Chapter 27: Making Time for Love

*****Valentine's Day*****

Dawn woke up to the smell of bacon. She grinned and jumped out of bed. It was Thursday, so she had school. Normally, she just grabbed a bowl of cereal or fruit for breakfast.

When she got into the kitchen, Keith was making breakfast. He smiled warmly at her. God, she loved him. He was so wonderful and treated her like she was special.

"Good morning, sweetheart. I am making all my girls a special Valentine's Day breakfast!" he announced.

"Pancakes?" she asked hopefully.

"Of course," he said. "Blueberry and chocolate chip."

She grinned. Then she looked at the table. There were three bouquets of flowers. One large dozen roses and then two smaller ones that both had small teddy bears next to them. "Are they for us?" she asked.

He turned and put down his spatula. Then he reached over and handed her one vase and teddy bear. "This is for you. Happy Valentine's Day," he said.

"That is so sweet of you, Keith," she said, hugging him. She went to go show her mom and wake her up.

Keith was the best.

"Mom, come see what your amazing fiancée gave me!" she called as she approached the bedroom.

Joyce smiled as Dawn showed her Keith's gift. "He is a very thoughtful man," Joyce said.

"What did you get him?" Dawn asked.

"A new watch," she said. "He's been wearing the same watch for a decade."

"Cool," Dawn said, smiling. "He's got breakfast ready. I'm going to put this on my dresser."

Buffy was already eating her breakfast when she returned.

"So what is your plans with Weevil for tonight?" Joyce asked Buffy.

"Nothing crazy since he works in the morning, and I have class. This is the first time that I'll actually get to celebrate Valentine's since I've been called," Buffy said with a smile. "I think we're going to the thing at Logan and Dick's hotel. We're going to stay the night there as Logan has rooms for his friends."

"What did you get him?" Dawn asked.

"A gift certificate to an auto part store," Buffy said as she shoveled more food into her mouth.

Both Dawn and Joyce stared at her in surprise while Keith grinned. "I think Eli will appreciate the usefulness of that gift," he said.

"He's always needing stuff for his bike, and he'd never let me buy stuff for him, so I figured it was a win-win," she said with a shrug. "He doesn't go for cologne and stuff."

"He might if it came from the woman he loves," Joyce said pointedly.

Buffy stopped eating and considered it. "Oh, well, I'll remember that for next time," she said. She bought a really sexy nightgown that would more than make up for the lame gift anyway.

When she saw Weevil on campus outside his workshop, he handed her a single rose.

"Happy Valentine's," he said, giving her a light kiss. He was still at work.

"I am very excited about tonight," she said. She had Logan reserve her a room at his hotel since it was a school night. Of course, she tried to pay for it, but Logan wouldn't let her, insisting that he kept three rooms set aside at all times for his personal use as did Dick. Weevil didn't like it much, but he didn't argue the point.

"Me, too," he said. This was his first time to ever have a real Valentine's. He was very excited to give her the gift that he had found for her.

Xander came out of the workshop, waving hello. "So what did you decide about Valentine's?" Buffy asked.

"Well, I know that Anya isn't the one. We don't love each other enough to put the other first," he said. "I had to make the break, and at New Year's that was kind of my resolution. I told Anya that we had to stop falling into bed together."

"Does that mean you are taking Parker out tonight?" she asked.

"No, actually, she's taking me out," Xander admitted.

"Really?" Buffy asked. "That's different."

"We talked, and I explained that I wasn't completely over Anya and that I didn't want to mislead her," he said.

"That was good of you," Buffy said in approval.

"She said that she had dated Logan during one of their breakups and had wished he had been man enough to be nearly as honest," he shared. "It was right after the campus rapists had made her one of their victims, and she was very scared and vulnerable. He didn't seduce her—it's the only reason I didn't go find him and kick his ass—but she said it really hurt her because he made her feel safe and special. But he was just using her as a distraction to get over Veronica. Then she just felt used all over again."

"Asshole," Weevil muttered.

"Now I want to kick his ass," Buffy said, shaking her head.

