Buffy's Birthday Bash (Open)

[Dawn Summers]

Blinking and hearing the knock on the door, Dawn grinned and stood up "I'll get it...you just sit and enjoy the party Buffy.." Walking to the door, she opened it then furrowed her eyebrows seeing Angel at the door "Oh..ah...hey Angel.." Letting him inside, she sighed uncertainly, remembering her sister's past with Angel but quickly hid her disdain as she showed him into the front room "Buffy...Angel's here...we're...kinda having a birthday celebration for her.."

Feeling awkward about the situation, she looked at Buffy then at Willow who seemed to be studying Dawn, then forced a smile and smacked her forehead a little lightly "I forgot to put the balloons on the front porch...how will anybody that might want to arrive a little later, know it's your birthday without balloons?"

Using that moment, she escaped into the front foyer and sighed looking toward where she had tied the strings to the stairway. She knew she should give Angel the benefit of the doubt, but she still couldn't help but remember how he broke her sister's heart when he left. Frowning, she ripped the strings loose from the banister of the stairway and moved out to the front porch, shutting the door behind her.

She still couldn't believe he would show up after all this time...what could he possibly want? Wishing that Spike or Tara would show up, Dawn turned and tied the balloons to the front porch posts, not seeing Luke lurking about. Letting her guard down, and turning her attention to decorating the front porch, she furrowed her eyebrows hearing something crackle in the bushes and frowned a little.

Shrugging and not seeing anything, she turned back to the porch, letting her thoughts travel back to the party and only hoping to make it the best they could for her sister. Lord knows, Buffy deserved it after everything that she went through.

[Xander Harris]

Xander caught the pillow that was thrown at him because of his sexist comment. "Hey, I know that was sexist, but I was only joking" he smirked, throwing the pillow at Willow. (hehe that rhymed).

He was about to get up and answer the door when the knock sounded but Dawn bet him to it. He wasn't expecting Angel to show up, not after so long anyway.

Xander was aware that an awkward situation was about to occur, so he decided to follow Dawn. "I'm going to help her with that. Those balloons can be a bitch" and he was gone.

He walked out into the cool night air, completely oblivious to an unfamiliar presence . "Wasn't expecting him" Xander said sitting down on the porch chair. "You know what's going to happen right?" He asked Dawn. "There's going to be an awkward conversation regarding why he went, there's going to be yelling, boring chit chat and then they'll be making out, like nothing ever happened. That's the lives of Buffy and Angel" he said, thinking of how predictable they were.

[Dawn Summers]

Blinking and hearing Xander follow her out onto the porch, Dawn turned her head and cocked it to the side, showing that she was listening as she tied the balloons to the porch railings. Biting her lip and hearing him say that there was going to be yelling, chit chat and then...she had to shudder at this but clearly tried to hide it...making out.

Narrowing her eyes, Dawn glared at Xander then sighed "It shouldn't happen like that...she shouldn't forgive him for what he did to her...He's hurt her in the past and I don't think she should take him back.."

Knowing that sounded cold, she shrugged and sighed sitting down in one of the other chairs "I'm sorry Xander...it's just the way I feel about the whole thing...she should just forget about him..." Looking out at the street, she furrowed her eyebrows and crossed her arms knowing she sounded like the bratty teenager she was but she really didn't care at this point.

Frowning, she sighed again "I just wish that things wouldn't change so much around here and that people would stay the same...but that's too much to ask for isn't it?" Closing her eyes, she thought about all the time her sister spent slaying, leaving her home alone at times...and now the others seemed just as busy...almost that they never had time for each other anymore.

It upset her more than she let on and she just hoped for one night that everything would go back to normal. But now it looked like that opportunity was ruined now that Angel was here. She was never good at showing her anymosity for Angel. She could never quite forgive him for leaving her sister the way he did but she did try her best to hide that fact.

Looking out at the street again, she furrowed her eyebrows "I wonder if Tara's gonna be here...maybe Spike too?"

