As soon as Xander and Spike had entered the room, Xander had pushed Spike against the wall, lips kissing, sucking and nibbling while his hands roamed the vampire's body. "Need you. Need you so much."

"You have me, Xander."

"Not like I want."

"We can fix that, can't we Angel?" Spike smiled when he saw that Angel had already gotten naked and was setting up the lube. "Guess that's a yes."

"Spike, do you know what you were doing to me out there? I was almost ready to come in my pants, right in front of everyone."

"Just by listening to my voice, hearing my words of love?" Xander nodded, ripping Spike's shirt from his body. "Damn, I am good." "Show me how good you are. Please, show me." Xander's hands were fumbling at Spike's belt, in such a hurry to have the vampire naked that his hands were shaking.

"Let me do this, luv. It'll be much quicker." Xander began to watch Spike strip and he felt cool arms coming from behind him. He leaned back onto Angel's broad chest, tilting his head for a kiss. Angel obliged, giving Xander a long, slow kiss as he began to strip the boy, his hands unbuttoning the shirt and slowly slipping it off his shoulders.

"Faster, Angel. God, I need you both. Faster." Angel gently pushed Xander down on the bed, ripping the boy's pants and boxers from his body. Xander sighed happily, maneuvering Angel until the older vampire was straddling his chest. Xander ran his finger's down the underside of Angel's cock, feeling the vampire respond with a shiver of his own. "Want to taste you, Angel. Want you in my mouth. Angel edged closer, grabbing the pillows and putting them under Xander's head so that he was propped up. Xander licked around the head of Angel's hardened shaft, his tongue playing under the foreskin. Angel moaned, his hands entwined in Xander's hair as he let the boy have his way.

"Shit, Xander...so fucking good." Xander continued to tease the vampire for a few seconds before licking along the underside of his cock. His hand wrapped around the base of Angel's cock and he started to slowly stroke the hardened shaft while his mouth came down to kiss the head. He felt the mattress dip, felt Spike's cool body between his legs and he opened them more, inviting the younger vampire to take him. Xander heard Spike's moan, knowing that this subtle action of submission turned Spike on. He stopped his ministrations on Angel just long enough to tell Spike what he wanted, his hand never stopping it's gentle strokes.

"I want you in me, Spike. Want you owning me, possessing me with every movement of your body." Spike's already hard cock got harder still. He watched Xander take Angel's cock in his mouth, making a tight ring around the head so Angel could fuck his mouth. Angel groaned, throwing his head back and Spike couldn't resist leaning forward and kissing Angel. He nibbled on Angel's neck while spreading the lube on his fingers. Spike found Xander's hole, gently inserting a finger, never stopping the attention he was giving Angel. A shiver went through his body when both his lovers groaned at the same time, their passion making his own triple. Angel's thrusts became faster, careful not to hurt his boy. He was so close...so very close. Between Xander's warm mouth taking his cock and Spike's nibbling....oh, God it was too much.

"Fuck....the things you two do to me. Love you so much. Oh, hell...I can't....I'm gonna cum." Angel erupted into Xander's mouth, the boy swallowing every drop while Spike inserted another finger into Xander's clenching hole, his other hand coming around Angel's body to play with the vampire's nipples. This sent Angel spiraling into yet more orgasms and he was screaming their names over and over for several minutes. When he was done, he leaned back and kissed Spike, who had just added another finger in Xander. Xander's breaths were coming in gasps, his hands digging into Angel's thighs. Angel slid over to the side, turning Xander's face so he could kiss his young lover. Xander's kiss was urgent and he moaned into Angel's mouth as Spike slid into him. Spike was caressing his skin, his hands roaming his body before he took Xander's nipples, rubbing across them before gently twisting them in his fingers. Xander cried out, arching into Spike, begging him with his body to move. He opened his eyes to see Spike staring down at him, his eyes filled with adoration.