"Well, she explained that it helped her understand exactly what she needed from a relationship and what she didn't," he shared. "She needs honesty. She said if she has to spend another Valentine's Day alone, she will scream. She wants to have fun and thinks I'm worth waiting for. When I'm ready to get more serious, I will let her know. Although we are taking things slow, we will not be dating other people because we both agreed that's just exhausting and skeezy."

"Wow. That's very adult of you, Xander," Buffy said in approval. "I really like Parker. She's been through a lot, and she still smiles. Veronica doesn't smile much."

"Well, in her defense, more people have tried to kill her more than Parker," Xander pointed out.

"That's very true," Weevil said. "V's had a shit hand all around. You had all your friends. For several months after Lilly was murdered, she had no one. Not until Wallace moved to town. Never understood how he and V became friends—he's actually really popular since he's a star basketball player."

"Some guys just know quality," Xander said with a grin. "Now we've pulled her in our monster filled world kicking and screaming."

Buffy leaned against her boyfriend. "I know we have," she said. "I feel bad about it. I'll do my best to keep her out of things, just like I do Mom and Dawn. But she's a meddler by nature. I hope she'll let me."

"We will just tell her to stay out of Sunnydale," Xander said. "That's where the insanity really is."

"True," Buffy said. She hoped it stayed that way.

Xander was just glad that he and Parker could have a nice evening without any expectations except a good time.

Mac got to class a few minutes early as she knew that she needed to stop avoiding Oz. The last class Veronica had just told her Oz's furry secret, and she didn't know what to think. She skipped it entirely.

A computer magazine that she loved but rarely bought was placed on her desk with a small box of chocolates. "Happy Valentine's Day," Oz told her with a warm smile.

Mac looked down at the magazine and back at the smiling man, confused. No guy had ever got her so well. She smiled at him. "Thanks. It's very sweet and actually perfect," she said.

He leaned over. "Buffy told me that Veronica learned something about me that I figured she probably shared with you as girls tend to share everything," he said. "I thought maybe that's why you skipped class. If you don't want to get to know me anymore, I understand."

Mac gave him a searching glance before asking, "So what I heard about your full moon problem is actually the God's honest truth?"

Looking sad but serious, he nodded. "It is. I have it under control, however. Spent some time with some Buddhist monks. The full moon isn't a problem for me anymore, actually," he shared. "I'd love to tell you about it. Are you free tonight?"

"Tonight's Valentine's," she reminded him.

"Oh," he said. "Too much expectations?"

"No," she said. "I don't have plans. You are the only guy I've met this school year that I found interesting enough to make time for."

Since he knew how busy she was, he smiled. Mac was the girl Willow might've been if she had never met Buffy. However, she had a confidence about her that Willow never had while they were dating. She had it now, but never in high school. On Mac, it was very attractive. Knowing that the woman didn't need you at all but would make time for you was very sexy to him.

The professor came into the class. "How about I pick you up at six?" he suggested.

Mac smiled, nodding.

*****Elsewhere on Campus*****

Logan had woken up with his Valentine wrapped in his arms and fed her heart shaped pancakes. She had lunch plans with her dad, so he only had breakfast and dinner with her.

"I hope you didn't plan anything too over the top," she said.

"We are gimpy one and gimpy two," he said, pointing to their cast. Her arm cast was coming off next week, but he had two more on his leg. "No hot dance clubs. I got us tickets to a musical in San Diego that I know you will like."

"Really?" she asked, her eyes lighting up. She had tried to get him to go to more things like that their freshmen year.

"Yep. It has ran three nights, so all the kinks have been worked out," he said. "The reviews are good."

"San Diego University?" she asked. He nodded.

"Awesome!" she enthused. She leaned over to kiss him. "I love you, my hunky Valentine."

Logan never got tired of hearing her say that, and he grinned down at her. "I love you more every day, and I hope we have many Valentine's," he said.

"We will," she assured him.

"Do you think that Dick can handle the hotel's Valentine party he has going on?" she asked.

