A/N: Just to let fans of 'His Dirty Little Secret' know, so they don't start loading their crossbows, I am not putting it on hiatus. I considered it for a while, but the end is nigh and I want to finish it. Unfortunately RL has other plans for me at the moment. So this is my version of a peace offering - I wrote this chapter a while ago and planned on posting it as my next fic after finishing 'His Dirty Little Secret' (as for 'Nice To Naughty that will probably be on hiatus until I get some inspiration) but wanting to give you something to read, I decided to post it now. Hope you enjoy and please review - I'm working on the next chapter of 'HDLS' as I type and I need some encouragement to finish it.

Thanks

Jamesgirl






Wesley Price and Charlie Gunn stepped past the bouncers standing at the door to the Bronze, the most popular nightclub in Sunnydale.

“I tell you, Gunn,” Wes said as they headed for the bar. “If any of Rayne’s boys are here tonight, they’d better watch out.”

“Really?” Gunn asked, cynicism apparent in his voice.

“Yeah, they’re no match for me. Not with my new 9mm.”

Gunn stifled a chuckle. Wes was always mouthing off with a macho attitude, fondly thinking everyone was afraid of him. Truth was he was happy to start a fight but would sooner turn tail and run than have anyone mess with his pretty face.

Both Wes and Charlie were members of the Summers mafia family. Although they were not related to Hank Summers, they were had joined the gang when they started hanging out with Hank’s nephew, Angel Summers, one of the most feared members of the Sunnydale Mafioso.

Though it was obvious to all inhabitants of the city, Hank Summers continued to front his criminal activities with several profitable businesses. Almost all of Sunnydale’s industries and establishments were ultimately owned by either Hank or his arch rival, Ethan Rayne, the head of the other leading mafia family in Sunnydale.

The Bronze was one of the few places that were neutral ground for the two families, as it was owned by the Mayor’s cousin, Willie. Richard Wilkins, the Mayor of Sunnydale, had decided that he wanted a place he could go to without appearing to favor either family. Considering the amount of revenue and employment opportunities that Hank and Ethan brought to the city, Wilkins tended to turn a blind eye to their criminal activities, but he had put a strict restriction on any public gun-toting. Wilkins cared very much about his public appearance and was staunchly against those gang members who enjoyed bloodshed for bloodshed’s sake. In fact it had been almost a year since any fights between the two gangs had broken out.

“You’re all talk, man,” Gunn said.

“Oh, I’ve got more than talk. I’ll put bullets in the head of any man who swears by Rayne. Women, too. Like Anya and Willow.”

“Why the women?” Gunn asked, deciding to humor his friend. “The rivalry is between us and Rayne’s men. Why’d you wanna get rid of the ladies? Rayne’s they may be, but man, their fucking beautiful. It’d be a waste is all I’m saying.”

“Then maybe I’ll screw them. Both. Together. That’s guaranteed to piss off Xander and Oz.”

“Speaking of,” Gunn said, motioning to the arrival of Daniel ‘Oz’ Osbourne, one of Rayne’s boys. Like Wes and Gunn, Oz was not related to the family he worked for, but was pretty much seen as being so.

“Well, well,” Wes said, making sure his pistol was within reach. “Look what the cat dragged in. You know, I’m really spoiling for a fight.”

Gunn kept his hand on his friend’s shoulder. “Hang on, Wes. We can’t go starting no more fights. Wilkins won’t stand for it.”

“We won’t have to start it,” Wes reasoned. “Just get him angry enough. Then all we’re doing is defending ourselves.”

Gunn grinned. He hated the thought of passing up a chance to get under Oz’s skin. They headed over to the bar where Oz was ordering a beer.

“Hey Osbourne!”

Oz turned and seeing who was calling his name, the normally placid guy scowled. “What do you fuckers want?”

“Hey, take it easy, man,” Gunn said with a smirk that said his words were anything but sincere. “Wes was just gonna ask how your redhead chick’s doing?”

“Why the hell do you wanna know?” As Wes had predicted, Oz was mounting the offensive. Nothing got under his skin more than someone showing any kind of interest in his girl.

Wes smirked. “I heard she was asking after me.”

Oz walked up to the pair until their faces were inches from each other. “Are you trying to say you reckon my girl’d rather be with you than with me?”

Wes didn’t back down. “Maybe I am, maybe I’m not.”

Oz refused to accept Wes’s vague reply. “Is that what you’re trying to say?”

Wes shot a look at Gunn. They both knew that if Wes admitted that that was what his remark had been implying that they would both be in as much trouble as Oz if he started a fight. It was one thing to anger your enemy, but deliberate baiting was as frowned upon by Wilkins as out-and-out combat. Gunn put his hand on Wes’s shoulder as if to halt his friend from any further goading and sensibly, Wes decided to heed his warning.

