The Christmas Hunt

Disclaimer in chapter one

No excuses, no ranting, here it is, maybe another update tonight, but keep your eyes peeled for a Boxing day update.




A week and a half had past since Faith had spent the night on the doorstep. Although Buffy had forgiven her for her antics, it hadn’t halted her hunt for the presents she knew Faith had bought for her.

Tomorrow night was Christmas Eve, and she was soon beginning to feel like giving up. After all in less than 48 hours, Faith would actually be giving them to her. She sighed against the cold glass misting up the pane. She was alone right now; she could look just once more. It was almost as if small angel and devil Buffy’s were arguing on her shoulders.

Faith isn’t home right now,

It’s not right; it’s supposed to be a surprise,

She won’t be home for hours, she’s with Xander,

She hid them for a reason,

Yeah, for me to find them.

She couldn’t think of any counter argument, “Solved that one. I was bored anyway.” She reached over for the phone and punched in a familiar number.

“Hey Will, it’s Buffy,”

“Hey there Buffy, what’s up?”

“Nothing much, I’m just a little bored that’s all. Fancy spending the night here? I have movies and cookie dough ice cream?”

“You know I was going to do some work this evening, but I think the cookie dough has sealed the deal. Sure thing Buffy, I’ll be around in about an hour.”

“Ok, cool!” She put the phone down, two heads were better than one. With Willow helping her, those presents were easy prey. She rubbed her hands together almost suppressing the urge to laugh maniacally.

True to her word Willow was at the door just under an hour later.

“Let me in Buffy!! It’s so cold out here!”

Buffy beamed as she let her red nosed friend in the door. Buffy was already dressed in her flannel pyjamas; it was like the unwritten rule of sleepovers, pyjamas, blankets and ice cream. And with all of the above ready and waiting they made their way to the living room.

“So Will, what do you want to watch?” Buffy took her things and pointed to her little makeshift fort of bedding and snacks.

“Anything Christmassy, gotta love the festiveness.” She had already wrapped herself up in the blankets.

“Aww the folks not so down with the santa-isms?” Buffy returned to the room laden with snacks and ice cream.

“You know my folks, if they don’t promote Hanukah, it doesn’t get the air time. But that doesn’t mean to say it won’t here.” She shone a beaming smile at her blonde friend who promptly joined her.

“Well let the festiveness begin!” Buffy beamed back at her while they sat together singing along to whatever Christmas special happened to be on the tv.

A few specials and tubs of ice cream later the two friends lounged about the room decidedly bored.

“Is there anything else on that doesn’t look like Santa threw up on it?” Willow dozed on the sofa as Buffy almost lay on her.

“You know I don’t think so. I’m sure there’s something else we can do Will, I’m so bored and Faith won’t be home for ages yet.” She jutted out her bottom lip,

“It’s game night huh; at least it’s not Christmas Eve yet. So what did you buy for her in the end?” Willow tried to sit up but the blonde was having none of it, they just lay there like they did years ago back in college.

“Quite a few things really. My portion of the council fund made sure of that. I bought her a quad bike to put in that horrendous truck of hers. Naturally some new gear to go with it, and just little bits I think she’ll like.” Buffy was playing with one of their spoons; she couldn’t quite work out why it wouldn’t stick on her nose while she lay on the floor.

“Sounds like fun. Have you test ridden it?” Buffy got up and off of Willow making the red head groan as she put all of her weight on her to actually get up.

“Are you joking? I’d break my neck! Besides it’s not really something I’d enjoy, more of a Faith thing. You want some more coco?” Buffy busied herself in the kitchen as Willow followed her.

“Nah I’m good thanks. So do you know what Faith has bought you?” She was trying to hide that smile; you know the one that practically screams ‘I know something you don’t know’

“Will, what do you know?” Buffy picked up a spoon mildly threateningly “Don’t make me marshmallow you into next week!” Neither could hide their smiles,

“I promised Faith I wouldn’t tell you anything, and there is no way I’m crossing her!!” Buffy threw some of her mini marshmallows at her,

“Come on, just one! Tell me what one is, or at least where they are! I won’t open them I promise!” Willow had jumped up and sat on the work surface.

“Nope sorry Buffy, and don’t think you can do to me what you did to Faith!” Buffy’s eyes quickly resembled saucers, “Oh yeah, Faith told me everything! Who knew, Buffy Sumemers, vampire slayer and professional tease.” The remark earned more soft projectiles.

“Everything?” The gulping noise could have been heard down the street,

Willow’s grin grew larger, “From the post-it notes to the paint brushes Faith told me absolutely everything. You know I think you and Kennedy are going to have to have a little talk, bless her she tries, but I think you could teach her a thing or two!” Willow leapt of the counter and ran back to the living room laughing maniacally.

Buffy soon followed, and the rest of the evening was spent by Willow dodging pillows while trying miserably to stop laughing. Around three in the morning the two women had worn each other out as they both slept on the mess of bedding and pop corn.

Not even Faith walking in woke the pair; she surveyed the carnage with a raised eyebrow and smug grin. You’d like to think that she missed the pair pillow fighting, but no, Xander and herself made quite a good evening out of it.

Laughing on the inside she silently lifted Willow to the sofa and lay a blanket across her sleeping body, “You know Red, your little fire cracker would kill me for this. Now for miss prissy.” Faith lifted the smaller blonde and returned to their own room.

