Disclaimer: I don't own any BtVS or A:ts characters, they belong to Joss. I don't own the Grinch either or the Whos, or Whoville or anything that came from "How the Grinch stole Christmas" It all belongs to Dr. Suess. Everything I say about Dr. Suess in this fic isn't true. In fact I like Dr. Suess books, they're cute. As far as I know, his tales are completely original. And I don't own Santa, Santa belongs to himself. :) (The elves belong to themselves as well.)
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
Author's Note: IMPORTANT, PLEASE READ--First of all, all the times given are in Pacific Standard Time. Now, to the important stuff. (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 okay. 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. Fred, went home to her parents for this story. So, she's not in it, either.
Translations: ostendo = reveal; somnus = sleep

++Xander:Anya's Appartment/Monday, December 17, 2001/3:53AM++

"Anya! Anya!" Xander shook his bride-to-be. "Anya! Wake up!"

Anya was tossing and turning. Xander knew something was wrong. He could feel it.

Then, suddenly, Anya jumped up, "What day is today!?"

"December 17, Monday," Xander answered. "Are you okay?"

"Get the scoobies together. We have a very important mission."

"A mission?"

"Yeah, he told me in my dream. We need help him. If we don't it's lost, forever!"

"Who told you? What dream, Anya?"

"What are sitting there for, call the gang!!"

"Anya! Answer me, what's going on?!"

"It's Santa! And his elves, we have to save them!"

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

++The Magic Box/Monday, December 17, 2001/7:54AM++

Everyone sat at the table near the back of the store. The whole gang was there, half asleep, but physically there.

"So let me get this straight," Buffy started. "Santa Clause, The Santa Clause came to you in a dream, and told you, he needs your help--"

"Our help, he specifically said 'the slayer and her friends', Anya corrected.

"Our help..., what makes you think the dream was real."

"I met Santa, a long time ago. Before I was a full fledged demon. He sent a few elves to stop me from becoming evil. Even though it didn't work, he was the only male I was truly ever nice to. We kept in touch for awhile, but I stopped writing to him about 500 years ago. I don't remember why.

"So...so, ummm, that still doesn't mean--," Buffy tried.

"How do you know when your dreams are prophecies?"

"I don't actually know, I just feel it."

"Exactly, I feel it too, Santa really needs our help."

Everyone just starred at Anya. The bell on the door of the Magic Box rang. There were customers, so Anya turned away from the gang to go help them. A few seconds later Anya walked back to the gang.

"I have my proof," Anya announced.

"What?" Buffy asked.

"Meet Billy Joe and Billy Bob."

"Where are they?" Dawn asked.

"Look down," Anya replied.

"I don't see anyone," commented Willow.

"Just for a second, play along, say you believe in Santa. Just for a second, " Anya pleaded.

All together, the group said, "We believe in Santa," Willow saying it rather reluctantly.

"Oh my goodness!!! There are little men!!!" cried Dawn.

"I see them too," added Buffy.

"They're elves!" Willow and Xander screamed together.

"Hello, I'm Joe, this is Bob," Joe introduced in a very squeaky voice. "We were sent here by Mr. Clause. Christmas is close to being canceled. We need your help to save it."

"There's a sleigh in the slayer's backyard, but we must leave before the town wakes. Can you help us?"

Everyone stood in shock.

"Ummm....," Buffy was speechless.

"Buffy!" Dawn cried. "We have save Christmas!!!!"

"You mean there are eight reindeer in my backyard."

"No, " started Bob. "There are only three, Donner, Dasher, and Rudolph. The others are resting, getting ready for next Monday night. We only use all nine during the actual night because all of those presents are kind of heavy."

"Rudolph?" Xander asked.

"Of course, how do you think Santa gets around one foggy Christmas Eve?" asked Joe.

"I think I need to sit down," stated Dawn.

"There's no time for that, what don't you understand about us needing to leave to save Santa!!!" Joe and Bob yelled together. "We have to go!"

"Let's go guys," Buffy said normally.

