Title: Past Glory Author: Sandy Rating: NC-17 Pairing: Spike/Buffy Spoilers: S5 up to Tough Love, AU after that although elements of S6 will appear throughout the story. Disclaimer: Alas, not mine, I just borrow them occasionally Feedback: Gives me the warm fuzzies A/N: For the purposes of this story, the Knights of Byzamtium, although suspecting that the Slayer is protecting the Key are not aware that Dawn is the Key. Chapter 16 Buffy stood in front of the mirror twisting this way and that assuring herself that she looked her best. She was excited about tonight's party. Her twenty-first birthday. Not many Slayers made it this far. Even she had died when she was only sixteen. The party was going to be small, just her friends and sister. And Spike. She'd made sure that she'd invited Spike. Taking one last look at herself, she exited her bedroom and walked down the stairs to join Willow, Tara and Dawn. The house looked beautiful with flowers and candles placed strategically around. Trays of snacks stood ready on the coffee and end tables, there were drinks aplenty in the kitchen and music played on the stereo. Buffy heard a car door slam and then Xander and Anya walked in. Xander grabbed her and gave her a big hug. "Happy twenty-first, Buff." Buffy laughed and hugged her friend back. "Thanks, Xander. I wouldn't have gotten here without you." The two friends shared a grin and then Buffy said, "What do you guys want to drink?" They were walking to the kitchen when the doorbell rang. "I'll get it," Xander said heading for the front door. "Wonder who that is," Buffy said to Anya as she poured the young woman a glass of wine. "Everyone I know just walks in." As if to emphasize her point, just as Xander was entering the kitchen with a strange young man, the back door opened and Spike entered carrying a six-pack of beer. "Happy birthday, Slayer. Here, brought you a present," he said handing the six-pack to her. "I don't drink beer, Spike," Buffy said dryly. "Oh, right. More for me then," he said with a smirk. Buffy rolled her eyes, handed him one of the beers and put the rest in the refrigerator. She turned her attention to the stranger as Xander said, "Buffy, this is Richard. I work with him. Thought you two might like to meet." Buffy instantly stiffened. Looking slightly embarrassed she held out her hand, "Hello, Richard. Nice to meet you." "Hi. Xander's told me a lot about you," he smiled. He was a nice looking young man of medium height and build with blond hair and blue eyes. "Bet he's not told you the best parts," Spike said with a smirk as he popped a handful of Chex Mix into his mouth. "Uh, what can I get you to drink, Richard," Buffy said quickly, giving Spike a glare. "Beer would be fine." Buffy reached into the fridge and brought out a bottle of beer, being careful that it didn't come from the six-pack Spike had brought. Spike noticed and raised a mocking eyebrow at her. She turned her back on him. "Come on into the living room, Richard," she said leading the way. She was aware that Spike was following close behind. Oh god, this was so not good. Why on earth had Xander invited some strange guy to her party? Well the reason was obvious, of course. It was a fix up; something she so did not need, especially with Spike there watching her every move. She hoped he could keep his jealously in check. The party went well though, with dancing and eating and talking and lots of laughter, although the conversation had to be severely edited due to Richard's presence. So they talked of school and work and movies, innocuous things that didn't have to be explained or covered over. Buffy rather liked not talking shop for once; she liked pretending that she was just a normal girl celebrating her birthday in a normal way. Of course she was always aware that Spike was there sitting quietly in the background, watching her. And when she was dancing with Richard she wished she were dancing with Spike. And when Richard sat beside her on the couch, she wished it were Spike. At last it came time to open her presents. She got a beautiful sweater from Tara, a scarf from Richard, a stunning black leather jacket from Dawn, and a portable hand-held massager from Willow. Buffy could only stare at the thing, especially when Willow kept going on how, since it was battery operated, Buffy could use it anywhere. "We all know how tense you've been lately, Buffy. I thought this was the perfect way to help you relax. It's got several speed settings, so