"I love looking into your eyes as they fill with desire for me, watching the way your body moves as I touch you. How your skin flushes, how you quiver with each caress."

"Spike, God, the sound of your voice when you talk to me like this...so fucking sexy. But please...move. Need you to move." Spike slowly started moving in and out, making sure Xander felt every inch of his cock as it moved along his warm channel.

"Like it when I talk while I'm inside you?" Xander nodded. Spike placed Xander's left leg on his shoulder, opening him more as he started to quicken his thrusts. He leaned down, giving Xander a mind melting kiss, the boy's groans becoming constant now as Spike's cock rubbed across his prostate with every movement. Spike broke the kiss, leaving Xander breathless. Spike licked along his boy's throat, his fingers playing with hardened nipples, Xander's warm cock trapped between their bodies while he sped up his thrusts.

"Love the taste of you, your scent and the warmth of your body under me, surrounding me." Spike heard Angel's groan and he raised his head, taking in the sight of their boy. Xander's head was hanging over the pillows, eyes closed. His tan body was covered with a thin sheen of sweat as it trembled beneath Spike, wanting...begging to be touched. Xander's mouth was moving as if in silent prayer and he leaned into Angel's caress as the older vampire pushed the wet, dark hair from his forehead.

"So fucking gorgeous." Spike whispered, stopping what he was doing to admire his lover. He gave the boy another kiss before nibbling along his jaw until he reached Xander's ear. "Tell me what you need, Xan. Tell me what you want. I'll do anything for you." There was no hesitation in the answer.

"You...Angel....me. Together like this....forever." Xander's fingernails bit into Spike's skin as he ran his hands up and down Spike's body, trying to pull him in closer. "Want to be happy with the two of you. Promise you'll never stop loving me."

"Couldn't if I tried. You're a part of me...a part of us. I'll never stop loving you, Xander. Gonna show you just how much...." Spike took Xander's mouth in another kiss, lips parting, tongues playing as he started to move inside the boy. Spike ran his hands along Xander's body, stopping to caress every sensitive part, continuing to make love to Xander until both of them felt their orgasms approaching. Angel bent down, licking along the scratches on Spike's back, tasting his lover's blood. Spike groaned when he felt Angel's tongue on his back...this was almost too much.

"You feel so good lying underneath me, your warmth surrounding my cock while I take you. Do you feel how much I need you, Xander? Feel me throbbing with desire inside you?" Xander nodded....he couldn't speak or make sense of anything except the feeling of Spike being inside him, taking over inch of his body, possessing him. He gave himself to the pleasure with wild abandon and Spike responded, completely enthralled by his boy's passion. As Xander's balls began to tighten he heard Spike's voice, "Come with me, Xander." Both of them toppeled over the brink, Spike filling Xander with his love while Xander's cum spurted between their bodies, covering both of their stomachs as they screamed each other's names. When they were done, Xander's leg dropped to the bed while Spike collapsed onto him, both of them still trying to come down from their orgasms. Spike gave Xander a kiss before rolling over onto the side of the bed. He watched as Angel took his place between Xander's legs.

Angel had been aching for Xander the minute he saw the boy lying under Spike, his face a picture of ecstasy. He looked down at Xander's kiss swollen lips, damp hair once again curling on his forehead and he knew he had to have him. Angel pushed the curls back, gently kissing the boy's forehead. He placed small, loving kisses down one side of Xander's face before starting on the other, his mouth finally coming to rest right above Xander's. "I want you, Xander. Can I show you how much I love you?" He smiled when he felt Xander tremble beneath him.

"Please...yes, Angel....show me." Angel licked along the top of Xander's mouth, then the bottom, causing the boy to moan his name while his lips parted in invitation. Angel slid his tongue into Xander's mouth, tasting every part of the warm depth while Xander cupped his hand around Angel's neck, pulling the vampire closer as if he wanted to become one with him. Angel broke the kiss, pulling Xander's arm down and taking the boy's hands in his, interlocking their fingers.

