"I can't believe your mom is letting Angel spend the night!" Cordelia exclaimed.

"I know! I can't even *tell* my parents that you're allowed to do that! They probably won't let me talk to you anymore!" Willow agreed.

"Isn't it cool?!" Buffy grinned as she mixed the onion dip up.

"Is he sleeping in your room or on the couch?" asked Cordelia.

Buffy gave her a look. "My room of course! My mother knows we have sex."

"Still, it doesn't bother her that you are doing it in her house?" Willow inquired. "And it doesn't bother her that she will know *when* you guys are doing it? It doesn't bother *you*?"

"It's not an idea I am crazy about," Laughed Joyce Summers, as she walked in her kitchen from behind Willow. "but it's Christmas Eve and I don't feel like arguing with Buffy."

Willow turned beet red, embarrassed that Joyce had overheard her. Cordelia and Buffy, on the other hand, were completely comfortable with it and didn't even notice that their friend's face now matched her hair.

"I like that logic Mom!" Buffy exclaimed. "I don't suppose you could use it year round?"

Joyce rolled her eyes. "Actually, part of it is also to butter you up, Buffy. I have some news that won't leave you jumping for joy."

Instantly, Buffy's smile disappeared, followed by a worried look. "What? Is something wrong? Dad?"

Joyce shook her head. "Oh, no, nothing like that. Just that, well, they are having a really big art show in New York and it's an annual thing, some great works will be for sale there. I want to go every year, but it always takes place over the New Year's holiday and I can't leave you alone for New Year's, so I always miss it. But now I have an art buyer, so I'm….Angel's leaving for New York City Monday morning."

"What?" Buffy couldn't believe it. She had been talking about how excited she was to get to really celebrate the holidays this year with Angel for weeks now. How could her own mother do this?

"I'm sorry Honey, but just think, I could set new sales records this year! I mean, the gallery is doing great, but you know me, Miss Overachiever."

Buffy just stared at her in amazement. Leave it to her mother to think about sales records when Buffy was just trying to have a nice holiday with her boyfriend for once.

"Oh, well Buffy, that does make sense. Your mom can make a better profit, and then you can buy more shoes!" Cordelia told her cheerfully.

"Yeah, and really, what's more important Buffy?" Willow added. "Your love life or your mom's business?"

Buffy looked at Willow and Cordelia, searching their faces for even a hint of sarcasm and found nothing. They were actually being serious!

The doorbell ringing insistently interrupted them. Joyce opened the refrigerator door and started searching for something, while Cordelia and Willow practically skipped to answer the door. Buffy sighed and followed them.

"Ho ho ho! Mer-ry Christmas!" Xander said cheerily as Willow opened the door. He looked ridiculous. He had on a red and green baseball cap with a big stick on top of it, with a piece of mistletoe dangling from it. He moved toward the hacker. "Willow!"

Willow laughed and pushed him away, before he could get the mistletoe over her. "Go see Cordy!"

Xander obeyed and moved towards his giggling girlfriend. He wrapped his arms around her and started smooching. Buffy sighed and turned around, moving towards the living room, planning out what she would say to Angel when he got there. How could he? How could he agree? And why didn't he tell her? What was his deal anyway?

Joyce came out of the kitchen. She smiled when she saw what Xander was wearing and exclaimed "Oh! How could I forget?"

She smiled and walked back into the kitchen, reappearing a moment later with a piece of mistletoe in her hand, pinning it in to the doorway leading into the living room.

Buffy rolled her eyes. Her Christmas was officially ruined.

"Aww, come on Buff!" Xander prodded, then started singing "Mr. Hankey the Christmas poo, he loves me, I love you, therefore vicariously he loves you, even if you're a Jew.
Sometimes he's nutty, sometimes he's corny, he can be brown or greenish-brown. But if you eat fiber on Christmas Eve, he might come to your town. Mr. Hankey the Christmas poo, he loves me, I love you, he loves you!"

Buffy glared at him.

Xander shrank back. "Okay, I'll shut up."

He looked towards the kitchen door. Why did they have to leave him to entertain Buffy? He had no idea why she was in such a bad mood, but he feared her.

When the doorbell rang again, Xander breathed a sigh of relief. For the first time ever, he really, truly hoped it was Angel. Then Xander could let him deal with his grumpy girlfriend.

