Thanksgiving Day dawned clear and bright. A cool breeze blew in off the ocean bringing with it the scent of the sea and bright blue skies.

Buffy and Joyce were busy in the kitchen with preparations for dinner. As usual Willow, Xander and Giles would be joining them along with the addition of one unconventional vampire.

"Buffy, do you think Spike prefers his sweet potatoes candied or baked?" Joyce asked her daughter.

Buffy grinned at her mother. Joyce had become used to Spike's unusual eating habits. Every Saturday morning when Xander drove the girls home he stopped by Giles' as well and picked up Spike so that he could go to Buffy's house. The story was that it gave Giles a reprieve from Spike's company. The fact that Spike and Buffy spent most of the day in Buffy's bed was, of course, never brought up. By the time Joyce came home from work they were up, dressed and usually cooking something for dinner. Afterwards the three of them would talk, watch TV or sometimes even play cards until it was time for patrol. Of course Spike cheated whenever they played cards and it had become a part of the game for Buffy and Joyce to catch him out. Buffy was well aware that most of the times Joyce caught him it was because Spike had allowed her to. He seemed to enjoy her catching him as much as she enjoyed doing the catching.

Sometimes it worried Buffy that maybe things had gotten a little too cozy.

While mother and daughter were debating the merits of baked vs. candied sweet potatoes the back door opened and Willow and Xander entered. Greetings and smiles and hugs were exchanged, and Joyce began giving her two new helpers orders when the front door opened and the sound of Giles and Spike arguing filled the house.

"You stupid git! I told you to wait until I had the door open before leaping out of the car. Why can't you ever do as you're told?!"

"Because you parked with the sun pouring into the back window you soddin' burk! I didn't feel like spendin' Thanksgiving as a big pile of ashes in your backseat!"

Exchanging eye rolls with her mother, Buffy headed to the front of the house to referee the fight. "Hi, guys. Glad you made it. Giles, I think my mom needs your help. Why don't you go on out into the kitchen and see what she wants, okay?"

Nodding his head at Buffy, Giles shot Spike a sharp glare and stomped towards the kitchen. Buffy watched with amusement and then turned to look at Spike. After a close examination revealed no sun damage she carefully looked around and then stepped up to her vampire giving him a quick hug and kiss. "Happy Thanksgiving, Spike."

"Happy Thanksgiving, luv," Spike answered softly caressing her face. Buffy was about to go in for another kiss when the sound of laughter in the kitchen reminded her they weren't alone. Smiling she said, "Come on. Everyone works today. Lets go see what jobs General Joyce has for us."

Spike had thought about whether or not to tell Buffy that Giles knew about their relationship, but decided that it could wait until after their foray. He didn't want anything distracting her from the job tonight. Once they got out of the facility, then he would let her know. Truth was he was afraid once she knew that it was no longer a secret from her Watcher, she would end the affair. He wasn't sure how he was going to handle it. Not well, he'd wager.

***

Xander leaned back in his chair rubbing his protruding belly. "Another five star holiday meal at Casa Summers," he complimented.

"Yes, Joyce," Giles agreed. "It gets better every year."

Joyce blushed prettily at the compliments and then added, "Well, I hope everyone left room for pie. We have Pumpkin, Apple, Mince and Cherry."

Groans of protest were her answer, even from Spike. "Just give me half an hour, okay?" Xander moaned. "I'm sure I'll have room by then."

Smiling, Joyce began gathering up plates and soon everyone was busy busing the table and putting away the leftovers. Once the dining room was cleared, Willow and Buffy chased Joyce out of the kitchen with the statement that the cook shouldn't have to wash the dishes. Spike tried to stay, not particularly wanting to go into the living room with Giles, but Willow chased him out saying that this was "wimmin's work".

Buffy looked curiously at her friend. "Since when do we turn down male dishwashing help?"

"Since I kinda wanted to talk to you privately," Willow answered uncomfortably.

"What's up Will? Did you hear from Oz?"

"What?" Willow asked startled. "No, no I haven't heard from Oz."

Taking a few minutes to run hot water into the sink and to gather her courage, she finally drew in a deep breath and plunged in. "Buffy, is there something going on between you and Spike?"

Buffy felt her heart start to pound and she mentally flailed around for a non-committal answer. "Huh?"

