The restaurant had more than one table filled by couples making their way to the KET dance later that evening. Sunnydale was not overrun with fine dining establishments, so the few options were always packed before formals. Buffy looked around, remembering her date here with Angel. Was that really just a few weeks ago? In some ways it felt like an eternity. Her whole life had flipped around since then. Spike held the chair for her in a gentlemanly fashion, then flashed her that wicked grin as he clearly attempted to ogle the cleavage displayed by her strapless gown. She smirked back at him and batted her eyes as she thrust out her chest just a little more under his appreciative gaze.

Faith looked over at the couple beside her and Jonathan and suppressed a chuckle. Yep, she wouldn’t have gotten anywhere with Spike, that was for sure. The little flashes and grins between that pair were hot enough to light a fire and they seemed almost oblivious to the rest of the world around them.

"So B, you and Blondie joining the after party at that old B&B? Johnny here was just telling me about it."

Buffy looked at Faith, processing her words as she shook herself out of the haze created by Spike’s intense gaze. "Um, I’m not sure, I think we had a room, do we still?"

She directed that question to Spike, who’d clued in on the conversation. "We had a reservation, but I gave it to Jonathan here, thought you might want a place to crash after the party. Buffy and I have….other plans." He smiled at her and she blushed slightly.

"That’s cool, it’s right down the road from the old Casino, right? So we can party it up, no worries."

Jonathan piped up, still slightly in awe of his date, who had been really sweet to him so far. "We have a shuttle bus that’s gonna take people back and forth, so we can leave and come back if we want."

Willow and Xander joined in the conversation and the group quickly drew Jonathan and Faith into some funny tales of growing up on Revello Drive. The absence of Angel and Cordy, the other members of their core group, was felt, but went unmentioned as everyone worked to keep the dinner conversation light.

<><><><><>

Angel scowled slightly as he entered the restaurant. He’d known the others would be here, but somehow, seeing those two blonde heads across the way just made his spine crawl. Buffy was practically cooing at Spike as he fed her something off his fork. Next thing you knew, she’d be crawling over the table sucking his tongue down her throat. She’d had him fooled alright. Little Miss Prim and Proper. Oh no Angel. Oh, don’t touch me there Angel. Oh Angel, I don’t feel so well tonight. Whatever. He turned his attention to his own blonde sitting across the table and switched on the charm. Let Buffy and Spike have their little fling. He didn’t need either of them.

"Now Darla, you just look good enough to eat tonight."

She shrugged her slim shoulders and winked at him. She’d caught his furtive looks at Buffy, but that wasn’t going to spoil her mood tonight. She was on top of the world. "Well, that could be arranged later."

He laughed and focused on his date. Darla was everything Buffy hadn’t been - open, honest about what she wanted, and into him. The getting dumped hadn’t been much fun, but who really cared? He was Angel O’Connor and no little sophomore bitch was going to ruin his senior formal.

<><><><><>

Buffy stifled a giggle at some goofy comment Jonathan had made and glanced across the table to see Spike suppressing his own laughter. There weren’t many moments when she saw him so completely carefree. He’d dealt with a lot in his life, just as she had and they both had shadows from the losses early on that would always remain. But just now he looked young and happy. Suddenly he turned to her and she almost gasped at the glow of love reflected in his eyes. It was just a moment, a quick smile, then he turned back to reply to the conversation with Jonathan, but it left her reeling. She had a boyfriend. Buffy Summers was a part of a real couple, finally.

And what a boyfriend. Something in the way he looked at her told her he would do anything she asked, walk over hot coals, climb the highest mountain, go out in the middle of the night to get her ice cream. It was both exhilarating and infinitely frightening at the same time to know that she was the object of that kind of affection. She didn’t feel worthy and she wasn’t sure sometimes it was in her to love like that. But she’d made the leap and was going to give a try. She just prayed they both didn’t crash and burn.

She tuned back in to the discussion and picked up on Jonathan’s question.

"So Faith, you still in the med school track?"

"Nah, I decided I’d go for the money," she grinned, "I’m in the business school now. Did you stick with it?"

Jonathan nodded. "Uh-huh. Just finished getting all my applications out. Now it’s just cross my fingers and pray someone lets me in." He laughed, "Unlike some of us here, huh Spike?"

Spike muttered something about the service and tried to hail a passing waiter. Jonathan tried again.

"So, did you get all you applications out Spike?"

Spike shot a furtive look across the table before answering quietly, "Yeah, mate, got’em all off."

Jonathan persisted. "So where all did you end up applying? I did five, sort of the long shot, my fall back and three middle of the road ones. But with your grades, I bet you went for some of the big ones, huh?"

Spike shrugged. "Just gave it a try, don’t know if I’ll get accepted."

"So did you apply to Harvard like Professor Gibbons suggested?"

Spike nodded reluctantly. "Yeah, but you know, long shot." He looked at Faith, trying to think of a another topic of conversation, but the table was now focusing on him he realized.

"What about Duke? Isn’t that where that brain surgeon Friedman is, the one you wanted to study with?"

"Yeah."

"And Black at UCLA?"

"Mhmm. And UC-Sunnydale. Course, I’m sure that’s where I’ll end up." Inspiration struck. He looked down the table. "Hey Xan, did you hear anything from your company yet?"

Xander broke out into a huge grin. "Oh yeah! Willow knows, but I’ll share with the group. As of graduation, Alexander Harris becomes a manager at Sunnydale Construction, and the best part is that they’re going to pay for me to keep going to get a master’s in architecture."

Congratulations were offered round and the table began to chatter about Xander’s new job, the applications forgotten for the time. But Buffy continued to eye Spike speculatively, wondering why talking about his applications made him so nervous. She thought he’d been doing really well, was he nervous he wouldn’t be accepted?

<><><><><>

"Wow, that was an amazing meal. Guess we’re about ready to move on to the party, huh?" Willow pushed back with a little groan. not sure how she was going to shake and shimmy. The chocolate cake had been divine, but maybe a bit more than she should have indulged in. She turned to the others, "Ladies, shall we go participate in that famous female bonding ritual?"

