A/N: So much thanks to my Beta Geliot99

Birthday

Buffy spent the majority of the next morning with the girls getting things set up for Spike's party in the great room when there was a knock at the door. The door started to open before Buffy even got to it and Sheena was complaining loudly, "I practically live here, you don't have to knock dad!"

"It's called being polite, young lady," Mr. Anderson chided his youngest daughter.

Buffy smiled as she drew near Sheena and her parents in the entranceway. "Thanks for playing along and coming back today. Spike totally thinks we're having a welcome back party for you."

"Happy to help," Sheena grinned. She turned around to her parents taking her bags from her father. "Are you staying?"

"Oh, no. Your mum and I had better be off," he turned his attention to Buffy, "Have you heard from Ruby since she's been in Rome?"

Buffy frowned at that, she was sure Ruby would have called her parents. "Ah, yeah, I talked to her and Willow yesterday. They are pretty busy getting things settled in Rome. It's taking the girls some time to get used to her but she seems to be handling it pretty well. She's training with one of the first girls we trained, so she should be alright."

"If you talk to her again, could you ask her to call us? We'd like to hear from her," Mrs. Anderson said.

Buffy nodded, "Sure, absolutely, I'll definitely do that."

After Sheena's parents departed Buffy turned to Sheena with her arms crossed, "You want to tell me why your parents are asking me about your sister when I know for a fact, you just talked to her?"

Sheena chewed on a chipped black fingernail, "Ruby is still kind of adjusting to everything… she sort of told me a little bit about what's going on with her and Miss Rosenberg but hum—"

"But she isn't ready to tell your parents…" Buffy sighed, "alright, I get that… We'll talk later. For now let's get you settled in before party time. I'll let you be on distraction duty and bring Spike down when we're ready."

Sheena rubbed her hands together, "Brilliant!"

Spike grinned from ear to ear when he saw Sheena walk through the door of the training room, "Hey brat, what do you think you were doing givin' us all a scare like that?"

Sheena gave him a strained smile "Sorry… I just wish Deloris—" she cut off frowning sadly. Spike knew Deloris had been her best friend at the castle and her death had been the biggest reason she hadn't returned sooner.

He nodded, pulling her into a familial hug, "Understood. We've all made mistakes. Just Gotta watch out for those life-and-death ones in the future, yeah?"

Sheena cleared her throat, "Yeah. Hard lesson learned."

"Think you're ready to get back in the game?" Spike asked.

"Think so," she hesitated a moment, fiddling with her earrings, "I hum, I wanted to thank you for helping my sister."

"Don't get all sappy, kid."

Sheena looked at him seriously, "No, I mean it. She told me how much you'd been working with her and how you fought for her to get her soul."

"Wouldn't say it was much of a fight really. All just sort of worked out."

"Just take the gratitude, would you old man?" She huffed.

"Oi! Now that's some fighting talk from you, girly," he countered as the two of them started heading for the stairs.

"I don't know, Ruby said you're kinda like her Grandpa now…" Sheena goaded.

"Oh shut it, you Muppet. I'm nobody's grandfather!"

Sheena smirked, "That's not what she says…"

He rolled his eyes, "Where you headed anyway?"

"Great room, thought maybe I could beat you in a game of foosball."

He chuckled, "Missed having you round, brat. Doesn't mean I'm gonna let you win." He shot her a grin and followed Sheena downstairs, into the great room.

A yell of "SURPRISE!" greeted them. Sheena grinned broadly at him as she took her place in the crowd behind Buffy. Buffy wrapped her arms around Spike as he took in the huge banner of wide yellow paper hanging above the fireplace reading "Happy Birthday Spike!" spelled out in red paint. There were multicolored balloons and streamers artfully hung around the large room.

Something tugged at his chest. The only one who had done anything like this for him within the last century was Drusilla and her idea of a party typically involved fewer balloons and a lot more blood.

Spike gripped Buffy around the waist pulling her close, "So this is what you've really been up to," he rolled his eyes but smiled all the same.

"Were you surprised?"

"Knew you had something up your sleeve, Slayer. Can't believe I bought that rot you spun me about Sheena."

She grinned at him, "Oh there's more," she said, pecking him on the cheek.

"Lead the way."

A moment later Spike spotted the cake set up on top of a card table and they moved a little closer to it. The white icing had been decorated with red icing dripping down the outer edge of the cake like blood with a little motorcycle perched on top.

