The Family We Choose

Ch 7 – Happy Birthday

The Bronze was jumping and table space was at a premium, but Tara had three tables reserved for her party. In fact, Mr. Omart himself stayed late to ensure that no one ignored his carefully arranged 'RESERVED' signs and gave Tara a birthday peck on the cheek when the gang arrived.

Though Willow had tried hard to casually suggest that they all go to the Bronze to unwind, Tara let her know that she figured out the party thing. Although, that didn't stop her from being impressed with the arrangements, the cake, the gifts and the wink Mr. Omart gave them as he nonchalantly left a freshly opened bottle of champagne on one of the tables as he left for the evening, despite the fact they were under-aged. Of course, none of it meant nearly as much as what the gang had already done for her.

Once everything had been cleaned up in the shop and as everyone was gathering their things, Tara had pulled Buffy to the side. She had tried to apologize for everything she had put them through, especially putting them in harm's way. But Buffy simply shrugged and smiled. "You did something incredibly stupid and caused the rest of us a huge headache," she'd said. "If that doesn't make you an official Scooby, I don't know what else would!"

Even Anya, who often just wanted to go home and try to convince Xander to snuggle or have sex, got excited when it was present time. Xander himself had worked late and had missed all of the Magic Shop excitement, arriving literally minutes after the cleanup was finished. He'd gotten the gist of what had happened, however, between the five different versions of the tale he'd heard on the way over. He liked Dawn's the best for the enthusiasm she'd shown.

As the next song started, a slow one, Willow asked Tara to dance. But she asked Willow to wait a few minutes and instead took Spike out onto the dance floor.

Placing one hand on his shoulder and the other in his hand, she noted his surprise with a smile. "I wanted to thank you, Spike."

"Oh, it's nothing, y'know. All for one and one for all and all that rot, yeah?"

"It wasn't 'nothing' to me. I've spent my whole life since I could understand English being told that someday I'd destroy anyone I'd gotten close to. That only my family could save me from myself. To think it was all a huge lie, and I have you to thank for uncovering it for me."

Spike shrugged, looking a little sheepish. "The gang, you know? They'd have accepted you at face value no matter what the face turned out looking like. Hell, look at me. Here I am, even after what I've done."

"Yes. But I'm living proof, Spike…even with family you can only push people away so many times before they give up. Maybe it's time you stopped pushing?"

As Spike cocked his head at her, Willow came up and tapped him on the shoulder. "Mind if I cut in," he heard from behind him. Just before relinquishing Tara's hand, she leaned into him and kissed him chastely on the cheek.

He glanced back on his way to the tables to see Tara and her girl holding each other close and swaying gently to the music.

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"I don't deserve you," Tara said.

"How's that? 'Cause I was thinking I was the one who wasn't deserving here," Willow returned.

"No. You're wonderful. I'm the one who couldn't trust you, even after everything, enough to tell you my big secret."

"Well, you were scared. I get that. I mean, we're pretty fierce with the demon killing and you were the outsider trying to see in…see what you were getting into."

"I just…I thought if I just ignored it, it wouldn't ever come up. Well, I guess it wouldn't since it was all just a vicious lie. I just wasn't sure if I spilled everything, if you'd want to be with me. I couldn't risk losing you; not after having just finally found you."

"You'll never lose me. I don't care if you have spines, or scales or cat eyes. Or even if you have a lying, curmudgeonly family. Actually, you having cat's eyes would be kinda cool."

"I was just thinking that!"

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Spike returned to the table just in time to see Xander lead Dawn to the dance floor. She was beaming with adulation and he wondered is Xan knew how big a crush the Bit was under. He smiled at them as they passed and Xander gave him a playful wink.

When he returned to the table, he took a drink of the champagne and struggled not to spit it out. It was wretched piss masquerading as bubbly. Turning to Buffy he asked if she'd like to dance, considering that Captain Not-so-Terrific hadn't shown up yet. He should have known better. He really should have, by now.

Buffy turned up her nose of course, with a 'are you kidding?' and an appalled 'after our last time in the Bronze? Forget it!'

Just from spite, he was sure; Giles immediately stepped in and asked his Slayer for a dance. Buffy smiled widely at him and accepted almost before the old pervert could get the words out. And off they went leaving Spike and Anya alone at the table.

Rolling his eyes at the ceiling, Spike took a seat next to her. "Seems everyone else is dancing but us, luv." This received no reaction but a blank stare from Ms. Get-the-Clue, so he clarified.

"So…would you like to…" but the ex-demon bint simply rolled her eyes at him. Before he could cop an attitude with her over his snubbing, she grabbed up her cheap hand bag and went to the powder room.

Steaming a bit now, Spike got up and made his way to the door where Riley entered and they had a brief staring contest. He broke it unintentionally when he heard Xander call his name, allowing Riley to claim that small victory.

"You leaving so soon," Xan asked and Spike could tell he was just a bit buzzed.

"No one seems thrilled with me hanging around…as usual."

"Why, just 'cause they're not dancing with you? Hey, I'll fill your dance card."

Spike was silent for a moment, not because he was taking Xander seriously. He just noticed for the first time that his scent was…interesting. Not really off, per se, but there was something underneath his usual smells of shampoo and dark chocolate and sunshine. Something that niggled at the base of his mind; familiar, but so barely there he couldn't quite recognize what it was that had caught his attention.

"Hey, evil dead, it was just a little joke. No need to suddenly give me the silent treatment," Xander said lightly, if nervously.

"Yeah, well," Spike drawled, coming out of his thoughts, "if this were a different type of bar, I might have taken you up on it." He turned to make his way out and wondered how he was going to fill another long, long, night.

"Movie night on Saturday," Xander questioned from behind him as he left. Spike stopped and grinned back.

"What's playing, then?"

"A 'Jaws' double-bill."

"That doesn't sound like the usual fare you subject me to."

"It is when it's "Jaws 3-D without the 3-D effects" and "Jaws Part IV- Why In Hell Was This Thing Made"."

"I'm telling you Xander, one of these days you're going to have me staking myself on your sofa. Can I assume there will be the usual libations to ensure we keep sane during these tours-de-forces?"

"Naturally," Xander laughed.

"Then, I'll see you at eight." Spike left, feeling a bit better. After all; movies with Xander at the end of the week and a kiss from Tara tonight? Couldn't say life was all bad, right?

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End Ch 7

Spanderverse Series:

BTVS seasons 1-4, excluding Restless.

Spanderverse: To Dream

Spanderverse: After 314

Spanderverse: Spike

Spanderverse: Dracula

Spanderverse: Burial

BTVS: Real Me

Spanderverse: Confusion of Three

Preludes

Tensions

Old Friends

Hospital Visits

The Risks of Glory

Hunting Our Needs

The Family We Choose