Well, folks, I think we reached the end of our journey. I did tell you this was a short pointless fic, right? (if I didn't, I'm telling you now) I hope y'all like my ending! Thanks to all those more silent people who read and liked my story. And a bigger thank you to all reviewers! The thoughts and comments you sent made me so happy!
Squirly4spike: Lol! Thanks! I loved the exploding pie, too! But see what happens next . . .
Mita427: Thanks giving such great support! I glad you laughed!
Melanie: Yay! You found my story and you liked it!
Gigil3: Thank you SO much for leaving me a pretty review after every chap I've written! I hope you like the ending!
Jobe: Thanks for sticking with the story even after you knew there was no spuffiness. And you left me a nice review after every chapter. I bake you cookies!
Iluvglorfindel: I'm sorry. I haven't seen all the BtVS episodes. But I like Buffy this way for this fic. Call it alternate reality if you want.
Slayer3: (happy smile) Glad you liked it!
lilmisscookiemonster: I do sympathize with the vegetables and turkey, but it had to happen.
"Well, we could always have messy cobbler," Spike suggested, eying the former apple pie.
"Sure, why not," said Buffy resignedly. She was too tired to argue anymore. And to think she thought this would be easy at the beginning of the day!
Buffy took the ruined pie out of the oven, and let the turkey continue baking, regardless of the exploded apples.
Tentatively, she took a spoon and tasted a bit of the apple filling. Buffy immediately choked, face turning red as she rushed to the sink, rinsing out her mouth.
"Hey, now!" Spike said indignantly. "It can't be all that bad!"
Determined to prove his point, he took an even bigger spoonful, and immediately regretted his decision.
He joined the Slayer at the sink.
It turned out that the red bottle of spice Spike took was not cinnamon. It was Cajun. Hot. Pepper. Cajun. And Spike had added the whole container into the pie.
Once they recovered, the pie joined the peas in the trash.
"You have ice cream, right? Serve that."
Buffy managed to choke out, "Don't talk to me now. I'm mad at you."
Spike glared, but didn't answer.
Terrified by what she would find (but thinking that nothing could surprise her anymore), Buffy got the microwave door open.
She didn't even consider trying to salvage the yams.
The inside of the microwave was thickly covered in melted yams, and the plastic bowl Buffy kept the yams in had melted.
Another thing, into the trash.
"Now all we have is a turkey, some rolls, and some fruit," Buffy said worriedly.
She spoke too soon. Another bang came from the oven.
Dawn poked her head in. "Are you guys cooking, or running a firework factory here?"
"Go. Away. Dawn."
Thankfully, the teenager recognized that tone of voice, and quickly left.
Practically all that was left of the turkey was a pile of ash.
They were down to the last two things: bread and cranberries. Things that, happily, even Buffy and Spike could not manage to ruin. Especially since it ended up being Dawn who prepared the food.
"I reckon even the Pilgrims had more than this in their firs' winter," Spike stated.
The trio stared at the sadly Spartan table, adorned only by the two lonely dishes in the center.
Buffy grabbed Spike's collar, pulling him back as he tried to sneak off. "Nuh-uh. You're helping me fix this."
"Well, wha' can we do? It's too late for take-out and --"
The doorbell rang.
"Ahhh!" with a whispered scream, Buffy trudged off to answer it.
Upon opening the door, she found Willow and Tara . . . bearing wonderful-smelling, hot, steamy plates of food!
"Hey, Buffy!" greeted the redhead while Tara smiled shyly in the background.
"H-h-hi." Buffy was too dazed to manage more than that.
She invited them in, but before she got the chance to ask the Wiccans about the food, the bell rang again.
"You better like this food. It cost me some of my valuable money," was Anya's ways of greeting her, while holding out a plate of food.
"Hon, remember our talk the other day about tact?" Xander smiled patiently. Then, turning to Buffy: "Hey, Buff. I hope we're not too late."
"No, of course not. Come in." She was still shocked by her luck.
As they walked to the dining room, Buffy asked Xander, "So, how did you know to bring some food?"
Xander looked puzzled. "Well, Dawnie called us this afternoon, and said that you were having some kitchen trouble, and you wanted us to bring something."
"Wait. What? Dawn?"
"Yeah, Dawn. Is something wrong?"
"No, no just . . ." Buffy trailed off as she finally figured out what happened.
Once in the dining room, Buffy said, "Dawn . . ."
"Yeah, sis?" Dawn smiled sweetly.
"You –Did you --"
"Yup, don't you love me?"
"Wait, Dawn told all your Scoobies to bring food?" Spike asked incredulously as he caught on.
"Hey! What's Captain Peroxide doing here?" Xander said as he finally noticed Spike.
"'Ey--"
"Stop!" Buffy cut in. "You're both guests tonight, so call a truce for now! Agreed?"
No one dared argue with her.
"Yeah, alright."
"Fine."
"Right. Back to Dawn," continued Buffy. "You could've at least told me 'bout what you did so I wouldn't have been so stressed out."
"It was more fun to watch you suffer," the teen said wickedly. "Plus, I got enough blackmail pictures from this afternoon to last me a lifetime!"
Thankfully, the bell rang again, saving Dawn from being hurt by either Spike or Buffy.
This time, it was Giles and Joyce, who had both arrived at the house at the same time.
"Happy Thanksgiving, Buffy!"
"Hey, Buffy. Help me with this turkey, will you?"
And, lo and behold, Joyce had the Thanksgiving turkey!
"Hi, Giles! Mom! How did you know to bring a turkey?" Buffy asked in amazement as she took the wonderfully perfect turkey from her mom.
Could everyone but me see how badly the dinner-making was going to go?!
Joyce smiled. "Well, Buffy, I love you dearly, but you have been my daughter for 20 years, and I know by now, that cooking . . .well, it's just not one of your strengths."
This last comment was heard by all the guests, who promptly burst out laughing.
oOoOoOoOo
So, it came to pass that Thanksgiving in the Summers' house was a happy event this year.
The mighty Slayer, her wise Watcher, and her loyal Scoobies were able to enjoy a day without apocalypses.
The tradition of feasting with the family was not broken, and the happy friends laughed the night away.
Young Dawn did a good deed and helped herself in her future evil enterprises in the same day.
And finally, our brave vampire, Spike, who withstood the tortures of home cooking for his beloved Slayer and Bit: He eventually received his cup of hot chocolate, and, amazingly, a 'thank you' from the Slayer! That night he went home a happy vamp.
But, after the festivities, when the time for rest had come, Joyce entered the kitchen of her home, and thought, It looks like a bomb exploded in here!
Ah, Joyce, if only you knew.
The End
Thanks again, everyone! I hope you enjoyed! If you have any last comments to make, you know what to do . . . .
le faye