SETTLING IN

By Awatcher22

Conclusion.

The next day. Spike Buffy and Dawn visit Joyce's grave. The three pay their respects to her memory.

Buffy: What time is it?

Spike: Almost seven.

Buffy: Sometimes I can't believe she won't be coming back.

Spike: She was a real good lady.

Dawn: (Goes to place some fresh flowers on her grave.) She was great. I miss her, but I am not so sad now. Last year I was sad. I didn't know what was going to happen. But it's ok now. I'm always going to miss her. But I have you both now. (She walks back over to them.) We have each other. (She stands in the center of them.)

Spike: (Puts his hand on Dawn's shoulder. He puts his arm around Buffy.) We're family now bit.

Buffy: (Leans into him.) Guess so.

Dawn: (Smiles as she takes on final look at the grave.) Yeah family.

The three leave with a sense of peace and closure. They know that Joyce would have taken comfort in the picture they make. Not perfect, but there for each other. Taking care of each other. Family.

Going back to the house. They enter it's now dark. Suddenly noises can be heard. All three go into alert mode. Then suddenly they are flooded with light and streamers and their friends yell surprise.

Buffy: (Looking surprised and curious.) Ah. What is all this? (Putting her stake away.)

Giles: We thought we might surprise you.

Buffy: Wow ...success.

Dawn: (She is delighted by the food and gifts she sees.) Hey what is all this?

Xander: Well Dawnster. This gives me another chance to show you some more of my swinging dance steps.

Dawn: Ah. Think I've done enough dancing for some time. (Thinks about her recent encounter with the vampire.) But thanks for the offer.

Anya: We wanted to do something nice. To say we're sorry ...that we thought you would go all crazy and deranged and kill us in our sleeps. (She smiles.)

Tara: What Anya really means to say is...

Spike: Sounds like the bird got it right the first time.

Tara: Guess we're sorry.

Anya: To alleviate our guilt we brought food and presents. To make up for all the wedding presents we skipped out on when you did get married.

Willow: Yeah and we decorated. The hard-way. But it was fun. And yeah we're sorry about everything. Didn't mean to jump all over this. I know how difficult second chances are without everyone doubting you. (She holds Tara's hand.)

Giles: Well let's not stand around talking. Let's ply ourselves with libatious refreshments, and alleviate our guilt with merriment.

Spike: So speaks the Nancy tribe.

Giles: So indeed. (He smiles.)

Buffy: (She pulls Xander aside for a moment.) Can I trust you from now on, to not go behind our backs?

Xander: You can trust me to do what I think is best for you and Dawn.

Buffy: What about Spike?

Xander: Reserved judgment there Buffy. But I'm very impressed that he didn't use you as a juicy pop, didn't try to destroy the world or stalk anybody lately.

Buffy: Hope you can remember that for next time. Not that there will be a next time.. Not that there would be. Come on Xander I want to see the guilt gifts you got us.

They all sit and socialize and open the gifts. The one from Giles is extremely posh.

Spike: Oh a DVD player. Very posh. Watchers council treating you very well?

Giles: Well I can't complain. Sides DVD's are very trendy right now. Just bought season 1 DVD's of my favorite show.

Willow: Before you know it he'll be surfing the net to research demons. No more old dusty texts books. Pager and cell phones will be strapped to his hips.

Giles: Don't be silly. The pages is kept on the inside of my coat pocket. (Takes off his glasses to clean them for a moment.)

Buffy: Good to see something's won't change. (Smiles over at Giles.)

They proceed to open the rest of the gifts. Then it is finally time for the group to get going.

Giles: Well I have to get going. I have a plan to catch back to England. I hope next time we all meet. It will be under less auspicious circumstances.

Buffy: It's always good seeing you no matter what the circumstance are.

Giles: Good-bye again. (He embraces Buffy.) Spike don't seize to amaze me the way you have been. I think I was right in walking her down that isle. Sides the Nancy tribe needs more solid members.

Spike: Try not to disappoint. (They shake hands and exchange looks. They are two people who love Buffy extremely well, and would do anything in the world for her.)

Xander: Yeah Buffy we have to get going too. Dawnster it was great seeing ya again. Maybe next time you'll have a dance for ol Xan-man.

Dawn: Sure long as it doesn't have a pointy ending. (Hugs Xander good-bye.)

Anya: Yeah we have to go. We have a much over due spanking session to get to. But we're not dressing up this time or anything.

Dawn: (Steps back. Does and awkward smile while shaking her head and mumbles.) Yeah-hun.

Spike: (To Xander) Look's like the that dry spells over with. (They exchange knowing looks.)

Xander: The Xan-man's back in effect. Again sorry bout what I said before.

Spike: No big. Sides we've all missed Anya's stories of your sex-capades. You will stop by once in awhile (To Anya.)

Anya: Yeah we can swap more stories about my demon days. Did I ever tell you what I did to these two brothers, who broke the heart of this one maiden. Lets just say they now share more than feeble minds. That was a fun one to do. Give ya the details another time.

Xander: Come on sweetie. Think we've had enough male carnage, and vengeance for one night.

Tara: (Goes over and gives Spike and Buffy a hug. Whispers in Spike's ear.) Looks like dry spells over all around.

Spike: So that's how it? (Smiles at Tara.) Night Red.

Willow: Night Spike Buffy. Dawnie. (She hugs Buffy and Dawn.) Spike again I'm sorry bout what I said.

Spike: Me too. No hard feeling then? (Looks over at Tara.) Just lots of frisky ones. (They exchange amused looks.)

Tara: Night Dawnie. Remember what I said. Anytime. I'm always there for you.

The group leaves. Spike goes to store to rent some movies.

While he is at the store and Dawn and Buffy are inside. A small little man with gray hair comes to the door. Leave a colorfully wrapped small box on the front porch. He has eyes that turn black at an instants notice and a tail.

Doc: (He smiles as he leave the gift for the happy couple, and walks away from the door.

Spike: (Comes home some time later with the movies and sees the box on the front porch. He goes inside.) Hey got the movies. And looks like your friends forgot a gift. Think they'd knock and just drop it off.

Buffy: Probably didn't want to stay for anymore festive chat. Put it upstairs we'll open it later. I'm all gifted out. Me and Dawn are tired from cleaning up all the party stuff. So what did you get at the video store?

Spike: Couple of movies. (He sounds defensive.)

Buffy: Oh no not terminator again?

Spike: Ah. No.

Dawn: Terminator 2?

Spike: No.

Buffy: Then what did you get?

Spike: Got T2 DVD directors cut. Has all the parts haven't seen before. Like seeing it all for the first time again.

Dawn: (Her and Buffy roll their eyes, and a couple of couch cushions go flying at Spikes head.)

Spike: What?

The three settle down on the coach. They watch the movie together.

Spike: This is my favorite line. "If a terminator can learn to care about human life, maybe a vamp can too. "

Buffy: (Her and Dawn exchange their special look that they have for Spike in these moments.)

Buffy and Spike go upstairs for some cyborg's wresting.

Dawn: (She just shakes her head and smiles as she puts in the next movie.) Family.

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