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Changing Hearts Series - New Year's Arrival -- by Ruby
Rating: PG-13
Description: New Year's Eve, sequel to Secret No More.
Note: Spoilers -- Wild at Heart, The Initiative.
Disclaimer: Joss owns all.
"Come on, Will. You have to go," Buffy pleaded as she dogged Willow's heels out of Giles' kitchen and into the living room.
The redhead handed a mug of blood to Spike and sat down next to him, "I don't know, Buffy. I mean, it sounds fun and everything, but--"
"What are we talking about?" Spike asked the two women.
"The New Year's Eve celebration at the Manor House Lodge. Don't ask me how he pulled it off, but Riley managed to get reservations for all of us. He came back early so he can take me. Everyone else has agreed to go, but Willow's playing hard to get."
"I am not," Willow laughed.
"Are, too," the slayer insisted. "You can't not go! How many times do you get to celebrate the turn of a century?"
"About every hundred years or so," Spike answered dryly.
"Shut up, you," Buffy ordered and looked back over at her best friend. "How can you pass on a party like this?"
"The Manor House is a place for people who have more money than sense," Willow said. "I don't belong in a place like that."
"Says who?" Spike asked sharply.
"It isn't going to be like that, anyway," Buffy told her. "All kinds of people are going to be there. You don't have to go formal. Wear jeans, if you want to. Just go with us. Come on, Will. It'll be fun."
"Well," Willow reconsidered and looked questioningly at Spike.
"Up to you, ducks," he shrugged.
"Okay," she nodded. "We'll go."
The ballroom in the Manor House was filled to capacity when Willow and Spike followed Buffy and Riley inside. Xander waved to them from a table in the corner, and they made their way over to where he was seated beside Anya. Riley offered to order their drinks as the others sat down.
"Just a soda for me," Buffy requested.
"Make that two," Willow nodded.
"I'll have the bartender," Spike said and flashed Willow a quick grin as she shot him a look. "Never mind, pet. I'll just have you."
She blushed to her roots, and Riley shook his head and left them to wend his way through the crowd and over to the bar.
"There you two are," Buffy said as she stepped out onto the terrace. "I was afraid you'd run off."
Willow smiled and shook her head, "Just needed some air."
"It's almost midnight," the slayer told her as she handed each of them a glass of champaign.
The redhead stared down into the bubbly drink and spoke softly, "I never would have dreamed the year would be ending this way. I thought I'd be celebrating the start of a new century with--"
Spike took her hand and squeezed it as she looked over at him, "It's okay, luv."
Riley appeared through the open door as a drum roll sounded, and the people inside began to count down the seconds.
"To a better year," Buffy suggested as she slipped her arm around him, raised her glass, and looked over at Willow.
She nodded and gazed up at Spike, "To a century of better years."
They drank to the toast, and Spike took Willow's glass and set it down with his own as multi-colored lights began to flash from inside the building amidst the loud whoop of celebration from the crowd. He pulled her close to him and brought his lips to hers, heedless of the embrace the slayer and Riley were sharing, his mind centered only on the young woman in his arms. She put her arms around his neck and returned the kiss, lost in the feeling of his mouth against hers.
"Willow," the hesitant voice broke the passionate moment, and she pulled away from Spike to look toward the speaker.
Her eyes flew open and her jaw dropped as she squealed, "Oz?!?"
He nodded, his uneasy expression quickly replaced by a wide smile as Willow flung herself into his arms.
"Oz!" she breathed excitedly as he hugged her fiercely.
Buffy's eyes darted anxiously from Riley to Spike, and she reached out and put her hand on the vampire's arm as a low growl rumbled in his chest.
The End
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