"Love the feel of your hands in mine. It's where they belong." Xander squeezed his hands as Angel licked his way down Xander's throat, his chest, stopping to suckle first one nipple and then the other until he reached the semen on Xander's stomach. Angel ran his tongue up and down Xander's stomach, making sure to get it all, loving the taste of his boy. Xander's body was on fire from the touch of Angel's tongue, feeling the desire it stirred inside of him. Angel moved to the side of Xander, letting go of his left hand as he pulled Xander by the right hand, turning the boy to face Spike.

"Angel, what are you---" His question was cut off by a kiss.

"I want to clean Spike up and give you a rest. Don't want you coming too soon. Want it to last...and last...and last." Angel punctuated each last with a kiss, giving Xander a smile before he turned his attention on Spike. His tongue was on the younger vampire's body, teasing each nipple before making his way down Spike's firm stomach, exactly as he had done with Xander. Spike groaned, trying to arch his body closer to Angel but the older vampire put his free hand on his hip, silently telling him not to move. Spike's fingers clawed at the comforter beneath him as Angel took his cock into his mouth, gently sliding his tongue up and down the underside, swirling around the head before starting to deeply suck him.

"Fuck, Angel, that feels so good." Spike's head was twisting back and forth on the pillow, his eyes closed, loving the way Angel was sucking him. He gasped when he felt warm lips on his, stopping him from moving. His hand came around Xander's neck, pulling the boy closer as their tongues danced with desire both of them enjoying the taste of one another. Spike jumped and broke the kiss when he felt a warm hand at the base of his cock, stroking him. He looked down, noticing that Angel had taken Xander's hand he was holding and had placed it on Spike's cock, wrapping his own hand around the boy's. Spike groaned again, the sensation of Xander's warm hand stroking him as Angel's cool mouth sucked sending him into pure bliss.

"Just like that...yes, oh God, yes....don't stop." Spike managed before Xander's mouth was on his again, claiming it for his own. Spike lay back, allowing Xander dominence in the kiss as he reveled in the ripples of pleasure his lover's were causing as they sucked and stroked his cock. He felt his balls tighten and he screamed into Xander's mouth, his body arching up off the bed as wave after wave of orgasms hit him. The combination of heat and cool on his oversensitized cock was driving him crazy. Just as he thought he had emptied himself into Angel's mouth, the older vampire nipped along the head, gently using Xander's hand to squeeze and tug the base of his cock and Spike felt another wave of pleasure course through his body. Wrenching his mouth away from Xander's, he begged his lover's for more as he was drained dry.

"Fuck, I've never felt anything like that before....never thought I'd say this but I'm thoroughly spent."

"So you're saying you're vampire goo?" Xander teased, kissing Spike's cheek. Spike nodded, Angel giving him a kiss before turning his attention back to Xander.

"Your turn." Xander's eyes lit up with anticipation and Angel chuckled as he gently pushed Xander back down onto the bed, once again placing his body between the boy's legs. "I love what I'm seeing in your eyes right now. Makes me so fucking hard." Angel kissed Xander, long and hard. "You taste so good, I want to devour you."

"Yes...do it, Angel. Devour me...make me a part of you. Do whatever you want." The trust and desire in Xander's voice was almost Angel's undoing and he had to stop for a moment, afraid he himself would come too soon. Spike rolled onto his side, his hand automatically reaching out to card his fingers through the boy's hair as he leaned close. Angel went to work on Xander's body, touching, kissing, licking before finally entering Xander's cum filled channel. His hands caressed every inch of the boy's body as he slid in and out of him. Between Spike's and Angel's actions, Xander was once again burning with passion.

Angel touched every sensitive part of Xander's body with his tongue...his nipples, the sides of his hip, the inside of his thighs, loving the way Xander had responded, basking in the heat surrounding his cock. He kissed Xander while he thrust in and out of the boy. Time and again, Xander had been brought to the brink of ecstasy only to have Angel stop.

