Flashback, 12 years ago at 1630 Revello Drive, Sunnydale


At the sound of the doorbell, 33-year old Joyce Summers hurriedly came down the stairs to open door for their expected guests.

“Hi I’m Joyce! “ Joyce greeted the couple at her doorstep. “Please come in!”

“Thanks.” They told her as they went inside. “I’m Rupert Giles but you can just call me Giles and this is my wife, Jenny.”

“Well, I’m so glad to finally meet you. ” She told them as she gave them both a warm hug. “ Please have a seat. Hank will be right down in sec.”

*****************


”You have a lovely home, Joyce.” Jenny complimented. “I like what you did with it, especially the paintings. You must tell which store you got them from. They’re so beautiful.”


”Why thank you.” Joyce grinned. “ Well actually, I own a gallery not far from here and most of these paintings you see are my personal work.”

“Really?” Giles’ said as he went to examine the two paintings right next to Joyce. It was a painting of a backyard much similar to theirs, only this one has a tree house. “You got some real good talent there, Joyce. You’ve done a great job with it.”

“I agree.” Jenny joined in, noticing at the same time that both of the pictures had the same little girl and the same tree house in it. While the first one showed the girl, looking down from the window, the other showed her sitting on the tire swing below it, smiling widely. “This must be your daughter.”

“Yes.” Joyce replied. “ How did you-“

“Hank told us that you have kid who has the same age as ours.” Jenny intercepted, never taking her eyes away from the painting.

She really appears to like the painting so much, Joyce thought to herself before she took one of the two paintings off the wall and handed it to them.

“Here. Call it our welcoming present.”

“B-but this has a picture of your daughter. We couldn’t possibly- “ Giles stammered.

“Well almost all of my paintings have my daughter in it anyway. Honestly, this one falls under the list of my favorite ones, but I would still love for you to have it. ”

The couple looked at each other, practically stunned at her kind gesture.

“Are you sure?” Jenny asked.


“Yes, I’m really sure.” Joyce told them happily as they all sat together on the couch.

“Thanks. This is erm… too much but we’re honored to have it. We promise to take really good care of it.” Giles assured their neighbor.


" You know, "Joyce started to change the subject in attempt to ease the building awkwardness. " I noticed that you sounded a bit-"



"British?" Giles continued for her.



" Well I was going to say different but yeah. You guys didn't move all the way from Europe, did you?"



Jenny sighed. " Well as matter of fact, we did."

**************



Minutes later, a man with bigger built than Giles, joined them in the living room.

“Wonderful! We’re so glad that you could join us for dinner. How’s the unpacking coming along?”


Hank Summers had stumbled upon them when he came home from work the day before. He had offered his help when it came to his attention that the family is seriously lacking in the muscles department.



“I hear you Hank,” Jenny joined in. “ I look at all those boxes and I could tell it’s going to take us a lot more than just a few days to take them all out.”



“Well, just say the word, Jenny and I’ll be happy to lend you a hand.” Joyce offered amicably.


“Why thanks, Joyce! We’re so lucky to have moved to such a nice neighborhood.”


“Very nice indeed.” Giles added. “ Just look at what Joyce gave us a welcoming present.” He told Hank. “We love it but we told her that we’re not really sure if we should take since this one got an image of your daughter-“


“Nonsense!” Hank protested. “ We actually have more than a dozen of that all around the house. Joyce love making our daughter as the subject of most of her paintings.”

The rest of them chuckled.

“Well speaking of our daughter. Hank told me that you have son named William. Where is he by the way?”

******************

William Giles hated that they had to move.


When he first received the news that they were moving to another country, he’d been devastated. Mostly, for the reason that he didn’t want to leave his friends behind. Not that there were many of them but they were still his friends and the thought that he had to start anew and make new friends again completely bothered him.


He was told then that they were moving to another country but it had never once occurred to him that they had to take an airplane in order to get there. With a 24 time zone differential from his old place… whatever that means.



After his daddy lost his job at a university in London 3 months ago, life had been really tough. His parents however had tried all they could to protect him from knowing the extent of their family’s financial struggle. What they didn't know then was that William could very well sense that his family was far from being okay. There were more than several occasions where he'd accidentally overheard his parents arguing. He couldn't actually make out what they have been about but he had definitely heard some yelling in the mix particularly at night when they’d thought that he’d already fallen asleep.


He heard from kids he knew about parents who lived separately due to problems his 6-year old mind couldn’t fully understand. He just assumed it has something to do with money but whatever the real reason was, the thought of losing either of his parents terrifies him to the core.



And so, he’d been elated to find out later that his mom and dad had managed to get a job in a local school in Sunnydale, California. At first he was happy. But when found out that California happens to be halfway across the world, he got furious.


Although he was still feeling a little angry right after the move, he couldn’t help but feel a little relieved. His two parents were going to stay together and to William’s young and innocent mind, nothing else in the world mattered.


When William met the head of the Summers’ household the day before, he had overheard him mentioning it to his parents that they also have a kid almost his age.


If it wasn’t for his incessant brooding that day, he could have had at least asked for the kid’s name or let alone his gender. But noooo, instead he had chosen to keep his tiny mouth shut and went on with his task of pretending to be an inanimate object, which he probably did a very good job of doing since no one bothered to talk him after that.



He could very well be in fact a boy like him. Well, that thought certainly cheered him up a bit. Smiling to himself, a thought had suddenly occurred to him as the three of them were already standing at the front porch of Mr. Summers’ house. He realized that he should have brought his new toy truck that he got for his birthday last week. He then told his mom and dad that he needed to go back to the house. And when they agreed, he had practically ran like the wind to get it from his bedroom.



In a flash, he was back and was about to enter the Summers home when he heard an undistinguishable sound that had him stopped dead in his tracks.



He looked around but no one else was there but him. Interesting. Deciding that it was just probably his mind that was playing tricks on him, he moved to enter the opened door and just then, the sound started again only this time it was a little more audible than before. Was that a whimper he just heard?

There it goes again.

Someone was definitely crying.


Curious, he decided to follow the source of those heart-wrenching sobs.


He eventually found himself at the Summers’ backyard and almost instantly, something had caught his eye that made his young blue eyes twinkle with delight.


Well what do you know! There’s tree house in their neighbor’s backyard! It has got to be the most beautiful tree house he has ever seen! It even has its own play yard. underneath it. He couldn’t believe his luck. All at once, his vision were filled with thoughts of the faceless boy and him playing the game of Fire station for endless of hours.



There it went again. The sound. He’s most definitely sure now that it was coming from the tree house.



He fleetingly scratched his light curly brown hair and contemplated whether to just to leave the poor kid alone. On the other hand, who was he kidding? He is a seven year old boy after old after all. Not like he ever cared about invading someone else’s privacy and such!


So he slowly climbed up the ladder in the center of the log and pulled himself up through the trap door and snuck inside the playhouse. Soon enough, he already found himself face to face with his mysterious friend that he was hoping to be a boy. Only he wasn’t. William tilted his head in amusement as his eyes rested upon the helpless looking girl with long blond hair that extended beyond her shoulders.


He wished he could see here face, but it was still partially hidden by her knees that she hugged tightly to herself. For a minute, he stood not knowing what to do and just stared at her helpless tiny form.






When she sensed somebody else’s presence, she became alarmed and shot her head up to see who it was.



Blue eyes were suddenly met by teary green ones. “Wh- who are you?” She managed to ask between sniffles.



“H- Hi ! “ William moved closer and sat beside her. “I’m uh Wil-yum. I live next door.”



Buffy blinked. It took her a moment to realize what the boy was trying to say. Oh. He’s the new neighbor my mommy and daddy were talking about . “I’m Buffy. " Came her soft small voice. "Y- you sound different, Will-yum.”



“I’m English. You know erm… like James Bond.”



“Huh?”



“Ne’er mind. Why are you cryin’, pet?”




Buffy looked at him warily before she burst into another set of tears.



William began to panic when the little girl resumed with her crying. “Buffy, stop. You could tell me what’s wrong, My da tells me am a good lis-ner.” … If my ears were still working, he added mentally.” You could tell me anything.”



Despite his missing two front teeth, William Giles could be quite the little charmer if he wanted to. He then gave her his lost puppy look. It was the same look that he would often use with his mom whenever he wanted to ask for a new toy or wanted stay-up a little later than he normally should.



Amazingly, Buffy had found herself trying to control her sobs. “I did something bad.”



“What was it?” He had moved the strands that partly concealed her young face and gently tucked it behind her left ear. “ I swear on my nana’s grave that I won’t tell anybody, “



“Your granny already went to heaven?”



“Well actually no.“ William answered with a sigh. “ It’s just something I would hear grown-ups sayin’.”



Finally, Buffy brought an end to her tears and William felt himself mesmerized when he saw the tiny smile that was beginning to form on her lips. It reminded him so much of the angels that his mom would to talk to him about. They said that they were all beautiful. He wondered if they could ever be as beautiful as the girl before him. “I- I love butterflies and hearts.”



Buffy quickly continued when she saw the confused that look she got from William, “Mommy has a bracelet with hearts and butterflies. It was pretty and she told me not to play with it.”



William’s eyes went wide when he realized what she was trying to say. “You broke it?”



She nodded. “But I didn’t mean to.”



“Told your mom yet?”



“No.” She replied curtly, her tears threatening to spill again.



“S’ ok , pet. I’m pretty sure she’ll forgive you.”



Buffy’s face brightened-up. “You think so?”



“I know so.”



“Really?”



“I swear on my nana’s grave.”



Buffy grinned as she realized that his left hand was hidden behind his back the whole time. “ What do you have on your other hand, Will-yum?”



He smirked and showed her the toy truck. Buffy’s smile grew even brighter.


Angel, his mind beamed proudly.


“Let’s play, Will-yum “ she stood up and bounced happily, taking the toy truck with her.



And she plays with boys’ toys too, he thought cheerfully as he quickly followed after his angel with a goofy grin on his face.





TBC

Present time, Cafe Rayne

" I don't know how much more of this I can take!" Anya whimpered.


They’ve been sitting across each other at the bistro section while they wait for their friend, Buffy to join them at their usual hang-out just outside of UC Sunnydale. Anya was just down to her third sip of her favorite chocolatey goodness when she grunted once again. With a very much impatient tone, she’d thrown Willow the same question for the 4th time within the short 7 minutes they they’ve spent together. “What’s taking Buffy so long?”


Willow who couldn't really stand Anya's customary outburst of self-centeredness had chosen to bury herself in some of latest NY fashion catalogues. Currently, she's setting her eyes upon a pair of Marc Jacob shoes that's on sale too. Not even Anya whose tactlessness and masterful kills in provoking the mildest of the mild mannered would get to her now.


“I can’t believe we have to wait this long. “ Anya paused to look at her watch. “Didn’t we all agreed to come here at 3:30? It’s already freaking 3:32! I mean that girl obviously doesn’t think of anybody but herself!”


Okay. That itty bitty last part got into Willow. The redhead rolled her eyes up as she temporarily disengaged her self from her reading material. “Anya, why don’t we give Buffy another good 20 minutes before we go a little judgy on her,” she told her sarcastically.


Willow and Anya never really got along when it comes to....well practically everything. Anya's dominant and callous attitude towards everyone she came across with has shattered Willow's teeny-weeny resolve of ever wanting to be her close friend.


Before, it had always been just the 4 of them, Willow Rosenberg, Xander Harris, Buffy Summers and Spike Giles. At the beginning of their freshman year in College, Willow and Xander dated for a while until things between started to fall apart, leaving a big scar on their relationship that almost ended their long standing friendship. Initially, it took months of meddling from Buffy and Spike to get them to be around each other again. Things have been quite tensed among them for a while until Willow found herself another point of interest in the likes of Daniel Osborne or otherwise known as Oz to the entire school body, a fellow student and also a lead guitarist for Sunnydale's famous band called Dingoes Ate My Baby. Xander on the other hand had moved on lately with Anya Emmanuel Jenkins.


Despite the fact that Anya belonged with the rich and popular crowd of Cordelia Chase, Drusilla Thompson and Harmony Kendall, the two found an immediate attraction to each other thanks to the ever reliable matchmaking medium that is chemistry lab. One day they've been assigned as lab partners and the next thing they know, they were all over each other in Xander's basement . From that day on, Anya and Xander had been pretty much inseparable.


There were times when she wondered immensely what on earth did Xander ever saw in her. Willow never liked the idea of allowing Anya to be part of their so called "average" troop but her best friend and ex-boyfriend had practically begged for her blessing. She had relented eventually of course. It's only right that Xander got his second chance at love. She's glad that he is able to move on as well.


“It’s easy for you to say that when you obviously have something to occupy you with. What are you looking at anyway?”


Willow ignored her again and resumed to taking down the code of the shoes that she's currently keen on. There goes my allowance for the rest of the year, she grumbled to herself.


“Uh, these young Americans nowadays. Drowning themselves into mindless consumerism….”


“Sitting right here.” Willow drawled. ” Weren’t you always have been the one who went on and on about how patriotic capitalism is? "The red head went on, making her best imitation of Anya's voice as she did an impression of her famously known high and mighty remark. "A free market dependant on the profitable exchange of goods for currency. A system of symbiotic beauty you say.”


“Well that was around that period when I was still at the receiving end of those profits”, She referred to the time when she co-owned a book shop with Giles. “Now my perception of it has suitably changed for the better. I’ve been reading articles on how capitalism could eventually lead to monopoly, imperialism and some other forms of human exploitation and economic misuse and by the way, that's not how I sound.”


Willow made an exasperated sigh. If Buffy doesn’t get there soon, she'll probably lose it.


Without hesitation, Anya roughly grabbed two catalogues from the redhead and started browsing through them.


“Hey!” Willow protested.


“Look at those shirt. I mean I have tons of them but I don’t care whether they were bought from Abercrombie & Fitch or - Ooh lookie! A Jimmy Choo spring clearance sale!”


++++++++++++++++++++

Not long after Anya’s constant whining, Willow's brief and yet unbearable torment finally ended when Buffy showed up.


“Oh thank goodness!” Willow and Anya both exclaimed at the same time.


“Sorry for the slight tardiness fellas. I had to stop by at my mom’s, tell her the good news and oh, dropped some laundry too.” Buffy told them thoughtfully as she went to grab the stool beside Willow.


“What is it? What's the good news?” the redhead queried, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.


“Yeah, tell us now," Anya demanded. " Xander’s going be here any second. He promised to take me to a movie so we could make out at the very back of the theatre before he meets with Spike later today.”


Buffy and Willow both scrunched their faces in disgust over the picture Anya had just painted.


"Oookay." Willow piped, I so desperately need to get rid of that icky visual now! " Go on Buffy, tell us the news "


Buffy took a deep breath before she moved on to making announcement. "I know that this might sound sudden, but before you go lecture me about how drastic my decisions are and oh don’t even consider the possibility of me being Pregnant Buffy, let me tell you right away that I'm in no way possibly pregnant. I am not-"


"Buffy?" Anya interrupted.


