Part 15: A Typical Slayer Birthday

Spike glanced up from his book as he heard a key jingling in the lock on the front door. He grinned as the door swung open and Bri walked in. "Hello, love." He called, rising from the couch. Seeing her flustered expression, he frowned. "Bad day?"

A short growl was his response as the young girl stormed by him into the kitchen. Spike smiled discreetly to himself, guessing the reason why the slayer was currently slamming things around as she prepared a snack, but decided to have a bit of fun with her. "What's wrong?" he asked innocently.

"Nothing. Everything's just PEACHY!" she shouted, dropping a large tub of strawberry ice cream onto the table and sitting down in front of it, armed with a serving spoon.

"Want me to get you a bowl for that?"

"No."

The slayer wrenched off the lid and dug into the cold snack viciously. Spike sat down across from her, watching as she ate spoonful after spoonful of the substance, glancing up angrily at him every few minutes. "Um…pet…don't take this the wrong way…but is it…that time of the month?"

Bri's eyes narrowed at the vampire and he knew he'd gone too far with that one. "No! It's not that time of the month! How come every time a girl's in a bad mood guys automatically think it's that time of the month? Can't a girl just have a bad day and want to be a bitch without guys blaming it on hormones?" Spike couldn't suppress his chuckle. "What the hell are you laughing at?"

"You." He said, his eyes dancing. "You're so cute when you're angry."

"Fuck you!" Bri screamed, turning to storm out of the room.

"Please do." Spike said before jumping up and grabbing her arm.

"Don't touch me! I'm mad at you and if you don't know why…what the hell are you smiling at? I'm not that cute."

"Happy birthday, pet." Spike said, pulling a box out of his pocket.

Bri was dumbfounded. Her jaw hung open as the vampire placed the box in her hand. "Y-you remembered…" she murmured, staring at the box. "And you let me go on and on and you never said anything!"

"Just open the box."

"You're evil."

"Duh."

The slayer opened the box, pulling out a long leather leash and a collar. "Sex games? That's my birthday present?"

"No." Spike rolled his eyes and walked into the study. He opened the door to the half bath, bending down and picking something up. Bri stood up on her toes, leaning to the side, struggling to see what was in his arms. When he turned to her, revealing what he held, her face lit up.

"A puppy! You got me a puppy!" She rushed to take the squirming black Labrador puppy from the vampire's arms. "Aww! How cute!"

"That's what the leash and collar are for but if you liked the sex games idea…" Bri rolled her eyes at him and focused her attention on the dog. She cuddled it to her chest, muttering to it softly. "So you like it, ducks?"

"Yes! Thank you so much!" the slayer hugged him before carrying the dog to the couch and sitting down with it. "She's so cute. What should we name her?"

"Well, she's gonna get big. So she needs a tough name. How about Killer?"

"You'd better be joking." Bri looked thoughtful. "Midnight. Cause she's dark."

"I like that."

Spike watched as the slayer played with the puppy, a happy grin on her face. "So is your birthday better now?"

"Yea. I'm still kinda upset that everyone else seemed to have forgotten, though."

"I figured something like that had happened when I saw your expression when you came in."

"Well I can't really blame them…it's understandable. They're busy with the ascension and all…and hey, I've only been here for a couple of weeks. Not like we're all 'bestest buddies', you know." The slayer was silent for a moment. "And ever since they found out about us…I dunno…things just seem weird and really strained. Giles and Wesley understand and Angel does, I think. They're not pleased with it. But they understand. But Buffy, Willow and Xander- especially Xander…they act different around me than before."

"It'll take some time, I suppose."

"Well I don't exactly have much time do I?"

"Don't bloody say that! You're not going to die. I won't let that happen."

"But the prophecy-"

"Not all prophecies come true. And even if it does, you're coming back. You won't stay dead." Bri sighed. They'd had this conversation several times over the course of the past few days but it'd never served to quell her fears. Spike wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her to him and kissing her forehead. "Let's not talk about this anymore." He whispered.

The couple was suddenly jolted by the ringing telephone. "I'll get it. It's probably Giles. I gave him the number in case of emergencies." Bri said, rising and handing Midnight to Spike.

She hurried to the phone, picking it up just before the answering machine came on. "Hello?"

"Bri, we need you at home." Buffy said.

"Why? Is anything wrong?"

"Nothing dire. Ascension stuff. We need you over here."