A little pang of despair surged through him at the thought of his wrecked Triumph. Buffy turned her gaze up to him quizzically, "Don't you like it?"

Shaking off the feeling he turned to her, "I love it. Just thinking bout my bike, is all. Everything is perfect, Goldilocks."

"Well good because the girls really got into the whole planning thing."

Spike smirked, and pulled her against him tightly, "Wish I knew what I did to deserve you."

"I could make you a list."

Spike pulled her into a deep kiss right there in front of the cake. They were normally more reserved in front of the girls and the kiss took Buffy by surprise for a moment.

"Oh, come on you two get a room," Xander's teasing voice cut through a chorus of cat calls that had risen around them.

Spike pulled back from the kiss leaving Buffy a little breathless. She turned towards Xander with a soft blush coloring her cheeks. She gave a little groan, "That one is getting old, Xan."

"What are you talking about? It's a classic line!" Xander said, grinning. He turned, catching sight of some of the guests, "What's with the guy with the horns and little family blue over there?" He asked in an undertone.

"Friends of ours," Buffy answered, "come on I'll introduce you."

Spike looked up in the direction Xander had indicated, smiling, "You invited them?" He asked Buffy.

Buffy shrugged, "I figure they are the only friends we've really made in the demon community around here so it seemed like a good idea."

"Who's the bird with Steve?" Spike asked, jerking his chin towards the tall bartender with the curling horns. As they headed their direction.

Steve was standing with a lamb of a woman. Her soft hair puffed out like a brilliant white cloud around delicate sheepish features. She was wearing a yellow sundress showing off skin that was covered in a very fine fuzzy white layer of fur, or maybe wool as the case may be. She wore a matching floral headband in her hair, nestled closely to her floppy lamb's ears. She almost looked like a living version of some cute stuffed animal you might find in a child's Easter basket.

"Pretty sure that's his wife, Bonnie, I think," Buffy answered.

"Glad Lilias and the baby were able to make it, any idea what her bloke's name is?" Spike asked.

"Finn."

"As in fish?" Xander chortled.

"I'd refrain from fish jokes if I were you, Harris, Lilias is the one who came to my rescue with her baby strapped to her chest. Girl barely blinked an eye."

"Right, don't piss off the tiny blue lady," Xander gulped.

"Probably a good idea not to piss off anyone, Xan," Buffy said just out of earshot of the guest in question.

As the party continued on, Buffy and Spike spent most of their time talking to their demon guests. Bonnie, Steve's wife, was just as sweet as she looked and Buffy, wasn't surprised in the least to find out that she worked at the demon daycare they had seen in the underground.

At one point Lilias passed Aftyn over to Buffy who snuggled him in against her chest.

"I can't believe how much he's grown already!" Buffy exclaimed, "You're just a little cutie aren't you?" Buffy said, tickling him. Aftyn giggled, looked at her dubiously for a moment, and then giggled again. With the attention span of a very small child, he abruptly turned and reached for Bonnie who took him gleefully.

She let out an odd burbling laugh as the tiny demon boy patted her fluffy white curls. "Oh, he really is just the sweetest little bahh-be," Bonnie crooned as he stroked her soft fuzzy cheek. Lilias smiled warmly as she and Finn watched them.

A few of the girls made their way over to play with Aftyn and to wish Spike a happy birthday. Xander fell into a conversation with Steve and eventually Spike and Buffy made their way over to the refreshment table where several of the girls were hoarding the pretzels.

Faith came up to them to refill her drink and pulled Spike into a one armed hug, "Buffy give you your gift yet?" She asked with a smirk.

Buffy interjected quickly, "Nope, I'm making him wait like a good boy."

Faith grinned, "Oh I bet you are," she murmured knowingly before slipping away.

"What was that about?" Spike asked Buffy.

Buffy bit her lip, "I might have been with Faith when I got some of your gifts."

"Can't wait," he purred into her ear.

They made their way around the room a few times, talking with some of the girls. Aftyn quickly became the center of attention for the Slayeretts when he got the hiccups, just after Lilias had attempted to feed him a few bites of the chocolate cake. Although hiccups are common for babies these ones were anything but. Aftyn's hiccups were accompanied by tiny smoke filled bubbles. The long lasting bubbles added an extra festive element to the party atmosphere.

Buffy took the opportunity to pull Spike away to a slightly less crowded corner. "Having a good time, babe?"