"I do. It's a great idea," Logan said. "Ratner has overseen all the details. It's going to be another smash hit."

Dick had the genius idea to turn the ballroom into a Valentine Ball for couples and singles hoping to find their prince charming or true love. One side of the ball room was labeled couples, so that no one would get hit on that was with a date. The other would be labeled singles only. He had advertised for the past two weeks in the fraternities. It was a formal affair. Twenty percent off for students on room rentals. They were filled to compacity, something that had never happened at the hotel before on Valentine's night.

"We will make an appearance around ten, so it's not like we won't show up at some point," he said.

Veronica was looking forward to their romantic evening.

*****Valentine's Ball*****

Dick was so stoked. His brilliant idea for a Valentine's Day ball was bringing in the dough. The hotel's profits had increased by fifty percent since he and Logan had bought it, and the new year was starting off right. Their New Year's bash and now this was hitting all the right notes.

Of course, the most important thing to him was that he had the hottest Valentine's date there. His siren of a girlfriend had just arrived in a red slinky dress that showed off her incredible body. The hem stopped midthigh. She left her hair down the way he preferred it, but it had more curl in it than normal.

"Oh my God!" he exclaimed, clutching his chest as she approached. "You get any hotter, and my heart my stop!"

She grinned. "I think you're stronger than that," she told him, pulling him down for a kiss.

Dick had never been so totally infatuated with another woman in his life. If he thought himself capable of it, he would even say that he was in love for the first time. However, he had no experience with the emotion, so he would not say those words. He didn't feel all depressed and angst-filled the way Logan felt about Veronica. Faith filled him with nothing but lust and joy. Her sex drive was insatiable and challenged him to new heights.

They danced for an hour, and then he fed her. She loved to eat, and Dick loved watching her. Her appetite for food was as big as it was for sex. He loved that she made no apology about it. Then they danced some more until she took him to the nearby closet and had her wicked way with him.

"God, you're the most amazing woman on the planet," he told her after they had sex standing up—a first for him.

Faith grinned at him. She had never spent so much time with one guy before Dick, and she was really digging him. He treated her so well, and every time seemed like he'd won the lottery with her. Nothing had ever made her feel so special in her life as being with him. He adored her, and each day or night they spent together just felt so good. For the first time in her life, she actually felt like part of a couple. Dick told her that he didn't want to see other girls, so she knew it was exclusive. That was definitely a first for her.

Veronica and Logan showed up around ten or so. Faith thought the girl looked as good as she could look sporting an arm cast. At least she had it colored blue to match her very nice dress.

"You look very nice," Faith told her.

"Thanks, so do you," Veronica said. The slayer's dress was one step away from being indecent, but she did look amazing in the red dress. Dick couldn't take his eyes off her.

"I think I can manage a slow song," Logan told her. Veronica held out her right hand and let him hold her close as a slow song played.

After a minute, Logan said, "This is very nice."

"It is," she said. "I think this is the nicest Valentine's I have ever had."

He smiled, happy to hear that. "It's not over yet," he told her.

She glanced over at Dick and Faith dancing together. Dick was looking down at Faith in adoration.

"I think Dick is actually in love," Veronica commented.

"I know he is," Logan said. "But he doesn't."

Veronica looked up at Logan in surprise. "Seriously?" she asked.

He smirked. "Well, thanks to you and me, he thinks love is misery and angst," he said. "He has never been truly in love."

Veronica laughed. "Are you going to tell him?" she asked.

"If he doesn't figure it out," Logan said.

"It is Dick we're talking about. It could take months," Veronica pointed out.

"When she goes back to Ohio, he will follow her," Logan told her. "That's when he'll know."

The man in question was tired of dancing and pulled his date up to his hotel room. "I want to give you your gift," he told her.

Faith picked up the small black purse that she had brought with her. "We have to stop at the front desk," she said. Dick looked puzzled but nodded.

Ratner saw Faith and handed her a wrapped package. "Thanks, Jeff," she said, flashing him a smile.

Jeff had no idea how a woman that sexy and down-to-earth was still dating Dick, but he lived to see her smile. "Any time, Faith," he said.