Buffy giggled and tugged Faith up, "We shall, back in a minute guys." And the three strolled off to the restroom.

Once inside, they gathered round the mirror, touching up makeup and settling hair in the proper manner.

"So B, sounds like Spike’s a hottie and damn smart. You’re a lucky, lucky girl."

"I know." Buffy smiled at her reflection as she carefully applied lipstick. "I just hope he won’t get into it tonight with Angel. Did you see those looks they were giving each other in the restaurant? Spike’s been known to not turn down the chance to fight and I know Angel’s just dying to start something."

She blotted carefully as she leaned back. "I just want it to be a special night for us, no interference. Just Spike focused on me, on us, on this dance and our first real date."

Faith laughed. "So do something to keep his eyes on you. Be all sex kittenish and I bet he’ll totally forget Angel."

"Ya think?"

Willow nodded. "Works with Xander. Like if he’s all off in a project or something and not paying attention, I just tell him I’m not wearing underwear and suddenly he’s right there with me until he knows. I did that on our date last week, waited until we were in the middle of the theater, totally surrounded by people and I leaned over at the end of the previews and told him I wasn’t wearing any panties." She giggled. "I don’t think he had a clue about the movie, but it definitely got his motor revved for afterward."

Buffy filed away the thought for further contemplation. "So Faith, you and Jonathan seem to be hitting it off. How’s that going?"

The chat continued as the three finished primping and returned to their dates.

<><><><><>

As the group left the restaurant after the girls had returned to the table, Spike and Buffy hung back a little for a quiet moment for the first time since the guys had arrived to pick them up that night, while the rest of the group made their way to the rented limo the boys had picked out to chauffeur them to their destination for the evening.

"You look utterly gorgeous sweetheart. That dress is beyond words, though I have this impulse to wrap you up in my jacket before we get there and all my bleeding brothers try to ogle you."

"Like you were at dinner?"

"Exactly, but I have special ogling privileges."

She giggled as he dropped a kiss on her shoulder. "Yeah, I kinda guess you do."

They started off again so as to not keep the others waiting.

"So you having fun?"

"Oh yeah, like Cinderella going to the ball. This is the coolest first date ever. Never got to do the prom thing exactly - I mean there were occasional dances with a neighboring boys school, but they didn’t really have the junior/senior prom at my boarding school."

"Cinderella, eh? Maybe we should make sure we have you home by midnight, then, wouldn’t want a pumpkin on my hands."

"Are you suggesting we leave a bit early?"

"Wouldn’t be opposed, luv. Have to make an appearance and all, we can dance and mingle a bit, but frankly, I’d rather have you all to myself."

She caught an odd tone to his voice. "Are you worried about Angel?"

"Not worried, I can handle him if it comes to that. Just don’t want him to ruin things. Boy’s got a big mouth and he’s likely to run it. He was in there, just now, giving us the evil eye with his little tramp."

"Darla? That didn’t take long. Well, maybe he’ll be happily distracted with her and decide to leave us be. Spike, don’t do anything tonight. If he wants to say stuff, let’s just ignore him, ‘kay? I want us to have a perfect evening and I’d rather have you all spiffy and edible than beaten up and bruised. I have plans for you later, mister and I want all your parts in good working order."

He gave her a devilish grin. "All my parts, or are there some you’re more interested in than others?"

She smirked. "Guess you’ll just have to wait and see, won’t you?"

Xander poked his head out of the car. "Hey, slow pokes, get your asses in gear and come on. You can stroll in the moonlight when we get there."

The pair hurried to the car and settled in for the rest of the ride to the old casino.

<><><><><>

"Wow, this is gorgeous, I’d forgotten how pretty this place was," Willow breathed as she exited the car with Xander right behind her.

"Yeah, we were looking for a new location for the formal and remembered this place was being rented for parties now. Pretty swanky, huh?"

The others exited the car and took in the moonlit bathed building built out over the glistening waters of the lake. The noise of the party that had already started drifted down the long trestle that led across the water to the octagon-shaped building, which was flanked all around by a wide deck, with another, shorter pier that led to a small gazebo further out over the lake. Large windows beamed light and gave glimpses of the dancing couples inside.

The three couples hurried down the bridge to join the others.

<><><><><>

Cordelia lay curled up on her bed, silent at last. Her mother had called out of the blue earlier and had wanted to chat about some country club event coming up that they wanted her to bring Wesley to. Her social-climbing mother had been so delighted to find out her daughter was dating a Wyndam-Price, one of the San Francisco Wyndam-Prices, and had pestered Cordelia to bring him by ever since. She’d resisted, somehow not wanting to taint what was growing between them with her mother’s aspirations and insinuations.

The invitation had brought her back to the point of tears and she’d barely managed to choke them back so she could gracefully put her mother off and get off the phone before she totally lost it. The torrent of her pain had torn loose again and she’d cried until her eyes felt like sandpaper and her stomach hurt from gasping. She was truly an idiot of the highest order. Why had she ever listened to Angel’s stupid plan? That boy had been bad news since she lost her virginity to him when she was a junior in high school, a casual deflowering that had educated her in what guys were looking for from her type. He hadn’t promised hearts and flowers and she hadn’t expected it, but she’d developed a pretty cavalier attitude towards men after that, learning from Angel’s love ‘em and leave’m style. And where had it gotten her? Nowhere at all. She was left with an empty, broken heart and the knowledge that the man she genuinely loved never wanted to see her again.

She stared at the wall, listening to the slow tick of the clock. Wesley’s gone, Wesley’s gone, Wesley’s gone. Her reverie was suddenly broken by a pounding at her door.

"Hey Cordy, you in there? Some guy here to see you."

She was silent for a minute. Angel? No, she’d heard him earlier, picking up Darla for the dance. Glad to see he rebounded so fast. Could it be?

"Who is it Julie?"

"I think he said his name was Wes."