"Oh, God you're killing me....need to come....faster, harder Angel. Make me yours, let me feel you inside me forever. Oh, shit...too much, too much, can't hold back." Xander moaned as Angel stroked his cock in time with his thrusts. Angel felt his own balls tightening and he motioned to Spike, who leaned down and engulfed Xander's cock just as Xander erupted. "Oh, God...Oh, God...can't stop coming....feels so....oh, fuck." Xander's body shivered with every pulse of his orgasm and Angel felt himself topple into the desire, watching Spike greedily swallow the boy's essence, and feeling Xander's hot channel throbbing, clenching around his own cock, drawing out his orgasm.

"So beautiful like that Xander....so fucking beautiful. Want to paint a picture of you like this....oh, shit." Angel cried out, releasing his seed into Xander's body. When they were done, all three of them collapsed into a sated heap, tenderly touching one another and cuddling as the afterglow settled in. The mood was broken when they heard knocking at the door followed by Dawn's irritated voice.

"Come on guys, it's time for the movie. You've been in here for like an hour. Please?!"

"We'll be out in a moment, Dawn," Angel assured her, smiling over at his lovers. "Guess it's party time."

"Party time? After this? I don't think I can move a muscle. I'm only human you know."

"Yeah, well it's hard for us too, luv. Vampire recovery or not that was....that was..."

"Perfect. Nothing but perfect happiness." Angel sighed. Spike sat up, an amused grin on his face.

"Guess we better take our perfect happiness into the other room, otherwise Dawn will throttle us. You ready, Xan?" Xander nodded, tiredly standing. "Pajamas or pants and shirt?"

"Pajamas." All three of them dressed in silk pajamas, Angel's was black, Spike's was a blood red color and Xander's was a light blue. Xander was the last one to finish, going to the bathroom before returning looking tired, spent and in pain. Spike gently kissed his nose.

"Still bothering you, Xan?" Xander shook his head.

"Just tired."

"Do you need some pain medicine? No harm in asking for it...I'm sure that nose is hurting like a bitch...not to mention..."

"I look like a raccoon. Yeah, I know. But I don't want any medicine...it makes me sleepy and I talk funny. Besides, I want to stay up as long as I can."

"Fine...but if it keeps on hurting, medicine." Angel demanded. Xander nodded his head.

"Why didn't you two tell me how stupid I look," he grumbled. Angel hugged him close.

"You look beautiful."

"Now I know you guys love me." The three of them laughed as they walked arm in arm into the room to join their friends. *****************************************

It was three hours later and everyone was lying in their handmade beds...everyone but Willow, Tara, Xander and Dawnie who were sitting on the couch. The food had all been eaten, the movie had been watched and everyone had laughed when Xander had done his Snoopy dance...everyone but Willow who watched with tear filled eyes, remembering all the times he had done this for her over the years. She had insisted that it was alright for the group to see it...this had been something that was hers and Xander's alone...that wasn't the reason for her tears. She was remembering the first time Xander had done it for her. The two of them had shared a look that said everything before Xander had hugged her close. The moment had been interrupted when Dawn had insisted she wanted to learn the dance. Spike, Angel, Lorne, Tara and Willow had laughed as the others had formed a line, each of them doing their own interpretation of the traditional dance.

Afterwards they had sat around, laughing and teasing each other about what gifts they could expect and everyone had caught Dawn trying to peek into the stockings at least once. They had sang Christmas carols and now they were appeasing Dawn by talking about their best Christmas ever. Spike had told them about his times with his mum and even Angel had had a few good memories to share about his family. When it came time for the others to speak up, the vampire's hearts filled with compassion when they realized that almost every one of their family had never had a really good 'family' Christmas. While Dawn and Oz had many memories to choose from, times they had spent with their parents, the others didn't. Doyle had talked about a time when he was seven and his mother had finally scrounged up enough money to make a nice dinner, Wesley had talked about a skiing trip he had taken with a few other boys from his school, Tara had mentioned one year she had gone to visit her grandparents in South Carolina, Lorne said his best Christmas was his first away from his family here in Los Angeles, Cordelia had mentioned the one year that they had decided to stay home as a family saying that most Christmases were spent in exotic locations with her nanny or friends as she got older. The only ones left were Willow and Xander. As all eyes turned to her, Willow shifted uncomfortably.

