Title: Halloween Party
Author: Forsaken2003
Pairing: S/X
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I own none, all belong to Joss Whedon
Comments: Always welcomed!
Summary: Xander helps throw a Halloween Party for kids.
Warnings/Spoilers: Season 5
Beta'd by: Unbeta'd
Xander was distracted while everyone else was researching the latest big bad. It wasn't like he was that great at research anyway. Once they identified the demon he'd put his bells on and grab his favourite axe and help with the slaying.
Everyone stopped all research and was watching Xander who was scribbling in a notebook in between typing on his laptop.
"Xander, what on earth are you doing? We have a new demon that needs to be taken care of," Giles said not hiding his frustration.
"Mmm hmm. You guys are doing a great job," Xander mumbled not listening.
Spike rolled his eyes. Xander got distracted so easily.
"Xan, I know you hate research, I do too but people's lives are at stake," Buffy reminded him. "Remember we're in the business of saving people?"
"That's what I'm doing," Xander said as he continued to make notes.
Giles was in a fowl mood and Xander was making it worse. He slammed his hands on the table startling everyone. "Xander, if you are just going to mess around you can leave."
Xander looked up and Giles an annoyed look on his face. "Why do you automatically assume I'm messing around? Stupid Xander can't do anything useful, right? Xander's always fucking up and getting in the way. He doesn't have a thought in his empty head. There is absolutely no way that he could possibly be doing something important."
Spike's eyes almost popped out of his head. That escalated quickly.
"Nobody thinks your head is empty, Xan," Willow said hoping to defuse the situation. "Tell us what you're doing solo that could save lives?"
"I'm hosting a Halloween party," Xander stated crossing his arms.
The girls heads went down. How could they defend Xander with that logic?
Giles needed a drink. "Yes, I can see how that is more important than the world possibly ending. Thank you for wasting our time."
A Halloween party? Spike thought. Did Xander hit his head the night before during patrol? Should he have gone to the hospital?
Xander's jaw clenched. He stood up collecting his belongings. "If any of you ever bothered to ask me about my work or my friends outside of our group you would have known that last Halloween a group of my co-workers kids went trick r' treating together. They were attacked by a guy on 'PCP'. Luckily my friends were able to save their kids and got them inside before anyone was hurt. Now all of their kids don't want to do Halloween this year because they are too scared. So with the help of the company and my non-existent free time I am putting together a Halloween party for them. I've called Angel and he's letting me use the mansion on Crawford. It's creepy but not too creepy. All my co-workers are coming and will have different stations for activities and even a couple rooms for them to do trick r' treating safely. I was going to ask you guys to help me out but considering I've just wasted everyone's help never mind. I'll have Wesley come down and do a protection spell for me, since the LA gang seems more interested in me these days."
Guilt ran through Giles. "Xander, I-"
"Whatever," Xander interrupted him. "My time is worth more than this." He went to the door and stopped. "I've never been good when it comes to the research but I've always put everything I have into helping you. I wish you guys could remember that." He yanked the door open and stormed out.
"Well..." Spike stood and stretched. "It's always fun to see you treat your friend like crap. Since the fun's over I guess I'll take my leave."
Spike was gone leaving Buffy, Willow and Giles feeling like horrible friends.
It wasn't hard for Spike to catch up to Xander. "That was pretty impressive," Spike commented as he kept in step with Xander.
"I'm glad that you enjoyed the show," Xander spat out.
"Angel's really letting you use the mansion?" Spike asked.
Xander nodded. "It helps take a lot of stress out of all these. I'm as good as planning as I am at research. I have a month to get everything together with no help."
"Why didn't you ask your friends to help?" Spike asked.
"I was going to but I wanted to have some idea of what I want. If I don't the girls would take over everything and that's not what I want. Believe it or not but I am capable of doing things it just takes me longer to do it," Xander explained. He had been so excited for this and now he just felt like a failure... again.
