A/N: Thanks to Robyn (for all three reviews), vladt (for all three as well!), redwulf, Azelma and Shanna for leaving your mark! Lovely! And so great that you're approving! Here are the four finishing chapters of the story! :)

Much Love - Annie.

¤

September

¤

“Buffy, I need to speak to you about the phone bill.”

She blinked, meeting Giles’ gaze with an innocence which had stopped working its charms on him at seventeen.

“Oh, give it up,” he snapped and she smiled. “If you want to call over seas you had better get one of those card-things that people use because it’s costing me over two hundred pounds this month!”

Her eyes widened.

“I’m so sorry!”

“Yes, well, I’ll write half of it off as business calls and get due compensation, but it is food for thought, wouldn’t you agree?”

Buffy nodded seriously.

She wasn’t using the phone simply for private calls, though. At least most of them weren’t. Well, they were kind of personal, but not in the way Giles imagined. She wasn’t talking to Los Angeles simply to talk, she was planning. And it wasn’t for her own sake, but for Spike’s.

She had gotten the most pushing urge to do something for him. Something personal. And talking to Angel one afternoon he had revealed an interesting fact – that William had been born on October 14th . It had been in passing, as they had been talking about birthdays in general, Buffy jokingly asking if he could even remember his. He had said it was barely, but that William’s date stuck with him because it coincided almost perfectly with another memorable one.

She hadn’t asked what.

But October.

So now she was wrapped up in thoughts of a surprise. Something he probably wouldn’t even contemplate. And what could be more personal than his birthday?

¤

“I want to get a streamer.”

“It’s not really Spike, is it?” Isabel asked.

“He should have a streamer,” Buffy stated firmly.

“Which should say what?”

“Happy Birthday!”

“Alright, I’ll order one. I know a place you can get them cheap.”

“I don’t want it cheap. It should be colorful and happy.”

“So that the guests will forget the fact that he’s been dead a lot longer than he ever lived?”

“There will be no such talk! And... yes,” she admitted with a slight pout before leaving the subject behind, adding: “But you’re never too old for a birthday party. If you do it properly.”

“Whatever you say, girl, you’re the boss.”

“Oh, crap! I have to go. If I talk too long Giles is gonna have a fit.”

“Alright. I’ll call you on Tuesday.”

“Great. And I booked the tickets! We’ll be there on the tenth.”

“Perfect. Take care.”

“You too. Bye.”

She hung up, smiling with satisfaction.

“It’s coming together,” she stated as she joined Willow in the kitchen.

“Good. What do you get a vampire that’s turning one-hundred-and-fifty-one? Or is it one-hundred-and-twenty-six?”

“No, it’s one-hundred-and-fifty-one, since we’re celebrating his birthday. And be inventive. I know Spike likes that.”

Willow cocked an eyebrow, but Buffy merely smiled.

¤

“I know. What I don’t understand is the whole hype around it. My god, it’s only a television show, what’s with the worship?”

“Buffy!” Giles said, pointing to his wristwatch.

Buffy looked guilty as she met his angered glare.

“Sorry,” she said.

“Giles bugging you again?” Spike wondered.

“Yeah. Have to go.”

“I could call.”

She smiled.

“Talk to you soon, then.” She hung up. “You happy?” she asked Giles.

“Yes. And honestly, you’re acting like a teenager, Buffy. Someone else might want to use the phone, you know.”

“There’s internet.”

He gave her a look and she smiled sweetly just as the phone rang. She grabbed the receiver miming ‘five minutes’ to her Watcher before answering:

“The do-girls-really-just-wanna-have-fun hotline, how may I help you?”

“Think I can help you.”

“How’s that?”

“I’m sure, if we put our heads together, we could figure out if all girls want is some fun.”

She smiled another smile at that.

¤

“We’re leaving on the tenth, but the party isn’t until the fourteenth,” Buffy said.

“And we’ll try to make it,” Dawn assured. “I’d hate to miss it, but Mikah is pulling double shifts at the restaurant and I have a paper due and on top of that we’re remodeling the kitchen.”

“What?! Why? It’s so pretty.”

“I know, but we’re tired of the green.”

“What color are you going with?”

“Mikah wants purple.”

“Umm...”

“Yeah, I know. I want peach. Subtle, warm.”

“Sounds great. It’ll look so beautiful with the rug.”

“I know!”

“Okay, sidetrack! I really want you to be there.”

“I know, me too. We got the tickets, thank you so much for those, and it rests mostly with my darling, ‘cause I can write the paper anywhere.”

“I know Spike’d love to see you.”

“And I wanna see him! It’s been like three years, or something! And we’ve talked about getting together, but every time he’s here he’s usually so busy, or we are. I really wanna come!”

“Good. Then I know you’ll do your best.”

“It’s really nice, what you’re doing.”

“I hope he thinks so, too.”

Dawn was quiet, and Buffy began thinking the line was broken when she finally said:

“I know he will.”

Buffy felt oddly comforted by that.

¤

“I need to get a manicure,” she muttered, changing sides for the phone as her right ear was getting overheated.

“Slayer,” Spike grumbled. “Change of subject. ...Most fond childhood memory.”

She smiled a little, but it faded as she answered:

“It’s so strange, but it has to do with Dawn.” She couldn’t help the streak of melancholy in her voice. “I know it isn’t really real...”

“It’s real,” he interrupted her softly. She smiled once more. “What was it?” he urged.

“She’d gotten her first doll and she named it Anne. I remember feeling so special because she showed me how special she thought I was.”

“You are special, love.”

“Well, yeah, but now I’m... abnormal-special.”

“Is that so bad?”

“No. Not really, I guess. There are much worse things. And besides, you’re abnormal-special, so I’m not all alone.”

“You’re not?”

“No.”

“Because I’m abnormal-special?”

“Yes...”

She felt herself flushing. What had she said that made his voice sound like that, sound so curious?

“Where did the special start for me, then?” he wondered quietly and she swallowed, trying to put a smile in her tone as she answered:

“Has Angel diminished your ego to this? Really?”

There was silence for a short while. She couldn’t stand it, and so she said:

“We’re coming on the tenth.”

“So I heard.”

“Oh... I wanted to tell you.”

“And I would’ve liked you telling me.”

“I didn’t think Isabel would.”

“Why wouldn’t she?”

Buffy smiled again.

“I’m looking forward to it,” she switched direction.

“I’m glad you’re looking forward, nothing good comes from looking backwards.”

“Some good can.”

“Like what?”

“Like fond childhood memories.”

“I’m looking forward, too.”

“To what?” she smirked.

“You,” he murmured and the soft implication in his voice made her shudder with anticipation.

“It’s not long ‘til you have me,” she mumbled.

“Thought I already did.”

Her heart beat grew louder, a wave of heat wafting through her.

“You do,” she said, breathlessly.

“I wish I could touch you.”

“What would you do,” she wondered, voice lowered as she turned around to lie on her back on her bed as she finished: “if you could?”