"Let Xander go first."

"I don't think you're going to get much out of him, Red. In case you haven't noticed, Xander's dropped off." Spike gestured at his lover who was tucked in between Willow and Dawn. Willow had her arm around Xander and was playing with his hair...she stopped to look down at her friend who was resting against her and smiled, placing a gentle kiss on his head. "I think the medicine has kicked in." Spike and Angel had insisted that Xander take something for the pain after noticing him rubbing his head several times during the night.

"I suppose so." Willow stared at her best friend for a moment, a small tear sliding down her cheek.

"Okay, first I'd say if Xander were awake, he would say this was his best Christmas ever."

"Yeah, cause getting your nose almost broken is such a great present." Dawn chuckled before taking in her friends faces. "Are you serious?"

"Better to get hurt by a stranger than by someone who's supposed to love you. Not to put a downer on the mood but when you live with people who make you want to sleep outside on the Hellmouth instead of spending time with them...I'd say Xander's holidays weren't that fun. God, I wish I hadn't been so naive back then....maybe I just didn't want to see it."

"Can't beat yourself up about the past. The important thing to remember is that Xander is happy now. He has Spike and Angel, friends and family and his mom's on her way to making a recovery. Yeah, this is definitely his best Christmas ever." Doyle added. "So, what's it gonna be, Willow?"

"I don't know if I can pick just one....I'd have to say this year, too. I have Tara, all of you and my best friend is finally happy. What else could I ask for?"

"Can't pick this year, Willow. That would have been Xander's...remember? And I think it would be all of ours to tell you the truth. This is supposed to be about Christmases past. Tell us another one." Dawn encouraged her friend.

"I guess it would be a tie between the year that Oz and I got back together..." Willow smiled at her ex-boyfriend who was lying next to Lorne, "and the first year Xander did the Snoopy dance for me." "What's that all about, Red? Angel and I saw the looks passing between you two." Spike spoke up, wanting to know what had been going on with the two friends.

"Jealous, Spike?" Willow teased, causing the vampire to smile.

"Could be. Or maybe I'm just curious about the tears." Willow rested her head against Xander's, happy to be with her friend.

"Okay, I'll tell you. We were seven at the time...me and Xander. My parents were going to some psychiatric conference and get together in San Diego, Jessica hadn't started drinking yet so she offered to watch me. Luckily, Tony stayed at his brother's house....God, I hated him. Anyway, I was curious about the Santa Claus thing because hello? Jewish. Xander was determined to teach me all about the holiday, so we sat up all night watching every Christmas movie we could find. I was feeling really down because my parents chose the convention over me...I never said anything or let on, but Xander knew. He could always tell when I was sad, so when that one came on," Willow gestured at the vcr, "Xander decided to do the dance...I had never laughed so much in my entire life, let alone that Christmas. He was trying to cheer me up...and it worked. That's why the dance is so special."

"Plus, Xander helped me make a stocking with my name on it and we hung it up next to his. I didn't expect to get anything because I was Jewish but Xander told me Santa liked all kids, no matter what....as long as they had been good. I remember Xander saying my stocking should be filled to the top because I always got good grades and did everything my parents told me to do...not like him." Willow's voice held a note of sadness as she hugged her friend closer.

