Restive Nature
Rated NC-17 (Eventually)
Chapter Seven
Independence Day
"Ooh," Dawn exclaimed suddenly. She was ensconced in the back seat of the DeSoto. After they’d decided to move in, they’d taken a cursory inventory of the items in the cupboards and closets. Most everything they would need was already there and they were headed back to the hotel now.
"What Dawn?" Buffy asked tiredly from the front seat. She’d snuggled up close to Spike, who’d wrapped one arm around his girlfriend. The day had taken a lot out of her.
"You know what we should do?" Dawn continued, squirming now as her idea took hold. She didn’t wait for them to answer. "We should have a house warming party."
Buffy smiled to herself. Dawn wasn’t quite a party animal, but she certainly had the makings of one. "I don’t know Dawn," she protested half-heartedly. "Me and parties, not so mixy."
"That’s just your birthday," Dawn pointed out. "This would be a party for the house." She paused a moment. "What do you think Spike?"
"Either way is fine with me Nibblet," he shrugged.
"But we haven’t had a party in so long," Dawn’s voice was just short of whining. Buffy craned her head to give her little sister an aggrieved look.
"Dawn, remember the wedding?" she teased. "Wasn’t that a big enough party for you?"
"Yeah," Dawn sighed, "but it wasn’t our party."
"We’ll think about it," Buffy assured her. Although, she kind of liked the idea. As Dawn had said, it was usually her birthday parties, well, even her birthday itself that turned out horribly. It was quite a list she had, from the mundane, like her father canceling on her to the outrageous. Of which there were more than she wanted to think about. But a house warming sounded like something mature people did. Something couples did. She snuck a glance up at Spike, but he was already glancing at her.
"You want to now, don’t you?" he grinned. She ducked her head into his shoulder.
"You know me too well," she complained, the words slightly muffled by the fabric of his coat. She pulled her head back up, not minding in the least that he was sensitive to her mercurial decision making process. "Would you mind?"
"When have I ever said no to you pet?" he pulled her a little closer.
"Do you really want to hear the list again?" Dawn complained with her ears keenly tuned to their conversation. Buffy giggled. Spike groaned. He should have known better than to try that line. But honestly, if there was something Buffy wanted, he always tried to provide it for her. It wasn’t his fault that there were just some things his manly self wouldn’t do. Like let her paint his toenails when she was bored.
"All right," he acquiesced," we can have a party. "Happy Bit?"
Dawn’s little squeal told them both that she was. "Good. We can have it on the Fourth of July!"
"Dawn!" both Buffy and Spike protested.
*****
After a little more discussion, Buffy got Dawn to agree to say nothing of the party. After all, the house required a bit of cleaning before it would be fit for living in. Granted, it was mostly dusting and vacuuming and a few washed floors, it didn’t seem as if the party was impossible. Spike even admitted that they had enough money tucked away that they could afford food, as long as it wasn’t steaks and champagne. They did have to think beyond the holiday and the fact that they’d have to buy groceries for the rest of the month and be prepared to pay regular bills again. Buffy just didn’t want to fall back into the same situation that they’d been in after her resurrection. So it was agreed that they’d return to clean the house the next day, then go from there.
And with a little effort on all three of their parts, they nearly had the house cleaned by the evening of the second. Spike and Dawn had transferred the entire bedroom set from the first room upstairs down to the basement. They’d set up the desk in the unused corner of the living room. It seemed silly to put the computer so far away from Dawn when she would be using it most. She had her laptop, a graduation gift from her sister, Spike, Willow, Kennedy and Xander to use in her room. But since Spike and Buffy occasionally fiddled around with the computer, the main floor seemed to suit it best. Besides, Buffy was very serious about having a bedroom to convert to a nursery.
The trio returned to the hotel, tired but elated. They joined the AI team, Willow and Kennedy in the lobby and announced that they were having a combination barbecue, housewarming. Willow wondered about waiting for Giles, Max and Angel, but Buffy shrugged that off. She figured they could always have another party when the gang was all together again, including Xander. After a little scheming about what they were serving, it was decided that the new homeowners would provide the hamburgers, fixings and beverages. Everyone else invited was going to bring salads. There was a good mood abounding.
In the morning, Buffy packed their luggage for the last time, she hoped. As soon as she was done, she went to check on Dawn, to find out from Kennedy that the teen had already hauled all her bags down to the lobby. With a laugh, the blonde Slayer returned to the room she had just exited. Spike had just emerged from the bathroom, fully dressed. He threw the towel he’d been using to dry his hair back towards the bathroom. Buffy frowned at him and went after it to pick it up from the counter and hang it properly.
