Chapter 7: The Birthday and the Boyfriend.
A month later, Spike stood on Buffy's front porch, "evening Niblet," he greeted as the youngest Summers opened the door, "I just wanted to drop this off for your sister," he finished handing her a gift. To his confusion, Dawn didn't take it, "hey Spike, why don't you come in and give it to her yourself?" she asked mischievously. Thinking nothing of it, Spike stepped into the hallway, while the thirteen year old scampered off to get Buffy.
The once bare walls were now covered top to bottom in birthday banners and cards and there were balloons tied haphazardly around the house. Spike enjoyed looking at some of the embarrassing photos of Buffy, which Dawn had quite clearly insisted on displaying, after all how often did your sister turn 16?
A cacophony of voices drifted out from the dining room. There were two voices he didn't recognise. An older female voice that he assumed must belong to Buffy's gran and a younger male voice, which sounded almost completely monotone. He must be the boyfriend, Spike summarised, before deciding that he didn't like him.
Buffy chose that moment to enter from the living room, closely followed by a nosey Dawn. "Spike," she greeted as she saw him and then her eyes lit up as she saw the gift, "ooh presents for Buffy!" she exclaimed like a child negotiating with Santa. Spike laughed and then tried to make his excuse to leave, "I know we're bronzing tomorrow with the guys but I just wanted you to have them on your birthday, anyway I'll…" he began slowly backing towards the front door when Joyce walked in.
She gave him a warm smile, "hi Spike, you'll stay for dinner, won't you? It'll be ready about 7," she asked innocently noticing the reaction from both her daughters. Before Spike could even blink, Buffy and Dawn had grabbed a side each, Dawn hooked arms with him while Buffy absentmindedly entwined her fingers with his, "yes!" they answered in unison.
Spike gazed at his and Buffy's interlocked hands and it didn't go unnoticed by Joyce. Then he became aware of Dawn swinging playfully on his arm and looked at her pleading eyes before turning back to face Joyce, a smirk forming, "can't really refuse with two pretty girls on my arms, now can I?" Buffy swatted him playfully, while Dawn turned crimson and released her grip. Spike noticed that Buffy hadn't as she led him into the dining room.
The dining table was set for six and noticing the look on Buffy's face Spike realised it should have been occupied by her father and felt a twinge of guilt. He remembered how excited Buffy was that her father had written to say he wouldn't miss it for the world.
"Spike," Buffy said as she began the introductions, "this is Granny Lilly," she said pointing to the little old lady at the head of the table. She wore a black trousers, a grey cardigan with a selection of different buttons attached and had short, faded, blonde hair that still housed a forgotten hair curler dangling on the left side. She raised her glass of sherry in greeting and Spike smiled at her as Buffy continued, "she's deaf!" she whispered and Spike laughed when he noticed the indignant look on Granny Lilly's face, "she heard that alright, pet" he whispered back. His voice was low and Buffy felt a small tremor run through her then that she didn't quite understand.
Embarrassed, she let go of his hand and continued with her introductions. Spike had been right, the broody looking boy, who Buffy was now fawning over, was indeed Angel. Spike couldn't quite see the attraction. He was long and bulky looking, dressed completely in black. His skin was pale and he looked miserable. Spike's eyes travelled up to his brown floppy hair and thought he looked like he'd stuck his finger in a light socket. He watched as Buffy got comfortable on his lap and he decided he really didn't like this guy. 'Whoa! Am I jealous? No, I mean look at him, the ponce is all hair! Spike was jerked out of his thoughts when he heard Buffy introduce him. "This is Spike," she said grinning at him as blue eyes met green, "my best friend."
Angel slid Buffy of his knees and stood to greet Spike. He flashed his pearly white teeth as he clasped both his hands round Spike's, "good to meet you mate," he said.
A full roast dinner and several drinks later, Spike had made a new friend. Granny Lilly was an absolute hoot. "I see Angel's still trying to eliminate his eyes with his hair," she said to Spike in what she thought was a conspiratorial whisper. Of course she was oblivious to the fact that every pair of eyes were now looking their way. Joyce leaned in on the other side, placing a hand on her mother's shoulder, "mother, you're the one who's deaf, not everyone else!"
Granny Lilly looked at her daughter, the picture of innocence, "hum, what did you say, dear?"
Spike had been trying his best to stifle his laughter but once he caught Buffy's eyes and noticed she was doing the same, he couldn't contain it any longer and the pair set each other off. They in turn set off a chain reaction all around the table. The only person not laughing was Angel. If anything, he looked slightly perturbed, as he surreptitiously tried to brush his hair out of his eyes.
When the laughter finally died down, Joyce brought out the pudding and cake and Dawn volunteered to top up everyone's drink. Granny Lilly was arguing with the bottle of honey in an attempt to squeeze it over her ice cream, she shook it with as much vigour as she could muster and the honey shot sideways onto the floor, "hum," the old lady mused, "aims just like a man's penis in the morning."