"Buffy?" Xander asked.

"Yeah?" she replied.

"We're talking to elves."

"So, we've dealt with vampires, demons, talking puppets, robots, Snyder and a god. Who's to say there isn't such thing as Santa or...I don't know, the Easter B--" Buffy was cutoff.

"Don't say it, don't finish that word!" Anya yelled.

"I don't know about you guys, but I'm going to go save Christmas. I've saved the world a bunch of times anyway. It's time for a change in pace."

With that said, Buffy left the Magic Box, the elves leading the way. Dawn looked at the gang, then left and ran after Buffy. Anya took Xander's hand and followed.

"Fine," Willow said to herself. "I'm coming, I'll save Christmas. Today's the last day of Hanukkah anyway, I have nothing better to do." Willow locked the Magic Box and started towards Buffy's house.

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

++In the Sleigh/Monday, December 17, 2001/8:21AM++

The Scooby Gang sat in the enormous sleigh, watching the scenery go by.

"This isn't the way to Santa's place," Anya said.

"We're not going there yet," answered Joe.

"Where are we going?" Willow inquired.

"L.A.," Bob answered.

"Why?" Buffy asked quickly.

"We need more help," Bob replied.

"We're getting Angel, aren't we?" Buffy said.

No one said anything. Soon, they landed on the front lawn of the Hyperion. Everyone filed into the lobby of the hotel. But before Buffy entered, she turned around and looked at sun, which would be hanging high over head in a few hours.

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

++Inside the Hyperion Hotel/Monday, December 17, 2001/8:33AM++

"What's going on?" asked Cordelia as the others entered the hotel.

"We'll let Bob and Joe explain it," Anya told the L.A. gang.

"Who are Bob and Joe?" Angel asked while reading a book. They were up all night researching a thing Cordelia saw in a vision.

"You don't see them? Gunn asked. "They're right there. Little guys, look like elves."

"You only can see them if you believe in Santa," Dawn added.

"Then why can Gunn see..."Cordelia paused. "You believe in Santa Clause?"

"Why shouldn't I?" Gunn asked. "He's real...right? You best not be tellin' me he's not."

Cordelia looked at Angel, and then at Wesley. They looked at Gunn.

"Wait, I can see them too," announced Wesley.

"I'm surrounded by crazy people! Wes, Gunn you two of all people would be the last two I'd ever expect to believe in Santa."

"I have no reason to doubt his existence," Wesley added.

Someone tugged on Cordelia's jeans. She turned around, then looked down.

"Oh my God! It's an elf!" cried Cordelia. She quickly jumped into Gunn's arms.

"Cor, it's an elf, not a rat," Gunn said as he put Cordelia down.

Buffy walked in, "Guys, we should hurry up," she yelled then walked outside again.

"What about you Angel?" Dawn asked. "Do you see them?"

"Oh, yeah, I met Santa about 73 years ago. He's the one who convinced me to come to the U.S., so I could see Bob and Joe. Bob, Joe, it's been awhile. How've you been?"

"Not so good Angel, we need you guys to come with us," answered Joe.

"I can't," Angel protested. "The sun's up."

"Oh, we forgot," Bob said while pulling out a handful of pixie dust from his pocket. He said a few words then blew the dust on Angel. "There, you can walk in the sunlight for the next ten days."

"Thanks, well I'm ready to go now. What exactly is the problem guys?"

"Can we explain on the way?" asked Joe. "We need to get going."

"Sure, I'll meet you guys in the sleigh."

Angel left the lobby as if nothing were wrong. As if elves walking through your door was an everyday occurrence.

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

++Inside the Sleigh/Monday, December 17, 2001/8:31PM++

"So aren't these reindeer supposed to be flying faster?" Dawn asked Joe.

"Only when all the reindeer are here and we ask them to use their magic. It's to dangerous for them to be using such magicks all year around."

"Oh."

"We'll be landing in a few minutes."

"Hey, why isn't it cold up here?" Willow wondered.

