Chapter 6

Willow walked back into Xanders and threw her bag down on the sofa as she went through to the kitchen to grab a bottle of water from the fridge.

"So how'd it go? Good news I hope." Xander said looking up from his seat at the table.

Willow looked around for Buffy.

"She's not here. She just left a few minutes a go. She'll be back soon, she went to the store." Xander said watching Willow and waiting for her answer.

"Okay." Willow said as she came and sat beside him. "It worked. He's coming to New York for Christmas." Willow said as she smiled.

"What did you tell him?" Xander asked as he took a drink of his coffee.

Willow leaned back in her chair as she told Xander the story she had woven for Spike.

Xander smiled. "So as far as he knows, you're the only one who knows he back." Xander said as he took another drink.

Willow nodded as she smiled back.

"In order to pull this off, do you think we need to bring everyone in on this, or can we do this ourselves?" Xander asked.

"It would be easier if everyone knew, but there's a chance something might slip. I think it's better if it's just you and me." Willow replied.

"Fair enough." Xander replied in full agreement.

"So it will all come together..................hey Buffy." Willow said as she saw Buffy walk through the door.

"Hi Will. Where did you go today?" Buffy asked as she came in and joined them at the table.

"Oh.....Uh there's a wicca group in the next town over, thought I'd drop by and have a look while I was in the area." Willow said quickly.

"Oh." Buffy said as she grabbed a banana from the bowl in the middle of the table.

"So what do you two want to do today?" Xander asked as he looked around the table.

Buffy shrugged her shoulders as she peeled the banana. "As long as we do something together, I don't care what it is." Buffy replied smiling.

"Beach and picnic sound good?" Xander replied.

"Sounds great. We never get to go to a beach in New York. I really miss that." Buffy replied.

"I didn't bring a bathing suit." Willow said.

"Me either. So let's hit the mall quickly and grab one. If we leave now we can be back in an hour." Buffy said.

"You girls do that, I'll grab all the food and I'll pick you up at the mall and we'll leave from there." Xander said as he stood up.

"Sounds like a plan." Buffy replied as she and Willow got up, brabbed their purses and followed Xander out the door.

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Buffy and Willow threw their bags into the trunk of the car, closed the lid and turned to Xander.

"I'm really going to miss you Xander." Buffy said as she hugged him.

"Me too Buff." Xander replied.

"Think about it okay. We have plenty of room." Buffy said as she pulled back.

"Okay, I'll think about it." Xander replied smiling softly at Buffy.

"You better think about it mister." Willow said as he wrapped her arms around his neck pulling him into a tight embrace.

Xander chuckled softly. "I promise."

"I'll call you tonight." Willow said as she pulled back and started walking to the driver side.

"Be careful on the way back." Xander replied as he watched them climb into the car and do up their seatbelts.

Xander waved as he watched them pull out of the driveway. He stuffed his hands in his pockets as he kept his eyes on the car until it was no longer in sight.

He slowly turned and walked back to the building.

He sat on the sofa and stared blankly at the wall. He never new axactly how much he missed his old life until this moment. Now that he was alone, the silence was almost deafening as he glanced around his apartment.

Maybe Spike wasn't the only one who needed to be brought home, Xander thought as he closed his eyes.

Chapter 7

Buffy came out of her room and walked down the hall towards the bathroom. Hearing the shower running she continued on to the livingroom. She was just about to sit down when she heard the cell phone on the table ringing.

Buffy noticed it was Willows phone as she picked it up and and answered it.

"Hello." Buffy said as she finished sitting down.

Dead silence.

"Hello." Buffy repeated as her brows furrowed.

All Buffy heard was an intake of breath before hearing the click of the other end hanging up.

Buffy looked at the phone as she set it down, not recognizing the number.

Buffy got up when she smelled coffee brewing and went to the kitchen and poured herself a cup.

As she made her way back to the livingroom, Willow was coming out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel.

"Hey Will, your phone rang but when I answered it, whoever it was hung up." Buffy said as she sat back down.

"They didn't leave a message?" Willow said trying to sound casual.

"No." Buffy replied taking a sip of her coffee.