"No date, Ratner?" he asked.

"I'm waiting for Faith to realize that she can do better," he said, winking at Faith.

Dick grinned, impressed that the guy had the balls to flirt with Faith right in front of him. "Keep dreaming," he said.

"It's good to have dreams," Faith said. "Also keeps Dick on his toes." She blew him a kiss as they walked away.

Jeff sighed. "She didn't laugh and say no!" he exclaimed. This might be the best night of his life.

As they got into the elevator, Dick said, "You gave that dweeb the biggest thrill of his dweeb life."

Faith laughed. "You are ridiculous," she said.

"No, I'm serious. He's totally wishing he was me right now," Dick said with a smirk.

She shook her head, not terribly interested in the nice front desk guy, but as they entered his hotel room, she handed him the wrapped gift. "He was holding your gift for me," she said to him.

Dick grinned. This was the first time that he'd had a girlfriend at Valentine's actually give him anything. It was a framed picture of the two of them at New Year's.

"It's not much because you're like loaded and can probably buy yourself anything you want," Faith said. "But Buffy's mom took this picture of us, and I thought you might like for your bedside."

Dick couldn't believe how great they looked together. She was smiling at the camera while he was smiling down at her, clearing enamored. "We looked awesome together," he observed.

"That's what I thought, too," she said, smiling at the picture. "I got one for myself, too."

He put it next to the bed on his nightstand. "I like that I can see your face when I wake up every day," he said. "Thank you." He kissed her.

"So I was going to get you diamonds in earrings or a necklace," he said. "But Logan said that you might not want that because you were a slayer, not like a regular girl."

"I like jewelry," she said. "I just would never have the funds for something like that."

"Good to know," he said. He presented her with a slim box that was as long as her arm.

She smiled and opened it; her eyes widened in surprise.

"It's called a Haladie knife," he said. "It's an ancient Indian blade. That one's not old, of course. It's made from the finest high carbon steel."

"I've never seen anything like it," Faith said as she reached down to grab it. There were two somewhat curved blades on each end of the handle that met in the middle.

"I thought it was cool looking and knew you didn't have one like it because I asked Xander if he'd seen one like it before," Dick said.

"It is so awesome," she told him.

"There's a scabbard you put it in there," he said, pointing.

She reached in and put it in. "So great," she said. "Thank you, Dick." She put it in the box and put her arms around his neck.

"You're very welcome," he said, smiling. "I've never really had a Valentine before."

She smiled. "Me either," she admitted. "I have a confession to make."

"What?" he asked.

"I'm not wearing any underwear," she told him.

His eyes got wide. "Seriously?"

"Nope," she said, leaning in and kissing his neck. "This dress is too slinking and has a built-in bra in front."

Then she proceeded to lift the hem up and show him.

"God, you're so sexy and beautiful," he said, looking at her naked body with frank admiration. "And amazing in every way." It really turned him on to think the whole time they were dancing she wore no underwear.

Faith smirked. "Why don't you let me show you exactly how much I liked your gift?" she asked, beckoning him closer.

He didn't have to be told twice as he kicked off his shoes and loosened his tie. Then he picked her up in his arms and carried her to his bed.

A half hour later, Logan and Veronica made their way up to the suite he shared with Dick. Both were feeling great about their night. Veronica had lunch with her dad, and he was so sweet and excited about his evening he had planned with Joyce. She didn't even try to say anything negative. Her night with Logan had been perfect so far. Not even knowing that Dick was probably in his room doing ungodly things to Faith could mar her time.

"Let's get to your room before I have to hear anything from Dick and his sexpot of a lover," Veronica said, grabbing his hand.

"Hey, she don't have nothin' on you, snookums," he told her with a leer.

"I appreciate you saying that," she said.

When they got into his room, she closed his door in relief. Luckily, the rooms were far enough apart that you could never hear what the others were doing, which was the only reason she hadn't insisted Logan move into his own hotel room.