"We just got a new heating system for the sleigh. It heats everything in the sleigh and the reindeer, but it doesn't melt the snow. Santa is really happy about that."

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

++Santa's Workshop/Monday, December 17, 2001/8:49PM++

"Joe, they need you in wrapping remember. I'll take them to the boss."

"Okay, good luck guys," Joe said as he turned the other way.

"Guys, we get to meet Santa!" Gunn said clapping his hands excitedly.

"Not Santa, yet at least," Bob told them. "You're going to meet the boss."

"Yeah, Santa," Gunn replied.

"Santa's not the boss, what are you talking about?"

"If Santa's not the boss, who is?" Gunn asked.

"Mrs. Clause, of course. If it weren't for her, there would've never been a Christmas in the first place. Santa delivers the presents. He has this special ability to bring out the kindness in people. That's what makes this season so giving. If Santa is gone, the kindness goes away and the giving stops. If the giving stops, then Mrs. Clause won't have the energy to keep going. Mrs. Clause always makes sure Santa drops the right gifts at the right houses. She makes sure the reindeer steer the correct course.

"One year, Mrs. Clause had a cold. Santa mixed up one hundred presents. Just think about all those upset children. The next night, squad A, B, and C were sent out to fix the mix up."

"Squads? "Willow questioned.

"We have squadrons of elves for such occasions. Squads had never been sent out before that night, and never have since."

"So why didn't you just sent out squads to get Santa back?" Buffy asked.

"Our squadrons aren't trained for such missions. Joe and I are squadron leaders, that's why we were selected to get you guys.

"You don't seem to be convinced yet," Bob paused. "Okay, here it is. She loves him. Mrs. Clause loves her husband. They went into this trade because they are able to spend every day of every year together for eternity. And they get to do something that makes millions of people happy every year. Then, one day you find out you can't. You can't be with your soul mate because someone forced you apart. Just imagine what she must be going through.

"Okay, we're here." Bob opened the door and let the gang enter Mrs. Clause's office.

"Bob, Joe called from wrapping, they need your help," Mrs. Clause said right off.

Bob left immediately.

"Well, first of all, I'd like to thank you all for coming. You don't know what it means to me. Especially you, Miss Rosenburg. I know that you are Jewish, I gives me so much strength to see people of different races coming together to make the world a better place."

Mrs. Clause smiled.

"Now, down to business. At oh-seven hundred hours on Saturday the fifteenth of December of the year two thousand and one, Mr. Kris Kringle a.k.a. Santa Clause a.k.a. Jolly Ol' St. Nick a.k.a. Father Christmas was kidnapped from this compound. We have identified the kidnapper." Mrs. Clause used some white magic to make a picture of Santa appear on a wall. The picture faded away and another picture appeared.

"He looks like the Grinch," Dawn commented.

"That's the demon from my vision," announced Cordelia.

"That, my friends, is the Grinch's twin brother. The Vrinch. He, somehow broke into this very building and outsmarted our defenses.

"The Vrinch is evil because he and his brother were separated one Christmas. That's why they don't like it. It brings back bad memories. But the Grinch found good in all of it. He lives happily with the Whos in Whoville. Squadron C, D, E, F and G have already been sent to find the Grinch.

"We believe the Vrinch will not come quietly. He's been through more than his brother. You must show him the goodness of Christmas, then and only then will he reveal the whereabouts of Mr. Clause.

"When he sees the goodness in Christmas, the Vrinch's heart should grow. Possibly even break the scale, like his brother's did."

"So...Santa is really real, and so is the Grinch. And the Grinch has a twin brother?" Cordelia asked in an I-think-I've-gone-crazy voice.

"Yes, they are quite real. Do you think you can complete your mission?"

"Of course, we'll do everything we can," answered Angel.

They left Mrs. Clause to her work. She was confident that Santa would be back for Christmas. So she kept on with her work, trying to get all the presents right for the right kids.

