Away From It All
Chapter 16: Boxing Day
By: Rogue-Slayer13
Summary: See pervious chapters.
Disclaimer: The characters of Btvs and Ats belong to Joss Whedon. Spike's family members and other character you've never heard of before are mine.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Where is everybody?" asked Buffy as she came into Willow's apartment the next morning.
"I could ask you the same," said Willow upon seeing no Dawn, Andrew, Joyce, or Giles behind her blonde friend.
"Mom and Giles took Dawnie and Andrew sightseeing," said Buffy as she took off her coat and laid it on the back of the couch.
"That's nice," said Willow as she sat down next to Buffy on the couch. "Spike and Angel took Fred and Cordelia over to Spike's parent's house for a visit and Xander and Gunn took Anya and Faith with them to go get breakfast."
"What about Oz?" asked Buffy.
"He went to get Wesley and Lorne. They should be over about the time when everyone else gets here."
"Okay, mom and Giles are stopping by a little later."
"Are they bringing Andrew and Dawn?"
"Probably," replied Buffy. "I think mom's sort of adopted Andrew."
"Why's that?"
"He goes with us everywhere," said Buffy. "We can't even leave the country without taking him with us."
"Andrew's not all that bad, I mean he can be fun at times."
"Yeah, but he tends to annoy with all of his Star Trek and Star Wars knowledge way before the fun side of him emerges."
"I think that's just something we have to get used to."
"Don't his parents miss him? I mean he's over at our house all the time."
"What I remember his brother saying about their parents made them sound about as caring as mine," said Willow.
"I thought your mom was more motherly now."
"She is," said Willow. "But this is after the abandonment and mind fixing."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Angel, Spike, Cordy, and Fred were the first to arrive at the apartment, followed closely by Xander, Gunn, Anya, and Faith with the food. Oz, Wesley, and Lorne got there just in time to see Xander stuff four pieces of toast in his mouth. Joyce and Giles missed the pre-breakfast show much to their delight.
"I think this was a nice Christmas," said Anya.
"Me too," said Willow. "We were all together and there were no demons or apocalypses to worry about."
"We should do this more often," said Wesley.
"Maybe we could have karaoke night sometime," suggested Lorne.
"As long as Angel stay's away from Barry Manilow," said Gunn with a smile.
"Very funny," replied Angel.
"It's not my fault you butcher that song."
"At least you can sing our stuff okay," said Xander.
"Yeah," said Spike. "We'd never make any money if people heard you sing that badly."
"You guys suck," said Angel.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"So Luv," said Spike as he and Fred sat in the kitchen after breakfast. "You survived your first major visit with my crazy family, how do you feel?"
"Your family's not crazy Spike, I think they're fun," said Fred.
"Really? They don't even mildly frighten you?" asked a shocked Spike.
"Well, watching your brother eat was kind of scary," said Fred with a smile.
"Yeah, he's almost as bad as Harris," said Spike with a laugh.
"Every family has their quirks." Fred looked at Spike. "You wouldn't even believe some of the weird stuff my family does."
"They can't be that weird. Angel always said your family was normal."
"Yeah, a little too normal. Plus, they're from the south which is a whole other thing in itself."
"I haven't actually gotten the chance to meet your family yet," said Spike.
"You'll have to come with me this summer," said Fred.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"We should probably get going," said Joyce after the group had spent all day visiting. "Our plane leaves in an hour and half and they want you there at least an hour ahead of time."
"Yeah," said Xander. "It was nice seeing you guys again."
"Same here," said Anya.
"I'll give you guys a call when we get back," said Buffy. "Unless of course it would be really late over here and in that case I'd wait until it wasn't so late."
"We know what you mean," said Willow.
"Bye Spike," said Dawn as she gave the former vampire a hug.
"See ya Nibblet."
Dawn finished saying her goodbyes before following her mom and Giles out to the car while Buffy said hers.
"See you guys," said Buffy as she was pulled into a group hug by Willow, Xander, Anya, and Cordelia.
"Bye Buffy," said Willow.
"See ya later." Buffy waved at the guys and then walked over to Spike and Fred.
"It was nice having you over," said Fred, not knowing what else to say.
"I thought so," said Buffy. "Bye Spike and congratulations you two."
"Bye Buffy," said Spike as the slayer left the apartment.
"That must've been hard for her," said Fred.
"Yeah, but we all need a little bit of closure," replied Spike.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The End