“Forget it, Osbourne. It was just a joke.”

But Oz didn’t move away and his fists began to clench and unclench, something Gunn noticed with glee. “Do you want a fight, Osbourne?” he asked.

“A fight? With you fuckers. Why waste my time?” he said with a smirk, relaxing and turning back to the bar.

“A waste of our time, don’t you mean, Osbourne?” Wes said, not liking the way Oz had put them down. “I’m pretty handy with a pistol, you know.”

“Do you think you’re better than me?” Oz asked.

As Wes hesitated in answering – he knew how good Oz was and he also knew that to say he was better would more than likely start the fight he wasn’t sure he still wanted – Gunn saw Angel enter the club.

“Say yes, Wes,” Gunn whispered to his friend. “Angel’s just arrived and he’s no match for this rainbow-haired freak.”

Wes smiled. “Absolutely.”

A look of rage crossed Oz’s face and he swung his fist, clipping Wes’s nose. After a quick recovery, Wes reacted, lifting his pistol out of its shoulder holster and pointing it at Oz. “Come on, fucker!”

As Oz took hold of his own pistol, Xander Rayne appeared and put up his hands to call a halt to the rapidly escalating battle between his friend and his enemy, his pistol within reach if required. Xander was Ethan Rayne’s nephew and though he was as good with a pistol as Oz, he was far more interested in keeping the peace between the rivaling families, having seen enough blood shed to last two lifetimes.

“What the hell are you doing? Put your pistols away. This is stupid.”

None of the four had seen Angel approach until he grabbed hold of Xander’s and Oz’s collars and yanked them away from Wes and Gunn, before turning to his two enemies. Seeing the turn of events, the other patrons started edging towards the exit.

“You trying to stop a good fight from happening, Xander?” Angel asked, an evil grin on his face. “Shame on you. You used to thrive on a good battle. And without your pistol?” He tasked him and pulled his leather coat open to show two pistols contained in his shoulder holster. “Big mistake.”

Xander rose from the floor. “I’m not interested in a fight, Angel. It’s not worth it. Your pistols are best served in keeping our friends apart.”

Angel’s grin faded. “You’re talking about peace? That word disgusts me as all of Ethan Rayne’s scum disgusts me. Especially you.”

With the speed of light, he lifted one pistol from its holster and fired, the bullet hitting Oz in the shoulder and sending him back to the floor. Xander grabbed his weapon and returned fire, sending bullets flying around the club.


“Hank, Ethan,” Mayor Richard Wilkins greeted the two men as they sat in his office the following morning.

“This is getting out of hand. Now I understand that the two of you are not the best of friends but there’s no good reason for what happened last night at the Bronze.”

After the first shot had been fired, Willie the bartender had called 911 and the police had soon arrived, carting all those involved off to the city jail. Wilkins had then decided against calling the heads of the families in until the morning, preferring to let the boys spend the night in lockup.

“Now if the inhabitants of my city don’t feel safe then they’re not happy. And if they’re not happy, then I’m not happy. I have put up with these public brawls long enough and there’s only one option. If this happens again, the perpetrators will face the death penalty, whatever family they belong to. You know I don’t play favorites, but I am the Mayor and I have to lay down the law. I can’t keep putting the people of this city at risk. Are these terms clear?”

Both Ethan and Hank nodded their acknowledgement.


Minutes later, Ethan stood in the parking lot of the council buildings with his wife, Drusilla and his nephew, Xander.

“Care to explain your actions last night, Xander?” he asked the boy who was like a son to him.

“Summers’ boys, Wes and Gunn were baiting Oz and I stepped in to stop the fight. But then Angel came along and decided to mount an offensive. My actions were all in defense.”

“Well, I’m just glad no one got seriously hurt,” Drusilla said. “And I’m even more glad that William wasn’t involved.” Drusilla cared deeply for her only son – they had shared a special bond since Will was born.

“He’s doesn’t hang around with Oz and me much anymore.”

Ethan frowned. “Something’s definitely troubling him. He’s hardly ever home and when he is, he just locks himself in his room, writing in that journal of his. I try to talk to him, but he’s not interested.”

“I’m gonna see if I can find him,” Xander suggested. “Maybe I can get him to talk to me.”

Ethan patted him on the shoulder in thanks, before getting into his limousine alongside his wife. Xander jumped into his Ferrari and drove out of the parking lot heading down towards the beach. He knew that Will liked spending time there, especially so early in the morning when it was pretty quiet. On arrival, he saw Will’s DeSoto convertible and he parked alongside it. He soon spotted his cousin sitting on the sand, his journal lying beside him and headed over.

