Title: Get This Party Started

By: Shadows59

Summary: Part 3 of Finding Heaven. Buffy, Xander and Anya reveal their new relationship to the rest of the gang. Category: B/X/Ay, T/S, W/Amy

Disclaimer: Yeah, Joss and co will right about a threesome any day now. Characters are not mine.

Spoilers: More altered Season Six up following Tabla Rasa.

Notes. Third Part of my Finding Heaven Series. Sequel to Finding Heaven and So Complicated.

Chapter 1

It was the wheezing that woke Buffy up. It wasn't loud enough or regular enough to be annoying, it was just a sound that was out of place. And since in her line of work odd sounds could get her killed, it was enough to wake her up.

She almost panicked when she realized she was naked, especially when she felt the arm that was wrapped around her waist and the warm and also naked body that was pressing softly against her back, but the worry died as everything from last night came back to her. She traced her hand down the arm, and then wrapped her fingers around the lithe hand that was hanging just above her belly button. She stretched and finally opened her eyes.

"Morning," she whispered.

"Morning," Xander whispered back. He was leaning on his hand and just watching her. Her eyes traced over his bare chest to the sheet that covered his waist. Buffy turned and followed the arm back to Anya, who was still wheezing softly into her pillow. "Give her a few more minutes," Xander warned. "She can be grumpy in the morning."

"I can't believe she wheezes."

Xander grinned and shrugged. "I snore, she wheezes. We sang a song about it once."

"You're kidding."

"Would I lie to you?"

"Never." Buffy leaned on her free arm while she rubbed Anya's hand with the other. "I can't believe we're going to do this," she said, more than half to herself.

"Having second thoughts?" Xander asked as he cupped Buffy's chin.

"No. You?"

He shook his head. "I'm just really hoping this isn't a dream. And if it is I don't want to wake up. I love you, Buffy."

"And I love you, too." Buffy said and they kissed.

Then she felt the tiny bed rustle and heard Anya ask through a yawn, "What about me?"

"Always," Xander said.

"Then what are we doing talking?" With that Anya leaned forward and started kissing Buffy's neck while she slipped her hand out of Buffy's and slid it up to cup Buffy's breast.

Buffy closed her eyes and moaned. "We love a very smart woman."

"Never a doubt in my mind," Xander said as he leaned down to Buffy.

A good while later. Anya lay back down onto her pillow and sighed. "We definitely need a bigger bed."

Buffy snuggled against Anya's back, both to be close and because she was hanging half-off the bed. "How big?"

"I don't know. Do they come in Emperor size?" Anya asked Xander who had somehow managed to end up on the opposite side of the bed he had started on.

"No. I think King's the biggest."

"Well, phooey," Anya muttered. Then she got a gleam in her eye and ran her hand over Xander's chest. "You could build one."

Xander shook his head. "I could build a frame and the best head and footboards you've ever seen, but most mattresses aren't made of wood."

"Phooey," Anya repeated.

Buffy didn't want to move, but she had a bad feeling. In the end she rolled over and groped blindly across the nightstand until she found her watch. She tried to read it, but the room was too dark so she reached for the light despite the muttering that came from the other two people in the bed so she could check the time. "I think we have a bigger problem. When's checkout?"

"At 11:00. Why?" Xander asked.

"It's 10:30," Buffy said and looked around the dank room. "And as special as this place is, I don't think we want to spend the rest of the day here."

"No. Besides, the rest of the gang are probably worried sick about us," Xander added, but he didn't move. Neither did the two girls. Then the light flickered and went out. "I think that's a sign."

Anya giggled in the dark. "Good enough for me."

But before anything could get started, or continued, there was a loud banging on the door. "Don't think you get extra time just because the powers out! Either get out at eleven or pay for another day!" The manager shouted through the door. Then five seconds later they heard him again as he said the same thing to the people in the next room.

"It's a sign all right," Buffy sighed as she slid out of bed and started digging through the many piles of clothes that were on the floor and separating them out as best she could.

