Rating: G or PG...
Disclaimer: Joss give these guys some actually fun in their lives apart from post-staking parties? Yeah right. They aren't mine, don't sue...I'd hate for you to steal my rewards...
Spoilers: None!
Notes: Un-beta'd, a fluffy little Christmas piece, because I adore Christmastime. I'll write another fic about their actual Christmas. Plotless, sappy, fluffy, mushy SAP!
Dedications: Me, for going from a D+ to an A in biol! Woohoo!
Notes2: Oh, and if you don't know, prawns are also shrimps...Oh, and I know nothing about LA, so there may not be a beach there, but there is now!! *g*

The halls of the shopping mall were filled with green plastic Christmas trees, covered in gaudy cheap decorations, as carols filled the aisles. Buffy smiled. Christmas had always been tinged with sadness in the past, but this year promised to be one big happyfest.

"Can I help you?" A salesgirl wearing a red and green apron asked, smiling brightly.

Buffy grinned. "Yeah. Just these, thankyou." The girl slid the pile across and rang up the prices.

"$450.65, thankyou ma'am." Buffy could help but wince. She and Angel might be living comfortably - very comfortably - but she still remembered the days when her parents divorced when spending $450 was an extremely big deal.

With a huge grin, she handed over her Visa and waited as her purchase was gently placed in a heavy-duty paper bag. She signed her name on the scrap of paper and made her way back to the car, secretly thrilled at the knowledge that she'd just finished buying all she needed for her first real Christmas with Angel.

*

"I'm home!" Buffy called as she kneed open the door, her arms full of boxes, bags and long rolls of wrapping paper. Smiling, Angel dropped his book and rushed over to help her. Reaching out, he took the things that he deemed most likely to fall and dumped them on the table.

"Successful trip?" he asked, the corners of his mouth lifting in a smile.

His only response was a huge smile from Buffy. "Are we going out tonight, or doing the tree?" She leant forward, her expression one of desperate hope. "You did get the tree, right?"

Angel took her hand and led her into the lounge room. A beautiful, lush green tree stood proud in the centre of the room. Buffy gasped. "You like it?"

She'd never seen anything like it. In L.A, all her Christmas trees had been fake - a great disappointment to a little girl who was always thrilled when December rolled around. Her mother's excuse had been the lack of room in the dining room, but Hank always maintained an allergy to sap. Buffy knew they were just too lazy to indulge her wishes- a plastic tree was easier, but there was nothing quite like the tantalizing smell a real pine tree gave off.

"I love it!" She laughed, launching herself at Angel. He picked her up and swung her in circles, before setting her back down.

"I know you wanted it in the corner, but it was too pretty to shove away...it had to be on display." he began. Buffy shook her head.

"No, it's perfect," she whispered. "Do you want to decorate it now?"

Angel looked up at her in alarm. He'd heard all about her Christmas customs, and believed she decorated it the night before. "But, Christmas Eve-"

She was sick of her parents traditions, and wanted to set new 'Buffy and Angel' family customs. "No. Now." she murmured, nuzzling his neck. "I've always wanted a tree all through December. You know, like people did ages ado. Oz told me his parents used to put it up on the first, and someone would add a present everyday, so gradually, the pile got bigger and bigger."

"What happened if you didn't have 24 presents?"

Buffy grinned. "Well, we'll have to make sure we get 24. We can make a list...or just add one every day, and if we're missing, we buy each other more!"

"With my money?" Angel guessed dryly. Buffy nodded and grinned. One year of bliss was making them so comfortable with sharing everything. From money, beds, bathrooms and lives, they'd shared everything. Buffy no longer felt bad about spending Angel's money, because she was putting some in too, and he'd assured her that nothing made him happier then seeing her happy. It was good.

"No, Angel. Our money. Now go get dressed, we're going out with Cordelia and Lindsey tonight."

Angel raised an eyebrow. "When was this organised, sweetness?" he grinned wryly.

She rolled her eyes. "Ha ha, Angel. Way to make me feel like I'm being hit on by a sleazy old guy!" His eyes widened and hand flew to his heart in mock pain. "Cordy and I arranged it. She said she's sick of fancy shmancy resturants, so we're having seafood on the pier. That okay?"

Thinking back, Angel realised Cordelia's relationship with Lindsey had been inevitable. They were both similar, having experienced poverty and wealth, and the initial spark had been there. Besides, he made her happy, and that was all that mattered.

"What time?"

