Chapter 11: Party Time
*****A Week Later*****
Felicity walked into Verdant and grinned. She hardly recognized the place. The slayers had turned it into a slayer den. Each corner of it seemed to represent a different slayer's passion or favorite weapon. There were batons, swords, axes, short knives, long knives, ancient knives—pretty much every kind of knife imaginal. The slayers made Sara seem prim in this area. There were several different kinds of crossbows. When she had first seen them, it gave her a start. Oliver was less and less in her thoughts, but watching the slayers shoot a target with either a crossbow or a bow gave her more than one pained moment.
However, today that wasn't the case. Today was Xander's birthday, and Willow was throwing her best friend a birthday party. Thea was helping plan it as well. Felicity was busy trying to figure out who the new player was in town.
She smiled and waved at a few of the girls as she went down to their headquarters.
John was already there. "I think I got something, Felicity," he said.
She looked at the screen. "H.I.V.E.? You think these guys are that group connected to your brother's death?" she asked in surprise.
"That guy we caught the other night had this symbol on him. It was a tattoo," John said, pointing to it. "I traced it. He's H.I.V.E."
"We should contact ARGUS and see what information they might have on the group," Felicity said.
"Felicity?" Willow called out.
"Down here!" Felicity replied.
Willow appeared. "What are you doing? We are supposed to be buying a party dress, remember?" she asked.
"Oh, I just wanted to check—"
"I don't want to know! You're worse than me and Buffy put together!" Willow complained.
"The party's not for five hours or so. There's plenty of time!" Felicity protested.
"Let's go!" Willow insisted, holding out her hand.
John grinned as Willow all but dragged Felicity out to go shopping. It was good to see Felicity learn to enjoy life again. Saying goodbye to Oliver was the hardest thing they'd done, but it was time to let him go. They were honoring his legacy by continuing the fight. However, Felicity didn't need to mourn Oliver forever.
*****A Few Hours Later*****
The party was about to get started when Buffy and Faith arrived.
"This place rocks! I'm totally sticking around. Red's having all the fun!" Faith observed.
Willow turned toward her voice and grinned. "You made it!" she exclaimed and ran to embrace her friends. "I've missed you!"
"We weren't going to miss Xander's birthday," Buffy said.
"And we wanted to meet the new sis," Faith said. "Where is she?"
"She'll be here soon," Willow said.
"How are the girls handling Star City? Is it a hellmouth about to open?" Buffy asked.
"The girls are great. It's been an adjustment since there's as much human criminal element as demon," Willow said. "It's not a hellmouth, but the darkness in the place has been attracting the supernatural. I think we need to keep a permanent slayer team here after we defeat this new group of bad in town."
"Okay," Buffy said.
"So is my boy toy plan on staying in town? Where's the birthday boy?" Faith asked, looking for him.
Willow grinned. "He's not your toy, Faith. In fact, I think he's met his soul mate!" she exclaimed.
Buffy's eyes widened. "Really? Who?" she asked.
"I'm not going to say. I'll let you figure it out! I think it's obvious, but the girl is oblivious!" Willow said.
"She's not a demon?" Buffy asked suspiciously.
"Nope. No demon blood whatsoever!" Willow insisted.
"That's a relief," Buffy said, grinning.
"I thought I smelled trouble. Double trouble," Xander said from the top of the stairs. He grinned down at his girls.
Then he was hugging them both. "I've missed you guys," he said.
"We've missed you. Everyone has. Andrew is mopey without you," Buffy said.
"Well, they'll have to come visit," Xander said.
"Are you not planning on coming home?" Buffy asked in surprise. "Is it this girl?"
Xander frowned at Willow, wondering what she'd told them. Her expression looked a bit guilty, and he narrowed his eyes at her. However, he didn't say anything to her but answered Buffy's question. "No, I'm not coming home anytime soon. I think I've found my place here," he said.
"It is that girl! Who is she?" Faith asked eagerly.
"This inquisition will have to wait. My sister is here. I want you guys to meet her," Willow said with excitement.
Buffy and Faith looked and saw a stunning blonde in a form fitting hot pink dress coming toward them. "That's your sister?" Buffy asked in surprise.
"I thought she was a nerd like Red," Faith said, equally surprised. Neither noticed Xander's flummoxed expression.
Felicity wasn't used to so many pairs of eyes on her at once and felt awkward. She knew that she looked pretty good. She had her contacts on and the dress was perfect for a party with a bunch of hot slayers. However, the four pair of eyes were making her nervous.
"Hi," she said, giving them a shy smile.
Buffy was struck by the woman's smile. She was dressed like a siren, but the smile—that was a Willow smile. Instantly, Buffy liked the woman.
Willow took her hand. "Guys, this is Felicity, my sister. Felicity, this is Buffy and Faith, the original slayers," Willow said.
Felicity's eyes widened. "Wow! I've heard so much about you guys!" she gushed. "I'd totally love to study your scythe. Did you bring it?"
Faith laughed. "Totally your sis," Faith said.