Xander sat up and took the pants Buffy had handed to him. "Man, the power's been wild lately. Javier's getting pissed because it's put work back a week."

"Just more hell mouthy fun," Buffy said as her hand ran across something made of silk. She was suddenly glad that the room was too dark for anyone to see her blush as she picked up the panties and tried to decide who they belonged to. "So, what are we going to do?"

"Send an angry letter to Gray-out Davis?"

"You know that's not what she meant," Anya said to Xander while she scooped up her wedding dress, which was sitting in a lump on the floor. "She wants to know is when we're going to tell everyone else about us?" Anya frowned as she slipped back into the dress, it didn't seem quite so magical as it had the day before. That and the buttons in the back seemed much more complicated in the dark. "Now I know why its customary to only wear this once."

"But it was so much fun getting you out of it," Buffy said as she turned to help, though her hands did slip a little low a few times before she was done, not that Anya complained.

"I think it's safe to say we're going to be the best dressed people to ever stagger out of this dive," Xander said as he pulled on his shirt. Then he found his least favorite article of clothing and shoved it into his pocket. "Sorry, Das Cumberbund."

"I don't think we should tell anyone right now," Buffy said as she buttoned the last button, then turned and pulled on her blouse.

"Why not?" Anya asked as she looked over her shoulder. "You not regretting this, are you?"

"No," Buffy answered with a sigh. "But I can just imagine how Dawn'll react."

"And Willow," Xander added.

"She'll probably just be jealous we topped her coming out," Anya said as she stood up and stepped into her shoes. "It's not like we have to announce it right now."

"Good enough," Xander said as he stood up and stretched his back. "How about we go home, get cleaned up and put on some real clothes. And maybe take a nap. The company was great, but double beds were not meant for three people."

"Which home?" Anya asked.

"You two go back to you're apartment and I'll meet you there after I let everyone know we're all right," Buffy answered as they all went to the door.

"Don't take too long," Xander said.

"I won't," Buffy promised and kissed the two of them goodbye.

"Hello?" Buffy said into the empty living room as she walked in. At first no one answered, then there was a thundering on the staircase as Dawn and Willow came running down.

"Did you find them? Are they all right?" Dawn asked in a rush.

"Where were they?" Willow added. "Amy and I tried a locator spell, but…"

"They're fine," Buffy cut in as soon as she could. "They're back at their apartment now."

"Together?" Dawn asked with an eager smile. "You got them back together?"

"Yup. Everything's just the way it's supposed to be," Buffy said with a very satisfied smile.

Willow eyed Buffy's rumbled clothing. "It looks like you had to go all Xena and wrestle them into the same room to get them talking."

"There was talking," Buffy admitted. And wrestling, but she kept that to herself. When she yawned it was as much to get away as it was she was tired. She turned and headed for the staircase. "I'm beat. Don't wake me up unless the Hellmouth opens."

"I'll get you for dinner," Willow promised. "Then you're going to tell me everything."

"Sounds good," Buffy said and went up the stairs.

She was just going around the corner when she heard Dawn ask Willow, "Do you think they're going to try and get married again?" Buffy froze and didn't move again for a long time.

Finally she just shrugged. "Can't worry about everything today." With that she went to bed. Not that actually getting to bed helped. She couldn't get comfortable no matter how much she tossed and turned. Finally she realized what was missing and got up, threw on some clothes and all but ran down the stairs.

Dawn looked up from the homework she had spread across the table. "Where are you going?"

Buffy slowed down but didn't stop. "I just remembered I have to check something at the shop."

An eager smile spread across Dawn's face. "A creature feature?"

"What? No. No demons. I have to check on… Bills! Yeah. Big mail day," she said and leaned down to kiss a befuddled Dawn on the cheek. "I'll be home for dinner, promise!" With that she was out the door.

"But it's Sunday!" Dawn called out after her, but Buffy was gone.

It was usually a fifteen-minute walk to Xander and Anya's, but Buffy made it in seven. "Where were you?" Anya asked as she opened the door.

