"It's the star." He looked up at her voice, his breath catching at the vision of her. She'd obviously just left their bed, her hair slightly rumbled from sleep. An animal skin covered her body, exposing only her bare lower legs and naked feet. "That's how you did it."
He shifted the guitar, allowing her to replace it on his lap. "Did what?"
Her arm swept around her. "All of this. The wishes."
"Ah." He rested his forehead against hers. "Wondered how long it would take."
"Is it magic?"
"In a way. It's a relic from the vaults of the Council of Watchers. I knew about it but had never seen it. I thought it might help ease the loneliness and homesickness of us all."
"And the 12 days thing?"
"It works in its own way."
"But you didn't do them all."
"No. I had to trust in the star. I would know which were my responsibility, and accept it would organize the rest."
"It screwed up though." He leaned back, looking at her quizzically. "We didn 't have twelve today."
"Wishes?"
"I couldn't count twelve of them, unless you include when we went out to dinner."
He shook his head. "It has to be said in the presence of the star."
"Okay." She counted each wish on her finger. "Dawn wanted a White Christmas."
"And for Vi and Rona to turn up."
"Oh yeah. That's two. Xander wanted something normal. The DVDs?" Giles nodded. "And for Anya to be remembered. Oh. Dawn's gift certificates."
"What did you wish for?"
Buffy frowned as she tried to remember. "A way to show we're a family." She looked down at the band on her finger and smiled. "I see what you mean. Willow wanted something traditional. The Menorah?"
"And Kennedy wanted a few days' break from slaying. I hadn't expected her wish to be granted in such a way."
"So that's seven, right?" He nodded again. "Faith wished for a long and happy life. Robin wished for.What did he wish for again?"
Giles smiled. "He wished she'd get what she really wanted. I have a feeling the vision Faith saw might have granted her wishes."
Buffy thought hard. "What else?"
"Benedict Talbot." At her querying look he explained. "He wanted somebody to appreciate him. I think Dawn did just that."
"And the other two?"
"Mine. I asked for my last wish earlier tonight, remember?"
Buffy thought back. "Lots of Christmases like this. But when did you have a wish before? You didn't do it that day."
"I'd already done it. The wishes start and end with me. I ask, and am granted, the first and last wishes because I initiated the star."
"Oh. So, no more wishes?" He shook his head, and she looked wistfully up at the star. "Pity. What did you wish for?"
Giles looked down, embarrassed. "It."
"What?"
"I couldn't find the bloody thing!" His exasperation was obvious. "I was crawling through those vaults looking for something I'd never seen, and I became frustrated. So I said 'I wish I could find the stupid star'. And there it was."
"Where?"
He muttered his answer so low, Buffy had trouble understanding him. "Right in front of me."
She looked at him for a moment, unsure what to say. Then it happened, bursting out from her. A giggle. At his glare, she tried to stop, only for more giggles to erupt. Eventually she was holding her side in hysterics, joined reluctantly by Giles. "Right in front of you."
"I was practically stepping on it."
Buffy wiped her eyes, deciding to change the subject. She pointed to the instrument beside him. "I didn't know you'd brought your guitar with you."
He picked it up gently, his fingers lovingly stroking the strings. "I didn' t. This is an old friend." He began strumming, finding his way along the notes and chords. "It was the one I had during my 'rebellion' phase. One of the conditions of my return was that it be destroyed. Somehow Aunt Agatha got hold of it. She presented it to me tonight."
"How do you know it's the same one?" Giles stopped playing, tilting the guitar down until the back was visible to Buffy. A heart was engraved in the wood, two initials placed within it. She shook her head. "I so don't want to know about that part of your life."
Giles smiled and continued playing. "Any requests?"
She thought for a moment, then surprised him by starting to sing, her light voice perfect for her choice of song.
'Santa baby, slip a sable under the tree, for me
I've been an awful good girl
Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight'
He accompanied her on the guitar, enjoying the show she put on for his benefit. She slid around him, her arms draped over his shoulders. Pressing her lips against his ear, she sang the next verse:
'Santa baby, an out-of-space convertible too, light blue
I'll wait up for you dear
Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight.
She slid back around to face him. Putting the guitar to one side, he pulled her to him. He captured her lips in his, plundering her mouth with his tongue. They dropped to the ground, the skin falling from Buffy's naked shoulders.
"Don't you two ever do the normal thing and just have sex in your bedroom?"
They looked up at the interruption. Xander was leaning against the rail on the upper level, a look of query on his face. Giles' answer was wryly said. "It's usually more peaceful away from our bedroom. What are you doing up?"
"Thinking. About that star."