The Old Gang Get Together

Buffy had the week off work, and it was good job, seeing as her activities with Spike had left her with practically zero sleep. They were only up an hour before Dawn arrived and started hanging banners and inflating balloons.

"Have you guys done anything with this place?" she asked, looking at all the stacked boxes in the corner of the room, "You've been here ages."

"Haven't had time for it," said Spike, winking at the slayer.

"Eww," said Dawn, not wanting to think about what they'd been distracted with.

"Do we really need decorations?" asked Buffy, changing the subject. "It's only a promotion."

Dawn laughed nervously. "Yeah… about that."

Instantly the slayer was on guard. "Dawn. What have you planned?"

"Well, umm… It's been noted that you never really had a flat-warming party. And did you really think you could get away without us celebrating your birthday?"

Buffy was duly horrified, "My birthday is cursed. Remember?!"

"S'not cursed, Slayer," said Spike.

"Yes. Yes it is! You said so yourself the year we got trapped in the house and could have starved to death!"

Spike was going to point out that he probably wouldn't have starved for a good long while when Dawn interjected saying, "It's too late now. Everyone will be here soon."

"Everyone? Who is everyone?!" Buffy was beginning to panic. "I'm not prepared for guests. Dawn, you could have warned me!"

"You would have just said no. And, plus, Spike said it was okay."

The Slayer turned on her fiancé. "You agreed to this?"

"Thanks for dropping me in it, Niblet," he said before pulling his wound up bride-to-be into his arms and whispering reassurances in her ear.

Eventually calmed, Buffy once again asked who she was expecting and was surprised to hear that Xander and Willow were both flying in from the US.

"Giles has gone to pick them up from the airport," Dawn informed her.

"Right, so, six of us. Or is Willow bringing Kennedy?"

"Willow and the bird broke up months ago, luv," said Spike. "You didn't know?"

"I, uh… I guess not. Has been a while since we talked," she admitted, feeling guilty. "Guess I've been caught up."

"You have," confirmed Dawn, but there was no tone of bitterness in it.

"Think we both deserved some time to simply be caught up in our own lives," Spike reassured her.

Buffy nodded – the guilt lessened but not completely gone – and asked, "Anything else major I should be aware of?" but the doorbell rang before either of them had a chance to answer her.

The Slayer opened her front door and was faced with a gigantic stuffed bear. Hidden behind it, somewhere, was Andrew.

Pushing his way in, he handed the bear to Buffy before rushing up and hugging the ex-vampire enthusiastically.

"Watch it," said Spike, shrugging him off.

Immediately Andrew's attention passed to the younger Summers girl, but Dawn held up her hands before he moved to envelop her too. "No cuddling," she insisted.

He just nodded and smiled. "What's with the boxes? Didn't you move in like three months ago?"

"Yes," said Buffy, handing him back the oversized toy and taking her man in her own arms, protectively. "How did you know?"

"Oh, you know me," was all he said in explanation.

Spike was about to say 'Wish I bloody well didn't' but Buffy gave him a stern look before he even opened his mouth.

"We weren't expecting you," she said, then, trying to sound cheery. "Are you still based in Rome?"

"Yeah. It's fun. Is Willow going to be here?"

As if on cue, the doorbell rang again.

Without being asked to, Andrew answered it and was met face to face with the redhead witch, who looked somewhat shocked.

"Andrew… hey. Hi."

"Andrew's here?" asked Xander, who was coming up the hallway behind her, carrying luggage.

"Yeah," she said. "Uhh, Buffy?"

"Right here," called the Slayer. "Andrew, are you gonna move and let the others in?"

Reluctantly he shifted to the side a little, and Willow and Xander entered, each giving Buffy a tight hug. Finally Giles appeared at the door, just as Andrew was about to shut it.

"Great, all here!" said Buffy, turning to lead the way into the living room.

"Wait!" demanded Andrew, and they all turned to look at him. "Willow, I uhh… can we talk?"

The witch blushed and looked towards Xander, who was giving her a quizzical look, before she looked back at Andrew. "I'm sure we can catch up in a bit. Once we've put down our things."

"Right," he agreed, looking momentarily dejected before perking right up again. "I'll help you set up your beds."

"Beds?" balked Buffy. "Who's got beds?"

"No-one," said Xander. "We're sleeping on your couches."

"Spike," Buffy turned around to glare at him, "Did we know they were sleeping here?"

He directed his eyes own glare at Dawn, "No. We didn't, as it happens."

Dawn rolled her eyes, "Second thoughts, guys. You can stay with me and Giles."

Giles sighed, causing Dawn to remember she hadn't asked him for permission either.

"Probably for the best," he conceded.

"Why's that?" asked Xander, innocently.

"They can get kinda loud," whispered Willow, and everyone looked at her. "Well it's true."

"Suddenly feeling very uncomfortable with this conversation. Hey, Andrew, where are you staying?"

"I've got a hotel room."

The words "Oh thank God," were out of Willow's mouth before she knew what she was saying.