"Could go for a beer," he answered as he pulled her against his chest playfully.

Buffy pushed up into him for a kiss, "I think that could be arranged," she murmured into his ear.

A thrill of electricity danced through his body and Spike gave a low groan, "Intending on leaving the party early?"

"I thought about giving you a sneak peek at one of your birthday presents. We could probably slip away for a few minutes before someone came to find—"

"Ah, Buffy there you are, I've been looking for you," Giles said, interrupting her.

Buffy bit the inside of her cheek as she realized this was the first time she'd seen him since the party began, "What's up?"

"Firstly I wanted to say something I never thought I would with any sincerity and wish Spike a very Happy Birthday."

Spike refrained from rolling his eyes, "Ta, Rupert. What's the second thing?"

Giles cleared his throat, "I had a call from an old acquaintance a moment ago before I came down. There seems to be a rash of vengeance like wishes being granted, I thought it might be best if the two of you checked it out."

Buffy frowned, "This couldn't have waited until after the party?"

"I thought you might appreciate the advanced warning and the opportunity to talk it over," Giles said, pushing up his glasses.

Spike readjusted his arm around Buffy's waist, "Where's this at?"

"We think the epicenter is a club in London."

"Home sweet home," Spike grinned.

Giles smiled at them both, "I've already taken the liberty of securing transportation and accommodations for you, consider it a birthday present."

Buffy narrowed her eyes at Giles, "So is there really a vengeance demon down there or is this just a way to get us out of the castle?"

"A bit of both I suppose. We think it might be the same one that was responsible for the trouble when Angel was here," Giles responded.

"Huhh, yeah. Mr. DJ did say he had been in London…" Buffy mused.

Giles cleared his throat, "You were kind enough to postpone your trip when we needed you. Now that I'm out of that infernal cast, I think it's high time you resumed your trip while the renovations are underway."

Buffy turned to look at Spike, "It's basically what we said we wanted to do."

"Sure is. Watch out London, here we come," Spike grinned.

Faith and Callum made their way over to them, Callum cast a glance over to Finn and Steve who were laughing with Xander like old friends. "Looks like they are getting along well," Callum commented.

Spike shrugged, "Don't really know Finn that well but Steve is a decent fella."

"I dunno, I think I'm still just getting used to the whole demon thing." Callum admitted.

You feel like giving me a few hints about my presents? Spike asked Buffy through their link.

Buffy grinned, ignoring Spike, "It takes some time but you'll get there," she replied to Callum.

Jetta came over to their little group, pulling Faith and Spike away, "Come on you two, Foosball tournament!"

Spike pulled his arm back but stopped when he caught sight of Sheena standing at the table grinning wildly as she won yet another match. "Oh it's on!" Spike smiled wickedly as he followed Jetta over to the crowd of girls surrounding the foosball table.

By the time the tournament had started to wind down, Sheena was the one to beat. Faith took her on first losing by a single goal. It was now down to Spike and Sheena.

Spike rubbed his hands together, "Prepare to be dethroned, brat," he grinned.

"Bring it!" Sheena retorted.

Jetta had been acting as commentator as the match drew on. She called for quiet. Spike and Sheena were tied. "This is it folks, whoever gets this one will be the reigning champion of the foosball table!" Jetta called out.

The ball dropped.

In a flurry of little spinning men and a small ricocheting ball they battled it out. Then with a final spin, and a crow of triumph, it was over.

Spike shot his fists in the air with glee, "Ahh! Take that!"

Sheena glared at him, then quirked a smile, "Happy Birthday!"

"Ohh you really are a brat. I know I won fair and square!"

"Do you really?" She smirked.

"Alright, alright! Break it up!" Buffy called out, wrapping her arms around Spike and kissing him on the cheek, "Presents!"

By the time the party had started to wind down, the girls had filtered up the stairs, and their demonic guests departed, Spike was practically chewing his own arm off to know what else Buffy had planned for him.

A few of the girls lingered in the great room cleaning up after the party and Buffy looked around. She caught Spike's eye and grinned, Ready for your Birthday present? She asked through their link.

Spike fingered the black stone nestled just below the notch of his throat. What? This little bauble isn't the end of it? He responded, knowing full well it wasn't.

Oh I think you know I have way more planned for you mister. Her voice poured promises inside his mind, filling him up like a mug of hot chocolate.