[Buffy Summers]

Buffy glared at Xander for asking her sister where she got the money for the jacket. But then it hit her... where HAD Dawn gotten that much cash for something that Buffy knew was quite expensive? The happiness suddenly wore off a little as she glanced at Dawn with suspicion. Dawn's answer seemed off to Buffy, but she decided now wasn't the time to hassle her about it. Besides, she had made an oath to herself that nothing was to go wrong tonight.

Turning away from Dawn, Buffy smiled at Xander. "Aww, Xan, you're sweet. And who am I to argue if you really want to get me something?" Her smile turned cheeky at that. "I am a girl after all and us girls love receiving things!"

However, Buffy's smile turned astonished and she raised her eyebrows. "You did NOT just say that. 'Cause if you did, I'd have to hurt you. And that hurt is coming from me, so believe me, it will hurt."

She then laughed loudly at what Willow had said. "Now that I'd like to see!" She laughed again, picturing Xander being turned into a woman by a witch.

Buffy then heard the knock on the door and she gave Willow a knowing look. "That could be Tara now..." She nodded to Dawn and went back to examining her gifts, not giving the door another thought. Then Dawn announced Angel was here and Buffy dropped the back massager in shock. She leapt up, maybe a bit too fast and straightened her dress.

"Oh... hey." She started, then realised this was how all their conversations started these days. She sighed, hating that her and Angel were this awkward around each other and wished that it wasn't like this.

[Tara Maclay]

Tara silently scolded herself, knowing she was really late to Buffy's birthday party. She'd quickly grabbed a protection charm that she'd made for Buffy a couple of days ago before hurrying out the door. She hadn't known what to get the Slayer at first, but it hit her that a charm like that would be handy as well as thoughtful.

She hurried along Buffy's street and to her house, out of breath when she reached it. She stopped to see Dawn and Xander out the front, putting up decorations. "Oh, thank God. I was worried I was too late. S... sorry I am late but... I got held up." She quickly explained to the two, wiping her hair from her face.

Tara had worn her best blouse and long skirt tonight, but she was shamefully aware it was more for Willow than it was for the party. She hoped she looked alright, as she was also aware she was a lot more curvier than the others in the group and she was always self-conscious about herself.

"Is Willow here?" She asked shyly, then blushed in embarrassment. Of course she would be! She was Buffy's best friend after all and by her asking for Willow, it was more than obvious that Tara was looking forward to seeing her.

[yolanda7g]

Angel watched Dawn as she took the opportunity to leave, sensing the slight disdain of his presence from a mile away. Angel stood close to the door, suddenly feeling unqualified to take even another step further inside. It was like he was a repellent, his presence automatically making everyone scatter and the mood plummet. Angel should have expected this. He looked down at the small box he held in his hands, pressing his lips together and shifting his eyes, clearly uncomfortable as he waited for Buffy.

He didn't have to wait long. There she was, looking beautiful in her dress. Angel hesitated for a second before responding. "Hey," He broke his stare and glanced back down at the box in his hands. Taking another second to conjure up the words to say, he finally decided on a safe choice. "Happy birthday," He told her, for starters. He presented the box to her. It was unwrapped.

"It's chocolate." He said, as if she couldn't read the label on the box. He hoped to goodness that it wasn't too forward of a present. It wasn't flowers with a letter, and it wasn't just a card...but maybe chocolate is a bit too much...but how can you go wrong with chocolate? Everyone likes chocolate. Just because you receive chocolate, doesn't...mean anything...its just...chocolate. Maybe he needed to save face.

"I hope you...I mean...I thought you might like...I mean I was hoping you still ate...chocolate."

Maybe a phone call would have been a better decision. Decidedly letting go of the awkwardness he was feeling he said, "Thought I might stop by. I was...in town." He lied. Poor decision.

[Willow Rosenburg]

Blinking and watching Buffy looking over her gifts, Willow smiled a little then saw her look at the jacket then at her sister as if to question her. Biting her lip, Willow decided to stay out of the confrontation if there was going to be one.

