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Disclaimer:I own Delia, Chael, Sion and the twins, the rest belongs to Joss Whedon, the WB, Fox, Mutant Enemy and all those other wonderful people.
Author's Note: This is the third story in my "Forever" series. It takes place half between "Forever" and "Always" and half after "Always". It will make more sense when you read it. You don't need to read "Forever," but this story has major spoilers for "Always," so if you want to read that you should do it first. Besides that, this is my Christmas/Hanukkah Buffy story, and it's subtitled "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!" I love comments, so em me...Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Soltice and any other holidays and a Happy New Year!
Part 1
2025
“You look gorgeous as always Mom,” a familiar voice came from the next room. Elisabeth Eliana Rosenburg—Buffy to everyone—smiled slightly and stood up from the Harris’ couch, switching off the TV and walking in to where Alexander Angel Harris Jr. was greeting his family. Not that Uncle Xander had “Angel” in his name, but as Buffy had heard it, Aunt Cordy had insisted that if Xander *would* insist on this show of egomania, she’d at least have the middle name.
“Of course I do,” Cordelia Harris replied, kissing her oldest son’s cheek. “What did you expect?”
“Nothing less,” Alex replied, then turned to his younger siblings. Well, the one that was present.
“Nice dress,” he told his sister Delia. She made a face at him, then hugged him anyway. With three years between them there had never been a moment’s peace in the house, but Uncle Xander and Aunt Cordelia seemed to like it like that. It’s not like *they* were exactly peaceful, Buffy mused, watching the reunion with a smile. Her mother cast her a smile, waiting for a chance to greet one of the sons she’d never had. It came a moment later when Alex turned and picked her off the floor in a hug. Willow Rosenburg laughed.
“Put me down or I’ll turn you into a frog!” she threatened. He laughed, but obediently set her down and kissed her cheek sweetly. “Now that’s a good boy.”
“You wouldn’t really turn me into a frog, would you? Not when I’ve been away for so long!”
“Oh, yes she would. Dad was away for like a year once and she almost did it to *him*,” Buffy remarked, stepping out of the doorway. Alex turned with that little half smile he always had.
“Buffy. Hi,” he said, his eyes sweeping over her. She looked different. Really good, but different. He’d only been gone a few months but in them Buffy had changed. Had become, though no one told her so, more like the woman she was named for. She liked leather. And boots. And slinky dresses. She could see the memory in his eyes, the same one that kept running through her mind. A dark, hot summer night. The soft brush of lips.
“You look the same,” she replied. “Glad you’re home.” Though this wasn’t, *technically* her home, it was a “same difference” situation. Her childhood had been spent as much here as at her own house. Here and at the Bronze, the nightclub Aunt Cordy owned.
“Yeah. Me too,” Alex said, his dark eyes holding an expression she’d never seen before. She blushed slightly and looked away. When she looked back he’d turned away, asking,
“Where are Chael and the twins?”
“Chael’s at his friends house for the night and the twins are asleep,” Cordelia answered.
“He didn’t want to see me?” Alex asked, managing to sound slightly hurt, though there was laughter in his voice. His eleven year old brother Michael could be a major pain. Buffy knew. She had to baby-sit.
“Tragic much, I’m sure,” Cordelia replied, “but you’ll see him tomorrow anyway.”
“Thought you might want some peace and quiet for a night,” Xander put in, having been too busy admiring how grown-up his son was to put in acerbic comments before that.
“With all of you here? I somehow doubt peace and quiet will be the order of the night,” Alex pointed out.
“True. Well, we’d leave you alone, but your mother . . .” Cordelia directed a slap at her husband’s arm, but he ducked out of the way with the ease of long practice.
“Okay, okay, you guys. Hold it down for one night? Please?” Alex requested. His parents exchanged annoyed glances, but not at each other, then Xander put out his hand and drew Cordelia toward him. She kissed him softly and they smiled angelically at their son. He sighed and exchanged glances with Delia.
“So, how’s college? Do you have a girlfriend? What’s your room like? And don’t hesitate to request a decorator!” Cordelia exclaimed. “I shudder just imagining you in a dorm room! Why wouldn’t you let us rent you a nice flat or something?”
“Mom,” Alex sighed, “We’ve gone over this.”
“Right, I know, I know. I just thought I’d suggest it. I mean, there’s no harm in trying, right?”
“How about dinner, and *then* you can convince me?” Alex suggested hopefully.
“Done!” Cordelia exclaimed, escaping Xander’s hold and going into the dining room. “I had it delivered from Chez Pierre’s!” Alex sighed and Buffy smothered a smile as she followed the rest of them into the large dining room. It was going to be an interesting holiday season.
Buffy laughed with joy and the sound echoed through the nothing around her, and then he echoed it back and they were together.
“Soon. It will be soon,” she whispered.
“Last summer we were almost there. Almost together,” Angel replied, burying his face in her blond hair.
“And then you left,” she teased, poking at him.
“I’m, back. Here. And there.”
“Definitely there. If we don’t realize it this time . . . Don’t you wish sometimes that we could just know everything in life that we do here? That we could realize we are meant to be together? Don’t you wish . . .”
“But we would miss the fun of discovering each other all over again, every time.”
“And this time we’ll never have to be apart,” Buffy whispered, happiness in her voice.