Both Buffy and Willow were woken in the morning to the ever so delightful sounds of Faith’s dire singing in the shower. Buffy just groaned and rolled over, Willow did the same only to fall off the sofa.

“Ok, so ow.” She gathered her things and waited for Faith to finish up in the bathroom, she had to get out of these pyjamas, Kennedy had gotten her used to sleeping without them for so long it kind of felt wrong.

Faith walked out of the bathroom, “Hey Red,” she winked at her before disappearing into her and Buffy’s room. Willow just rolled her eyes,

“Well at least she remembered a towel this time” She said to herself as she locked the door.

“Morning sleepy head.” Faith threw her damp towel at the snuggling blonde. Buffy groaned in response. “Great Christmas Eve and I get cave girl Buffy, you gonna smack me on the head and drag me about by my hair?”

She heard Willow’s voice from the shower, “I wouldn’t joke about that Faith,” The brunette just sat there with a mildly confused and surprised expression.

About fifteen minutes later Faith was greeted by the red head in the kitchen. Buffy still hadn’t surfaced, and she probably wouldn’t until Faith dragged her out.

“Hey Willow, you guys have fun last night?” She handed the tired girl a mug of coffee. Willow just grinned at her, she had known about the camera in the room since Faith had put it there. “Thought so. Hey can I ask one last favour?”

“Sure Faith, what’s on your mind?” Faith jumped up onto the surface as Willow took one of the seats.

“Can you kind of make Buffy disappear this afternoon? I need to finish up a few things here, and get those presents!”

“Where to you want me to take her? After all Kennedy wants me to spend the evening with her,” Faith sighed,

“I dunno, take her to that coffee shop you guys like to much,” Willow just raised her eyebrow, “Ok, ok, go to that bar you guys like so much.” Faith threw a cluster of notes at the beaming red head.

In an almost childlike way she chimed back, “Thank you Faith.”

“You drive a hard bargain Willow, so you want some breakfast or what?” Faith had grabbed the frying pan and jumped from the counter.

“Nah, I don’t think I can handle a slayer breakfast right now, too many snacks last night.” She made a face as her stomach groaned. “I’m gonna head home, I’ll come by about 5, how’s that?”

“Will that’s perfect, I’ll see you then.” Faith’s head was stuck in the fridge trying to find anything edible. Willow made her way out of the house not before shouting up to Buffy. She was given a loud groan in response.

About an hour later an appetising smell drew cave girl Buffy out of bed, she looked at herself in the mirror. “Hmm, just need a club and a loin cloth. I’m sure that’ll make Faith’s day.” She mumbled to herself as she crawled into the shower.

Clean and presentable the blonde walked into the kitchen to see Faith munching away and reading the paper. “You didn’t cook for me?” Buffy whined out. Putting down the paper, Buffy found it hard to maintain composure as Faith with her mouth full like a hamster faced her.

She swallowed hard, she hated it when Buffy whined, another thing that broke her resolve. She coughed out, “Sure I did,”

She patted her chest as the food went down a little less than gracefully. “It’s in the oven.” Buffy just shone and bounced over to the oven. Faith shook her head and continued reading her paper.

“So,” Buffy started,

“So, what?”

“Well its Christmas Eve and you don’t quite seem full of holiday spirit.” Buffy was playing with her food,

“Well it’s always boring in the morning; to me it’s not Christmas Eve until it gets dark.” Faith hadn’t lowered her paper once. Buffy mouthed an ‘Oh’ before continuing with her breakfast.

The day went on fairly uneventful much to Buffy’s dismay; Faith was treating it like it was any other day and not in fact the final day before the best day of the whole year. Yep Faith was a scrooge and it was annoying her. A knock on the door took her out of her inner musings.

She could hear voices in the hall as Faith had answered the door. She smiled and acknowledged her friend as Willow walked in the room.

“What’s up Will?” Willow was shifting a little trying to look natural.

“Oh, nothing much. I was just wondering, you know if you weren’t doing anything,” Faith rolled her eyes behind the sofa, what was she doing asking her out or something?

“No I’m not up to anything,” Buffy was looking at Willow quizzically trying to read her friend.

“It’s just; you wanna go for a Christmas drink or something?” Willow let out the breath she had been holding.

Buffy beamed at the prospect of doing something even remotely Christmassy, “Sure thing! Just let me go and get changed!” Buffy ran out of the room.

“Smooth Red.” Faith laughed as she sat on the sofa, “Why making with the wigged out face?”

Willow just sighed as she sat down, “Well I wasn’t expecting her to say yes. She loves Christmas Eve, I was waiting for her to say no. I was kinda expecting her to want to spend the evening with you.”

Faith’s eyes snapped to the red head, “With me? Why would she want to spend it with me?”

“Well you are her girlfriend, duh, romantic evening?” It was Faith’s turn to turn red, she hadn’t thought of that. Maybe Buffy was mad at her. She shook her head to get rid of doubtful thoughts.

“Ah never mind, just keep her out of my hair till at least ten. You reckon you can do that?” Willow smiled,

“Hey, those presents are in the trunk, if you want to get them while the blonde wonder isn’t around?” Faith jumped up.

“You never cease to amaze me Willow, you think of everything!” The two quickly carried the numerous boxes from the car to the closet. Faith just shut the door as Buffy ambled downstairs.

“See you later honey,” Buffy leaned over and pecked Faith on the cheek before she grabbed Willow and almost ran out the door.

“Christmas Eve, since when has that been romantic? Pah, Red’s just trying to wig me out is all. Right, now lets get it started.”