Chapter 13
By New Year’s Eve, there were numerous changes in the Summers’ household. The main cause being Dawn, who had been dating Angel’s little brother, Connor, and Buffy who had settled into a hesitant relationship with Spike, again. Both, wanting to take it a little slow but deciding not to see other people, had been seeing each regularly since Christmas Eve. Spike had even invited Dawn and Connor to his apartment to ring in the new year, though Buffy thought it was just to keep an eye on his surrogate little sister.
Now she was hurriedly pulling on a pair of black pants and a white shirt that had a wrap-around style, forming itself nicely to her curves. Buffy scanned the room for her shoes as Dawn stood on the other side of the door, yelling at her to hurry. Finally, locating them under her bed, Buffy slipped them on and ran out the door with Dawn on her heels.
Arriving at Spike’s new place ten minutes later, Dawn raced to the door, not wanting to lose anymore time with Connor. Gunn answered the door with a smile for Dawn and a hug for Buffy. They had missed each other last week at the O’Shea party, with Buffy and Spike spending most of the time outside. Buffy laughed as Dawn made a beeline for Connor and began looking around for Spike. Now, as Buffy scanned the apartment, she was overwhelmed with how much the interior wasn’t like Spike.
“Hey, Buffy,” Willow squealed, running over to her friend. “Isn’t this place amazing? Spike had to run out and pick up Oz. His van broke down, but he said to show you around.”
Buffy followed Willow from room to room, starting with the spacious living room in the front of the apartment. She smiled and greeted her friends who had arranged themselves on the overstuffed couches and chairs with their refreshments. The huge front room was in a backwards L-shape, with the living room to the left, an open area to the right where the band’s instruments were currently residing, and an open kitchen in the back right corner. On the opposite wall, located behind the living room, was a set of French doors, which Buffy realized led to a roomy office, complete with a mahogany desk and bookshelf. A hallway from the side of the kitchen led to two bedrooms on the left, a bathroom at the end of the hall, and the master bedroom on the right. Buffy wandered through the carpeted room. This room was more Spike. While the rest of the house was done in light, airy colors and tones with darker wooden accents and hardwood floors, this room had a hardness to it that still left Buffy remaining comfortable. The dark cherry wood of the furniture complimented the rich burgundy and black tones of the rest of the room. A soft, cream-colored carpeting ran the length, leading Buffy to the master bathroom, which was almost the size of her bedroom.
“Where did he find this place?”
“I don’t know,” Willow said. “I think he knows somebody in real estate.”
The girls both jumped slightly as the heavy front door was slammed, and Willow went running out of the room to greet her boyfriend. Buffy lingered a moment longer, looking out one of the windows to stare at the twinkling Christmas lights that most of Sunnydale still had decorating their houses.
Buffy felt her breath catch as a pair of strong arms encircled her waist.
“Do you like it, luv?” Spike murmured before gently nibbling the edge of her ear.
Buffy giggled at the sensations he was causing and nodded. “It’s beautiful.”
“Thought you might like it,” he said between trailing a series of soft kisses down her neck.
“Mmmm, you better quit that, or we’re going to do something bad, with our friends in the next room.”
“What’s the harm in that, pet?” he whispered sensuously.
Buffy felt herself shiver at the suggestive tone in his voice before turning in his arms to press a hard kiss to his lips.
“No harm,” she said, pulling away from his embrace. “I just really don’t want my little sister walking in on us.
“Well, when you put it that way.” Spike trailed off, sighing reluctantly.
“We better be heading back out there.”
“Actually, before we go, pet, there’s something I need to tell you.”
Buffy looked at him questioningly, waiting for him to continue.
“I have to leave in two weeks. We have a bunch of meetings in New York, and the guys and I have to be there.”
Buffy tried to mask her disappointment with a smile, but Spike saw right through it.
“It’s only for a week, baby, and then I’m here for a long time.”
“I know,” she said. “I just. I don’t know.” she trailed off with a shake of her head.
“Buffy,” he whispered, tilting her head up to look her in the eyes. “Do you trust me?”
Buffy swallowed hard before responding, “I do.”
“Okay, then you have nothing to worry about.”
“I know,” she said, wrapping her arms around his waist. “I’ll just miss you.”
“I’ll miss you, too, but I’ll be back before you know it.”
Buffy and Spike both jumped at the voice coming from the hall. “I don’t know what you two are doing in there, but you’re going to miss the new year if you don’t get your asses out here and start partying with us!”
“Give it a rest, Peaches. We’ll be out when we’re bloody well ready to come out!” Spike yelled back with a grin.
“Okay, but no funny business. We have minors present tonight!” Angel called back with a smile in his voice.
Spike laughed and shook his head as he looked back at the woman in his arms. “Happy New Year, Buffy.”
“Happy New Year,” Buffy said, giggling. “Do I get my New Year’s kiss?” she asked with that pout that Spike could never resist.
“Bloody right,” he said, angling his lips to connect with hers. They stayed for another minute longer, each relishing the taste of the person they loved. Breaking away as the passion of the kiss began to escalate, they went to join their friends and ring in the new year.