"Yeah?"


"You're babbling. "


"Oh. Right."


"Okay, take short deep breaths first." Willow advised. "Now tell us what you meant when you said you're not pregnant. I mean we already know you're not...Are you? " Willow hesitated then went on, "Of course not. Unless you want to. Do you want to?"


"No!" Buffy said sharply." I have no intention of becoming pregnant...well at least, not right away."


"You're not making any sense." Anya informed her.


"What I mean to tell you is that. " Buffy paused hesitating for a moment before she finally blurted out, "Riley and I are getting married."


Buffy brazed herself for her friends' daunting reaction. Much to her relief, what she saw was a look of pure exhilaration spreading across their faces.


Anya made an enthusiastic squeal while Willow flung her arms around her best friend to give her firm warm hug. “Oh Buffy we’re so happy for you.” She said sincerely.


"Wills?"


"Yeah?"


"Kinda need oxygen here."


"Sorry." Willow apologized as she abruptly let go of the tiny blonde.


“We’re glad that you’ve decided to make it more official with your orgasm friend." Anya added, patting her on the back.


“Thank you! Your support means so much to me.” Buffy told them seriously " You guys wanna have a look at the ring?"


" Oh yes!"


"Absolutely!"


Almost instantly, the two got caught in a trance at the sight of the new shiny platinum diamond ring on Buffy's finger.


"Oh my God!" Anya gasped. "I'm surprised you could still even lift your finger, judging from the size of that rock!"


Willow was flabbergasted. "Buffy! That must've cost a fortune! Wow !"


"Actually Riley said he wanted to give me those made to order types from their family's own jeweler but he said he couldn't wait so he just got me this instead."


"I heard those types you need to order are really really expensive," Anya mused. "But how much does this one cost?"


"Well he said this one cost about..." She cautiously looked around her before she continued softy " Twenty thousand dollars. "


"Twenty thousand? " Anya mouthed excitedly. " Are you kidding me!!!!"


" Are you sure you want to carry something that expensive around the school campus?" Willow told her thoughtfully.


"Riley assured me that there's no problem in replacing it just in case I lose it. God! I could already picture myself losing it 'cause I'm such a klutz! Anyhow, I'm still undecided. Among other things, I'm not loving the idea of me getting mugged in the alley...which our town seemed have a lot of. I think I just might put this in a safety box or something."


Willow couldn't stop staring at her ring. "Wow, you're one lucky gal. That is some birthday present you got there!"


"I know! " Buffy went on breathlessly. " We were just having my pre-birthday dinner last night at his place and next thing I know, he was getting on his knees and asking me to marry him. So I said yes and then he put this huge and expensive sparkly thingy on my finger!"


"Wow!" Willow rambled "Gosh! Wow!... I mean Wow, Riley's really something, isn't he?"


" He is. Riley is so... reliable. He's been so good to me ever since we got together. That man has everything a woman could ever want…and didn’t I tell you that he comes from a very rich family?”


“Only a thousand and one times. " Anya muttered. "But who's counting?" She went on quickly as she saw the disapproving look on Willow's face. " And I have to second Willow's endless wows for that is indeed one fine looking diamond ring."


“So when is the big date?” The redhead asked. “Is it after graduation?”


“Well actually he wants us to do it sooner. He wanted to have us tie the knot before the end of this school year.”


“Oh.” Willow and Anya both said in unison.


"Well are YOU ok with that?" Anya asked.


Noticing the shocked expression that her friends made, she went on to assure them, ”I know I just turned 20 years old today, but I think we’re doing the right thing. Anyway, he told me his parents are already coming over during the break."


Willow held back a comment as she caught on with her friend's version of "Too late. My boyfriend already made the decision for me."


“Hey guys I just heard the most ear piercing scream ever while I was on my way here. What happened?” came Xander's apprehensive tone as he suddenly showed up from behind them. He looked so exhausted and sweaty from doing all that running all the way from the library. He knows just how cranky Anya would get whenever he doesn’t arrive on time.


He grabbed the stool next to Anya while she entangled her hand with his. She whispered to him sweetly “You could have my shake, Xander."


Xander smiled his thanks, then asked " So is there any of you guys who would like to tell me what's going on?"


"Oh! An amazing thing happened!" Anya chirped eagerly." Buffy and Riley are getting married."


Xander almost choked on the chocolate shake Anya just gave him.


“I'm sorry could you repeat that again?” he asked. “I couldn’t have heard you right because I could’ve sworn you said Buffy’s getting married.”


“I AM getting married. Really Xander, what’s so outrageous about that?” came Buffy's offended tone.


“My apologies Buffster. It's just ....I didn’t expect it this soon.” He approached Buffy to give her a warm hug. ”Congratulations, Buff!”


Anya now grabbed Xander’s hand .” We have to go guys! All that engagement talk got me a little hot and bothered. Xander and I needs to take care of that right away. See you later at the Bronze guys!”


"Bye!"


"Guess you're probably so excited about everything." Willow said, noticing her friend's faraway look.


“I don’t know. I guess I could feel the excitement building. It’s like plain old Buffy left the building and now I’m all Energized Buffy. I know I have so many things to do. I don’t even know where to start. It’s a good thing we have a wedding planner coz you know Riley doesn’t want me to fret so much about it. Did I tell you already he’s rich?”


“U-huh.” Willow replied. “He’s old reliable and rich Riley Finn. I know that he loves you, so much that there's no doubt in my mind that he'll take good care of you, sweetie. You're lucky. Not all people are blessed to be with the one they want. No siree. And don't you dare worry about what the others might say. The important thing is that you're happy and that you’re going to live the rest of your life with the man you love.”


And with that last comment, Willow had told her, all of Buffy’s resolve began to shatter. Her once lively face immediately got distorted and within seconds, she found herself bursting into a flood of tears.


"Buffy?" came Willow's concerned voice.


“Oh Wills. What am I going to do?”



TBC

---

A/N: First of all, I want to say that you guys have been awesome. Thanks to everyone for giving me such wonderful feedbacks. Especially from some of writers of this Spuffy site whose remarkable work I'd never cease to admire. I feel bad though that this would be the last chapter I would be able post for this week. I have to make preparations for our camping trip this weekend. Happy fourth of July guys! 
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Please don't be confused if you don't see Part two of Moving on in the next chapter. Moreover, you might not even see it till after 6 or 7 chapters  are done. I hope you guys will stick around to see how it all comes together. Thanks again for your support.  

Chapter Three - “Realizations”

Flashback, Six years ago

In her bedroom, 14 year old Buffy clutched Mr. Gordo tightly to herself as the sound of the harsh rain started pouring heavily over her rooftop.

It’s been 3 hours since she'd gotten ready for bed and slipped into her favorite yummy sushi pajamas and yet, sleep would not come. She felt restless and uneasy. Strangely, it has nothing to do with the storm that was beginning to unfold outside her window.


So much like the previous nights before, her continuously agitated mind filled her with images of a boy of whom she cared so much about…probably even more than she would ever admit to herself.


A month already went by and still she could remember it so vividly like it was yesterday when she had stood by his side under the gray cloudy skies. One of her hands held his as they watched them gently lowered his mother's coffin to the ground.

Buffy knew how much Jenny meant to William. Losing Jenny was more than just losing his mom. It was like losing big part of him. It is for this reason that on the day of Jenny’s burial, Buffy made a silent vow to forever look after her son no matter what it takes.


William clutched her hand even more tightly. In spite of not having any tears in his eyes, the way he looked at her made her heart ache at the amount of emotions hidden behind them. 10 years together as best friends and never had she seen him looked so vulnerable and so withdrawn. She knew he needed someone. He needed her. But William chose to disappear from her life after that day.




When Buffy first discovered that William had been skipping school after his mom died, she would constantly look for him in his house, but she would always end up talking to Giles who obviously had to come up with all sorts of excuses just to keep her from being upset. Needless to say, it didn't work.

It hurt. Badly.

She tried calling him so many times but she would either be told he's asleep or out with some friends. Apparently, they were his so called "new friends" that she knew nothing about as she have lately discovered with Willow and Xander. To her dismay, William had chosen to ignore her and all she could do is wonder helplessly about his whereabouts and worry about what he could be doing with the kind of people he had chosen to hang out with.


Although, she understood that William needed some time to be alone to grieve, she still couldn't help feeling hurt and most of all, forgotten. There's nothing more that she could ever want than to be able to be there for William during one of the toughest moments of his life.


God knows how much she missed him. She missed hearing his voice… his laughter. She missed their endless exchange of playful banter. She missed the way he would tilt his head to the side and show her his all too knowing smirk. But most of all, the thing that she really missed were the times that he spent the night with her in her bed.


Snuggling had always been at the top of their favorite ‘Spike and Buffy’ things to do list. Given that they've been doing it since they were kids, they couldn't help but get used to the feeling of being around each other all the time. Whether it's a hug, a kiss on the forehead or holding each other's hand, it's just seemed natural for the rest of their friends to see them together behaving in an almost boyfriend-girlfriend kind of way even if they're not. Buffy always thought of William as the brother she never had and William always felt the same way. They've spent so much time exchanging a lot of physical affection that an entire day without any amount of touching would tend to feel strangely...wrong. And right now, that same "wrong"-ness is causing a lot of anxiety for Buffy.


Just then, a light tapping to the window slowly disrupted her from her deep thoughts. She looked up to her window and a sob almost escaped her lips when she gazed upon the cause of her relentless misery. William. Or somebody who looked like William.


She quickly wiped her tears and opened the window for him.


"My God, William! Is that you?" She exclaimed. She began to pace her room frantically. "What in the world possessed you to-" She stopped mid-sentence, her voice holding too many emotions all at once as she stared upon him." Where have you been? You had me worried sick!"


Amidst the darkness of the room, Buffy could only make out William's lean figure as he slowly took off his coat.


"What happened?" Buffy turned her lamp on and was surprised to find a much different William sitting at the very edge of her bed. Her mouth fell open as she took in the dramatic transformation in his look. Gone were his glasses and baggy clothes. Instead, it was replaced by tight black denim and a soggy black shirt that now clung to him like a second skin. His brown hair had been cut shorter and even if he was completely drenched she could see traces of blond on his dampened curls. "Will, d-did you color your hair?"


"Spike." he mumbled softly.


"What?"


"My name is Spike now."


Buffy looked at him with incredulous eyes. "Since when?"


Spike refused to answer and instead looked at her with a blank expression on his face.


Buffy heaved a sigh. Angry and frustrated, she was about to bomb him with another set of questions when she took notice of his trembling figure.


"You should get out of those clothes before you catch pneumonia."


Incidentally, Spike had some clothes left in her drawer over the countless of times he'd spent the night at her house.


"Boy you're lucky I did not throw your things in the dump the day you've decided I ceased to exist", she muttered, handing him an old gray shirt of his that she found in her bottom drawer.


When Spike made no attempt to move, Buffy's anger was immediately replaced with worry.


"Will?" Buffy went to sit beside him. It was only then that she noticed the tears that were threatening to spill from his deep blue eyes.


"William?"


"She's gone, love and it's all my fault."


Buffy mentally kicked herself for not considering what her friend must be going through. "Oh Will. It was an accident." A terrible and useless DUI accident that was caused by a drunken teenager who also died at the scene, her mind added frustratingly. " Don't you dare ever think that it's your fault, do you hear me?" Buffy told him softly as her hands went up to caress his damp curls before gently placing his head on her shoulder.


The moment he felt Buffy's arms came around him, Spike finally broke down.


" Buffy." his voice almost sounded like a plea. "P-promise me, love....that you won't... ever leave me", he managed to say between sobs.



"I won't leave you." Buffy murmured her reassurance as she planted a soft kiss on his forehead." I promise that I'll always be here for you, William. Best friends till the end, remember?"


"Right, love. Best friends till the end."


End of flashback


**********************************************************


Present Time , At the Bronze


"Did you see the look on Parker’s face when he found out why all the girls he spoke with either ended up slapping his face or making joke about his you know what.” Xander told Spike in between his uncontrollable snicker. He took the shot and missed the ball entirely. “Now look what that creep made me do.”


“I know. It was bloody priceless. “ Spike muttered as his cigarette dangled in the corner of his lips. “Although, I can’t see why you can’t mention the word- dick, Harris when you have exactly the same sodding thing dangling down in front of you! You really are such a nancy boy!”


Xander on the other hand was still stuck in his own little world of Parker Adam's mortification show that he completely missed Spike’s snide remark. “The man deserved it too. " He went on incessantly. "I mean the way he asked poor Amy on a date two weeks ago just as so he could retract his words the very next day to humiliate her is just so-“


“Lame.” Spike finished for him, picking up the chalk and rubbed it over the tip of the cue.

“Well I was going for typically stuck in high school much, but yeah.”


Spike chuckled, sinking the ball easily in the middle side-pocket . “And you not telling the boy that his fly was open when you just had your chit chat with the fella in the locker room was just brimming with maturity.” He drawled in sarcastic tone he was famously known for.

“What and miss all the fun that went along after that? Come on, you hated the guy too. Remember the time when he dated Buffy and you knocked out the porch lights out of the jerk when he tried to-”


“Don’t” He momentarily closed his blue eyes as his mind briefly showed a memory flash of his tear-stricken best friend crying her eyes out to him after Parker tried to take advantage of her on her first date. “ I nearly killed the bloody wanker.”


The way Spike’s knuckles turned almost white with the stick he was holding didn’t go unnoticed by his friend, Xander. His mind started to be filled with unwavering thoughts of his friend’s present predicament. However, he’d made a quick decision and omitted mentioning the delicate subject for the moment and immediately settled for a much lighter topic of discussion.


“By the way, Spring Break’s coming and Anya and I planning to go to Hawaii. You know you could come with us. You know what? I'll ask Willow and Oz as well so we could all go."


Spike's face instantly brightened in spite of his sudden agitation earlier. “I could, but aren’t you forgetting somebody?


“Who?”
“Irritating blond girl with every so often holier than thou attitude.”


“Martha Stewart?”


“Bugger,” Spike muttered exasperatedly. “I meant Buffy you git!”


Xander looked at him like he’d had grown two heads. So much for his steering away from a dangerous topic technique. Way to go Harris!


Spike saw his friend’s reaction and his features suddenly filled with worry. “What?”


In all his years, Spike remembers clearly only 2 rare occurrences that somebody made that kind of expression with him. The First was with his dad when his grandma died and the second time was with Joyce 3 years after. He and Buffy were both 17 years old back then when Joyce had told him that Buffy fell off from the tree house and that she needed to be taken to a hospital.



“Did you receive a call from Anya? Did something happen to Buffy?”


“Spike, Buffy is ok.”


“Then what is it?”


“You mean she hasn’t told you?”


“Told me what? You’re fuckin’ killin’ me here.”


“ Buffy told Anya and then Anya told me that - BuffywillbemeetingRiley’sparentsthatweekend.”


“What?”


