Chapter 21: New Years

Time flew aboard the boat that Spike's aunt owned. Spike and Buffy spent every moment together. Spike even showed her how to fish, which much to his surprise, she did ok at as long as she could be quiet long enough to catch something.

Before the couple knew it, it was New Year's Eve and the party was going to start soon. Oz was the first to arrive with Willow in tow bringing all sorts of snacks along with a stereo system that had been rigged up with a backup battery supply to last 6 hours. It wasn't started right away figuring once the party gets started, they could start it up to make the music last longer into the night.

Next were Xander and Anya carrying more snacks and drinks for all. With the gang there, the party started.

Spike supplied the alcohol for those who wanted a drink but he cautioned all that they were still underage and that the boat was public so they could be caught if they got too crazy and rowdy.

Gifts were opened as the first step along with food being offered. After everyone had opened their gifts from each other the gang started talking with each other.

With Spike in England and only Buffy to tell the stories, Spike enjoyed hearing about his friends' lives. Xander talked nonstop about his plans for the future which included opening his very own construction business with his own crew hoping to help to rebuild some of the older buildings that were in major need of repairs.

Anya rambled about how she'd like to get into business with Spike's aunt Jenny and how she had been helping her out after school eager to get into the business world.

Oz was talking about touring this summer and how Willow would join him until they both started up in the fall in college. Willow wanted to be a computer programmer and knew college was necessary and Oz had decided to take up History in hopes to have a job other than being a superstar the rest of his life.

Buffy of course rambled about her plans that included Spike and Spike had tons of stories to tell about his family business. The time was flying by and before the gang knew it, night was falling.

Xander turned on spotlights with a grin having obtained battery-powered lights so the gang could see what they were doing. Oz turned on his stereo system blaring out dance music as the gang started dancing.

Oz and Spike sang along to many of the songs as they danced the night away with their partners. Wine was popular and added to the silliness and fun of the group.

Willow found herself laughing about the idea of being the wife of a superstar in years to come and Oz himself was laughing at the idea of Spike having a living out of getting others drunk. Since Spike was also enjoying the wine, that comment didn't bother him as much as it would normally and instead he joked about how he should become a wine tester to have free wine and not be frowned at. Anya piped up offering her services…then corrected herself changing it to her services as a wine taster.

Around 11, the gang piped down and instead of being so fun and loud, they instead started to slow dance with their partner and by 11:30, they were all laying on the boat, with their backs against the ground and their arms around their significant other talking about their year's plans.

Spike hoped to have Buffy and himself settled into England while Anya and Xander hoped to get an apartment in Sunnydale and settle in. Anya insisted they have lots of money before they settle down into a house together and that seemed to suit Xander just fine because the word marriage had him stuttering up a storm so it was obvious he wasn't ready.

Oz and Willow were a little less practical. Since Oz wanted to continue to have the best of both worlds, be a student and a superstar, it made Willow's plans be a bit more flexible than one would have thought possible for her. She figured she'd travel with Oz and use the traveling time to see the world.

She wanted to see what the world had to offer before choosing where to live. Her year's goals was to continue traveling for 10 years and it was to find out what each area of the world had to offer whether it be rich or poor. She didn't care as long as she got to see it. Oz agreed with her and had no issues with her lifetime goal.

The whole group was so involved with their dreams, they didn't notice how quiet Buffy had gotten. She was nervous about the future. She wasn't sure what Spike and her would do to settle down. She hated the idea of being so far away from her new sister Dawn and her mom and even if she admitted it, her step-father Giles. She knew she could visit but would it really work out that way?

Say she got so lost in his family business she forgot about her own flesh and blood. Say he met someone new, and ended up completely forgetting her. She felt Spike tighten his hold around her but still she didn't offer anything in their conversation. With her mind heavy and her thoughts busy she watched the sky and the time to see when the New Year would come in praying it would be a good year full of great things happening only she wasn't so sure after all.

Buffy and Spike both woke up to an empty boat and the pouring rain. Having drunk so much wine and stayed up until early morning, they had slept through most of the day.

It was already noon but that didn't seem to affect Buffy. She stood up drenched in her dress clothes from last night and smiled as she stood up with her arms in the air welcoming the rain.

It was the day Spike was to leave and the beginning of a New Year and the rain felt in a way refreshing. Spike watched her as she twirled around in a circle getting drenched.

She then stopped and grinned running over to Spike pulling his hand into hers to jump over the side of the boat pulling Spike in with her. Dressed in their clothes, they threw their shoes back aboard the boat and swam around laughing and having fun. Neither seemed bothered by the cool rain or water but instead just enjoyed each other's company.

Finally after two hours of being in the water, Spike climbed aboard the boat pulling Buffy up onto it as well and he wrapped his arms around her whispering, "Let me take you to dinner, then make love to you one more time before I have to leave. I have to stop by Dru's to drop off the kid's present."

Buffy frowned and then whispered, "Can I come? I know it's probably not my place but…."

Spike gave a nod as he helped her to stand up, "Let's get you back to my Aunt's house. She should be home by now, where we can shower up and get some dry clothes on and then perhaps we can have lunch there. Dru is usually hospitable enough to feed others."

Buffy smiled wanting to finally learn who Drusilla really was and what it was about her that stole Spike's heart and broke it into a million pieces.