A/N: Hey! Another chapter! Woohoo!spikespet2002 pointed out that Buffy's birthday wouldn't have been right before Christmas which is very true, but for my story it is. I know it's wrong but I'm just having a little bit of fun with this story. Sorry if that goes against the show. Enjoy! And Review!

Disclaimer: See previous chapters.

"Dawnie I think it should be a little higher" Dawn stretched to hold up the Merry Christmas sign she had in her hand.

Willow frowned. "A little higher"

"Hey my arm isn't made out of elastic you know" Dawn grumbled. Her arm was hurting and she wanted Willow to hurry up so that he could be there when Spike arrived. She knew her sister still wasn't OK with this arrangement. They had been putting up decorations for the last hour and Dawn was starting to get agitated.

"Why cant we just wait till Tara gets here? She can put up all the streamers and stuff like you did for Xander and Anya's engagement party" Dawn climbed down from the stepladder rubbing her tired arm.

"Because Dawn" Willow said slightly exasperated ."Magic isn't about making pretty streamers when you're feeling lazy, that's not what it is for"

"Glad to see I've had some influence on you" Tara said standing at the living room doorway, watching Willow with a smile on her face.

" Tara! I didn't know you would get here so soon, not that you're not welcome or anything it's just…" Willow wanted to stop rambling but whenever she saw Tara, her mind went all over the place.

"What she means to say is" Dawn interrupted and threw Willow a I-will-rescue-you look which Willow gratefully accepted "We're really happy you're here" Dawn went over and gave Tara a hug, and Tara squeezed her tight but she still kept her eyes and her smile on Willow. Willow looked nervous.

" You know what? I think I am gonna go see what Buffy is doing, and try and hide the stakes before Spike arrives" Dawn grinned and left the room.

Willow stood nervously trying not to fidget too much. Tara could see that and it only made her smile more. Maybe Willow had changed, and after what she had just heard her say to Dawn, Tara was beginning to think that maybe a make up was on the cards.

"I brought the turkey, nothing like a big dead bird to bring out the holiday spirit." Tara showed Willow the platter that had a rather large turkey on it.

"Well technically I'm not supposed to be eating turkey you know being Jewish and all, actually technically I'm not supposed to be celebrating Christmas, but I figure this year what with everything that's been going on it will be kinda nice to have us all together again" Willow realised she was rambling again.

"Yeah it will be nice, to have us all together, together is good"

Willow's ears perked up at Tara's last word's. She couldn't mean what she thought she did…could she?

"Tara hey! I didn't hear you come in!" Buffy came into the room and gave Tara a hug.

" I only came in a second ago, hey is it true that Spike's coming?" She gave Buffy a politely interested look, but Buffy knew what she really meant.

"Yeah well, Dawn wanted him along, and then Willow chipped in so I figured hey, the more the merrier! But he's sleeping in the basement though" Buffy added the last part quickly, she wanted to make sure that Tara knew nothing was going to happen, now all she needed to do was convince herself and Spike. She quickly changed the subject.

"Well it's good you're here, we could use some help with the decorations, I tried to chop down a tree seeing as we left it so late but Dawn seems to be holding all my weapons hostage" Buffy rolled her eyes as she said this."I think it's a security measure, to make sure all of our guests actually stay alive, well undead I guess is the correct term, but it doesn't matter anyway, Xander's on his way over with one"

At this, Willow interrupted confused. " What a weapons bag?"

Buffy shook her head. "No, a tree he said he's gonna steal one from his parents, they will probably be to drunk to notice " Buffy looked slightly uncomfortable.She turned to Tara.

"Wanna help set the tree up?"

"Actually I think I better get started on the food, it could take hours" Tara nodded towards the turkey.

"Are you sure? You could put the angel on the top?" Willow looked at Tara hopefully as she spoke.

"Maybe, after" Tara gave Willow a long smile before leaving to go into the kitchen.

"Wow, check out the heat in here" Buffy walked over to Willow, teasing her " I feel like we should crack a window open or something" Buffy grinned at Willow as she turned red with embarresment.