Buffy looked over Anya's puffy white pajamas with a small grin. The puritan clothing wasn't exactly what Buffy had pictured Anya sleeping in. From all the stories she expected it to be something red and lacy. "Couldn't sleep," Buffy explained as she walked into the dark apartment.

"Neither could we. You can borrow one of Xander's shirts if you want, or I have another pair of pajamas," Anya said as she grabbed Buffy's hand and pulled her to the bedroom.

Buffy scowled at the idea of spending that much time getting ready for bed. "A shirt sounds good to me. Oh, and we're invited to dinner," Buffy added as she walked into the bedroom. Xander was already in bed and, despite what Anya said, snoring.

Anya grabbed one of Xander's less blinding Hawaiian t-shirts out of a drawer and handed it to Buffy. "I've already set the alarm," she said as she sat down on the bed and slid over next to Xander. Buffy changed quickly and joined Anya and Xander in bed. Soon they were all sound asleep.

For the first time since she got back, Buffy didn't dream of heaven.

Buffy found more and more excuses to sleep over for the next week. Of course with her life she didn't have to try all that hard to come up with them. After all, she did patrol late, and it wasn't her fault that the apartment was closer to town than the house. By the end of the week Willow and Dawn used the one thing they knew would get Buffy home. Guilt.

"It's good of you to drop by," Dawn said when Buffy walked in.

"I haven't been gone that much," Buffy protested.

"Yeah, and the Titanic was just a little delayed," Dawn snapped back. Then she sighed and hugged her sister. "I've just missed you. I'm not used to being left alone."

Buffy grabbed Dawn by the arms and held her out to look at her. "Who are you and what did you do to my sister? You know, the one who kept saying she didn't need a babysitter?"

Dawn rolled her eyes. "Very funny. Notice how I'm not laughing."

Buffy let Dawn go and walked into the dinning room. She sniffed what was coming out of the kitchen and her stomach gurgled its unease. "What're we having?"

"Willow and Amy made spaghetti," Dawn said.

"It smells good," Buffy said and tried to smile as she sat down at the table. "Who's eating with us?"

"Well, Xander and Anya. And I invited Tara and Spike, but they're not coming. I think she's still fighting with Willow."

Buffy's mouth twisted in distaste as she remembered the scene they made at the wedding. "I don't blame her. For a while at the wedding I thought they were going to try to kill each other."

Dawn giggled. "Like Xander's family and the demons? Man that was a mess. But who would've thought that demons had better manners?"

Buffy joined in laughing. "But the Harris' kicked their asses, if everyone fought like them I wouldn't have a job."

"Of course they did. The demons were just evil. They didn't stand a chance. How did Xander come out so well?"

"His theory is he was adopted."

"I'll go with that."

After that they sat in an uncomfortable silence that was only broken for a few awkward questions about school. Buffy wanted to tell her sister about everything, but she knew she shouldn't do it alone. She was massively relived when Anya and Xander walked in.

"Bout time you got here," Buffy said as Anya hung up her coat and the two of them walked over. She almost leaned up to kiss them hello, but then she remembered Dawn was there and just sank back into her seat. Xander and Anya shared a look of regret as they sat down on either side of her. But she did smile when she felt Xander reach down under the table and squeeze her hand.

"Sorry, there was a mess at the site that I had to clean up," Xander said.

"Really? Anything cool happen?" Dawn asked.

"Nah. Someone spilled a wheelbarrow full of concrete and made a hell of a mess." Xander looked over the empty table and rubbed his stomach. "Where's the food? I could eat a horse."

"So what else is new?" Dawn asked impishly.

Buffy, Xander and Anya suddenly decided that the artwork on the walls was fascinating.

Fortunately Willow stuck her head out and saved them. "Everyone's here! Just in time to try a Willow Rosenberg exclusive!" She said as she walked out carrying a big bowl of spaghetti.

"Spaghetti and meatballs isn't exactly a bolt from on high, Will," Amy said as she followed carrying the salad.

"It is for me," Xander said as he licked his lips. "It smells great guys." He barely waited for them to put the food down before he started scooping it onto his plate.

