Author's Note: No idea if there is a canon date for Willow's birthday. I couldn't find it if there is, so I had to make one up. Hope that's okay with everyone. (And I apologize to anyone who speaks Italian for my restaurant name. I don't speak it so it's probably mangled hopelessly). (

Buffy knew she should be enjoying herself. After all, here she was with an incredible guy and some of her good friends on a dream ship. Yet, she couldn't quite shake the feeling she was missing something. Maybe it was just guilt about Willow. Buffy had hoped to scrounge up an extra ticket for the redhead, but there just hadn't been one to be had. And really this was designed to be for couples. Willow probably would have felt uncomfortable. At least that's what Buffy and Xander kept telling each other. Which Buffy knew meant they both felt guilty for leaving their friend behind.

She was so lost in her thoughts that it wasn't until he took her in his arms that Buffy realized Sirius was back from putting their bags away in the cabin they'd share for the weekend.

"Is something wrong, Buffy?" Sirius said.

Buffy sighed. "Just thinking about Willow. I feel bad leaving her behind. But, Xander said she took it really well."

"That doesn't surprise me. Willow seems like that type of girl. Really understanding and all."

"Yeah, she is. I wish she could have been here. She'd have liked this view."

"I don't know, Buffy. She might have felt left out. All of the activities are for pairs. Who would she have brought?"

Buffy just shrugged. "We could have found someone. Maybe Severus could have come with her."

"Snape?" Sirius barked. "She'd have been better off alone. He's not exactly pleasant company."

Buffy turned so that she could look Sirius in the eyes. "He wouldn't hurt her, would he?"

She felt Sirius's arms tighten around her. "I don't think he's do anything to her physically, if that's what you're asking. He might hurt her feelings though. He's, well he can be fairly harsh on people. Why?"

"I worry. I mean he said he was having lunch with her, and you keep making these comments about him that made me wonder." Buffy laid her head on her boyfriend's shoulder. "I don't want anything bad to happen to her. She's been through a lot with Oz leaving."

"Oz?" Sirius asked.

"Her ex-boyfriend. He left her after cheating with some other girl. It's more complicated than that, but those are the basics. It hurt her pretty bad."

Sirius nodded. "I doubt that Snape would be in any position to cause that sort of pain. Though I am surprised that he asked her to lunch. I don't know what exactly he's up to there."

"Couldn't he just, I don't know, enjoy her company or something?"

Sirius laughed. "Snape doesn't enjoy anyone's company, Buffy. He—"

But Buffy didn't get to find out what Sirius was going to say because at that moment Xander dashed up the stairs and nearly knocked them overboard.

"Buff, is there any way to get off this ship?"

"Xander, I think you're overreacting." Anya said as she grabbed his arm. "People spend lots of money to be on this ship, and we shouldn't just give it up."

"This is Willow, An. I don't care about money; I don't care about this trip. I can't believe we forgot about Willow!"

"Xander," Buffy nearly shouted. "What about Willow? Is she in some kind of trouble?"

"Huh?" Xander said, finally seeming to come out of his panic haze a little. "Trouble? No. But, Buff, it's the sixteenth!"

Buffy frowned. Xander said that like it was important. Like she should know what it meant. The sixteenth.

Buffy's eyes widened as everything finally fell into place. "Oh my god! It's the sixteenth? Today?"

"Yeah." Xander said in his apocalypse tone.

"I'm sorry," Sirius said, "but what is going on? Why is the date so important."

"Because," Buffy replied as she felt the tears come, "it's Willow's birthday. And we forgot."

"Now," Xander said, "we're here, trapped on a ship, completely unable to grovel for forgetting."

"What are we going to do, Xand?" Buffy said.

Sirius wrapped his arms around her. "You can't do anything now but enjoy the trip. They're certainly not going to turn the boat around now. I doubt Willow would want you to be miserable all weekend either. So, we'll all have fun, and when we get back we can throw a party for her. Lavish her with gifts, and apologize profusely. I'm sure it'll be okay."

Buffy nodded. "You're right, but when we get back I'm going to do some serious begging for forgiveness."

"Right there with you, Buff." Xander said.

Anya took Xander's hand. "Fine, but now I think we should go to our cabin. I want—"

"Anya!" The other three said in unison.

***

Willow stood in front of the mirror and sighed. No matter what outfit she tried it just didn't seem right for this situation. What did one wear to a not-a-lunch-date with the guy you might have a crush on even though he was interested in your roommate? Jeans and a t-shirt seemed too unimpressive, a skirt was too dressy, anything from Buffy's closet was too Buffy. What had she been thinking when she agreed to this?