"Really? You picked up on that too? Cause I really don't want to get ahead of myself…"

"Trust me" Buffy interrupted. "You two are defiantly sending each other horny vibes"

"Hey! We were not!" Willow looked embarrassed. Buffy smiled inwardly to herself. It was nice to see her friends happy.

The front door opened and a lot of noise and banging could be heard. Both the girls walked over to see Xander who was wrestling with a gigantic tree.

"Need some help with that?" Buffy asked.

"No" Xander ducked quickly when a branch nearly wacked him in the face. He finally managed to get it to stand up properly. " There! See? The Xand man's got it under control." He looked very pleased with himself as he stood next to an enormous tree that almost touched the ceiling.

"Ooo yay! We got a tree! Can we decorate it now?" Dawn called down as she stood halfway down the stairs with an exited smile on her face.

"Easy Dawn, we still have to get that thing into the living room, where did you even get it?" Buffy looked the tree and finally took in its size and wondered how the hell he got it in the door let alone to her house.

"Watch it Harris! You've got bloody pine needles all over my jacket now" Spike entered brushing off his jacket.

"Spike kinda helped me with the tree on his way over" Xanderadmitted, looking slightly embarrassed.

"Evening all" Spike grinned at all of them

"Spike!" Dawn jumped up and down and went to jump down the stairs.

" Dawn don't!" It was too late, as soon as Buffy said the words Dawn had jumped head first into the tree by accident and the tree landed on Xander while Dawn was a mess at the top, tangled in the branches

" Dawn!" Buffy rushed over to help her and Willow went over to Xander.

" Xander are you OK? Xander?" There was no answer.

" I think my leg is stuck" Dawn tried tugging at her leg to get it free. "Buffy, can you get this thing off… Whoa!" Dawn was cut off as the tree was all of a sudden pulled up and stood up straight. " Thanks" Dawn said while trying to get her face out of the pinecones.

"It wasn't me " Buffy looked in slight shock as Spike continued holding up the tree and lifted Xander up with one hand.

" You alright mate?" Spike looked at him worriedly, which only made Buffy more confused.

"What the…"

"Err, Buffy? Do you think you could help me out here please?" Dawn pleaded her sister to try and snap her out of the haze she was in as she was looking at Spike. Spike looked up and gave her a quick smile, which snapped Buffy out of it. She helped Dawn untangle herself from the tree. Dawn started massaging the base of her spine

"I think I pulled a muscle or something" She stretched.

"Wish I could say the same for the boy here, he's out cold" As Spike spoke he jerked his head in the direction of Xander who was unconscious and still being held up by Spike's hand.

"Maybe we should lie him on the couch" Willow gestured towards the couch as Buffy came over and put her head under Xander's arm to bring him over. Both Buffy and Spike placed Xander gently down.

"Dawn why don't you get some water or something?" Dawn went out to the kitchen.

"What if we slap him awake? Will that do the trick?" Spike was peering down at Xander. Buffy shot him an evil look.

" What? Trying to help here" Spike felt like shaking his head at Buffy, any excuse to make me look bad hey slayer? Some things never change, he thought. Dawn entered with a jug full of water.

"Got it." She handed the jug to Buffy who looked guilty at Xander.

"Will, you do it. You've known him the longest, I feel bad"

"I'll do it" Spike grinned only to earn himself another look from Buffy. Willow took the jug off Buffy and gave Xander a guilty look. She threw the water on his face. Xander woke up choking and spluttering.

"Sorry! It was Spike's fault!" Willow quickly said.

" Hey!" Spike said angrily. Looks like Buffy isn't the only one who likes to make me look bad he thought.

"What happened?" Xander sat up still coughing.

Willow sat next to him. " Dawn jumped down the stairs and ran head first into the tree which landed on you. You were unconscious" She explained to him.

"A thanks wouldn't go a miss, did save your life and all" Spike piped in.

"Thanks"

Spike was taken aback. He was expecting a sarcastic comment or a look from one of them but instead he got a thanks? Maybe this whole thing wouldn't be as bad as he thought...

"Why did you jump head first into me anyway Dawn? You that glad to see me?" Xander asked curiously.

"No, Spike was at the doorway and I was just running to say hello, you and the tree got in the way." Dawn shrugged. She hadn't even said sorry and what's more, Xander didn't say anything. Whelp must be concussed Spike thought.

