For disclaimer, see Part 1.
Mail: LunarMyth.



Days passed.

The Scooby Gang hadn't interacted much since the beach meeting. In fact, any outsider would think the group of friends was on the outs.

Willow was depressed because Oz wasn't around. She was so consumed that she didn't even notice the way the rest of the gang was acting.

Spike had woken up in Kiara's apartment the day after his beating. His pride was bruised because he, William the Bloody, had had his arse veritably kicked. He had been furious that he couldn't leave her home and had spent the day sulking, locked in her bedroom. As soon as the sun had set, he'd been out of there.

If that wasn't enough to piss Kiara off, the enigmatic messages had become frequent. She was hard pressed to hide the extreme vampire activity from Buffy. However, the messengers seemed to know exactly who they wanted, and so they stayed away from Buffy, centering all of their attentions on Kiara. No one else had been hurt, but she was beginning to get really ticked off by this *badass* who wouldn't even face her.

Buffy spent most of her time patrolling or on campus. She couldn't stand to stay in the dorm room. Willow was acting all mopey and wouldn't consent to go out or do anything. She couldn't go home. Everytime she stepped foot in that house she was assaulted with visions of things she would never have, and wasn't really a part of now. And she couldn't be around Xander. Things between them were tenuous. Buffy wasn't sure whether or not she regretted the kiss. She longed to tell someone, to get it off of her chest, but both Will and Kia were preoccupied in their own love lives.

Xander, on the other hand, spent most of his time at Buffy's home, helping Giles and Joyce get the nursery painted and put together. There wasn't much for him to do elsewhere. Besides, he liked Giles and he was happy the old man had finally gone and tied the knot. In his humble opinion, he'd always been a father figure to Buffy. He hadn't been near Willow or Buffy since Friday night. Xander was confused on why Willow was acting so despondent. He felt guilty about not visiting her - they were best friends afterall - but he was consumed with his own problems. Between missing Cordelia and wondering how Buffy was doing, Xander didn't have much mental capacity to spare.

And yet they were all supposed to gather at Buffy's house tonight for Thanksgiving dinner. None of them were really looking forward to it.

None of them felt they had much to give thanks for.



* * *




Kiara paced around the hospital room. She'd come here every day for the last week and had spent hours on end with the girl, with virtually no progress at all. Plus, since Buffy was out of school she'd had to be extra careful not to get caught.

It was obvious Faith was still inside. Sometimes Kiara thought it was a game to Faith, hiding from everyone. Of course, then she felt guilty. It wasn't right for her to think badly of Faith's condition. She just wanted to know why the girl wouldn't come back.

Kiara hopped onto the window seat and looked out of the window. It was only mid- afternoon, but the sky was dark and dreary. She would have worried about vamps being out during the day, but Buffy had taken over the patrol. It had seemed odd, but Buffy had seemed almost desperate to do it. She leaned her cheek against the chilled pane of glass and reached out once again for the feeble link she'd forged with Faith. The girl had never answered her back, but Kiara knew she enjoyed listening. Otherwise, she would never have let her guard down enough to open the connection. Today, she talked more to herself than she did to Faith.

*I miss him. I never thought it would hurt this much, not having him around. And he hates me now. Doesn't he? But I deserve it. I shouldn't have played his game in the first place. There's a part of me who wants to tell him how I feel. Not that he would listen now anyway. But I'm not willing to settle for someone who's still in love with someone else. He has to choose. And if it isn't me, then....* Kiara sighed, the forced out breath causing a circle of fog on the window. *Almost five centuries I've been here, and I haven't learned more about love than this?* she asked herself snidely. *Come on, the other two "me's" seemed to know exactly what to do. Why am I the clueless one? Spike.... Of all people, why did I fall in love with William the Bloody?*

*Now there's a Brit with a nice ass* a faint voice in her head said.

Kiara jumped and looked around, her gaze falling on the hospital bed across the room. She didn't see any difference in Faith. Her eyes narrowed as she turned to watch her.

*True, true. Quite firm. Let's just say leather plus Spike's ass equals one very good thing.*

There was no answering voice.