"Okay, " Buffy said as they walked into the hallway. "I have a plan. First of all, we need to find out where the Vrinch is--"

"He lives in a condo in the Bahamas," Joe said as he walked towards the gang. "Joe has it covered in wrapping."

"Well that makes it easier," Dawn said happily.

"Yeah, it does. Here's my idea. Willow, you learned how to use all the controls on the sleigh on the way here, right?"

Willow nodded.

"Good, Bob I want you to navi---"

"I can't," Bob replied.

"What, why?" Buffy asked.

"I have a lot of work to do here. In fact I need Miss Chase, Mr. Pryce, Mr. Gunn, Mr. Harris, and Ms. Soon-to-be-Harris to help me."

Buffy stared at him.

"With so many squads on duty, we need more help around here. Why do you think we wanted all of you to come. I doesn't take a million people to find a guy named Santa. Look, Slayer, we have faith in you. Why don't you have some faith in yourself?" Bob asked as he walked away with most of the Scooby gang.

"And then there were four," Dawn said quietly.

"Willow, show us how to use the controls on the sleigh. You can navigate us from here. Dawn I want you to come with me and Angel."

"You actually want me to come with you?"

"First, let's go to Sunnydale. I need to get a few things."

"Okay," Willow replied. "They're changing the reindeer. Vixen, Blitzen and Rudolph will be driving you. Get some Santa hats before you leave, they have intercoms in them. I'll be able to contact you and you'll be able to contact me and each other even out of the sleigh."

"That's fine, let's get going," Buffy finished.

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

++Inside the Sleigh/Tuesday, December 18, 2001/5:04AM++

They had left Santa's Workshop around 9:30PM. They reindeer were flying a little faster to Sunnydale, than the way from there. At this rate, they would reach Sunnydale at about 7:00AM.

Buffy and Angel were sleeping in each others arms with a little blanket over them. Dawn had put it there. She had fallen asleep as well, but woke up and saw them together. So Dawn had gotten up and asked the reindeer if they could slow down so Buffy and Angel could sleep. All of them were tired and it was perfect up there in the sky.

Buffy woke up next and the first thing she saw was Angel. Quickly she pushed herself away from him. Then Angel woke up and saw her.

"What happened? Where--,"He asked.

"We fell asleep, in the sleigh, but I don't remember..." Buffy trailed off.

"You two start away from each other, but as the night when on you got closer and closer. Until you ended up next to each other," Dawn said groggily, still trying to wake up.

Buffy just looked at the floor of the sleigh and Angel watched the sunrise. They avoided eye contact for the rest of the ride.

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

++Sunnydale, California/Tuesday, December 18, 2001/7:31AM++

The sleigh touched down a half an hour late. Apparently, even Santa isn't immune to the delays of air travel. They landed in a cemetery. Buffy's neighbors were already up, and they might notice a sleigh and three reindeer in Buffy's backyard.

They walked quickly to Buffy's home and their Santa hats. On the way there, they noticed the townspeople were a little more angry from the day they left. Someone yelled at a pedestrian for not being old enough to drive yet. A guy got upset with his dog because he wouldn't walk fast enough. And a woman yelled at the grass for being to long.

"I guess Christmas cheer is really important to the world," Dawn commented as they reached their doorstep.

They walked inside.

"Okay, Dawn, I want you to stay here."

"What!? I knew you would do this. I knew there was a reason you wanted me to come with you."

"Dawn, I can't save the world if I have to worry about you."

"What's gonna happen!? Is the Vrinch gonna steal my Christmas presents if I get in the way?!"

"Buffy, let's just go. I understand that you want to protect Dawn, but who knows. Maybe she'll be able to help us. And anyway, would you rather her be with a slayer and a vampire with soul who can protect her or a town full of evil creatures all by herself," Angel tried.

Buffy looked at the ground. "If you wind up hurt, it's not my fault. Just for the record, I want everyone know, I wanted you to stay out of this." She paused. "Let's go to the magic shop."

A few minutes later they were at the store.