Cordelia sprang off the bed. "Tell him I’ll be there in just a minute." Her heart felt like it was beating a thousand patters a minute as she dragged a brush through her hair and raced to the bathroom to splash her face with cold water and hide the puffiness of her eyes. She threw on a bit of lipstick and debated on changing from the ratty T-shirt and jeans she’d put on earlier. Nope, no time, didn’t want to keep him waiting. Maybe he’s changed his mind, maybe he’s forgiven you, maybe he’s decided he understands. Her mind raced at the possibilities, almost too good to be true, but why else would he be here? She darted down the steps two at a time, pausing at the landing to compose herself and walking a little slower the rest of the way to the common area where he was waiting.

"Wesley, hey, I’m so glad to see you." She smiled in what she hoped was a charming rather than pathetic manner, so glad to see him again she had to force herself not to launch herself at him and hold on tight and never let go.

"Cordelia." Something about his tone and the look on his face stopped her in her tracks. There was a coldness, a deadness that she couldn’t ever remember seeing before. She involuntarily took a step back.

"Is there something wrong?"

His eyebrow lifted at the utter stupidity of her question. "Cordelia, I was wondering if you’d come take a ride with me. I think we have some things to discuss and it’s probably best we do it in private."

She nodded, not encouraged by the way he proposed the outing. Probably he wanted to scream at her or tell her off or call her names. Maybe she’d feel better if he’d did. The way he’d walked away today, without a word, it had almost seemed like he didn’t care at all. At least now, behind the icy demeanor, she could sense some emotion, some feeling motivating his actions.

"I’ll just grab a jacket and we can go."

She walked up the stairs, her feet dragging where they had just flown, and snagged a light jacket and her purse. She looked in the mirror for a moment, staring at the reflection of a bedraggled woman who had no hope left in her eyes. She sighed and began the long walk downstairs to where he waited.

<><><><><>

"So you having a good time?"

Buffy nodded as Spike pulled her closer and swayed against her to a slow number that had just begun. "Um-huh, it’s nice. Course it’d be nicer if you’d dance more with me."

She could feel his chest rumble against her as he chuckled. "Buffy, luv, I just got you and I’m not about to run you off with my horrendous dancing. Now I’ll be right here for every slow number, and they start a mosh pit, I’m in. But you just ask Xander over there about seeing me dance freshman year. I think I scarred him for life."

She giggled, making a mental note to drag that story out of Xander. "Spike, come on. You’re an athlete. very graceful. And you were in a band, so I know you aren’t completely rhythmically challenged. How bad could you be?"

He groaned, "Very, very bad. Sweetheart, I swim. You want to try water ballet, I’ll give it a go with you. But dry land, not so much. And this music’s hardly the kind I played."

She let it drop then, just happy to be snuggled against him. So far things had gone smoothly. Angel and Darla must be having a long dinner, cause they still hadn’t shown up yet. Which was fine with her. Spike had been keeping an eye on the door as well she’d noticed, ready for a confrontation she sincerely hoped wouldn’t come. But as time had passed, they’d both begun to relax. The news must have already spread about her and Spike as well, because aside from a few nudges and winks, no one had looked surprised to see them together.

The song came to an end and Spike drew her off the floor as the music’s tempo picked up. He went to grab a few more drinks as she wound her way back to join the others hanging out at the table that had been staked out by their group.

"Hey guys, where are Faith and Jonathan?"

"Cutting a rug, Buff. You should have seen them a minute ago slow dancing. Jonathan probably is recovering from a heart attack, he was all pillowed on Faith’s bosoms as they swayed around."

Buffy giggled. "Cute. I’m glad they’re having fun. Faith’s a lot nicer than I thought she’d be."

Willow nodded. "Yeah, kind of a tough girl veneer, but pretty sweet underneath. I think she’s having a good time."

Willow leaned back against Xander, whose lap she had claimed after the last dance.

"How are you guys doing? How much longer you gonna stick around?"

"We’re peachy. We’ll probably stay another hour or so. Spike’s hasn’t really drunk anything tonight, he’s driving us home later. Xander helped him drop his car off earlier so we could leave whenever, since we aren’t going on with you guys later."

"Cool. Maybe we should have done that baby, had that big old frat house all empty and to ourselves?" Willow rubbed her nose against Xander’s, slurring her words just a bit. Buffy rolled her eyes. A tipsy Willow was a very amorous Willow she had quickly learned in England.

Xander was responding, kissing down the side of her throat as he muttered something about the four-poster bed in their room and some silk scarves he’d brought and Buffy cleared her throat before she got any more information. "You guys want to go ahead and get a room over there?"

"Oh, sorry Buffy, caught in the moment and all that."

Buffy laughed at their slight flushes, just as Spike showed up with the drink and pulled her into his lap. She took a sip then turned to Xander. "Alright Xan, what’s this about Spike and dancing?"

<><><><><>

"Oh Darla, baby, you are so hot tonight."

"Angel, be careful, you’re going to rip my dress. I don’t want to have to go in there looking like I just got fucked on the hood of a car. I said we could do a quickie, as long as you don’t mess me up."

He grinned as he watched her slide off the brief red underwear that matched her red dress. He carefully slid the soft fabric up, revealing her to him as he took in her garter and hose, with nothing else obscuring her from his view. He stroked his hand up her thigh and began to caress her, loving the way she responded to his touch. Yep, he should have been with Darla all along, not wasting his time with Buffy. Somehow he couldn’t imagine in a million years that he could get Buffy to let him strip her half-naked on the hood of his car and fuck her not 500 yards from the casino in a small parking overlook.

He decided he could afford to be generous and brought her off quickly, knowing this was just the beginning of the evening and wanting to keep her in a good mood before turning her to lean over the hood as he loosened his trousers. He started to fumble for a condom when Darla twisted around.

"Oh, you don’t have to bother with that tonight, babe. I just got my test results back - I’m clean."

He was salivating at the thought of encasing himself in her hot passage with no impediments. "You sure? I mean you’re on the pill, right?" Couldn’t afford some little brats running around, not with the potential of a big career ahead.

"Uh-huh. You’re good right?"

He nodded, caressing the smooth globes as he pondered for a moment. He’d always been a stickler about the safe sex thing, but hell, if they were both clean and she was on the pill, he wasn’t turning this down. He teased her opening and felt her gasp slightly as he dipped inside.