"Yeah, great," Buffy said warily as she looked at the food. She started to reach for the salad when she heard the slurp of the spaghetti as Xander scooped out some more and it was too much. She gulped hard and pushed her chair away from the table. "Excuse me," she managed to get out before she was off and running to the stairs. Everyone jumped when they heard the bathroom door slam shut.

"Well, I think its good," Xander joked, but he looked worried.

"Maybe she has that flu that's going around town. Half the people in my class were out with it last week," Amy said.

"She's a big faker," Dawn said as she filled her plate until it rivaled Xander's. "I remember the big drama the last time she was sick."

"Dawn, she almost died!" Xander said.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm telling you, she just wants attention."

Xander glanced at Anya, who nodded and started to get up. "I'll go check on her," Anya and Willow said together. They stared at each other, both girls' half standing above their seats.

Finally Willow sighed and sat back down. "Fine, you go," she said. Anya nodded and started to head to the stairs, but she was still close enough to hear Willow mutter, "Not like I'm the best friend or anything."

Anya just ignored her as she went to the bathroom door and knocked. "Buffy, are you all right?"

"No," Buffy said and sounded perfectly miserable as she flushed the toilet.

"Can I come in?"

"Are you sure you want to?"

"I can guarantee I've seen worse. There was this one man I cursed to get fatter and fatter until he finally expl…"

"Anya, please!"

"Oh," Anya said as she blinked quickly. "Sorry."

She heard Buffy sigh even through the door. "All right, you can come in. Just no stories, okay?"

"Okay," Anya said as she opened the door. Buffy was sitting on the floor in front of the toilet with her head in her hands. Anya took one look at her and went to work. She got a washcloth from under the sink and soaked it in cold water, then she sat down behind Buffy and gently pulled her back until Buffy's head was resting in her lap. "What's wrong? The dinner seemed perfectly acceptable," she asked as she held the washcloth against Buffy's forehead with one hand and ran her other through Buffy's sweaty hair.

"Please don't mention food." Buffy winced as she got her stomach back under control. "I don't know. I felt a little queasy at breakfast, but I just blamed that on Xander's Chocolate Frosted Sugar Bombs…"

"Maybe Dawn is right and you are germ ridden. You do look icky."

Buffy almost smiled, but her stomach wouldn't let her. "Flatterer."

"Do you want to go home?" Anya asked. "Xander assures me I'm an expert at playing doctor."

This time Buffy did smile. "I'm sure he did. No. You guys eat. I'll just sit in the corner and groan every now and then."

"If you're sure," Anya said, but she didn't move.

Buffy turned a bit. "Aren't you afraid you'll get germ ridden too?"

Anya shrugged. "I probably already am. Xander too. We may all end up spending tomorrow lying in bed and watching soup operas. It would be quite romantic if not for the phlegm."

"Soap," Buffy corrected absentmindedly. "Just as long as it's not Passions."

"But Spike says that's the best one." Anya grinned. "Those are the only people who have more interesting lives than we do."

"That's because they have that creepy little puppet following them around," Buffy said as she opened her eyes and looked around at the white tile walls. "Can't stay in here forever. Even if you do make a good pillow."

Anya smiled as she stood up, and then helped Buffy to her feet. "Good. I was getting, hung… Horny! I was getting horny," Anya corrected quickly and looked completely befuddled when Buffy broke out laughing. "Well, I might have been."

Buffy just shook her head and opened the door. She almost slammed it shut when she smelled the pasta, but she swallowed hard and walked out the door. Anya followed her out and almost bumped into her when Buffy stopped at the top of the staircase and refused to move.

Finally Anya grabbed Buffy gently around the arm and pulled her to the bedroom. "That's it. Off to bed with you, young lady."

Buffy didn't protest, even though she did look better as she got further away from the food. "Are you going to tuck me in?" She asked with a ghost of a smile as they walked into her bedroom. Anya nodded as she helped Buffy change into pajamas and climb into bed.

"How is she?" Xander asked as he stuck his head into the room.

