Swaying in the arms of her lover, warm from a tad bit too much champagne and the crush of people, happy and in love, Buffy blinked confetti from her eye lashes and tightened her arms around Spike's shoulders. He responded by gliding his hands down over her bottom and giving her a quick squeeze before returning them to a respectable position at her waist.
Buffy giggled and rose on her toes to kiss him softly. "Happy New Year."
"Now aren't you glad we took a break from tracking down those Hovener demons to celebrate?"
"And wear funny hats, don't forget the hats." She reached up to lightly snap the elastic string that held the blue and white glittery cone to Spike's head.
"I look like an upside down ice cream cone. Why did you get the cardboard top hat again?"
"Because I'm the boss?"
He grinned down and kissed her. "That you are. Bossy, at least."
"You don't seem to mind."
His hands slid lower again, making her squirm and flush, as he softly growled, "I like domineering women."
"You're just pussy whipped."
"That, too." Spike spun them around until she giggled dizzily.
"Stop that. This is country music. We should be two stepping or something."
"It's a real shame that the only place with bookings still available was a country and western bar. We really don't fit in, luv."
"There's booze, dancing, and kissing. All the things necessary for a happy new year celebration."
Spike glanced around at some of the other dancers. "I need a cowboy hat and a checked shirt."
"I don't think they'd go with your hair and leather," Buffy replied with a barely straight face.
"You'd look cute in a crinoline."
"You said I looked cute in this leather mini-skirt."
His eyes slid down her body and then he tilted his head and smiled at the high rising him of her red leather skirt. "Cute doesn't quite cut it. Drive me crazy sexy is better."
Buffy beamed. "Good, then it's served its purpose."
As they continued to dance, the music changed, slowed down, and a woman's voice filled the room. The stomping feet turned into soft shuffles, and the couple dancing in the center of the room stopped bantering and sank into each others eyes.
Years of fighting together, years of loving each other, hadn't diminished their joy in each other one bit. Nor did they take anything for granted or look past tomorrow. Living in the moment made them happy and kept them together and madly in love.
Darlin' tonight I am reminded,
How much these two hearts need romance.
You know it isn't all that often,
We get this kind of chance.
Why don't we get caught in this moment?
Be victims of sweet circumstance?
Tonight I feel like all creation,
Is asking us to dance.
The song captured this moment in their life perfectly, and when Spike leaned down to kiss her, Buffy took his hand and led him off the dance floor.
Time to start the next New Year in their lives.
End