The rest of the week went by well. Buffy and Spike hung out together alot. Anya had started to hang with their group now. She said she was tired of listening to Ginger's ranting. Buffy decided she would sign up for the cheerleading squad. She wanted to show Cordelia that you don't just have to be pretty to be popular, which she was becoming at a fast rate. Even though there would always be the main gang, she was getting more friends. She knew it was mainly because of Spike and Anya, but she didn't care. Secondary attention was better than no attention.

That Saturday was Willow's sixteenth birthday. The gang was going to the Bronze with cake and presents. Then, afterwards, Willow, Xander, and Buffy were going to her house for a movie fest and popcorn.

"Where is it?!" shouted Buffy in frustration. She was looking for Willow's present. Spike was leaning in the doorway, looking amused.

"Are you sure it's in your room, luv?" he asked.

She plopped down on the bed. "Yes.....Maybe.....I don't know. I just know that Willow is going to be here any minute and I can't find her present."

Dawn appeared next to Spike. "What are you looking for?"

"Willow's present. It's a box with red paper on it."

"Oh, that. I thought it was trash."

Buffy looked at her in disbelief.

"Chill. I was kidding. It's in your closet."

Buffy routed through her closet and soon came up with the box.

"How did you know it was in there?" asked Buffy.

Dawn crossed her arms. "I, uh, saw you put it there. I promise. I wasn't going through your closet."

"Dawn...." said Buffy in a warning tone.

Spike leaned down and whispered in Dawn's ear. "I suggest you make yourself scarce until she leaves."

Dawn nodded and left the doorway.

"Why does she listen to you, and not me?" Buffy asked. "What do you do? Pay her?"

He shrugged. "She just listens to me. Maybe it has to do with the fact that I'm not her sister."

"Or, maybe it has to do with the fact that she might have a crush on you."

"A crush? On me. Why?"

She gave him a look. "Well, your hot and a bad ass. You can be funny with your quick comebacks and quips. You can be very annoying when you want to be. And who doesn't like someone with bleached hair that wears leather?"

"Alot of girls' mums."

"My mom has no problem with it."

"You mum is decent."

Buffy pulled her leather coat out of the closet and laid it on her bed. "What did you get Willow for her birthday?"

"I didn't know what to give her so I'm gonna give her some cash."

"How much?"

"Fifty."

"Damn! Where did you get fifty dollars to just give away?"

"I borrowed it from my dad."

"Uh huh. And does this 'borrowing' involve slipping it out of his wallet without asking and no intention of return?"

"No," he said, offended.

She gave him a look.

"Oh, come on, Luv. I needed money. I can't just not give her anything. Anyway, all he would use it for is drinks."

Buffy sighed. "At least you don't steal from regular people."

Spike shuffled his feet, looking at the ground.

"You don't steal money from people, do you?"

No answer.

"Spike! I can't believe you! What the Hell are you thinking?"

He was about to say something, but the doorbell rang.

"I'll get it," he said, running from the room.

She sighed again, grabbed the box and her jacket, then followed him.

Spike opened the door to see Willow on the other side.

She gave a small wave. "Hey, Spike."

"Hey, Red. Happy birthday."

"Thanks." She looked at the door. "Can I come in?"

He stepped back, "Of course."

"Where's Buffy?"

Buffy appeared at the top of the stairs. "Right here. Ready, birthday girl?"

"Yep."

Buffy walked down the stairs and her and Willow walked out of the door. Spike sighed and followed behind them, closing the door behind him.

"I can't believe I'm finally sixteen," said Willow. "My mom is taking me to get my driver's licence in a few days."

"That's great. Now, I have two driving people."

Buffy and Willow climbed into Spike's car, Buffy in the front seat next to Spike. She nudged his arm.

"I'm finishing the conversation we were having, tomorrow."

He nodded, then started up the car.

They drove to the Bronze, which was becoming packed. Xander and Anya had saved them a couch with a coffe table, that was already covered in presents.

"Hey, Willow," greeted Anya.

"Hey, birthday girl," said Xander.

"Hey guys," Willow said. She eyed the crowd and looked at the stage where Oz and his band were playing. She turned back to everyone. "I'm going to say hi to Oz, I'll be back in a minute."

"Good ahead. I'll sit here and stuff myself with processed sugar," said Xander, guesturing to the bowl of different candy that was sitting on the coffe table.

Willow smiled and headed towards the stage.

Buffy took a seat on the couch next to Xander, and Spike sat down next to her.

"So, is it just us, or is there anyone else?" asked Buffy.

"A few friends of Willow's dropped off some presents, but mainly it's just us. Oh, look," Xander said, pointing to the stage.