Buffy finally glanced at Xander, who was unusually quiet. The look on his face, though, made her pause. Xander was gazing at Felicity with a look of adoration—a look Buffy hadn't seen since Cordy.
"You look beautiful," Xander said to Felicity, who finally looked up at him. She gave him a warm smile.
"Thanks! I put on my contacts," she admitted. "I don't like wearing them because my eyes feel strange and not me when I wear contacts, but I usually put them on for fancy occasions. Most people like me better without my glasses or rather some people think that I look better without them. But most people are superficial and small minded—like a small thing like that should matter. And I'm going to stop talking in 3, 2,1."
Faith laughed. "She is so cute! The hotness of her threw me for a loop, but now that she's talking, I can totally see the resemblance!" Faith said, liking the girl instantly. It was something Faith did very often as most people either bored her or annoyed her.
"Are you saying I'm not hot?" Willow said with a glare.
"I'm saying that your other qualities are more noticeable than your hotness is all," Faith said with a wink.
"Happy birthday!" Felicity said to Xander. She held up a small package. "So, I've been working with my tech guys on a gift for you. It's okay if you don't want to use it. It's not really been tried out yet. I haven't had anyone to try it on since I made it for you specifically. But Curtis says it should work. I hope you won't be offended. 'Cause I think you're great the way you are, but since, you know, you live a sort of dangerous life, I thought this might give you an advantage in a fight."
When she paused for breath, Xander said, "Are you going to give it to me?"
Felicity blushed and handed him the small, wrapped package. Willow was curious. Felicity hadn't mentioned working on any work project for Xander.
Xander was touched that she'd made him something. He'd spent the past month getting to know her, and she was fond of him. However, she didn't seem to see him as more than a friend. This gift might give him an inkling of what she was feeling.
He opened the box and blinked. An eyeball stared up at him. He was both creeped out and fascinated.
"You made me an eye?" he asked in awe.
"I used the Nano technology of Ray's with mine and Curtis'—he's my head tech guy. It will work just like a real eye. The Nano's will form pathways into your cerebral cortex and learn to respond to real thoughts and commands—like a real eye. But this is way better. It can hack into anything that's electronic. It can see through walls," she explained.
"I will have x-ray vision?" Xander asked in awe.
"Basically," Felicity said.
"Oh. My. God. Felicity, that's incredible!" Willow gushed. "How did you not tell me about this?"
"I wanted it to be a surprise," Felicity said.
Xander looked at Felicity. "You are incredible. This is an incredible gift—too much really, but I am grateful," Xander said. "Thank you."
"Is it safe?" Buffy asked, frowning. "Are you sure it won't, like, mess up his head or make him go screwy? Xander doesn't have the best track record."
"It's not magical," Felicity said. "It's just science."
"Andrew is going to be so jealous!" Faith said. "You're going to have like a real sci-fi eye! That's cool as hell. This girl knows how to give good gifts. I'm going to make her my new best friend!"
"I'll go put this in the office where it'll be safe," Xander said, feeling a bit overwhelmed.
"We can see about implanting it tomorrow or whenever you want," Felicity said.
Xander couldn't resist. He bent down and kissed her cheek. "Thank you, Felicity," he whispered.
Felicity felt the warmth of his lips and suddenly felt very exposed. Luckily, Thea came into the room, distracting everyone while Xander went up to Thea's office to store the prototype.
Buffy greeted Thea, watching for Xander's return. When he didn't come back down immediately, she slipped away from the crowd and went up to check on him.
Xander was sitting on a love seat staring down at the eye.
"Are you okay?" Buffy asked. She sat down next to him.
Xander gave her a crooked smile. "I'm great," he said. "I just can't believe this gift."
"It is an incredibly thoughtful and amazing gift. Willow's little sister is a real Brainiac and a beauty," Buffy remarked.
"She's perfect," Xander said.
"For you?" Buffy asked.
"She's the one, Buff. She's it. She's funny, kind, brilliant, selfless, and brave," Xander said earnestly.
"And beautiful," Buffy said with a grin.
"I noticed," Xander said smugly.
"So what's the problem? Why haven't you made a move?" Buffy asked.
"She's still stuck on her late love—Oliver Queen, aka, the Arrow. He's her hero. He died saving his sister. That's a tough act to follow," Xander said.
"You've saved the world more than once. She'd be lucky to have a guy like you," Buffy said loyally.
"I don't want to rush this, Buffy. It's too important. She's too important," Xander said.
"Well, she must think of you as something special to make such an expensive gift," Buffy said, pointing at the eye.
"I think she likes me. She's comfortable with me," he said.
"Is there sparkage?" Buffy asked.
"Most definitely. She hasn't noticed it much, though," Xander said with a sigh.
"But you've not been friend-zoned, right?" Buffy asked.