*Well. Anyway. I'd ask how you know Spike, but since you won't answer me.... He's a great kisser too. Mmmm. And those eyes. He's not too bad for a vamp. I mean, I'd still like to stake him at times* she blushed. *Almost did the other day....*

*I've read about him. Heard about him. Willow had much to say. I don't think I'd mind giving him a good _uh_, if you know what I mean.*

Kiara smiled slightly as she saw the heart monitor give an extra bleep.

*Oh yeah, I know what you mea-*

*Course, then again, Buffy's the vampire layer...* Faith's voice rang bitter in her head.

Kiara was silent for a moment. *Is that why you don't want to wake up? Because of Buffy?*

*She did what she had to do, I do what I have to do.*

*And what _do_ you have to do, Faith? Stay cooped up inside your own mind for the rest of your life? You know you belong out here. You belong with us.*

*With _you_?!? Three Slayers, oh yeah, I can see that now. You know as well as I do that I'm the baddie in this picture. They don't want me around and I don't wanna be around.*

*You're wrong. You belong with us. We need you. Buffy and I need you. The Scooby Gang needs you. The world needs you. Like it or not, you are one of the Chosen few. There's a duty that comes with that. And I know what it's like to lose yourself to darkness. It's powerful and intoxicating. And once you turn, you feel like you can't ever go back. So why not make the Hell of it and do anything you damn well desire. But you can come back. You just have to make the conscious decision.*

The room buzzed with silence. Kiara waited for ten minutes, but got no response. With a heavy heart she moved to the door. *Happy Thanksgiving* she thought sourly.

*Wait.*

Kiara turned around and saw Faith fighting to open her eyes. "Wait," she said, her voice low and hoarse for lack of use.

Kiara walked to the edge of her bed, her tanned hand reaching out to take hold of Faith's pale one.

"Why?"

Kiara smiled down at her and shrugged lightly. "I dunno. Maybe I need a new ass to kick around."

Faith smirked. "Bring it on."

Kiara nodded. "Lookin' forward to it." She smoothed back Faith's hair and placed a light kiss on her temple, her own mind soothing that of the troubled girl's. "Rest," she said. "I want you up to your full Slayer abilities when I pay you back for wanting to *uh* my Spike."

Faith snickered slightly before lowering her gaze. "You'll be back, I guess?"

Kiara walked to the door. "You couldn't keep me away if you wanted to."



* * *




Buffy looked around the kitchen. It smelled oddly comforting. All of their "guests" had arrived and they were almost ready to sit down to the table for dinner. Her mother had set the table beautifully with their "good" china and crystal and silver. It almost seemed like a real, live family event. Except for the fact that no one wanted to be there and the mood was dismal to say the least.

She'd tried to choose a good seating arrangement. Her mother and Giles to the ends of the table, of course. The best thing she could think of to do elsewise was to sit Willow between Spike and Xander, and herself and Kiara across from them. Buffy didn't want to look at Xander, and she was pretty sure it would be too tense for Kiara to sit anywhere near Spike.

Giles and Joyce were too wrapped up in each other to notice anything was amiss. After they'd returned from Los Angeles, things had taken a turn for the better. They were no longer as nervous around each other. And with Joyce having to rely upon Giles because of her advancing pregnancy, it forged a closeness between the two. Giles thought she grew more beautiful everyday and Joyce adored the subtle ways he showed her he cared. When the two of them had suggested a group Thanksgiving dinner to Buffy, they'd had no idea what they were inviting into their house. And that didn't just mean Spike.

The adults led the way into the dining room, followed by the rather somber crowd of teenagers avec one grumbly vampire. Buffy sat everyone down according to her plan. It had to be the worst get together she'd ever been to.

"Definitely not 'shin-dig' level," Xander whispered to Willow.

"I'm thinking it won't qualify as a 'hootenanny' either," she whispered back to him.

"Well, shall we eat?" Giles asked happily after they'd all served their plates.

"Wait," Joyce said with a smile. "First, I'd like to begin with a tradition Buffy and I always do before we have Thanksgiving dinner."

Buffy groaned inwardly as her friends shot her weird looks.

"Well, certainly, my dear. What is it?" Giles asked. Spike and Xander looked at him, both thinking that they never wanted to end up *that* whipped.

Joyce beamed at him. "Well, every Thanksgiving, we tell what we are thankful for."

Eyebrows rose across the table.

