by captain_katie » Sat Dec 17, 2005 10:05 pm
Title: Through the Lens Darkly
Author: Captain Katie
Feedback: Yes, please!
Spoilers: Everything is fair game even “Angel”
Setting: Right after “Dead Things”
Pairings: Well W/T eventually, but I’d like to take things agonizingly slow with these two; additionally I like to think everyone is in love with Tara so there are lots of inklings of other people loving her besides Willow, especially a certain brunette
Rating: NC-17 overall, nothing too racy in these chapters
Disclaimer: I own nothing!!
Summary: “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” Sixth Season: A New Interpretation
Notes: The sixth season episode entitled “Older and Faraway” was written by Drew Z. Greenberg; much of what happens in the following chapters is because of him and the fact that I love party scenes.
***
Chapter 22: When You’re Gonna Ring It
“So, what you’re saying...” Buffy looked to the engaged couple presently setting up the relish and dip trays at the island in the Summers kitchen. “Is that you set me up on a blind date, at my own birthday party?”
“No, no not a ‘blind date’… more of a ‘meet a new friend’ thing.” Xander smiled nervously over the hors d'oeuvres. “It’s not a setup or anything.”
“Of course not, we just invited an attractive muscley man for you to find much in common with and if your meeting here tonight happens to lead to romance and sex… or at the very least double dates then yay for us all.” Anya grinned over the spinach dip she had brought as her food contribution. Xander merely looked uneasy as he willed for his fiancée to say no more.
“I might have to throttle you both by the end of night, you do know that.” Buffy looked at Xander with false threat in her eyes, at least he hoped it was false.
“Hey, um, so who else is coming to the big Buffster bash?” Xander shifted uncomfortably as he scooped up some dip onto a chip and crunched on it for lack of anything else to do to ease his discomfort.
Buffy gave Xander one last withering glare until she smiled, happy with herself on the normalness that her birthday will have for once in her adolescent life. “You know, Tara, Tara’s friend, the gang, oh and Sophie, a friend from work.”
“You made a friend?” Anya’s skepticism was not at all concealed.
“Hey, you make it sound like it’d be impossible for me to make new friends, I’m not all losery or something all confined to just a tight group of friends, I can bond, she and I bonded right away, like peas, bonded peas in a pod.” Buffy’s voice was clipped like a person who wasn’t quite convinced that what they were saying was true.
“Hmm, then what’s this bonded pea’s last name?” Anya gave Buffy a smug look before she turned back to the dip she had been stirring.
Buffy pouted as she plopped on the stool. “Oh, shut up.”
“Hey, Buff, don’t sweat it, I’m sure she’s great.” Xander stuck some more chips into his mouth.
“Well, I bet our friend is better.” Anya stopped as though she had just realized something. “Who’s ‘Tara’s friend’?”
“Um her name’s Amelia or Emma or something.” Buffy took a black olive from the tray Xander had been fiddling with earlier and popped it casually into her mouth.
“Emily? You invited Emily?” Xander had skepticism written all over his boyish face.
“And I thought this party was going to be dull.” Anya smiled gleefully at the possibility for human drama.
“I already talked about it with Will.” Buffy smiled confidently.
“And she was okay with it?” Xander was still the epitome of skepticism.
“Well… no, but I think it’ll be okay, I mean I told her she had nothing to worry about.” Buffy tried to sound convincing.
“Right, nothing for her to worry about, not when there’s an attractive athletic lesbian who wants to have sweaty sex with her ex-girlfriend.” Anya’s sarcasm was the last straw; Buffy slammed her head against her folded arms onto the top of the island and released an exasperated groan.
“Hey! Um, people are probably gonna be here soon, I think I’ll just take the snacks out to the dining room.” Xander motioned for Anya to assist him. “Ahn, I could use some help.”
“Oh, I’m sure it’ll be fine!” Anya grinned and enthusiastically patted Buffy on the shoulder in what the ex-demon thought was a sure sign of support before she followed her fiancée out of the kitchen with a bowl of chips in one hand and her baked dip in the other.
The sound of the doorbell roused Buffy out of her guilty stupor. She plopped down off of the stool, brushed the front of her black peasant top off and headed for the front door. The person who greeted her held a small wrapped box and was splendid in dark shades of purple and maroon.
“Hey! Thank god you’re here!” Buffy hugged the blonde to her and after she released her she beamed thankfully at a grinning Tara.
“And bearing a gift.” Tara happily handed the box to Buffy and turned to hang up her coat, but found it full of coats already, so she decided to tuck it over her arm for the time being.
“Hi, I’m glad you could make it too… Emily.” Buffy watched as Tara gave Emily an “I told you so” look. The slim brunette smiled shyly before she handed Buffy a slim red box with a silver bow on top.
“It’s sort of for the party so you could uh open it now if you want.” Emily tried to hide her nervousness with a smile, but she knew she had failed. She had the odd sensation that she was taking Tara to the prom and was meeting the blonde’s parents for the first time as she promised to get their daughter home safely at an appropriate time with her innocence still fully intake.
“Thank you.” It was sincere and Buffy took a moment to decide if she should hug this friend of a friend and the nemesis of her best friend, she opted not to.
“So, how are you?” Tara’s voice dropped to a whisper. Buffy looked uneasily from the blonde to the somewhat eavesdropping brunette.
“Um I-I think I’m going to use the bathroom, uh where is it?” Emily looked around nervously as she hoped that she would be able to spot it and escape from a conversation that seemed pretty heavy.
“Up the stairs, last door on the left.” Buffy smiled cordially at the brunette who smiled a bit more nervously in return before she handed the present to Buffy and headed up the flight of stairs. The Slayer turned back to the quiet blonde witch. “I’m really glad you came, Tara.” Buffy hugged the blonde again.
“Of course I came, sweetie.” Tara hugged the Slayer back as she grinned against Buffy’s blonde hair. The blonde witch looked at the Slayer with warmth after Buffy released her hold. “So, um, how are you doing?”
“Oh you know, fine mostly.” Buffy was warmed by Tara’s sympathetic and kind look. “I’m kind of not ready to…”
“Have a coming out?” Tara smiled knowingly.
“Yeah, I’m all for the not coming out right now, but soon, I think.” Buffy looked uneasily as if she feared disappointment from the gentle witch.
“It takes time, it’s nice easy, I’m a witch, I know these things.” Tara smirked a bit with a twinkle in her blue eyes. The blonde’s twinkle faded as she looked about the room. “Um, so do you know if… Spike is coming?”
“No, he… he and I kind of got into a fight, the kind where I pounded his face into the cement a few times.” Buffy felt a twinge of guilt at the violence she had inflicted upon the vampire and then stopped herself as she realized what she had just thought. “I don’t think that’s much of invite.”
Tara grimaced at the thought of the pain the Slayer was going through and the pain Buffy had inflicted upon the bleach blonde vampire.
“How are you?” It was the Slayer’s turn as she gave Tara a sympathetic look.