"It is my curse," Xander admitted. "But I don't think I'm quite there yet. We've been out few times just the two of us. She lets me pay. I don't know if she thinks of it as dating or if she's used to the guys always picking up the tab. Roy, John, and Oliver were her boys. Now Oliver is gone, and they're adjusting. It's funny that I always had my girls, and she always had her guys. However, I think it makes her easy to dismiss any attractions as she's so used to being around guys. At her work, she's always working with those two guys who helped her with the eye."
"You know enough about women, though, to be patient. It's good that she and Willow found each other," Buffy said.
"It's amazing," Xander said. "Did Will tell you that she has magic, too? Not everything she does with a computer is just her genius. She is learning now some basics from Willow. Willow says she could end up being pretty powerful if she sticks with it."
"Well, how about we go downstairs and get this party started? I want to know this possible soulmate better," Buffy said, standing up. She held out her hand. Xander grinned and went downstairs.
An hour later, the party was in full swing. Xander had danced with everyone it seemed—except the one he wanted to dance with the most.
Finally, he took a deep breath and approached her. "So are you going to dance with me? It is my birthday!" Xander said, giving her his best puppy dog eyes.
Felicity smiled. "You were so popular with the girls. I wasn't sure I'd get a chance," she admitted.
Xander grabbed her hand. "Don't you know that the only one I want to dance with is you?" he said bluntly.
Felicity's mouth fell open slightly in surprise as he tugged her close. How had she not noticed the way he looked at her? It wasn't the way he looked at all the other girls. She felt the heat on her cheeks and tried to calm her suddenly racing pulse.
"It's okay," he said. "It's just me."
When he gave her that familiar half grin that she already knew so well, she relaxed and slipped into his embrace.
Buffy was watching from the sidelines. Willow squealed. "Look at them, Buffy! Aren't they perfect together?" she asked.
"She is a doll. The type of girl I hoped for Xander," Buffy admitted.
"She's amazing, Buffy. You're going to love her!" Willow gushed. "I hope you stay in town a few days so that you can get to know her. She's been through a lot, but she's still fighting. She was fighting without any special powers or anything."
"Just like Xander," Buffy said in satisfaction. The girl did seem to fit Xander very well.
John was dancing with his wife not far. "Look," he said.
Lyla looked up and smiled. "They make a cute couple," she said.
"He's so different from Oliver," John pointed out.
"Oliver never put Felicity first. He never committed to her, John. We don't know if he ever would've," Lyla pointed out. "Xander strikes me as deeply loyal."
"He better not hurt her," John said, frowning at the thought.
"The man is a slayer whisperer. One of his girls told me he once talked Willow off the rails when she was about to raise a Satanic temple that could've destroyed the world. He is always surrounded by women. I don't think he knows how to hurt women," Lyla said.
"He cheated on his first girlfriend with Willow and left his only serious adult relationship at the altar," John said.
Lyla looked up at him in surprise. "How do you know that?" she asked.
"I have my ways," John said smugly. When Lyla kept looking at him expectantly, he admitted, "So Felicity told me."
"The fact that he told her himself should tell you all you need to know about him," Lyla pointed out.
The girl in question stepped away from Xander when the song ended. "Thanks for the dance," she said, needing to put some distance between them.
The music picked up again, another slow song. "I would really like another dance," Xander said, giving her an uncharacteristically serious look.
"Okay," Felicity said. Her eyes locked with his as she stepped back into his arms. It had been too long since she danced with a man. Xander had seemed like a good friend, one she'd enjoyed getting to know. However, tonight, he was looking at her in a way that seemed to indicate he wasn't thinking friend-like thoughts. Felicity wasn't sure how she felt about that.
Xander was starting to think the Scooby's birthday curse was finally broken. It was almost ten, and no disaster had fallen. For the first time, he sensed that Felicity was finally realizing that they weren't just friends. He could see the awareness and confusion in her eyes. His hand went to her right cheek.
"I'm crazy about you, Felicity. I know that you're not ready for anything really, but I wanted you to know that when you are, I'll be here. I'm not going anywhere," he said.
"Oh, wow!" Felicity said in surprise. Before she could think of what else to say, he lowered his head and kissed her.
Xander kept the kiss gentle—a perfect first kiss.
Unfortunately, tradition was stronger than new love. The front doors of the club flung open, interrupting Xander's perfect moment.
A group of men in black, most wearing face coverings, stood in the doorway. One man, though, had no face mask. He wore a suit. His hair was white-blonde, and he had piercing blue eyes.
"I see the party is in full swing. Glad we didn't miss it!" the man said.
Willow silenced the music. She and Buffy pushed to the front of the group, facing the strangers. Faith moved to join them as did John and Roy. "I don't believe you were invited," Willow said.
"But I wanted to wish the birthday boy a happy," the man said with a grin.
"Who the hell is this?" Faith asked.
"Damien. Damien Darhk," the man said, the smile never leaving his face.
Xander sighed. "Party crashers with evil intent crashing my birthday party—typical," he scoffed. But he moved Felicity protectively against his side. Crashing a room full of slayers was a stupid move. This party was about to end with a bang.
*****To Be Continued*****