brave3

DISCLAIMER: All hail Joss Whedon, UPN, the WB, FOX , Mutant Enemy and 20th Century Fox Film Corporation. Theirs not mine

Willow appeared with two flutes of champagne. Tara looked relieved and gave Willow a warm kiss. They moved into each other�s arms as they drank and danced.

Anya snaked her arms around Spike�s neck, and looked up at him. �I wish I could have champagne,� she sulked.

�Do you want me to get you some sparkling cider? Club soda? Juice?� asked Spike helpfully.

She smiled. �Buffy�s training you right. Very mannerly.�

�I aim to please,� he said saucily as he bent her backward in an enthusiastic, deep dip.

As he brought her back up, he noticed the hand over her mouth and the olive tinge of her skin.

�I�m going to be sick,� she murmured as she rushed away.

�I�m sorry, love, � he called after her, �didn�t mean to�� He turned around and bumped into Xander and Buffy. �There�s something wrong with Anya,� he explained to Xander, concerned.

�What happened?� said Xander, panicked.

�I was dancing with her and she said that she was sick and ran away. I think she was going to go heave,� said Spike.

The tension left Xander�s face. �That�s normal, Spike. She has morning sickness because of the pregnancy. Only for her, its more like around the clock sickness.�

Buffy handed Spike a flute of champagne. �It�s perfectly fine, Spike. Every woman goes through it.�

He looked at her thoughtfully. �It must be hard on you, though, Xander. Watching the woman you love suffer like that.�

Xander smiled. �It is, but she says it�s worth it. She never thought that it would be her, that she would have a child of her own. It means everything to her.�

Spike turned his head to look at Buffy, but found her eyes were already on him. He took her hand, kissing her knuckles.

The emcee came out onto the stage. �Okay everybody! It�s one minute until the ball drops, so grab your bubbly and your honey!�

The noise level in the club rose as everyone prepared for the countdown. Buffy popped a paper top hat on Spike�s head and crowned herself with a plastic jeweled tiara. Willow handed Tara a noisemaker, throwing a ring of colored beads around her neck. Anya returned bearing two glasses of ginger ale. Xander took his glass and kissed his fianc�e on the head, pulling her close as she sipped her drink.

�This is it folks!� screamed the emcee into the microphone. �Out with the old and in with the new!� Everyone cheered, the din so loud it filled the huge space. The crowd screamed along with the emcee as he counted down. �Ten! Nine! Eight! Seven! Six! Five! Four! Three! Two! One! Happy New Year!� The band burst into �Auld Lang Syne.�

The friends turned to each other and clinked glasses. �Happy New Year,� they toasted. They drained their glasses. �May it be the best one ever,� yelled Tara. Willow smiled as she pulled her in for a long, slow lip lock.

Spike drew in Buffy close to him. �This year, you�ll be my bride. It will definitely be the best year ever,� he whispered as he brushed his lips to hers.

Xander stared into Anya�s eyes. �I am the luckiest guy in the world,� he said, rubbing his hand over her stomach. She brought her lips gently to his.

The three couples kissed, lost in each other, as showers of sparkling confetti rained down from the ceiling.

-TBC-