Disclaimer: I don't own anything except, I made up Jason.
Site: Sempiterna Amor: http://www.geocities.com/moonangel_forever/
Spoilers: I don't think there are any spoilers
Timeline: 6th season BtVS/ 3rd season A:ts
Feedback: I'd appreciate it.
Distribution: Just ask
Author's Note: IMPORTANT, PLEASE READ--(There are spoilers about 6th season BtVS in the author's note, but the eps have already been aired, so if you haven't seen some eps from this season yet don't read this, but it will be hard to understand the story if you don't.) Okay, Willow never went crazy with her magic. So, she Buffy and Dawn and everyone else are still ok. Tara still left, I don't have a reason for it, make one up if it bother's you, say she's visiting someone. Spike and Buffy never slept together. In fact he isn't even in this. Angel doesn't know about his son. The baby and Darla are out of the picture of this story.

++Summer's Residence/Wednesday, December 19, 2001/ 3:41PM++

"Willow, can you get the phone?!" Buffy called from the attic. Buffy was looking for some Chirstmas decorations that she really liked. But they were no where to be found.

Willow picked up the phone, "Hello?"

"Hello."

There was silence on both sides of the line.

"Is Buffy there?"

"Who is this?"

"This is Hank Summers, Buffy's--"

"--father...Oh, I'm sorry Mr. Summer's, I didn't recognize your voice. Umm, she's a little busy right now--"

Something crashed in the attic.

"I'm okay," Buffy yelled down the stairs.

"Yeah, can she call you back later, Mr. Summers?"

Just then, Dawn walked in.

"Oh, Dawn is home from school, would you like to talk to her?"

"Sure, put her on."

Willow handed Dawn the phone, "It's your dad."

"Hi Dad."

"Hi, Dawn, I wanted to ask you something."

***********************************************************

++Summer's Residence/Wednesday, December 19, 2001/ 5:36PM++

Buffy finally came down from the attic. She had no luck. She walked into Willow's room. They sat down to talk about Christmas dinner. They were celebrating Hannakah already. The house was a mix of holiday decorations from two different cultures, but it looked wonderful. Dawn walked in a few minutes later.

"Buffy I know you don't get along with Dad much, anymore. I know he stood you up for the last six years of ice shows, but just do this for me, please?"

"Do what?" Buffy asked.

"Dad is throwing this Christmas party. It's more of a business thing he's doing with he work, but he wants us to come."

"Dawn--"

"Wait, I'm not finished. It's at this big hotel in downtown L.A. And it's a formal party and he' swilling to pay for our dresses, no matter the cost."

"He said that, 'no matter the cost'?" Buffy questioned.

"Yeah, so what do you say?"

"When would we go?"

"Only for this weekend. So we would be back for Christmas unless we wanted to stay a day or two more."

"Well...free dresses...fine, we can go. But we're not staying any extra." Buffy thought for a second. "We'll head over there Friday afternoon. We could go shopping that night of Saturday afternoon. I'm assuming the party is Saturday night..?"

"Yeah, it start's at 7:30 and he said we can stay until everyone else leaves if we wanted. Then we could leave Sunday morning."

***********************************************************

++L. A. Bus Depot/Friday, December 21, 2001/ 3:30PM++

"Dawn, wake up, we're here."

Buffy nudged Dawn's shoulder. Dawn always fell asleep during trips that lasted longer than a half an hour. So, Dawn woke up groggily, grabbed her bag which didn't have much in it because they were only staying a few days.

***********************************************************

++Hank Summers' Home/Saturday, December 22, 2001/ 6:02PM++

"Buffy, that dress looks beautiful on you."

"Thank you Dawn, you look nice, too. But black? You should've gotten a red dress. Red is more Christmassy."

"I don't like red. I like the green that you're wearing."

"Well, you couldn't get green, I got green. Did you want to go to this thing matching?"

"You, could've worn red."

"But I like this dress."

Dawn rolled her eyes and walked the mirror. "Dad said he had to go set a few things up at the hotel, so he's sending us a limo. It's be here around 7:00."

"A limo?"

"I know, this is gonna be so cool," Dawn said excitedly.

"Yeah, cool."

***********************************************************

++Inside the Limo/Saturday, December 22, 2001/ 7:23PM++

"So Dad paid for this limo?" Buffy asked.

"Yup."

"Just for us?"

"Yup"

"All night?"

"Yup"

"Dawn, I forgot something. Let's drop you off and I'll go back and get it."

"But, Buffy?"

"I'll try to be there before 8:30, I promise. I won't miss much."

"You're not doing this so you can avoid Dad right? You didn't say a word during lunch today. Dad took us out to be with us, and you just sat there."

"I have issues to deal with Dawn, look, we're here, go have a good time, I'll be there soon."

***********************************************************

++The Hyperion Hotel/Saturday, December 22, 2001/ 7:48PM++

"Angel it's almost Chrstmas. You haven't gotten any of us presents," Cordelia complained.

"Angel kept reading. They were sitting in the lobby of the Hyperion. Gunn and Wesley were doing an inventory of some new weapons. Fred and Cordelia were trying to plan Christmas Eve, but were often sidetracked.

"Angel, I looked everywhere. How could you not get us presents. When you when to Tibet or whatnot to find yourself again after Buffy died, you got us presents."

Angel, finally looked at Cordelia, expressionless.

"Wow, I have the weirdest timing. It's like something is writing this, or we're on TV or something."

"Buffy! What are you doing here--Is that dress Chanel?"

Buffy walked towards the others. Angel was speechless. She looked perfect to him. Her dress was dark green and made of satin. There were no straps on it. It fit tightly around her waist and the skirt flowed as if she were walking on air.