“Morning cuz.”

Will looked over at him. “What time is it?”

Xander looked at his watch. “Nine o’clock.”

“My, doesn’t time fly when you’re having fun.” The sarcasm was evident in Will’s voice.

“What’s crawled up your ass?”

“Nothing. Just not in the mood for bunnies and happy sunbeams.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Love.” Will practically spat the word.

“What’s wrong with love? It’s amazing.”

“Unless you’re me – in love with a girl who doesn’t love you back,” Will said, pulling a cigarette from his pack, lighting it and taking a deep drag. Suddenly noticing the bruises on his cousin’s face and arms, he narrowed his eyes. “Have you been in a fight? Actually, don’t tell me, I can guess. You ran into some of Hank Summers’ boys, right? You know I don’t get you – you tell me you hate all the bloodshed and death that comes along with being part of the Rayne family, yet you still get involved in these battles. I reckon you love the fight more than you say.”

“Hey, don’t take your black mood out on me. Look, cuz, I feel for you, I do. I know what its like to be in love with someone who doesn’t love you back. Remember Willow?” A few years ago, Xander had been in love with Willow Rosenberg, one of Ethan’s legit employees, but she’d gone and fallen for Oz, leaving Xander heartbroken until he’d met Anya.

“Love’s a bitch, mate. It cuts you deep and rips you to shreds.” Taking a final drag of his cigarette, Will threw the butt in the sand. “Forgive me, Xan, but I’m not feeling very sociable this morning. I just want to be alone.”

“No you don’t. You have to snap out of this Will. It can’t be that bad. Who is it you’ve fallen for?”

“Cecily Adams.”

Xander nodded in understanding. “Beautiful girl.”

“Beautiful. And witty. And…amazing. But she’s got some bee in her bonnet about staying true to her faith. Her family are devout Catholics and she’s decided on chastity and a life at the convent.”

“Jeez, what a waste.” Xander paused. “Look, Will, forget about her.”

“How can I?” Will asked. “I love her.”

“Come on, there’s plenty more fish in the sea. Don’t waste your love on a girl who’s practically married to the man upstairs.”

“But I can’t help wondering what could have been. Besides, there’s no one like Cecily.”

“Oh Will, you need to get out more.”

“Fine,” Will replied. “Show me what I’m supposedly missing. But I guarantee it’ll be a waste of your time and mine.”

Xander grinned. “A challenge? You know how I love a good wager. Will, you’re on. I guarantee by the end of tonight, you’ll be saying ‘Cecily who?’”

Chapter 2

The elevator opened onto the top floor of Hank Summers penthouse office space and Riley Finn, Mayor Wilkins’ stepson strode out. Bypassing the secretary he headed straight for Hank’s inner sanctum, knocking briefly before entering.

Hank was on the phone, but seeing Riley, he smiled and waved him into a seat. Quickly finishing up his call, he turned to his visitor.

“Riley. Good to see you.”

“You too, Hank. How’s things?”

Hank grimaced. “It’s been a hell of a morning. First of all I get hauled downtown by your stepfather, because my nephew can’t keep his pistol sheathed.”

“Angel has a fiery temper.”

“You’re telling me. And I try to get it through to him that his actions could earn him a death sentence, but does he listen? Unfortunately the boy has more brawn than brains.”

“Dick’s pulled out the big guns then?” Riley enquired.

“Not that I can really blame him. I mean, I understand in part where Angel’s coming from. Back in my younger days, fighting was fun and exhilarating. But now I’m older, I can see things a little differently. Ethan and I are part of two rival families – that’s not going to change – but we should at least be able to be civil.”

Hank had never made mention as to why the two families hated each other so and Riley had never asked, despite his curiosity. “Indeed. Hate each other if you have to, but at least forgo the bloodshed.”

Hank nodded in agreement.

“Anyhow, the real reason for my visit was to see if you had come to a decision yet on my proposal.”

A few months ago, Riley had approached Hank with the intention of asking for his daughter, Elizabeth’s hand in marriage. Riley had seen Buffy at a party and fallen head over heels in love with her and decided he wanted her for his own. But instead of choosing to woo her, he preferred to go about his acquisition in a business type way and speak to her father. As the stepson of the city mayor, Riley was not only wealthy, but could offer his bride a certain amount of protection, something Hank rated very highly considering who he was.

“Look Riley. I’ve said this to you before. Elizabeth is only sixteen. She’s still very young and inexperienced. If you could wait another couple of years, till she’s at least eighteen, then I would happily give you my blessing.”

