TITLE: Birthday Wishes
AUTHOR: Ragna (writinggoddess@aol.com)
RATING: FRT
SPOILERS: None, unless I miraculously get hired to write for the show.
DISTRIBUTION: Sure, just keep my name on it and let me know.
DISCLAIMER: If you don't recognize it, chances are it's my own creation. If you do, Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, Kazui Sandollar, FOX and the WB own it or them. I'm just holding Spike, Xander and Oz hostage. You may see them by appointment only.
FEEDBACK: Sorry I'm not home right now I'm walking in the spiderwebs so leave a message and I'll call you back...in other words, I want it.
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Answer to Saber ShadowKitten's B-Day challenge.

***

Spike stood back, watching the Slayer enjoy herself. It was her twentieth birthday, all the more reason to celebrate since no one thought she'd make it there.

He shook his head. He, killer of three Slayers, was at the celebration of one of their birth. It would be even more ironic if he was celebrating his own as well.

Which he should have been.

He and the Slayer, his mortal enemy and newly acquired ally, shared the same birthday. Not that anyone knew, except Dru, who now resided in an urn in his room. So, it would be a secret he took with him to his second death.

He shook his head and sipped at the drink Joyce had given him. She was a good person. Her daughter might not realize it quite yet, but she was a remarkably caring person. Almost like the mother he wished he'd had.

He knew there was some alcohol in it, and for that, he was grateful. He walked out side into the night. It was cold, as usual. And there were all the stars out.

"Star light, star bright, first bloody star I see tonight. Wish I may, wish I might, have the wish I wish tonight." He paused. "I wish someone would celebrate my birthday with me tomorrow."

The sound of the porch door closing was missed by the cheers from inside.

***

"What, Mom?"

"Exactly what I said. Spike's birthday is tomorrow. I want him to have a party."

Buffy closed the refrigerator door. "But...but...he's Spike!"

"And? He's the first person I've been able to have decent conversations with in this town for a long time. He deserves something tomorrow."

"Why, Mom?"

"Because...it's not right. He being alone."

"Don't include me in this...I'll have to patrol."

"Sometimes I think you use that as an excuse, Buffy."

"In this case, you're right."

***

Joyce went to bed, thinking of what to do. She knew quite a bit about Spike. They'd talked a lot in the last year and a half. She got the feeling he looked at her like a mother to him, and that made her feel special.

Buffy now almost starting spending less time at home at all, staying with Willow at their dorm. She was seeing Xander now, and, well...it seemed as though she wanted nothing to do with her mother.

But Spike would ask for advice, sometimes, or just talk. She was the one he had come to when Dru was dusted. He was the one she had told about finding Buffy passed out from exhaustion, and to see what he could do to take some of the load off her shoulders.

They depended on each other, it seemed.

So, she felt the need to do something for him. A motherly need. But, right, now, she couldn't think of much. Sighing, she turned off the light, not noticing the book by her nightstand.

***

Joyce looked at everything she had gotten set up already. It had come to her early in the morning the two things that Spike would probably love to get. Once, when they'd talked, he'd mentioned he'd lost a prized dagger while fighting a demon, and so she had got him a small but beautifully carved dagger.

And the second part was upstairs, against her will, getting dressed.

Joyce laughed slightly as she remembered the conversation from earlier this morning, as Buffy opened her present from her father to find a dress and $200 cash. She had been ecstatic, and then...

"Buffy. I want to ask a favor."

She had groaned, knowing it would be something she didn't want to do. "Yeah?" she asked, looking at her mother.

"Go out on a date tonight."

Her eyes lit up until she heard the last two words.

"With Spike."

Buffy's jaw dropped to the floor in a second. "What?" she'd asked incredulously.

"Date. Tonight. With Spike," she'd enunciated.

"What happened to the 'stick with humans' philosophy you usually have?"

"He likes you, honey. He just won't admit it. Not to you. You being the Slayer and all."

Groaning, she'd said, "Don't remind me. What do I get out of it?"

"A new outfit and I'll pay for everything."

Buffy had seriously considered it before grudgingly agreeing. They'd left right after that conversation to get the outfit and the dagger. Joyce had helped Buffy pick out something to wear and wasn't surprised it was as short as the rest of her outfits. What did surprise her was the way it looked.

The dress she'd gotten wasn't as form fitting as usual, but showed off her curves well. It wasn't the light colors she usually preferred, nor was it black or brown. Instead, the dress was a brilliant blue velour tank dress with a fitted waist.

"Sure you're not trying to impress him?" Joyce had asked, receiving a roll of Buffy's eyes in response.

And now, as she came downstairs, Joyce was surprised again. She'd taken a lot of time to curl her hair and put on her make-up. Joyce knew that because her entire routine normally only took a half-hour. She'd been upstairs for two hours.

"You look great honey," she said.

"Really? Hope he likes it, and he better." She sat down on the couch, looking at her nails. And the short wait began.

***

"So, love, what are we supposed to be doing tonight?"

"Celebrating our birthdays, apparently. I have my mom's credit card...we can do whatever." She avoided looking at him, because every time she did, she started to blush.

"Have I told you that you look amazing yet?" he asked.

"No, you haven't. You look...different," she remarked. He had changed the shirts he usually wore, wearing a black shirt over a white one. She had almost become speechless when she saw him.

"I think I should take that as a compliment." He grinned, also avoiding looking at her. He wasn't sure whether to thank Joyce or never speak to her again. That would depend on how the evening went.

"You should," she mumbled. "So...what do you want to do?"

Spike looked at where they had walked to. "Love, I have an idea."