“Buffy will be meeting Riley’s parents that weekend. ”
“W-Why would-“ Spike began to pace frantically back and forth. He looked at his friend straight in the eye, his jaw clenching and unclenching. ” Is there something you wanted to tell me, Harris?"


Xander eyed him back warily. How does he always manage to get stuck in the middle? Buffy should be the one to tell him what’s going on. On the other hand, he doesn’t fancy the idea spending the Spring break getaway with Anya with a broken nose. Nope, that’s definitely not of the good. With an exasperated sigh of defeat, he had decided to tell him. “Spike. Buffy has accepted Finn’s proposal. She’s getting married, man.”


Spike's eyes went wide as every vestige of color suddenly drained from his handsome face. “Bloody Hell!”



TBC

A/N : For those who got a bit upset about Willow's response to Buffy's engagement, give it time. Things may not always be what they seem. I promise :-)

---

Buffy Summers emerged from her bath, feeling more renewed and refreshed.


With just an hour and a half to go before she meets with the gang at the Bronze, Buffy quickly shed her towel and rummaged through her selection of wardrobe. It took her an amount of mix and matching, dressing and undressing until she opted for a green spaghetti-strap halter top and matched it with a 2-tiered black ruffled mini that showed a big amount of her shapely tanned legs.


She took a long look at herself in the mirror. She held-up her long honey blond hair and contemplated whether or not she should tie it up. She briefly remembered how Spike would specifically compliment her hair only when she's wearing it down. His little goldilocks. He would say to her.


But I'm not his little goldilocks anymore, she thought almost regretfully.


She grew-up and she doesn't need anybody to tell her what to do or how to wear her hair. She's her own self now. She doesn't need a big brother to take care of her.


Just then, her cell phone rang.


"Hello....Oh hi Riley."


"Hi babe! So how did it go?

“Huh?”

“Your meeting with your friends? How did it go?"


"Well on the scale 1 to 10 it's an 8… being 10 the highest of course."


"I see." There was a pause at the end of the other line before she heard him continue." Let me guess. Spike didn't take the news quite well?"


"Truth is I haven't seen him yet. I was able to meet with Willow, Anya and Xander. They were all kind of shocked about the news. Probably just didn't expect that it would be so soon."


"I know baby. I can't blame them. But what can I say, I just want get on with it right away I know that we still haven't finished College but hey, I could even support your school finances after we're married. I mean it would be convenient for the both of us and since we know we love each other, there's really no reason for us to wait any longer."


"Uhuh. Sure Riley." came Buffy's remote reply. " What time did you say you are stopping by at the Bronze?"


"There's just something I need to pick-up on the way, then I'm all yours for the rest of the evening."


Buffy grinned excitedly. "Wait, are you picking up another gift for me?"


"Maybe." She could imagine Riley's look of giddiness from the other end of the line.


"You can't! You just got me an expensive ring, remember?"


Riley chuckled. "Oh but I didn't mean for that ring to be a birthday present, Buffy. If you'd ask me, I believe you deserve more. All I want is the best for my girl. By the way, you haven't really told me if you like the ring. I knew you said yes but if you want, I could have it exchanged for a much better design. We could even have it made-"


"No!" She interrupted. " You don't need to do that, Riley. The ring looks perfect! I love it the way it is."


"Are you sure?"


"Yes I'm sure." Buffy looked at her watch and realized that she was almost out of time. "Listen, I need to go now, Riley. I would really love to stay on the phone and chat with you, but I kind of needed my two hands to finish-up my hairdo. You know me. I'll be grumpy Buffy if don't look my best for tonight."


"Say no more. I'll see you tonight then?"


"I'll be waiting."


"I love you, Buffy"


"I know."


******************************************

An hour later at the Bronze,


“I heard that they are going to have famous names play on stage starting from today.” Willow said cheerfully. “Not that I mind hearing the regular bands, ” she quickly added, taking Oz, her guitarist boyfriend into full consideration. She’s still Dingoes ate my baby’s number one fan after all.


“I hear you.” Oz winked at her then took her hand in his. “I enjoy seeing other bands play as well. I read on the billboard that Eric Carmen will be singing tonight."


"I'm sorry but, Eric who?” Anya asked.


"Oh I know that guy!" Buffy chirped excitedly," I believe he has a song that's included in the soundtrack of Dirty Dancing."


At the questioning look her friends just gave at her, Buffy went on quickly, " My mom is a huge fan of Patrick Swayze."


"Oh I think I've watched that movie. Was that the one with the Demi Moore?" Willow asked.


"No, baby. That was Ghost." Oz grinned at the redhead. "But I thought that was a good movie too." he told her reassuringly.

"You know me, I'm really not so good in the movie department. If you'll ask me about Calculus, Algebra and C++ programming now we're getting somewhere."


Oz responded with a small chuckle which is kind of an unusual reaction from him.


“Are you guys playing tonight?” Xander asked Oz, his eyes resting upon Devon by the bar.


“No, we’re just hanging.”


"Is it true that Devon is thinking of quitting the band? I heard you guys are looking for a new lead singer." Willow asked her boyfriend.


"True, Devon is leaving. His family is moving to LA so yeah, we're currently looking for a lead singer for the Dingoes. Any body interested?"


"How about you, Buffy? Ever thought of auditioning for a band?" Willow asked.


"Me join the band? A world of no. Didn't you guys remember me sing at the Caritas karaoke club years ago?"


"Oh yeah we remember! You sang a Christina Aguilera Song. You were actually good ya know ! " Willow recalled Buffy's birthday 4 years ago. It was the time when they got tired of going to the Bronze so somebody suggested the karaoke bar.


"Oh Wills, stop. I totally suck! I only did it so that you guys would stop harassing me." Buffy grumbled good-naturedly.


The rest of them laughed.


"Did you ever tell Riley about that day?" Willow asked.


"No!" came Buffy's quick reply." And I don't intend to. Gotta make sure that Riley wouldn't have a sudden change of heart about me."


“Speaking of Riley, he's coming by right?” Anya asked her.


“He told me he just needed to pick-up something on the way. “


“I bet he’s picking-up something expensive for your birthday.” Anya said thoughtfully.


“Oooh! I’ll even bet it’s a jewelry!” Willow added excitedly.


“Maybe.” Buffy grinned while her mind is secretly elsewhere.


Xander noticed Buffy’s gaze kept darting over and over to the Bronze’s main entrance. He felt bad that up to now, he hasn’t said anything about Spike. It's not like he could just tell her that Spike might probably be a no show that night.


“Xander,” Buffy shot him out of his reverie. ”You’re acting kind of funny.”


“Well, you know me. Funny guy Xander!” He laughed nervously.


“No, not funny haha. It’s more like funny peculiar. What's up?”


“I have to agree with Buffy. You look kind of tensed “, Willow joined in.


“You guys are watching too many Lost episodes. Although I got to say that I quite like the Ecko character, he's sooo cryptic it's creepy! Not that I'm being cryptic myself...." Okay! Shutting up now. Xander began to whistle, looking at everywhere else except Buffy. .


Xander hate lying to his friends especially to Buffy but what does a fella got to do? He can’t just tell her the truth. Is he supposed to say –Spike couldn’t make it because he’s busy getting drunk after finding out that you’re lost to him forever. Or he could say He couldn’t come on the account that he has been pinning for you since you were kids and now that you’re getting married well-


"I wonder where Spike is." Buffy mumbled. "Xander-"


"Geez! I feel thirsty!" Xander stood-up abruptly from his seat. " I think I'll grab a beer! Anybody wants anything?"


"Beer please"


"Beer for me as well."


"Coke for me"


"Water."


Everyone turned to look at Anya's unusual beverage preference for the night. "What?" She asked. "I'm trying to lower my alcohol in take."


When she didn't seem to have convinced anyone, she gave in, "All right. Beer it is then. "


"Got it." In a flash, Xander's out of his seat and hurried his way to the bar, sighing in relief.

************************

"Oh lookie. It's Sunshine and her loser friends" Drusilla drawled sarcastically.


Harmony and Cordy turned to look at who their friend was referring to. Their features instantly hardened at the sight of Buffy and her gang.


"Oh Dru, isn't that the girl who stole your boyfriend," came Harmony's nonchalant reaction.


"I thought you told me that you're the one who broke-up with him." Cordelia mused.


"I WAS the one who broke-up with my Spike." Dru told
them exasperatedly, why she ever switched from her goth group to Cordelia's, she had no clue. They never really paid any attention to what she says. The only thing Cordy cares about is her image and Harmony..well she's a sheep. Follows everything she and Cordy ever told her. She’s dumb as post and not to mention a ho. Dru almost kicked her sorry ass when she practically tried to steal Spike from him when they were still dating.


"That's funny since you told me the reason why you two broke up is because of the number of times blondie bear has shouted her name at the top of his lungs while you two were having-"


"Harmony?" Cordy hissed, cutting-off the blonde's ditzy remark.


"Yeah?"

"Shut up!" Cordy snapped at her. " Dru, I need to go to- Dru?"


Harmony pointed at where their friend had disappeared to.


"Oh boy, she going to cause a scene isn't she?" Cordy observed.


"They are so gonna gang up on Dru." Worry etched on both of their features.


"Ladies room?" Cordy said casually.


"Absolutely." Harmony answered without any form of hesitation.


************************************


"Hey Buffy. Enjoying the night are you?" Dru asked the tiny blonde, a false smile plastered on her face.


"Well, I was." Buffy told her sarcastically. God knows how much she hated this girl. She's thankful Spike has finally joined the land of the living and is no longer dating the vapid ho. She remembered how torn up Spike was on the day Dru broke up with him. Although, she wondered now if he has been trying to patch up things with his ex recently. Could it be the same reason she hasn't seen much of him lately?


"Oh did I ruin your little party with your friends?" Dru mocked innocence.


"No," Willow defended." We're still having fun. We're celebrating her birthday and we all know that Birthday Buffy and the word Fun goes hand in hand." she punctuated her words with a nod.


"Willow's right." Anya joined surprisingly. " So why don't you drag your pathetic excuse for an ass out of here and find somebody who you could boink for the rest of the night."


"As a matter of fact, I was gonna ask you something in particular to that matter." Dru told Buffy.


Willow's eyes widened. "Dru, I don't think Buffy's interested in you that way or in any way…"


"Oh gross! That's not what I meant you stupid git! " Dru winced." I just wanted ask if any of you guys have seen Spike."


"I haven't seen him," came Buffy's quick reply as she closed her eyes in frustration. Can we please be done with this useless conversation already? Go away you vapid ho! She opened her eyes then sighed in frustration. Oh no, she's still here.


"Right," Dru muttered, a look of disbelief on her face. "The reason why I asked is because my Spike has been leaving phone messages at my house, begging me to take him back."


My Spike? Buffy began to see red. So she was right after all! Her best friend apparently lost his mind once again and was trying to get back with his precious Drusilla. The last thing that she wanted to happen is to see her friend get hurt all over again. "You're lying!"


"Am I now? Have you ever wondered why your best friend is not here with you celebrating your birthday? I heard from somebody that he was just at my house looking for me. I felt so sorry for him I just might take the poor boy back. Even just for one night."


"He WILL BE here." Buffy said defiantly. Spike haven't let her down before. Why should he start now?


"Oh he will be here. But I doubt if he'll be here looking for you." Dru told her snidely


"What are you? His secretary? If you really knew so much about your ex-boyfriend's schedule, then I don't see the reason why you're still here talking to me."


"Oh Buffy, Buffy, Buffy...The dark princess knows what sunshine is hiding behind her blinding rays."


"Okay first of all I don't speak psychotic? Second, I don't care whatever word is coming out of your stupid mouth which is by the way is in desperate need of a tic tac."


"Stay away from him" She warned. "My Spike needs to be with real woman and not with someone who walks with a stick up her ass." She whispered coldly into Buffy's ear before she left and disappeared into the crowd.


Xander came back with their drinks. "Whoa. I just saw vampira leaving. Did I miss anything?"


"Oh you know, Dru is just being...Dru." Oz told him.


"Although if I may say, that she sounded bitchier than her average bitchiness." Anya added.


"Good thing, WE did not believe a word she said," Willow said, her eyes searching Buffy's.


Buffy sighed. "I don't know, Wills. Maybe that's why Spike is not here yet."


A hush fell upon the crowd as a guest was announced to play on stage. Buffy tried to appear attentive to what the Emcee had just said when inside her head, all she could ever think about were Dru's words and wonder what amount of truth were exactly behind them.


While Eric Carmen greeted the crowd before him, Xander moved to stand beside Buffy and was about to ask Buffy what Dru had said to her that made her upset when something or rather someone caught the corner of his eye. A hint of knowing smile began to form in his lips for there by the entrance of the club, stood none other than the guy in question, Spike Giles.


TBC

A/N: Thanks for the wonderful reviews :-) I'll try to make another update within the week.

---

Spike had been standing behind the doors to the Bronze for almost half an hour. He'd been on his way to Willie's, ready to drown his sorrows away in the power of liquor but had eventually found himself halting at the club's main entrance.


He had left his house with his mind in complete shambles. His memory kept on going back to what Xander had told him previously when they were playing pool.


" You've been in love with her since you were kids, man. You can't just let her get away. Isn't it time that you fight for her?"


"I wish it's that easy." He told him. "Truth is, I'm not even sure if what I feel for her is just pure brotherly love or something else entirely."


"Brotherly? " Xander had scoffed. " Last time I checked, a brother does not usually have wet dreams that included their sister."


He had given Xander a stern look then but found himself not capable of any comeback. His friend was right after all.


Truth to tell, what he and Buffy had in fact, started out like something akin to an innocent sibling relationship. He knew he that he truly cared about her but never once thought his feeling went beyond brotherly love.


Things had always been that way between them until one time when he was 16 years old.



Flashback


Typical day for the two best of friends. Buffy and Spike were up in the tree house. He was helping her out with her English essay and things got pretty out of hand when Buffy started him teasing about his poems. And like most other times when they would throw banter and insults at one other , a big wrestle fight would usually follow. Things would have probably been usual if only Buffy didn't leave her bottled water beside his latest compilation of poems.



When Buffy's right foot stepped back just enough to topple it over, everything else went a bit haywire from there.


"Oooops!"


"Oh no. Look at what you did you silly bint!"


"Don't be such a baby. You just need to let them dry and you'll have them good and ready in no time." She tried to reassure him. Hesitantly, they both peered at what's left of his now fully drenched work of art. " Or not.'"


"Summers! "


"It's actually your fault! You sealed your poem’s fate the moment you attacked me.” Buffy reasoned.


“You ruin a guy’s most precious work and somehow he still ended-up being blamed for it.” He said sarcastically. “Aint that so typical.”


“ You should’ve known I was only kidding."


"So you admit that they were good then?"


"Maybe.” She looked at him tentatively and finally asked, “ Are these the ones that you’ve been planning on giving her?”


"Give who?"


“ Don’t mock me, Spike. I know that you made those poems for Drusilla."