"Yeah, I’m good. Hold on Darla, you’re in for a ride, babe."

She tightened her hold on the car hood as he slowly levered himself in and out before beginning to pound in earnest. Damn, he might be a conceited bastard, but he sure did have the moves. She moaned as he tightened his grip on her hips and hit just the right spot to send her over the edge.

<><><><><>

The silence seemed unbearable as he drove without speaking. He’d failed to open the door for her, a first for the usually polite Wesley, just clicked the remote and headed for his side as they left the house. She scrambled to get in and buckle up as he pulled out of the parking lot and began to drive. At first she’d though he was simply wandering aimlessly, then she realized he was headed for his house.

"Are we going to your place Wes?"

He didn’t speak for a minute, then nodded his head. "Jeremy and Devon are out for the night. I hope you won’t mind if we’re alone. I though it would be easier to . . . talk . . . there."

Something in his inflection sent a slight shiver of fear down her spine, but when she glanced at him, his face was still impassive. This was Wesley, right? Sweet, wonderful, caring, loving Wesley, who had never pushed her, who’d let her sleep all night in his arms and kissed her awake the next morning and never expected anything from her. Anything but her faithfulness. She’d known that was a big deal, known how the girl his parents had wanted him to marry had run around with dozens of guys, nipping any feelings he might have had for her in the bud. And she’d still done the same thing to him.

She didn’t know why she’d put off physical intimacy with him for so long. That hadn’t really been her style. She could do the whan, bam, see you later with the best of them, screw the guy, then laugh it off when he didn’t call. But somehow, with Wes, she’d wanted it to be special, not just some romp in the sack, but a real connection that she’d never had before. So even when Angel was still convincing her to release a little tension with him, she’d resisted the urge to go to Wes, wanting their first time to be more than that.

He’d been good about it. Their dates had been very platonic at first, ever so slowly working up to holding hands and kisses and light touches that made her pulse pound more than full body contact with another guy might have. Wesley left her all fluttery inside and she’d savored the gradual exploration, the tension building between them until it almost seemed unbearable and they’d move a little further.

It had felt like high school, petting in the back seat of her daddy’s car, knowing she wasn’t going to quite go all the way yet, but loving exploring the boundaries. She knew she was always going to wonder what making love with him would have been like.

They pulled into the drive of the house Wesley shared with two of the other members of the football team and she pulled herself from her musings. She followed him into the house as he led her straight into his bedroom and shut the door. He gestured to the bed and she sat on the edge, a little confused at the intimacy of the setting for the talk she expected.

"So, Cordy, Angel stopped me for a little talk."

Her mind raced, afraid of what Angel had said to him. He didn’t leave her in suspense for long.

"He mentioned how you’d been chasing after him, really coming on hard. Course he denied anything happened. Just wanted me to know my girlfriend was a slut, I think."

She flinched visibly at his words. She deserved it, but hearing him calling her that hurt badly.

"I still think you were probably telling me the truth, rather than Angel, cause otherwise I doubt you would have admitted to fucking him unless you’d actually done it. But it got me to thinking. If my girlfriend, Ms. Cordelia Chase, UC Sunnydale cheerleader extraordinairre, is shaking her pom-poms and doing her thing with all these guys, why am I missing out? Where’s my piece?"

Cordelia stared at him wide-eyed, unsure of what to do, but feeling trapped by his hardened gaze.

"So what do you say Cordy? How about one for the road? For old time’s sake? I’ll admit, I’ve been fantasizing about what it’d be like to screw you since you bounced out on the field as a freshman. So I think the time has come for us to act on that. Are you game, Cordy?"

Tears welled up in her eyes as she stared at him, seeing for the first time the pain behind the anger. What had she done to this man?

"Wesley, is that really what you want? Will that make it better somehow? If so, then yes, I’ll do it."

He grabbed her shoulders and shook her lightly, not enough to hurt but enough to grab her attention. "Oh no, no, Cordy, this is not a pity fuck. You claim you love me, claim you want me. Well, baby here’s your chance. Show me."

She looked up and saw for a moment the passion she’d seem in Wes before, the man who she thought had started to love her. This wasn’t the way she’d wanted their first time to be, but if it somehow could break through, somehow could reach through the pain and show him her heart, she’d do anything he wanted tonight.

Cordelia reached out and slowly cupped her hand against his cheek as she leaned in for a soft kiss. She murmured against his lips as he settled to the floor on his knees, "I’m gonna show you Wes. Please, let me show you how much I want to make this right."

<><><><><>

Angel and Darla made a very late fashionable entrance, strutting into the room as though it belonged to them. Buffy has been laughing at Faith’s story about her professor who’d gotten a pop-up message from Tammy at the Lovely Ladies Lounge in the middle of his PowerPoint presentation on Chaucer when she felt Spike stiffen and she noticed who had finally arrived.

Angel and Darla were beginning to circle the room, stopping to talk to people and generally make their presence known. Buffy eyeballed Darla’s dress and mentally satisfied herself that is was on the trashy side, while hers, on the other hand, was very tasteful.

She glanced as Spike’s face and watched the muscle in his clenched jaw jump. That was not good. He may have said he’d steer clear of Angel, but unfortunately, it looked like Angel didn’t plan to steer clear of them. He and Darla were now headed this way. Buffy rubbed his shoulder gently, and Spike offered her a weak smile, but the tension remained in his muscles. She swallowed, remembering Faith and Willow’s earlier advice. This called for drastic measures.

She grabbed the rest of her frou-frou girly mixed drink that Spike had gotten for her to fortify her courage for Operation Sex Kitten. She could not believe she was going to do this, but she thought, just maybe, it would work, and if she admitted it to herself, was one of those secret kinda naughty fantasies she’d been wanting to play out with him. She jumped up, pulling him with her.

"Spike and I are gonna take a walk, we’ll see you later."

He’d resisted a bit, but let her pull him towards the hallway with a side door onto the deck. Buffy tugged him along until they were outside in the fresh night air, a welcome change after the overcrowded room.