“I know people who married at Elizabeth’s age and have been perfectly happy,” Riley countered.

“But if the timing’s off, marrying her could be disastrous for you. Trust me on this, I know my daughter.”

“I understand, Hank. Its just I want her to be my wife more than anything.”

“Elizabeth’s happiness is important to me, Riley, but I’ll make you a deal. Get to know her, court her if you will and see how she responds. As I’ve said, I would be happy for this marriage to happen, but it will be easier for all involved if she were to be consenting. If she is happy with your pursuit then I may feel better about accepting your proposal.”

“Sounds like a fair compromise to me. How do you suggest I begin this ‘courtship’?”

“Well, you’re coming to the ball tonight, aren’t you?”

“Of course,” Riley replied. Every year, Hank Summers and his wife, Maggie threw a huge fancy dress ball at their mansion.

“Well, I’ll make sure you’re introduced to her. Then the rest is up to you.”

“Ok.” Riley stood up and shook Hank’s hand before turning to leave. When the door shut behind him, Hank pressed the button of the intercom.

“Suzy,” he said to his secretary. “Can you pull up a copy of tonight’s guest list and ring around for confirmation of numbers and then let the caterers know.”

“Sure.”

Hank sat back in his chair and mulled over his meeting with his potential future son-in-law. The boy was right – it was a fair compromise he had made. But it was still up to Riley to gain Elizabeth’s affection and knowing his daughter, it would be a complex task.


“So what you having?” Xander asked Will as they entered the Bronze. Though a thriving nightclub, the establishment was also open during the day.

“Beer,” Will replied, heading for the pool table to rack up.

Moments later Xander returned with two beers in time to see Will make the break and pot two colored balls.

“You’re stripes, mate.”

“Good,” Xander said, cracking his knuckles before taking the cue from Will. “Now you can concentrate on kicking my ass and forget all about Cecily.”

“Easy for you to say,” Will muttered.

“Think of it this way. You feel like shit, but there’s people in this world who have it far worse off than you. So no matter how much pain you’re in, there’s always someone who’s in more.”

Will glared at him. “Really not helping here.”

“Ok, ok, I’ll shut up.”

They continued to play and as Xander had predicted, Will won. As Xander set up for another game, Will went to the bar to get another beer. When he got there, Willie was on the phone.

“Ok, thank you for calling. Yes, I’ll be there with bells on.”

He put the receiver down and turned to Will. “More beer?”

“Please. So Willie, you got plans for tonight?”

“Yeah. I’ve got myself an invite to the Summers fancy dress ball. I’ve no doubt it’s my dear cousin’s influence but who am I to look a gift horse in the mouth.”

“Should be fun.”

“Fun? Its gonna be the best party of the year. The whole town’s gonna be there. Unless they bat for Rayne’s team.” He paused, realizing who he was talking to. “Sorry, didn’t mean to rub it in.”

“That’s ok.” Will brushed off Willie’s apology with a wave of his hand. “So its gonna be big then?”

“Yeah. All of Hank Summers friends and their families are invited – the Chases, the Hopes, the Adams’s, the Kendalls.”

Xander joined them in time to catch the Willie’s words. Smiling he picked up his beer and then dragged Will back over to the pool table.

“Did you hear what he said? All of Hank Summers friends and their families are invited.”

“Yeah, well we’re not so what does it matter?”

Xander rolled his eyes. “It matters because your fair Cecily’s father is one of Hank Summers best friends. She’ll be there.”

“Xander, I’ve already told you. She’s not my Cecily – she doesn’t love me.”

“That’s not the issue. The issue is that you don’t believe anymore could measure up to her and this is the perfect opportunity for me to prove you wrong.”

It was the perfect plan, Xander decided. Sunnydale was full of gorgeous girls – girls even hotter than Cecily – and the majority of them were going to be at the ball tonight. Will believed that Cecily was the most beautiful and charming creature he had ever set eyes on and until he saw her next to all these other beauties, he was unlikely to be convinced otherwise. If his plan went well, Will would leave the ball tonight, his young heart free of Cecily’s hold and with another knockout on his arm.

Will paused in taking his next shot. “You can’t be suggesting what I think you’re suggesting?”

“Why not?”

“Its Hank Summers ball! As in Hank Summers, my father’s biggest rival. As in Hank Summers who hates us and would pull a pistol on us if we dared to darken his door.”

Xander grinned. “You forgot one important point. Its Hank Summers fancy dress ball. We can go in disguise and no one will recognize us.”

Will still looked slightly skeptical. “I guess it could work. But I still refuse to believe there could possibly be anyone there tonight more beautiful than Cecily.”