“A big ‘gulp’ comes to mind.” Tara tried to smile confidently but it faltered a bit.
“Well, just remember that we’re all here for you and… she really is doing better, Tara.” Buffy wanted nothing more than to see all the pain in the blue eyes of the lovely, gentle woman in front of her disappear and the Slayer knew that Willow had the ability to do that, her fear was that the redhead also had the capacity to cause more.
***
Chapter 23: Three is an Odd Number
Emily could still hear the faint voices of Buffy and Tara as she made her way from the stairs to the upstairs hallway. The door to the right of the stairs was a jar just enough for Emily to gather that it was probably Dawn’s room if the teenage boys on the wall were any indication. She had been glancing at the photos of Buffy and Dawn hung with love on the wall when the door across from Dawn’s room opened and revealed the teenager… and Willow.
“Hey! Emily!” The teenager smiled brightly, but with a hint of apprehension as she looked from Emily to Willow.
“Hey, Dawnie.” The smile on Emily’s face was also bright but nervous. “Um, hi, Willow.” The tone had no real warmth to it, but was still cordial.
“Hey.” Willow’s tone was boarding on something less than cordial. The redhead took in the appearance of her nemesis; the long sleeved red sweater that was too tight for Willow’s comfort and dark equally too tight jeans, with chunky dark red clogs.
“Did you just get here?” Dawn wanted to fill the uncomfortable silence with something besides uncomfortable silence.
“Yeah, uh Tara’s downstairs talking with Buffy, I, I just needed the um bathroom.” Emily looked down at her shoes, the wall, anything but the poorly hidden scathing look that was shot her way courtesy of Willow.
“Oh, it’s right over there.” Dawn motioned to where “right over there” meant.
“Thanks.” Emily’s smile never reached her eyes as she looked only at the teenager. The slim brunette turned and tried not to run to the safety of the bathroom.
After Emily’s quick departure, Dawn turned to Willow with a reprimanding look.
“What?” The redhead’s innocence was far from being true.
“Well that wasn’t bracing or anything.” Dawn followed Willow’s descending form as they began their slow but sure journey to the lower level of the Summers home.
Willow didn’t respond as she saw Tara standing by Buffy in the entryway. The blonde witch was dressed in a lacy and soft looking dark purple shirt and an equally soft looking maroon skirt that reached down to her leather booted ankles. The redhead could feel her heart quicken and the familiar feeling of warmth in her chest that eventually made its way to every part of her being. She couldn’t help but to smile as she looked upon the love of her life, her soul mate, her light, her… ex. The smile crumbled as reality hit and Willow tried to still the rapid beating of her heart. As Dawn and she hit the bottom of the stairs Tara and Buffy turned from one another to the redhead and the teenager.
“Hi.” Willow smiled as the warmth circled around her heart and nervousness made a home in the pit of her stomach.
“Hi.” Tara’s “hi” was unusually high pitched and she looked down at her dark brown boots as a blush colored her cheeks.
“Hi.” Willow mumbled it uncertainly as Buffy and Dawn shared looks of sympathy for the nervous redhead and the equally nervous blonde witch.
“Uh, Dawn, I think I hear someone needing us in… Coming!” Buffy grabbed her thankful sister’s arm and the two rushed through the dining room into the kitchen where there was no one to be found.
“I-It’s nice that you came, I mean it’s nice that you’re here, nice nice.” Willow looked around awkwardly.
“Th-thanks, um, I-I like your…” Tara made a quick gesture towards Willow’s billowy beige top, her compliment was cut off by the redhead.
“Thanks!” Willow looked down embarrassed. “I mean… thanks. Um, is that a new--?” It was the redhead’s turn to be cut off.
“Yeah, it’s um… new.” Tara smiled nervously and looked away, embarrassed at the way they were stumbling over each other’s words.
“I-I like it… I mean… it’s nice.” Willow could feel the blood pound in her ears and the self-deprecating voice in her head that screamed at her about how stupid and pathetic she sounded.
The sounds of footfalls on the stairs turned both Willow and Tara’s heads as Emily descended nervously. The slim brunette took in the scene and felt her face heat and her stomach do a few gymnastic routines. The love of her life speaking to her ex-lover… never a good sign.
“Um, I think I’m gonna go get a drink.” Emily pleaded with her brown eyes that Tara go with her.
“I could use some water myself.” Tara smiled before she looked to Willow to see if the redhead was going to join them.
“Oh, great… you guys should go get a drink… I’m, I’m just gonna go… check on the um music.” Willow turned quickly and headed into the living room.
Tara watched the departing form of her ex-girlfriend with a bit of regret and guilt. She knew that Willow was known to be a little jealous of Emily at times, so why did Tara then feel so compelled to have Emily at the party. An emotional shield perhaps, how immature and pathetic was that she wondered sadly to herself before a gentle hand touched her shoulder. The pretty face of the slim brunette held a hint of worry.
“Hey, you okay?” Emily’s voice held concern and hope.
“I’m fine, um, how ‘bout those drinks.” Tara smiled the usual warmth never reached her blue eyes.
“Sure.” Emily still looked concerned but dropped her hand from the blonde’s shoulder. “Don’t wanna get thirsty.”
When they entered the kitchen, Tara and Emily took in the sight of Buffy and Dawn as the two Summers girls filled paper cups from two large green pictures; Dawn’s was filled with water and Buffy’s was filled with some unknown type of red juice that might or might not have contained large amounts of alcohol.
“Hey, do you want some…” A seated Buffy offered a cup to the blonde, who had just thrown her coat on the empty stool next to the Slayer.
“Yes please.” Buffy had a surprised expression on her face as Tara quickly took the proffered cup from her hand and downed the alcohol infused cocktail in one quick swallow. Tara coughed a bit before she stuck her tongue out, which was now a reddish color. Her expression indicated that she was not pleasantly surprised by the drink she had just filled her stomach with. She took the offered cup of water from a concerned Emily and took slower drinks of the bland fluid. “Thanks.” Tara’s face was a bit red, but she smiled gratefully at the brunette who had to turn away from the expression that caused warmth to stir within her lower abdomen.
“Geez, Tara, never knew you were such a lush.” Dawn smiled jokingly at the still blushing blonde. “And here I always looked to you as my role model.” The light hearted joke was interrupted by a knock on the back door.
The two blondes and two brunettes were greeted by the form of the bleach blonde chip head of a vampire previously called William the Bloody but now more commonly known as Spike. His left eye was puffy about the size of a jelly filled doughnut. Besides the torture Spike had endured by the hands of the hellgod, Glory, Dawn couldn’t recall a time she’d seen the vampire even remotely bruised, the teenager wondered to herself who had done so much damage. Her eyes moved from his bruised eye to the six-pack of beer he had tucked under his right leather coated arm. Dawn then wondered if Buffy, or Tara, or anyone really would let her have just the teeniest taste of the forbidden fluid that was alcohol, it’s not like she would be going anywhere, operating a moving vehicle or heavy machinery, right. Dawn’s thoughts were interrupted as she saw that Spike hadn’t been the only who had come through the door, a figure that looked not unlike a hairless cat clad in flannel made his way in.