Buffy's reply was drowned out by the doorbell ringing. "Uh...now?"

*

They were running late. Cordelia looked at her silver watch again. "Buffy! Hello? It's been twenty minutes, are you still not ready?"

"Cordy, it takes you an hour to get ready to go jogging!" Buffy retorted. "Give me a break!"

Lindsey smiled at his girlfriend as Angel walked down the stairs with a sigh. "We're at step three."

"Step three?" Cordelia scoffed. "What they hell is that supposed to mean?"

Angel smiled, ready to tell her about something he'd figured out about six months ago. "In getting ready. Step one is the decision, step two, dressing. Step three is the make-up and four... well that's the leaving part."

"Nice," Lindsey murmured, squeezing Cordelia's hand. "Yours would be...what...twelve step? Miss Chase's twelve step plan to getting ready?" he teased. Angel grinned. The moment passed and Buffy came stomping down the stairs, dressed in tight caramel pants and a black halter top with a slit at her chest. A bright pink thin belt was looped around her waist, matching the delicate slides that adorned her feet. Seeing Cordelia, she relaxed.

"Thought I was overdressed.." she murmured in relief. Cordy dragged her to the door, muttering something about buying a watch.

Buffy relaxed into Angel's arms as they sat on the beach, waiting for the other two to return with the prawns, fish and salad. The breeze off the ocean was cool, making Buffy shiver slightly. It wasn't overly cold - it never was- but it was cool enough to make her wish she'd thought to bring a jacket.

"You're cold." Angel stated, rubbing her bare arms. Grinning, she looked up and replied.

"You can take it."

They both laughed and Angel pulled Buffy closer to him. "Want my jacket?"

She shook her head. It wasn't that cold, and they'd be off the beach as soon as Cordelia and Lindsey were ready anyway. She knew Cordelia loved the beach, but despised eating on it. Chewing sand was not pleasant.

About ten minutes later, Lindsey was making his way across to lead them back to the small, empty gazebo they'd found on the boardwalk. Cordy was busy laying out plates and serving the food.

"Finally! Where did you guys go? Mexico?" she motioned to the food. "It was getting cold."

The foursome ate in silence, watching the last rays of sun leave the sky.

"I can't believe I don't have to go back to school!" Buffy laughed, still unbelieving that the school semester was finally over...no more lectures, no more teachers, no more psych!

Angel wrapped an arm around her waist and squeezed."No more Sunnydale...for awhile, anyway."

It was good. Buffy smiled, realising exactly what the long break held for her. She couldn't wait to catch up on lost time with Angel. She'd even managed to get permission from her mum to let her have Christmas with Angel, although she was a little concerned that she'd be on her own, Joyce had assured her she'd made plans.

"Ugh, we should go," Cordy moaned, slowly getting to her feet. "We have to drive out of town to visit Lin's parents tomorrow. Lindsey sighed.

"And what a fun occasion that'll be: having them question Cordy and a bonus of pestering me on why I left Wolfram & Hart." he muttered sarcastically.

Angel smiled sympathetically. "If it's any consolation, I'm sure it will be better then it was with Joyce. If I was still a vampire, she'd have been itching to add a little extra garlic to the pasta!"

"She doesn't hate you Angel!" Buffy exclaimed, laughing, "At least, not enough to kill you, anyway,"

*

Later that night, as they sat watching an old movie in bed, slurping hot chocolate, Angel smiled. He did it a lot lately, just began smiling at any thought that came into his mind.

"Why're you so happy?" Buffy asked as the girl on-screen launched into a monologue about some horrible event that had just occurred.

He grinned. "Do you want this particular reason or all of them?" Buffy rolled her eyes and settled back against his chest.

"All."

"Well, let's see. I'm happy because you're here, and it's forever. I'm happy because Cordelia and Lindsey are happy, I'm happy because for the first time in a long while I'm actually about to have a merry Christmas...do you want me to go on?"

Buffy just smiled and pulled his arm around her and kissed it. "No, it's okay. I've blushed enough tonight," she snuggled into his embrace. "I'm happy too. Cordy and Lindsey are meant for each other, they understand each other and everything. Like us. I hope they stay together,"

"I think they will." Angel murmured, closing his eyes.

"Yeah, me too." Buffy replied softly, rolling over to wrap her arms around Angel, moving as close to him as possible. Slowly, with Buffy safely wrapped in Angel's arms, they fell asleep together, each contented in the knowledge that everyone they knew, including themselves, was in love and happy in time for Christmas.

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