FIC: Chanukmas

["Pat Kelly"]

Okay. I've been debating whether or not to post this yet, but basically this is the first part (I guess.)

Story and Continuity: Season 4 all the way past ep 9 of both Buffy and Angel. Based after "Reasons & Advice" and "Another Point of View". Buffy and Willow are already together, it's the holidays, it's happy time(for most). I wanted to do a holiday fic, and have an excuse to learn about Chanukah, so here it is:

CHANUKMAS


(Preparation)

Buffy sat on her bed in the dorm room, reading several books. It was important that she get everything right. She looked over at the calendar on her bedside bureau. December 10. That gave them a week to prepare.

She heard the doorknob turn, and smiled when Willow walked in.

"Hey, Will."

"Hey, Buffy." She looked at the books on the bed as she got behind Buffy. "Whatcha doing?" She wrapped her arms around Buffy's neck, and kissed Buffy as she turned her head.

"Reading. So how'd it go?"

"What? The last day? Chanukah? That 'it'?" Buffy nodded. "Good. They left an hour ago. Visit family."

"So, it's just us?"

"Yep." Willow read part of the book. "You're reading about Chanukah?"

"Yeah. Here's what I was thinking. Remembering how Thanksgiving isn't your most favorite holiday.and you don't celebrate Christmas, I figured we could do something a little different this year."

"You don't have to."

"Yes I do. This will be our first holiday together, and I want it to be special."

Willow pulled Buffy out of her sitting position, and into a laying one. "But I already feel special."

Buffy ran her hand through Willow's hair. "And so do I. But I wanna do this."

"Okay. What's the plan?"

"Well, I know the dates are gonna be off, but seeing as how you already celebrated, it won't matter so much. Right?" Willow nodded. "So, I was thinking, we could all do the eight day candle and presents deal starting on the seventeenth, because it'll take us at least a week to get things together.

"Then on Christmas, the 25th, we could have a big dinner with everyone at my house, tree, put little dreidel ornaments on, Star of David on top, and mom's coming back then, so it should work. What do you think? "

"I think.it'll be perfect."

"We need to plan."

Willow got excited. "Oh! And.we could call it Chanukmas!"

Buffy laughed. "That'd work. We just invented a new holiday. Kinda fits us."

"We're all about inventing and compromising. I mean that's what makes a relationship work, right?"

"Right." Buffy smiled, kissing her again.


***


It was December 13. Yesterday was their last day of classes. Now they were enjoying the start of their month long vacation from college. Buffy and Willow, along with Xander and Anya, were shopping. It was pretty easy telling everyone, though they didn't tell their parents yet, about the shift in their relationship. Giles and Xander were both pleased to see them happy, especially after the cloud of mopiness that had surrounded them lately.

"Chanukmas. I like it. Goes together. Like -" Xander started.

"A vampire and a stake?" Buffy asked.

"I was gonna say peanut butter and jelly, but whatever floats your boat."

Anya pretty much could have cared less. The fact that all she seemed interested in was Xander, left the rest of them hoping that he never screwed up around her. Or that she got her demonic gifts back.

"I don't see the point. All your doing is adding another holiday to a culture that's already overflowing with holidays that have been celebrated so long people forget the meaning behind them. And considering the fact that it's a combination of probably the two oldest ones, it isn't even very original." Anya said.

Both Buffy and Willow turned around and frowned at her. "It means something to us." Willow said.

"Remember that talk we had? If you wanna be human, you have to learn to take other people's feelings into consideration. And if you're gonna have those thoughts."

"Keep them to myself?" He nodded.

Buffy whispered to Willow. "Are you sensing shades of Cordelia?"

"Minus the intention to cause pain? Yeah. Speaking of, did you want to invite her?"

"Do you think she'll come? Well, if we invite her, we'd kinda have to invite."

"Angel?" Buffy nodded. "Well, it's up to you."

"Right. Well," She sighed, "we need 8 candles, cotton wicks. Olive oil ones, right?"

"Wow, you really did read up. Don't forget the menorah and a Shamash candle."

"Shamash?"

"It's extra. Candle in the middle used to light the other ones."

"Ah. Me understand."

"That sounded a little cave-ish, Buff. Are you reverting again?" Xander asked.

"I don't think so."

"Cause you never know. It could be like an Incredible Hulk kinda deal. Like every time you get angry you start drawing paintings on the walls and carrying large, hurtful, stone clubs."

"Then don't get me angry."

Xander was quiet after that.

***


After purchasing the necessities for Chanukah, they split up into two groups the next day. Xander went with Buffy, and Willow went with Anya. One, to get the Christmas decorations; and two, to get presents. The first step, was a tree. Buffy and Xander went to the nursery.

"Are you sure we got everything for -" Buffy started to ask as they looked at the trees.

"Somebody's got an obsession about holidays."

"It's important to me. Holidays never seem to go right, but I want this one to be...perfect. Just once. If I have to lock every single vampire in Sunnydale inside a room lined with holy water and a sunroof -"

"I get it. More than you might think."

"Now, are you going to answer my question?"

"Willow's got the dreidel and the Star of David for the tree, her and Anya are getting some decorations, cookie dough, I think all that's left are the gifts."

"Gift! I have to get her a gift!"

"Actually eight gifts."

"I forgot to tell you. She and I are giving each other gifts on our own. For the eight nights, we're gonna have kinda a Pollyanna. It'll be me, Willow, you, Anya, Giles, Cordelia, Angel, and mom."

"And we're assuming Angel and Cordy are gonna show?"

"They'll show. Anyway, we'll all exchange gifts for eight nights, and whatever ones we end up with on Christmas, are the ones we'll have to open. I told mom about what I was gonna do a couple weeks ago, so she set a gift aside. I really wish she could be here for." She sighed. "Well, at least she'll be home on Christmas."