Spike hesitated in answering, only because he'd found the reaction that he got from her so very amusing.


"I knew it! I knew you were crushing on our neighbor! I can’t believe that you’re actually writing poems about that scary looking girl."


"Does it matter? They’re ruined now thanks to you. You should've just kept your bloody nose to yourself. " He told her crossly as he turned about fully and began climbing down from the tree house.


It took several minutes before Buffy found the courage to follow after him. Letting out a big heavy sigh, her guilty eyes spotted him sitting on one of the chairs by the backyard.


"Will?" She sat closely beside him. "I...I'm sorry. I know your poems mean so much to you. I wish I could take back what I just did."


There was a long pause before she heard him reply." You’re a real pain in the ass, you know that? “ He turned to face her. “ You do realize what I have to do now."


"What?" She asked , her mind momentarily got lost when his thumb went up to caress the side of her cheek. His lips now were merely inches away from hers.


"This." He said as his other hand appeared from nowhere. Before Buffy could do anything, Spike dumped a big bucket of water on top of her head.


Buffy let out a big yelp. "Why you little weasel! You are so gonna pay for this." But instead of retaliating, Buffy unexpectedly, joined him in his hearty laughter.


“So are we okay now? " she asked sweetly.


"I guess we are, luv."


" But what about your poems, Spike?”


“No worries, pet. I was just playing with you. The poems that you saw may be handwritten but lucky for me, I was actually able to store almost all of them inside my computer weeks ago. I just added one verse this morning when I woke-up and that’s pretty much it. ”


“Really? And you’re not just saying that to ease my worries?”


“I swear on my nana’s grave.” He winked at her.


When Buffy sighed in relief, that fleeting act alone had unintentionally drawn his attention to the sudden rise and fall of her bosom. And what he saw almost had his eyes fall out of its sockets.


Buffy wasn't wearing any bra beneath her white tank top. Bloody Hell! And with the way that she was soaked, she might as well have been sitting there topless in front of him for he could very well see the swell of her breasts and the outline of her pink taut nipples.


A strangled moan managed to escape his lips.


"Did you say something?"


"Nothing", Oh Bugger. Even the pitch of his voice came out higher than he had intended.

Her breasts he realized weren't nearly as big as ones that he usually saw in his playboy magazines but were round and ample enough to his own liking. His sixteen-year old body has experienced so many major hard-ons before but never had he felt himself grow so hard like he did at that very moment. It was as if he was going to die from the pain of having to push intensely from the inside of his rough denim.



Buffy on the other hand had been completely oblivious to his ongoing predicament. She was too occupied with the story she was sharing to notice anything else. Oh God! What was she talking about? Something about water and Xander Other than that he has no clue. She quite lost him the minute her arms went up to tie up her soaked hair to which had caused her breasts to push even more against her top. He gulped. Buffy is so damn sexy! Why hadn’t he noticed this before?


His eyes went wide. What the hell? He just used the words sexy and Buffy in the same sentence!


End of flashback




And it was on that very moment that Spike finally saw Buffy in a different light. For the first time in his life, William Giles realized that his one and only best friend in the world is in fact, a girl. A truly wonderful, kind-hearted and SEXY girl.


From then on, his outlook on their whole relationship had mostly changed. Ever since that tiny incident happened, things had been pretty awkward for the bleached blonde.


Among other things, he realized that he could never again bring himself to engage into any of their snugfest without feeling like some sort of perv.


It was a a good thing though that he never once heard Buffy complained every time he would get up to the bathroom in the middle of the night. If it even bothered her at all that he was already gone by the time that she woke up, she certainly didn’t show. There are some things that are truly damn uncontrollable when it comes to a certain part of a man's anatomy. It's even worse during times that he would wake-up from a very sensual dream where the leading lady happens to be the tiny young blonde who's sleeping soundly in his arms.


And just when he thought things couldn't get any worse, he began to notice the other things too. Like the way the sun shines amazingly against her honey blond hair, how addictive the sound of laughter could be, her bewitching smile and the intoxicating smell of vanilla on her skin.


It didn't take much time at all for him to realize that at that time, he was slowly falling deeply in love with his best friend.


He had tried to stop it at first.


He thought he had a temporary solution to his problem when he tried to set his interest upon another girl. The girl that he met just a few days after his mum's death. Even though he liked Dru even then, he only thought of her and her goth gang as an outlet for rebellion. He sought her out two years later during the time when his feelings for Buffy had intensified. But his plan has eventually backfired when Drusilla was able to see through him. After two years of their on and off relationship, Dru finally dumped him for good. Dru had told him that he tasted like ashes and every time that she would look at him, all she could see was HER. Buffy.


So why couldn't he tell Buffy what her truly feels?


For a long time, he had kept everything to himself. What they already have is somewhat convenient for both of them. To him, going beyond their platonic relationship would be putting their entire friendship at risk. There's a big possibility after all that their newly found relationship will not work. Just like what happened to Willow and Xander. If that happens, where would it leave them then? Then there's the question whether his feelings for her will be returned or not. It is likely that she may never ever think of him the way he thought about her.


But now that he's about to lose her to Riley...


Isn't time that time you fight for her, Xander's words echoed in his mind.


After the long silent debate inside his head, Spike finally made his decision and stepped inside the Bronze. His anxious blue eyes immediately scanned the area for some familiar faces as the band on the stage started to play a slow and unfamiliar tune. Almost immediately, he spotted HER.



TBC

A/N : Again, many thanks to all of your reviews. Thanks so much for urging me to keep writing :-)

---

Isn't about time that you fight for her, Xander's words echoed in his mind.


After the long silent debate inside his head, Spike finally made his decision and stepped inside the Bronze. His anxious blue eyes immediately scanned the area for some familiar faces as the band on the stage started to play a slow and unfamiliar tune. Almost immediately, he spotted HER.


I've been meaning to tell you
I've got this feelin' that won't subside
I look at you and I fantasize
You are mine tonight
Now I've got you in my sights




His eyes focused on the blond girl swaying on the dance floor with a familiar red head. He took a few steps towards her then stopped. Mesmerized, he remained rooted to his spot by the shadowy corner of the club as he watched Buffy's hips slowly gyrated to the song.


With these hungry eyes
One look at you and I can't disguise
I've got hungry eyes
I feel the magic between you and I


Buffy's phone vibrated. Text message. I'm already here babe. Be with you as soon as I park the car -Riley it read. Buffy grinned and immediately resumed to her dancing, oblivious to the attention she was getting from most of the guys in the dance floor , most particularly from a certain bleached blonde whose eyes is now silently devouring her.


I want to hold you so hear me out
I want to show you what love's all about
Darlin' tonight
Now I've got you in my sights


Spike stared in awe. She truly was a vision of innocent beauty in spite of the heat she's unconsciously emitting with her provocative dance. He saw her smile and entire room seemed to have lighten up. Oh Bugger! Up to now, he's till not over the fact that such simple gesture could easily reduced him to a teenage boy with a crush.


With these hungry eyes
One look at you and I can't disguise
I've got hungry eyes
I feel the magic between you
And I've got hungry eyes


His breath got caught in his throat as she sensually lifted her hands up in the air making her blouse hitched up higher, allowing him a good glimpse of her smooth expanse of toned abdomen. He suddenly imagined his fingertips touching that part of her skin and traveling it further up. He muttered a string of obscenities as he quickly adjusted himself in his pants.


Now I've got you in my sights
With these hungry eyes
Now did I take you by surprise


Willow mouthed "ladies room?" and Buffy just motioned to her friend to go ahead without her. She knew that Riley would be there any second.


Now alone, Buffy allowed herself to move even more freely to the music. In her mind, she saw a flash of Jennifer Grey in the movie, Dirty dancing when she had moved her body suggestively against Patrick Swayze. Buffy was just getting into the hot vision she had just created when she suddenly felt a light caress on the exposed skin on her back. She smiled to herself. Riley.


I need you to see
This love was meant to be…


As the instrumental part of the song began to play, Buffy leaned her back even closer to the man behind her. Walks with a stick up my ass?!!! I'll show her! , She told herself defiantly. With a conviction in her mind, she made an achingly slow circle motion with her hips and swayed it downwards. She moved up again and one of her arms went to circle around his neck. She grinned as she felt firm hands settled on her waist. Excitement began to overwhelm her at his attempt to move her even more closer.


She gasped. The feel of his breath on her neck sent shivers down her spine. She didn't know what came over her as boldly ground her thinly covered bottom on Riley's front. She smiled mischievously when she heard muffled groan escaped his lips. She could not believe how increasingly turned on she was getting by the minute as she turned abruptly, placing her cheek on the hollow of his neck.


I've got hungry eyes
One look at you and I can't disguise
I've got hungry eyes
I feel the magic between you


Buffy continued swaying to the music with him. Never before had she felt such sudden surge of emotion that she almost felt like crying.. God! He even smelled so good. So musky with a hint of tabacco and leather mmmm . Hold the phone! Her eyes widened as sudden realization took over her entire feature. She quickly shot her head up to find her self, staring into blue eyes instead of brown.


And I've got hungry eyes
Now I've got you in my sights
With those hungry eyes
Did I take you by surprise
With my hungry eyes



"Spike?", her voice came out huskier than intended.


His fingers wandered slowly on her face, traced the outline of her eyebrow, the soft curve of her cheek. "Buffy," he whispered as found himself being drawn slowly to her lips. But just as he was about to dip his head towards hers, the sound of applause from crowd that signaled the end of the song finally released them from their trance. Both blondes abruptly pulled away from each other.


Buffy face turned red as her hand went up to cover her mouth in shock. " Spike I'm so sorry! I... I didn't mean to- Oh God! I thought you were Riley!"


"That's okay pet." He managed to say, looking down on the floor as he tried to hide the disappointment in his eyes.


"But what were you doing here? And with me? On the dancefloor?" She asked, trying to figure out what just happened. She could not believe that she almost dirty danced with her best friend.


"Well I was..." Confused? "Confused..." Now try getting yourself out of this one you git, he silently scold himself. I've been wanting to tell you….. He opened his mouth to speak “ Buffy, I-“


"Oh my God!" Buffy exclaimed as realization finally hit her. "You were looking for Drusilla, weren't you?" He had probably approached her to ask about Dru but there she was, not bothering to even check who she was dancing to, attacked him like a predator and hadn't given him the chance to talk. "Wait a minute! So you WERE looking for Dru?!!! Why-"


Willow suddenly cut-off what Buffy was saying as the red suddenly came from nowhere, grabbed the bleached blonde by the arm and forced him to stand around the corner.


"Willow?" Buffy asked, even more confused.


Just then Riley appeared at Buffy's side. " Hey baby." He planted a light kiss on Buffy's lips. A moment of clarity filled her features.


"Thank you. "She mouthed at her friend silently in which the red head answered with a raise of a brow, silently asking her what in the world she had just walked into.


"I'm sorry I took so long. I just couldn't find a good parking space around this time of the night." Riley told her.


Buffy smiled weakly. "Yeah, I was beginning to wonder what's been keeping you."


Riley bended over to her to look into her face. "Are you ok? You look kind of flushed." Riley IS taller, she silently thought, feeling foolish that she had seemed to have neglected one obvious fact. She should've realized that it was Spike who she was leaning to.


"Well I've been dancing the night away while I was waiting for you." She reasoned. It was partially true.


"Really? Sorry I had to miss it. I hope it's not too late though." Riley quipped, motioning her to dance with him. "I hope you saved some of your energy to dance with me".


She merely nodded, realizing that she couldn't trust her own voice. What in the world did just happened?


TBC

---

An hour had already passed since his stimulating dance episode with Buffy and Spike is still in a bit of a haze. He had absolutely no clue how ever got to the dance floor. It was almost like being in a dream. One minute it was all ogle on his part and the next thing he knew he was being tugged towards her like a moth being drawn to a flame.


He had been so into the moment that he temporarily let his guard down and was about to reveal his deepest feelings for her in a form of a kiss. A kiss that he was glad he refrained from doing since the overwhelming humiliation and disappointment came later on to bite him in the ass the moment she told him that she’d mistaken him for Riley.


How could he have been such a fool? How could he have even led himself to believe that Buffy would ever dance that way with him?


Still annoyed with himself, he carefully watched his angel open her gifts like a jolly 5 year-old kid. He couldn't bring himself to think just how close he'd been to ruining her special night.


++++++++++++++++++++++++


"Oh my God! " Buffy exclaimed when she had opened the gift that she got from Willow.


The red head got her a pair of silver earrings. Buffy couldn’t help but squeel with so much glee the moment she realized that it was the same pair that they 've been both gawking at when they were at mall about a week before. "Oh Wills! I don’t know what to say.” She hugged Willow.


“Well gee how about –Thanks, Willow. You’re absolutely the greatest.” Her friend quipped.


Buffy giggled. “Thanks, Wills. You’re the greatest.” Then added for good measure.”and.I Mean.it.”


“Awwwwe….Don’t mention it.” They hugged again.


When their hugfest finally ended, Buffy proceeded to open her next present.


Buffy smiled knowingly when she saw that Oz's gift was a CD. It was a compilation of the Best of Christina Aguilera. She's not a fan of Christina but she’s so delighted to know that her one time karaoke performance two years ago had made a memorable impression on her friends. "Willow told me how much you liked some of her songs." He told her sheepishly.


"Love it! Thanks Oz!"


Anya gave Buffy a Victoria Secret lace underwear that barely leaves anything to the imagination. "Just a little something to make it more interesting with your orgasm friend." She told Buffy giddily.


Buffy gave her thanks while her face turned into a deep shade of red. Willow on the other hand, noticed the way Spike shifted uncomfortably in his seat and wondered what that was all about.


"What a coincidence! It just so happens that I have the gift that would keep all your girly stuffs and CDs! " Xander beamed proudly as he fished out his gift from under the table.


Buffy’s eyes twinkled at the sight of a beautiful medium sized wooden chest before her. "Wow! Did you make this yourself?!" she asked, recalling Xander's little obsession for carpentry.


"Well I was going to give you one those skimpy lingerie. " He told her jokingly. " But then I found out that Anya's already giving you one."


"This is really great, Xander," Buffy gave him a firm hug. " Thank you."


"Anything for you Buffster!" Xander replied gleefully.


By that time, the only gifts she had not received yet were from Spike and Riley. Buffy looked tentatively at her best friend and was surprised to have already found him looking at her with an unfathomable expression on his face. Her heart skipped a beat.


Riley however, took the next initiative and handed her a nicely wrapped small box with a big golden bow on top to complete the presentation.


As she was about to open it, she spied somebody stood behind Spike out of the corner of her eye. Drusilla.


Buffy tried to appear normal while inside she was already fuming as she saw the brunette whispered something into her best friend's ear.


"You guys have to excuse me." Spike announced and then looked at Buffy. "I....I just needed to take care of something." Then he was already up from his seat, dragging Dru along with him.