So, when Xander opened the door and found Oz, he was very disappointed. "Hey, come on in. Please, watch out for any flying objects."

Oz gave Xander a questioning look, then saw the fuming Buffy. "Oh, okay. Hey Buffy, Merry Christmas."

Buffy looked over at Oz and gave him a wholly unenthusiastic smile. "Hi, Merry Christmas to you too."

Xander and Oz looked at each other and shrugged. As Xander was shutting the door, a hand from outside stopped it from shutting. Xander jumped and gasped, getting Buffy's attention. She got up and was over to the door in a second. Giles smiled at them.

"Hello children. Did I frighten you?"

Buffy shook her head, then walked back over to the couch. Joyce walked out of the kitchen.

"Oh Hi Oz." She greeted, then smiled sheepishly at Giles. "Mr. Giles."

"M-Mrs. Summers." Giles replied. The two carefully avoided looking each other in the eye and Giles went and sat next to Buffy.

"So.. all we're missing is Angel?" Joyce asked casually.

"Yeah, because he is probably hiding!" Buffy told her.

Joyce smiled. "You are so melodramatic Honey."

Willow and Cordelia walked out of the kitchen. Willow walked right over to her man and they started cuddling.

"We need some music." Suggested Cordelia.

"Yeah! That sounds good. Go ahead and pick." Joyce agreed.

Xander peered out the window. "Angel just pulled up."

Buffy stood up quickly and stomped out the front door.

Joyce laughed. "Poor Angel, he doesn't stand a chance!"

The three males exchanged confused looks, while the females grinned.

As soon as he saw her marching out of the house towards him he knew he was in trouble. Joyce had insisted that she should be the one to tell Buffy. He figured he shouldn't argue too much with the woman, he did owe her big time.

"Hi Honey." He said nervously.

"Honey? Honey? Well, obviously you really don't think that or I wouldn't have to hear from my *mother* that you are leaving town instead of spending New Years with me!"

"Well.. it never came up?"

Buffy rolled her eyes and turned to go back into the house. Angel raced up beside her and grabbed her arm.

"I'm sorry Buff, I really am. I wanted to spend it with you, you know that. I want to spend every moment of every day with you! But I do have to work."

Buffy felt her anger melt away. Now she was just filled with disappointment. "I had been looking forward to this for a while."

"I know Baby." Angel said, pulling her into an embrace. Buffy soon responded by wrapping her arms tightly around him as well.

"I love you." She told him.

Angel smiled and pulled her chin up with his finger, forcing her to look into his eyes.

"I love you too, more than anything." He replied, before softly kissing her on the lips. "Now let's get you inside, you hardly have anything on and it's getting chilly."

Buffy smiled as she allowed him to pull her into the house. "Speaking of, do you like my dress?"

Angel looked over at her, in the short, low cut, silver dress and silver heels and smiled appreciatively. "I love your dress."

They entered the warm home to find Giles and Joyce smiling and talking while drinking eggnog and Willow practically sitting Oz's lap on the couch. Cordelia was sitting in a chair, reading Cosmo and trying to ignore Xander, who was dancing around her and singing along, in a very off-key tone, to the CD of the Chipmunks that was playing.

"Want a plane that loops the loop! I still want a hula hoop! We can hardly stand the wait! Please Christmas, don't be late!"

Buffy and Angel both flinched. Cordelia put the magazine down and smiled at them. Don't worry, this is one of those Christmas CD's with various groups, so they aren't all the Chipmunks. Although, I can't guarantee that Xander will ever shut up!"

"Aww! You love it Cordy! You know you do!" Xander laughed as the song ended.

Buffy sighed and looked at Angel. "Do you need a drink or anything?"

Angel smiled at her. "That's all right, I'm fine."

He did take his coat off and Buffy took it and hung it in a closet. While she was doing so, Angel surveyed the room. He still felt uncomfortable around them most of the time and had no idea where to go.

//Rockin' around the Christmas tree
at the Christmas party hop.
Mistletoe hung where you can see
every the couple tries to stop.//

A new song started and Angel looked even more nervous as Xander bopped his head along with the beat. Soon, Buffy was back at his side, wrapping his hand around her own and smiling up at him reassuringly. She casually pulled him back out into the hall.

"I doubt any of them will miss us for a minute." She told him quietly. "I want you to know that even though I love you, I am still extremely pissed off at you!"