He glanced around the room, reached for her hand and pulled her to him. Think they can handle this on their own, don't you?

Now be a good birthday boy and give me a head start to get ready. She smirked as she gathered up the pile of gifts Spike had received, shooting him a sultry smile.

Spike suppressed a low growl of approval, feeling himself already getting hard. Yes, Slayer.

Spike stood outside of their bedroom door inhaling deeply, taking in the scent of burning candles. A grin spread over his face, Wonder if I can get lucky enough for her to use 'em on me.

A shiver of anticipation ran through him at the thought and he slowly turned the handle, letting himself into their room.

As expected, Buffy had a dozen lit candles dotted around the room. She set the last one down on the bedside table and turned to face him with a coy smile on her lips. He stood stock still taking her in. She was wearing a red silk robe, open to reveal a red bra and panty set. Completing the look was a little headband with little horns.

Spike smirked, "Little role reversal?"

She shrugged her shoulders, "Well if you don't like them…" she reached up to take them off, unable to hide a smile.

Spike's hand shot out, stopping her, "Don't even think about it." He laced his fingers with hers holding her hand firmly and brought it down to twist behind her back as he drew her in for a kiss. "I think I like this present."

Buffy hummed, "There's more," she withdrew from him, turning around as she shrugged off her little robe to reveal the tattoo on her shoulder. Thanks to Slayer healing it was nearly healed over already. Spike took a step forward, reaching out to run his fingers along the outer edge of the railroad spike and stake wrapped with a flowing red ribbon that followed the curve of her shoulder smoothly.

"Buffy…" the sound caught in his throat. He was overwhelmed by the significance of the tattoo. A representation of the two of them bound together. Words evaded him.

"I've been thinking about getting something for a while now, and then after the cave— I just decided to go for it."

Spike stroked her shoulder tenderly as he brought his lips to the back of her neck, "God Buffy, just when I think I couldn't possibly be more attracted to you, you go and prove me wrong."

Buffy gave a little hum, "Does that mean you like it?"

"Love it, love you," he murmured against her skin as he nipped lightly.

Buffy grinned, pressing back against him a little. "Are you ready to see the rest of your presents?"

"Are they hiding under those little bits of lace," he smirked, tugging at one of the shoulder straps.

Buffy hummed again and reached forward to pick up a small black gift bag sitting on the bed and handed it to him. He raised an eyebrow before pulling out the black tissue paper and a leather dog collar with multiple rings spaced around it and a little black bell attached to one of the rings. Spike let out a bark of laughter and started to put it on.

"Wondered if you were serious about that," he grinned. Once it was in place around his throat, he pulled his shirt over his head, tossing it on the floor and kicked off his boots. "What are you waiting for, Slayer? Do you want your dog to beg for a treat?"

Buffy licked her lips taking in his pale skin, almost gleaming in the candlelight against the black collar and the new silver necklace hanging down just below it. "That's a surprisingly good look on you."

"I'm all yours," he said, stalking up and pressing himself against her. His arousal was straining against his jeans as he pulled her into a long hard kiss. One hand gripped her around the waist while the other cupped her ass.

Buffy surprised him by pushing him back onto the bed. The little bell on his collar tinkled as he landed with a thump. He smirked at her with her little fake demon horns as she crawled onto the bed with him. Spike wrapped his arms around her laying kisses along a tender spot on her neck as she leaned over him. It took him a moment to realize she was digging under one of the pillows for something.

"You got another surprise for me?" He growled in her ear.

He could see the grin on her lips as she pulled out a pair of handcuffs, "What do you think, babe? It's your birthday, you pick."

Spike smirked, "You finally make good and give me a collar and then tell me I have a choice? Oh no Slayer, I've been waiting for this," he held his wrist up between them, "I'll be your good boy," he purred in a tone that radically contradicted his words.

Buffy affixed the cuffs around his wrists, securing them above his head. Spike inhaled deeply as he let his body relax into a submissive posture on the bed. Buffy looped her finger into the metal ring on his collar, yanking his head up a few inches to meet her for a kiss. The feel of the collar digging into the back of his neck drew a low growl from his chest. She released him, letting his head fall back onto the pillow with a soft thud, bell tinkling.