"There's the positive Buffy we all know and love. Any other things I should know?"

"The gifts have to be gender-less."

"Damn. I could have used new pantyhose."

"Keep that skeleton locked away in your closet, okay? So.tree and gift.tree and gift."

***


Willow and Anya walked through the temporary Christmas store in the mall, Joy and Merriment.

"Garland, lights, what else do we need?"

"A CAT scan."

Willow glared at her. "Look, no matter what religion celebrates what, it's the time of year when everybody stops being mean and nasty."

"That's fine, but what about the other eleven months of the year?"

"Okay, I'll admit that niceness shouldn't just stop. I try to be nice all the time."

"I hadn't noticed." Anya said with a twinge of sarcasm.

"But no one can be all cheery and selfless all year round. It's just one of those things humans keep trying to achieve. I don't know.hey wait a minute. You're an ex-demon who tortured humans willingly. And you're criticizing that we're bad and that we've forgotten the meaning of our holidays?"

"At the request of mistreated wives. They have some sick minds. Which proves -"

"But did you have to carry out their wishes?" Anya looked at her feet. "That's what I thought. You enjoyed doing it."

"I'm trying to change. It's a lot easier being a demon than being human. Humans are full of contradictions and feelings, and it's hard to figure out what I'm supposed to do. Demons, or at least I, was focused on one thing. It's easier."

"I'll bet it is. But if you think I know something you don't about being human, sorry to disappoint you, but I don't. It's a new challenge every day."

"And I have Xander to help."

"And I have Buffy."

"So.which color lights are we getting again?"

Willow smiled, and they went to look. "White, I think."

"Isn't there supposed to be a gift exchange ritual of some kind?"

"What am I going to get her?" Willow asked, panicked.

***


Cordelia walked into Angel's office, and wasn't surprised to find him with his feet up on his desk, with a book in his hands. He put it down when he heard the click of her high heels cease.

"Calling it a night?"

"Yeah, I'm probably gonna go, well I guess it's home, for a week. Buffy and Willow put this thing together and."

"Go. They'll be glad to see you."

"Well, they, I mean Buffy and Willow, kind of invited you too."

"I know. I heard the message."

"Then you know."

"That if I don't show up it ruins the present exchange." He opened his desk drawer, and pulled out a small, wrapped gift. He handed it to her. "Tell them I'm sorry I couldn't make it."

"You know, if Doyle were still here, he would've made -" She stopped herself, still hurt at the death of their friend. "He would've made you go."

"I wouldn't be good company."

"Since when are you good company?" She sighed, mentally smacking herself. She sat down on the edge of the desk. "That came out wrong. They all know that you're a brooding vampire who almost never smiles, but they want you there anyway. You're luckier than you realize.

"We both are. They're friends, as much as I hate to admit it, and I kinda miss 'em. And I know Christmas isn't your time of year, but you should go too. Sitting here won't do you any good. Being around people might. I know it'll help me."

"There's just things that.I can't."

Cordelia looked angry, and then almost sorry for him, as she hopped off the desk and towards the door. "It's your loss. Enjoy your book. Oh, and have a good holiday."

***


It was time. The start of Chanukmas. Willow was walking around Buffy's living room, looking at what they had done. A reef was on the door, and various decorations were all around the house. The fireplace was going, and mistletoe hung on the ceiling between the entrance of the living room and dining room.

The tree was by the door, adorned with silver garland, strings of popcorn, a mixture of ornaments, and to top it all off, the Star of David. The white lights left the room dim. It was beautiful.

They stuck their presents for each other, and the two for the Pollyanna, underneath the tree. Buffy's mom's gift was there as well. Willow hoped that she could make it before Christmas.

The menorah, situated with all the candles, was sitting by the window waiting to be lit. It was nearly five-thirty.

"Buffy, we have to light the first candle in a minute."

"I know. I just need to check on the cookies and." Willow heard an instrumental version of Silent Night start to play. Buffy walked into the room carrying a lighter. "Wow. We really pulled it off, didn't we?"

"We sure did." Willow said as Buffy walked over to her. "You ready?"

"Yep."

"You light the Shamash candle first." Buffy handed her the lighter, and Willow carefully lit the candle. "Usually before you light the first candle -"

"The one on the far right?"

Willow smiled. "Uh huh. You say a blessing. You don't have to if you don't -"

"No.I do." Buffy said grasping Willow's hand. "I know what to say and everything."

"Blessed are You, the Lord our God, King of the universe, Who sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to kindle the Chanukah light.

"Blessed are You, the Lord our God, King of the universe, Who wrought miracles for our forefathers, in those days at this season." They said together.

And then without a word, Buffy went to light the first candle. "Blessed are You, the Lord our God, King of the universe, Who has kept us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this season." They said together again.

They turned to each other and hugged, and then kissed softly. "Merry Chanukmas, Buffy."

Buffy smiled wider. "Merry Chanukmas, Will. And remember tonight's only the first. Got seven more to go."

They stood there a moment, and then separated, when they heard a knock at the door.










"When I held that gun, I felt an incredible surge of power. Like God must feel when he's holding a gun.." (Homer J. Simpson)

"You've been fighting evil here for three years, and I've helped some, and now we're supposed to decide what we want to do with our lives. And I just realized that that's what I want to do. Fight evil, help people. I mean, I think it's worth doing. And I don't think you do it because you have to. It's a good fight, Buffy, and I want in."

"I kind of love you."
(Willow Rosenberg, Buffy Summers, BTVS)

"Don't.."
"What? Don't love you? I didn't know I got a choice in that."
(Angel, Buffy Summers, BTVS)