“Spike?” Buffy had removed herself from the stool at the island and was now standing between Tara and Emily and Spike and the demon she recognized from her trip to alcohol badness with the vampire.
“Birthday, Buffy.” Spike sniffled a bit as he dropped the six-pack with a clank onto the island. “Red told me ‘bout the shindig, thought I’d swing by, figured team spirit and all.”
Buffy gave a quick and nervous look behind her to Tara, the blonde looked just as uneasy. “And what kind of team would this be?” The blonde Slayer made a small gesture towards the loose skinned demon that gave a wave in greeting to everyone, the skin of his arm flapped with the movement.
“Hi, happy birthday, um we met briefly.” Clem gave Buffy a friendly expectant smile, his two enlarged bottom teeth protruded from his mouth.
“Uh, yes, we did.” Buffy didn’t want to think about how many cute fuzzy kittens had been sacrificed that night in the name of demon poker.
“Hello, my name’s Clement, um Clem.” The loose skinned demon gave a little wave to Dawn, Tara, and Emily.
“Hi. Tara.” Tara pointed to herself. The blonde witch looked nervously at her uninitiated friend who merely had a perplexed expression.
“Uh… skin condition.” Dawn put her hand next to her mouth as she whispered this to Emily. “He’s kinda sensitive about it.” Dawn pulled back from her whispering lean towards Emily and smiled at the demon. “Hi, I’m Dawn.”
Emily waved uncertainly. “Emily.” Her uncertain expression was interrupted by Anya, Xander, and a young blonde haired man clad in a red polo and jeans. He was sort of hunky in a frat boy sort of way. Attractive, Emily supposed, though she preferred her blondes softer, with long hair, amazingly beautiful blue eyes, who smelled of lavender, and who had perhaps a penchant for having weird friends.
“Buffy, this is Richard the friend from Xander’s work that we brought for you so that the two of you could become friends.” Anya smiled broadly and pushed the young man towards the startled Buffy. The expression on the ex-vengeance demon was like that of a farmer as he presented his prized hen at the fair.
“Um, hey.” Buffy smiled cordially, but she was still thrown by Spike’s presence and now the non-setup setup.
“I told him that you could show him where he should park his car.” Xander voice was encouraging and rapid paced.
“Oh, okay, I guess, I’ll be right back.” Buffy gave the room an exasperated look before she led Richard out the back door past the raised eyebrow of Spike. The last thing the party in the kitchen heard was Richard asking about the guy with the obvious skin condition.
“Stupid blighter!” Spike looked to the closed back door. He missed Tara’s uncharacteristically evil smirk.
“I don’t know, I mean, I’m not the best judge when it comes to… um hunky guys, but he seemed, w-wasn’t he cute, I thought he seemed… cute.” Tara’s large usually honest eyes shone with barely hidden mirth as Spike scowled at the implications that the guy Buffy had just left the room with was categorically cute.
Clem shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. His expression was agreeable. “Yeah, I thought he seemed cute.” Tara smiled at the loose skinned demon, she could already sense he had a very lovely and gentle spirit, Spike merely looked put out by the lot.
“Right, I need a bevvy.” Spike grabbed his six-pack and headed towards the living room. The rest of the room had degrees of impressed expressions directed toward the blonde witch, who merely smiled innocently.
“When Buffy comes back can she start with the present opening? I mean the party has been in full swing for at least a half an hour right?” Dawn looked enthusiastic for the revealing of gifts even if they weren’t hers, she was sure someone would get Buffy something pretty and worth borrowing.
“Buffy’s making a grown-up friend right now.” Anya spoke as if Dawn was a five year old.
“You mean that guy you brought to set her up with?” Dawn looked unimpressed by the choice they had made, you see one hunky guy you’ve seen them all. And look what happened to the last hunky guy Buffy had liked, gone the way of G.I. Joe. Anya looked as if she had no idea what Dawn was talking about. “You know I’m not a kid, I do understand why you invited him.” The teenager gave both Xander and Anya admonishing looks.
“Of course you do!” Anya grinned brightly as she patted Dawn on the head, the teenager just gave the blonde ex-demon a disbelieving look before she exited the kitchen towards the living room. “I don’t think she suspects a thing.” Anya looked proudly at her fiancée, who merely looked chastened.
Tara wasn’t sure which Summers girl Anya had been referring to but either way the blonde setter upper was incorrect.
***
Chapter 24: I Want the Presents
Buffy sat on the sofa in disbelief, silvery ripped paper and ribbon laid strewn across her lap as she held the device that looked not unlike some sort of torture device up to her questioning eyes. The large head and two round knobs starred back at her, the blonde Slayer looked up to the beaming redhead who sat on the sofa to Buffy’s right, on the other side of Buffy sat a smirking Dawn.
“Um... thanks?” Buffy looked anxiously at the redhead who was still beaming.
“See, Buffy, it’s all with battery-operated so you can take it with you on… um walks at night, and so you’ll have instant gratification for any little acheys you might have.” Willow looked to the rest of the skeptical party. “What?”
Buffy switched the device on and was physically shaken by the strong vibrations of the large machine in her hand. She gave Willow a bemused look before she switched the contraption off and laid it next to her. “I love it, thanks, Will!” Buffy smiled as she gave the redhead a thankful hug as she shot the people around her scandalized looks before she released Willow. “So, what’s next, prezzies should be a comin’ my way!”
“Here’s mine!” Dawn extracted a shiny blue present from behind her back. “Don’t worry, it doesn’t explode and I made it so gone with the looks of worry.”
Buffy smiled and returned her attention to the wrapped present. She tore the wrapping and set it on the floor in front of her after a plain white box was revealed. The Slayer peeled back the tape that held the box closed and peered inside. She extracted a simple clear container filled with fluid. “Dawn?”
The teenager extracted the glass container from her sister’s hand before she explained. “I made it out of some of the perfume mom always wore and an extra special ingredient.” Dawn sprayed a bit on the left thin wrist of her sister. The aroma of the perfume brought back the memory of their mother in one inhalation of the smell that was so Joyce Summers. Tears began to form in the Summers women’s eyes, but both were not to be overcome by sorrow, but with happiness as they hugged.
“Dawnie! I love it, thank you… but what’s the other ‘special ingredient’?” Buffy took back the glass container gently and examined it close to her eyes, it seemed like she thought she could see the ingredient if she just looked at it long enough.
“Holy water!” Dawn smiled proudly at her own genius. In her excitement the teenager missed the raised eyebrows of Spike. “I figured, you know, extra protection.”
“Thank you!” Buffy grinned broadly and hugged her sister close to her again. She had a smug expression as she looked to Spike.
