"Yes?" He shouted over the running water.

"Spike?"

"Yes?"

"Oh okay, just wondering who was in there.  You gonna be long?"

"Almost done," he said.

"No problem, take your time, I just wanted to rinse out something."  Buffy said through the door.

Spike stepped back under the water for a moment more and then turned off the faucets.  He stepped out of the tub and reached for his towel.  Since the S.I.T.'s had arrived, everybody had one towel, one wash cloth, their own toothbrush, soap, shampoo, etc.  It was like living in a bloody sorority house. He toweled off and put some gel in his hair.  He'd get fully
dressed.  He learned that lesson some days ago.  Never leave the bathroom in a towel tied around the waist only.  He had been confronted by four S.I.T.'s and they had turned red and giggled.  He did not know if he should be flattered or embarrassed.  He just decided never to do that again to solve the awkward situation.

Valentine's Day, he thought as he dressed quickly.  Bloody hell.  February sodding fourteenth.  What would today bring?  Last night was such a picnic, he thought sarcastically.  Xander's date going very bad and he having to interrupt Buffy's date with Wood.  Well that was not so bad, he got to cut the date short.  Then the fight with the demon and then the talk with Buffy on the couch.  Whatever that was.  He was more confused now than before. They got interrupted once again before she answered his question about Wood.

He sighed and opened the bathroom door. 

"Good afternoon," Buffy said smiling at him, "I hope I didn't make you rush?"

"'Afternoon.  No problem, I was finished anyway."

"What was that song you were singing?"

"Oh sorry, was I too loud?"

"Oh no," Buffy said, "I could hear the melody but not all the words, sounded nice."

"Bowie."

"You have a nice singing voice. Well I've told you that before." She was talking about when they all did their little singing and dancing when that demon had come to Sunnydale, thanks to Xander.

"AAAhhhh, yeah well..."

She started over to the sink. She had that lacey undergarment thing she had on yesterday in her hands.  She turned on the faucet and put the garment under the water.  "Stands to reason, since you have such a sexy speaking voice...that you would sing well too, aahhh errr..."

"Thank you," Spike said, "well I'll let you get on with your..."

"Oh, this, it has to be washed by hand.  Very delicate."

"Yeah, I noticed."

A look passed between them and Giles cleared his throat.  He was at the bathroom door.  He said, "If both of you are finished in here, I need the facilities."

"All yours mate," said Spike.

"One more moment, Giles, then I'll be done."

Spike went into the kitchen.  It was an overcast day, probably going to rain.  Spike stood near the kitchen sink looking out the window.  "Even the sun won't shine for me today."  He laughed.

"What's so funny?" asked Buffy.

"Not funny pet, ironic."

He had a funny look on his face.

"Spike?" Buffy asked, "Are you okay?"

"UUhhh, oh yeah, just a little out of it today, a bit sore in the back of the head, that's all."

With that three S.I.T.'s came into the kitchen with Andrew not far behind.

"Good afternoon, Spike," they said in unison.

"'Afternoon."

"Willow and the others are in the backyard waiting for you and Giles," Kennedy said to Buffy.

"Okay then, Kennedy.  You know how we start, go ahead and begin and I'll be right there."

Spike got some blood out of the frig and put it in his mug.  He went to the microwave and pushed the buttons to heat up his lunch, humming the same song he had been singing in the shower.

Before she marched out behind the others, Buffy turned to him again and said, "You sure you're okay, Spike?"

"Me, yeah I'm just dandy."

Buffy was not really convinced he was okay, but she had to get to the backyard.

"Oh and Buffy," Spike said to her.

"Yes?"

"Happy Valentine's Day."

Buffy smiled at him and said, "Happy Valentine's Day to you too." She left him alone in the kitchen.

***

A half an hour later, Spike sat on his cot in the basement.  He held a book up before him, sipping his second cup of warm blood.

Buffy came down the stairs.

He put the book down and cup down and hastily wiped his mouth.

"Something wrong?" Spike asked her.

"Not with me."

"Okay I give up, what?"

"Spike, is it your head that's bothering you.  I mean the chip removal was a big thing, Are you okay."

"Fine, just a little sore, no headache," he said.

"Good.  Then is it the day that is bothering you?  I mean sometime this day can be depressing.  Believe me I know..."

"Yeah, it's depressing, but not for the reason you think."

"Oh?"

"Buffy, well today, well it's..."

"Spike what is it?"

"Today's my birthday."

"Your...what?"

"My birthday.  The day I was born."  He saw the look on her face, "No pet, not the day I became a vampire, my real birthday.  I was born on February fourteenth."

"You were born on Valentine's Day?!"

"Yeah. Explains a lot, doesn't it."

