Summary: Where the Summers go on a family holiday trip in Vermont!
Set in a post-S11 alternate reality where Buffy and Spike are an established couple, this drabble story takes place one year after my fic “Autumn in San Francisco.”
However, there’s no need to read that or to have an extensive knowledge of the comics; you will find a short recap of what you need to know in the Story Notes.
Written for Sunnydale After Dark “2023 ’Tis The Season” event.
Backstory recap (some elements borrowed from S12 comics):
Buffy and Spike settled in the suburbs of San Francisco, where they found a house a few blocks away from where Dawn and Xander live with their daughter, Joyce Charlotte Harris; she was born during the events of “Autumn in San Francisco,” where Dawn asked Buffy and Spike to be her godparents.
Dawn also gave Spike a ring that belonged to her mother, encouraging him to propose to Buffy. In a goofy turn of events, Buffy ended up proposing first, and the newly engaged couple agreed to let Dawn plan their “Fire & Ice” themed wedding, which was set to take place after a couple of months, sharing the date with Joyce’s naming ceremony.
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Present day:
This story is set a whole year after the events of “Autumn in San Francisco,” so Joyce has already celebrated her 1st birthday while Buffy and Spike are a few weeks away from celebrating their 1st wedding anniversary.
No beta, all mistakes are mine.
Prompts:
Thank you to Grief Counseling for creating a list of 20 prompts to go with this SAD event. I added 4 more prompts so I could use them to create a “Drabble Advent Calendar” of sorts, and post a new drabble every day until December 24.
I’ll use the prompts as chapter titles and I also created an “Advent Bingo Card,” so to speak, filling the squares with them.
Click [ HERE ] to open the card: you’ll see the order in which I’ll use the prompts.
Dear Marina,
I hope you’ll enjoy this humble gift as a THANK YOU for all the support and for the outstanding beta work you’re doing for my stories. I keep learning and getting a little better every day with your tips and advice, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the time and passion you always put into betaing (and commenting!).
Happy holidays,
Vero
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DISCLAIMER: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
1. Day 1 - Mittens, Mittens, Mittens by VeroNyxK84 - Likes: 9 
Comments: 13 Word Count: 100 Hit Count: 82 Published: 12/01/23
Where Buffy and Spike are getting ready for a vacation...
2. Day 2 - Last-Minute Shopping by VeroNyxK84 - Likes: 9 Comments: 13 Word Count: 100 Hit Count: 80 Published: 12/02/23
Where the Summers women drag their men across San Francisco for gift shopping
3. Day 3 - Nine Candles by VeroNyxK84 - Likes: 8 Comments: 6 Word Count: 100 Hit Count: 79 Published: 12/03/23
Where a gift goes missing... or does it?
4. Day 4 - The Gift that Keeps on Giving by VeroNyxK84 - Likes: 9 Comments: 12 Word Count: 100 Hit Count: 79 Published: 12/04/23
Where Spike reflects on married (un)life...
5. Day 5 - Unwrapped by VeroNyxK84 - Likes: 9 Comments: 11 Word Count: 100 Hit Count: 80 Published: 12/05/23
Where Spike “volunteers” to help with gift wrapping...
6. Day 6 - Ugly Sweater by VeroNyxK84 - Likes: 8 Comments: 8 Word Count: 100 Hit Count: 80 Published: 12/06/23
Where Buffy and Spike agree on a gift for Giles...
7. Day 7 - Stockings by VeroNyxK84 - Likes: 9 Comments: 10 Word Count: 100 Hit Count: 80 Published: 12/07/23
Where someone has been naughty...
8. Day 8 - Red-Nosed by VeroNyxK84 - Likes: 8 Comments: 11 Word Count: 100 Hit Count: 80 Published: 12/08/23
Where Buffy and Spike are late for a meeting with Willow...
9. Day 9 - Bah Humbug by VeroNyxK84 - Likes: 8 Comments: 8 Word Count: 100 Hit Count: 80 Published: 12/09/23
Where Spike is wary about traveling by portal...
10. Day 10 - Holiday Hell by VeroNyxK84 - Likes: 8 Comments: 6 Word Count: 100 Hit Count: 81 Published: 12/10/23
Where one half of the family leaves for Vermont...
11. Day 11 - Down My Chimney by VeroNyxK84 - Likes: 8 Comments: 8 Word Count: 100 Hit Count: 81 Published: 12/11/23
Where Buffy and Spike watch an old classic...
12. Day 12 - Blanket of Snow by VeroNyxK84 - Likes: 7 Comments: 6 Word Count: 100 Hit Count: 81 Published: 12/12/23
Where the Summers family is reunited in Vermont...
13. Day 13 - Spike the Eggnog by VeroNyxK84 - Likes: 8 Comments: 6 Word Count: 100 Hit Count: 80 Published: 12/13/23
Where the Summers relax at the resort...
14. Day 14 - Baby It's Cold Outside by VeroNyxK84 - Likes: 7 Comments: 4 Word Count: 100 Hit Count: 80 Published: 12/14/23
Where little Joyce is enjoying the snow...
15. Day 15 - Festival of Lights by VeroNyxK84 - Likes: 6 Comments: 9 Word Count: 100 Hit Count: 81 Published: 12/15/23
Where the Summers head to an event downtown...
16. Day 16 - Sleigh Ride by VeroNyxK84 - Likes: 8 Comments: 8 Word Count: 100 Hit Count: 85 Published: 12/16/23
Where the Summers enjoy some winter fun...
17. Day 17 - Crackling Fireplace by VeroNyxK84 - Likes: 8 Comments: 6 Word Count: 100 Hit Count: 84 Published: 12/17/23
Where the Summers enjoy a cozy night by the fireplace...
18. Day 18 - Baking Cookies by VeroNyxK84 - Likes: 8 Comments: 8 Word Count: 100 Hit Count: 81 Published: 12/18/23
Where Spike gets roped into festive kitchen activities...
19. Day 19 - Hot Chocolate by VeroNyxK84 - Likes: 8 Comments: 6 Word Count: 100 Hit Count: 85 Published: 12/19/23
Where the Summers feast on their homemade cookies...
20. Day 20 - Matching Pajamas by VeroNyxK84 - Likes: 8 Comments: 9 Word Count: 100 Hit Count: 80 Published: 12/20/23
Where Dawn is eager for Buffy and Spike to open her presents...
21. Day 21 - Winter SOULstice by VeroNyxK84 - Likes: 7 Comments: 8 Word Count: 100 Hit Count: 79 Published: 12/21/23
Where the Summers join local solstice celebrations...
22. Day 22 - Under the Mistletoe by VeroNyxK84 - Likes: 6 Comments: 8 Word Count: 100 Hit Count: 83 Published: 12/22/23
Where Buffy and Spike start a new tradition...
23. Day 23 - I Saw Buffy Kissing Santa Claus by VeroNyxK84 - Likes: 8 Comments: 8 Word Count: 100 Hit Count: 80 Published: 12/23/23
Where Dawn catches Buffy and Spike being inappropriately festive...
24. Day 24 - A Very Summers Christmas by VeroNyxK84 - Likes: 7 Comments: 8 Word Count: 200 Hit Count: 90 Published: 12/24/23
Where the Summers celebrate Christmas Eve...
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Double drabble Xmas special!
