Chapter Seventeen
Buffy's eyes squinted tightly to the bright sun shining on her. She put her hand in front of her face, so she could open her eyes. She turned over, so she was facing the ceiling, and looked down and saw an arm laying across her stomach. She followed it over to a black t-shirt, which was worn by her ex- archnemesis. He was so cute when he was sleeping. Well he was cute when he wasn't, but when he was sleeping he looked as innocent as a child. Buffy delicately traced his face with the back of her right index finger.
Spike's eyes opened slowly as he stretched out. He looked over and saw Buffy, just as perfect as always. "Morning," he said with a smile.
"Morning." Buffy smiled back. "Sleep good? Sorry if I hogged the covers."
"I slept great. Well, as great as anyone can with someone who snores."
"I don't snore," Buffy arched her upper body up with her arms in protest.
"When's the last time you were awake to hear yourself?" Spike asked sarcastically.
"Well, never, but I don't snore. I can't."
"You don't snore. I was just kidding," Spike said, stopping her worries.
Buffy punched his upper arm. "Ass," she laughed.
Spike rolled over on top of her. "Excuse me little miss?" They both laughed lightly.
"Buffy?" Joyce called form down the hall.
"Shit!" Buffy pushed Spike off, rolling him off the bed. She pulled herself off her bed and opened her door quickly to block her mom's view. "Yes mom?"
"Oh, hi honey. Did you happen to make any New Year's plans?" Joyce asked, holding a small white piece of paper.
It has to be an invitation to one of her boring gala parties. "Uh, yes. Actually, me and Willow are gonna hang out… somewhere." Somewhere? She'll suggest the gala. Quick, say something. "Xander's," she blurted out.
"Xander's? Isn't he Spike's friend?"
"Well, if ya want to get technical. He and I happen to be great… Chemistry partners."
"I thought that boy Jonathan was your partner?" Joyce inquired.
"You didn't let me finish. My Chemistry partner a… cross the room."
"Okay, well then I guess you won't want to go to some adult party with me as my date," Joyce said with her typical smile.
"Sorry mom. Booked. But there's always Giles."
"I know, but I feel bad always asking Rupert to come to all my events and I never go to anything he has."
"Like what? The National Librarians convention?" Buffy asked.
"I'm just assuming he has things to do as well."
"Sorry mom." Buffy quickly entered her room and shut the door. Her back was flush against the door. "That was close."
"That kinda hurt ya know. This carpet isn't very cushiony," Spike said, sitting on the end of her bed.
"Sorry, I went into panic mode."
"Hey, she participated in the whole betrothal thing, and wants us to get along. This is probably what she wants."
"I doubt that when she engaged me to you she thought it was okay if we had sex before we got married," Buffy intervened.
"Yes, but if it's not me, it'll be someone else and she wouldn't want that."
"Just her?" Buffy asked, pouting out her bottom lip.
"Well, I guess, I might be a little perturbed." Spike stood up and walked over to her. When she was close enough, he pulled her in for a kiss.
"Only a little?"
"Well I don't like to get jealous. Green's not my color."
"Really? I think you'd look good in green."
"I do look good in green. It just doesn't compliment my skin tone well," Spike praised himself.
"Heaven forbid." Buffy said, holding up her right hand.
"Well I do-" Just then, Buffy's mom entered her room. Spike pushed Buffy away and yelled, "not ever want to see your hair in my hairbrush."
"I didn't touch your stupid hairbrush!"
"Then why is there long blonde hair in it?"
"You have long blonde hair."
"Not that long."
"I wouldn't touch your stupid hairbrush. I wouldn't touch the space around your hairbrush, now get out of my room."
"All I ask is you stop touching my stuff. Please and thank you." Spike stormed out. "Hi Joyce."
"That annoying little- how can you like him?"
"Buffy, please." Joyce put her hand over her forehead, implementing she was getting a headache. "Sweetie, all I wanted to do, was tell you Willow was on the phone."
"Oh okay. Thanks."
"Why don't you ever answer the phone up here? You do have one right. That's what that white contraption on your bed side table is."