“Your opinion’s a little biased, don’t you think? You’ve only ever seen her alone or with that butt-ugly sister of hers. I bet you won’t be saying that when you can compare her to the other girls on show tonight.”

“Fine, I’m in,” Will conceded. “But if you’ve got Harmony Kendall in mind for this comparison, your plan’s gonna fail. That girl could make my ears bleed with her incessant prattle.”

Xander grimaced in agreement. Harmony was notoriously irritating. She had dated most of the boys in Sunnydale, but in the end, they had all gotten so fed up with her, they’d dumped her. Consequently when she went to parties, her main aim was to find someone to take her home; someone she hadn’t already dated that is.

“Don’t worry, cuz. Harmony’s not on the list. But there are plenty of other girls to choose from. And Will, I think you’re going to be pleasantly surprised.”

Chapter 3

Maggie Summers was laying face down on a massage table. Sven, a hot, young Swede was busy tending to her aching muscles with his magic hands. Soon she would have to start preparing for the evening’s festivities, but first she needed to make sure her daughter was prepared. Her husband had rung her earlier from his office to tell her of his deal with Riley and had suggested it might be better if she spoke to Elizabeth about the possibility of a future union with Wilkins’ stepson in order to prepare her for their meeting that night.

The door to her quarters opened and Joyce entered. When Maggie had given birth to Elizabeth, she was young and not particularly maternal so she had persuaded Hank to hire a nanny to look after the new baby and Joyce had been given the job. Even though Elizabeth was now sixteen, she was still very close to Joyce who had remained working for the family as Elizabeth’s personal attendant.

“What can I do for you, Mrs Summers?”

“Joyce, where’s my daughter. Can you find her for me? I need to speak with her.”

Joyce left the room and returned moments later with Elizabeth in tow.

“Mother, what is it?”

Waving Sven away, Maggie sat up, holding a towel to her body. “I have something that I wish to speak to you about. Joyce could you leave us, please?”

Seeing Joyce heading for the door, Maggie began to panic. She had spent little time alone with her daughter since she was born and was not quite sure how to speak to her. “Joyce, come back. I think it would be best if you were here for this too. After all you know my daughter well. She has grown up fast, hasn’t she?”

“Yes, she has. It’s hard to believe its been sixteen years. I remember the first day I came to work here and I held her in my arms – oh she was such a beautiful baby and she looked up at me with those wide green eyes and gurgled. Oh it was the cutest sound I ever heard. And when she started crawling and then walking, oh she was a little rascal, running away whenever I told her it was bath time, little blonde curls bouncing round her face…”

Joyce continued to digress on the subject of Elizabeth with memories of her childhood, until Maggie called a halt to her recall.

“I’m sorry, Mrs Summers. Its just she was the sweetest child I have ever looked after. No wonder I couldn’t ever find it in my heart to leave her. Oh, I can’t wait till she herself gets married and has children.”

“This is exactly what I wanted to talk to you about, Elizabeth. Let me ask you – how do you feel about marriage.”

Elizabeth, who actually preferred to be known as Buffy (though her parents would never call her anything but her given name) knew it was a possibility that she might soon meet somebody that she might eventually marry. She also knew that whoever she married would have to be approved of by her parents, more considering who they were than because at her current age of sixteen she could only marry with parental consent. But even though she had thought about it, she had not considered it a real possibility as yet.

She frowned a little. “I would like to get married one day, Mother.”

“Perhaps that one day will be sooner than you think, my dear. Plenty of girls marry at your age, you know and they are very happy to be wives and mothers. When I married your father I was only a little older than you are now. Anyway the thing is, there is a young man who has expressed a desire to marry you – Mayor Wilkins stepson, Riley Finn.”

“Oh Buffy,” Joyce said. “That’s wonderful news. I have heard he’s very handsome.”

“Oh he is,” Maggie agreed.

“So what do you think? He’s coming to the party tonight and your father is going to introduce him to you. Allow him to woo you, Elizabeth – he’ll make you a good husband.”

“And she’ll make him a good wife,” Joyce added.

“So tell me, my dear – is this something that you would be ok with?”

If both her mother and Joyce agreed that Riley Finn was good looking and a nice man then the prospect of having him pursue her with the eventual possibility of marriage was not a completely repulsive idea. But if she did not find him attractive there would be no way that she would consent to anything. She may be Hank Summers daughter but she had a mind of her own – something her parents frequently forgot.

“I know you wish this for me and if I like him then I’ll allow him to woo me.” Buffy agreed.

Just then the doors opened and Maggie’s hairstylist and make up artist entered. “Mrs Summers, the party begins in two hours and we must work our magic.”

