A/N: Okay, this is the last chapter of this one until I write some more. Just an FYI for anyone who is reading this...This is strictly Buffy's point of view right now. It'll change to Spike's, but it's going to be a while, i want to show both sides.
PLEASE REVIEW!!Chapter Three
When Buffy looked around the tiny airport strip that Sunnydale had, a wave of nostalgia hit her. She was all of the sudden hit with all of the good times that she'd had with her friends. Willow turned around when Buffy wasn't beside her anymore and saw her face. She sighed, hooked her arm in hers, and put her head on Buffy's shoulder. Buffy knew what Willow thought she was thinking about, and sure…she was a bit, but mostly it was them. They hadn't been able to stay long on their last visit the previous summer, and Buffy was really sad about that. Her and her friends had made promises to one another that it wouldn't end with high school. They'd all taken a vow that their friendship would last no matter what happened…and they'd sort of failed. Instead, you had the west coast group of friends and the other set. When they got into the taxi, Buffy was almost regretting coming back. She didn't have Spike anymore and her friendships with Anya, Cordy, Xander, Angel, and Harmony would never be the same. The first time that she hadn't been able to make it back for break, it changed their relationship with each other. She also knew that it was going to be weird to have the whole gang there minus Oz and Spike. She shook her head to stop herself from thinking about him, but she knew it was just a matter of time. They pulled up at Buffy's old house and both of them got out. Both Willow and Buffy would be staying with Joyce. Willow's mother had moved out of Sunnydale when Willow had left for college, and with Dawn out of the house, it wasn't a burden. Joyce came bouncing out of the house as soon as she saw her daughter.
"Buffy! Oh, it's so good to see you, honey! Willow, you look absolutely gorgeous, motherhood definitely agrees with you." Willow smiled politely at Joyce's words, and Buffy felt so warm and safe being back in her mother's presence. Willow left Buffy to put her things in Dawn's old bedroom, also to give her and her mother some time alone. Joyce escorted Buffy into the kitchen and fixed her a glass of tea.
"Do you want to talk about it, honey?" Buffy hadn't told her mom about what had happened, so she looked up at her in surprise.
"What are you talking about, mom?" Joyce sighed.
"Buffy, I'm not dense; it's written all over your face. I don't know exactly what's happened, but I know something did." Buffy refused to let herself cry again.
"Well, it's definitely over between us, if that's what you're referring to." Joyce let out a small gasp.
"Honey, I had no idea that it was about that! I was expecting school troubles! Do you want to talk about it?" Buffy shook her head.
"Just know that I will be okay, I think it was just time. I actually think it was over a long time ago, but neither of us was willing to admit it." Joyce put a sympathetic hand on her daughters' shoulders.
"I know that you're going to busy with your friends this week, but I'm hoping you can squeeze me in for dinner at least one night before you go back." Buffy smiled brightly at her mom.
"I think I can do that, I'd even have some enjoyment in it." Joyce chuckled.
"Stop…I may faint."
The drive to Angel and Cordy's house was a quiet one. Willow wasn't going to press Buffy to say anything that she didn't want to say. Buffy was just really excited about seeing her friends after so long. When they pulled in, there were already three cars in the driveway. Willow fretted all the way to the door, thinking that Cordy had beaten them over there. Harmony had taken Cordy out for a birthday brunch for just the two of them. While they were gone, Angel, Anya, and Xander were setting the whole house up, also giving Willow and Buffy time to get there. When they knocked on the door, they heard noises and the door opened rather suddenly. When they walked through the door, Anya burst up from her hiding place.
"Oh, you made it, I'm so glad!" She hugged Buffy and Willow and got out of the way for Angel and Xander to do the same. They all stood facing each other for quite some time before Xander finally said something to break the ice.
"My God, Buffy, have you lost even more weight? You should really do something about that. That's New York for you, though, you have to fit in, and then you get image problems." Buffy laughed for the first time since she landed and it felt great.
"I really missed you too, Xander." They were saved from saying anything else because a car pulled into the drive. Angel quickly turned to them.
"Quick, go hide in the bedroom. She knows there's a party, but she doesn't know that you're here." Buffy and Willow scampered off to hide and barely got the door closed when they heard Cordelia's voice.
