"I see." Buffy said as the hurt and sadness once again gripped her heart.
"He is really trying. He's even gotten a job." Willow added.
"You're kidding, right?" Buffy said with a chuckle.
"Nope, you know that guy in those real estate commercials, Big Al. Well, he owns a lot of waterfront property, and the only tenants he could find out there are demons, vamps, etc. But when it's time to pay the rent, they never do. So, Big Al hires the biggest, baddest demons, vamps to go collect for him. So in comes spike, the BIG BAD. Anyways he collects two nights out of the week for Big Al, at $5000 a night. So he's making mega bucks and all the legal, fair way. Spike has gone legit." Willow said with a huge smile.
"Really?" Buffy asked stunned. "Ok what the hell is going on, did I missed something?"
"Yeah, Spike is one of the good guys now." Dawn said as she nibbled on a piece of bacon.
"Oh." Buffy said still in disbelief about what she had been told.
"Come on Buffy, it'll be fun." Willow coaxed her friend.
"I don't think so Will, I should stay in case Dawn calls."
"Yeah right, she's at a sleepover all weekend, the last thing she's thinking about right now is calling home, trust me on this. She'll be home Monday after school, so you have exactly 3 nights free to have fun, fun, fun. So get dressed."
"I don't know Willow..."
"I do, it's time you got out more, and you're acting all 'Angel' like with the broodiness." Willow said causing Buffy to shoot her a look and a smirk. "Come on we're going to this new place out near the docks, I hear it's hot. Come on it'll be fun, and if you don't like it, after staying at least an hour, we'll leave. I promise. Please come with us." Willow said sticking out her bottom lip. Buffy rolled her eyes and laughed at her friend.
"Fine, I'll go, I'll go."
"Great but hurry Xander and Anya are picking us up in an hour."<
Elsewhere
"Damn it! You got slime all other my coat."
"Aww, you poor baby, would you have preferred I let it kill you. I mean he was about to stick you with his horn."
"Well you could have at least warned me first." Spike said as he wiped at his coat.
"What...is that the only coat you have?" His partner Nic asked him as they headed out of the warehouse. They had came to collect the rent, but instead ended up slaying the tenant, which happened from time to time. They both knew this wouldn't upset Big Al, he'd have the place back on the market first thing in the morning. They did after all still get the rent.
"No, but it is my favorite."
"It's all old anyways, I think you need to put it out of its misery." Nic said now walking ahead as Spike stopped stunned by the words.
"What, are you daft? This coat will never go out of style."
"No, I suppose not if you keep wearing it all the time." Nic chuckled. Spike growled at his partner. "How bout a beer, there's this new club along the docks I've been meaning to check out."
"You buying?" Spike question, with an arched brow.
"Like you would." Nic answered with a smirk, which Spike matched with his own.
"Then you're on, but I need to go home first and change, and you better pray this gunk comes out of my duster."
"Whatever man, I think I'll head home and change too. It will probably take you longer, since you have to clean your precious coat, so I'll meet you at your place, say in about an hour?" Spike nodded and they both parted ways.
"You're right Willow, this is nothing like the Bronze. Except they're playing the same music and oh these are the same people we see at the bronze, Oh and..."
"All right, you've made your point, Anya, this place is exactly like the bronze, just in another location." Willow said slightly disappointed and pouting, causing Buffy, Xander, and Anya to smile.
"But we like the Bronze, right?" Anya interjected. "So, let's go shake our money makers." At that Xander and Anya stepped out on to the dance floor, which was admittedly much bigger then the one at the Bronze. Buffy and Willow remained in their seats.
"If you want to leave, I'm with you." Willow said.
"What, no we'll stay and have fun, fun, fun." Buffy said defiantly.
"It's really not as fun as I had hoped, I thought...hoped that,"
"Tara would be here." Buffy answered, knowingly.
"Yeah," Willow said with a sad smirk.
"So how are you two doing?"
"We're talking again." Willow said as she perked up a bit.
"Yeah Tara mentioned that..."
"She did, when? When did you see Tara?"
"Oh, uhm... we meet up from time to time and have lunch, catch up."
"Oh..."
"I hope you don't mind, I mean if it upsets you..."
"No, No she's your friend too so you have every right...Uhm so does she talk about me, miss me?" Willow question with a look of fear at the answer. Buffy gave her a warm smile.
"Yes and yes." Willow's smile broadened at that news.
"So what do you guys chat about, if you don't mind telling."
"Oh, well she talks about you, how much she misses you and how things are better between you. And I talk about me and... Spike." Buffy said as she looked off through the crowd.
"Spike? What about you and Spike?" Willow asked curiously. Buffy just shook her head at the question.
"It's Spike, he's here." At this Willow turned in the direction Buffy was looking, and there was Spike. He wore a white t-shirt , covered with a black shirt, and black cargo pants, and even Willow was in awe at how good he looked, yummier then usual. Suddenly a woman appeared at his side. She was a Nubian beauty, with brown skin, luscious full lips, big doe eyes, and jet-black straight hair that fell just past her shoulders. She wore a red halter that hugged her ample chest, and leather pants that clung to her petite frame, and she stood almost as tall as Spike, about 5' 9". Both Willow and Buffy were taken aback by her obvious beauty, and stared with their mouth's agape.
"And he brought a date," Willow finally spoke, never taking her eyes off the dashing duo. Buffy felt her mouth go dry.