When Buffy opened her gift, her smile did not reach her eyes. If her mind wasn't elsewhere, she would have even noticed that it was a 14K Yellow Gold Basket Weave Design Diamond Bracelet. One of those really expensive kinds. However, at that moment all she could think about was Spike and the woman who was once again about to take advantage of her best friend's heart. " Excuse me guys. I- I just needed to go.... to the bathroom." She was off, not even bothering to see her friends' response.


Buffy followed Spike outside the club " Spike!" she called out. " I need to talk to you for a minute."


Spike told Dru to wait before he approached her. "Sorry about that, luv. I just needed to discuss something important with Dru."


"Actually, that’s what I'd like to talk to you about." Buffy told him. “I already know, Spike.”


"You know?"


"I don't get it. I don't know what you see in her that's making you act this way." She caught a glimpse of Dru, crossing her arms with an amused grin on her face.


"What do you mean? I was just-"


" Don't take me for a fool, Will-yum! I already know what you've been up to." She accused, her eyes darting towards the brunette. "With her!"


"And pray tell what am I exactly doing?" he crossed his arms. He had no idea where her accusations were all coming from but it held his interest. Could it be that she's jealous? He was about to ask her the question but then he hesitated. What was he thinking! There he was again, getting his hopes up on whatever conclusion his desperate mind could muster.


"You were...You and Dru..."


His mouth opened to argue but he closed it again just as quickly. Instead, he cocked an eyebrow.


"Ugggh! You know what? I'm fed up with you and your pathetic excuse for a girlfriend! " Buffy said, then added as an afterthought that was laced with contempt before she turned to leave. "Former!"


"Like Captain Cardboard is any better." He snorted.


His latest remark instantly halted her steps. She turned to face him once again but this time, her eyes were now filled with rage. "What does that supposed to mean?"


"Buffy," he sighed. "Riley is not good enough for you, pet." There, he said it.


She looked at him incredulously. "Oh let me rephrase that, Bleached Wonder because what you actually mean is I'm not good enough to be with anyone period! "


"Hold it right there, Summers. You got it all wrong. That's not what I meant."


"Is that so? From how I see it, nobody will be ever good enough for ol’ Buffy Summers whenever you're concerned! I'm so tired of your 'overprotective brother' crap! You always come up with a reason why I shouldn't be with any guy. Like when we were back in high school. You kept telling me that the boy I’d been crushing on for years is actually gay."


"Scott IS gay. He's a soddin nancy boy, Buffy. The entire school knew that. Even the bloody principal was aware of that" He pointed out.


"All right, so if he's gay, what about Owen? He's not gay is he? He's just too aggressive you say and you can tell this with just one look and I haven't even dated the guy yet.” Buffy gave him a purely disgruntled look.” So tell me oh wise one what led you to the conclusion that Riley is not good enough for me."


"He doesn't make you happy." He finally told her, praying that she didn't notice the amount of emotion that he held behind those words.


"What makes you think I'm not happy?"


"Come on, luv. It’s me who you're talking to here. You deserve someone better. "


"So who do you think is that someone who's capable of making me happy, Spike?" She challenged, moving herself closer to him until their faces were barely inches apart.


I am, With her lips so unbelievably close, all he could think about is how easy it is if he could just give in and finally taste those inviting lips of hers. He could not bring himself to answer her.


"I know what this is about." she told him. "You're just jealous."


He stiffened. Did she already suspect the truth? "What? Me, Jealous? Are you off your bird!"


"Off my bird! I don't even know what means you insensitive prick!"


"It means, that you’ve already gone completely carrot top, Summers."


"I’m crazy? You’re the one to talk Mr. I love to shag the looniest ho in Sunnydale.”


"You know what? To hell with you Summers! Just go back to Captain Boring. Dru and I will head out of your way."


"Fine! Just go and do whatever you want to do with that vapid ho!"


"Don't worry I will!" Spike answered defiantly.


"Fine!”


“Fine!”


They grunted in unison just before they turned around at the exact same moment and went their separate ways.



TBC

A/N: Thank again for the awesome reviews.

---

" Are you okay, Buffy?" Willow noticed right away her friend’s forlorn expression as soon as she returned to their table.


Buffy managed a nod while in deep thought. No matter how much she tried, she couldn’t shake-off the awful feeling that she should have said something more in order to preempt Spike’s plan of getting back with Dru. Instead, she had acted rather foolishly and even behaved like an eight-year old child the minute he started questioning about her feelings towards Riley.


She looked back and thought something was amiss. She couldn’t recall herself telling Spike about her engagement and yet somehow he acted like he already knew. The fact was, she’d been stalling. She just couldn’t simply find the right moment to tell the bleached blonde her big news since she already knew how Spike felt about her relationship with Riley.


Buffy looked at her friends and carefully searched each their faces until her eyes landed upon Xander’s.


“Excuse me guys. I just need to borrow Xander for a second.” She told the gang while she dragged the guilty looking brunette to a spot beyond their friends’ earshot.


“Xander?” She feigned sweetness in her voice.


“Buff?”


“During the course of time that you had spent with the irritating bleached blonde this afternoon. You didn’t happen by any chance mention anything about my engagement to Riley, did you?”


“Well you see, the thing is….” Xander’s struggle with words was more than enough to confirm her early suspicions.


Buffy heaved a sigh of frustration. “Oh boy.”


“I’m so sorry Buffy. I know it’s not my place to tell him about your big news but it just kind of… slipped out. ” He reasoned.


“All right.” She managed to tell him calmly. It was partly her fault anyway. “I’m not angry with you, Xander. I’m just… a little upset that I wasn't able to tell him sooner. He must’ve hated the fact that he had to learn it from somebody else.”


“So you guys had a fight?” Worry etched in his voice. It was times like these that he hated his pretense of being ignorant to Spike’s dilemma the most.


“Major one.”


“Oh… ” He looked at her tentatively then he added in a much serious tone,” Buffy, I know Spike could act like such a jerk sometimes, but he means well. I fervently believe that underneath that irritating bad boy attitude is just one caring guy who just worries too much about the one and only person that’s truly important to him.”


“Me? Important to Spike?” Buffy gave an unladylike snort. “ I find that a little hard to believe.”


If you only knew. “Don’t worry, Buffy. I’m sure Spike will come around soon.”


“Let’s just hope that it happens soon enough.”


***************************

The gang said their goodbyes to each other a few moments later.


"I know you told me that you won’t be staying at our dorm tonight to give Oz and I some privacy but if you decide to change your mind I’m sure Oz would - .”


“Willow, it’s fine.” Buffy assured her friend. “I haven’t changed my mind. Just go and have nice time with your honey.”


“But-”


“Trust me.” She said in her resolved tone as she gave the red head a hug.


“ Well, all right.”


Oz hugged her as well. “ Goodnight and thanks, I guess.”


“I’ll see you on Monday.” Anya told her. “ ‘Guess you won't be using that thing I’ve got you for your birthday anytime soon." She added with a wink.


Both Willow and Xander gave the blunt blonde a stern look and dragged her with them.


"What happened, Buffy?" Riley asked her when they're finally alone.


"It's Spike. He-"


"Spike. How come I'm not surprised? “ He cut in sharply, giving her an exasperated look.


"Well it wasn’t entirely his fault." She tried to point out.


"You’re doing it again."


"Doing what again?" Riley is beginning to get on her nerves.


"Always coming to his rescue. Even though you knew for a fact that trouble seems to follow him wherever he goes. This guy just ruined your birthday, Buffy.”


"Riley, I don't feel like getting into this right now. I'm tired and I just want leave right away "


For a moment, she thought she would get caught again in another argument, like they always seemed to do whenever Spike is concerned but luckily for her, Riley quickly went down without a fight.


"You're right. The sooner we'll get to my place, the sooner you’ll feel better." The sooner you’ll forget about Spike, Riley mentally added.


Buffy winced. "Riley, about that. I kind of said yes to my mom when she called about an hour ago and asked if I could spend the rest of my birthday evening with her.” She lied.


"But I thought-" He started to protest but quickly held himself back. "All right. I 'll just drive you to your mom’s then."


"Thanks, but I think I'll just walk. You know it's not that far."


"I know that, but I don't like the idea of you walking down the street all by yourself. "


"I can take care of myself, Riley. Besides, Mom's place
is just four blocks away. I'll see you tomorrow?"


"I can't. I have an early flight tomorrow, remember?"


" Oh yeah, I remember. Well I hope to you as soon as you get back. " Buffy said, giving him a light kiss on the lips before she took off.


"I hope so too. " Riley mumbled to himself as he walked glumly towards his Hummer.


**************************************


"Buffy! Is that you?"


"Yeah it's me, Mom."


Joyce appeared from the top of the staircase, her face full of concerned. "Honey, is something wrong?"


"Nothing. Why do you ask?"


"Well, apart from tonight being a school night and all, I would usually get a surprise visit from you whenever something is up, am I getting warm?”


Buffy looked at Joyce and marveling at the way her mom could always read her like a book. "Piping hot."


"Was it with Riley?"


"No. Not Riley."


"So you did have a fight with someone. Who’s this ill-fated person who's probably now sporting a big nasty black-eye?" Her mom teased.


"Just got into an argument with Spike."


"I see. Let me guess, William's not exactly jumping with joy when he found out that you are marrying Riley."


"Well I'm not really expecting him to jump with joy but a little congratulation coming from him would've been nice. How did you know?"


"Call it mom's intuition." Plus I have eyes, she added mentally. Joyce had always noticed the way Spike behaves around his little girl. Like she’s the single most important person in the world to him. There had been several instances when she’d been tempted to ask William herself if he had been aware about his true feelings for his daughter. " So you guys are ok now?"



Buffy shrugged."I don't know, mom." Right now all she wanted to do was just go to sleep. "I feel really tired. Can we just talk about it in the morning?"


Joyce smiled lovingly at her. “All right. I’ll let you get away from me this time but there’s just one thing I need you to do before you hit the sack.” She told her as she disappeared into the kitchen.


Curious now, Buffy quickly followed after Joyce.


“Even though I have absolutely no idea you were coming tonight ,I was able to find some time this morning and bake this. “


Buffy giggled delightfully when she saw the medium sized rounded cake that her mom took out from the fridge. “Oh wow! Is this what I think it is?”


“It is honey. Your favorite Chocolate chip mint cake.”


“With tons of cookies and fudge on top!!!


“Yep.”


“Like the one you used to make when I was little! ”


“The very same one!”


“This is absolutely great, mom! Thanks!” She gave Joyce a soundly kiss and a hug.


“You’re welcome honey! I was going to give you a call tomorrow morning so you could ask your friends to drop by with you and have some cake.”


“Oh It’s good that I came by tonight then. Now I can have this entire cake all to myself!”


“Buffy.” She warned her daughter good-naturedly.


“All right. I’ll bring the rest over to the dorm tomorrow. “ Buffy grumbled.


“That’s a good girl.”


“Now can I take a slice?


“Wait! Before you do that,” Joyce took a small candle, placed it on top and lit it.


“We’re not going to sing happy birthday, are we?”


“We could,” She told her jokingly, almost laughing at daughter’s big scowl. “But we’re not going to. All right, make your wish now”


Buffy looked seriously at her cake, her mind suddenly heavy with thoughts. Then she closed her eyes for a few seconds and silently made her wish right before she blew-up the candle.


***************************

"Dru, how long is it gonna take you to find that soddin’ book? I've been standing here for almost half an hour."


"Just be patient, darling Spike. I know I got it here somewhere."


Spike leaned impatiently against his ex's black Jaguar as he impatiently waited for her to come out of the car with the books they needed for their Term paper in English. Of all the 25 other names of students in English Class, Spike couldn't believe that it was his name that she'd been able to pick out. Because in earnest, he doesn't want to have anything to do with her . Not at that time. If possible, not ever. He still have guilt left over from their old relationship. Although it was no secret that Dru had probably used him as well just to get back at Angel, her previous boyfriend, Spike is not pleased with the fact the he had stooped that low in order to take his mind off a certain blonde.


"Oh here it is…. Nope, this is Queen of the Damned! …..Oh I think this is it!…..Ugh! not this one either!"


"Dru," He said." Do you have the book with you at all? There is some other place I need to be." This time nothing would lever stop him from going to Willy’s.


Dru checked out Spike with a sidelong glance while her lips tries viciously to hide the mischievous grin that she had on her face all this time. When she found out that Cordelia had picked out Spike’s name, she immediately told the brunette about her plan of getting Spike back and had promptly exchanged the name that she’d gotten with hers.


Ever since they’ve broken up, people had been whispering behind her back about how Spike was never truly hers even from the start. She hated it even more when she found out that it was Angel, her former boyfriend who started the rumor. Ever since then, she’d been waiting for the right moment to prove to them wrong. How Spike could easily be at her beck and call whenever she wants to.


So why the need for a scheme? Why couldn’t she just come up to him and say that she wants him back? Cordy and Harmony had asked those questions one time. Even though the name Buffy easily springs to mind, she hesitated on telling them. She just could not bring herself to admit to her friends that Angel had been absolutely right after all, for that would eventually mean that Spike had dumped her instead of the other way around.


Angel had already humiliated her before by cheating on her with a girl named Darla and now Spike had practically done the same by using her to forget about Buffy. She’s fully aware how her love life was way beyond pathetic, but hell would freeze over first before she’d let herself divulge that discomforting fact to anyone.


"Looks like you're right after all, dearie. It's not in this car. I must've left it my other car. So sorry my spike. Looks like we'll need it to get it from my place."


"What?!!! You've got to be sodding kidding me, Dru!" He told her angrily. The term paper's already due the week after. He already doubt that he'll be able to finish the paper in time but the sooner he'll get his hands on some of the books, the sooner he'll be able to get rid of Dru.


"Just leave your car here. I'll drive us both to my place." She told him, as she intentionally hitched her skirt a little higher just before Spike joined him in the car.


"Right. Whatever." He told her nonchalantly just before his eyes caught the sight of Dru's exposed leg. If he remembered it correctly, like him, Dru is not fond of wearing any undergarment either.


Dru hid a smirk as she took note of where Spike's
eyes had traveled. If she plays her cards right, she'll be having him by her bed in no time.


And now for some music to set the mood. She'd meant to play her favorite Rasputina compilation. The song Transylvanian Concubine usually sets him and Spike in a lustfull mood when they were still dating, but when she scanned the cd changer, the first song that came out of the speakers was something completely alien to her. "What the hell!". It took her a few seconds to remember that Harmony had borrowed her car the previous night. She must've replaced the cds in her changer with her own.


When I'm lost, in the rain,
In your eyes I know I'll find the light To light my way,
When I'm scared, losing ground ,
When my world is going crazy
You can turn it all around, yes


The moment the song came flooding through the amazingly crystal clear surround speakers of Dru's Jaguar , Spike saw a flash of memory of a younger version of his best friend singing that particular song four years ago. To him, it wasn’t Christina Aguilera’s voice that he’s currently hearing, but rather, it was Buffy's. The image of her played vividly in his mind as she stood on the stage, singing with her green eyes landing upon him every so often.