"Can't this wait until tomorrow?"

"No."

"But you said it wasn't dire. And I'm kinda busy." Bri glanced at Spike. "Or I plan to be very soon." She said with a wink. The vampire chuckled, setting Midnight down on the floor and rising to move behind the slayer. He slipped his arms around her waist and began nibbling on her ear.

"You need to get over here, Bri." Buffy insisted.

"Listen, I'll see you tomorrow, OK?"

"Hang up." Spike urged.

"Was that Spike? Let me talk to him!" the other slayer demanded.

Bri looked at the phone curiously before handing it to the vampire. "She wants to talk to you."

"Hello? Slayer?"

"Spike! You need to make Bri come over here."

"And why should I?"

Buffy sighed exasperatedly. "Because we're throwing her a birthday party. But it's a surprise so don't tell her! Just…get her here, please!"

Spike was silent a moment, glancing at Bri thoughtfully. "OK then. We'll be over there in a few minutes." He hung up the phone.

"What? Why are we going over there? What'd she say to you?" the young slayer asked.

"She didn't want to worry you but they've found another prophecy about us." the vampire lied. "They need to ask us some questions to help figure out what the bloody hell it means."

Bri sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Fine." She glanced over at the dog who sat on the floor staring up at them intently. "What do we do with Midnight?"

"Leave her here."

"All alone?"

"Yes, all alone. She's gonna have to be alone sometime, love."

"I know. But she's just a puppy. What if she gets scared?" Spike rolled his eyes and the slayer tried a different approach. "What if she chews something up? Something…leather."

The vampire frowned and grabbed his coat off the hook on the wall, pulling it on almost protectively. "Fine. Bring the bloody mutt." He walked towards the door, mumbling something about how they should've name the dog "Mistake".

They pulled up to the Summers' house a few minutes later. Bri opened the car door and Midnight bounded out into the driveway, pulling anxiously at her lead. "Hold on there." Bri said, stepping out of the car. The pup sat down in the drive, looking up at the slayer almost impatiently.

"Pushy little bugger." Spike muttered as he climbed out of the Desoto. They strolled up the sidewalk and to the door.

The second Bri opened it and stepped inside, she was greeted by a resounding "Surprise!" from the people gathered in the living room. She froze, her jaw hanging open and her eyes wide at the colorful decorations and faces smiling gleefully at her.

"Oh my gosh! I thought you guys…you didn't say anything…oh my gosh!"

"Happy birthday!" Buffy declared. Bri grinned happily and looked around at who all was there. It was all the Scooby Gang- Buffy, Willow, Xander, and Oz. Then there was Giles, Joyce and Angel. Joyce stepped forward, ushering the young slayer into the living room.

"Aww, look at the puppy!" Willow suddenly cried upon seeing Midnight. "Is that yours?" she asked, bending to pat the dog's head.

"Yea. Spike gave her to me for my birthday. Her name's Midnight."

The red head turned and suprisingly smiled up at the vampire. "Aww. That's so sweet."

Angel stepped behind his grandchilde, slapping him on the back. "Still spoiling your woman, Spike? She's got you whipped as bad as Dru did. Honestly, a puppy?"

Spike rolled his eyes. "Yea, well it's no still beating heart but I try."

"OK, boys, play nice now." Bri scolded mockingly. Then she turned her attention on the presents sitting on the coffee table in front of the couch. "When can I open these?" she asked eagerly.

"After cake." Joyce said, swatting her hand away from the colorful packages.

The party passed by smoothly. Everyone enjoyed a piece of chocolate cake and then Bri opened her presents and the usual "oo"s and "ah"s ensued. Then things settled down and everyone sat about chatting and enjoying a break from the doom and gloom of their everyday lives.

Bri glanced up from the sofa, seeing Spike standing by the window, peering out fretfully into the darkness. She rose and went to stand beside him with her hand on his shoulder. "What is it?" she asked tentatively.

He looked back at her seriously and she read in his eyes that something was bothering him. But he merely smiled and shook his head. "Nothing, pet. Go back and enjoy the party."

"Don't give me that. What's wrong?"

Spike sighed. "I'm not sure…something just feels off…I think there's someone outside."

Bri peered out the window, straining to see anything in the darkness of the yard. "I don't see anything."

"Neither do I. But I sense it. Something's wrong."

"I feel it too." Angel said, coming behind them.