Buffy shifted off the bed to stand next to him, tapping her index finger against her lips in thought. Spike's mouth went dry, remembering the night she had used the cross on him. He couldn't help being aroused by the memory. A little smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "I know you liked the cross but I was thinking we might try something else tonight," she reached for the candle on the bedside table and raised an eyebrow, "Birthday candles?"

His erection was pressing painfully against his jeans now and he swallowed dryly, "Yes, Slayer."

She examined the candle, the flickering light reflecting off of the shimmering fabric her ridiculous little horns were covered in. She paused a moment before running her nails lightly from the base of his throat all the way down to his belt buckle. She dipped her fingers just below his waistband, massaging his hip with one hand. "Close your eyes," she murmured.

"Yes, Slayer." He did as he had been asked, the anticipation was starting to drive him crazy.

Slowly the sting of hot wax started to trickle down along his collarbone and then his chest. He let out a delighted little hiss. She continued to work her fingers over the upper crest of his hips, trailing down to tease him just below his belt line. Spike arched into her as more wax dripped over the muscles of his stomach filling his navel.

Buffy set down the candle and began working on his belt and pants. She pulled his pants down in one swift motion. Suddenly freeing his cock that had been painfully confined. His eyes flew open as he felt the wet heat of her tongue run up his shaft before she engulfed him completely. Buffy worked her tongue around his tip, gliding her mouth up and down his shaft.

Spike strained against the cuffs as she released him from her mouth, blowing cool air onto his dampened skin. He moaned, rocking back his head and pushing his hips upward as she licked up his length, swirling her tongue around and lapping at the moisture gathered at his tip.

She moved down, using her hands to spread his legs wider and kissed the inside of his thigh. Latching her mouth onto the sensitive skin and sucking hard. She brought her hand to stroke his member . Spike started to squirm under her ministrations as she continued to suck and nip at tender flesh.

Spike growled at one particularly hard nip and Buffy ran her tongue around the bite marks making him shiver. "Slayer—"

She smirked and took his length into her mouth again before slowly working her way up his stomach. She ran her hands up over the hardening wax peeling it off slowly making Spike hiss in pain and pleasure as she soothed his skin with kisses as she went.

Spike was struggling against the handcuffs, desperate to touch her as she removed the last of the wax along his clavicle. She pulled on the collar, bringing her mouth to the spot on his neck just below his ear. A jolt of intense electricity ran through him as she yanked a little harder on the collar, bringing his ear closer to take the lobe in her mouth and making him gasp. Spike twisted and writhed beneath her.

Buffy sat up sitting astride his stomach rolling her hips against him. She began to remove her bra, letting the straps slip down her arm as he watched with hungry, desperate eyes. Buffy leaned forward teasing his mouth with her breast as she reached for the candle again. She held it up with a curious expression on her face before tilting it towards herself, letting the wax drip down between her breast and stomach as she continued to rock her hips.

"God that's hot, Slayer…" Spike groaned. He was painfully hard now.

Buffy gave a shiver as the wax dripped down further. She set the candle down again. The wax cracked with the movement. She reached for the edge of her panties releasing tiny hooks letting the lace fall onto his stomach. Buffy moved her hands down the trail of crackling wax and slipped her fingers down to slide the red lace out from between her legs. Spike moaned as he watched her.

"Enough to make you beg?"

His body was starting to quiver with desire, "Please, Slayer," he rasped.

"Please what?"

"Please sit on my cock, Slayer," he bucked his hips.

Buffy grinned at him running her hands up his chest, brushing her fingers over his nipples making him tremble. "Slayer— please—"

"I can't hear you," she teased.

"Please Slayer, I need to feel you around me. I need— I need you." He panted.

Buffy leaned down taking his earlobe into her mouth, nipping softly. She shifted back, impaling herself on his impossibly hard erection . Spike nearly growled as she slipped down, letting the heat of her velvety walls surround him.

Buffy gripped his hips as she rocked. He watched her face as she quickly worked to build herself up. He was already getting close. He bit his lip hard, to push his own release back as she continued to ride him. Her breath was starting to come in heavy gasps as she squeezed down around him. He bent his knees, planting his feet for leverage and pushed up into her meeting her downward thrust. Within minutes Buffy was screaming his name as she broke, coming apart on top of him. The little restraint he had left completely evaporated as she rode out her orgasm pulling him over the edge as he filled her and sent her crashing down along with him again.

Buffy collapsed onto his chest, he nuzzled his face into her hair, "It's official. This was the best birthday ever."

"Who says it's over?"