Party Time

Once everyone had a drink in their hand, and some pizzas were on their way, everyone sat down in the small living room – Xander, Willow and Giles on one couch, facing Andrew and Dawn on the smaller couch, and Spike sitting on the floor with Buffy on his lap – Buffy opened up conversation. "So, what's everybody up to these days? We really need to see each other more."

"Giles is back with Olivia," declared Dawn, and the ex-Watcher looked mortified.

"That was supposed to be private," he chided.

"Oh, come on," she said in retort. "I bet we'll all be at your wedding in like a year, tops."

Off Giles' then panicked look, Xander turned back to Buffy asking, "Speaking of weddings, you guys set a date yet?"

"Actually… I guess that's another thing we can celebrate."

Dawn squealed at the implication. "Ahhh, yes! Is it soon?!"

"It's soon," Buffy confirmed before looking at Spike, "We didn't want to wait anymore."

Purely thinking of the practicalities Willow asked, "How soon is soon? You should have told us! I mean, what happens if we're not free to come?"

Suddenly all three women were pouting. Xander and Giles just looked at each other, not daring to open their mouths. Finally Spike rolled his eyes and waded into the conversation he and Buffy had been trying to put off.

"Thing is," he said. "We can't really afford a big do. And that's not really what we want anyway. Don't reckon it suits us, do we, luv?"

Buffy nodded, and although he'd said it himself, and it had been her idea for a simple, quiet ceremony in the first place he couldn't help but feel guilty that he couldn't give her more.

"So what are you saying?" asked Dawn.

"He's saying that we're gonna have something private. Just the two of us. And then, later, when everyone's in town again, and we've saved up a little, we're gonna have a big party at that point."

"You sure that's what you want, Buff?" Xander asked, and Spike's jaw automatically tensed.

"It is," she reassured both of them; giving Spike's hand a little squeeze, "Really."

Dawn was still frowning, a little, but eventually said, "Wish I could be bridesmaid. But I'm happy for you two, so I'll let you buy me off with my choice of your wedding presents."

Buffy chuckled, "Deal."

"But not if it's brandy," Spike added, glancing at Giles with pleading eyes. "Please let there be brandy."

"Focus, Spike," said Buffy, clicking her fingers in front of his face.

"Yes," said Giles, not wanting to promise away any of his beloved collection of finely aged spirits, "Back on topic. What date have you settled on?"

"Valentine's Day," they said in unison, and Dawn squealed again.

Giles had thought he wouldn't need to keep wearing ear plugs once he got the slayer and her overly vocal fiancé out of his apartment but he'd been wrong. The decibels Dawn reached while having animated conversations with her friends dug straight through his skull. 'Will definitely need to hold on to my brandy,' he thought.

"Isn't Valentine's Day a little, oh, cliché?" Xander interjected, but Willow simply told him to shut up.

"Where's it gonna be?" she asked, and Buffy huffed a little.

"He won't tell me. Say's it a surprise."

"Spike's a closet romantic?" balked Xander. "Who knew?"

All three girls, plus Andrew, raised their hands and suddenly the carpenter fell silent again.


Later, Buffy cornered Willow – her curiosity not able to take it anymore. "What's with you and Andrew? You're all avoid-y."

"Don't know what you're talking about, Buff."

The slayer's eyes narrowed. "There's definite tension. Don't dare lie to me." Willow hung her head, and Buffy softened, "I didn't mean to guilt trip you. Is everything okay?"

Finally making eye contact, Willow said, "Yeah. It's just… we all have thing's we're not proud of, right? I mean, you slept with Spike for months and didn't tell anyone."

Buffy cringed at the reminder. She still felt bad about that. "Okay?" she ground out.

"Well, uh… me and Andrew- we kinda, did some stuff?"

The slayer's jaw dropped open, "Really?"

"It was one night. I was bummed after breaking up with Kennedy. We were researching and, and… I just don't know," she looked really distressed, and Buffy felt bad for her.

"Hey," she said, lightly touching her arm in comfort. "It's okay. You're adults. There's no shame."

"You sure?" she gulped. "Andrew's not exactly-"

"Andrew is… a lot of things. But I think he's a good guy, deep down. Just because you don't want to be with him doesn't mean you're a bad person."

"Thanks Buffy," said Willow, genuinely appreciative of getting it off her chest, "God! How did you even keep you and Spike quiet? That was tearing me apart."

Buffy looked guilty again, but Spike walked up behind her and laced his arms around her waist before answering on her behalf. "Slayer was confused, and scared. Doesn't matter."

"Sorry, I didn't mean to drag up-"

"s'okay, Red," he said, giving her a small smile. "Really doesn't matter."

Willow nodded and headed back to the main room.

Buffy turned around in her lover's arms and looked up at him - searched his eyes for any hint of upset at the bad memories - but only found love.

They kissed, and Buffy felt her guilt melt away. She'd known for a long time that he'd forgiven her, but it was nice to have reassurance every once in a while.

"Guest anxiety and awkwardness aside," she said, "I'm having fun. It's nice to have my friends back. So good that I can have you, and them, and this place."

"Considerin' us pretty lucky, myself," he said, in between kisses. "Is this too good to be true?"

Buffy slapped his arm lightly saying, "It is now you've jinxed it!"

To be continued...