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Buffy ran all the way to Giles, ignoring the carolers. She ignored all the Christmas lights, the Christmas signs, everything Christmas. Two of her friends have been murdered.
"Giles!" Buffy cried, as she ran in.
"Buffy, what's wrong!" Giles asked, running to her. Crying, Buffy told him about her latest dream. Willow started crying at the mention of Xander. She left the room, and Spike followed, being the gentleman he is.
::Knock knock:: Buffy and Giles looked at the door, expecting it to be Santa.
"No, Santa comes down a chimney, real or imaginary," Buffy said to herself. She went to get the door.
It was Angel and Cordelia. Cordelia was crying.
"Buffy! Do you remember-"
"Yes, both," Buffy said. "I was in one with Angel, and one with you Cordelia. Come in."
"Is it real?" she asked, sniffling. Buffy nodded grimly, about to start a fresh set of tears.
"Then, Xander's dead?" Cordelia asked.
"And Rally?" added Angel. Buffy nodded, not bothering to correct Angel. And that did it. Buffy started crying again. Angel quietly took her in his arms, soothing her. When Buffy quit crying, she pulled away.
"So, Giles. What do we do?" she asked.
"Spike has told us a great deal about this," Giles said. "Someone has summoned this demon to kill you, but first your loved ones. In dreams." In that moment Spike and Willow walked back in. <
"That's right! Santa said that I had been a bad girl, and I was to be punished!" Buffy said.
"Dru," Spike said grimly.
"What about Dru?" Giles asked.
"Dru must've summoned him. She never has before, and no one else talks that insane. She must've found I've been shacking up here, with the Slayer's Watcher." Spike said.
"So, we kill Dru, and we're done," Willow said. Spike grabbed her roughly.
"Don't you dare!" he said harshly. Willow whimpered.
"Let go of her!" Angel said, shoving Spike.
"Well, don't kill Dru!" Spike said.
"We don't have much choice. Either that, or everyone else here dies, to get revenge on Buffy," Willow said.
"I don't care! I'm not one of the Slayer's chums," Spike said. He marched into another room, slamming the door.
"Should I go after him?" Willow asked. She felt kind of bad. She put herself in his shoes, and she wouldn't have wanted to kill Oz.
"No, he'll be all right," Angel answered. "He always threw tantrums when it came to Dru," he said.
"We don't even know for sure that it's Dru that has done this," Buffy said. "It could be anyone."
"But it sounds like Dru," Cordelia said.
"There's only one way to find out," Buffy said. Everyone looked at her. "I have to fall asleep."
"But, you'll die! You're the only one asleep, so there'd be no one else to kill!" Cordelia said. "And that's kind of a waste, considering we need to know who the summon person is."
"She's right Buffy. Someone needs to fall asleep," Angel said. "Any volunteers?"
"I will," a quiet voice answered.
"Willow, no." Buffy said.
"Yes! Who else? Vampires don't work, Giles, we can't sacrifice Giles, and Cordelia won't anyway, so it's me." Willow said. "Where's some of those sleeping pills, Giles?"
"No, Willow. There's got to be another way," Giles said.
"There's not." Willow answered.
"Willow, please don't," Angel said.
"I have to," she smiled sadly. She started snooping for some sleeping pills in Giles's cabinet. She found some. She got one for herself, and one for Buffy. She offered it to Buffy, who took it. MO<"Willow, please reconsider this," Buffy pleaded.
"We need to know." Willow said plainly. "Besides, if we never find out, I'll die anyway. Might as well die for a reason." Squeezing back tears, she took the pill. Buffy followed suit.
And together, they floated to Willow's house.
Buffy saw Willow, asleep on her bed. Buffy touched her arm sadly, and hoping that somehow Buffy would be able to save her. Buffy kissed her forehead sadly. Then she heard it. ::THud:: Buffy raced to meet Santa.
"Okay, Santa. We got you pretty figured. Is it Dru? Is she the summoner?" Buffy asked quickly. Santa just smiled.
"Remember Santa, lying is bad. You won't be on the good list," Buffy threw in. Santa continued smiling at her, and then nodded. Then he walked over to Willow, and stabbed her mercilessly. Buffy choked back a strangled sob.
And then she was gone.
And Willow remained.