"I guess it's a vampire thing." Bri muttered. But suddenly she heard a low growling sound and she looked to find Midnight standing at the door, the fur bristled on her back and her teeth bared, growling at something outside. The slayer hurried to the door and opened it, sticking her head out and scanning the yard. "I still don't- Midnight!" Bri screamed as the puppy charged past her, barking and running into the street.

In a flash the slayer was after the dog, scooping her up in her arms and carrying her back to the safety of the house where she was met by Spike and Angel. Handing the black dog over to the bleached vampire, Bri turned and stared into the darkness. Suddenly a shrill scream pierced the air, followed by another and then a cry for help.

"I'll be right back, guys." Bri called over her shoulder before dashing across the lawn into the street and disappearing in the direction that Midnight had been barking in. Spike and Angel exchanged a look before they both grabbed their coats and charged after the slayer.

Bri's feet pounded against the pavement as she followed the screaming. She rounded a corner, immediately running into the center of a large group of vampires. There was a vampiress in the middle, her head leaned back as she cried for help. She stopped when she saw Bri and grinned, showing off glistening white fangs. The other vampires circled the slayer, effectively blocking her escape. They leered and growled at her, shifting anxiously on their feet. Dozens of feral yellow eyes gleamed hungrily and several red tongues darted out to run across their lips and sharp fangs.

"What are you all waiting for? Let's get this party started." Bri said, trying to hide her fear from them and from herself. She knew she was grossly outnumbered but she still slid a stake into her palm and broke into action. Within a few seconds, two vampires were reduced to piles of dust on the ground.

The others rushed in, trying to hold down the small slayer. Bri struggled against them, wondering why they weren't trying to bite her. "Restrain her! Now!" a deep voice boomed.

A large vampire appeared from the shadows, approaching the slayer where she was being held by his comrades. Bri noticed a long jagged scar running the length of his face, from his hairline to his chin, over his eye and across his pale cheek. The eye was colorless and unseeing and the slayer grimaced as she thought of what might have caused it.

'Scarface' stopped, inches from her face. "You are a cute one. It will be quite a pleasure killing you." His head cocked to the side as he eyed her lustily. "I bet you taste just wonderful…very sweet…" He reached out to brush her cheek with his clammy hand and she let out a growl, impressively close to a vampire's. "And perhaps a bit spicy." 'Scarface' chuckled, his dark yellow eye gleaming in amusement. But his countenance turned abruptly serious as he grabbed a handful of her hair and jerked her head roughly to the side. His face descended toward her neck but he stopped just as abruptly as he'd started. "What the fuck?"

He pushed her away, causing the vampires holding her to stumble also. "You've been claimed?" he roared.

"What does it matter? Just bite her already!" exclaimed a vampire who held Bri's arm.

"Are you crazy? Don't you know what a claim means?" a female chimed in. "Fledgling." She scoffed. "A claim means that this slayer belongs to a vampire and probably a master at that. Translation- we mess with her, we mess with him. Whoever he is."

'Scarface' clutched Bri's face, glaring at her threateningly. "Why would a vampire claim you?" he demanded. "This isn't some game or power play to us. A claim is serious business! A claim is forever! Who did it?" The young slayer remained silent, her jaw clenched firmly shut. "Who did it?" he screamed again, smacking her across the face.

"I did it. And if you know what's good for you, you won't touch another hair on her head." Spike said, emerging from the shadows.

'Scarface' turned to face the other vampire, a wicked, almost pleased looking grin on his face. "Spike! I should've known. First teaming up with a slayer and now fucking one." Spike growled low in his throat as he slowly moved closer to the group. "But why in the hell would you claim her? You were with Drusilla for over a hundred years and you never claimed her. Why a human? And why a slayer?"

Spike's eyes drifted over to Bri, who stood motionless in her captors' arms. She was watching him with that trusting gaze that always overwhelmed him. "I love her." He said softly, their eyes locked on each other.

A deep, throaty chuckle pulled their attention from on another. 'Scarface' stood, laughing and shaking his head to himself. "I love it! It's hilarious! Absolutely hilarious!"

"Well I'm failing to find the humor here." Bri said dryly.

"What I find so amusing, my dear slayer, is the sweet irony of the situation." He fixed the bleached blonde vampire with a satisfied stare. "Spike, my dear ex-master, will now be forced to watch me kill his lover just as he forced me to watch when he killed mine!"