As Buffy’s mother sacrificed herself to their will, Buffy headed for her quarters to start getting ready, with Joyce following her.


“So what we gonna say when we get there?” Will asked Xander as they drove up the hill towards the Summers mansion. “Or are we just gonna go in and hope they don’t pay us too much attention?”

Will still didn’t think what they were doing was a good idea, but Xander refused to be dissuaded and he’d even convinced Faith, Will’s best friend of the genius of his plan.

Faith worked for Mayor Wilkins and was his most trusted employee – pretty much his right hand girl. He had been close friends with her late parents and after their deaths he had become like a father to her. Even though she was Will’s friend, as an impartial citizen of Sunnydale, she was invited to the Summers ball and was impressed with Xander’s proposal for getting Will’s mind off of Cecily.

“There’s no need for us to say anything,” Xander replied. “Faith’s got an invitation and we’re her guests. So stop worrying and get ready to have some fun.”

“Fun?” Will raised his eyebrow and the tone in his voice made it obvious how unlikely he thought the prospect of having fun, especially given him current situation.

“Absolutely. There’s going to be a veritable bevy of beauties out tonight ready to dance with us and though I’d never cheat on Anya, there’s nothing wrong with looking, right?”

“I’m not in the mood for dancing.”

“Jeez, Will,” Faith spoke up. “Can’t you just try to enjoy yourself for one night?”

“It’s alright for you,” Will said. “You’ve never been in love. It makes me so depressed when I think that I’ll never get to hold her in my arms or kiss her beautiful lips.”

“And why I do you think I don’t do love. Because it turns people into a pathetic saps. We used to have so much fun hanging out together and now all you can talk about is Cecily. And the two of you aren’t even together. You’re wasting all your energy on a girl who’s probably going shopping for her nun’s habit tomorrow. Take a leaf out of my book – if you don’t let emotions get in the way, you can have great fun and great sex without getting hurt, so I suggest you forget about Cecily, find some hot chick at the party tonight and let her ride you at a gallop till your knees buckle.”

“I’m not about to use some poor girl just to get over Cecily – it’s not fair. Besides, the way I feel right now, I’d be useless to another woman. Love’s a bitch.” He muttered his last words under his breath, but Faith still heard him.

“For God’s sake, Will, you’ve got to pull yourself together. If you think love’s a bitch, then stick two fingers up at it.”

As the car pulled up to the gates, Faith handed her invitation to the guard and Will and Xander handed over their weapons. They drove into the grounds and parked and got out. As it was a fancy dress ball, Will and Xander had chosen outfits that would allow them to best disguise their identities. Will was dressed as a pirate, complete with bandana and eye patch, while Xander was dressed as a soldier, his face covered in brown-green greasepaint. Faith on the other hand was making the most of the fact that she didn’t need to hide anything and was dressed in a rather revealing French maid’s outfit that would have looked more at home in the bedroom.

“Come on,” Xander said, grabbing Will’s arm. “If we don’t hurry there won’t be any hot girls left to dance with – just the ugly ones or Harmony.”

“I told you I’m not in the mood for dancing.”

“You may be my best friend, Will but you’re starting to ruin my night,” Faith said. “Now quit being such a pussy or I’ll tell the guard who your father is.”

“Ok, fine,” Will conceded, tugging at his bandana. “But I still don’t think us going to this ball is very good idea.”

“Why not?” Faith asked.

“I just have a bad feeling about it.”

“No offence but you need to lighten up and stop worrying that something’s gonna go wrong,” Faith said. “I swear, all this melancholic love stuff has made you thoroughly macabre.”

Chapter 4

Will followed Xander and Faith into the ballroom of the Summers mansion where the party guests had congregated. Waiters circulated carrying trays of champagne and people stood in groups of three or four admiring each others’ costumes. Will saw Hank standing with a group of friends and business associates, dressed as Elvis, complete with white jumpsuit and quiff. His wife Maggie was standing a few feet away, dressed as a twenties flapper, her cleavage displayed to the maximum and being rather unsubtly gawked at by her nephew, Angel, who was dressed as a bandit.

Faith followed his sight line. “Oh yeah,” she said with a smirk on her face. “Maggie Summers and her nephew have a rather unconventional relationship, by which I mean he’s fucking her right under his uncle’s nose. Either Hank’s oblivious – which I doubt, or he couldn’t care a less because he’s getting his naughty on elsewhere.” With a wink, she headed off in the direction of the bar – she preferred JD to champagne – with various pairs of eyes, including Hank Summers, glued to her barely covered ass.