"Yeah, it is."

Cordelia stood in shock.

"I was wondering if you guys would do me a favor?"

"I thought we said..."Angel trailed off.

"I know what we said, but I'm done following the rules, I want you guys to come to this party my father is throwing."

"Won't we be intruding?"

"Oh no, no one would even notice."

"Hi, I don't think we've met, I Fred. That's Gunn."

"Hi," Buffy replied.

"Hey," Gunn nodded.

"So are you guys coming? The party is formal, so you'll need to dress up."

"None of us have any formal wear," Angel replied.

Suddenly, the lights went out. There was a little ruffle and the power came back. When it did, the members of Angel Investigations were dress in close fit for royalty.

"What just happened?" Cordelia asked.

"See, someone is telling you should come with me. And anyway, all of us are dressed up now, and you have no where else to go. So you might as well come with me.

"Look, I haven't seen my dad in two years. It was around Thanksgiving, remember?"

Angel looked at the floor. He remembered.

"He didn't even come down when my mom died. he missed all my birthdays since I moved to Sunnydale. He never misses Dawn's birthdays. It's going to be strange. I was dead for three months, my father has no idea. I...I just don't want to deal with it. So, please, can you come?"

***********************************************************

++The Party/Saturday, December 22, 2001/8:29PM++

"We're here guys," Buffy announced.

They filed out of the limo. Buffy was the last to get out because she wanted to be careful with her dress. She put one foot out of the limo and Angel took her hand, like a perfect gentleman would, so she wouldn't lose her balance. Buffy was taken aback for a second, then, she stepped out of the limo. Her hand still held on to Angel's as they walked up the stairs to the front entrance of the hotel.

They entered the dance hall. Buffy found Dawn, so Dawn knew Buffy had arrived. Then they found a place to sit down. It was late and they hadn't eaten yet. Angel sat and watched Buffy. Every motion, every gesture. smile, the expressions on her face as she and Cordelia caught up with each other. He was in love, all over again. It seemed as if everytime he saw her, he fell in love as if it were the first time he had ever saw her.

"Xander and Anya are engaged!"

"Yeah, I never thought any of us would ever get married, but I guess I was wrong."

A guy walked up behind Buffy and put his hands on her shoulders. He bent down and whispered something in her ear.

Angel sat up straight, straining to hear the words of this mysterious stranger. Angel noticed Buffy's facial expression. She was annoyed. Buffy then turned away from the stranger. He stood up, smiled at Buffy and said, "Later." Then he walked away.

"Who was that?" Angel was quick with the question.

"That was Jason. Ever since I was eleven, he's been hitting on me at these business functions. Our dads have been working together for years. So, I've known him for a while. He's a jerk."

"But a cute one," Cordelia commented, still watching Jason as he mingled in the crowd.

Dawn walked over and saw everyone. "Is this what you forgot?"

"Dad won't come over if I'm busy...they're here for support."

"Buffy you're going to have to talk to him sooner or later."

"Dawn.....go....mingle," Buffy said as she poked at her dinner. nbsp; The song 'Chestnuts Roasting started to play. Someone tapped Buffy on her shoulder.

"Dad."

"Buffy Anne Summers, may I have this dance?"

Buffy looked over to Dawn. Dawn, quickly turned away.

"Sure, Dad."

Hank led his daughter to the dance floor. Buffy didn't say a word.

"May I cut in?"

"Jason, of course!" Hank cried. "Have fun kids."

Buffy glared at Jason.

"One dance, then leave me alone."

"That's all I ask."

Angel looked up from the table at the end of the song and looked for Buffy. He saw her struggling to get away from Jason. He wouldn't let go of her. Angel could tell Buffy was concentrating very hard so she wouldn't end up using slayer strength on him.

Angel got up.

"I said let me go!" Buffy was getting angry.

"Come on, I have a room upstairs, just for a few hours, no one will notice," Jason replied.

"She said go away," Angel said as he stepped in.

"Who are you? Her guardian angel?"

"Actually, I am. Now get lost."

Buffy smiled at Jason, as he backed away.

"My hero," Buffy smiled.

"Dance with me?" Angel asked.

Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Let your heart be light
From now on,
our troubles will be out of sight
Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Make the Yule-tide gay,
From now on,
our troubles will be miles away.
Here were are as in olden days,
happy golden days of yore.
Faithful friends who are dear to us
gather near to us once more.
Through the years we all will be together
If the Fates allow
Hang a shining star upon the highest bough.
And have yourself a merry little Christmas now.

Buffy danced in the arms of her Angel for the rest of the night. Jason was no where to be seen. Dawn had gone back to their father's house. The last few guests were leaving. But Buffy and Angel danced on. Wesley finally found the courage to ask Fred to dance. And Cordelia found out Gunn wasn't a terrible dancer.

Buffy yawned. It was late.

"We should go, and your tired," Angel said.

"But I don't wanna go..." Buffy whined.

"Come on," Angel stopped dancing, taking Buffy's hand, they walked towards the exit of the dance hall.

"Wait, don't move," Gunn said quickly to Buffy and Angel.

"What, what is it?" Angel asked.

"Look up," Gunn replied.

Mistletoe.

Buffy looked at the floor and started to blush.

"We don't have to Angel, I always thought it was a silly tradition anyway."

Buffy started to walk away. But Angel, still holding her hand pulled her back under the mistletoe. Their lips were inches apart. Angel bent down slowly, he kissed her.

Buffy looked and Angel, he looked back. They left the hall, hand in hand, smiling.

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