Buffy laughed, but not in a nasty way, "Yeah, kind of funny."

"Ironic."

"Yeah, ironic."

"Maybe that's why I've always been love's bitch."

Buffy laughed again and this time he laughed with her.

Spike got serious again, "I really never give it much thought.  I mean yeah, I always remember, but I just let it go.  For some bloody reason, today it's....well it's just getting to me."

"It's understandable," Buffy said.

"How so?"

"Well I think you have been through a lot in the last few months.  I mean getting a soul, losing your mind in the school basement, getting kidnapped and tortured, having the first evil popping in and out..."

"Being surrounded by too many S.I.T.'s."

They both laughed again.

"Guess you're right pet," Spike said, "I guess I've been over thinking on everything and with good reason."

"Well then," Buffy said leaning and to his amazement, kissing him on the cheek, "Happy Birthday, Spike."

"Thank you. And Buffy, please, keep this between us."

"If that's how you want it."

"Yeah, pet. That's how it should be."

She shrugged her shoulders and went back up the stairs.  He started humming the Bowie song again.

***
 

About seven pm that night, just before the usual dinner time, Willow asked Spike if he'd go to the store for her.  She needed some herbs from the Magic Box and Spike could get in easily from the tunnels below the now destroyed shop.  She told him where they should be in the basement of the shop and he took the list from her and left.  He was actually glad to get out on his own.  Although he was a bit nervous about the first showing up, being that Buffy was not with him, but she had to get the "girls" to the cemetery for more training.  She told him to join them after he delivered Willow her herbs.

He walked through the dark night, Willow's herbs in a brown bag.  It had been cloudy all day, but never rained.  Bloody California. He started again to think on what Buffy had said to him and the meaning it may have, but he decided to push it out of his head.  It would hurt to much if it didn't mean what he needed it to mean.  "I'm not ready for you to go yet."

Buffy, Buffy.  You do drive a man crazy.

He approached the house and immediately noticed that all the lights were out.  Weren't Willow and Dawn going to be home?  Did they go out?  No, they should just be finishing  dinner.  Spike dropped the package on the porch and tried the front door. He opened it quickly and his vampire eyes were just about focusing when the lights came on and everyone jumped up and yelled, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY SPIKE!!!"

Part 2

He was so stunned, it took him a moment to comprehend.

"Are you surprised, Spike?" Dawn asked. Coming to him and kissing him on the cheek. 

"Nibblet, if I had a beating heart, it would have stopped."

"I'll take that as a yes," Buffy said.

Music started to play from the stereo and he noticed the pizza and chips on the table and a pile of gifts on the floor.

Buffy led him by the hand towards the couch and Xander took his jacket. Then came back over to him and shook his hand.  "Happy Birthday, Spike."

"Aaaahhh thanks?"

"See," said Dawn, "He really was surprised Buffy."

Giles shook his hand, the S.I.T.'s and Willow kissed him on his cheek, and Andrew hesitantly patted him on the back.  Spike sat down still in a bit of shock.

Everyone was talking and laughing and celebrating.  It was unbelievable.  He realized that he had not had a birthday party in well, better not to dwell.  He sat back and tried to enjoy the festivities. 

"Oh no, Spike," Dawn said, "you can't relax yet, you have to open your gifts."

By the time he was done Spike had opened a box with jeans in them from Willow, a box with T-shirts from the S.I.T.'s, music CD's from Xander and Anya, and a small CD player from Giles, Dawn and Buffy.

"I..err...I...err."

"Bloody hell," said Giles, "we finally found a way to make Spike
speechless."

Everyone laughed, even Spike smiled. "If I had known that that was the trick," Giles continued, "I would have given you gifts long ago."

Xander and Giles got a little drunk.  The girls were all dancing and chatting away.  Buffy brought him a beer and sat down next to him.  "Thank you," he said to Buffy.

"No problem, I had to get a soda for myself anyway."

"No, I mean thank you for all of this."

She smiled at him, "Your welcome."

"I see you can't keep a secret," he joked.

"Apparently not, at least not when it comes to you."  She meant more than just telling everyone that today was his birthday.  Everyone here seemed to know more about her feelings for Spike even before she did.

That look passed between them again.

But it went no further, as Giles stood before them holding a birthday cake.

"It's chocolate cake with vanilla icing.  I wasn't sure of your favorite flavor," Buffy said.

"Make a wish and blow out the candles," Dawn said excitedly. Written in red on the cake was just, "Happy Birthday Spike", but it was the best thing he had read in a long, long, time. He closed his eyes and made a wish with all his heart, then blew out the candles. Every one clapped and the party continued.

Everyone was having a great time. Dawn even persuaded him to dance a little with her.  He stopped in the middle of the song, too self conscious, and excused himself. He stepped into the kitchen.  Xander took his place with Dawn.