He turned back to scan the room to see if he could see Cecily, when his gaze fell on a petite blonde. Her hair was curled and adorned by a gold diadem, while her slim tanned body was encased in a white bandeau dress which clung to her slender curves and lusciously ripe breasts. A pair of white feather wings stood out from her back. She looked incredible and she was currently being drooled over by Mayor Wilkins stepson, Riley Finn, who was dressed as a cowboy.

He couldn’t take his eyes off her. He had never seen anything so beautiful in his whole life. Cecily paled in comparison to this golden goddess. He had to speak to her, to know her name, to have her smile at him the way she was currently smiling at Finn.

Will did not believe in love at first sight – or at least he hadn’t until this moment. He had thought himself in love with Cecily, but now he knew his feelings for her had been nothing but infatuation. He felt as though he’d been sucker punched and he felt his heart inside his chest literally aching to be close to her. He wanted to hold her in his arms forever.

She must’ve felt his gaze on her, because she turned then and their eyes met. She too must have felt the connection, because she continued to stare at him until Finn said something to her to draw her attention back to him and a few minutes later, they headed for the dance floor.

But even as she danced, she looked over Finn’s shoulder at him, making him follow her across the room to keep her in sight and causing him to knock into a tall dark guy by the bar.


When one of the other guests knocked into him, Angel felt a flare of anger and turned menacingly to face the man who was dressed as a pirate.

“Sorry, mate,” the man said, before turning back towards the dance floor and moving towards the other side of the room.

Familiarity struck Angel and he knew he’d seen the guy before but couldn’t quite place him. Then suddenly the cogs in his brain clicked into place and he recalled where he knew the man from. It was William Rayne.

Slamming his glass down on the bar, he whirled round and stalked off in the direction he had seen Rayne go.

He didn’t give a shit about Wilkins’ latest threat. He was going to find that bastard and put a bullet through his heart. That would teach him to come and gatecrash a Summers party.

As he stormed across the room in search of Rayne – his hand reaching for the gun in his holster, he was suddenly waylaid by his inebriated uncle.

“Angel, what’s up m’boy? Are you not enjoying yourself?” Hank paused to down another measure of Scotch.

“Rayne’s son is here. If he thinks he can gatecrash this party and take the piss out of us, then he’s got another thing coming!”

“William Rayne is here?”

“For fuck’s sake, yes he’s here and I’m gonna find him and teach him a lesson.”

He went to move past his uncle, but Hank stopped with a hand on his arm.

“Calm down, Angel. Don’t go causing any more trouble. From what I’ve heard Rayne’s boy is a nice kid and I don’t want you starting a fight with him. Now get yourself another drink, put a smile on your face and enjoy yourself – this is supposed to be party after all.”

“But he’s a fucking Rayne. I’m not just gonna let this go.”

Hank may have imbibed too much of the single malt but he sensed the tone of Angel’s voice and tightened his grip on his nephew. “You will.” He paused to make sure Angel knew he was serious. “I won’t tolerate your insolence. You will not start another fight. Not in my house and not at my party.”

“But Uncle Hank…” Angel began.

Hank’s eyes narrowed. “I told you what Wilkins said and if you’re stupid enough not to heed his warning then I’m ashamed to call you family. Now get out of here, boy and if I hear that you or any of your lackeys have done anything to Rayne, there’ll be hell to pay!”

At the dismissal, Angel headed back to his friends. He felt the rage rushing through his veins and mingling with the patience that had been forced upon him, making him visibly shake. God, he wished he could go after Rayne, but he knew better than to test his uncle.

“Make the most of tonight’s festivities, Rayne,” he muttered under his breath as he signaled to the bartender. “I’m gonna make you wish you’d never stepped foot in this house.


Buffy stood against a pillar, a glass of champagne in her hand. Riley had disappeared with her father about ten minutes ago and she was kind of hoping he didn’t come back too soon. He may be handsome but he was kind of boring.

In fact she was thinking more about the gorgeous pirate she’d seen earlier.

“Hello, pet.”

She turned to see the object of her thoughts standing behind her and smiled. “Hi,” she said. “I like your costume.”

“I like yours too.”

She smiled again and held out her hand. “I’m Buffy.”

“Will,” he said, taking it. “Are you sure you want your angelic little hand sullied by a big bad pirate like me?”

“And if I don’t?”

“Well perhaps I could kiss it better.”

Buffy looked him up and down, assessing him, even as he continued to hold her hand, his thumb stroking it, sending shivers through her.

“I don’t think you’re as badass as you make out. You’re like a priest kneeling before a statue of the Virgin and touching the hand of the statue, your palms meeting like a kiss.”

Will grinned and moved closer. “Well, if our hands are sharing a kiss, what about our lips.”

