Summary - A sweet, fluffy story just on time for Christmas! The gang, including a semi-reluctant Xander try to get Buffy and Spike together by using the wiles of alcohol (and karaoke.) Set season 6, at Christmas time by the way, Spike loves Buffy and she knows, she's trying to decide if she loves him too. They have not slept together at this point!

Disclaimer - I don't own any of it, although I want Spike for Christmas.

Chapter - The Plan

Xander looked around the table in the Magic Box, shaking his head in disbelief that he had been dragged here by Anya to help her, Willow, Tara and Dawn with this weird idea they had about Buffy. It wasn't that Xander hated Spike, because he didn't really, he just liked to annoy him and to be honest he kinda liked the guy since he'd started helping them out and all, not that he'd ever admit that! It was just that he was sure that Buffy wasn't gonna go for this idea of her and Spike together, I mean she always going on about how much she hated him, and how he was an evil, soulless vampire, blah blah blah. He decided to put this to the group.

"They both need it Xander, they're both miserable on their own, and it's Christmas! Besides, ever heard of the expression, "the lady doth protest too much", Willow raised her eyebrows at him.

"Um, no? Is that from Hamlet, or Macbeth? I never read them, just used the Cliff's notes." He was starting to get confused, what did English lit have to do with this?

Willow rolled her eyes. Tara rescued him. "She means that Buffy makes too much of Him, and we know better."

"Oh. Sorry wills, heard the Shakespearey word and kinda panicked I guess" Xander smiled sheepishly.

"Anyway, let's go over the plan" Anya was desperate to get down to business. "The sooner we get them together, the sooner Spike can start giving Buffy lots of orgasms, cause I think she needs them to be honest. Plus if we give them each other we don't have to buy them a present, but they still get us one". Anya loved Christmas; it was top of her present receiving holidays list.

"So what's the plan Dawnie?"

Dawn realised she was being spoken to and removed her hands from her ears, having placed them there as soon as Anya began to speak, not feeling the need for any unpleasant visuals at the time.

"Huh?"

"The plan?"

"Oh right, well first you guys get Buffy to go to the Bronze at eight tomorrow night, I'll make sure Spike is going and then..."

*****

The next night at eight o'clock Dawn arrived at the Bronze with Spike, having bullied him into taking her out, using the 'I haven't seen you for ages' speech, along with the patented Summers puppy-dog eyes. She spotted the rest of the gang and grinning turned to Spike.

"Oh look, everyone else is here!"

"What's going on Nib?" Spike raised his scarred eyebrow at her.

"Nothing, I didn't know they were coming, honest. But lets go and sit with the Buffy and the others anyway." She grabbed his hand and pulled him over to their table, not believing for a second that Spike was taken in by the innocence act. Oh well, he'd thank her later, she was sure. "Hi guys!"

"Dawnie, Spike." The gang greeted them, except for Buffy who was looking suspiciously at the large grin on her sisters face. Spike suddenly was sitting in the empty seat beside her, having been shoved there by Dawn. She smiled tentatively at him.

"Hi Spike." He smiled back at her, glad he wasn't getting a punch in the nose for his presence.

"Evenin' love. Havin' fun?" She nodded, and smiled again, glad to see him, and making the decision not to be a total bitch like usual tonight. She was going to be nice to him and see what happened. She was about to start a conversation with him when two things happened, first Xander appeared at the table with a round of cocktails (and a coke for Dawn), and a green demony guy stepped up to the microphone on the stage, that Buffy hadn't noticed until now. The green-guy began to speak.

"Good evening sweetcakes, my name's Lorne, and tonight we're having a special, one-off night of karaoke, so just let me know if you want to sing and we'll get you sorted. The fun will be starting just shortly cherubs so make up your minds!"

For some reason, Buffy felt a sudden surge of dread wash over her. She glanced at Spike, and the dread was mingled with something that felt a bit ?