"Xander always thought he was a bad kid but he wasn't...not really. He was just mischievious. Anyway, I fell asleep and the next morning when I woke up, my stocking was full of candy and toys. I remember there was a set of jacks and a ball, a bottle of bubbles, stuff like that. I was so excited. It wasn't until years later that Jessie told me Xander had confided to him that he had stolen twenty dollars from his dad so he could buy me the stuff. Needless to say, his dad found out and Xander was...punished. After that, he did odd jobs during the summer, mowing lawns and things like that. Tony would take most of the money but Xander hid some away so he could buy me perfume, hair ties....things like that. It became a yearly tradition. I would sneak over to his house on Christmas Eve, we would watch the movie, he would do the dance and we would hang my stocking. The next day he would come over to my house and give it to me, saying Santa had left it. Even after we were grown and I knew there wasn't a Santa, Xander insisted on keeping up the tradition. That's why the dance means so much to me...it's not just fun to watch, it's the meaning behind it...behind that Christmas."

"That's such a sweet story." Dawn sighed, wiping the tears away. "I wish I had a best friend like that."

"I think I got a one of the kind." Willow told her, resting her head on Xander's.

"Well, on that note I think we should all be going to sleep. We have a big day tomor---later on." Angel corrected, looking at the time. He got up and walked over to where Xander was sleeping. "I'll take Xander so you girls can lay down." Willow seemed reluctant to give up her friend but she smiled at the vampire, releasing her hold. Angel bent down to pick the boy up but as soon as he touched him, Xander sat up, sleepily rubbing at his eyes.

"Did Santa come yet?" Angel had to smile at the question.

"Medicine." Willow mouthed to the others, twirling her finger next to her head, showing them that it made Xander think and say weird things. She patted her friend on the back. "Not yet."

"He never comes."

"Oh, I bet he does this year. Why don't we go to sleep?" Xander shook his head, blearily staring at Willow.

"Nope. Gonna stay up all night and watch for him so I can kick his fat butt."

"Xan..."

"What? He goes to Tommy Newberry's house and you know what a bully he is. He gets everything he wants....why can't I?" Xander was muttering as he sleepily rubbed his eyes.

"I don't know, sweetie. I'll stay up and watch for him, you go to sleep." Willow assured him as Angel picked Xander up.

"I try to be good...why doesn't he like me?" Xander leaned his head on Angel's shoulder as the vampire made his way towards their makeshift bed.

"Don't worry, Xander. Willow's right...Santa's coming this year....I'm sure of it." He gently laid the boy beside Spike before joining them, pulling the covers up around them. Xander struggled to keep his eyes open, smiling at the two of them.

"I'm finally going to have a Christmas like in those books I read?" Spike leaned down and kissed Xander on the cheek, wishing he could erase all of Xander's bad memories.

"Even better. Promise. Now go back to sleep." Xander nestled closer to Spike, Angel wrapping his arm around his lovers. Everyone else did the same, soon falling asleep. When the vampires were sure their family was asleep, Spike squeezed Angel's arm.

"We'll make it a good holiday for all of them, right?"

"You can count on it, Spike. Their own families may not have appreciated what they had but we do." Spike nodded, he and Angel following the others into sleep. Both vampires were determined that Xander and their family would never feel unloved or unwanted ever again. ***************************************

Dawn was the first one awake and Angel and Spike had to smile at her squeals of delight as she saw the packages under the tree. They had woken a few hours earlier and had placed the many gifts they had bought their family under the tree. There were so many that the packages almost extended to the door. Spike took another puff off his cigarette, leaning against the kitchen counter as Angel finished making breakfast for everyone...pancakes, sausage, eggs and bacon were almost done...and waited for Dawn and the others to come into the kitchen. He listened as she excitedly woke everyone with her screaming, both he and Angel jumping and running into the room when they heard a loud crash.

"What is it Dawn? Are we under attack?" Wesley was asking, jumping from his position on the floor, knocking over a lamp as he surveyed the room. Cordelia and Doyle had also gotten up, while Oz, Lorne, Willow and Tara rubbed their eyes, trying to wake up. Xander was still asleep, oblivious to the girls shrieking.