It was a beautiful night, everything silvered by the full moon which shone brightly in the cloudless sky. He smiled indulgently as he watched Buffy waltz in front of him, leading him down the pier that led to a small enclosed gazebo suspended on stilts above the water. It appeared to be empty at the moment, though he’d noticed couples heading out the door to what must be the place for a little privacy all night.

Buffy turned and winked at him as they neared the entrance to the gazebo. "Why look, I do believe we’re all alone out here."

Spike grinned as she ducked inside and motioned him to one of the small benches that lined the sides. "Why, so we are pet, whatever will we do with ourselves?"

She settled into his lap and captured his lips at his arms slid around her. He growled softly in appreciation as she initiated a long, slow, seductive kiss, sucking on his luscious lower lip, stroking his tongue with hers until he was avidly responding to her. She gave him one last nibble and began working her way to his ear. He groaned as she teased the sensitive spot on his neck right below his jaw, hadn’t taken her very long to suss out his weak spots he realized through the haze of warm, willing Buffy lovin’.

He blinked suddenly as he realized she was working at the fastenings on his pants. "Buffy . . . sweetheart, not that I don’t appreciate it, but what are you doing?"

She paused and looked up. A wicked grin crossed her face as she leaned in and whispered in his ear, "Well, I was planning on seeing if my skills had improved any since yesterday."

He gulped as he realized what she had in mind. "Sweetheart, you do realize that just anyone could come out here any time?"

"Of course." Her tongue traced the curve of his ear as her hand slid him free of the confines of his trousers and began to caress him. He was more than halfway hard already and she stroked him slowly, savoring the feeling of his length unfurling in her hand as their tongues mated and danced. He growled softly as she gently dragged her nails in a feather light caress against him and then pulled away.

"That’s half the fun. Now, your job is to just enjoy yourself. But there’s one rule. Can’t make any noises, ‘kay? Cause we wouldn’t want the others to come out here and disturb our fun."

He watched with something akin to awe as she settled between his legs and began to caress him with her tongue and hands, gradually engulfing more and more of his now rampant member in between her wet lips. He threw his head back, grabbing the railing of the gazebo as he bit his lip to keep the moans building deep inside from ripping free. Her movements were experimental as she toyed with him, learning more about what made his breath pick up or caused him to shudder or twist against her.

He tossed his head from side to side as he felt the tension mounting, that incredible building of pressure that told him he was near, when suddenly she stopped as the door from the main ballroom opened and some chits strolled onto the deck which surrounded the casino, their voices carrying across the still water, as they nattered about something that seemed remarkably inconsequential to him at the moment. He felt her mouth curve into a grin as she started to move again, picking up the pace and sucking just the way he liked on the upstroke as her fingers caressed his tightening sac. He made the mistake of looking down, trying to block out the annoying twits who were bemoaning Melody’s faux pas in wearing a dress nearly identical to Susy’s or some such nonsense and realized his mistake as he became entranced at the sight of Buffy’s carmine lips sliding over him again and again, while her eyes locked on his.

He was lost at that sight and felt the first shudders race through him as he bit his hand to keep from shouting as she swallowed his emissions. As he finally began to lose the high she’d given him and slowly floated back down to earth, he watched as she delicately wiped the corners of her mouth and reached between her breasts, retrieving a small tube of lipstick and a tiny mirror. He was fascinated, and momentarily distracted by the thought of what else she might keep in there, as he watched in awe as she slowly repainted her lips to that same ripe red shade that had been his undoing. The door suddenly slammed and the night was quiet again. He sank to his knees, pants still unfastened and flopping and encircled her with his arms, holding her for a moment, unable to speak.

She tilted his head up and he met her eyes. "I love you, Buffy. You are an amazing woman, you know that?"

"I’m trying to be." She met his gaze and felt a little flutter as she basked in the adoration she saw reflected there. "Spike, I love you. Tonight has been incredible and perfect and I really want a happy ending with my Prince Charming. I know Angel’s here, I know he’s with Darla and I don’t care. Here’s what I want. I want us to go back out there and no matter what he says or does, I want you to look right past him and remember that nothing he says matters, cause I’m your girl and I’m going home to your bed tonight."

"You’re my girl." It was more of a statement than a question, an affirmation of what she’d just said. She smiled at the goofy look on his face as he continued, "Darling, Angel can insult me, you, anyone in the room and I’ll just walk on by."

"Excellent. Now, what do you say me and you go have a few more dances, and then slip away to somewhere more private. Cause Spike," she leaned in closer as he finished fastening his trousers and rose to his feet, "I’m wearing that little black number you peeked at this morning, only, for some reason I couldn’t find the underwear. And honey, I am so wet right now, you could just slide right in." With that, she strolled to the entrance of the gazebo and stared down the dock.

"Coming?"

Spike stared at her almost speechless as his eyes dropped as though he could somehow confirm the lack of undies with heretofore unknown x-ray vision. His stupefaction passed and he lunged after her. "Oh, you naughty, naughty girl, you are in for it tonight, luv. Sod this dance, I’m taking you home."

She had almost made it back to the entrance to the ballroom, giggling as she tried to flee in her high heels, when he grabbed her for a kiss and attempted to explore the truth of her earlier statement with a quick grope through the slit of her skirt when the door suddenly swung open to reveal Angel and Darla.

"Well, well, well. If it isn’t the cute couple," Angel sneered.

"Angel, Darla, how are you?" Spike nodded, his voice remarkably carefree as he pulled Buffy closer to him.

"So, Spike, you enjoy having someone else’s leftovers? Course, seems like I remember you getting some practice with that before. Dru, wasn’t that her name? Yep, she was quite a ride too. And Buffster. That frigid act still working for you? Guess Spike here’s a mighty patient man, willing to wait for you to warm up and all. You can give me a call if you ever decide you’re ready to have your cherry popped, you know, if Spike can’t quite get the job done. I might can work you into my schedule."

Spike opened his mouth, ready to respond, when Darla suddenly spoke, her gaze traveling down to Spike’s crotch. "Um, Spike, you might want to . . ." She trailed off as Spike looked down and realized part of his shirttail was now caught in his zipper as a result of his hasty settling of his clothing. Her gaze shifted to Buffy. "And Buff, your lipstick’s a little smudged there, you’ll want to touch that up before you go back in."