"I'm all right," Buffy said. "Dawn's probably right, I just caught something." Xander didn't look convinced, so he walked over and put his hand over her forehead. Then he frowned and shook his head. "Something wrong, Dr. Harris?"

He broke into a grin and shrugged. "Damned it, Jim. I'm a carpenter, not a doctor."

Buffy made a face and gave him a gentle shove to the door. "That's it. I'm nowhere near sick enough to listen to bad Star Trek puns. I'll see you two in the morning."

"Do you want us to spend the night here?" Anya asked.

"Yeah, but I don't think it's a good idea. Somehow I doubt that my throwing up will make telling them any easier."

"It would give them something else to think about," Xander offered, but wisely stopped talking when he was hit with twin glares.

"I'll see you in the morning," Buffy said and rolled over.

Xander and Anya walked out, closing the door behind them, and went back to dinner. Amy and Dawn looked worried. Willow did too, for a half-second, then she looked back at her dinner.

"How is she?" Amy asked.

"Sleeping," Xander said as he sat down and attacked his plate of spaghetti with a relish.

"Faker," Dawn muttered as she chased a meatball with her fork.

"She wouldn't be sick if you two didn't keep her up all night long," Willow muttered.

Anya froze while Xander choked on his spaghetti. "What?" He gasped out.

"I know what you're doing to her after she patrols," Willow said. "I'm not stupid, you know."

"You do?" Anya asked as she and Xander exchanged worried glances.

"Yeah, you're trying to get her to do all the work for the Magic Box so you two can have more 'alone' time," Willow snapped as she glared at Anya.

Xander held up his hands. "It's not like that, Will."

"Sure it isn't. We all know that money's the only thing she cares about."

Xander glared back at Willow. "First of all, hey! And second of all…"

"Money is highly enjoyable, yes," Anya added as she put her fork back down on the table. "But it isn't everything."

"Sure it isn't. You don't have a special dance for Xander like you do for money," Willow said.

Amy put her hand on Willow's shoulder. "Willow, honey. They're your friends, and your amazing impression of my mother isn't very encouraging."

At the same time Anya stood up so fast she almost knocked over her chair. "I do too! I also have my Willow is an incredible…"

"Anya!" Xander shouted as he jumped up and clamped his hand over her mouth.

"No, let her say it!" Willow said as she jumped to her feet. "If she has the guts."

"HEY!" Dawn shouted and they all turned to look at her. "You guys are supposed to be adults, so stop acting like Xander's relatives and sit down and shut up!"

"Yeah!" Xander said, then the rest of what Dawn said sunk in and he glared at the sixteen year old. "Hey!" Dawn grinned and as she sucked a strand of spaghetti off her fork.

Everyone sat down and ate their meal in silence. Finally Xander pushed his empty plate away. "That was good, Will, Amy." He nudged Anya with his elbow.

"Yes, highly enjoyable," she added, but didn't look happy about it.

"Thanks," Amy said with an unsure smile. "That was the first time we've ever made spaghetti and I was worried…"

Willow cut her off with a glance. "Thanks, but it's only spaghetti." With that she grabbed her plate and carried it into the kitchen.

"Willow," Xander said and started to get up, but Amy cut him off.

"Don't. Not right now. Let her calm down a bit first."

"But," Xander began.

Amy grabbed his arm. "Trust me Xander. She hasn't been in the best mood lately. And unless I miss my guess you like having all your appendages attached."

Xander looked at the doorway that lead to the kitchen and sighed. "Dawn, can you keep an eye on Buffy for me?"

Dawn rolled her eyes as she got up. "Sure. Not like I wasn't planning on doing that anyway."

"Dinner was delicious, Willow," Xander tried one more time, but there wasn't any answer from the kitchen. "Come on, Ahn. I think we've caused enough problems tonight for Amy."

"We didn't cause Amy's problems…" Anya muttered as she stood and grabbed her coat.

"Ahn…"

Anya muttered something else under her breath as she turned and walked out the door. Xander glanced up the staircase again and then followed her out.