Willow picked up the phone and checked the number. "Oh, it was just one of the wiccas I met while we were at Xanders last month. She's really shy." Willow said as she headed for her bedroom.

Buffy just nodded as she drank her coffee.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Willow closed her door as she dialed the number quickly.

The phone rang several time before being picked up.

The other end was silent.

"Spike?" Willow asked quickly.

"Red." Spike said letting out a an unneeded breath.

"Yea, it's me. Sorry about that, I was in the shower when you called." Willow replied.

"Just took me by surprise is all." Spike replied in a slightly shaky voice.

"What's up?" Willow inquired.

"Nothing, I was just calling to see how everyone was." Spike replied quietly.

"Everyone is doing fine." Willow said knowing he meant Buffy.

They talked for a little while before Willow hung up and got dressed.

Willow brushed her hair then went back out to the livingroom.

Willow sat down and grabbed the coffee the Buffy had made her, taking a drink before setting it back on the table.

"Did Xander tell you what time he'd be getting here tomorrow?" Buffy asked.

"He said around two. It's going to be nice to have him around again." Willow replied.

"Yeah it is." Buffy said. "Glad he took us up on our offer."

"Well he kinda had no choice. All the harrassing phone calls he recieved, I knew he's eventually cave and move here." Willow said smiling.

Buffy laughed quietly. "Even Giles called." Buffy said shaking her head.

"It'll be good for him here, and it's not like we can't use his help around here." Willow stated.

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Buffy and Willow came out of the kitchen carrying a plate of sandwiches when they heard a knock at the door.

Buffy put the plate on the table as she went over to answer it.

Buffy opened the door to reveal Xander standing on the other side.

"Willow." Buffy screamed as she threw herself into his arms.

Willow came running to the door only to stop when she saw Xander.

"You said you weren't coming until tomorrow." Willow scolded him as she hugged him and Buffy.

"Thought I'd suprise you." Xander said as he pulled back.

"It worked." Willow replied as they pulled him into the house.

"The truck will be here tomorrow. I just wanted to get here." Xander said as he followed them into the livingroom.

"Glad you did. We got the basement all ready for you. It already had it's own bath down there, we thought it would be perfect for you. Lot's of privacy." Buffy said smiling.

Xander nodded as they dragged to the basement to show him around.

Chapter 8

Xander had been living with them for a month now and Christmas was fast approaching.

Christmas was now only a week away. Only five days until Spikes arrival.

"Will. Have you called Spike to cancel his trip here yet?" Xander whispered over his coffee.

"Yeah, I told him Buffys plans changed and she isn't leaving until Christmas eve day. He'll be here then." Willow whispered back.

"What's with all the whispering? Is there secrets?"Buffy said eagerly.

Willow laughed. "Sorry Buff. No secrets. We were trying to be quiet. Thought you were sleeping." Willow said shrugging her shoulders.

"Oh." Buffy said with a small pout.

"But we do have a secret Will." Xander said as he glanced at the Christmass tree.

Buffy turned to look and saw a box leanng up aainst the wall that was easily half the size of the tree.

"That wasn't there last night." Buffy said getting and going over to the gift quickly. "Oh my god, it's huge. What is it?" Buffy asked.

"Do you not understand the concept of Christmas morning?" Xander said quickly receiving an elbow to the ribs when he came up behind her.

"You know me and suprises." Buffy replied.

"Don't worry Buff, you love this one." Xander stated.

"I'm sure I will." Buffy replied as they went back to the table and finished their coffee.

The next six days had been spent preparing for their new arrival.

Things were bought and hidden so as not to be seen.

Extra gifts added to the pile, with no name written on them.

When asked they were expecting an old friend to come for a visit.

Noone seemed to aske many questions which made it quite easy to pull it off.

Xander kept anything they had bought for Spike in the basement, stuff that wasn't going under the tree.

Willow contacted Spike more frequently as the days went by, just to cement their plans.

Finally the day was here.

It was Christmas eve day.

Buffy was in need of a big distraction.

Willow was supposed to pick up Spike. But thought it'd be better if Xander did. She could keep Buffy out of the house all day with the idea of shopping.