Buffy glanced at Spike and the two simultaneously burst into laughter. "Thank you Darla, we’ll do that. Have a good night, enjoy the party," was Spike’s only comment before he led Buffy through the door.

"Luv, let’s you and me freshen up, then meet back and make the last call for us - one more dance and we’re going home." Buffy nodded and hurried into the restroom, her body humming with anticipation of the night to come.

_____________________________________

Angel stared after them with disbelief. How dare they just walk off and leave him? Even worse, what had that little exchange with Darla been about? He glanced over at Darla who was smirking at him. "What the hell was that, Darla?" he snarled.

She laughed. "Oh please Angel. Like you can’t figure out what the two of them were doing out there. Looks like Buffy’s not quite the cold fish you thought she was. Guess tall, dark and handsome doesn’t rev her motor, unlike some of us." She shrugged. "They make a cute couple."

He stared at her. "What are you talking about?"

Darla rolled her eyes. "Angel, hello? Clearly Buffy just gave Spike a happy out there." She slid closer and ran her blood red nails up his shirt front. "Looks like a nice private spot, you maybe want to go for an encore of earlier, kinda romantic with the moonlight and the water."

He turned on his heel with out a word and stalked away. She watched him go for a minute, before calling out, "Angel. Let it go. Don’t make an ass of yourself. From what I hear, you did a pretty good job of that the other night."

He kept going, walking away rapidly, blocking out Darla’s voice as he brooded over what had just happened. Buffy and Spike were a real couple? It wasn’t just some stupid attempt to make him jealous? He’d figured Buffy had just been pissed about that whole Darla thing and was trying to get some revenge with Spike. But they’d actually looked happy together, smiling, laughing, Buffy had been practically glowing. She’d never looked at him like that. He knew he was better looking than Spike, certainly more of an athlete, close to as smart. So why had she somehow fallen into that peroxide pest’s arms? He smashed his fist against the railing. He hated this. He hated the realization that there was something out there he couldn’t have.

_____________________________________

Darla’s temper rose as Angel kept going and left her standing alone. That son of a bitch. She agreed to come with him, saving him from the embarrassment of not having a date after Buffy very obviously dumped him, then he abandoned her? Where did he get off? She was about to start after him when she felt a tap of her shoulder and turned to see Lorne.

"Darla, hi. I’ve been looking for you for a while. There’s something important I need to tell you."

_____________________________________

Buffy exited the restroom and made her way back to the table where her friends sat.

"Hey Buffy, how was your walk?"

Buffy smiled. "Um, nice. The moon’s very pretty tonight. We went and checked out that little gazebo."

"Told you they were probably off finding a quiet spot to do the nasty." Faith laughed as Buffy turned red.

"Faith! We weren’t doing that, exactly."

Willow giggled as Buffy turned redder. "Um, Buffy, room, want to look into that?"

Suddenly Spike was behind her and pulled her back against him, turning her so that her face was hidden against his chest. "Now, now ladies, don’t be harassing my Goldilocks."

Willow rolled her eyes. "Never again give me that look when you think Xander and I are being too sickeningly sweet, Buff, cause I think you and Spike have moved into first place in the schmoopy Olympics."

Buffy turned back to her friends. "Whatever, muffin."

"What? Xander finds me tasty! Oh, wait, that didn’t come out quite right," Willow laughed.

The strains of the next song drifted across the floor. "TMI, Red. Buffy and I have a date for one last dance, then we’re off. If we don’t see Xander and Johnny again, give our regards and we’ll see you later."

"Bye guys," Buffy called as Spike pulled her into his arms and onto the dance floor.

_____________________________________

Darla stared at Lorne, her eyes huge. "You’re lying. You vicious, vindictive bastard. You’re just mad I didn’t stick around after your pathetic performance."

"Look sweet cakes, you can insult me all you want, but facts are facts. Little Fred made a mistake. She said she left a message for you but I’m guessing you didn’t get it. Why don’t you check your messages?"

Darla turned away and whipped her cell phone from her hand bag, dialing her number, then the remote code. She listened to the message in horror, then replayed it a second time, before feeling her legs start to buckle. She started to slide as Lorne reached out and caught her, bracing her against the railing.

"I’m guessing you got the message then. Darla, for what it’s worth, I’m sorry. It’s treatable you know, just not the most fun treatments from what I’ve heard."

Darla scowled at his attempt to cheer her and looked around wildly. She had to get out of here. Where was Angel? Wait, Angel. She flashed back to their recent romp. He was going to kill her.

"Lorne, if you see Angel, just tell him I had to go. Don’t mention the rest, okay?"

He nodded. "You sure you’re alright? Can I get you something?"

She shook her head. "No, I just really need to go home." She turned and walked down the bridge which led to the parking area where some taxis waited. He watched her climb into one and then turned and walked back into the dance, pausing to snag another Seabreeze as he entered. Somehow, that hadn’t been as fun as he’d expected.

_____________________________________

Angel reentered the main hall, his eyes narrowed. Things were not working out like he had planned. This was his senior year, his frat’s formal and he’d expected to be the center of attention, Buffy on his arms, hanging out with all his friends. Instead he was alone and miserable. He scanned the room, searching for Darla in her bright red dress. She shouldn’t be that hard to spot. He sighed heavily, slightly dreading the encounter. He knew he probably shouldn’t have left her like that, and he had no doubt if she was upset she’d let him know. He’d learned pretty fast that Darla went after what she wanted and told you how she felt, not a lot of game-playing there.

He paused by a table as he scanned the dance floor, trying to see if she’d joined the writhing crowd, idly tuning into the conversation that was occurring on the other side of one of the dividers that sectioned the dance floor off.

"Penn, who’s that girl with Spike?"

"The blonde? Oh, that’s Buffy Summers."

"Huh, I didn’t know he was dating anyone."

"Yeah, apparently they just started going out. You should have seen it at the house the other night. See, Buffy was dating Angel, and . . ."