The music had stopped and Oz pulled Willow onto the stage. He grabbed the microphone.

"Hey, everybody. This is Willow," he said, guesturing to Willow. Willow waved. "Today is Willow's sweet sixteen, so on the count of three, say happy sweet sixteen." The crowd cheered and clapped. "Ready? One, two three," he held the microphone out to the crowd as they yelled happy sweet sixteen.

Willow waved again. "Thank you."

Oz gave her a kiss on the cheek. She smiled at him. She gave him a small kiss before running off the stage and over to her friends.

The music started up again.

Willow walked over to the couch and sat down.

"Hey, Will, you're a celeberty," said Xander.

"That was so cool," Willow squealed.

"Oz was cool to bring you up there," said Buffy.

"Hey, look what I got," said Xander, pulling a box out from under the table. He set it on the table and opened it up to reveal a chocolate cake with Sweet Sixteen in frosting.

"Oh, it's beautiful," exclaimed Willow.

Xander put it back under the table. "But, first, presents."

Willow hit his arm. "You don't just show me a cake then put it away and say I have to wait."

"If you want Oz to be here when you blow out the candles, you'll wait."

Willow crossed her arms over her chest. "Fine. Gimme my presents."

Xander started to hand her presents, which Willow tore into. She got clothes from Buffy, Anya gave her some expensive shoes that only she could afford, Xander gave her a gold necklace that said Sweet Sixteen on a gold plate, and Oz gave her a ring that had a gold band with little flowers ingraved in it with a small diamond in each flower.

"How did her afford this?" she asked in awe at the ring.

"He said he has his sorces," said Xander.

"I'd like to find these sorces," said Buffy, observing the ring.

Spike tossed her a wad of bills. "Here, Will. Couldn't think of anything to get you."

Willow picked up the money. "How did all of my friends become so rich without me noticing?"

"I was already rich," said Anya.

"We knew that, Anya."

"Doesn't hurt to remind."

Just then, Oz came walking up to them. "Hey, guys. Did I miss anything?"

"How did you afford this?" Willow said, holding up her finger that had the ring on it.

"I have my sorces."

Oz sat down next to her. "Do you like it?"

"Of course! It's beautiful."

"Like you." He gave her a small kiss on the cheek.

"Can we have cake now?" asked Xander.

"Yes!" cried Willow. "Cake. The most important part of a birthday party next to the expensive presents."

Xander pulled out the cake, stuck sixteen candles in it, and lit them up.

They sang happy birthday to her and she blew out the candles.

"I wished for..." started Willow with a smile, before Xander and Buffy slapped their hands over her mouth.

"You know better," said Xander.

"You won't get your wish," said Buffy.

Willow smiled and pushed there hands away. She gave them a hug. "Thanks you guys. You're the greatest."

Oz stood. "I'll be right back." And he ran off.

Willow looked at Xander and Buffy. "Where's he going to?"

Just then, the loud music on stage stopped and slower, more seductive music filled the room. Couple walked out to the dance floor and started to slow dance.

Oz walked back up to Willow, and held out his hand. "May I have this dance?"

Willow let Oz take her hand. "Of course."

Oz led Willow out to the dance floor and they started dancing.

Xander stood and asked Anya to dance, who agreed and they left also.

"Come on guys," called Willow to Buffy and Spike.

Spike looked at Buffy. She shrugged. "Sure."

They walked out to the dancefloor. Spike put his arms around her waist and she laid her head on his chest.

"Are you mad at me, luv?" he asked.

"A little," she admitted. "I can't believe you stole money from your dad."

"I told you. I needed it."

"Get a job, Spike. You're seventeen. Get a job at a fast food restruant. It would get you more than what you need."

"I don't like jobs."

"Well get over it. If you keep on stealing, we're going to have a problem."

"No problems, luv. It won't happen again."

"Thank you."

They continued dancing.

When the dance ended, everyone came back to the couch again.

"So, anymore surprises for me?" asked Willow.

"I think that's about it, Will," said Xander. "Except that me and you and Buffy are going back to her house for a pocorn and movie fest."

"Oh, yeah. I almost forgot about that. I brought some movies. They're in my backback."

"Great."

"So, is that all us boyfriends-" started Spike.

"Hey," cried Anya.

"- and girlfriends cue to leave so you can have your little slumber party?"

Anya hit Xander's arm. "You have to drive me home."

"Are you driving with Oz, Willow?" asked Buffy.

Willow gave Oz a questioning look, and he shrugged.

"Yeah," said Willow. "I'll see you guys there."

"Okay."

They all stood.

"Thanks, you guys," Willow said as she gave them each, even Spike and Anya, a hug.