“Holy water?” Spike looked at the teenager with a put out expression.
“Don’t worry, Spike, unless you’re trying to go suck face on her neck it won’t bother you.” Dawn shrugged her shoulders as if that would be an unbelievable act for the vampire to take part in. Buffy merely smiled and sprayed a liberal amount of the perfume on her exposed neck and collarbones.
“Um, we have to go get ours!” Anya grabbed Xander’s wrist and the two hurried toward the front door. Moments later they returned as they wheeled a large oblong shaped present into the living room. The paper was a bright gold color that clashed with the large green satin bow that sat precariously on top.
“Happy birthday, Buff!” Xander smiled and motioned towards the large gift with a Vanna White type gesture.
Buffy leapt up from her cushiony seat to find out what was under the bunched up paper. She tore the top of the wrapping paper off with an audible rip along with the superfluous bow. The rest of the paper was quickly torn away to reveal an impressive and obviously well-crafted wooden chest.
“You guys!” Buffy leapt up from her kneeling position to give Xander and Anya grateful hugs as she smiled brightly. “Did you make it?” She looked to the grinning dark haired man that she still held in her arms.
“Xander built it. I gave helpful critical analyses while maintaining a safe distance.” Anya shook a bit as she tended to do when she was excited.
“I love it, you guys! It’s beautiful.” Buffy kneeled in front of the chest and opened it. Xander helped as he held the lid open while he leaned over to speak to Buffy so that the non-Scoobies wouldn’t hear.
“It holds all your basic weapons, plus some larger ones if you have ‘em.” Xander smiled in response to Buffy’s grateful look before he stood back up and exclaimed to the rest of the party that it was also equipped with quite the handsome CD holder.
“A Xander Harris original. You should sign it so when you’re a world famous um builder guy I can sell this on ebay for millions of dollars.” Buffy’s hazel eyes twinkled with mirth.
“I’ll grab the permanent marker if you give me a portion of the sales.” Anya quickly scurried away to the desk in the living room in an attempt to find a suitable writing utensil in the mess.
The doorbell rang while Buffy gently closed the lid of her wooden present. The blonde birthday girl turned to see that Tara had already opened the door to reveal Sophie, the Slayer’s fast friend from the Doublemeat Palace.
“Sophie!” Buffy sprang to her feet and made her way happily to the nervous looking girl who stood in the doorway. “Hi! Welcome! You’re just at the tail end of presents and then there’s cake. Right, there’s cake?” Buffy looked behind her to a confirming nod from Anya as she handed her fiancée a black permanent marker.
“Uh, hey, thank you, my mom, she told me to say that right away or else I might forget. So… Thank you!” The dark haired woman had big brown eyes that looked about the room anxiously. “And also, I can’t have any um peanuts, or egg yolks, or uh any chocolate.” Sophie’s eyes looked up as she tried to remember what else she couldn’t have. “And sometimes I can’t have dairy.”
“Oh, um, no problem. You can just hang your coat up um…” Buffy gestured to the hangers that seemed to be all full. “Somewhere else?”
“I can show you where I put mine.” Tara smiled in greeting and motioned for Sophie to follow her upstairs to Dawnie’s room where the teenager had volunteered as the auxiliary coat hold. The party could hear Tara’s faint melodic voice as the blonde witch introduced herself to Sophie. Willow and Emily weren’t aware that they both shared a look of unease at the idea of a semi-attractive girl being alone with their Tara.
Buffy returned to the living room to a questioning Anya. “Is that the friend from work?” Anya whispered confidentially to the Slayer.
“Yeah.” Buffy looked questioning at the ex-demon who looked a bit smug.
“Our friend is much better.” Anya pulled away from her lean in and smiled brightly. “I’ll bring the cake!” She scurried away in the direction of the kitchen.
The footfalls on the stairs indicated that Tara and Sophie were returning to the lower level of the Summers home. “Okay.” Buffy clapped her hands together happily as she played the good hostess. “We can do introductions once Anya comes back from the cake getting.”
As if on cue the blonde cake getter in question bumped the door open with her back and butt as she held the lit cake in her hands. “Someone turn the light switch to the down position so we have sufficient darkness to accentuate the illumination from the candles.” Clem obliged the woman.
A chorus of “Happy Birthday” filled the room along side the dim flickering light of the twenty-one candles on a large rectangular white frosted cake that read “Happy 21st Birthday, Buffy” in edible letters that one would expect to see on an elementary school child’s birthday cake. Buffy smiled as tears of sentimentality entered her vision. “And many more!” ended the somewhat off-key song. The Slayer took a large breath before she blew out every single one of the candles on the cake that the ex-demon held out for her. Anya had just managed to set the cake on the coffee table in front of the seated forms of Willow and Dawn before she was enveloped in Buffy’s arms.
“Thank you!” Buffy grinned at the two women on the couch as she again appreciated Anya’s quirkiness.
“You are very welcome, I’ll have you know that I burned two cakes before this one turned out satisfactorily.” Anya pulled away and gestured to Clem to hit the lights again. Buffy released her hold and turned where Tara and Sophie stood by the doorway.
“Okay, introductions!” Buffy smiled at Sophie. “You’ve already met Tara.” Tara waved a bit with a smile as Sophie returned it much to the chagrin of Willow and Emily. The Slayer gestured towards the standing vampire by the doorway. “That’s Spike.” She turned towards the couch. “My sister, Dawn, Willow…” She looked over to where Clem was smiling and waving. “Um, Clem…” Emily sat on the floor in front of the coffee table. “Emily…” Buffy gestured to the seated Xander and the standing Anya on the other side of the coffee table from Emily. “And Xander and Anya.” Finally she looked to where Richard was standing by the desk chair. “And Richard.” She smiled with a “whew” expression. “Everyone… this is Sophie.” A chorus of “hi’s” or “hey’s” and waves greeted the nervous looking girl. “Now… back to the prezzies!” Buffy resumed her central spot on the sofa with an audible plop.
***
Chapter 25: Oldery and Farther Down
“Hey, great party.” Richard smiled at the lovely blonde that he was already perhaps a little in love with. She was just so animated as she moved about the party and seemed to delight in everything she did.
“Thanks, I hope everyone’s havin’ fun.” Buffy smiled at the hunky blonde guy who did nothing for her whatsoever.
“Yeah, I think they are, I mean, it’s really late and no one is even thinkin’ about leavin’… um I mean… I can’t tear myself away.” Richard smiled warmly at the unimpressed Slayer.
“Really?” Buffy smiled cordially at the compliment.
“Um, so do you need a drink?” Richard looked expectantly.
“Sure, thanks.” Buffy smiled as she watched the red-shirted blonde head off towards the kitchen through the dining room. Her contentment faded as she saw Spike enter the hallway from the living room.