"Wait, Angel O’Conner? He was dating her, or just sleeping with her?"

"No, that’s the thing, he was actually dating her. Hey wait, there’s Lorne, he’ll give you the low down." Penn stood up and waved as Lorne entered the room. Angel pulled back further behind the divider.

"Lorne, what’s the deal with the Buffy Summers chick? How’d she manage to snag Angel and Spike? They are such hotties," the unknown female voice asked.

"Well, sugar, Miss Summers is apparently quite the catch. In addition to being cuter than a button, she’s got a sweet little trust fund that’s gonna make her a wealthy woman one day. Course you look at those two out there now, I don’t think that has much to do with it. That is what they call true love. The way I hear, our Spike has had a yen for his Goldilocks for a long time now, and they finally got together just this week. Quite dramatic too. Buffy gave Angel the boot over at the KET house, then Spike carried her out all Gone With the Wind."

"Wow, that’s so romantic."

Angel clenched his fists and moved away, having heard enough. Buffy, Spike, Buffy, Spike, could people please find another topic? Darla’d find some way over to the hotel he figured, he needed to go get very, very drunk right now.

_____________________________________

Spike pulled into the driveway and parked his car in the usual spot. As he turned off the ignition, the couple just sat for a minute, snuggled together.

Buffy turned her head slightly so it rested even closer in the curve of his neck as she idly played with the loose ends of the tie he’d unfastened as soon as they left the casino.

"This is nice," she whispered softly, almost loathe to break the silence that had surrounded them as they drove home.

"Yeah, it is," he confirmed as he tightened his arm around her.

"I’m finally seeing the advantage to this old car you like so much, I can get all snuggly with you."

He brushed the top of her head in a soft kiss. "Um-hum."

They sat for a few minutes more, basking in the moonlight and stillness of the quiet neighborhood. The urgency and lust that had been pounding through him earlier had somehow dissipated on the drive home, as he contemplated the mystery that was Buffy. She was an enigma to him, probably always would be, part pouting little girl, part seductive as hell temptress, but always determined and loyal to those she loved.

And she had promised that he was one of those lucky ones, maybe the luckiest, because he’d somehow managed to move from just being her friend to being something more, something unique in her life. He brushed his hand against the shell of her ear and down the length of her neck, marveling at the feel of the softness of her skin under his fingertips.

"Luv, thank you for that, tonight, and not just the little surprise you pulled in the gazebo. Thanks for stopping me from getting into with him. I know Angel’s just a big wanker and that sometimes walking away’s the bigger thing to do, but I’d have probably punched him anyway if you hadn’t given me a good talking to."

She turned her face up to his, trying to catch his shadowed eyes. "You’re welcome. And thank you for giving me a spectacular evening. I had a lot of fun tonight, Spike. Getting dressed up, hanging with our friends, but most of all, just being with you. So I’d say we’re even."

He stared down at her for a moment, then quirked his lips into a seductive grin. "You know Cinderella, it’s not all that late. I think we might could find some other things to do before you turn into a pumpkin."

He started for her lips and when he was the merest fraction from them, so close she could feel his warm breath, he pulled back and followed the line of her face until he slowly traced the curve of her ear with his tongue. "I’m gonna make you beg and scream until you can’t come anymore tonight, luv."

Her breathing increased at his promise and she realized that little noise was her half-moan as she felt the heat that had been simmering all night between them start to swell again. He slowly pushed her back and trailed a line of kisses down her throat as he explored his way closer to the swell of her breasts that had been tormenting him since he first saw her dress. Distracted, she failed to notice what his other hand was occupied with until a waft of cool air drifted across her thigh and she felt him slowly tracing the tops of her stockings.

"Now, then, let’s find out if you were telling the truth." His hand drifted northward and she let out a little squeal as he found the prize he’d been looking for. He gave a growl as his fingers dipped inside, then teased her nub as she shuddered beneath him. "Oh, luv, it’s a good thing you didn’t tell me earlier, we’d have never made it out of the apartment tonight." She sighed against him as he kissed her again, already so lost in the moment that she could barely concentrate on his words.

Suddenly he pulled away and smoothed her skirt back down as she uttered a small eep of protest. "Spike, no, don’t stop."

He smiled. "Not stopping, just moving us to somewhere a little more private. We are still in the car, sweet, and I don’t quite fancy giving the Professor a show, though he might knock some off my rent after a look at you in all your glory."

She gasped as she realized they were still entangled in the front seat of his car. Spike noticed her surprise and laughed. "Becoming quite the exhibitionist there aren’t you, luv? Next thing I know you’ll be wanting to check out the library and the bell tower and all the other hot spots on campus."

"You mean people really do it in the library?" She tried to sound slightly appalled, but it somehow came out vaguely interested.

"Yes indeed, luv, stumbled on a pair during midterms in the fourth floor cubbies - guess they thought the place had cleared out and they could have a bit of a study break. Why, you interested?"

She darted him a quick look as they mounted the stairs. "Maybe."

He laughed. "Buffy, sweetheart, you are never gonna stop surprising me."

He unlocked the door and moved aside for her to enter. He flicked on one lamp, then began to move around the room, lighting the candles that remained from their first night together. She watched for a moment as the room took on a slight glow and he flicked the lighter closed before cutting of the lamp, leaving the room in soft shadows and dancing light.

She started across the room slowly towards him and reached for his jacket, then his tie. He stood quietly, watching as she circled around him, running her hand caressingly down his chest in a way that seemed almost territorial, as though marking him as hers. Her nimble fingers began to remove the studs that fastened the shirt together and dropped them on the night stand as she ran her nails across his chest, teasing his nipples into hard points. He watched her, an intense look in his eyes as she gently pushed him back on to the bed and sashayed a step or two away.

She reached behind her and he found himself holding his breath as her zipper descended and the dress slid away, leaving Buffy in the lace and silk creation he’d been dreaming about all day. The corseted upper half held her breasts high and highlighted her slim waist and the brief garter belt held the sheer black stockings in place. She looked away, suddenly feeling shy under the full onslaught of his admiration and he rose from the bed to pull her towards him. He seated her and knelt at her feet, slowly parting her legs, enjoying the way she still developed a rosy little blush as she watched him caress her intimately. He gave her a soft kiss, then repeating her earlier move, gently pushed her back as he descended her body. "Gonna return the favor now luv."

