belonged.

***

One year later...

"No, Devon, don't chew on that!" Cordelia groaned as her 5 month old baby boy chewed on one of the Christmas tree's pine needles.

The past year had been one of Buffy's best in a long time. Right after her and Angel got back together, she moved back to Los Angelus to Work with Angel Investigations.

Willow and Oz got married the past summer and Willow was now 3 months pregnant. Xander and Anya, Surprisingly, were now engaged and their wedding was planned for some time in the spring. Joyce and Giles had their hands full with their little five year old daughter, but in any case, they were as happy as can be.

Christmas this year was spent with lots of laughter, presents, and again eggnog. The annual Sleepover went smoothly and everyone seemed to have a great time. The gifts were exchanged and as it turns out Buffy and Angel have a new addition to their family; A puppy. After listening to Buffy complain to Angel about not having a pet, he put the puppy in her stocking as a christmas gift.

At around eleven thirty on Christmas Day the gang parted on different ways and left Buffy and Angel to some peace.

Buffy slowly made her way to the back room, picking up pieces of wrapping paper on the way. When she reached the back room she found Angel staring at the blazing fire from his seat on the couch. Buffy flopped down next to him and cuddled in the crook of his neck. Angel kissed the top of her head and closed his eyes.

"Today was fun," Buffy said softly

Angel smiled. "Yeah it was."

Suddenly he began to wiggle on the couch.

Buffy couldn't help but laugh. "What are you doing?"

He wiggled a little more before responding. "I feel like I'm sitting on something." He reached down and under the cousins. His eyes lit up as he found something. He pulled out a diamond engagement ring.

Buffy stared at it in confusion. "It must belong to one of the girls, I should call and see if they are missing a ring." She stared to get up, only to be pulled back down by Angel.

"It's yours." Angel replied

A wave of confusion hit Buffy. "W-what?"

Angel laughed softly as he got down on one knee. "Will you marry me?"

Buffy's eyelids blinked rapidly as she tried to comprehend what Angel just asked her. A tear came and then another. She got down on her knees, to be eye to eye with Angel.

"Of course I will." Buffy said softly, fighting total breakdown.

A tear of joy and relief fell down Angel's face as he slid the ring on her finger. " I love you so much Buffy."

"I love you too, Angel."

The fire began to blaze stronger then before as Angel and Buffy met half way in a kiss.

And as promised Angel and Buffy got what they deserved; each other. Out side the snow began to fall and the world to them was a peace. Buffy was finally at home, in the arms of her Guardian Angel.