Next Door

“William!”
Spike looked up from the grass he was mowing and smiled when he saw Buffy’s mum striding over to him with a worried look on her face.
“What’s the matter Joyce?”
“You don’t happen to know anything about plumbing do you?”

“Oh thank you so much. You are a complete god send I swear.” Joyce smiled as she handed him a different wrench. Spike was thankful she couldn’t see hi face as he was ducked under the sink. Here she was singing his praises when he was fooling around with her daughter night and day.
“No problem at all Joyce.” Spike replied ducking away from a droplet of dirty water.
“So how are the French lessons going? Her report card came back and she had a B+ in French….Buffy doesn’t get a B+ in anything so thank you….your a very good influence on her. She doesn’t stop about you.” Joyce smiled.
“Really…well uh yeah she’s doing well she’s a great girl.” Spike said awkwardly. That’s all he needed was to let something slip.
“Yes she is. Its her birthday on Tuesday and me and Giles are in L.A till at least ten. I feel absolutely terrible about it but she told me that she has plans with a friend so I hope she has a good day.”
“Oh yeah, her 17th right…she mentioned it.”
“Yes I wonder who her friend is though….I think it might be a new boyfriend.”
The loud thud as Spike banged his head on the pipe above him made Joyce wince and she ducked down to look at him in worry.
“Oh dear are you okay?”
“Yeah im fine…didn’t see that pipe there.” Spike mumbled.

What an idiot.

“So what were you saying…you think there’s a new guy on the scene huh?” Spike asked trying to mask his fear but failing. Fortunately for him Joyce was to busy peering at the bump on his head.
“Hmm maybe. I haven’t seen Buffy quite so giddy in a very long time…lets call it mothers intuition. I just hope she picks better than that Finn boy.” Joyce shuddered.
“Not a fun huh?” Spike smiled.
“nope.”
“Me either.”

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“Mom! Can I lend a few bucks I need to run to the store im out of tampons.” Buffy came to an abrupt halt when she entered the kitchen and she stared at an amused looking Joyce and an absolute hysterical Spike in complete horror.

Ohmygod why didn’t I check to see who was here before I shouted that out.

Why me?

“Honey, Spike came over to fix the leak.” Joyce smiled chuckling at the sight of her daughter looking so impossibly red.
“There’s money in my purse.” She added teasingly watching as Buffy’s eyes almost fell out.

Buffy shook her head and clamped her eyes shut.
“This is not happening. Spike is not here and that did not happen. I am going to go.” Buffy said loudly backing out of the room without opening her eyes.
Spike chuckled loudly realising just how cute she was.
“Well she isn’t gunna be coming out again till next Summer.” Joyce laughed.
“Bloody hilarious.” Spike laughed sipping from his coffee.
“Anyway Joyce I better get going.”
“Stay! Why don’t you have some dinner with us?” Joyce asked with a smile.
“Sorry Joyce. Dru will be home ay minute and I haven’t seen her in awhile so I promised i'd take her out for dinner.” Spike apologised. Forcing a smile to try to seem somewhat happy by spending the evening with his wife.

“Hmm this wine is delicious.” Drusilla hummed when she took the first sip of her wine.
“Yeah t’is.” Spike agreed distractedly looking down at the menu. They had been at the restaurant for ten painstaking minutes and Spike could swear he could feel the seconds passing by.
“You know these last few months haven’t exactly been great for us have they?” Drusilla suddenly spoke.
Spike spat out the mouthful of water he had and stared at her with wide eyes wondering where that had come from.
“Come on Spike im not stupid. I’ve barely been home and I can only imagine how much you must miss me.” Drusilla sighed dramatically.
“Ummm yeah….sure.” Spike mumbled avoiding her eyes.
“Maybe I can make up for it tonight?” Drusilla smiled in a way that used to have Spike weak at the knees. Now however it just sent a shudder down his spine.

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TUESDAY:

“Oh shit.”
Buffy glanced up at the clock and groaned when she realised it was almost 6. Spike would’nt be here any minutes and she hadn’t done her make up!!
She rushed around her bedroom madly trying to get ready and she stumbled over herself when she heard the doorbell ring from downstairs.

Show time.