Watching Dawn leave the room then come back in, Willow widened her eyes slightly, seeing Angel. Looking at Buffy quickly, Willow bit her lip harder as Buffy stood, straightening her dress and looking at Angel. Forcing a smile at the awkward situation, Willow laughed a little then stood "I...I'll uh...let you two...talk..."

Looking from Angel to Buffy, Willow smiled again then quickly made her way into the kitchen thinking to help Giles with the food. Blinking and looking through the doorway into the front room, she kept a close eye on what was going on but didn't want to pry. She was being the protective best friend and she knew it, but she didn't want Buffy to become hurt again if something did happen between her and Angel.

Sighing and looking at Giles, she smiled "Giles, yeah, Angel's here...but do the kinda...ya know...distance thing...I think that's what Xander and Dawn are doing. Give Buffy and Angel a chance to talk, would you?"

Smiling again, she grabbed some carrot sticks that she had sliced earlier and brought them out to the front porch, where she heard Dawn talking about how she felt about Angel being back. Blinking and seeing Tara coming up the walk, Willow smiled and gave the small plate of carrot sticks to Dawn then quickly descended down the stairs and gave Tara a hug "I'm glad you're here Tara...no you're not late at all."

Seeing Dawn scowl at the doorway leading back into the house, Willow smiled "Dawnie....don't do that sweetie....your face'll freeze like that and then where would you be?" Looking back at Tara she shrugged then grinned a little "We have a...visitor...here. He's kinda from the past. Dawn's not completely happy about it as you can see but he does have close ties to Buffy. We decided to give them space to talk."

[Buffy Summers]

Buffy shifted her weight from one foot to the other nervously, while waiting for Angel to say something. When he replied with a 'Hey', she smiled, but mentally she groaned. Surely they weren't going to go back to this, were they? But then Angel continued and Buffy's smile widened without her permission.

"Thank you." She replied, simple but at least it went with the conversation... She accepted the unwrapped gift that was chocolate and she glanced from the box back to Angel. Knowing chocolate was typically a romantic present, Buffy didn't care. She was happy that he at least brought her something, which he did not have to.

"Thank you." She said but realised too late she'd already said that. "I mean... thanks." Great, she thought, this is going great...

"I do! I, yeah, I love chocolate." Nodding, she opened the box and ate one in front of him, hoping to prove just how much she liked it. "Mmm, nothing beats chocolate, I always say." Buffy took her time with the piece,, avoiding having to try to bring up another subject. This was harder than she'd thought it would be.

Now that she'd finished it, Buffy had to say something. "It is good to see you." And that wasn't all a lie either. Just because they were awkward around each other didn't mean she didn't want to never see him again, even if sometimes she did feel that way in her dark moods.

[Xander Harris]

Xander listened to Dawn as he informed him on how she felt about the situation. She made sense, why should Buffy forgive Angel for him leaving and hurting her in more ways then one, Angel would never know the pain Buffy went through.

"I know Dawn" Xander said simply, "if we were her, we wouldn't forgive him, but we're not her she's her and that's the way that she is. She loves Angel and I doubt that would change, and there's no way that we can change her."

Tara arrived, he wasn't surprised to see her. After all, her and Willow have been getting close lately, not that he was repulsed about that, he was happy for Willow that shes found somebody since Oz left.

"Hey Tara" he greeted her with a smile, "yeah Will- speak of the devil" he said as Willow walked out.

"I wonder what they're talking about?" He asked, gesturing inside.

[Dawn Summers]

Blinking Dawn sighed and looked at Willow as she exited the house and told her not to scowl, that her face would freeze like that. Sighing, she shrugged and looked down, listening to Xander... "That's the problem...sometimes I wonder if she does know what's good for her...I mean, she is the older sister...I'm the little pest...but still..."