"Yeah, but I turn off the ringer so it doesn't wake me up." Buffy picked up the receiver. "Hey Will."
Spike was in his room, putting on some jeans when he heard a knock. "I'm sorry too," he opened his door, "Mrs. Summers. I mean, Joyce. Hi."
"What're you sorry about?" Joyce asked.
"Uh… for fighting with Buffy. At least in front of you, that was just rude."
"It's all right Spike." Joyce noticed he wasn't wearing a shirt.
"Oh." He frantically picked up one of his fifteen black t-shirts and put it on. "And I'm sorry for that."
"Uh, Spike, do you know whether your father has plans for the New Year?"
"Probably not. He's a social gathering outcast."
"Oh, well, thank you."
"No problem." Joyce turned away and walked down the stairs.
"Yeah I know… I don't know we just started making out… yes I give you I told you so permission… Are you done?… Okay, do we have any plans for New Year's because if we don't, we need some… Yeah, I didn't think so." Spike entered Buffy's room. "Uh, Will, I gotta go… all right. Call ya later… Bye." She hung up her phone.
"Sorry about the pushing and the spat. Figured you wanted us to act less together like in front of your mum."
"I appreciate that." Buffy stood up and moved closer to him in a sexy, slinking motion. As she was about to give him a kiss she said, "That probably would've been sexier if I wasn't wearing my baggy flannel pajamas."
"It's still sexy." Spike pulled Buffy's face towards his and locked their lips. They had a sensual, loving kiss.
Buffy was the first to part. "I should get dressed. I'll meet you downstairs though."
"Promise?" Spike asked, before moving in.
Buffy placed her hand over his face. "No more kissing until you brush your teeth."
"Oh. Right." Spike started backing up. "I was gonna say the same thing but I didn't want to hurt your feelin's."
"My prince." Spike waved good bye and shut her door.
Downstairs Giles and Joyce were laughing about times passed and tragic New Year's events. "Sorry. I interrupted Happy Time," Spike noticed.
"No, son it's quite all right. Joyce has just asked me to a New Year's party and we started talking about past experiences."
"Oh, did he tell ya 'bout the time he kissed a male cross dresser, in a hot tub, and got a black eye from his wife?" Spike asked. Joyce stared at him with her mouth practically on the floor. "Guess not." Think of something Spike. "So, uh, how 'bout them Yankees? I mean the baseball team not the Americans."
Buffy came down the stairs, wearing a pair of boot cut jeans and a black tank top. Her hair was up in a messy bun, a few wisps of hair hanging loose. "Morning Mom. Morning Giles."
"Good morning Buffy. How was your Christmas night?" Giles asked.
"Pretty much the same as any other," she stated, walking to the cabinet. She pulled out a glass and gave Spike a secret look, which he caught.
"Honey, this is for you. It was in a pile of my mail from two days ago. I just forgot to give it to you." Joyce handed her a small white envelope. The return address was… No way! Angel Connors?! Buffy opened it carefully, papercuts aren't the best thing in the world, and pulled out a paper the size of the one her mom had. "You are invited to a New Year's party held by Angel Connors."
"What?" Spike asked panicked.
"Angel Connors invited me to his New Year's party," she said nonchalantly. She turned and headed upstairs, leaving her clean glass in the sink. She walked up the stairs and to her room. It was weird. Just a few days ago she would've probably peed her pants, but now… now she had Spike. That was all she wanted. But then again, Angel's party would give her something to do, and it had to be fun. Buffy picked up the phone and called Willow. "Hey Will. Can you come over?… Great. See you in a few."
"You gonna go to that?" Spike asked, making Buffy jump a little.
"Uh, yeah. I mean, I don't have any other plans," Buffy defended.
"All right." He turned and went to his room. Once his door shut he started punching his pillows. "Stupid wanker! Bloody ponce! Big Forehead!" Each word was accentuated with a punch.
Author's Note: All I'm going to say is I have big plans coming up. And, my review elves would like to thank you for giving them something to do. They also celebrated by drinking the night away. Let me tell you now, elves can not hold their booze.