Buffy glanced quickly in the mirror before taking a deep breath and opening the door. She smiled when she saw that his usual clothes were gone and had been replaced by a pair of black dress pants a dark blue shirt and a black suit jacket. He had also forgone the hair gel and instead it was a riot of messy curls. All in all he was damn hot and Buffy smiled at him.
“Very nice.”
When she didn’t get a response she frowned and waved her hand in his face. He just continued to stare at her silently.
“Okay then…”

“very nice.”
I barely hear her compliment. My mind blown into pieces as soon as she had opened the door. Buffy was gorgeous on the best of days but now…oh my bloody god. Her hair had obviously been recently styled and dyed and such a simple change made a huge difference. Her blonde hair was now a mix of honey, brown, blonde and even a few streaks that shone silver in the light. Her makeup was done perfectly and the dark eyeliner she had used made her eyes so much more startling it almost took his breathe away. Her dress…oh dear god. He was amazed he hadn’t gone into a coma yet. It was emerald in colour matching her eyes perfectly. It was cut low in the front to show cleavage but wasn’t low enough to seem tacky and it ended just below her knees.
“Buffy pet….wow.”
Spike wondered where his usually ability to speak had vanished to and cringed at how stupid he sounded.
“Thanks. I’ll take that as a compliment.” Buffy smiled.
“You should you look amazing luv.” Spike murmured stepping into the house and closing the door behind him. It was bad enough he had come to her house dressed up in a suit it wouldn’t do for the neighbours to see him ravish her on the doorstep too. So he waited for the door to shut behind him before tangling his hand in her hair and kissing her breathless.
“happy birthday luv.” Spike whispered against his lips after managing to pull himself away. He handed her the bag he held and smiled when he saw her excited look and the little squeal she issued.
“Oooo presents.” She grinned bounding into the living room to open them. Spike sat opposite her and watched as she opened his card first.

Dear Buffy,

Happy 17th Birthday

I hope you enjoy yourself tonight and thank you for letting me be the one to celebrate with you.

Love,
BB

Buffy ignored the love part and focused on the less heart clenching name.
“BB?” She asked with a smile wondering what that was.
“Well your mum thinks you have a new boyfriend whose taking you out tonight so if she reads this and see’s my name then I’ll be murdered in my sleep so I signed it BB.” Spike smiled proud of his smartness.
“and BB stands for…?” Buffy asked in amusement.
“Big bad of course.” Spike grinned.
“Oh my god your still insisting on that stupid nickname.” Buffy laughed remembering the day he had made that up.
“Why not? Its true…im big and im bad.” He smirked rolling his tongue against his teeth lewdly.
Buffy just shook her head and pulled at the paper covering one of her presents. She finally got it out and smiled when she unwrapped a book. She looked at the front cover and grinned when she saw that not only was it a book of poetry. It was a book of Spike’s poetry.
“That’s my first ever published book.” Spike smiled at her.
“Aww Spike thank you so much! I cant wait to read it.” Buffy smiled excitedly.
“Glad you like it pet but that’s just the present that you can tell your mother I bought you…the other one you’ll have to pretend someone else bought it.” Spike smiled sadly. He really wished she could wear it and show off how he was the one who bought it for her. Buffy pulled off the paper and her eyes lit up when she saw the velvet box. She snapped it open and gasped when she saw the beautiful bracelet.
“Oh my I…Spike I cant accept this.” Buffy managed to say while staring open mouth at the stunning bracelet. It had eight emeralds going along the chain and each one was surrounded by tiny diamonds.
“Why not?” Spike asked hurt by her refusal.
“Because this looks like I cost more than my house…is this platinum?” She asked in disbelief as she held up the bracelet.

“Yeah it is and how much it costs doesn’t matter. I want you to have it Buffy. I have more than enough money and I wanted to buy you something that was special and even though it still aint as pretty as you…its as close as I could get.” Spike smiled charmingly as he leant forward and put it around her wrist. Buffy stared down at it and smiled.
“It matches my dress.”
“Matches your eyes too.” Spike smiled.
They both sat there in silence for awhile just looking at each other until Spike glanced at the clock and jumped up.
“Right come on pet we’re gunna be late.” Spike said grabbing her hand and leading her to the door. He cast a quick glance down the street and thanked the gods that there was no one out there and he couldn’t see anyone in the windows. He ran to the car with Buffy running behind hoping that Mrs Simmons hadn’t been nosing through her windows.