"Well, ah, I think that's an excellent idea. I'd like to begin, if I may?" Giles said.

Joyce nodded and the Scooby Gang watched him expectantly.

"I am thankful to be blessed with such a-a wonderful family as Joyce and Buffy. And I am thankful that in a few short months we will have an addition to that family." Giles and Joyce shared in a secret smile. "And, ah, of course, for all of you who do so much to help out. Not only do you not have to, but you put your lives in danger for our cause all of the time. You've meant much to Buffy, and you all mean much to me," he concluded. The group was unaware of what they should do. Were they supposed to clap? His words had been sincere and praising, but tonight they were a tough crowd to please.

Joyce coughed. "Well, I guess I'll go next. I'm thankful for my beautiful daughter," she grinned at Buffy, "and for my wonderful husband, whom without I could not have pulled this off." Buffy almost moaned out loud when they did that smiley thing again. She guessed it was her turn.

"Well," Buffy began. "I'm thankful for...ummm" she wracked her brain, trying to think of something. "A week off from school. And..." she looked at Xander from across the table. "And that my closest friends could be here today to share this...with me." She lifted her glass and toasted her peers. "Will? How about you?"

She couldn't have made a worse mistake. Willow looked up, her eyes tearing. "I...I....I'm thankful...." Willow looked around the table, her face miserable. "Oz isn't even here," she said softly. "He's been gone for a week and he hasn't even called. It's...it's li- like...like he's cheating on me or something..." A few tears spilled over her cheeks and Xander put his arm around her.

Buffy gaped at her. "Willow?! How can you think that? Oz...Oz adores you!"

Willow shook her head and blew her nose. "He didn't even invite me to go with him. He...he told me that Devon's girlfriend was going with them, but he....he didn't even.....even ask."

"Oh Willow. I'm so sorry," Buffy murmured. "But you've got to know he doesn't care about anything more than he cares about you."

Spike looked on with feigned uninterest. Kiara could only hurt for the girl. She knew how it felt to be unwanted.

"But he does," Willow continued. "I...I *want* him to love his band, and he does. I just feel so jealous. I mean, a whole week out of town and he didn't even ask...."

"Will -"

"Back off Buffy," Xander told her. "Can't you see Will's hurting? God. You're her roommate and best friend and this is the first you've heard of this? What have you been doing?"

Buffy's looks spoke volumes. "Well Mr. Childhood-Playmate-Life-Long-Friend, if I'm not mistaken, you were as surprised as I to hear this assumption. As to what I've been doing, I think you know exactly what I've been trying to get over," she said meanly.

"Oh right," Xander shot back. "This is all my fault. I'm the baddie. Why don't you just stake me?"

"Don't I wish I could."

Kiara watched in horror as the two friends bickered across the dining room table. She could see the downhearted expression on Joyce's face and felt even worse. "Guys," she started, but her voice was drowned out by Xander.

"...I'm the one who held you down and made you kiss me, right? I'm the one - " he stopped as he realized what he'd said.

Buffy saw red. She didn't want Willow to find out like this. She almost hoped her friend was too caught up in her own woes to pay any attention to Xander.

No such luck. Willow raised her head, her eyes wide. She looked from Xander to Buffy and back to Xander. "You kissed her?" she asked softly.

"Oh believe me, Will. It wasn't just one sided, isn't that right Ms. True Love?"

Buffy flinched at his words.

"Well, just when I thought I wouldn't have any fun. Thanks for the entertainment, Slayer," Spike drawled.

"Oh shut up, Spike!" Kiara told him. "You know, you really don't know when to keep that *bloody* mouth of yours shut."

Xander turned on Kiara. "Him? What about you? I don't hear you promoting goodness throughout the kingdom. I don't even know why Buffy trusts you. You belong with Dead Boy. The two of you are the same. Always spouting your 'soul-having-ness', but never around to back it up. All you do is bring hurt on Buffy." Xander had gotten so riled up by this time in his, that he stood up recklessly, ready to confront the innocent woman. However, his plate slipped and he had to reach down and grab it before the beautiful chine shattered on the floor. When he hit the spoon, it catapulted off of the plate and onto Giles. Mashed potatoes included. He looked at the ex-Watcher, horrified.