Spike didn't like seeing Xander like this. Once again the Scooby's had him doubting himself. "Maybe I can help," he offered.
"You want to help me plan a kids Halloween party?" Xander said sounding extremely skeptical.
"It's not like I have a job I need to go to." Spike shrugged. "Besides who better to help plan a Halloween party than a demon?" He saw Xander about to argue about him being an evil demon. "I've got a humanoid demon friend. He isn't evil and loves parties and human food. He could be a big help I think. All you have to do is provide snacks for him."
Xander could use the help and Spike was the only one who didn't make him feel stupid today. Want to come back to my place and we can make a plan? I'll call my boss and see if I can take a couple days vacation so the three of us can sit down and I can tell you what I want and what you guys can do."
"And you think you're not good at planning," Spike said encouragingly. Why did he want to make Xander feel good about himself? Sure, he didn't like hate him, maybe Sunnydale had finally affected him?
Xander smiled. "Thanks. Let's stop at the butchers to get you some blood."
"Another good plan," Spike replied.
Halloween Night:
After four weeks of planning the night finally came. The mansion was decorated. The basement there was huge screen that Xander rented for the kids to watch movies. There was a ton of food and drinks down their for them as well as a bathroom.
The main floor had stations for 'trick r' treating'. All the kids were dressed up as well as the parents who manned the tables, which were full of bowls of candy. Right now that seemed to be the hit of the party. Not that it surprised Xander, free candy was always his favourite part of Halloween.
The upstairs was set up with games. Pin the hat on the witch, bobbing for apples in a cauldron, and monster says. There was pumpkin carving with a prize for the winner along with best costume one for the kids and one for the adults so they could be in on the fun as well. There was even a spot for arts and crafts. Xander was sure that Clem had bought out the store with how much supplies he came with. The mansion was filled with people.
Three weeks ago Buffy, Giles and Willow apologized and offered to help in anyway. Since Xander had things figured out with the help of Spike and Clem they didn't need help with the planning but Xander used them for free labour and 'security' just in case any unwanted guests showed up.
The success of the party wasn't the only good thing to happen to Xander in the last month. Xander and Spike spent a lot of time together and got to really get know each other. They saw each other in a new light and one thing led to another and now they were dating.
Xander who was dressed up as Ace Ventura (with the tutu) looked around and felt so proud of himself. When he first suggested this idea he didn't think he would actually pull it off.
"Need to start giving yourself more credit from now on," Spike said appearing from out of nowhere. He has his demon facade in place. The kids seemed to love it. That and Clem's 'costume'. "You and those people you call friends."
"Who would have thought the only person who actually believed in me would be you?" Xander asked. It wasn't any kind of shot just a fact.
Spike wrapped an arm around Xander's waist. "Trust me no one was more surprised than me, luv." Kids ran passed them laughing and screaming. Spike made a disgusted face. He was not a fan of little humans.
Xander turned his head and kissed Spike. They received a bunch of ew's. When they pulled apart there were six dressed up children staring up at them. "What?" Spike growled. It was almost the twenty-first century for everything that is unholy.
"Kissing is gross!" A little boy in a pirate costume said.
"Yeah, boys have cooties! You're sharing your cooties!" A girl dressed as a princess replied. "Boys are icky!"
Xander laughed and knelt down. "When you guys are older you might change your mind about kissing."
The two kids looked at each other. The boy stuck his tongue out and ran away. The little girl looked up at them. "No way!" She replied before taking off.
"I really hope they survive the hellmouth," Xander whispered.
"We save people. It's kind of what we do, isn't it?" Spike asked.
Xander nodded. "We don't save them all though."
"We can't save everyone," Spike agreed. "All we can do is keep fighting and save the ones we can."
Spike was right. "Want to help me start planning for a Christmas party?"
There was going to be a lot of party planning in Spike's future he felt. But if it kept the look that Xander had on his face he would plan parties for kids for the rest of his unlife. "Sure, Xan."
The End