“Oh, Buffy.” Spike’s voice took on a mocking high pitched quality that caused Buffy to roll her eyes. “I think I’m in love, can’t I get you a soda pop?” He moved towards her like a smarmy cat might, he puckered his upper lips out into a smirk as he looked Buffy up and down starting with her black boots and ending with her rose necklace.
“Shut up, Spike.” Buffy looked to where Richard’s departing form had been. “He’s sweet.”
“‘Sweet’?” Spike snorted. “What’s say you and me slip away for a bit of a romp?” The vampire swiftly pushed Buffy against the wall of the hallway. His hands began at her shoulder, slowly ran down her arm, and ended at her hand which he pulled towards his thigh.
“Oh!” Buffy quickly extracted her hand from Spike’s grip as she and the vampire looked to see who had caught them in a compromising position. The Slayer let out a relieved sigh as she saw the blonde witch whose lips were twitching into what looked to be a grin. Spike actually had the decency to look guilty, Tara merely looked innocent as she glanced around the hall as she attempted to not smirk at the catch.
“Uh, Buffy was er… helping me, muscle cramp.” Spike smiled what he thought was an innocent smile, though it looked like a cat that still had feathers sticking out from its mouth.
“Riiight. A… muscle cramp. In um… your pants?” Tara’s smirk was beginning to show a little more.
“What? It’s a muscle!” A ruffled Spike pulled his coat closer to him before he stalked away from the two blondes back into the living room.
Tara turned back to Buffy as the Slayer let out a sigh and leaned against the wall that she had been previously pushed up against. She gave Tara a smirk before it fell as Richard reentered the hallway as he carried two cups of juice.
“Hi, um, I couldn’t decide what to bring you.” Richard offered the cup to the flushed blonde birthday girl.
“Thanks, this is great.” Buffy took a sip and grimaced a bit, perhaps she had gone a little overboard on the vodka. “We should head back in.” Richard smiled and led Buffy into the living room with a hand on the small of her back. The blonde Slayer turned back quickly to mouth a “thank you” to the still smirking blonde witch.
“What are you all smirky about?” Emily gently questioned from the stairs as she interrupted Tara’s musing. The breath in Emily’s throat caught as the glowing smile of the blonde was directed her way.
“Nothing, I’m just having such a great time.” Tara’s smile grew brighter as she took in a deep contented breath. “Are, are you having fun?”
“Yeah, all your friends are pretty cool.” Emily looked away as she fidgeted with the front of her red sweater. “I, I’m glad I came.”
“I’m glad you came too.” Tara grasped Emily’s left hand gently as she smiled and nodded her head towards the living room. “Let’s get back to the party, I think there might be some dancing we’re missing out on.” Tara gave Emily a quick wink at the knowledge that both were not at all what one could call proficient dancers, but with Tara’s warm, soft hand in hers Emily thought she could do just about anything.
The living room was filled with the sounds of Nikka Costa’s “Everybody Got Their Something”, a favorite at Scooby Gang parties. Tara smiled as she released Emily’s hand and observed Clem and Sophie as they waved their arms around in what could by some extent of the imagination be considered moving to the beat. The blonde witch took in a happy sigh as she was overcome by the happiness that she felt seeing her friends, her family, and the pleasant enough newcomers as they allowed the weight of the world to lift from their shoulders and just enjoy each other and the quiet moments they were able to steal for the evening, for Buffy’s evening. She watched as Xander sat on the arm of the chair that Willow occupied and the two best friends chatted happily, the couch where an ex-mystical key who was really only a little less than two years old and an ex-vengeance demon who was over eleven hundred years old sat on the cushy tan colored cushions both women moved to the beat as they spoke to one another with smiles on their faces and mostly eaten cake on glass plates on their laps. And poor Richard and Spike both desperately vied for the attention of the blonde birthday girl who couldn’t seem to sit still as she buzzed about the room and talked with everyone she came across. A warm hand on her elbow brought Tara out of her thoughts. She turned to Emily with a glow to her features that Emily had never seen so intensely before and was instantly overcome by the secret love she held within her for this amazing woman that had nothing short of intense affection in her shining blue eyes due to the people who surrounded them. The brunette held a hope in her heart that she too could inspire such strong emotions within the lovely blonde.
“Let’s get our dance on.” Tara grinned as she took both of Emily’s hands within her own and gently pulled her over to where Buffy, Sophie, and Clem were laughing and wiggling their bodies to the music.
Buffy gave Emily and Tara an approving grin as they joined the trio of dancing fiends. Tara smiled as she bit her bottom lip and wiggled her shoulders and bopped her head along with the music. Sophie giggled happily next to the dancing forms of Emily, Buffy, and Tara as Clem took her hands carefully in his clawed ones and twirled her around.
There was an immense peace within the smile that flattered Buffy’s features as she took in the oddness of the eighteen year old Doublemeat burger flipper dancing and giggling happily with a clawed demon that ate poor defenseless kitties like they were Cheetos and who had about ten inches of extra skin. The Slayer turned to her two new dancing partners and had to stop for a moment as she saw the look that Emily paid the seemingly oblivious blonde witch, a look that Buffy had seen Willow pay the same blonde countless times, and the very same look that the blonde birthday girl had been unconsciously giving to the kindhearted, gentle woman in the past few days. Both Emily and Buffy were brought out of their reverie as a low, happy chuckle escaped from Tara as she was twirled around by Clem after he had released a giggling Sophie and taken Tara’s hands into his own. Buffy grinned when Anya and Xander succumbed to the lure of the dance and began moving around each other as they their arms about their bodies. As Lunatic Calm’s “Sound of the Revolution” replaced Nikka Costa, Buffy had decided to save Richard from his girl talk with Dawn. Willow was oddly enough next to the fireplace in conversation with Spike.
“Hey, what’s with the no dancing from you two?” Buffy plopped down next to her grateful sister who immediately propelled herself from the couch and onto the makeshift dance floor next to Tara and Emily. It seemed that Xander and Anya were still practicing their swing dancing, not really the appropriate song for it but the Slayer merely shrugged her shoulders as she turned to address Richard. “Having fun?”
“Yeah, um, that guy with the er skin condition, he’s a real party animal.” Buffy followed the hunky blonde’s eye line and had to smirk at the sight as Dawn giggled while she was twirled by the endearing demon.
“Yeah, um, so you—you work with Xander huh?” Buffy smiled nervously, her small talking skills quickly packed their bags and took the earliest flight out.
“Yeah, he’s kinda like my boss, so it’s sort of weird to see him partying, you know?” Buffy tried not to smirk too much at the thought of her boyish fun lovin’ friend being someone’s staunchly superior, though Xander was definitely carpentery enough to deserve the position he had.
“I get that.” Buffy thought back to her “boss” of sorts and felt a twinge of longing for the man that had become like a father to her, better than her own father had been. Not time for the furrowed brow, the Slayer brought herself out of her thoughts with a put on smile. “So, you, uh, build… stuff?” Buffy’s furrowed brow was due to confusion regarding why she said the things she did. The Slayer watched as Spike and Willow exited toward the kitchen, and narrowly avoided a twirled Anya. Where were those two going, was the thought in Buffy’s head before she received an earful of what exactly Richard built.
