Title: Surprise Dinner Guest
Author: Forsaken2003
Pairing: S/X
Rating: PG13
Disclaimer: I own none, all belong to Joss Whedon
Comments: Always welcomed!
Summary: Xander has Thanksgiving with his friends and a very special guest.
Warnings/Spoilers: None
Beta'd by: Unbeta'd
Xander decided to host his Thanksgiving this year. He and his friends could just be themselves. Talk about ordinary things and stuff themselves silly with delicious food.
Buffy, Giles, Willow and Tara all showed up with side dishes. Buffy with her yams. Willow and Tara brought pumpkin pie and Giles brought his mushy peas.
There was no discussions of Indigenous American vengeful spirits or Xander's syphilis.
"You're apartment looks great, Xan," Buffy commented as she set her yams down on the counter. "You didn't tell me you got new furniture. But leather? That doesn't really scream you."
"Thanks, Buff. Oh... yeah," Xander laughed a little awkwardly. "That's a funny story."
Willow looked confused. "You always told me you hated leather furniture."
"I... uh. I've got to check on the turkey! Yeah. Got to make sure it doesn't burn." Xander wished everyone was in the living room so he could have escaped the questioning.
Everyone looked at each other but shrugged it off. Xander was just being Xander.
Xander opened the oven and basted the turkey. It looked and smelt so good. It didn't need much more time and then he could start on the gravy for the potatoes. The stuffing was in the turkey so he didn't have to worry about them. The potatoes were already boiled so he could start on the mashed potatoes. Supper would be done in thirty minutes tops. "Why don't you guys go chill in the living room? I've got this covered."
Happy not to help the gang cleared out of the kitchen giving Xander some space to breathe. Why was he so nervous? This was his family. They were going to be happy for him after the initial shock wore off.
Forty minutes later the table was set and plates filled with food, buffet style because the dining table didn't have enough space for the food. Everyone was about to dig in but Xander stopped them. "There is one more person that is going to be joining us."
"Who?" Giles asked while looking at his peas. He'd been looking forward to them all day.
Xander got up to put a plate together for their guest. "My boyfriend."
"Boyfriend?!" Everyone said except for Tara. When Xander looked behind him he saw she had a soft smile on her face.
"Yeah." Xander disappeared into the kitchen and came out a couple minutes later. "I've been seeing him for a few months. Six months actually."
"Does this have to do with the furniture?" Buffy asked. "You let him pick what he likes? After only six months? Xander..."
Xander went to defend himself but there was a knock on the door. "He's here. Guys, just be nice... okay?"
"Of course we're going to be nice. Who's nicer than us?" Willow asked with wide eyes.
"Just remember that," Xander said before going to the door which was out of sight.
They heard the door opened and two voices talking softly.
"Why is Xander nervous about this?" Buffy asked.
"M-maybe he's afraid you... we won't accept his boyfriend," Tara stuttered out.
This left the others even more perplexed. Why wouldn't they accept Xander's boyfriend?
Xander walked back in and a few steps behind was... Spike?
"Spike?!" Buffy yelled. "You're dating Spike?"
"Buff, can you calm down? I don't need the neighbours calling my landlord."
Giles placed a hand on Buffy's arm hoping to settle her. "We are just surprised, Xander. I'm sure you can understand that."
"Surprised? I'm not surprised. I'm... I'm... I don't know what I am!" Buffy replied.
"I know this is a shock, trust me it was a shock for me when Xander asked me out," Spike said speaking for the first time. "But I like him. A lot."
"Do you like him a lot or do you like that you were been able to manipulate him into buying furniture that you like when he hates it?" Willow asked. She ignored Tara when she tried to shush her. "What else have you convinced him to change about himself? His clothes? He's not wearing a Hawaiian shirt."
Spike squeezed Xander's hand. "I told you this was a mistake, luv. I'm going to go."
"Everybody stop!" Xander demanded. "No one is going anywhere. This is my home and you all have to respect that. Yeah, I'm not big on leather furniture but the stuff I got is super soft and so comfortable. The reason I got it was yeah because of Spike but because I wanted him to know that I was thinking of him while I was picking it out. And I still wear my Hawaiian shirts. I'm never giving those up because they are never going out of style." He ignored the looks he got from everyone including Spike. "I just wanted to look nice today."
"We all sat on the couch and even said that it was soft," Tara spoke up. "Giles was even dosing off in the chair. Now Xander put a lot of effort into this meal. The least we can do is all sit down eat and be civil to each other."
Xander guided Spike over to the table. "Come on, babe. Please?"
With an unneeded sigh Spike sat on the chair Xander pulled out for him. He drank blood before he came so that wouldn't be a problem. He was never big on turkey though. "Mushy peas?"
"Yes," Giles said on the defensive side. "I like mushy peas."
"I love mushy peas!" Spike said happily before eating a big forkful. He moaned liked he was eating chocolate. "I haven't had mushy peas since I was human."
Giles seemed to perk up immediately. "Really? I brought a whole container."
Spike's eyes lit up.
"Americans do not appreciate English cuisine. I was thinking of making scotch eggs next week. I've never seen a reason to make them for just one person..." Giles let the invitation hang there.
"You know, it's not polite to invite only one person over for food and not everyone," Buffy said as she was stabbing her yams. It wasn't that she wanted to spend more time with Spike but if he was going to be dating one of her best friends she needed to keep an eye on him just to make sure he didn't have some evil, mastermind plan going on.
With a sigh Giles replied, "very well. I will also make scones and proper fish and chips for you all."
Xander smiled so hard his face hurt. He always knew food was the problem solver to everything. He leaned over and kissed Spike on the side of his mouth. "I told you it would be okay."
"It's a little early to be so optimistic, Xan," Spike replied softly.
"Nope, all the important people in my life are going to be friends."
Not having the heart to tell Xander thought would most likely never happen with him and Buffy, Spike instead nuzzled his cheek. "You better eat, you're foods going to get cold."
Not needing to be told twice to eat Xander dug along with everyone else. This was one of the best Thanksgivings he had ever had.
The End