“Well, not for a long time,” Angel corrected her.
“For me it feels like forever! It’s so amazing, Angel, so different not to be the Slayer. To be able to just be a person. It’s like living my first life again, only this time I’ve known you for so many lives I’ve lost count!”
“Not in life though. In life you don’t even know you love me,” Angel said, brushing kisses on her neck softly.
“Only a matter of time. Because I do love you Angel. And I can’t believe you’re called Alex! It’s so . . . so . . .”
“Normal?” Angel suggested.
“Exactly! Not fair! But I love you anyway!” she exclaimed.
“I should hope so.”
“Remember that Christmas Angel? And our wedding? It was so perfect.”
“Well, almost. There were a few problems.”
“Little, insignificant things. I mean, a few killer snowstorms never really hurt anyone. I had a marvelous time,” Buffy laughed.
“So did I, my love. So did I . . . “ >
2002
“I want snow,” Buffy announced, her breath barely visible in the December air. Angel smiled indulgently. “For the wedding. I can’t have a summer wedding, so I want a white wedding. Wouldn’t it be perfect?”
“Perfect. But in California? In *Sunnydale*?” he asked, the white from his breath conspicuously absent. Buffy made a face.
“Well I know I’m not getting it. I just said I wanted it. There’s nothing wrong with wishing.”
“Nothing at all.”
“You know what *else* I want?” Buffy asked slyly.
“What?” Angel asked cautiously.
“To go home.” They were at that moment walking down one of Sunnydale’s numerous deserted alleys.
“I’ll patrol without you,” he told her. “Early Christmas present.” She made another face and grabbed his coat, tugging at him.
“It’s no fun if you don’t come!” she exclaimed. His mouth twitched into a half-smile and she sighed with happiness. In only three days that mouth would be hers. Legally.
“Well, since it *is* almost Christmas, and we are getting married in a few days . . .” he trailed off. Buffy smiled triumphantly and pulled him after her, laughing softly.
Neither of them noticed the one snowflake that floated out of the clear, starry sky.
“It’s so good to see you!” Buffy exclaimed, hugging her best friend. “I just can’t wait ‘til June, when you come back for good!”
“Well . . .” Willow said softly, then trailed off.
“What? You *are* coming back! You have to come back! I miss you! Plus, Giles is making *me* do all the computer stuff, and I am *so* not good with computers that it’s not even funny!”
“I’m sure I’ll come back for a while anyway. But Jon’s been hinting . . .”
“Oh my god! Do I sense wedding bells?” Buffy demanded.
“Probably, but they’re yours! It is so incredibly sweet of you guys to wait until vacation for me. I don’t know what I would have done if I had to miss your wedding!”
“Yeah, well it’s better than waiting until next summer. I just couldn’t do it. The minute Angel asked me, I was like, let’s do it right now. But then I realized that I couldn’t *possibly* get married without you as a bridesmaid, ‘cause you, in a way, made this marriage possible. Actually, like single-handedly you made it possible, but I babble. I’m so happy you’re here!” Buffy exclaimed, sounding like a teenager again despite her almost four years of community college.
“Me too! Why did he wait this long?” Willow demanded.
“My mom. He is the sweetest person ever . . . I was getting extremely annoyed though! It took her so long to even admit he existed! When I moved in with him she wouldn’t even speak to me for like *weeks*, but she’d been slowly coming around and then last month she asked Angel to come to her gallery. The next day he asked me! Isn’t that romantic? Well, not extremely, but it feels like it is to me! I’m so happy Will!” Buffy exclaimed.
“And I’m so happy for you!” Willow exclaimed back. “I’m going to miss Jon, but I’m so happy I could come back. I miss you guys so much! Where’s Xander? And is Cordelia back yet?” Willow asked, sitting down on her living room couch. Buffy sat beside her, nearly bouncing with excitement.
“Xander’s working, but he’s going to come as soon as he gets off. Cordy’s flying in tomorrow, I think. He’s so nervous it’s adorable,” Buffy confessed.
“They haven’t seen each other since summer?” Willow asked.
“No, and Cordy’s called me like every day the last week, afraid that Xander has a new girlfriend or something. And he’s sure that college has changed her, and why would she want to go out with a bartender? It’s sad, but cute.”
“How’s Oz?” Willow asked quietly, in an offhand manner. Buffy bit the inside of her lip, then smiled brightly.
“He’s doing well. I don’t see him that much; just once a month and he’s not that great a conversationalist then anyway. He’s pretty busy with the band,” Buffy said, then changed the subject. “Ooo! We have to go get your dress tomorrow for the wedding! Do you have a Christmas dress?”
“Yes. But you have to give me your opinion,” Willow said nervously.
“Of course. Did Jon give you his before you left?” Buffy asked, her eyes sparkling. Willow blushed.
“Yes,” she replied softly. Buffy grinned. Willow changed the subject.
“Tell me about your dress! What does it look like?” she asked.
“I’ve already described it to you over the phone like twenty times! But if you *really* want to know . . .” Willow nodded and Buffy launched happily into a description. It was December 19th. Two days until she and Angel were joined forever. Six days until what she was sure would be the best Christmas of her life. The first day of Hanukkah.
Outside the warm Rosenburg house, another snowflake drifted slowly down to earth.