Buffy went to the backdoor and took out her keys. She had keys for the back door. Giles gave them to her so if she wanted, she could train whenever she felt like it. Buffy unlocked the door and everyone went in.

"I just need to get a book," Buffy said as she went to the door leading to the actual shop.

Angel inspected Buffy's training quarters while she was gone.

Buffy walked in a few minutes later. She held a book in her hands.

Angel looked at the book. "'Liber Fabula', you have this text?"

"It's Giles'. He left it here."

"What's liber fabula?" Dawn asked.

"It's Latin. The literal translation is 'offspring tale'. It means 'children's stories'. I think they talk about the Vrinch in here. Giles showed me this book back when I still was in high school. He said, Dr. Suess got his ideas from this book."

"We can look through the book on the way to the Bahamas," Angel hurried. "But we should get going."

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

++Inside the Sleigh/Tuesday, December 18, 2001/ 10:33AM++

"The book is gibberish," Dawn said flipping through the book.

"Some it is in French," Angel replied. "Un Poisson, Deux Poisson, Roux Poisson, Bleu Poisson." Angel flipped over a few pages. "Oeufs Verts et Jambon."

"And that means...?" Dawn trailed off.

"One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish. and Green eggs and Ham," Buffy answered.

"Those are Dr. Suess books," Dawn said.

"Remember what we said earlier," Buffy replied.

"Some also say, Dr. Suess's past self wrote this book, and that's how he got the ideas," Angel stated.

"Anyway, find 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas'," Buffy asked Angel.

Angel flipped around in the book, "Here, 'Comment le Grinch a Vole Noel.' It says the Vrinch's heart is six sizes too small. We have our work cut out for us. At least we have time."

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

++The Bahamas/Tuesday, December 18, 2001/ 1:42PM++

"Well," Buffy said as they landed, "Now, what?"

"Buffy!? Buffy? Angel? Dawn? Can you guys hear me?" Willow called through the intercom.

"Will, we're here, what is it?" Buffy replied.

"Buffy, get out of there. The Vrinch knew you were coming. He hypnotized some Whos. Thy're coming to get you. Get out now!" Willow yelled through the intercom.

"Let's go guys," Buffy said to the others. "Rudolph, you heard Will, let's go."

Rudolph leaped into the air. They flew off.

"Buffy," Willow called back. "Don't land for more than five minutes. Where ever you go, the Whos will find you. Tell the reindeer, if they get tired to use their magic. You can't come here either. The Whos have already taken over Santa's Workshop. Since most of the squads have been sent out to find the Grinch, there's no one left here who can help protect the place. We're under attack. The Whos haven't found me yet because the control room is hidden. I have to go guys, the elves need my help. You're on your own now. Good luck guys. I'm out."

Click, Willow's radio turned off.

"We can still talk to each other right?" Dawn asked.

"Yeah, Will only turned off her end. We're okay. We'll be fine," Buffy replied. Then to herself she whispered, "I hope."

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

++In the Sleigh/Wednesday, December 19, 2001/2:15PM++

"I think the reindeer need to rest," stated Dawn.

"We've already tried to get the reindeer back to the North Pole so we could switch them. The reindeer aren't kept with the rest of the building and it would only take a few minutes. But they won't have any of it. I guess they really want to save Santa and Christmas," Angel replied.

"We have some brave reindeer on our hands," announced Buffy.

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

++In the Sleigh/Thursday, December 20, 2001/3:58PM++

"Why is it, the Whos always know where our next stop is?" asked Buffy.

"Yeah, is there something we're not noticing?" wondered Dawn.

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

++In the Sleigh/Friday, December 21, 2001/4:11PM++

"Time is starting to run short," stated Dawn.

"We know," replied Angel, "We know."

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

++In the Sleigh/Saturday, December 22, 2001/5:06AM++

"Guys, guys, it's Willow, can you hear me? Buffy, Angel, Dawn, are you guys there?" Willow whispered.

"Go ahead Will. It's good to talk to you, we were worried," Buffy replied.