"Now remember to tell him I had no choice. I had to go out on officail business. You know something slayee." Willow said as quietly.

"Will do Will. Think he'll pop a brain cell when he see's me instead of you?" Xander said smiling.

"You better not give him a hard time mister." Willow said sternly.

"Would I do that? Will I'm hurt, how could you even think...........okay, I'll be good." Xander conceeded.

"He said he'd be here around two. I just finished talking to him. I'll keep Buffy out until around six. That'll give him time to get settled in. Make sure you hide Buffys gifts. Dead giveaway if they're all under the tree." Willow said.

"Gotcha. Don't worry Willow, I can do this." Xander said quietly trying to calm her down.

"I know, but he's expecting me, not you. I feel bad for lying to them." Willow said.

"Look at the big picture Willow. What we're doing is right and you know." Xander replied.

Willow nodded her head and jumped slightly when Buffy came into the room.

Buffy looked at Willow who was fidgeting....alot.

Buffy shook her head. "Willow how many cups of coffee did you have this morning?"Buffy asked.

"Just one....maybe more. I'm not sure. Are you ready to go, quality shopping time. Last minute bargains." Willow said dangling the carot in front of Buffy's nose.

Buffy grabed her jacket and purse quickly following Buffy out the door and into the car.

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Xander ran around doing the last minute preparations.

Then he sat back and waited as he watched the clock.

He watched as the clock neared two, he sat there nevously waiting.

He turned towards the front of the house when he heard the car pull up.

Xander stood by the front door and waited til he hear Spikes fast approach up the walk before opening the door and inviting him in quietly, so as not to be heard.

Spike came running into the house, smoke billowing behind him all the way.

Xander closed the door that he'd been standing behind as Spike turned to face him.

Spike froze.

Xander smiled.

"Hey Spike. How's it going?" Xander asked as he brushed past a very confused Spike.

Xander came back from the kitchen and seen Spike still standing in the same spot.

"Willow told me. Business came up or I probably would be fiding this out right along with you." Xander said handing him a beer.

Spike accepted the beer and followed Xander to the livingroom.

They both sat down and stared at each other.

Chapter 9

"So." Xander started as Spke took a long and much needed swallow of beer. "You're back. How's that workin for ya?" Xander asked trying not to laugh at the shocked yet amused look on Spike's face.

"Better than bein a bleedin ghost." Spike muttered.

"You were a ghost?" Xader asked sitting forward.

Spike just nodded as he took another swallow. "Sort of yeah."

"Spike relax. There's no stake in my hand and there won't be either. I know what you did. Thank you." Xander said looking directly at Spike.

Spike just looked at him not sure how to respond, so he just looked away and fidgeted in his seat.

"Willow won't be back until around six. I'll get your stuff then put it in the room" Xander said as he stood up and went to the door.

Xander entered a minute later xarrying Spikes duffle bag, quickly disappearing down the hall, coming out a minute later without the bag.

"Spike that is one cool car. Where'd you get it?" Xander asked.

Spike smiled widely. "Peaches." Spike said as he sat back.

"Angel let you use his car?" Xander asked.

"He has alot of them. And no." Spike said smirking.

Xander smiled and laughed. "I'm starting to like you even more."

Spike chuckled as he grabed his beer from the table.

"Wanna play some pool?" Ander asked standing up.

"Sure. Where we going?" Spike asked.

"Downstairs." Xander said as Spike followed him.

"This is your room then?" Spike asked.

"Yeah just moved here about a month ago. My room and bathroom is through there. I kept this room for playing pool, video games and stuff. Where we could all relax." Xander replied.

"Video games." Spike said. "Do you have Resident Evil?" Spike asked curiously.

"Gotta have that one." Xander said smiling as he moved over to the rack of games. Xander opened the cupboard door to reveal the television and PS2.

Spike smiled as Xander turned it on and threw the game in.

Spike sat down and grabbed the remote and started playing.

Xander played pool until Spike lost then they would switch places.

This pretty much went on for the next few hours, as well as several trips to the fridge for beer.