He stood in the kitchen with his arms folded over his chest.  He had to stop himself from bursting into tears.  Such a feeling had just come over him, he was unsure what to think, how to handle...

"Spike?" Buffy said softly behind him.

He took in a deep breath.

She put a hand on his shoulder and he felt a shiver go down his spine. He turned to her.  She saw the look on his face. He was filled with mixed emotions.  She smiled sweetly at him and spoke in low tones,"What's the name of the song you have been humming all day?"

"Oh that, it's Lady Grinning Soul."

"Sing some of the words for me, please."

He looked at her and then began to sing softly in almost a whisper, "She'll come, she'll go she'll lay belief on you, skin sweet with musky oil the Lady from another grinning soul."  He stopped, just standing there looking at her.

She put her hand up again to his shoulder and said, "That's nice. Sing some more for me please."

"She'll come she'll go, she'll lay belief on you, but she won't stake her life on you, how can life become her point of view.  And when the clothes are strewn, don't be afraid anything of the room, touch the fullness of her breast, feel the love of her caress.  She will be your living end."

A slight visible tremor went through Buffy and Spike saw her checks get slightly pinker.

She whispered to him, "Spike, please come down stairs with me, I have a gift that I left there for you."

"Another gift, pet?" His voice was filled with emotion, "I don't think I can handle anymore."

She smiled again and took his hand, leading  him to the basement door.  Giles stood near the kitchen door.  He opened his mouth to stop them and then closed his mouth.  We could all be dead in a few weeks, he thought, and it is his birthday.  Let them alone Rupert, he said to himself, let them be.

Spike sat on the cot, feet on the floor, his back facing the wall.  Next to him was a small box wrapped in white paper with a deep red bow tied around it.  He saw it but made no move to it.  Instead he asked, "How did you get Giles to okay this little shin-dig after the speech he made last night?"

"He was against it at first, duty and all that, but the girls all loved the idea of a birthday party.  So he said maybe it's just what
we all need before we can put all of the fun aside and get serious."

"Sounds like him," Spike said. "And the gifts?"

"You know how Dawn and the girls love to shop."

Buffy who was standing before him, reached over and picked up the gift and handed it to him.

"Careful," she said, "It's breakable."

He unwrapped the gift but found the box empty.

He looked up at her and she knelt down in front of him. "Buffy, I don't understand..."

"William, you just unwrapped my heart.  It's yours now, so keep it
safe."

He just stared at her. Then reached slowly out towards her and touched her shoulder.

"Just wanted to make sure it was not another trick of the first's."

Buffy smiled. "No Spike, it's really me and I mean what I said." She reached out and ran a finger over his cheek,  "And you really have Robin Wood to thank for this."

Now Spike was totally confused and a bit miffed at the mention of Wood's name, and his face showed it.

Buffy laughed. "What I mean is, I was really attracted to him.  But when you came in on us at the restaurant, okay at first I was a bit angry, but then I realized that I wished I had been there with you, instead of him. And then when you were hurt during the fight, I knew I cared for no one but you."

"Buffy I, I..."

"Sssshhh," she said holding a finger to his lips.

She stood up and took off her blouse and the skirt she was wearing.  Underneath she wore the lacey undergarment she had been rinsing out in the bathroom sink earlier today. 

She sat on the bed next to him and turned towards him. "I love you, William. And I intend to convince you of my love all
night long."

Spike put his arms gently around then drew her close to him and kissed her.  Their kisses grew deeper and longer, the passion rising quickly. He broke apart from her only long enough to undress.  Then he got back  onto the cot placed himself into her willing arms. She ran her hands up and down his cool skin as he kissed every part
of the lacey garment she wore.

"Spike, Spike, I want you so."

He stopped kissing her and looked her in the eyes, then he laughed.  "You know, pet, I never thought birthday wishes came true, but I have just become a believer in making a wish before blowing out the candles."

"Am I what you wished for?" Buffy asked.

"Always," he whispered to her.

He ran his hands over her body and then took the tiny straps of her garment down from her shoulders and did not stop till it was at her waist.

"Vanilla," he whispered.

"What?" asked Buffy.

"My favorite flavor, luv, vanilla.  It's the way you taste, the scent of you. Vanilla."

"Oh," said Buffy. And then she moaned as he moved his hand over her breasts.  His touch, his taste even better than she remembered.

"Spike, it's been so long and I've wanted you so."

"Buffy, I love you.  I love you...forever."

He took the rest of her clothing off of her and moved, placing himself deep inside her.

Just before they started their dance, she looked deep into his eyes and said, "Happy Birthday William, my love."

"Happy Valentine's Day Buffy, my own."

       

THE END