Okay, not too bright there, Buffy, she chided herself. Distract her, make her think of something else, anything else.
Unfortunately, Buffy's mind seemed to have dozed off from too much turkey. She could only stare at her best friend.

"Look, Buffy, I know it's your business, but if there is something going on between you two, well," Willow hesitated. "Well, I just want you to know I'm here for you."

"You're here for me?" Buffy asked in a voice almost totally devoid of volume. What the hell did that mean?

As if reading her mind, Willow said, "I mean even though I don't condone it, in fact I think it's like the biggest mistake in Mistakesville, I'm not going to condemn you for it. Me or Xander either one."

"You or Xander? Xander knows?"

"Yeah. Well I had to point it out to him, but as soon as I did he saw it too. But we both wanted you to know that we love you and we'll be here for you when this all goes, you know, kablooey."

"Kablooey."

"Well, you know, after everything that happened with Angel," Willow's voice trailed off. She had been vigorously washing dishes the whole time she had talked, not looking at Buffy. Now she looked over at her friend and was surprised at the look of cold anger on her face.

"Buffy?"

"This is nothing like with Angel," Buffy said stiffly. "I appreciate your and Xander's concern, but there's no need. Spike and I are having sex, yes. But it's not anything to get worried over. He doesn't have a happiness clause, he's been fixed so he can't hurt anyone, and we have an understanding. Period."

Grabbing a dishtowel Buffy began wiping down the draining dishes with a vengeance. Willow looked at her friend and wondered why Buffy was so angry. She had expected embarrassment, tears, even denial. She had not expected anger.

Licking her lips, Willow decided to back down. She had let Buffy know that her friends would be here for her when the worst happened; that was all she could do. And Willow had no doubts that only the worst could happen.

***

Spike sensed the tension as soon as the two girls joined the others in the living room. He was surprised when Buffy came and deliberately sat close to him. Glancing at Willow, he saw the look of discomfort on her face and tumbled to the implications of it immediately. Bugger! Apparently the witch had figured out something was up with them too and she didn't have the good sense to keep her mouth closed until after tonight. Now Buffy was upset, her concentration would be off, and it was all his fault. God, he could fuck up a one-car funeral. He should have stayed away from Sunnydale, stayed away from Buffy. He hadn't wanted to do anything to hurt her. Not really. Not for a long time. He had just wanted her.

Looking at Buffy he saw that she was staring at Xander who was sound asleep and snoring. Christ, don't tell him that pup knew about it too. Why hadn't Xander come in here stakes blazing? Spike desperately wanted to get Buffy alone to find out what exactly had been said, but it was a long while before the opportunity presented itself

***

Giles, Willow and Xander left shortly after dark to prepare for the mission later that night. Buffy decided that midnight would probably be as good a time as any. Xander would pick up Willow at her house and then meet Spike and Buffy at the crypt. Giles had tried to insist that Spike return to the townhouse with him, but Buffy had stated that she still needed to go over some things about tonight. Giles had reluctantly left alone.

Joyce had gone to bed not knowing that her daughter and friends were going on a dangerous mission. She assumed that Spike had stayed to patrol with Buffy. After she had gone upstairs, Spike turned to his Slayer and said, "Your Scoobies know about us don't they, love?"

Buffy nodded her head. "Yes, they do. Of course they don't approve, but at least they didn't threaten to stake you, so I guess we can take some comfort in that."

Spike looked down at the floor and then looking up at Buffy he stated, "I wish they had waited until after tonight to tell you. I don't want you all upset going into this tonight."

"I'm fine, Spike. I was a little angry earlier, but I'm pretty much over that now. At least Giles doesn't know."

Spike wasn't able to hide the expression on his face quickly enough. "Oh, God," Buffy moaned, "He knows too? Did Willow tell him?"

Spike shook his head, "No, he figured it out on his own. We had a bit of a chat, and he suggested that I leave you alone. I told him to get bent."

"There's more to it than that, Spike. Why aren't you dust?"

Spike shrugged as nonchalantly as he could, trying not to show how much his next words were going to hurt him. "I lied to him. Told him that you cared enough about me that my disappearance would throw you off your game tonight. He believed me enough to leave me unstaked; temporarily at least."

Buffy moved up close to Spike, took his face in her two hands, drew his head down and kissed him gently. "You didn't lie, Spike."