A grin slowly grazed his lips. His heart beckoned him to do what he should have done a moment ago.


And when I'm down you're there
Pushing me to the top,
You're always there giving me all you've got
For a shield, from the storm For a friend,
for a love to keep me safe and warm
I turn to you For the strength, to be strong
For the will to carry on For everything you do,
for everything that's true I turn to you, yes


As he got himself out of the car, he saw Riley's car drove by sans Buffy. His smile became wider.


“Spike!"


"Yeah?"


"What do you think you're doing?" She yelled after him frantically.


"Sorry Dru. I’ve decided I'll have Xander drive by at your house tomorrow to get the books."


"But I thought we’re going to my place?” She protested.


“Bye Dru!”


” Where the fuck are you going?!!!"


"Gotta go see a girl." He said to her without looking back, his famous smirk firmly in place.



TBC


A/N: First of all, I’m not a Christina Aguilera fan but a very good friend of mine suggested this song to me way back and I found lyrics really appropriate to what these two best of friends had gone through. Thank guys for the wonderful reviews you did on my last chapter! You’re absolutely the greatest!

---

Buffy changed into one of the oversized t-shirts she found in her dresser. She untied her hair and then sullenly grabbed for her hairbrush. Looking at herself in the mirror, the huge scowl she'd been sporting deepened.


"Who does he think he is!", she grumbled to herself as she attacked her long wavy hair with long vigorous strokes. " Telling me who I should and shouldn't marry. The nerve!"


Her mind swiftly recalled the way she had danced with him just a few hours ago and this automatically caused for her traitorous body to blush all over. She couldn't help but wonder at the way Spike's body molded so well with hers and every single touch and feel they'd exchanged felt so damn good. What the hell is the matter with me? He's Spike chissakes! He's like friggin' brother to me!


So you keep telling yourself , her conscience told her.


But I'm already freakin' engaged! She scolded her mind.


Now who's fault is that?


Okay, let's not go there! I can't believe I'm having an argument with myself! I really have to stop thinking about these things and focus with my engagement to Riley.


But somewhere in the deep recess of her mind, she saw a fleeting memory of her bottom intentionally rubbing on his front. She could've sworn she heard him groan and felt that intensely hard part of his body poking her in the ass. It is quite possible that she'd just imagined it. Spike would never thought of her that way. Fact is, he's still in love with Drusilla. The idea that she had her best friend worked-up over one liquor induced sexy dance is such a ridiculous notion. There you go. That sounded far more convincing than her early assumptions.


As she replaced her brush inside her drawer, her eye caught the sight of the CD that Oz had given to her earlier.


“Here's something that would get my mind off that irritating bleached wonder,” She muttered to herself as she inserted it in her CD player and hit the PLAY button.


************************************

Spike pulled over his Desoto along 1630 Revello drive. He looked up at her window and a smile slowly crept across his handsome face when saw that her light is still on. Then he proceeded to climb the tree next to Buffy's window, a task that he'd probably done more than a hundred times since he was little.


Just when he was halfway there, he heard the very same song that had prodded him to go to her in the first place. He shook his head in utter disbelief. What the bloody deuce is he doing? Spike is not really fond of listening to sappy music much less the bubblegum kind.Those type of music would usually earn a gagging sound from him every time he would hear them from a public place like the mall or in the movie theatre. And yet there he was, finally standing at the other side of Buffy's window, wearing his heart on his sleeve.


His eager eyes immediately searched for her and when he did....


When I'm lost, in the rain
In your eyes I know I'll find the light
To light my way
When I'm scared, losing ground
When my world is going crazy
You can turn it all around, yes


His mind saw flashes of memories of the times they've spent together.


Starting from the very first time that he saw her.
"Mommy has a bracelet with hearts and butterflies....."
"S’ ok , pet. I’m pretty sure she’ll forgive you”


And when I'm down you're there
Pushing me to the top
You're always there giving me all you've got
For a shield, from the storm
For a friend, for a love to keep me safe and warm
I turn to you


Their hands entwined as together they watch them bury his mum.


For the strength, to be strong
For the will to carry on
For everything you do, for everything that's true
I turn to you, yes


When she fell from the tree.
"Buffy..... Stay with me."
"W-Will?"
"I'm here."
"My leg hurts."
"Hold on pet. The ambulance are on their way."


When I lose, the will to win
I just reach for you and I can reach
The sky again, I can do, anything
'Cause your love is so amazing
'Cause your love inspires me
And when I need a friend
You're always on my side
Giving me faith taking me through the night, yeah


All those times they snuggled so close. He had spent so many moments watching her sleep.


For a shield (for a shield), from the storm (from the storm)
For a friend, for a love to keep me safe and warm
(For a love to keep me safe and warm)
I turn to you (I turn to you)


The day he came back to her.
"Buffy...P-promise me, luv....that you won't... ever leave me"
"I won't leave you..."


For the strength (for the strength), to be strong
For the will to carry on, uh
For everything you do
I turn to you, yeah, ohhh


When her eyes met with his, it was only then that he noticed her tears. Could it be possible that he and Buffy have been sharing the same thoughts?


For the arms to be my shelter through all the rain
For truth that will never change
For someone to lean on
For a heart I can rely on through anything
For the one who, I can run to, ohh I...
Turn to you...ohhh yeah


"Will?" She asked, blinking as if she couldn't believe her own eyes that he's there.


"Buffy." He answered softly, his almost choked-up voice nearly betrayed him.


And just before he could do anything, Buffy had immediately stood-up and nearly flew across the room as she ran straight into his loving arms.


"Oh Will...I thought you weren't gonna come." She clung to him so fiercely.


For a shield , from the storm
For a friend, for a love to keep me safe and warm
(To keep me safe and warm, yeah)
I turn to you (I turn to you)
For the strength (for the strength), to be strong
For the will to carry on, oh ohh
For everything you do (everything you do)
For everything that's true
For everything you do, ohh
For everything that's true
I turn to you


Spike momentarily closed his eyes and buried his face on her hair. Buffy, Buffy, Buffy.... Sighing deeply, he finally let himself drown in the familiar smell of vanilla and jasmine. A smell that's distinctively Buffy Summers.


It's been a while since they've held each other so close. Ever since Riley came into her life, he had stopped spending the night at her house and she had stopped hanging around him at his dorm. And now, holding her so close as he did now made him wonder how he ever have managed to stay away from her for so long.


"Buffy." He whispered.


"Let's not fight anymore, okay? I hate it so much when we fight."


Spike's fingers gently played with the strands of her hair and Buffy almost gasped from the sensation it caused. "I know what you mean, pet."


Buffy carefully withdrew from his embrace and looked into his eyes. "I'm so glad that you came. How did you know I was here?"


"I have my ways, luv."


Buffy raised an eyebrow at him.


"Oh all right." he conceded. "I just happened to saw Finn driving by himself so at first I figured you might be in your dorm."



"You didn't walk in on Willow and Oz, did you?" she asked him with wide eyes.


"U-huh. Am basically scarred for life now."


"Oh my God! You didn't!???"


He laughed. "Na, I was just playing with you. I knocked."


"Okay. Two uncanny things. First, you knocked and then 2nd, they actually heard you?"


"Well yeah, after all that yelling that came after the knock, they have no choice but to open it, luv."


Buffy burst out laughing and Spike easily joined her.


Spike was the first the recover. He bit his lip, watching her as she continues to laugh. She looked so amazingly beautiful even without the make-up. And sexy too, he groaned inwardly as he his eyes roamed quickly down her long tanned legs that were left uncovered by his oversized t-shirt. The fact alone that it's his shirt she's wearing is enough to make his libido go overdrive. Keep it down, mate! Tonight is all about making peace with the girl that you love. Tonight is all about Buffy.



"Buffy, I'm sorry that I ruined your birthday."


"Don't be." Buffy stared deeply into his eyes and wondered if it had always been that blue. When her hand went up to put a light caress on one of his sharp cheekbones she thought she heard his heart pounded loudly. Or was it hers? "As long as I got already got my birthday wish,I'm not complaining anymore."



"Oh." Came his dismal reply. " I haven't seen what Finn got you for your birthday, luv. But I'm sure it's something you-"


"Spike." She interrupted him. "I'm not referring to Riley's gift."


"You're not?"


"No." She shook her head.


"Is that so?" It's not Riley's . His grin widened immeasurably. "Then what are you referring to?"


"Not a what. Rather a who."


"I'm not quite sure I'm getting you."


"You."


"Me?"


"You ARE my birthday wish."


TBC


A/N: Thanks for all your reviews! Expect the story to change it's pace in the coming chapters. Hope you guys will stick around for the much awaited spufiness.

---

"Then what were you referring to-"


"Not a what but rather a who."


"I'm not quite sure I'm getting you."


"You."


"Me?"


"You ARE my birthday wish."


Spike blinked. "I'm your...birthday wish?"


"U-huh." She grinned.


"You’re not by any chance drunk, are you?"


Buffy shook her head no then gestured him to sit on the edge of her bed beside her. "Stop being silly, Spike and tell me when was the last time we've spent some time alone with just the two of us?"


About Twelve months and 2 days to be exact. "I don't know. Six months? A year maybe?"


"The last time that you came here in my room was right before I started dating Riley. That's been more than a year now. I've missed you.” Then continued in a softer tone, “I've missed us."


Spike pulled her close to him once more and he heard her sigh of content. "This is what I wished for, Spike. You and me... here on my birthday."


He swallowed hard upon hearing her heart-warming declaration. " God Buffy! I miss being with you too. You don't know how much."


"You do?” She asked in a tone of disbelief “But why don't we spend some time together anymore?"


"A lot of reasons, pet. " He paused. Think you ninny! "I uh....Got busy with things at school and there has been some projects. " He rambled apprehensively."....Lots and lots of school projects. As a matter of fact, Dru and I -"


"Dru." She cut in sharply as she suddenly found herself pulling away from him.


Spike almost protested loudly from the loss of contact.


"So how did it go with her? Everything turned out as you've expected?" She asked with her back to him. Truth to tell, she doesn’t exactly want to know how his little rendezvous with the loony ho had turned out.


"I told her that there's some place I needed to be."


Buffy let go of the breath she didn't realize she was holding. "I'm glad to hear that."


"What I need from her can wait. "


"Oh." And just like that, she was back into full scowling mode. She briefly closed her eyes and tried to hold back a retort. Tonight was all about patching-up with her best friend. "Wait here. I'll be right back."


Buffy came out of the room briefly and went back a minute later with two slices of cake, forks and some bottled water.


"Wow! Is that chocolate chip mint cake?! " He asked excitedly.


"U-huh!"


"With cookies and fudge mint on top?"


"Our very own favorite!"


"That's bloody amazing, luv! I remember the last I ate this we were like 12." He told her, smiling like a kid on Christmas.


Buffy laughed at the memory. "I know! I was surprised myself. Go on. Have a piece."


Buffy got a piece out of her own cake and put it in his mouth. As she did, she had caught herself staring.... just staring at the way his lips almost closed over one finger. At the feel of his warm wet tongue grazing the sensitive skin , she felt a delicious tingle that travel all the way south. Just Imagine how that would feel if his tongue had been - Whoa! Her eyes instantly widened at the thought. Bad bad Buffy!



'"How was it?" She asked, trying to disguise the sound of apprehension in her voice and then ate a small piece out of her own cake.


"It tastes heavenly." Spike himself was still recovering from the sudden unexpected gesture to notice Buffy’s uneasiness.


Buffy almost choked on her cake when she heard his reply.


"Wish I could have more though."


"Huh?"


He showed her the empty plate.


"Oh." She gave herself a mental slap. Geez, get your mind off the gutter, Summers.


Spike saw the way Buffy blushed and wondered if she had caught the hidden sexual innuendo behind his words


"I could go down and get you another slice but mom asked me to save some for the rest of the gang."


"She knows I'm here?"


"Yep. I ran into her on my way to the kitchen."


“What else did she say? I hope she’s not upset with me. Is she still down there? I could go talk to her and explain why I’m here.” He was about to head towards the door but she immediately stopped him.


"Well actually, she acted more like she was expecting you."


"She was?" Spike told her doubtfully.


"And this surprised you how? Like you're not aware how much my mom adores you."

Spike smiled. Among their parents, Buffy’s mom was the only one who’s not objective to his routine of staying over at Buffy's room. The two of them shared a special bond that goes beyond a mother and son relationship. She trusts him and he looks up to her. Ever since his own mom died, whenever possible, Joyce tried to care for him as if she were her own child. And for that Spike would always be grateful to her.


"The feeling is mutual, pet. In fact she's the only mom I've ever known since..." He struggled with the words. " Well you know what I mean."


"Yes I do." She told him softly, giving him a light pat on his back to comfort him. Ever since his mom died more than six years ago, Spike still had not been able to talk about Jenny the way he should. The fact alone that up to this moment, Spike still blames himself for Jenny’s death worries her to no end. Oh how she desperately wants to help him heal. But how could she? When Spike would not even trust her enough to know that certain part of his life?


Spike looked at his watch. " I should be getting home so I could leave you more time with your beauty sleep, pet. “ He stood up without looking at her.


"Spike, can I ask you to do something for me?"


He turned. "Anything, luv."


"Can...Can you stay with me tonight?" She asked coyly.


Spike blinked, not really expecting for her to ask that from him. "Are you sure? You don't think
Riley would mind?"


She nodded. "Just for tonight. Will you hold me, William?"



Spike looked at her warily before he removed his shirt and tentatively took his usual position behind her. It has been so damn long since they've been this close.


Buffy had already seen him bare-chested so many times, but that night, when he took of his shirt in front of her, she could not help but admire his well defined torso. Her best friend indeed is a real fine catch. Not only is he caring and funny, he also has a sex appeal that runs 24 hours a day. Drusilla is one lucky gal. Always been lucky.


When Spike’s arms came around her, her heart suddenly began to beat faster. She closed her eyes in confusion. Riley is her boyfriend and her fiancé', she told herself. She needs to focus on the man that she’s about to marry and stop thinking about the guy who’s head over heels in love with another girl.


She turned to face him. " Spike, are you still upset about my engagement to Riley?"


Spike mistook the sadness in her eyes and silently told himself that he was the cause of that. Buffy wanted him to be happy for her. To accept her future with Riley and still he would not give it to her.


"Buffy...if it would mean so much to you to have my blessing ....then it's all yours, pet."


Buffy stared at him in amazement " Really?


"Really." For you, I'll do anything.


Buffy sighed and laid her head against his chest. " Thank you….”


And that’s how she ended up sleeping.


Long after Buffy had succumbed into a deep slumber, Spike still lay awake, feeling his heart break into a million pieces as he continued to hold her tightly against him.



A/N : (Ducks for cover) Guys! Before you do anything drastic, let me explain first. I already knew that when I started out this story that it's going to take a while before the two would realize what's been standing right in front of their noses. There's reason why Spike is holding back and this will be revealed to you very soon. And there is still the question of Riley and Dru.