Spike wasn't having any of that. "Listen here, Boy Wonder," he yelled, jumping up. "Don't try to cast blame in Kiara's direction just cause you can't keep your wanker in your pants. If anyone's hurting the Slayer, it's you. Always yapping on about the Great Poof. It really is too sad she can't stake you. I, however, have no such qualms."

Xander was hit by mashed potatoes and a roll at the same time. He looked around, confused. The first had come via Buffy.

"That's for Giles," she said calmly.

Xander looked at Spike, from which the second missile had come. Spike grinned. "So, I don't have a stake on me at the moment."

"Buffy Anne Summers!" Joyce yelled. "I cannot believe you just...just...threw food at one of our guests."

Buffy stood and looked at her mother as if she'd gone crazy. "Excuse me? This is my fault all of a sudden? This wasn't even my idea. It was *yours*." Buffy looked around the room. Spike and Xander were still bickering and tossing food at each other. Giles sat, stunned, a clump of mashed potatoes still clinging to his chin. Kiara looked up at her with sympathy in her silver eyes. Willow was in her own little world. "Oh yeah, Mom. This is all me. My God, Mom. You don't even know what's going on in my life anymore. All you have time for is Giles and the baby. Did either of you ever think this *might* be a little strange for me? I mean....my mom....and my Watcher. I go from being the focal point of each of your lives to virtually nonexistent. Does anyone else see a problem with this picture?"

"So you're jealous?" Xander's voice rang out.

Buffy glared at him. Soon her dressing was running down the front of his shirt.

"Buffy, honey, I'm sorry..." Joyce began, until a mis-directed roll from Willow's direction landed in her plate, splattering the turkey gravy all over her.

Willow began apologizing profusely. "I'm so sorry Mrs. Summ-...err...Mrs. Giles. I meant that for Buffy."

Buffy turned to her friend and got hit with a slice of turkey. War was declared. The dinner was ruined. Even Joyce and Giles joined in. Buffy launched her salad at Willow, who ducked so it hit Spike. With a growl, Spike turned and was met with a face full of dressing from Joyce. Kiara paid Xander back by drenching him in her iced tea. Unfortunately, she then caught the brunt of Giles' escapade with the peas. They ran down her blouse and into her bra. Seeing this, Spike laughed out loud. She threw him a glare and hit him right in the middle of the forehead with her roll. Buffy watched as Xander poured the turnkey gravy over Willow's head. She snapped off a turkey leg and threw it with her Slayer's aim, hitting him in the head with the large drumstick. Giles aimed for Buffy, but she moved, revealing Joyce hiding behind her. It was too late though. The cranberry sauce slid down the front of her dress.

This was the scene that Oz walked in to. "Hey guys! I rang the door.....bell," he trailed off, looking around at the people dripping with food. "Ok, I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that this is not a normal Summers' house-hold Thanksgiving."

"Oz!" Willow gasped. She ran around the table and jumped on him. "Why...How are you here?"

He caught her in a bear hug and sniffed her. "I, uh, I knew you wanted me to be here." He lowered his voice. "I didn't wanna disappoint you. Besides," he grinned. "I missed you and your tastiness," he said, picking off a leaf of lettuce drenched in turkey gravy.

"Oh, Oz," Willow sighed. Buffy shot her a knowing look.

Kiara looked around and shuddered. This was gonna be Hell to clean up. She caught Spike looking at her and blushed slightly. She had to look like crap. She could still feel the peas squishing and sliding against her skin. It wasn't the most pleasant sensation. However, the look in his eyes was warming her considerably, and she had to look away.

"Well, I guess we better get cleaned up and then clean up," Joyce said.

Xander's stomach growled loudly.

Buffy looked at him, smiling slightly. "Too bad for you. Unless you wanna eat your Thanksgiving dinner *off* of somebody."

He wiggled his brows suggestively and Buffy groaned good-naturedly.

Joyce and Giles called their shower first, and Buffy declared she'd go first in the other bathroom since it was her house. Besides, Willow was too caught up in Oz and Kia and Spike looked like they wouldn't mind cleaning each other off. That left Xander, and she was *definitely* going to shower before he left food all over her bathtub.

"Mind if we order pizza?" he called up after her.

"Make it two and I'll love you forever," she called down to him.





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