Hearing Tara, Dawn grinned a little and waved at her "Heyya Tara..." Seeing Willow join her, she smiled a little then looked back at Xander, listening to him "If I know her...she's probably talking about.." Cutting off there, she closed her eyes "Never mind...I do not want to even go there."

[yolanda7g]

(sorry I'm really museless here because everyone is outside and i can't figure out a way to get to buffy as Luke, so I'm gonna think on this one)

[Dawn Summers]

Okay...let's see if we can get this going again...maybe give Luke something to do))

Blinking and watching Tara and Willow, Dawn smiled a little then coughed realizing how much of a fool she must look like. "Um...I think I'm gonna go...set something up in the backyard. Maybe we might go back there if it stays warm like this...I'll...go and clean off the picnic table...yeah..."

Brushing her hair back over her shoulder, Dawn smiled again as she made her way back off the porch and around the corner of the house, not wanting to go inside just yet because of what might be going on in there between her sister and Angel. Sighing and picking up the broom from the alcove on the terrace, she walked over to the table and started to brush the leaves off of it.

Furrowing her eyebrows, she thought about what had happened in the past between Angel and Buffy and gripped the broom tightly in her fingers. She had nothing against Angel...except for the fact that he left her sister broken hearted when he left for Los Angeles. Shaking her head, Dawn gave the table a final brushing off and growled a little then gasped as the handle of the broom broke in her hands.

Looking down at it, she swallowed a little and rolled her eyes "Great...guess I'm more stronger than I thought...Something else we gotta buy..." Throwing the pieces of the broom away in the garbage can in the alleyway, she sighed and looked up at the sky "Mom...I really wish you were here right now to tell me what to do."

[Tara Maclay]

( Can't post as Buff til Angel posts, so if you've thought something up, Angel, that would be awesome ;D )

Tara blushed fiercely, against her will and to her disgust, after the hug and welcoming from Willow. She returned it, feeling happy alone from the contact with her fellow witch. Then she listened with curiousity at Willow's explanation to why Dawn was unhappy.

"Oh... is that why we're all standing outside? So, I g-guess I should wait until they're done to say happy birthday, right?"

Tara looked at Dawn as she explained her concerns and she broke into a smile. "I think it's sweet you're looking out for your big sister... like, the tables have turned." Even though she was smiling and hopefully appeared to be okay with not knowing about this Angel and Buffy thing they had in the past, Tara couldn't help but feel like the outsider she was. It was obvious she was missing out on something huge that they'd all been through.

She nodded as Dawn said she was going out the back. "Sounds like a g-good idea, Dawn." It was a nice day indeed, but Tara had had the impression the party would be held inside, which is why she wore clothes she thought suitable for that. She only hoped the weather would stay nice so Tara didn't look like a fool... the last thing she wanted to do in front of Willow.

[Willow Rosenburg]

Smiling a little and watching Dawn walk to the backyard, Willow sighed and looked back at Tara. "I'm so glad that you're here Tara..." Hearing her ask if that was why they were all standing outside, Willow nodded "Yeah...like I said, wanted to give them some space...As for Dawn, well don't worry about her...she's a teenager...she's moody...the least little thing sets her off. I think we all went through that phase."

Sighing and knowing that they were keeping the whole 'Angelus' thing from Tara, Willow looked at Xander not knowing if or when he was going to bring it up. Noticing Tara looking down at her clothes, Willow smiled again "Don't worry about how you look...you look fine...you look great."

[yolanda7g]

Angel looked at Buffy take a piece of chocolate and was somehow able to put on a small, be it uneasy, smile. "Heh, good because...you know...I was worried that...things have changed so much and that..." he stopped and cleared his throat. "It's good to see you too." He said seriously. That didn't go quite as smoothly as he would've liked...

"So is everything going okay?" He asked cautiously. "How's you and Dawn?" He decided to ask this question arbitrarily. He knew that her life wasn't a bed of roses but he didn't exactly want to impose too much. He thought asking about Dawn would be a safe bet.