it should really help ease all those little achy places." Buffy flashed one quick look at Spike and wished she hadn't. His look of sardonic amusement complete with raised eyebrow made her blush to her roots. "Uh, thanks, Will," she stammered as she hurriedly shoved it back into its box. "Okay, everyone," Xander said. "We've saved the best for last." Buffy glanced over and saw Xander and Anya wheeling in a large chest. Eyes wide, Buffy stood up and walked to where they had stopped in the middle of the room. Buffy knelt down and opened the chest. "Xander this is... Did you guys make this?" "Xander made it and I helped with the finishing," Anya said proudly. "Holds everything a young woman needs, Buff," Xander said. Then more softly so Richard couldn't hear, "It'll hold all your basic weapons, plus there's a shelf for holy water, crosses and other smaller, easy- to-lose weapons." Standing up again, Buffy hugged first Xander and then Anya. "This is amazing, guys, thank you." "Time for ice cream and cake," Dawn called out cheerfully. She stood in the doorway holding a cake with twenty-one lit candles. Room was made on the coffee table for her to set it down and then Buffy closed her eyes, made a wish and blew the candles out. Cheers were given, "Happy Birthday" was sung and Tara handed out dishes of ice cream while Buffy cut the cake. When everyone had been served, Buffy picked up a plate and went over to where Spike was standing apart from the others. "Want a piece of birthday cake?" Taking it from her, he laid it on the sideboard and said softly, "I'd rather have a piece of birthday girl." Buffy blushed, glanced over to where the others were busy eating and talking and answered softly, "Play your cards right, mister, and maybe I'll let you lick the frosting later." Spike's eyes flashed and a low growl rumbled from his chest. Grabbing her hand he pulled her out of the room and into the hall away from prying eyes. "Spike," Buffy warned. "Shhh, Buffy. Look, I have something for you, too." Slipping his hand into his duster pocket, he brought out a small wrapped package. Buffy took it with slightly shaking hands. "Spike you didn't have to..." "I wanted to, Buffy. What kind of a bloke doesn't give his girl a prezzie on her birthday? Didn't steal it either. Bought it with my poker winnings." Buffy unwrapped the package and opened up the small jeweler's box to reveal a silver bracelet. "Spike, it's beautiful," she breathed. "Hoped you'd like it. Thought about getting you gold, but in your line of work, silver's better." She smiled at him and removed the bracelet from the box. Holding out her wrist she said, "Put it on me?" Spike swallowed and took the delicate chain from her. Once he had fastened the clasp, Buffy twisted her wrist watching the light sparkle off the links. Spike was observing her closely and when she looked back up at him he gave her that sweet little boy smile only she saw. "So, you like it, yeah?" "I love it, Spike." Tugging on his lapel, she pulled him down for a kiss. "Buffy, we... Oh!" Buffy and Spike broke apart and stared at a shocked Tara. "W-we were w-wondering if you wanted to play c-charades?" Tara stuttered. Buffy nodded wordlessly. As Tara turned away, Buffy called out, "Tara?" "It's okay, Buffy, I won't, uh. I'll tell the others you'll be right there." "Do you want me to go, pet?" Buffy was still staring at where Tara had been just seconds ago, a worried look on her face. "Buffy?" "Huh?" "Do you want me to go?" "No, of course not." Sighing, she turned back to Spike. "She won't say anything if I ask her not to. Come on, let's go in before they start wondering what we're doing." Spike followed her feeling somehow bereft. He'd agreed with Buffy that they keep their relationship a secret, but tonight, watching her dance with another man, having to sneak off to give her his present, the fear of discovery after being caught sharing a simple kiss, he suddenly wished things were different. They were choosing up teams when Buffy and Spike reentered the living room. So far it was Xander, Anya and Richard against Willow, Tara and Dawn. "Buffy, you're on our team and Spike will be on Xander's," Dawn called as they entered the room. Spike refused to play of course, so that left the teams uneven. "Well then one person on your team will have to sit out every round," Anya said officiously. That was fine with Buffy. She would have preferred to sit out every round, but since it was her party, she had to