"Don't you see it?" Dawn was excitedly bouncing and pointing at the gifts. Angel and Spike stood back to watch the reactions of their family, tension easing as they realized no one was in danger. Wesley was still looking for the demon who had the girl in such a frenzy. The two vampires couldn't contain their laughter when Wesley fell over Oz in an attempt to get to the weapons chest, all the while asking the girl questions.

"What did it look like? Demon or vampire? Can you describe it?" Wesley was in full watcher mode even as he tried to untangle himself from Oz. Oz grabbed Wesley's shoulders, trying to calm the man. He had seen what Dawn was so excited about and it had nothing to do with monsters.

"Wes, calm down man. I think she was talking about all the gifts that weren't here last night." Wesley followed Oz's gaze. He heaved a sigh of relief, placing his head on Oz's shoulder as he tried to still the rush of adreneline from being woken like that. He heard a loud cough and raised his head to see Lorne smiling at him.

"Wesley, muffin....if you wanted to join us all you had to do was ask. No need for theatrics, although I would rate your performance at least an 8." Wesley stared at the green demon, letting Lorne's words filter into his brain. A frantic expression crossed his face as he realized exactly where he was laying and on top of whom. He jumped up, his face red.

"I...no...see Dawn was AHHH!" Wesley imitated Dawn, "...and I thought...then I fell...so sorry...oh, dear Lord." Willow, Tara, Cordelia and Doyle also started laughing at the flustered ex-watcher as Lorne helped Oz sit up.

"Wesley, you sounded like Giles just now. All that was missing was the...." Willow stopped talking, starting to laugh again as Wesley jerked his glasses off, furiously polishing the lenses with his pajama top. "Never mind."

"It'll be alright, Wes. You'll be fine." Wesley turned to face Spike and the vampire shook his head. Wesley was about to reply when they heard noises coming from the tree. Everyone but Xander turned to stare at Dawn and Cordelia who were going through the presents, tossing some to the side as they made big piles next to themselves. Spike hurried over, placing himself between the rest of the presents and the two girls who looked up at him.

"Oi! Don't be tossing the gifts around. Some of them could break."

"What are you two doing?" Doyle asked, joining Spike.

"Seeing which ones are ours and making a pile. Look how big my stack is." Dawn proudly pointed at the large stack of boxes. "And I'm not even halfway through them yet." Spike pulled Dawn to her feet, Doyle doing the same to Cordelia as they led the girls away from the presents.

"No more present exploring until after you've eaten breakfast." Spike told them.

"But I'm too excited to eat." Dawn pouted before taking a whiff of what Angel had made. "Oh, goody! I smell pancakes. Are they round or funny shaped?" Angel shrugged, not understanding the question.

"It's a thing we do," Tara explained. "Pancakes are Dawn's favorite breakfast food. When I make them sometimes I shape them into...well, funny shapes."

"Oh, I see." Angel thought for a minute. "Rounds."

"That's cool." Dawn ran into the kitchen, grabbing a plate before using her fingers to pick up several of the warm pancakes from the platter.

"Uh, Dawn we do have forks." Angel told her.

"Yeah, but as a friend of mine once said...fingers came before forks." Angel sighed, turning his attention towards Xander who was still buried underneath the covers. He tried to uncover the boy but Xander had managed to get tangled in just about every cover they had thrown down the night before. Angel motioned to Spike who came to help him untangle their young lover.

"Roll him this way." Angel told Spike, rolling Xander to the right.

"Stop it, Angel. You're only getting him more tangled up. Move him to the left." Spike jerked on the covers as Angel rolled Xander to the right. "Damn it, Angel. Don't you know your right from your left?"

"Yes, I do. We've got to get this cover off first so he needs to go to the right."

"Left."

"Right." Willow walked over, bending down to shoo the vampires away. "Let me do this, you're making me seasick." Willow expertly started removing the covers while the vampires watched.