"No problem, Will," said Xander. "I'll drop Anya off, then I'll be over."

"We'll see you there."

They all exited the Bronze and got in their seperate vehicles.

Spike and Buffy rode silently in his car. Buffy stared aimlessly out the window, watching the houses go by as they drove.

"You sure you're not mad at me, Luv?" asked Spike.

Buffy turned to him. "I'm mad because you stole Willow's birthday present. I'm mad at you because you could have easily gotten the money on your own, but you just don't want to. You could have asked me for money, and, because it's for Willow, I would have given it to you. You didn't even ask."

"I said I won't do it again, pet. I'm sorry."

"I know," she said faintly.

He sighed and turned back to the road.

They pulled up to her house. Spike reached out and turned her head to face him.

"I'm sorry, Buffy. I'll make it up to you. I promise." He leaned in a gave her a soft kiss.

"You better," she whispered. Buffy grabbed her purse and opened the door. "See you tomorrow."

She climbed out of the car and shut the door.

Spike watched her walk to her house and go inside. He roughly put the car in drive and sped away.

Buffy put a bag of popcorn into the microwave and turned it on.

Joyce walked in and opened the fridge.

Buffy silently pulled a bowl out of the cabinet.

"How'd it go?" asked Joyce, pouring herself a glass of milk.

"It was okay. Willow really liked it," said Buffy, never turning to face her mother.

"Xander and Willow are still coming over, right?"

"Yeah. Willow had to take her presents home and Xander had to take Anya home."

"Good. Dawn is at a friend's house, so you'll be left alone."

"Thank you," Buffy replied softly.

Joyce put her glass in the sink.

The microwave started beeping, signaling the popcorn was done. Buffy pulled the bag out and carefully poured the popcorn in the bowl.

Joyce crossed her arms. "Is something wrong?"

Buffy's head snapped up. "What? Nothing's wrong." "Are you sure? You seem quiet."

"I-I'm not quiet. I'm just getting things ready for Xander and Willow."

"Are you sure nothing happened?"

"Positive." Buffy picked up the bowl. "I-I need to get ready."

Buffy walked out of the kitchen quickly. Joyce watched her go and shook her head before leaving the room.

About twenty minutes later, Buffy, Willow, and Xander were sitting on the couch watching a movie Willow brought.

"What's the point of the movie, again?" asked Xander. Buffy had a confused look too.

"I-It's about a girl, who's desperatly in love with this guy, but his parents aren't as rich as hers, and her parents make her move away, and she forgets about him, and then they meet again three years later, but he has a wife, and she's devasted, but she tries to be friends, and then his wife dies, so she tries to make him feel better, and they get back togther, then he dies too, then in the end, she finds out she's pregnant with his child."

"How many times have you seen this movie?" asked Xander.

"A little over twenty."

Buffy grabbed the remote and flipped off the TV. "Okay, then. Why don't we do something else?"

"Like what?" asked Xander. "This is a popcorn slash movie fest."

"We can think of something. Anything."

"I'm going shopping tomorrow," said Willow. "I'm going to spend the money Spike gave me."

"Anything, but that," said Buffy.

"Something wrong?"

"No!" said Buffy quickly. "I mean. Let's go...raid the refridgerator. I'm *really* craving some ice cream right now."

"Good point," said Xander. "Every slumber party must have ice cream."

"Then, why don't we get some," said Buffy, getting up.

"Are you sure there's nothing wrong?" asked Willow.

"I'm sure. Let's just get some ice cream." She walked quickly out of the room.

Xander and Willow exchanged bewildered looks before following.

Buffy and Willow sat next to each other, eating ice cream, while Xander was playing with a can of whip cream and was putting it all over his face.

"I wonder what it would be like to have a big white beard?" Xander questioned himself, putting whip cream all over his chin.

"Xander, you're making a mess," complained Buffy.

"It's no fun if I'm all clean and tidy."

"It's also no fun to try and get whip cream stains out of the couch, which you're going to have to do if you get any on my mom's couch."

"Point taken." Xander took a paper towel and wiped his face, then went to put the whipcream up.

Willow turned to Buffy. "Are you sure nothing's wrong? You seem a bit...well, cranky."

"I'm fine, Will. Me and Spike just had a disagreement and he made me mad.," said Buffy, looking at her spoon of melting ice cream.

"You guys had a fight! Why didn't you tell me in the first place? What happened?"

"It's not important. Really. Just...drop it."

"But-" Willow caught a look at Buffy's face. "Fine."

Buffy gave Willow a grateful look. Willow smiled meekly.

The rest of the night was all fun and games, but Buffy was still partially distracted by her thoughts on Spike and his stealing.