play. That didn't mean she had to play well. She wasn't able to concentrate on the game as she kept thinking about how one of the gang now knew her secret. She was sure Tara would keep silent if she asked her to. Buffy glanced to where Spike sat slumped in an armchair taking occasional sips from the bottle of beer he held in his hand. He looked dejected and as Buffy sat ignoring the by-play as Anya tried to act out her clues, she came to a decision. The next time Buffy was up she stood and pretended to look at the phrase on the slip of paper she drew. It was Tara's turn to sit out, which worked out perfectly as far as Buffy was concerned. Looking at her sister and friend she hooked her fingers in the air. "Quotation," Dawn shouted. Buffy nodded and held up three fingers. "Three words! She held up one finger. "First word!" She held her fingers an inch apart. "Short word." She nodded again and then pointed at herself. "Me!" Buffy shook her head and pointed at herself again. "I!" Willow called out. Buffy nodded and pointed at Willow indicated that was the correct word. She then started pulling her fingers apart in a stretching motion. "I've!" Willow shouted. "I'm!" shouted Dawn at the same time. Buffy touched her nose and pointed to Dawn. "Okay," Dawn said gleefully. "First word is I'm." Buffy held up two fingers. "Second word." Buffy laid two fingers on her arm. "Two syllables!" Buffy cupped her ear. "Sounds like!" She made a motion as if she were sliding across the carpeting. "Skating!" Dawn shouted. Buffy was pointing excitedly at Dawn. "Skating is right?" Dawn asked. Buffy cupped ear again. "Okay, sounds like skating?" Buffy pointed excitedly again. "Gating!" "Rating!" "Mating!" "Dating!" Buffy pointed to her nose and to Willow, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Dating. So it's 'I'm dating'..." Three fingers went up. "Third word." Buffy placed one finger on her arm. "One syllable." Buffy mimicked holding something like a stake. She then acted as if she were placing it in the ground then stood up and mimicked hitting it with a sledgehammer. "Nailing!" Dawn shouted. "You're nailing something." Buffy shook her head and repeated the whole process, this time pointing to the imaginary object in the ground. "Pounding!" In frustration, Buffy made a woo woo signal with her hand and then mimicked a train pulling out of a station. She then repeated the whole hammering pantomime. "Railroad!" Willow said excitedly. "I've been working on the railroad!" Buffy stopped and looked at her friend in amazement. "Oh, that can't be right." "But it has something to do with the railroad?" Dawn said. Buffy nodded and then pointed to the object in the ground as she hit at it again. "Railroad track?" Dawn asked hesitantly. Finally in frustration, Buffy turned and pointed to Spike. Dawn's brow furrowed for an instant and then she shouted, "Spike! It's a railroad spike!" Buffy excitedly pointed to her nose and then her sister. "I'm dating Spike!" Dawn cried out triumphantly. Then her eyes widened as understanding penetrated. The entire room was deadly silent. "Wait a minute," Anya said. She reached forward and grabbed up the slip of paper Buffy had discarded on the coffee table. "That isn't what this phrase is." "No, I think Buffy made that one up herself," Xander said quietly. Buffy walked over to a stunned Spike and held out her hand. He took it and brought it to his lips. "We've been together a couple weeks now," Buffy said quietly. "I just thought you all should know." "It's a mistake, Buffy," Xander said. "Maybe, but it's my mistake to make." "And how many of us will pay the price? Or have you forgotten Miss Calendar?" "No. But Spike isn't Angel." "No, he's much worse. He doesn't have..." A quick glance at Richard and Xander stopped talking. "Xander, I'm not discussing this with you. I'm not asking for your approval. I'm not asking for anyone's approval. I just wanted you to know." "Well I think it's cool," Dawn said loyally. "Thanks, Niblet," Spike smiled. "Anya, I think it's time to go," Xander said stiffly. Richard looked around at the tense faces and stood up too. "Uh, thanks for the nice time," he said awkwardly following Xander and Anya out the front door. Willow didn't say anything, just began to gather up dirty dishes. Tara silently helped. Dawn walked over and gave first Buffy a hug and then Spike. "You know if you hurt her, I'll stake you," she grinned. "I'd expect nothing less, Bit," Spike grinned back. tbc...