"Whose awful car is that in the driveway?" They heard nervous chuckling and Xander try to form an answer.
"It's mine, I just bought it. I let Anya have the Honda, and I finally broke down and got my own." They didn't hear anything for a moment, but there she was again.
"You actually paid money to buy that, Harris? Wow, are you a sucker." Buffy and Willow were trying to stifle their giggles because they were getting closer to the door. Cordy was right outside the door when she made her next comment.
"Has Buffy or Willow called yet? I can't believe that they haven't called…it makes me not only sad, but mostly I'm angry." Willow and Buffy exchanged a quick look. They got a little confused because all of the Sudden there was no one by the door and they heard Angel's voice.
"No, they haven't called yet, sweetie, but I'm sure they will. They remember your birthday; they just might be in class or something, who knows." They head Cordy sigh.
"I know…I just feel like we've sort of all grown apart. Okay, no sad sobs today, it's my birthday! Can you believe that I'm the first of us to turn twenty-three? It's crazy, isn't it?" The next thing Buffy or Willow knew, the door was opened a bit and Xander stuck his head in.
"Okay, she's in the living room. Angel wants you guys to carry in the cake; she thinks I'm the one getting it." Buffy and Willow sneaked past the door to the living room to get into the kitchen. Xander quickly lit the candles and sprinted into the living room. They heard a smart retort from Cordy.
"Okay, just where is the cake, Harris? I know that's what you ran to go and get, so where is it?" Xander scoffed.
"I did not go in there to get your cake, Cordy. I did, however, enlist a few helpers to bring it in." They heard Cordy's confusion.
"What are you talking about?" That was when Buffy and Willow couldn't hold it in anymore, and burst into giggles. They walked in, carrying the ridiculously big birthday cake. The look on Cordy's face was completely priceless.
"Oh, my God! I am the biggest bitch on the planet!" Xander relieved them of the cake and they both embraced the surprised Cordelia. Buffy giggled once more.
"Why do you say that, Cordy? Could it be because you thought we'd ditched you on your birthday?" Cordy covered her mouth and the girls could tell the tears were close, so Willow held up her hands.
"Cordelia, you'll ruin your make-up." Cordy took a deep breath and looked around.
"You're right, but when the hell did you get here?!" Buffy had just finished hugging Harmony when she turned to Cordy.
"Um, about five minutes before you. The 'awful' car in the driveway is ours, or my mother's, I should say. We were hiding in your bedroom the whole time." Cordy squealed and grabbed them again.
"This is the best birthday ever! I can't believe you guys flew all the way from New York to be here…I mean I'm sure it wasn't just for me, but I can pretend." Buffy laughed with her friends.
"It was mostly for you. Angel suggested the whole thing. Xander and Anya picked it up from there." Cordy hugged them both one more time before settling down. When she finished eating her slice of cake, she looked up confused.
"Wait…why didn't Oz, Spike, and Bailey come with you?" Willow grimaced, knowing that it was going to come out sooner or later.
"Oz and I didn't think that Bailey would travel long distance well yet. Don't worry, he's coming with us this summer, I'm not keeping him from you." Cordy shrugged.
"I can understand that, I mean he's only three. I just can't wait to finally hold him!" Willow giggled, but Cordy wasn't done.
"That only leaves the excuse for Spike, where is his sorry ass?" Everyone turned to look at Buffy, and Willow took her hand to be supportive. Everyone got the hint, and there was a collective sigh. Cordelia tilted her head to look at Buffy.
"Buffy, I'm such an idiot, there isn't a filtering system there, I swear. You don't have to talk about." Buffy shrugged.
"It's okay, you guys. He's your friend too, I'll not forget that. It's just really over this time. I moved out of our apartment and I left the ring there." Angel groaned.
"I knew something was wrong. Every time I called him, he kept evading me, and he wouldn't tell me what was bothering him. Now, he's been calling every freaking hour to see if you've arrived. Apparently he doesn't take it that you're finished. He told me that you guys were on a break and that was why he wasn't coming." Buffy shook her head.
"It's over guys, but enough sappy talk. It's Cordy's birthday, and we are so Bronzing it tonight!" The group nodded in agreement