"Don’t know what you’re bothering for luv," Spike teased when she came out. She shrugged.
"We just have to get back in the habit of picking up after ourselves," she pointed out. "After all, no more room service and maids to clean up while we’re gone."
"All the more reason to now then," Spike argued good-naturedly. Neither he nor Buffy was very domestic, although she had more practice in keeping house. To some extent, her habits had rubbed off on Spike, mostly through constant nagging. But he had to admit, it was nicer to live in a place that wasn’t littered with cigarette butts and empty liquor bottles. Teasing his lover was one of his favorite pastimes though. He jumped on the bed and leered up suggestively at her. "Want to rumple the sheets a little?"
Buffy wasted no time jumping onto the bed after him. She pinned him quickly, straddling his waist with her petite body. As she leaned over him, his arms came up to clasp her loosely. Buffy lowered her face to within an inch of his. She regarded him for a moment, then brushed a kiss over his lips. She pulled back and bumped his nose with hers, making him open his eyes. "Spike, I want to go to our home and rumple our sheets," she explained softly. He smiled up at her indulgently and sat up. She put her hands on his shoulders to balance herself, settling on his crossed legs.
"Home it is then," he agreed. He caught another kiss from her, then patted her behind. "Well, if we’re going, you’ll have to get off me woman." Buffy obliged and hurried to pick up a few of the smaller bags. Spike hefted the two larger ones, after donning his weapons bag. They never went anywhere anymore without them. He dropped the bags once to shut the door behind them and then followed Buffy to the elevator.
The entire group was waiting for them, happy smiles across their faces. They set their bags next to Dawn’s, who had a little more than they did. After all, she’d been settled in school and had had the chance to accrue more possessions than the others. She’d packed up her entire life when she graduated, so she had some boxes in storage that she’d want to get fairly soon. Willow came forward first.
"Oh, I don’t know why it feels like we’re saying goodbye when you’re just going to be twenty minutes away," she complained as she hugged her friend.
Buffy hugged her back, a little emotional herself. "It’s another fork in the road Wills. It always seems like lately we’ve been taking one road while you take the other." She sniffled, then let her friend loose. "But you know that there’s always a spare room for you, right?" Willow nodded, then moved to embrace Spike and finally Dawn.
"Cheer up," Dawn exclaimed. "We’re going to see you on Monday anyway."
"That’s true," Cordelia exclaimed. She hurried forward to quickly hug the trio. She’d never been close to them, but had long ago put aside the differences between them. "I’m so happy for you guys. And not at all jealous. Because, you know, I love my apartment."
"Gee, thanks Cordy," Buffy gave her a strange look, unable to stop smiling.
"I’m just saying," Cordy shrugged, "old me would have been jealous of you guys having a house dropped in your lap."
"We get it Cordy," Willow sighed. Even after all these years, some things hadn’t changed, even though the people had. Kennedy, Wes, Fred and Gunn shook their hands, adding their congratulations as well. As one, the group began to gather up the belonging’s to be moved and headed out to the car. They filled the trunk and a bit of the back seat. Buffy remembered to hand Cordy the keys to their rooms.
"If you talk to Max and Angel before they get back, tell them thank you," she instructed. The Seer nodded. "Oh and before I forget, we don’t have a phone yet at the house. But if anyone needs to get ahold of us, we all have our cell phones."
"I thought those we for emergencies only?" Willow teased.
"Wills!" Buffy mock exclaimed. "A house with no phone is an emergency!"
There was laughter as they pulled away from the hotel. Those left behind gathered to wave good-bye to their friends. After the car was out of sight, they turned as one to return to their business at the hotel.
Spike had already memorized the easiest route between the hotel and the house and they were there in Willow’s predicted twenty minutes. The neighborhood had a different feeling in the morning. Children were running about, enjoying their summer vacation. Women were out weeding gardens, gossiping with one another and generally going about their day. As they pulled in at the curb of their part of the street, a woman walking a dog stopped to watch them. When she saw the suitcases and boxes, she approached slowly.
"Hi there!" she greeted them brightly. Spike and Buffy paused to watch her, murmuring greetings of their own. "I’m Denise Matthews. Are you guys moving in?"
