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" 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!





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