"Bloody hell." Spike said as he threw the remote.

"No more games for Spke." Xander said as he turned everything off.

"But I was winning." Spike complained.

"Was is the operative word here. Hence the throwing of the remote and the subsequent action of me turning it off." Xander replied.

Spike looked at the basement window. "Reds home." Spike said gettin up from the sofa and starting for the stairs.

"Yeah, little later than I thought though. It's almost seven thirty." Xander said following him up the stairs.

Spike just shrugged as he went upstairs to the front door throwing it open and walking out to the drivway.

"Bout time you showed up Red." Spike said with a small smile as he walked toward the car.

"Hey Spike." Willow said quietly getting out of the drivers side.

Spike moved over and gave her a hug. They turned and walked around the car to the other side when he stopped.

Catching the familliar scent he slowly turned around to see her staring at him as she climbed out of the passenger side.

She rose to her feet dropping the bags she was holding, letting them fall to the pavement.

Spike stared at her for what felt like an eternity before he looked at Willow and Xander.

"Spike, I ..... look all this stuff to put away. I'm gonna....go..now." Willow stuttered as her and Xander made a quick entrance onto the house closing the door behind them.

"Buffy you were never supposed to know......." Spiked never finished his sentence.

Buffy flew into his arms and captured his lips, holding him tightly.

Spike's arms wrapped around her trembling form as he returned the kiss, pouring all his pent up emotions into it.

Buffy broke the kiss when she needed to breath as she rested her head in the crook of his neck.

"When?" Was all Buffy asked.

"A few weeks after." Spike replied.

"You waited until now." Buffy said stepping back but not letting go of him.

"Didn't think you needed or wanted me around." Spike said shrugging his shoulders.

"You were wrong. I'm always going to need you. Always going to want you. That's what it's like when you love someone." Buffy said quietly.

"I told you that day. I thought we'd have time after to work on things. If I'd have known." Buffy trailed off.

"You meant what you told me?" Spike asked in awe.

"I meant it. I love you." Buffy said again.

Spike smiled as he captured her lips again.

"I love you too Buffy. Always." Spike replied tenderly.

"Please don't leave." Buffy whispered in his ear.

"Never again, I promise." Spike said as he held her tight.

Spike and Buffy sat together on the couch as Willow and Xander decided to call it a night.

"Come on." Buffy said as she tugged Spike to his feet and pulled him down the hall to her room.

Spike stopped when he saw his bag on the floor at the foot of the bed.

"We're really gonna have to thank Red and the whelp for this." Spike said coming to sit on the edge of the bed.

Buffy looked to the doorway when the clock in the hall chimed midnight.

"Merry Christmas Spike." Buffy said as she turned to look into his eyes.

"Merry Christmas Buffy." Spike replied.

Buffy stood between his legs as she dipped her head and kissed him softly.

They laid back on the bed gently. Losing themselves in each other.

Xander and Willow snuck back out and put all the gifts back under the tree and wrapped the ones they'd had hidden.

"Merry Christmas Xander." Willow said as she looked at the tree.

"I know you don't celebrate, but Merry Christmas Will." Xander said placing a kiss to her forehead.

"See you in the morning." Willow said as they both went to their rooms.

Buffy and Spike watched the lights twinkle on the tree as they sat wrapped up together in a blanket, laying on the sofa.

This is the first time either of them was actually looking forward to what the future may hold.

As long as they had each other that's all that mattered to them.

Spike smiled as he felt Buffy fall asleep on his chest.

He laid his head back and smiled contentedly. Drifting off to sleep with the woman he loved more than anything, a woman who actually loved him in return. Some thing he had to wait several lifetimes to find. He finally found it. Love. Acceptance. Loyalty. And she was sleeping on his chest, with her arms wrapped protectively around him.

"Aww they look so cute." Willow whispered from the doorway to the living room.

"Are they naked under there?" Xander asked.

Willow rolled her eyes and dragged him out the front door. "Come on Xand, let's go see how the slayers are doing." Willow said as she closed the door behind them leaving Buffy and Spike sleeping peacefully in front of the tree.