"Boy's gonna suffocate under all those." Spike fretted. Willow gave him a smile as she continued her work.

"Nah, he does this all the time. Wraps himself in the covers...like a cocoon. Makes him feel safe." The three of them exchanged a glance.

"How does he breathe under all those? And what if he has...I haven't heard a word out of him even with all the noise going on around him." Angel joined Spike in his worry.

"Will you two relax? Xander's fine....he sleeps through anything when he's really tired or medicated. Those pain pills will probably make it even harder to wake him up."

"Harder to wake up than he normally is?" Cordelia asked, remembering all the times she had sat outside his house honking her horn or trying to rouse him after an all night research party. "We better go ahead and start eating breakfast. It'll be cold if we wait on him." She took Doyle's hand, leading him into the kitchen area where they filled their plates and joined Dawn at the table. Wesley, Oz, and Lorne followed, also getting their food and beginning to eat. Spike shook his head, watching Willow unwrap Xander.

"The boy sleeps like the dead and yet he slept outside all those years. It's a wonder he wasn't eaten by something a long time ago." Angel was about to agree until he saw Willow's smile and heard her laughter.

"You two have been with him for how long now? Months? Haven't you learned anything about his sleeping patterns? If Xander doesn't feel safe...like say sleeping outdoors on the Hellmouth....he's a really light sleeper. Wakes up at the least little noise. But if he feels safe or he's taken medicine, then he's out of it. And he's always wrapped himself up like this...at least when he lived at home. To...you know...make him feel safe. He thought if he was under a bunch of covers like this his father....uh, well he wouldn't be able to find him...being drunk and all, he wouldn't take the time to...you get the picture. Plus, it helped drown out his parent's arguments." Willow finally managed to untangle her sleeping friend.

"Xander's never done this...not since we've been together. I mean, he's hard to wake up but he's never wrapped himself up like this before." Spike told her, causing Willow to lean over and kiss him on the cheek before doing the same to Angel.

"Because he doesn't need to hide himself away from anyone to feel safe. Xander feels that way just being with the two of you....he's happy. Thank you for that." Willow pushed Xander's sleep tousled hair away from his eyes. "He must have had a nightmare or something after you two got up. Otherwise, he wouldn't have done this." Angel and Spike began trying to wake Xander, wondering what nightmare the boy could have had.

"Xander....Xander, it's time to wake up." Spike gently shook his lover. After a few minutes, Xander opened his eyes. He stretched and yawned, sleepily smiling at them.

"Hey. What time is it?"

"Time for you to get up and eat. Angel's fixed breakfast and everyone else is already eating."

"Without me?" Xander sat up, turning to see his friends happily talking and eating. "How come I didn't smell...can't smell the food?" Xander touched his nose. "Ow."

"That's why. Is it still bothering you?" Angel asked.

"Only when I do something dumb like touch it." Angel and Spike helped Xander to his feet. He wrapped his arms around Angel, giving him a kiss. "Thanks for fixing breakfast, even though I can't smell it. I'm sure it tastes good. Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas, sweetheart." Angel gave him another kiss, this one deeper and more passionate. Xander gave him a smile before turning his attention on Spike.

"Merry---" Spike already had his boy in his arms, giving him a long, slow kiss. When they broke apart, Xander stared at him for a few seconds before remembering what he was going to say. "Christmas."

"You too, luv. Are you okay?"

"Why wouldn't I be?" Xander seemed confused by the question.

"You were all wrapped up in the covers...Willow had to get you out. Said you did that when you had nightmares." Xander thought about it, knowing Willow was right but he couldn't recall having one. He shrugged his shoulders.

"Can't remember if I did. Can we go eat now?" Spike smiled, taking Xander's hand and leading him towards the kitchen. He couldn't wait for the group to see what he and Angel had gotten them. They were going to be so surprised.


Chapter Forty-Three

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