***
Chapter 26: Drinkin’, Drinkin’, Drinkin’, Drinkin’
“I don’t know about this, Spike.” Willow looked about the kitchen nervously as she hoped no one came in to see what she and Spike were doing.
“Come on, Red, it ain’t gonna kill ya.” Spike arched a brow in challenge to Willow’s unease. “I promise it’ll feel better soon.”
“And then really yucky bad later.” Willow shook her head; red curls fell in her face, as she brushed her hair back her resolve face appeared. “Okay, fine, I’ll do it. Just um show me what it is that I’m doing.” Willow watched Spike’s actions with intense interest. “Oh, I can totally do that, no problem.”
“Then shut up and do it.” Spike smirked as the redhead picked up the salt shaker and shook a liberal amount of the white spice onto her licked moist hand. “Okay, ready?” The bleach blonde vampire handed Willow a tiny glass of yellowish liquid that smelled spicy. He picked up a slice of lime and handed that to the redhead across the island from him as well. “Right then, count of three.” Spike picked up his tiny glass of fluid and a piece of lime from the glass bowl in the middle of the island and paused to see if Willow was ready. At the heavy exhale and a quick nervous nod from her, Spike began. “One… two… three!” Both immediately licked the salt from their hands, downed the fluid from their tiny glasses in one grand swallow, and bit quickly into the green citrus they held in their glass free hands.
“Ugh!” Willow’s entire body shook as the fluid ran hotly down to sit unpleasantly and tentatively in the pit of her stomach.
“Now that’s the good stuff.” Spike sniffled as he wiped the excess fluid onto his leathered arm.
“‘Good’?! That was the opposite of good! Yuck, yuck is more like it, definitely not ‘good’!” Willow shivered again as she was finally reassured that the drink she had just downed was going to stay down.
“A few more in ya and you’ll feel better, swear.” Spike poured another round of shots, some of the fluid spilled onto the island.
“Um, you go ahead with the feelin’ better, I’m just going to sit her and try not to throw up.” Willow held her rumbly stomach with her arms as she sat on the stool.
“Oh, fine, I see, let Spike drink his miseries away on his own.” Spike feigned a hurt expression. “I thought you were hurtin’.” Spike took his drink without the assistance of salt or lime. He merely sniffed as the fluid found a home in the pit of the his stomach along with a brother shot of tequila, five beers, six cups of vodka laced juice, and a pint of pig’s blood.
Willow scowled defensively. “I am, I am hurting!” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “Fine! One more.” Spike smiled as he played bartender to redhead. Willow sighed before she licked residual salt off her hand and downed the contents of the proffered drink and bit into a large slice of lime. This time she held the fruit in her mouth and squeezed her eyes shut. She slowly removed the now bitten up piece of lime and tossed it onto the table.
“‘Nother go?’” Spike poured another shot into his glass. He was met with glassy eyes and then a blur of red as Willow’s head slammed down onto her folded hands atop the island. The vampire shrugged and downed the shot he had just poured.
“What happened?” Dawn’s voice filled the otherwise quiet kitchen as she took in the scene of Spike as he downed a shot and the face down on the island Willow. “Willow, you okay?” The teenager rested a hand on the redhead’s shoulder as she roused her awake.
“Dawnie?” Willow’s voice was slurred and her face was flushed. “I think… fell asleep.” Willow looked about the kitchen and giggled. “I… fell asleep on my lime.” The redhead peeled the lime from her hand.
“Spike!” The teenager looked outraged at the vampire who merely shrugged his shoulders in response. “What’d you do to her?!”
“Hey, how was I supposed to know Red couldn’t hold her liquor?” Spike shifted uneasily under the reprimanding gaze of Dawn.
“How much did you give her?” Dawn lifted Willow’s drooping head with gentle hands. “Willow, you okay? When did shots of tequila seem like a good idea?”
“Look, Will was depressed ‘cause her bird’s here with some other bint, so…” Spike shrugged his shoulders.
“So you thought, what a bender would be the solution?” Dawn shook her head at Spike before she spoke soft comforting words to Willow.
“Well… yeah.” Spike had the good sense to look admonished for the condition Willow was in and in response to the angered Dawn. “I didn’t think she’d be in such a bad way.”
Both he and Dawn were startled as Willow jumped up from her stool and ran out the back door. The vampire and teenager were quick to follow. The retching figure of Willow greeted them as they ran past the patio, into the backyard.
“Oh, eww.” Dawn huddled behind Willow as she pulled the red tresses from the woman’s sweaty face. “Um, Spike, get a wet towel or something.”
“Right.” Spike rushed into the house to get the suggested item. He ran back out and handed the warm damp cloth to the teenager who had the redhead leaned against her front. Dawn ran the towel across Willow’s forehead and then down to her messy mouth. “I-I’m sorry, Will.” Spike kneeled down and gently pushed some red strands away from Willow’s damp mouth.
“S’ok… didn’t force me to do somethin’… didn’t want to.” Willow’s bleared eyes peered up at Spike. She held her arms up so she could be helped to her feet by the vampire. “No more drink for me, nope, nothing but badness in the alcy.”
“Let’s get you back in the house… maybe um clean you up a bit.” Spike braced the shaky redhead against him as he led her into the kitchen. Dawn and Spike helped Willow move from the kitchen through the dining room and up the stairs quickly and without being noticed as the sounds from the living told them the party was still in full swing.
When they got to Willow’s door, Dawn opened it but kept the lights off as she let the moonlight illuminate their way. Spike gently settled Willow into a seating position on her bed. The redhead seemed to be coming out of it after the quick violent release of the fluid that had rendered her unconscious in the kitchen.
“I’ll uh let you two… right.” Spike turned on his heels and exited the room, the door was shut quickly behind him. The thumps of his boots indicated a quick retreat.
“You okay?” Dawn turned to look at Willow with concern in her eyes before she turned towards the closet to get a suitable shirt for the redhead to wear. The teenager pulled out a light pink long sleeved t-shirt that she thought would look suitable with the dark brown pants the redhead had on.
“Dawn, never ever ever drink! Bad!” Willow shook her head. She looked down at her icky sweaty shirt and sighed. “And gross.” The redhead stood up before she shucked the blouse from her thin body.
Dawn almost gasped as she noticed the extreme thinness that had become of the already slight frame of the redhead, the teenager was instantly worried but decided perhaps this wasn’t the best time to mention it. “I’m… going to go get you something to um… you know.” The teenager quickly exited the room and rushed into the bathroom where she took out a dark green towel and squirted a bit of soap on it before she ran almost too hot to touch water on it. She grabbed another green towel from underneath the sink before she shut the light off and rushed back to Willow’s bedroom. After she opened the door, Dawn found the redhead seated half naked on the bed as tears flowed freely from her eyes.