Let me tell you this much though, even if Spike hasn't told Buffy about his true feelings, that does not necessarily mean it would stop me from writing a little naughty/smut scene every now and then for our favorite couple, right? Tell you what, I promise to post the next chapter right away as soon as I get at least 10 reviews. If not, I’ll just post it the day after.

---

Spike awoke to the feeling of soft hands coming to rest on his bare stomach. Even if some part of his brain were still half asleep, he gasped at the sensation it caused.


He shot an eye open. For a minute, a sense of bewilderment crossed over his face until it dawned upon him that he hadn’t gone home last night to sleep in his own bed and instead he had stayed and held Buffy close to him all night long.


It was the best sleep that he ever had in a long time. Oh Bugger!


How could he keep torturing his self like this? He already knew the sad ending to his story and yet here he was, holding on to her like it’s most natural thing to do in the world. What a soddin’ love’s bitch I’m turning out to be….Well at least I’m man enough to admit it. What would I give to be able to wake up with her like this for the rest of my life?


The rest of his thoughts faded as he began to feel Buffy’s fingers doing light caresses on his lower abdomen.


“Buffy?” He murmured in confusion as he turned to face her but disappointment quickly took over his features the moment he realized that she was still asleep.


She was just dreaming.


“Mmmmmm” she moaned.


He took in the alluring sight of her honey blonde hair sprawled across the pillow and the half-opened lips that seemed to begging him for a proper attention. He’d probably woke-up lying beside her countless of times and yet, he still couldn’t get over how lovely she looked in the morning even as she sleeps.


Spike dear boy, here is your cue to leave the girl before she wakes-up. But somehow this time, he just couldn’t bring himself to move away.


Eyes that had been firmly transfixed on her beautiful face a moment ago have now begun to roam elsewhere starting from the creamy skin on her neck, to her shirt clad chest, down to her firm looking thighs to which the edge of her clothing had ridden high enough to give him a very good glimpse of her black lacy underwear. I bet she’s even wearing the matching bra to go with her knickers, he felt himself hardened at that thought. But something with the way her hard nipples are pushing against the thin shirt told him that she’s actually wearing nothing underneath. Fuck! This is girl is going to be the death of me.


“Uh…..Please…..mmmm. ” Buffy spoke in her sleep. Her moans now turned into a desperate mewl. Her arms came around him and she unknowingly laid her head on his bear chest.


Bloody Hell! He needs to wake her up real fast, before he does something he’ll regret later.


Carefully, he rolled her away from him to lay her on her back. Incidentally, this turned out to be a mistake since it puts him in a position to hover above her with his lips now merely inches away from her. And so the little tug of war of his willpower began to unfold in his mind.


He couldn’t possibly. He kept on telling himself that there’s no way he’s going to take advantage of her unconscious state and yet some part of his brain kept compelling him that one brief little kiss wouldn’t hurt at all. …..No! He’s not gonna do it.


The brief struggle in his mind went on until he saw the tip of her pink tongue peek out between her slightly parted lips and that did it. At long last, he dipped his head and closed his eyes as he tentatively touched her lips with his in a featherlike manner.


Mmmmm Buffy…… Now get off you, perv before she wakes-up and end up with a slap on your face! He was just about to do that. Walk away from the temptation. But when he felt her hot soft tongue flickered across his bottom lip, it was a lost cause. Spike finally let fate take its own course and deepened his kiss.


And that was the time that all thoughts of rationality finally left him. All that’s left is the wonderful feeling of Buffy lips against his. His tongue didn’t even touch her and yet pure bliss already took over him.


So this is how it feels to be kissing Buffy. Her lips felt so soft and so warm as if it had been specifically made for his lips alone. My Buffy…


Is it even possible for him to fall for her even more than he already did? And with that frightening thought, he suddenly came to his senses and slowly withdrew himself from her softness.


He slowly moved himself away from her sleeping form, silently thankful that he didn’t wake her despite of the intensity of the kiss they just shared.


She unconsciously turned sideways as a smile of content gradually spread across her lips.
She must be dreaming about Captain cardboard. He thought disdainfully, the ache in his heart coming back in full force. God! She’s so beautiful. Finn is definitely one lucky git.


Sighing, he put on his shirt and duster then took one last look at her before he slowly climbed down through the window.



A few seconds later, an eye peered open. Now that she’s sure that Spike had already left, Buffy finally sat-up with her heart pounding in her ears. Her emotions running wild as her hand went up to touch her lips.


She stood by the window and was able to catch Spike’s Desoto driving away. She could not believe that Spike had just kissed her.


She’d just woken up from a very sensual dream only to find real lips pressing against hers.


Could she have probably dreamt it? Spike had kissed her! And what truly shocked her more was the realization that she too had responded with equal vigor.


She didn’t really know what came over her when she’d resorted to making him believe that she was still asleep.


Maybe she knew it would save her from questions she couldn't answer like why she allowed him to kiss her and why she kissed him back? Or maybe she knew it would relieve her guilt that somehow she was cheating on Riley or maybe she just simply didn’t want the kiss to end.


As her mind continue to ponder on some more rambling thoughts, her eye caught the sight of a small rectangular shaped box by the windowsill.


His birthday gift to me! Her mind thought excitedly.


She quickly grabbed the gift and went to read the note attached to it.



For my sweet Buffy,


Happy Birthday, pet.

I know that this may not be as expensive as Finn’s but

It’s something I’ve been to wanting to give you from the time that we met.


Always,

William



Tears welled-up in her eyes the moment she finally opened the tiny box for inside was a lovely gold bracelet with hearts and butterflies dangling as its charms.





A/N : There you go! Their very first kiss. I hope I didn’t make Spike look like he was taking advantage of Buffy (even if he was! WINKS). So sorry that it had to be a short chapter. Please let me know what you guys think.

Flashback


A week after his tormenting encounter with a very wet Buffy, a sixteen-year old Spike barged into his room looking very frustrated and tensed.


It was morning and he just came from an overnight snuggle with his one and only best friend. He ran his hands roughly through his hair and looked down at his tented pants. He breathed heavily while he swiftly removed all his clothing just before he stepped into the shower of his adjoining bathroom.


I can’t believe I’m doing this for 10th time this week! He thought irritably as he continued to lather up his palm before he enclosed his fingers around his shaft.


As his steady movement with his fingers began, so did his fantasy.


Inside his head, he easily played out the scene where he just poured a bucket of water over Buffy. But this time it did not end there….


Spike could see clearly just how her hard her nipples were through her wet white tank top. The little pink buds are calling out to him, just begging to be touched.


Buffy was still laughing hard when she saw that his eyes had darkened into midnight pools. She followed his stare and saw that it landed on her chest. Her eyes went wide as she timidly covered her chest.


“Don’t.” He protested as he took those hands away. “ Your breasts are lovely, Buffy. Don’t you dare hide them from me.”


“Spike.” Buffy began, her face turning red.



A blushing Buffy is such a huge turn on for him. “ Don’t be angry, luv. I could not help it that I’m so attracted to you.”


“I’m not upset, Spike. I love how you look at me.” She admitted.


He swallowed the lump in his throat. “R-really?”


She nodded. “W- would you like to… see more?” She asked in a shaky voice.


He gulped as he felt his manhood throbbed painfully. “Yes.”


Slowly, Buffy tugged at the end of her top and looked at him shyly before she started her painstakingly slow strip tease. Little by little, she bared her skin to him, starting from her navel… to her perfectly toned stomach…then paused when she bared just enough to show him the swell of her breast.


Spike began to feel his labored breathing. “Please…”


Buffy wet her lips as pulled her shirt all the way to the top then threw it on the bench behind her.


“Do you like what you see?”


His eyes raked over her half naked body.


“Touch me, Spike.” She grabbed his hand and placed it on one of her breasts. And he did.
He squeezed the mound and saw her gasped in delight. “Oh God! I’ve never been touched this way before. It feels soooo good unghhhhh.”


Spike leaned forward to enclose one pink nipple on his mouth. “ Taste so good…..My Buffy…”


“Don’t stop…..I want more…..” She begged breathlessly.


“Oh Buffy…”


“Spike…..please ….” She moaned desperately as she opened the buttons of her jeans and inserted one of his hands into her panties.



Fuck! Spike’s movement with his shaft became erratic as his fantasy showed him an image of Buffy’s center, so wet and ready for him. That made-up image alone had nearly sent him over the edge. He leaned his other hand on the shower wall for support as his pumped his cock faster. And within seconds, he came with a cry “Buffy!”


*******************

Buffy woke up to find Spike’s side of the bed empty. She briefly scratched her forehead as she wondered what could be so important that would urge him to leave her bed so early in the morning…again.


She looked through the window and caught the agitated looking Spike heading towards his home.


An idea suddenly crossed her mind. Swiftly, she changed into her sweatshirt and jogging shorts. Although, it would be easy if she could just ask him the reason behind all his disappearances, but Buffy thought that it would be a lot more fun if he were just caught in the act.


Within minutes, she was already at the Giles’ doorstep. She rang the doorbell once. No answer. Rang it again and still no answer. Buffy cocked an eyebrow. She turned the doorknob and luckily found out that it was open.


Slowly, she peeked her head through the doorway. “Spike? Are you here?”


Again, there was no answer.


Buffy climbed up the stairs then called out to him again just as she reached the door to his bedroom. “Common, Spike. It’s not funny anymore.”


She knocked before coming into his room. “ Spike?”


When she got in, there are two things that she noticed. First, was the pile of clothes scattered all over the floor and second, was the sound of the running water coming from his bathroom.


He’s in the shower, no wonder he couldn’t hear me . Feeling somewhat foolish, she plopped herself on the edge of his bed.


So he needs to get up to take an early shower. There’s nothing weird with that. Hmmm. Clearly, my brain does not function well in the morning. I’d better stop analyzing things before I put myself into a coma. She stood up and looked outside the window.


From where she was standing, she could see a very good view of Drusilla Thompson by the pool of her mansion, sunbathing in a skimpy black bikini. Her eyes widened in realization. So Spike leaves her bed very early just to spy on his crush. She grunted then looked away.


Buffy recalled the time when Dru and her family had moved into the neighborhood. Spike had been so excited to meet her that he insisted of hanging out by his backyard instead of the tree house. When she had a welcoming party she didn’t even get an invite. Not that she cares, but the infuriating thing was Spike got invited. And after the party, Spike was all Dru likes this, Dru hates that. Grrrrr! Oh how she hated that girl!


Suddenly, a strange sound coming from the bathroom disrupted from her inner brooding.


“Gghhhhh….Bloody good…...”


Was that Spike? She moved closer and placed her ear to his bathroom door.


“Cor…. Bnghhhhy…..” She heard him moan.. Oh no! Did he slip and hit his head on the tub? Her head began to fill with worry. He surely sounds like he’s in terrible pain. I’d better call out to him just to make sure . “Sp-“


“More…..” She heard him say. Is he talking to someone else in there? Her stomach almost turned at the thought of another girl in the shower with Spike. But she could only decipher one voice. He sounded so terribly desperate and…


The rest of her thoughts faded when her mind finally grasped what Spike must be doing behind those doors.


Could he be doing what I think he’s doing? An unusual feeling suddenly overcame her senses as she thought of naked Spike touching himself.


“ Please……Uggghhhh …...so lovely…..”


She gasped and found herself blushing furiously. She couldn’t let Spike know that she overheard him doing it. She needs turn on heels and leave…. Like now!


“Oh G-………I’m gonna… “ Buffy by this time was able to move away from the door while covering her ears. She could not take it anymore. What she had begun to hear was just too much for her young and inexperienced ears.


However, after a minute, her puzzled mind got the best of her so she went back to check if he was finished.


When she heard him stop the shower, this had her panicking. She knew that she wouldn’t be able to handle it if Spike knew that she’d been listening to his …moaning.


She was about to escape through the door when she heard the knob to his bathroom turned.
Damn! Quickly she scanned the area and saw the nearest possible place she could hide.


She didn’t know how she actually made it, but she did just in time that Spike got out of the bathroom.


She listened to his movements carefully. I guess I’ll just have to wait till he decides to go out. But what if he stays all day in his room? She thought worriedly. But she’s almost sure that he hadn’t eaten his breakfast yet so it’s really likely that he’ll come down to the kitchen any moment now. She heard the sound of the door being locked and his curtains being closed. Or not. She could tell from the shadows on the floor that his footsteps had practically gone almost everywhere until it halted directly in front of her. Oh God! He needs clothes. Duh! Of course he does! She slapped her forehead in frustration. Of all places she could’ve hidden why did she have to choose the closet?


It was good thing though that Spike’s closet were filled with so many coats and black jeans that she was able to crouch behind them and hide.



Hangers were pushed aside and some boxes were rearranged. Oh come on! How long does it take for a guy to pick his clothes? She thought agonizingly. It’s not like you have so many choices to choose from! It’s either the black or the blue shirt. Does it really freakin’ matter?



She looked up to find Spike standing right in front of her with just a small towel hanging dangerously low on his hips. She gulped. Oh dear me!



Could her face be any more redder? Why does her head have to be in the same level as his toweled waist? This is so damn embarrassing. Just then she heard him muttered something unintelligible. She could’ve sworn she saw a slight movement in his towel.



Buffy found herself muttering another curse….



Buffy gasped in shock when she saw the tented part of his towel. Holy Sh- Does it really supposed to be that big? He’s not gonna drop his towel right in front of her is he?


Relief washed over her when Spike turned to leave the closet.


Please close the closet. Please close the closet… .


He did came back to close it but he carelessly left a tiny gap just enough for her to get a very good view of him as he laid out his clothes by the edge of his bed.


She closed her eyes just before she heard his towel dropped to the floor. Don’t want to see Spike’s thing. Nosireee! Definitely not! But her innocent 16 year-old mind pleaded with her. Aren’t you a bit curious, Summers. You haven’t seen a guy’s thing in your entire life. Just a little peek would not hurt ya know. It would be strictly for learning purposes only.


With that final thought, she slowly opened her eyes. When she did, she could not quite make out what she just felt upon seeing a fully naked Spike with his back facing her.


“Oh shit!” She muttered as her eyes began to roam slowly from his firm looking back down to his tight looking buttocks. Wow! He looked so nicely built for a 16 year old. Since when did he had the time to go to the gym and-


The rest of her thoughts died and her eyes widened when she saw him turned her way.



For the very first time in her life, Buffy felt the unfamiliar stirrings arousal the moment her inexperienced eyes traveled upon his well-defined abs and hipbones down to the nest of curls that were guarding his manhood.


All of a sudden, the temperature began to rise all around her. She felt her face warming up with an unbelievable pace and her underwear she realized just got a little uncomfortable. Ohmygawd! I can’t believe I am looking at Spike’s thing! And it seemed to have grown much bigger than it already was when it was hidden behind his towel. She knows should feel ashamed and disgusted. She should be covering her eyes like any good girl would do and stop herself from staring at her best friend’s naked body in awe.