***

Joyce had settled into bed and picked up the old book next to her. Reading from it for only a few short moments, she set it down, her eyes glowing slightly.

"Must. Stop. Mating. Of. Slayer. And. Vampire," she said out loud, getting dressed and heading out of her house in slow, jerky movements.

***

"Oh, I am so going to get you for that," Buffy said, laughing. Turning the water gun on Spike, she shot him.

"Damn. Remind me never to have a water gun fight with you again, love. You aim too well."

Buffy laughed at him, standing there soaking wet. "It was your idea. And a good one, I might add." She aimed the super soaker at him one more time and fired, hitting him in the chest.

"You can stop any time now," he muttered, looking at his soaking wet shirts. Taking a good look around, he saw a chance. Sneaking up behind her, he suddenly picked her up by the waist from behind her. Buffy got a good look at what he was heading to and her eyes opened up in shock.

"You wouldn't..." she said.

"Yes, I would," he replied, throwing her into the waves at the beach. She got up quickly, sputtering. Spike had to admit that even with her clothes and body as wet as possible, she still looked beautiful.

Buffy, however, was thinking solely about revenge. "I'm not moving unless you come out here and make me move." Spike took one look at her and knew she wasn't kidding. Having already discarded the duster, he decided what the hell, and went in the water after her.

She laughed when he stood up, right in front of her, almost knocking her over as a wave hit. Instinctively, he reached out to catch her, his arm ending up behind her waist. Pulling her up slowly, to steady her, he looked into her eyes, and for the first time didn't see the usual contempt he saw there.

"Thanks," she said quietly, with a small smile on her face.

"You're welcome, love," he replied, not moving at all.

"Would....can I kiss you?" she asked in a voice barely above a whisper. Instead of an answer, he bent his head down to place a soft kiss on her lips. It was tentative at best because he waited to see if that was what she really wanted.

It must have been, because she moved her hands up toward his head to pull it closer, moving it slightly to fit her mouth better. She kissed him with more passion than he would have thought she had.

"Love, we should get you out of the water," he said, his fingertips brushing her lips. "You'll get sick if we stay here."

"Concerned about me?" she asked quietly.

"My apartment is close by. We can go there." Spike waited for an answer, almost afraid she'd say no.

"All right. Let's go."

***

The demon possessing Joyce was frantic. It had made her go everywhere, and still couldn't find them. They weren't anywhere where other people were. Then the demon had remembered he was dealing with a vampire and a Slayer. So he looked in the places where they would frequent, but still could not find them.

If he could not stop them...

He'd be trapped in the book forever. This was his one chance to stay out of there.

***

"Okay, you win," Buffy said, getting to the door a split second later than Spike.

"Love, did you have any doubt?" He smiled at her while he unlocked the door. She'd never been inside his apartment and was as anxious as a girl waiting for her first day of school.

The door finally opened, and Buffy let out an almost inaudible gasp when she saw it. "Wow," she said quietly.

Spike grinned. "Thought you'd like it." The apartment was on the small side, a kitchen, a bedroom, a living room and a bathroom, but there was all sorts of modern things there mixed with older items. Buffy's eyes went wide.

"I always wished I could have a place like this," she said, looking at the black leather couch. She reached down and touched it. The way she touched it made it hard for Spike to keep his lust in check. He knew she was dating that human boy Xander, but...

Her pager went off. It had been in her purse. "Damn," she muttered pulling it out. Looking at the number, she blanched. "It's Xander. Could...could I use your phone?"

Spike nodded and watched her go over to it. Dialing the number hesitantly, he watched the emotions run through her face. "Really? Well...uh...I sorta guessed. I mean, you two didn't hide it much. Actually, I think it's a good thing. Yeah. Have fun in San Diego, okay?"

Hanging up, she looked at him. "Well...turns out Xander and Amy had been dating while he was dating me. And they're off to San Diego. Alone. Together." Instead of the frown he thought she'd be wearing, she smiled at him. "So we just broke up."

"Really?" he asked, moving towards her. She reached over towards him.

"Really." He got to her then and took her hand. "Which means I can kiss you again."

"Good," he said, kissing the back of her hand. "Very good."

***

The demon was frustrated to the point of murderous intentions. He could feel, somewhere, that they were close to sleeping together, dangerously close. And he couldn't figure out where.

He would get a fleeting pull, then tail it and it'd be wrong. He'd done it about ten times this evening, and each time, someone remembered seeing two blondes matching their description.

Only one more place they could be...his apartment. Now, where was it?

Suddenly, an agonizing pain ripped through it, and it screamed. Or rather, Joyce screamed, as the demon was ripped to shreds inside her head.

"Wh...where am I?" she muttered, looking around.

***

Buffy had stepped out of the shower, drying her hair on a towel. She took a look in the mirror to assess the damage. The various bruises had already started to heal, and the bite marks on her neck were fading.

She had thoroughly enjoyed herself that evening. And she was also happy to, maybe, have some sort of relationship with Spike, something she'd wanted since he'd come back looking for Dru.

Smiling, she pulled her hair back and walked back to his bedroom. "I thought you'd stay in there forever," he said, sitting up.

"And miss being here next to you? Never," she said, kissing him on the lips. "You know, it's almost three in the morning. I have to get some sleep...I have class tomorrow."

"Skip it," he said, pulling her over him to kiss her again, her towel coming loose. "I'll beg if I have to."

"Really? Naw, just kiss me," she said, moving her face by his. "Kiss me and I'll stay forever."

He smiled slightly. "All right, love. Oh...happy birthday, love."

"Happy birthday to you, too," she said, finally getting that kiss.