Tara came running in from the kitchen with an apron and oven gloves on. "What happened? I heard a crash I thought there was a demon" She looked panicked.

"No, Dawn and Xander were just making a tree sandwich, no biggy" Buffy told her.

"Oh good." Tara looked relived, " Hey Spike and Xander why are you all wet?"

" Oh it's nothing just a little wake up call it appears." Xander chuckled slightly. "So are we gonna put this tree up or not?"

An hour later Dawn Spike and Xander were still arguing over whether and angel or a star should go on top of the tree and they had tinsel and baubles all over the floor. Buffy was hanging out with Tara in the kitchen.

"I mean it's not like I want him here because I don't, it's just that Dawn and Willow wanted it and I figure it's good to get in the spirit of Christmas cheer" Buffy was talking as she sliced potatoes while Tara was basting the turkey. "I mean really I'm doing a good thing, but it's for Dawn not for me because I know that nothing can happen while she's still in the same house. But that's not to say we would do anything if she weren't in the house because we wouldn't " Buffy quickly added.

Tara just smiled and carried on with what she was doing. "Buffy, it's OK, you don't have to explain yourself to me" she tried to say it gently hoping that Buffy wouldn't pick up on the snigger in her voice. She could see that Buffy was happy about Spike being here but she felt like she had to cover it up, although why Tara couldn't quite make out.

"Egh, that turkey looks horrible, how can you do that without heaving?" Buffy screwed up her nose.

"You can cut off demon's head's but you can't handle one little dead bird?" Tara grinned at Buffy's face.

" Yeah well I don't have to eat the demon's head for Christmas dinner do I? I like my turkey nice and crispy. And also dead. When's it gonna be ready?" Buffy asked as Tara finished.

"I'm putting it in the oven now so it should be while a while yet. Dawn wanted us to play some games I think." Buffy groaned. She had a sneaking suspicion that Dawn's games would NOT be fun. Shouting could be heard from the living room.

"What are you talking about? A star is so much cooler then an angel." Buffy could hear Xander say.

" I'll make you see bloody stars in a minute, an angel is classic, you have no taste!" Spike shouted. Buffy knew she should go in but she didn't have the energy, especially since she knew they would ask her to have the deciding vote and that wouldn't go down so well.

Unfortunately for her, Xander and Spike came into the kitchen. " Buffy will you please tell the ungrateful undead that a star is WAY better on the top of the tree?" Xander stood with his arms folded glaring at Spike.

"Ooo I'm in big trouble now Xander's told on me, can't you do anything without your precious Buffy can you?" Spike gave Xander a taunting look.

Buffy sighed. " Can't I leave you two alone for two seconds? Your making such a big deal out of this"

Xander walked over to Buffy. " Look this can easily be settled, Buffy it's your house so which do you think is better?"

Buffy looked from Spike to Xander and she knew that she was going to end up pissing off one of them."Actually I kinda think that an angel is better, but that's only because mom used to have an angel" Buffy cast a quick look at Spike who was looking slightly shocked that she had agreed with him.

Xander on the other hand was furious. "Oh that's so typical, always choosing Angel over the rest of us"

Up until that point Spike had been basking in the knowledge that Buffy had sided with him for once, and in front of her friends no less, but now he had a sneaking suspicion that Xander had hit the nail on the head.

"Oh my god Xander only you could find a way to throw that in my face, I just agree with Spike that's all" As soon as Buffy said that she regretted it. She really hadn't meant it to come out like that but obviously her subconscious was against her. Spike on the other hand was over the moon. She had actually admitted to being on his side to Xander of all people! Spike's hopes for how this holiday would go had suddenly risen. Xander just stared at his friend in disbelief. Since when did she side with Spike? Buffy could sense Xander's anger and she opened her mouth to talk but she was interrupted by Dawn who appeared at the doorway with a mischievous grin on her face.

"Hey guys look what I found! Mistletoe anybody?"

Well? TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK! Oh and a MASSIVE thank you to those who have already! You will be mentioned next chappy I promise! And here's a little tit bit, the next chapter is gonna involve mistletoe... (GREAT invention)... and lots of... REVIEW TO FIND OUT!