Buffy raised her eyebrows. “Priests use their lips for prayer.”

“Hands come together to pray, so lips should do the same.”

There was now less than an inch between them as Will cupped her face with his hand and whispered against her lips.

“ Yes, I definitely feel in need of a little prayer time…”

His mouth covered hers, his lips soft and firm and Buffy’s eyes slid closed. A few seconds later he pulled away and she opened them again to see Will grinning.

“My prayer has been answered. I have been cleansed of the sin of piracy.”

“Then I must have taken your sin through the touch of our lips,” Buffy smiled, her tongue licking her bottom lip. “I guess you sullied me after all.

His eyes followed the movement of her tongue. “You have my sin? But you might use it to tempt me into further sin. I’d better take my sin back.”

Taking her hand, he pulled her behind the pillar and out of view of the other partygoers and kissed her again, this time inciting her to open her mouth, allowing their tongues to meet.

“Buffy!”

Buffy backed out of Will’s embrace when she heard her name being called and turned to see Joyce standing a few feet away, a small smile playing on her lips.

“Your mother was looking for you. I think she wants a word.”

“Oh…ok.” With a brief glance back at Will, Buffy headed off across the room.

Joyce was about to follow her, but Will stopped her.

“Excuse me, who is her mother?” This girl was the most beautiful creature he had ever met. He had never seen her before at any previous parties he had gone to. Maybe her family was new in town.

“Her mother is tonight’s hostess,” Joyce replied. “Maggie Summers and her husband, Hank are lovely people and their daughter is an absolute sweetheart. I’ve worked for the family since Buffy was born. Whoever marries the darling girl will be a lucky man. And wealthy too.” At that, she walked off in pursuit of Buffy.

Maggie and Hank Summers! His golden goddess was their daughter. He was aware of the girl’s existence, but he’d thought she was named Elizabeth or something. Obviously Buffy was a nickname. He liked it. But his smile quickly faded as he realized the implications of the situation.

He, William Rayne was smitten with the daughter of Hank Summers, his family’s greatest rival. He felt as though he’s been sucker punched…as though his life was completely over. He’d spent little more than a few moments with Buffy and already he couldn’t bear the thought of never seeing her again.

As he tried to get her head around it, he saw Xander coming over.

“Hey, Will, we’re gonna head out. Faith’s done the rounds and she can’t find anybody to interest her that she hasn’t already had...and you know she never does anyone twice! Plus, Anya’s been texting me for the last hour telling me she’s got a surprise for me when I get back. And since the last time I saw her, I was dropping her and Willow off outside Victoria’s Secret, in weighing up the pros and cons of staying versus going, this party is definitely losing. So you ready to go?” he asked, hooking his arm round Will’s neck.

“Yeah...” Will had hoped to have another chance to talk to Buffy, but chalked that up as a foolish impulse, and instead allowed his cousin to lead him towards the exit.

Having managed to escape her mother’s Riley Finn inspired version of twenty questions, Buffy arrived at the top of the main staircase in time to see Will heading towards the door and turned to Joyce.

“Joyce, do you know that guy that I was...er...talking to earlier? The one who’s over there near the door with the guy dressed as a soldier.”

Joyce smiled a knowing smile. “No, dear. I’ve never seen him at any of your father’s parties before. Maybe his family is new in town.”

“Do you think you could possibly go and find out for me? Before he leaves.”

Joyce rolled her eyes, unable to help indulging the girl who was like a daughter to her and hurried down the stairs towards the door. Buffy watched as she caught Will’s attention and he said something to her that made Joyce’s eyes widen. Maybe he was telling Joyce that he had a girlfriend and had only been looking for a little bit of fun to liven up the evening’s festivities. Immediately, Buffy felt stupid for openly flirting with him and even worse, letting him kiss her, without even finding out anything beyond his first name.

Joyce was coming back up the stairs, a strange look on her face.

“His name is William Rayne,” she whispered, when she reached the top. “He’s the son of Ethan and Drusilla Rayne.”

The news was ten thousand times worse than the thought that he was only playing games with her – Will was the only son of her father’s greatest rival. The few moments she’s spent talking with him and the brief kiss they’d shared had been the highlight of her evening and in that short time he’d made her feel more alive than she’d ever felt in her whole life. How was she supposed to just forget that?

“Buffy, are you ok?” Joyce asked, having seen Buffy’s face pale at the news.

Buffy blinked. “Yeah, I’m fine. I’m a little tired. I think I’m just going to go to bed. Would you give my excuses to my parents and to Riley?”

Without waiting for Joyce’s assent, she walked away down the hall to her room.