Logan wanted to give her a promise ring, but he didn't think she was ready for that. Instead, he went with diamond tear drop earrings, which she grudgingly accepted.

"These are too much, Logan," she said.

"Do you like them?" he asked.

"Of course, I do. They are beautiful," she said.

"Every woman deserves at least one pair of diamond earrings," he said with a grin.

She laughed as she put them on. "How do they look?" she asked.

"Almost as beautiful as you," he said. Then he kissed her.

Veronica hoped that she would never get tired of being loved by Logan.

*****Buffy and Weevil*****

A few doors down, Buffy was celebrating her own Valentine's evening with Weevil. The couple had decided to order dinner in instead of going out. Both of them did spend an hour dancing downstairs in the ball because Dick would've been upset if she hadn't. Tara and Willow were there, looking adorably sweet in their red and green dresses. Weevil knew how much his woman loved to dance, and both of them had dressed up for the evening. Buffy had on a shimmering silver dress that dipped low in the back and hugged her figure. It was much longer than the dress Faith wore as it had a slit in it. Her hair was put up in a French twist, showing off her neck.

She was so beautiful, and Weevil felt incredibly lucky that she chose him.

"Dick did a really good thing," she said as they entered their hotel room.

"Yes, it was actually very nice," he said, impressed. "Do you think Wallace met someone at the single's side?"

"Definitely," she said, grinning. "He was very excited."

"Who would've thought that Dick Casablancas would've came up with something so clever?" Weevil asked.

"Wasn't his dad a business guy?" Buffy asked.

"He went to prison for fraud," Weevil said.

"Well, he must've known something. Dick did grow up wealthy, so he couldn't have been all phony," she pointed out. "The room is nice." She took down her twist, letting her hair fall onto her shoulders and combed it out with her fingers.

"It is," Weevil said. "Since we both have early mornings, I'm glad that you didn't mind staying in."

She pulled him down on the sofa the room had. "I like having you all to myself anytime I can," she said, smiling at him before kissing him.

After making out for a few minutes, they come up for air and decided to look at the menu and order some food. "I am paying for dinner," he said.

"You know Logan won't bill us for anything," she said.

He glared. "I really don't like that," he complained.

"Hey, we have a rich friend. If he wants to pay for dinner, who cares?" she said with a shrug. "You work hard for your money, and he doesn't. So why should you care if he pays for our dinner?"

She was so casual and pragmatic about it that Weevil realized she had a point. "Okay, you're right," he said. "Order the most expensive steak on the menu for me."

She laughed, and they called in their order.

Buffy had been in the room before she had met Weevil, and she brought up her bag with her toiletries and his gift certificate. She walked over to the nightstand by the bed and opened it. Then she kicked off her shoes before turning and walking back to him.

"Here's your Valentine's gift. I've never bought a guy a Valentine's gift before," she admitted. "It's not very romantic, but the sexy lingerie I'm going to wear to bed will more than make up for it."

He grinned. "Well, I appreciate both things," he said, taking it from her and opening it. When he saw that it was a gift certificate to an auto part store he went to frequently, he laughed. "God, I love you."

Buffy felt the warmth of his look and accepted his kiss. Then he gave her his gift.

It was in a jewelry box. She opened it and looked in surprise at the silver heart-shaped locket that had a red jeweled cross on it.

"It's beautiful, Eli," she told him.

"I know that you tend to wear a cross, so I looked for something that did have a cross on it," he said. He opened the locket and saw a picture of her mom and Dawn on one side and him on the other. "I figured it wasn't too presumptuous to put me in there. Your mom helped me with the photos."

"It is not at all," she said, deeply touched by his sweet gift. She pulled him down for a hug. Then she kissed him.

"Thank you so much. I love it. I love you," she said. Weevil made her so happy. He had taken his time with her, waiting for her to be ready, basically winning her.

This was the Valentine that she had always wanted, and she hoped it wouldn't be her last. In just a few months they would have to deal with Glory once and for all.

So she would take every moment of joy she could find.

*****Chapter End*****

Review if you enjoyed it. This story is close to being completed. Thanks for reading!