Fortunately, before she could have a complete wardrobe meltdown the phone rang. Hopefully it was Severus canceling. Except that she really didn't want that either.

"Hello." She said when she finally got up the nerve to answer the phone.

"Hello, Willow. Happy Birthday."

"Thanks, Giles. I didn't think anyone remembered."

"Of course, I remembered, and I'd hoped that you would join me to celebrate since Buffy and Xander are rather foolishly out of town."

"I don't mind really, well, okay, I do, but this trip was a big deal and they couldn't exactly reschedule it. I'm sure if they could have they'd be here and—"

"Yes, Willow, that is all well and good, but since they are not here would you like to come over here? I could try to bake a cake perhaps?"

"That's sweet, Giles, but I sort of already have plans this afternoon. I'm meeting a friend at Buono Cibo for lunch. Maybe we could do it later. Like a dinner thing? And I could make the cake."

"You will do no such thing. If we're celebrating later I can buy one instead. Really that works out quite well. I'll see you this evening. Around seven perhaps?"

"Sure, Giles. That'd be great. And...well thanks. Again. This means a lot to me."

"You are most welcome, Willow. I'll see you tonight."

They exchanged good-byes and Willow put the phone down feeling much better than she had minutes before. Suddenly the clothes didn't seem so important. Sure, she kind of like Severus, but it no longer felt like one mistake would ruin her entire birthday. It was going to be okay.

***

Severus arrived at the café a bit early. It appeared to specialize in pastas and salads. There was very little red meat on the menu and a rather extensive wine list. It was probably quite popular for dinner dates, but seemed nearly empty at this time of day.

Since he had a choice of seating he made sure to choose a small booth that was in a less crowded section of the restaurant. He was hoping that the seclusion would prompt Willow to talk more freely. To that end he also chose, with the help of the waiter, a selection of wines to be served with the meal. He wasn't entirely sure Willow drank, but if not he might be able to persuade her to half a glass as a favor. The alcohol would cover the taste of the potion better than soda or coffee.

With all of his preparations made he simply needed the girl to arrive. Severus was surprised to find himself nervous about this. While it certainly was not a date, the idea that she would simply not come still filled him with a particular type of dread. Not that he would blame her, though she hardly seemed the type to do so. Who honestly would want to spend more time than necessary with him? It was not something he encouraged in people anyway. So it would not be a surprise if she did not show up.

But no. He could see her speaking to the waiter now. He was relieved to find he had not overdressed in his black slacks and dark gray silk shirt. She herself was wearing a long black skirt with a matching tank top under a sheer green long-sleeved blouse. While it did look rather fetching on her lean frame was picking at the sleeves. Perhaps she was considering leaving before she had to go through with this?

Then the waiter was showing her to the table and she smiled". Severus smiled back and waited for her to slide into the other side of the booth.

"Well, Willow," the waiter said with a smile, "here you are. And happy birthday."

Willow looked surprised. "How did you know it was my birthday?"

"Mr. Giles called. He wanted to make sure you got your free dessert. Now what can I get you to drink?"

Severus took this opportunity to get help his plan come to fruition. "Would you mind joining me for a glass of wine, Willow?"

She looked up at him from the menu. "I'd like to but they won't let me here. I'm not old enough, I mean, I'm well, not twenty-one yet and—"

"Of course. My mistake." Severus mentally chided himself for forgetting how young the girl was. Of course, she couldn't drink.

The waiter though came to his rescue. "We have some very nice non- alcoholic wines if you'd like to try one of those."

"Um, okay." Willow said. "That sounds good. Um, just bring me something close to whatever he's drinking." Willow said gesturing to Severus's wine glass.

"Certainly. I'll be right back."

"So," Severus said once the waiter left, "today is your birthday?"

"Yeah."

"And you had time on such a day to spend with me?"

"It's not like anyone else wanted to be around me. Well, Giles, but I didn't know that. And, oh, I didn't mean that you were a last resort! I like talking to you. Really, I do!"

"I assure you, Willow, I took no offense. Actually I'm surprised that you didn't have those friends of yours to occupy you though. You and Buffy at least seem quite close."

"We are usually. Things have just been a little busy, and then that trip came up and that's not something that could be rescheduled."

Severus waited while the waiter placed Willow's drink on the table. While Willow studied the menu he took her glass and under the guise of smelling the wine slipped the relaxation potion into the drink. Now he just needed it to have been properly made and for her to take it.