"That we are," Spike tried not to roll his eyes. He had a real pet peeve about people stating the obvious these days.
"That’s great," the woman continued. "I live two houses down," she motioned back the way she had came. "It was a real shame when the last guy left. Although he was pretty much a loner. It’ll be nice to have new neighbors."
"We’re looking forward to moving in," Buffy prodded gently. Denise took the hint immediately.
"Oh of course," she reddened slightly. "I’m sorry. My husband calls me motormouth. I never shut up."
"That’s okay," Buffy grinned. The woman didn’t seem that bad. And she remembered how curious people in Sunnydale got when someone new moved in. That was all they ever seemed to be curious about. "I’m Buffy Summers." She gestured to Dawn, on her left. "This is my sister Dawn." Dawn grinned over her load of boxes.
"Hi!" she greeted brightly.
"And this is my boyfriend," Buffy continued, gesturing to Spike. "William Worthington." She smiled as he glared at her. "But we all call him Spike."
"Well, I’m pleased to meet you," Denise smiled widely. "Oh, I know it’s probably too soon, but do you have plans for the Fourth?"
"Actually," Buffy glanced quickly at Spike. "We’ve invited some friends over for a barbecue."
"That’s great," she enthused. "See, every year, we have our separate parties, then most of the neighbors head down to the beach to watch the city fireworks. You would all be welcome to join us."
Buffy was touched that they’d already met such an open person. But she had long years to school herself to be cautious and that instinct exerted itself now. "Thanks. We’ll have to see how things work out."
"All right," Denise nodded. She clicked her tongue, getting her dog’s attention. "Well, I’ll just finish walking Thunder here and let you guys get moved in." She moved off and the trio continued up the path. Spike reached the door first and took the keys from Buffy.
The move in went along quickly and they were able to relax. Until they realized that they had no food in the house yet. Buffy was reluctant to go out again, until Spike teased her that the house would still be there when they returned. So, donning light jackets, they trooped back out to the car, prepared to drop back into the lifestyle they’d been craving for a while.
After dropping a few of his favorite snacks into the cart, Spike took off. He promised to be back in an hour to pick them up. Buffy agreed easily as Spike never seemed interested in shopping with them. As long as he had some chips and a case of beer, he was happy. So she and Dawn continued on, making the important decision between green or red apples.
*****
Independence Day dawned, finding all three up and excited, to some extent at least. Spike was still teasing the girls about forcing him, a Brit, into celebrating the day the Americans thumbed their noses at their mother country. And when he got tired of that, laughing how they kept going on about their independence. Especially when they were celebrating in a house they had been given and on money they’d mainly borrowed. Buffy had finally banished him from the kitchen. Dawn followed him out to the porch to add her ideas about how to clean the grill and together the two of them accomplished that.
Close to noon, they moved back into the house. Dawn had called dibs on the shower, which Spike didn’t worry over. She clambered up the stairs after retrieving her robe. Spike moved into the kitchen and loitered at the refrigerator as Buffy rushed around, getting things ready. Their friends were arriving at one-thirty to eat and party. And she wanted everything to be perfect. She looked over the array of food she’d prepared. Since everyone else was bringing salads, she’d decided to make some dessert. The timer on the oven rang and she pulled on an oven mitt to remove the cake she’d gotten to after the cookies. The kitchen was overly warm, but she figured no one would be in there for much. She smiled up at Spike.
"There," she sighed in relief. "I’m all done baking." He smiled at her, just taking in the scene. She began to transfer some of the cooled cookies to the platter containing the rest of the batch. Spike stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her waist. His eyes were suspiciously moist as he held her. She leaned back against him and continued working. There was something so right to him about this moment. She was relaxed, happy, and complete. And he wanted to be here with her, like this, forever. He brushed her hair away from her ear and leaned down a little.
"Marry me," he whispered to her.
"Sure," she replied with a smile, but didn’t break her pattern. Scoop the cookie, then reach, and then drop the cookie. As soon as she was done this she’d frost the cake, make sure the soft drinks were cooling, and then shower. The hamburger patties were made and the buns were defrosting. She still had to set out the fixings, but that could be taken care of after people arrived. She heard Spike; she just didn’t really hear him.
Spike stepped back and dug into his jean pocket. All morning and Buffy had never noticed. He grasped her elbow lightly and turned her around. With his thumb, he flipped open the little black box and held it before him. "No luv," he tried again. "Will you marry me?"
Fireworks
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