“Willow?” Dawn shut the door and immediately locked it before she began her slow walk towards the shaking redhead. “Willow, what… what’s wrong?” The teenager sat next to Willow and gently raised the damp chin with her fingers.
“Everything!” Willow sobbed a bit before she had to turn away. “Dawn, I—I don’t want you to see me…”
“Too bad, I see you, and you know what, so you got a little drunk, no big.” Dawn put a warm hand on the shaky bare shoulder of one of the women in her life she loved more than anything. The teenager took the damp slightly soapy towel and wiped Willow’s face gently and then her neck and the top of her chest almost to the top of the redhead’s cream colored bra. “Spike’s really sorry.” Dawn put the wet towel on the floor before she took the dry one and wiped the moisture from Willow’s face and upper chest.
“He was just trying to help.” Willow gently took Dawn’s hand away from the teen’s ministrations as she stood up and pulled the pink shirt over her head. She straightened it over her brown pants and sat back down in front of the kneeled teenager again.
“Um, wanna tell me what needs the helping?” Dawn smiled encouragingly. “I’m all for the helping too.”
Willow was unsure if she should burden the already too mature teenager with more tales of loneliness and angst from the world of Willow. The redhead wanted sunshine, ice cream, and hoppy bunnies for Dawn… not addiction, jealousy, and depression.
“Is it… is it Tara?” Dawn was pretty sure it was the blonde witch that had seemed to have kept her distance from the redhead all evening that had caused Willow’s drinking activities with the vampire.
“No… and yes, it’s more…” Willow looked away as she felt a cold pang of jealousy suffuse her chest. “It’s… Emily.”
“Oh.” Dawn looked away. She liked Emily, but… Willow and Tara belonged together, anyone could see that. The reasons why Tara had left were still not entirely explained to the teenager and yes she had felt hurt and abandoned, but she also knew that Tara wouldn’t have left Willow unless there was no other choice and Dawn herself had seen the extreme of Willow’s addiction to the dark magicks after the whole ordeal with the car and the magick dealer guy.
“Do you… do you think they’re…” Willow couldn’t even bring herself to say it.
“Willow, I—I don’t think so.” Dawn couldn’t lie to the redhead even if it was to reassure her. She honestly didn’t know the extent of Tara and Emily’s relationship. The half a dozen times that Dawn had hung out with the brunette with Tara had never indicated that the two were romantically involved, though Tara and Willow weren’t exactly OUT when they had first started dating the teenager remembered. “What I do know is… Tara loves you and you two… you totally belong together.”
“No.” Tears of regret fell from Willow’s eyes onto her cheeks. “We don’t. I-Tara should have someone who’s better, better than me.”
“Willow!” The redhead was startled at the sudden outburst from the teenager who now stood in front of her with her hands on her hips. “If you want to even be friends with Tara then you’ve gotta stop beating yourself up. Yes, you made a mistake, probably tons of mistakes, and yes Tara left ‘cause she thought she had to and that totally sucks, but you were in a really bad way all with the magick and stuff, but you’re doing tons better, you are, and Tara knows that and she’s proud.”
“Then why is she all with the avoidy?” Willow looked away as Dawn’s words sunk in.
“She’s probably just as freaked as you are. I mean, have you really tried to talk to her?” Dawn settled her hands along the sides of her legs. “Look at it from her viewpoint, Willow. She’s at a party that not only has you there, but also your two best friends. Maybe she’s worried that they blame her for the hurt you’ve been feeling. And plus besides me she really hasn’t spent any time with anyone and so when Buffy invited Emily ‘cause she was feeling the guilt for bein’ forgetful Buffy then Tara thought hey, my friend will be there who’s totally on my side, I’ll go have drinks, have cake, and have tons of fun.”
“So…” Willow sighed heavily. “What you’re saying is… stop being such a baby and deal?” The redhead smiled at the sound advice of the teenager.
“Um, well, yeah.” Dawn smiled back, relieved that her words had actually helped Willow. She watched as the redhead wiped drying tears from her face, straightened her shirt, and put a smile on her face with a sigh. “Ready?”
“How do I look?” Willow fidgeted with the hem of her shirt.
“Great… and if anyone asks tell ‘em you spilled some juice on your top.” Dawn smiled before she turned, unlocked the door and opened it with a flourish. “Come on! There might be some cake left!” Willow was pulled urgently by the teenager as they rushed through the hallway and down the steps to the party down below.
“You know… I really love you.” Willow smiled brightly as the teenager beamed in response.
“‘Cause I can babble as much as you?” Dawn bounded to the landing in front of the door before she turned around and grinned happily.
“And ‘cause you’re helping me clean this place up tomorrow.” Willow had a smug expression.
“Can’t got school!” Dawn stuck her tongue out, happy for once that she was a student. She recalled faintly a time when she had loved school. Now with her math grades falling rapidly she hated the hell that was Sunnydale High.
“President’s day!” Willow had triumph in her voice. Dawn’s only response was a groan and a muttering as to why Presidents thought they were so special that they needed a whole day. The teen’s tirade was interrupted when the fiancées entered from the front porch as they talked about cake.
***
Chapter 27: Passive Manipulation
“No, you stop.” As he entered the living room after he had left Willow with Dawn, Spike was greeted by the teasing nuzzling of the two soon to be newlyweds. Anya sat on Xander’s lap on one end of the couch as Sophie and Clem took up the other two spots as they chatted amiably with one another.
“No, you stop.” Xander nuzzled Anya’s neck with a grin across his lips.
“No, you stop.” Anya nuzzled him back.
“Bloody hell, both of you stop!” Spike stalked to the front door to have a cigarette, he missed the miffed looks of the two lovebirds before they resumed their nuzzling.
A slightly shivering form of Buffy greeted the vampire as he entered the front porch. He couldn’t help but swear to himself at his luck of never having a moment to himself in this bloody house.
“Party too much for ya?” Spike looked down as he lit the cigarette that wobbled in his moving mouth. He clicked the lid of the lighter back into place before he shoved it into his back pocket.
“No, I was just, Richard just left, he has to work early I guess.” Buffy rubbed her arms as the cool evening air wrapped around her.
“Hmm, pity.” Spike forced the smoke into his lungs and then out again.
“Yeah, you two were really hitting it off.” Buffy smirked though not in an unkind fashion. “So, where’d you and Will go off to?”
“Why?” Another stream of smoke exited through the vampire’s nose. “Jealous?” He smirked.
“Should I dignify that with an answer?” Buffy looked away from the vampire to the night sky where the stars shinned brightly. “You’re not gonna tell me?”
“Guy stuff, you wouldn’t understand.” Spike huffed a bit as he shrugged his shoulders.
“Let me guess… Tara?” Buffy sat down on the porch swing as she watched the moonlight create shadows on the street.