"We're okay, for the time being, a bunch of us are hiding in the control room. Anyway, Squad E found the Grinch. He's heading down to the Bahamas and will meet you there. Good luck. I'm out."

Click, the intercom turned into static over the air waves.

"I guess we're going back," Dawn said to the reindeer.

The reindeer turned east to head to the Atlantic.

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

++The Bahamas/Saturday, December 22, 2001/1:22PM++

"Okay guys, we have to find the Vrinch and turn him good by 4AM, Monday morning." Angel stated.

"What are you talking about, we have till midnight that night," Dawn replied.

"There's the time difference, Dawn. When it's 4AM in California, it's midnight around New Zealand."

"Oh, you're right. I guess we should hurry up then."

"Guys, I have a plan," Buffy announced.

"Great, let's hear it," replied Dawn.

"We get captured."

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

++The Vrinch's Condo/Saturday, December 22, 2001/9:29PM++

Buffy sat up slowly. She was in a large type of cage. There cage was in a room. It was dark. She could see fairly well. Dawn lay sleeping to her left and Angel was on her right. He sat up slowly.

"What happened?" He asked.

"The Whos got us from behind. I think they knocked us out. And now we're here. Where ever here is."

"Okay, we're here. But where is Santa?" Angel asked.

"Mrs. Clause said he'd be revealed after the Vrinch's heart grew," replied Buffy.

"Then where's the Vrinch?" Angel wondered.

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

++The Vrinch's Condo/Sunday, December 23, 2001/12:42AM++

Buffy and Angel tried to get out of the cage. They weren't strong enough. It was late and they were tired. Dawn was still sleeping. Angel held Buffy in his arms as they tried to fall asleep.

"Do you mind this?" Buffy whispered.

"Mind what?" Angel asked.

"This. Us, being so close?" She whispered back.

"I don't mind. In fact, I'm glad we're this close. It feels good, you know what I mean?"

"Yeah, I get it."

At that moment a door opened. Through it, came a little dog with a branch tied to it's head.

"I guess twin's think alike," Buffy whispered to Angel.

Soon, in walked the Vrinch. He was yelling at the puppy.

"I'm glad I have real reindeer now. Santa's an idiot. There won't be any Christmas this year!" The Vrinch yelled. Then he laugh an evil laugh, "Muah ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!"

"Angel, I was just thinking--"

"So, you're awake!" Bellowed the Vrinch.

Buffy and Angel didn't say anything. They didn't know what to say.

"Well, I don't wanna deal with you right now, so..." The Vrinch got out some magic dust and yelled, "Somnus!"

Instantly, Buffy and Angel fell asleep.

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

++The Vrinch's Condo/Sunday, December 23, 2001/11:11AM++

The Vrinch was setting things up on the other side of the room. No sunlight entered the room. Buffy and Angel woke up simultaneously.

"Angel?" Buffy whispered.

"I'm here."

"What are we going to do? We have less than an hour left."

"What? It's still Sunday."

"Think about it. It'll take about twelve hours to get to the North Pole with three tired reindeer, from the Bahamas. Then Santa is going to need a few hours, let's say four, to get everything set up, all of the elves back, and the workshop running again. Not to mention a little time with Mrs. Clause."

"We should leave by twelve in the afternoon. Quick what time is it?"

"It's 11:13AM."

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

++The Vrinch's Condo/Sunday, December 23, 2001/11:54AM++

The Vrinch was still working in the same room the cages were in. Dawn had finally woke up.

"You know, Mom would be so proud of me. My first Christmas on my own, and we're stuck in a cage."

"Buffy, it's not your fault. Everything will be okay," Dawn tried.

"Mom, used to say when I was younger, 'I can't wait till we have Christmas at your own house when you're older.' But Mom stopped saying things like that after she found out I was the slayer. Mom really wanted me to grow up right, but I'm the slayer. No merry Christmas for Buffy."

"Well, let's have our own Christmas, right now, here," Angel suggested.

"What?" Buffy asked.

"Yeah, we could sing songs and tell Christmas stories," Finished Angel.