Buffy had expected him to put his clothes on any moment. However what she saw him do next had left her mouth dry and her body aching with want.


Instead of getting his clothes, his hand went for the lotion on top of his lamp table. Then he sprawled his body on his bed with his knee up.


Gah! What the hell is he doing? Look away, Summers. He may look so yummy and damn sexy lying on his bed like that but he’s still your best friend. She told her mind. You should know how to respect his privacy.


But the truth was, she already knew that she would not be able to take her away from him even if she tried.


As he started pumping, a sudden image of herself replacing those hands with hers appeared in her mind and wondered how it would feel if she were the cause of all those moans and mewls that were coming from his partially opened mouth.


“Fu-….! Love your mmmm…….Harder………”


Spike is now a picture of raw maleness with his head thrown back and one of his legs dangling by the edge of the bed. Buffy could not believe just how turned on she is at the moment. The ache within her just got unbearable as the movements of his hand became faster and faster.


And just as he reached his orgasm, his cries of completion were suddenly drowned out by the ringing sound that came from Buffy’s cell phone.


“Oh God! Oh God! “ Buffy frantically reached for the wireless phone in her pocket and hurriedly turned it off.


Oh no! I’m busted! She whimpered silently as she saw Spike quickly wiped his cum from his chest and went to approach his closet.


***************

Spike roared her name in ecstasy when he came. Although this time he tried to control his cry of pleasure since he saw a glimpse of Dru hanging out by her backyard earlier. He’s not looking forward to anyone discovering his newly found hobby any time soon.

In the midst of his orgasm he thought he heard his phone rang several times.


He reach over for the tissue on his bedside lamp table and wiped the cum on his chest and realized that he’s gonna need another bath to remove the mess and smell of his cum on his body.

He was about to go his closet and look for his wireless phone which he guessed could probably inside one of his jeans when he heard it rang again and this time the ringing came from the drawer of his beside table.

“Huh!” He scratched his head. He could’ve sworn he heard the sound of the ring from his closet. I guess I heard it wrong, he silently mused as he grabbed the phone from his drawer.


When he saw Buffy’s caller ID he immediately answered it. “ Buffy?” But the line was immediately cut off. However when he tried to return it, his call much to his dismay went straight into her voice mail. And so he turned off his phone and disappeared into his bathroom.

*************************

Buffy gave out a sigh of relief as she finally came out of the closet. That was a close one! She took a chance by calling his number. The fact is, she’s not even sure if his phone was anywhere near him. And it just so happens that his phone was inside the drawer of his nightstand. She had to thank her lucky stars for that. If it had been in his closet then it might have been over for her. She didn’t know what she would’ve done or how she would have reacted if Spike had discovered that she had just witnessed him played with himself.


Buffy hurriedly came out of the house with her heart pounding loud. Still a little dazed from the erotic scene that she saw, she bumped into Drusilla who muttered a strong curse when she almost spilled the soda that she was holding.


She could not believe that this was the girl her best friend had been crushing on these past few days. She’s not even that pretty. She’s too skinny and too pale.


But Spike seemed to like her just fine, part of her mind replied. Buffy recalled an incident three days ago when Spike had suddenly behaved irrationally and told her that she has stupid hair. Spike probably liked dark headed girls, she thought to herself as she stared back at Dru.


“Why don’t you watch where you’re going, you stupid bint!” She yelled at Buffy, her eyes shooting daggers at her briefly before she resumed with her walk.


There she goes, the girl that my best friend is fantasizing about. She caught a wisp of her own hair then grumbled to herself as she started to head home. “Stupid hair!”


TBC


A/N: Hi Guys! First of all , I would like to thank Photographynut,Steph,Pams S ,Buffymon,Becky,Mikaela, Crystal Pegasus,Opal, Spikes_nibblet, mjspuff,spufette, ash, Kayla,Kelly,Jenn,Kimmie,laura Liz, Heidi,mastersgirl, sara m, candace, chrissnicole and britney for all the wonderful reviews. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thanks to all of my readers for sticking around.

Secondly, I'm itching to hear from you guys how my first attempt at naughty chapter went. I would love to know all your thoughts on this. Thanks!

---

“You're a strange girlfriend”
- Xander , Pangs



Thursday 8:00 am


“I’m sorry, Ms. Jenkins. But I find your essay on Gandhi truly preposterous and incongruous.”


Anya gaped at her English Lit Professor. “ Incongruous? “


“Incongruous.” Mr Cowel in an irritated tone that made his British accent even more evident. “It means that the idea you came up with is just too illogical and bizarre. May I ask if you’ve even read his autobiography?”


“Huh?”


“His book, Ms. Jenkins. I’m asking if you were able to read it.”



“No. “ She paused. “I was about to, I did go to the library and looked for the book but it was already been checked out. So I did most desperate students would’ve done and-“



“You rented the movie, “ Mr. Cowel continued for her as he sighed in frustration. “But even if you watched the movie, it still doesn’t explain why you ended up having such a very peculiar point of view. Please understand that this is an essay and an essay has to be based on facts.”



Anya gave in. “Okay! So I wasn’t able to finish the movie. I got a little confused. I thought Ben Kingsley seemed to be a little too white to portray the role.“ She looked at her professor straight in the eyes and tried to plead with him. “ Mr. Cowel, I know I screwed up big time but you already told me that my grades are looking pretty horrible this semester so I kind of badly need not have a D right now. Is there any way I could make-up for it?”


Mr. Cowel looked thoughtful for a moment before he made his reply. “ All right. I will give you another chance and I will need it by Monday, but if you if fail to deliver it properly this time around, I’m afraid the D will have to remain.”


Anya smiled hopefully. “That’s great, Mr. Cowel! That means I could rewrite this essay again. I promise I will read the book this time. I’ll even ask my boyfriend to stop distracting while read and maybe make it up to him by-”


“Wait! I’ve actually decided to give you another topic for your essay. Although it’s not necessary, you may use any books that you think is appropriate. What I would require you to do this time is to write your essay by thinking with your heart.”


“Heart you say, Mr Cowel? I believe I can work with that as long as I don’t need to go to the library. I’ll take whatever topic you decide to-“


“True love, Ms. Jenkins. “ Mr. Cowel told her. “Your next topic is about true love.”


*************************


Friday morning, 7:30 am



“True love?” Xander asked Anya in disbelief.


“Right! True Love. “ She repeated to him excitedly. “ Isn’t that amazing! I mean how hard can it be? True love, pff! I’m going to ace this in no time!”



Xander who had a hard time trying to suppress his amusement, finally burst out into a roar of laughter.


“What?”


“It’s just that…Anya Jenkins…. The girl who thinks that everything is about sex…. is writing an essay on True love! Now that’s something I need to see!” he mocked her playfully


Xander Harris, my love monkey, my sweet cookie-face the guy of my wet dreams can be terribly daft sometimes. Sure I can be blunt and tactless sometimes…All right! Most of the times, but there are instances like now that shows just how much he’s ignoring the fact that I’m still human, despite my shortcomings. He doesn’t seem to realize that I’m not really as heartless as he thinks I am..


Anya snorted and ignored her boyfriend’s snarky laugh as she went on wit her task of writing her essay. She still has a lot of time on her hands since her next class won’t start till after lunch.



Now where to start? She said in her thoughts. I could write an outline first, hmmm….But Willow had told me once that writing an outline could take up a lot of time and that if I have an idea what direction my paper is going then I should not have a problem with writing it in the first place.


What I probably need to do is start out in defining what true love is then I could from there. Okaaaay. What IS true love?


Several moments later, Xander halted from doing his own homework and went to sit on the edge of the bed beside Anya who’s sporting a big scowl on her face. He peered into her laptop and saw that her Word document is still blank.


“Aaaah!” Anya broke out exasperatedly. “ I can’t do this! I mean I know I already feel something for you Xander, but putting it into writing, I don’t know if I can do that.” She closed her laptop and faced him. ” If you ask me, I’d rather be talking to you about our upcoming vacation in Hawaii! That’s already a week from now! I feel like I’m going crazy just thinking about it.” She grabbed the brochure on her nightstand and began skimming through the pages.


“Ahn, about that.”


“Oh wow! I can’t believe that we are going on a hummer safari adventure! “


“Anya, there’s something that I need to tell you.”


“And we could view the sunset from the summit of Mauna Kea which is happens to be the tallest volcano on the planet, wouldn’t that be so romantic! I bet we could even do a quickie in one of their restrooms and find out if doing it from a high place would affect the height of our orgasm. Get it, height? “ She laughed at her own quip, not even bothering to check Xander’s reaction.


“Oh Xander! “ she threw her arms around her boyfriend. ” You don’t know how grateful I am that you’re spending the money you earned from your high school job just so we could have our own dream spring break. I knew I was right for not listening to Cordelia and Dru when they told me to leave you. You’re the most thoughtful boyfriend I’ve ever had. I’m so lucky to have you.” She gave him a fierce hug before she withdrew from him. “ Now that I finally got that out of my system, it’s your turn.”


Xander looked at her dazedly. “Huh?”


“You said you were going to tell me something.”


“Oh that! Pff! It’s nothing. Nothing important. “He looked at his watch. “Geez! Is that the time? I have to go. I almost forgot that I have an early class today. “ He kissed her so breathlessly that it left her wanting for more. “ I’ll see you later, ok.”


“Okay,” Anya said numbly as she stared after her boyfriend who disappeared behind the door. “Now that I have my inspiration.” Smiling to herself, she began to write her thoughts into her computer.



******************
Lunch time, 12:30 noon , Café Rayne

“True love is all about finding the right partner. It's how the human species has survived for thousands of years. It is the red hot urges that calls out for the man and woman to combine sweats and all other types of body fluids….” Willow halted her reading, cringing her nose as she handed the laptop back to Anya. “Oh I’m not sure I will be able to continue reading the rest of it."


“That bad, huh?”


“Look Anya. I’m not saying that your essay sucks but I think it would help you figure out what true love is if you just starts thinking with your heart first and not with your… you know.”


Willow Rosenberg, geek slash nerd turned cool ever since Oz became her boyfriend. I’m not really fond of her but I listen to whatever sort of advice she ever decides to throw my way. She’s part of the gang, therefore, it’s really hard to ignore her.


“Who says I’m thinking with my… Okay! It’s just is so hard not to mix them up. If you’d ask me, love and lust are a lot like the same. It’s hard to distinguish which is which.” She muttered.


“It’s only difficult because you think it is. Trust me, all you have to do is open your eyes.”


“Open my eyes? That simple?”


“Yup. “ Willow told her.


“Open my eyes. I think I can do that.” She punctuated her words with a nod.


^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Does true love even exist? If it does, where do we look for it? How do we find it? But the real problem doesn’t lie on where we could find it, but rather how do we even know if it is indeed true love when we see one?

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^


One moment later, Oz appeared, holding a wolf pez in one of his hands as he joined Willow and Anya at the café.


“Oh my goodness! Oz, Is that for me?!!!” Willow squealed.


“ I just thought maybe your witch pez is getting awfully lonely by herself.” Oz answered as he gave Willow a light peck on the lips.


Daniel Osborne or Oz , hmmm nothing much to say about him since he hardly ever talk. Probably from the number of times he would change the color of his hair in a span of one month, the ammonia must've travelled all the way to his brain and mucked-up his communication skills. He and I are totally opposite. He’s very selective with words while I….I don’t select. I say whatever comes to my mind.


“Anya did you say something?” Willow asked, looking at her strangely.


“No, I didn’t.” came Anya’s immediate guilty reply.


“Sorry I just thought I heard you mumbled something about saying whatever comes to you mind.”


See! “ Nope, you probably just imagined it.” She told Willow as the too cute for words interaction between her and Oz continues to unfold. These two lovebirds are truly strange. Does it mean that true love IS strange?


“What?” Willow asked when she saw Anya’s stare. “You know we both share this same obsession for the Vampire Slayer show. Oz is the wolf while I’m the witch.”


“Oh I knew about that! It’s just that you seemed too enthusiastic about one pez. “


Surprisingly, Oz responded for his girlfriend. “It’s actually not about the pez. “


“It’s not?” Anya looked at him quizzically. ”How could it not be? Didn’t you just see how she reacted to your pez?”


“It’s quite simple. I knew how Willow loves these things so the moment they became available in the Internet, I immediately got them for her. ”


“Thanks. Don’t I have the best boyfriend!” Willow told him sweetly.


Huh! Would youlook at that! PEZs and flowers are interchangeable. Tsk,tsk, I guess it depends on the person you’re giving it to .



“Hi guys! “ Buffy finally arrived and joined them at their table. “Whatcha all doin’ ?”


Oh, finally the teenage drama queen is already here! Don’t get me wrong. I like Buffy! I do! It’s just that there she is, engaged to one of the richest guys in UC Sunnydale, beautiful, blonde, and have somebody as cool as Spike as her best friend who happens to be drool worthy by the way, and still she looks far from being happy! Miles even! I mean if you’ll look at her, that’s definitely not the face of a girl who is about to get married. To be honest, she appeared more like a girl who is about to be thrown into the lion’s den.


“I’m doing my essay for Mr. Cowel while Willow is celebrating coz’ Oz got her a pez.” Anya informed her.



“Another pez huh? Is it a wolf pez ? I know you’ve been dying to get one of those for your witch pez.”


Willow smiled widely as she showed Buffy the pez that Oz just gave her.


“How thoughtful!” Buffy smiled at Oz.


“If you guys aren’t doing anything later, Willow and I will be having a movie night at my house. You guys should come.” Oz told them.


“Sure! We’d love to.,” Anya said. “ I’ll tell Xander. We’ll just stop by at the library then we’ll head to your house right after, how’s that sound?”


“Sounds good.” Oz replied then turned his attention to Buffy. “How about you, Buffy?”


“Sorry but I can’t tonight. I have a date with my dad. “ Buffy told them.


“Oh right!” Willow chirped.” I forgot about that. That’s really great, Buffy! Which ice show are you planning to watch this time?”


“Champions on ice! Dorothy Hamil is going to make a special guest appearance!”


“Oh wow! I know you’ve been wanting to see her perform live since…forever!”


“ I know! That’s why I’m so excited! Dad got us two front row seats.” Buffy beamed.


“Nice of your dad to do that for you.”


“Well, it’s not like he’d been there to support us all this time. I still couldn’t get over the fact that it was only a year ago when he’d decided to show-up after he left us for his secretary.”


“Yup. He does have a lot of making up to do. I’m glad that you’ve given him a chance.”


Buffy smiled. “So am I.”




TBC




A/N : YOU guys are so generous with all your reviews. I was shocked when I saw my story listed as one of the top 10 most recommended stories. I’m sooo grateful to you all!

I've just finished part two of this chapter. If I could get at least 10 reviews by midnight (central time), I'll post it right away. If not, I'll just post it the night after :-)

Again, thanks for reviewing!