"But-"

"And even though you are sleeping here tonight, *in* my bed, don't even think about getting some action because it's just not going to happen!"

Angel opened his mouth, trying to think of something to say. To spend the night in bed with her, and not get to touch her, it was pure torture. This New York trip idea was getting worse by the moment. Defeated, Angel just nodded.

"Everyone! It's time for dinner!" Joyce called.

Sighing, Angel followed Buffy into the dining room, where everyone was quickly sitting down. Joyce brought out a huge turkey. At least the meal looked good. Unfortunately, Angel felt like it was his last meal before execution.

After they had thoroughly stuffed themselves, they sat around the table and talked for a while. Buffy didn't give Angel the silent treatment, but she wasn't exactly flirting with him as she usually did.

"Why don't we go open presents?" Joyce suggested.

They had all agreed that they would exchange gifts with each other tonight, and then Buffy, Angel and Joyce could open the rest of their gifts on Christmas day.

Finally all the gifts were opened. Everyone had been anxious to see what exactly Xander would give Angel. They were all surprised to see that he had gotten him a Fischer-Price stethoscope so that he could hear his own heartbeat now. Nobody was sure if Xander was just being obnoxious or if he had really thought this was a nice gift. Angel just smiled politely and thanked him.

As they were cleaning up the wrapping paper, Joyce gave Angel a sympathetic look.

"You know Angel, I'm sure it couldn't hurt to give Buffy just one of your gifts for her now."

Angel raised an eyebrow. "Okay.. what kind of gift?"

"Hmm.. something small." Joyce replied, with a big grin on her face, which perfectly matched those of Willow and Cordelia's.

Angel walked over to the fireplace and pulled out an envelope that he had cleverly hidden from Buffy. "How about this?"

"Works for me!" Joyce told him.

Angel smiled and handed it to Buffy, who gave him a suspicious look. Whatever was in the envelope, her mother was in on it. What could he put in an envelope? If it was a check then Angel better sleep on his stomach for a while, otherwise Buffy would be playing the overexhuberant surgeon.

Buffy opened the envelope carefully and found a note that Angel had written neatly. He had planned on using his calligraphy skills, but then though better of it. Angelus had done that to her.

Buffy read it slowly. The she looked up at Angel and grinned. "You want me to come with you?"

Angel nodded. "If you would honor me with your presence."

"Buffy giggled. "Of course!" Then she launched herself into his arms.

Joyce, Willow, and Cordelia were all smiles, while the three other guys were even more confused.

"Huh?" was all Xander said.

"Angel and Buffy are going on a trip to New York City." Joyce informed them.

The three guys stared at her in disbelief. San Francisco was one thing, but New York City was all the way on the other side of the country. She was actually going to allow her 17 year old daughter to go off with a much older man?

"Well, if you want, I can go with them and chaperone." Xander offered. He still didn't like the idea that Angel was spending the night.

"That's all right Xander, I think they are mature enough to handle it." Joyce replied, smiling as she saw her daughter and Angel were standing with their arms wrapped around each other, softly whispering and lightly kissing.

Everyone else left soon after, Joyce finished cleaning up and headed off to bed. Buffy sent Angel up to her room, with specific orders to strip down to his boxers and wait for her in her room. Buffy was on a mission and Angel knew never to question her when she had a plan.

Angel waited anxiously on Buffy's bed in his black silk boxers that Buffy loved so much. Finally the door creaked open and Buffy sneaked in.

Angel gasped. She wasn't in her cute little silver dress any longer. She had on a skimpy little teddy that was patterned after Santa Claus' suit. It was very simple, yet the most beautiful piece of lingerie he had ever seen. It was a one piece and red, with a white feather trim around the chest and the legs.

Buffy smiled shyly at Angel. This was the first piece of lingerie she had ever bought. She had been so nervous at the store, all the models in the catalogues had a much bigger chest size. However, Angel seemed to like what he saw, and that was the desired effect.

Angel noticed she had one hand behind her back. "What are you hiding?"

Buffy smiled coyly. "It's a surprise. Like my outfit."

Angel grinned. "I love it. Is this my Christmas gift?"

"One of them. I figured that since you let me open one of mine early, I should let you open one of yours tonight too."

Angel, still grinning, nodded. "Fair is fair. Let me open it *now*!"

"Tisk tisk, you have to learn patience, little boy, or all you'll get is coal!"