“Yeah, well, the blonde bird of hers got Red’s head in a bloody mess.” Spike snorted as he stubbed the spent cigarette out with the bottom of his boot and quickly pulled out another, lit it, and forced more smoke into his superfluous lungs. “Didn’t think the good witch had so much spite in ‘er.”
“Tara?” Buffy’s eyebrows scrunched up in defensive. “She doesn’t have a spiteful bone in her body.”
“Yeah, right, and bringin’ the new girlfriend ‘round to a party ain’t a tad spiteful.” Spike exhaled into the night air filling it with pure smoke.
“Emily’s not Tara’s girlfriend, she’s just a friend and… what do you care anyways?” Buffy didn’t like Spike’s assumptions especially when it came to the sweet blonde witch who would never do anything to intentionally hurt someone.
“Just pisses me off to see Red messed up like that, s’all.” Smoke was pushed out of his nose. “Guess us unrequited lovers gotta stick together.”
“Spike.” Buffy let out an exasperated sigh.
“Say no more.” Spike extinguished the end of another cigarette underneath his boot before he pulled out his pack and extracted another. “Just came out here for a fag.” He lit the end of the cigarette. He paused and handed the burning cigarette to Buffy.
“A big no.” Buffy scrunched up her nose at the offer as she waved it away. “Those things’ll kill ya.” Her announcement curled the sides of both her and the vampire’s lips up at the irony of it all. The vampire who had an eternal constitution and the Slayer who was afraid of little wrapped up pieces of tobacco ending her life. “I should get back.” Buffy removed herself from the porch swing and headed towards the house before she turned to the vampire. “Are you coming in?”
“In a bit, gunna finish.” Spike took a puff of his cigarette to emphasize his words. He didn’t turn around until after the door closed, a regretful expression graced his features as he turned back to his cigarette and moved to the porch swing Buffy had just vacated. He sat heavily on the seat and lounged with his feet wide apart as he smoked. The vampire finally settled into the quietness of his solitude when the booming voice of Anya brought him out of it.
“I’m just saying we don’t have to leave all of the cake for Buffy.” Anya pushed open the front door as Xander wheeled out the cart that he had carried Buffy’s weapons chest in the living room with.
“Ahn, it’s a birthday cake, it’s Buffy’s birthday.” Xander thought he need not go on.
“So?” Anya shoved the door closed again as she gave her fiancée an expectant look.
“So, birthday Buffy gets to keep the birthday cake. It’s… what happens.” Xander carefully maneuvered the cart down the few steps off the Summers porch.
“Well, it’s stupid.” Anya huffed as she warmed her arms up with her hands. “I made it.”
“Yes, but…” Xander paused his moving of the cart for a moment as he looked up at his fiancée who had her arms crossed as she shivered due to the cool evening air. “Look, on our wedding we’ll have a cake, yes, and what if our guests wanted to take that cake.”
“Well they can’t! It’s our cake! It’s our wedding, so it’s our cake.” Anya rolled her eyes as realization set in. “I still think she could have offered us to take some home.”
“Why don’t you just make another one if you want cake so much?” Xander opened the trunk of the car before he grunted with effort as he lifted the cart into the empty space.
“It wouldn’t be the same.” Anya looked disappointed as Xander closed the lid of the trunk.
“Tell you what, I’ll ask Buff if we can take a few, but only a few, pieces home, how’s that sound?” Xander gave her a quick smile.
“I guess that’d be okay.” Anya looked pacified for the moment.
“All right then, let’s say our goodbyes and good nights and head home.” Xander cleared the stairs in a few strides and was up at the top with his arm around his fiancée before the vampire was done with his cigarette.
“Goodbye and good nights and then cake right?” Anya looked relieved that her hard made cake would not go to waste at the Summers home.
“Yes and then cake.” Xander smiled and closed the front door behind him as he saw two figures in the entryway.
Spike stood as he threw the spent cigarette on the ground and extinguished it with his foot. The last thing the vampire heard as he jumped off the porch was Dawn and Willow as they greeted the fiancée’s in the foyer.
***
Chapter 28: Good Bye and Good Night
“You guys are leaving? It’s only…” Dawn looked at her watch. “Geez, it’s already two!”
“Yeah, and I have to be at work at six so we’re gonna grab some cake and take off.” Xander held Anya close to him as he smiled at the teenager and his differently dressed redheaded bestest pal. “We wanna wish the Buffster a happy birthday again…”
“If you’re looking for Buffy she’s in the kitchen.” Xander and Anya turned around as they heard the familiar warm voice of Tara behind them in the dinning room. She and Emily both had their coats on and looked to be about ready to go themselves.
“Thanks.” Xander and Anya moved past the two women as Tara and Emily wished them a good night.
“You two taking off too?” It was obvious by the teenager’s tone that she didn’t want the party to end quite yet, but it seemed inevitable.
“Sadly yes, have to work at nine.” Emily gave Dawn an apologetic look as she shrugged. “Wish I could stay but I get cranky if I don’t have at least six hours of sleep. It was fun though!” The brunette smiled happily, but kept her focus on the teenager.
“Dawnie, I’ll see you on Saturday?” Tara looked happily expectant.
“Right, Saturday!” Dawn grinned at the thought of movie and milkshake day with Tara. “I’m thinking maybe something with talking animals, fluffy cute animals not Orwelly animals.”
“Sounds great.” Tara turned to the solemn redhead next to Dawn. “Will, I-I wanted to talk to you about Anya’s bachelorette party, um, maybe you could give me a call later this week?” The blonde looked a bit nervous but encouraging.
“Uh, sure, yes, that’s fine, that’ll be fine.” Willow tried to tone down her voice as she realized she might come off as a tad too excited. She smiled at the more relaxed look Tara gave her. “Wait…” Willow’s forehead scrunched up. “Does the best man get to go to the bachlorette party?”
“I figured if I have to suffer through the hunky male strippers the more the merrier.” Tara smiled brightly before she opened the door to the cold air of the early morning. “Well, good night.” Emily merely waved as she followed Tara out the door and closed it behind them.
“She-she’s kidding, right?” Willow looked back at a smirking Dawn. “What?”
“I think she was flirting.” Dawn’s smirk turned into a huge grin and clapping. “She was totally flirting!”
“How did you get flirting out of ‘hunky male strippers’?” Willow looked to the closed door as if it had answers for her.
“Oh Willow how little you know about women.” Dawn smiled as she grabbed Willow’s arm gently. “Come on, let’s see what Buffy’s up to.”
“You really think… flirting?” Willow’s eyes were bright with hope.
“Totally.” Dawn smiled as she led the stunned redhead through the dining room and into the kitchen.
***
(to be continued)
Good god that's a lot of shake!
more.
Updates are very much on the way. Let's just say Ivan and Marianna are close to my heart even though they're both bound to do nasty and delicious things.
will not be for a long while
. His casualness will probably lead to failure on some missions. He also is a bit to causual about not being killed, VD are vulnerable if one knows the spot.. which all scoobies do (esp. Anya, heh).