"No, no singing. Angel, I've heard you sing before...we are not singing," Buffy said quickly.

"Well, we could tell stories then," he replied.

"Buffy already told us a story, Angel, you go," Dawn jumped in.

"Dawn!"

"You told your story, Buffy."

"That was not a story, that...was something...from the past." Buffy knew she had lost. "Fine, fine."

"Okay, a Christmas story...When I was a little boy in Ireland. I don't actually understand why I remember this, but it was before my father and I hated each other.

"We, used to do holiday shopping as a family. Well, one year..."

The Vrinch heard tales being exchanged and thought to himself "How could it be so? It's coming without ribbons! It's coming without tags! It's coming without packages, boxes or bags!" And he puzzled till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before! "Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store. "Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!"

Then, out of nowhere, the Grinch came into the room.

"Brother?" he asked.

Not many believe what happened next. The Vrinch's little heart grew seven sizes that day.

"We have to save Christmas," he whispered, then he started to yell. "We have to save Christmas!!" He ran over to the cage pulled out some keys and unlocked the door. Then he took out some more magic dust and yelled, "Ostendo!"

Suddenly, Santa appeared.

"Come on!" Yelled the Vrinch. "Christmas might be late!"

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

Mr. and Mrs. Clause were reunited, but that's not the end of this Christmas tale.

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

++Santa's Workshop/Monday, December 24, 2001/3:39PM++

Everyone had gone home, since everything would be okay. Buffy and Angel decided to stay until Santa was off, just for assurance. But...

"Owwww!!" Cried Santa in agony.

"What's wrong?" asked Mrs. Clause.

"My ankle, I think it's broken!"

"But you have to leave, it's almost midnight in New Zealand."

"I know, I know. But I don't think I could go! They could do it though," Santa said pointing to Buffy and Angel.

"What? No, we've done our job. I'm tired, I want to go home," Buffy whined.

"Think of the millions of children that won't get any presents this year;" pleaded Mrs. Clause.

Buffy hated when people made her feel guilty. "Fine! I'll go, but there better be some good presents in there for me."

Buffy and Angel left the room.

"So, do you think they bought the ankle bit?" Santa asked his wife.

"Well, I think they did."

"I wonder how long it'll take them to figure out that one of our presents for the two of them is bring them back together?"

"Those two? It might take them years." Mrs. Clause replied as she and her husband walked away.

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

++Sunnydale, California/Tuesday, December 25, 2001/12:00AM++

"Only a few more time zones to go," Buffy said going into her own house with Angel.

"I still can't believe I'm wearing this. They even gave me a fake beard."

"Well, I like the dress they gave. It's cute. I think it's made of velvet. Anyway, 'Santa' put the presents down and let's go."

"Don't you want to see what you're getting?"

"I'll wait till we're done with this." Buffy turned to leave.

"Wait," Angel pulled her back to him and kissed her.

"What was that for?"

Angel pointed to the ceiling, there was a mistletoe.

"I never put that there."

Then Angel pulled out some pixie dust from his pocket and showed it to Buffy.

"Santa's always prepared." Angel smiled.

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

++Sunnydale, California/Tuesday, December 25, 2001/9:01AM++

Buffy and Angel walked down stairs in robes. Both of them were still tired.

"Took you awhile," Dawn commented.

"Hey, you be Santa. This job is tiring. Give me slaying any day," replied Buffy.

"Anyway, we were waiting for you two so we could open presents. Anya, Xander and Cordelia are in the kitchen. Wesley and Gunn will be here in a minute. I don't know where they went. We put everybodys' presents in separate piles."

"What else were you guys doing this morning?" Angel asked.

"I told them what we did for the last week. Since I didn't get a chance to tell my story, yesterday, I was going to do that now."

"Go ahead Dawn," Angel encouraged her.

"It's actually a song, but no one can sing along. Okay, here we go:

"Dawn that's enough," Buffy looked at Dawn.

"Dawn! Stop it, right this instant!"

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