"Well, can I see what your surprise is behind your back"

Buffy pretended to contemplate as she slowly walked closer to the bed.

"Well, you see I was hungry and I wanted some dessert."

"Dessert, huh?"

"Yup." Buffy smiled wickedly and pulled out a can of Reddi Whip. "I know this isn't the stuff they sell in those adult stores, but I'm not old enough to go in them."

"Oh, I think it'll do." Angel teased.

"Oh good." Buffy giggled. She reached over and stroked Angel's erection through his boxers. "You really *do* like what you see, don't you?"

Angel's only reply was a deep groan as he laid his head back and closed his eyes. Buffy climbed onto the bed and pulled Angel's boxers off quickly, stroking his length for a moment before moving up and straddling his waist.

Angel looked up and smiled. He could feel her heat and wetness through the crotch of her teddy. Buffy returned the smile as she shook the can. She gently pushed his shoulder so that Angel laid back on the pillows. Buffy pulled the cap off of the can and placed the nozzle in Angel's waiting mouth. She pushed and shot a little of the whipped cream into his mouth, quickly bending down to kiss him, their tongues wrestling as they tasted the sweet foamy substance. When it had all be consumed, Buffy broke apart from Angel and straightened back up. She sprayed a wavy line of the cream from his collarbone, down to his naval. Following the line with her tongue, she veered off the path and licked his nipples. Just teasing him, Buffy soon returned back to the trail, dipping her tongue into his belly button once she reached it.

She picked up the can again, and Angel watched her in anticipation. She decided to go for it and sprayed the whipped cream at the tip of his straining erection. Buffy teased him, licking slightly at the white froth. She surprised him by suddenly sheathing his erection in her hot mouth. She swallowed as much of him as she could, then she pulled back up and ran her tongue over his head. She looked at him with lust filled eyes as she proceeded to suck him into her mouth again. Angel could feel his orgasm building, he wanted to come inside of her, feeling her spasm around him.

"Buffy." He groaned.

She ignored him, so he gently cupped her face in his hands and pulled it away from him. At his prompting, she moved back up his body and laid next to him, where he seized her lips in a fiery kiss.

Buffy broke the kiss off and kneeled on the bed, sliding the straps of her teddy down.

"Hey! *I* get to open my present!" grinned Angel, as he pushed himself to a sitting position in front of her.

"Oh I'm sorry!" Buffy giggled, then allowed Angel to slide one of the straps down, kissing her shoulder. He repeated the action on her other shoulder, then he gently pushed the teddy down, with Buffy's eager assistance. After the scanty item of clothing was dropped to the floor beside the bed, Buffy laid back down on the bed, Angel covering her immediately. Buffy spread her legs, allowing Angel to enter her quickly. He was soon thrusting into her at full-tilt.

Buffy trying not to be too loud, since her mother was a mere 20 feet away. She vaguely heard the headboard smacking against the wall, but didn't really register that there was quite a racket coming from her room. All she could think about was Angel, slicked with sweat, slamming into her at an ever increasing rate.

"Angel." She moaned.

Angel kissed her neck and jawline as he plunged inside of her. He was close and he could tell she was as well. Lifting her hips, he slammed into her harder still. This was enough to push both of them over the edge. Angel collapsed on top of Buffy, their sweaty skin sticking to each other. After a moment, when Angel had somewhat come back to earth, he rolled over, pulling Buffy along with him, so that she laid on his chest.

She tilted her head up and smiled. "Did you like your gift?"

"Best gift ever." He grinned, giving her another passion filled kiss. "Merry Christmas baby."

"Merry Christmas, Angel." Was all she said before she fell asleep.

Angel smiled and shut off the lamp, soon joining his girlfriend in the abyss of unconsciousness.

Joyce sighed as she crept into the kitchen. A glance at the clock told her it was almost two in the morning. She would have been asleep hours earlier, had Buffy and Angel not been so.. clamorous. Joyce remember the pumpkin pie that was leftover from dinner earlier. After she had sliced a piece for herself, she returned it to the refrigerator and remembered the can of whipped cream she had bought that they had barely touched. She searched the refrigerator over several times, quite extensively, yet couldn't find it.

Shaking her head as she settled down with her whipped cream-less pie, she said "Great, first it's the sock eating dryer and now the whipped cream eating refrigerator!"


The End