Spike spat his drink out he was laughing so much. Thankfully, only he and Joyce heard this. As Dawn came round with the drinks, the two shot their hands on the top of the old lady's glass, "don't let her have any more wine," Joyce said, whilst Spike was still trying to compose himself.
Granny Lilly rounded on the young boy, "what's the matter with you? Let the old lady in on the joke!" Buffy came to his rescue at that point when she suggested moving to the lounge for presents.
The coffee table, which stood surrounded by a large, cream coloured sofa, was almost overflowing with gifts and the birthday girl made short work of them. She got a lovely black leather jacket from her sister, her mother and gran had combined their resources and brought her a series of driving lessons, which earned a groan from Buffy, and Spike had, with Willow's help, given her a lovely silver necklace with the letter B attached.
"Oh Spike! It's lovely," she squealed delightedly and turned her back to him, "will you put it on for me?" Spike was surprised at the request, he had thought she would ask Angel seeing as she was nested in his lap. Instead she had crossed the room and asked him. Spike moved her golden hair to one side and lowered his hands over her head holding the chain and as he hooked the clasp together his hands connected with her warm skin. Buffy closed her eyes enjoying the feel. It surprised her how soft a touch he had and she felt a little shiver.
"Hot chocolate anyone?" Joyce asked, snapping them both out of their trance.
"With little marshmallows?" Buffy and Spike asked in unison and everyone laughed. Everyone except Angel. Instead he stood up and grabbed Buffy's hand, guiding her away from Spike, "You've still got my present to open," he said as he led her out of the room.
Spike's curiosity got the better of him and while Joyce and Dawn were clearing away the plates he slipped off to the hallway and watched with intent as Angel handed Buffy a ring. Spike was gobsmacked, 'bloody hell! Is he proposing? She's only 16, stupid git, didn't even get down on one knee, and she thinks he's a gentleman…'
Out on the porch, Buffy didn't even feel the cold, October air attack her cheeks as the wind blew harshly, she was too busy admiring the ring on her finger. It was beautiful and Angel said it was one of a kind. It wasn't an engagement ring, but it was a promise, a promise that someday they would be married. Buffy couldn't be happier.
Granny Lilly had noticed Spike's disappearance and followed him, "spying on my granddaughter are you?" she asked making him jump, "good, someone's got to keep an eye on her when I've gone, but until then move over!"
The two partners in crime watched silently for a moment. As Spike watched Buffy, Granny Lilly watched him and she smiled at the memory it brought back. "You know," she said softly, breaking the silence, "you always think the first one is forever," she grabbed Spike by the hand then, "but the truth is it doesn't matter how many frogs you kiss, they all help you grow; they make you ready for when you do find forever."
"Wise words," Spike muttered as he looked suspiciously at the old lady, "you don't think they're forever, then?"
"Oh goodness no! He's all hair for one thing," Granny Lilly replied, earning a smirk from Spike, "no he's just the icing, what Buffy wants and what Buffy needs is cake," she finished looking knowingly at Spike.
"Right," Spike dragged out not really following the old lady's thought process.
"Speaking of cake," she said tugging his hand, "I rather fancy another piece, come on you can distract the wardens," she gestured at Joyce and Dawn, pulling Spike along behind her as she hobbled off.
It was gone 11pm when Spike arrived home to find his father sat at the kitchen table, giving his glasses a thorough cleaning, a sure sign he was about to say something Spike wouldn't like hearing.
"Oh god," said Spike, "I know that look, come on out with it!" he demanded as he sat opposite his father.
"I'm afraid I really don't know what you're…oh very well yes there is something…I received a phone call while you were out…" Giles began rambling.
Spike cocked his head to the side with his eye brow raised, "go on," he prompted.
"Did Buffy have a nice birthday?" Giles stalled.
"Dad!" Spike groaned, "The phone call?"
"Oh…yes…quite right, your aunt Victoria phoned…" Giles continued, fumbling with his glasses.
Spike was starting to lose patience, "come on, out with it,"
Giles sighed and replaced his glasses on his face and became rather business like, "Victoria's house has flooded, and while she can stay at the hotel, I… that is to say, with it being… exams and such like…" Giles trailed off and merely looked apologetically at his son.
"Oh no," Spike said as the realisation of what his father was going to say dawned on him.
"Yes I'm afraid so…" Giles said, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Cordelia?" Spike asked.
"Cordelia," Giles confirmed.
The two sat in silence for several moments as Giles reached for the scotch and absentmindedly poured out two small shot glasses.
"On a scale of 'oh dear lord'," Spike asked noticing the second glass, "how bad is it?"
Giles simply stared into his glass and Spike took advantage and grabbed the unnoticed scotch.
"It gone far beyond, 'oh dear lord', as you put it, she could be living with us until graduation!"
The two downed their drinks in unison.