_____________________________________

Cordelia lay beside Wesley, biting her lip to keep from crying. She’d tried, she really had. Everything she knew, every way she’d been able to please a guy before, she tried with him. He had stamina. They’d been going at it for hours now and he finally seemed sated. But in the end, she realized she felt more used than she ever had in her life. She felt like a cheap hooker he’d picked up in the bad part of town that passed for a red light district in Sunnydale. He hadn’t hurt her but he hadn’t loved her either. It had been nothing but sex and she felt even emptier than earlier that night.

She slowly rolled away and let the hot tears spill down her face onto the pillow, trying desperately not to let the sobs escape her. She didn’t have much left, but she wasn’t going to cry in front of him, not after this. She wished she could hate him for using her, but it had felt like penance, like she owed her somehow for what she’d done.

She jumped a little when she felt his hand on her shoulder. "How do you feel Cordelia?" His tone had somehow lost the hard edge it had had earlier in the evening.

She wasn’t sure how to respond. Did he want to hear that she felt used? Did he need to know she’d been appropriately punished? Was that what he was looking for?

"Wesley, can you please just take me home now?" She couldn’t stop them this time and the tears began to trickle down her cheek. She didn’t resist when he slowly rolled her over and pulled her against him, needing some kind of warmth at the moment so much that she didn’t care that he was the source of her tears.

He held her for a few minutes, his hand soothingly rubbing small circles on her back as she slowly gained control of her emotions again. A long moment passed where they both lay in the fragile silence, suspended for a moment in a place where they weren’t hurting one another.

At last he spoke and shattered the silence. "Cordy, I’m so very sorry."

She titled her head back, startled that he was apologizing, but he continued on, eyes firmly fixed on the ceiling and avoiding her gaze.

"I didn’t want it to be like this, between us. You blew my world apart Cordelia. Ever since I first saw you cheering for us your freshman year, I’ve wanted you. But I was engaged and you were always taken, flitting from guy to guy. I was never under any misapprehensions about your virtue, you know. But when I finally convinced my parents to let me break things off and live my own life, I knew you were what I was looking for. When Angel offered to set us up, I was on cloud nine for a week."

"Do you remember out first date?" She nodded against him. "We took that picnic out to that overlook and just talked for hours. And I realized that there was something more to Cordelia Chase than just a pretty face. I started falling in love with you that day Cordy. And I didn’t mind taking things slow."

She huddled closer, somehow knowing what was to come next and wanting those last few seconds to be close to him.

"You ripped my world apart yesterday. I never saw that coming. I knew you weren’t a virgin, I didn’t expect you to be. You have a past, I have a past, but what mattered was us, where we were now. And I never thought you would betray that." He voiced cracked a little and she realized he had started to cry. "I thought that you felt the same way."

She couldn’t stand the sound of his anguish, and reached up to catch the tear as it trickled down his cheek. "I do Wesley. It was killing me, eating me away inside. But it was like I had dug this hole and every day that went by that I didn’t say something, the harder it got. And you were so wonderful, I felt like you really saw me, and I just wanted to hold on to that for as long as possible."

She shifted, sitting up beside him and tentatively taking his hand in hers as she tucked the sheets around her. "Wesley, I don’t deserve you, and I don’t deserve a second chance. But I want you to know that you changed my life. I’m so, so sorry I hurt you. You don’t know what I’d give to go back to the beginning, to that first picnic, and start all over again. But we can’t. I know I destroyed your trust and I’m sorry for that as well. I know words can’t make up for it, I know what we did here tonight can’t make up for it, but I wish there was something that could."

He didn’t pull away from her hand lightly grasping his, but he turned his face as though fascinated by the poster on the wall, so she was startled when he suddenly spoke.

"There is you know."

"There is what?"

"Something you can do."

Cordelia swallowed. "Okay Wesley, what would you like me to do?"

"Always be honest with me in the future." He sat up and met her gaze. "We can’t start over, it would be ludicrous to pretend otherwise. But I don’t want this to end. You’re like no one I’ve ever met Cordelia. And I don’t want to let you go."

He paused. "I thought this would do it you know. I thought maybe I was hung up on the fact I never slept with you, it was just the lure of the unknown. But the thought of letting you walk out of here, Cordy, I can’t. God help me, but I still love you and I can’t let you go."

With a glad cry she launched herself at him, holding him as tight as she could. "Oh Wes, I will. I’ll never lie to you again. I’ve been so miserable, I couldn’t eat, couldn’t sleep. Thank you."

He held on to her, his nose buried in her hair. "Just don’t make me regret this, please Cordy. I can’t do this again."

"You won’t have to."

They slowly sank back down, curled around each other. Cordelia closed her eyes, savoring the feel of his skin, still a little sweaty, as he shifted against her. She knew everything wasn’t okay and it was going to be a long time before the shadows in his eyes were gone and he really trusted her again. But he was willing to try and so was she, and that was what mattered right now. She tried to focus on the good and just enjoy the chance to still be with him. But neither could help the nagging doubts that persisted in the back of both their minds as they sank into an exhausted sleep.

Angel rolled over and looked at the clock. Shit, it was already past 11:00. He scrambled off the bed and clutched at his head as waves of pain overran him. His mouth felt like a cat had died in it and he suspected he might be about to hurl. He eased back down and slowly glanced around the room, willing the events of the previous night to come back to him, Right, the formal, he was at the hotel. He’d gone with Darla. Where was she?

"Darla?"

No answer. Another careful survey of the room showed no evidence of her gown or shoes. Had she even shown up? He must have really pissed her off. The disaster of the previous night began to trickle back as he studied the collection of liquor bottles scattered around him. Looked like he’d pretty much cleaned out the hotel bar. Buffy, Spike, Xander, Willow, the looks of his frat brothers, some of pity, others of indifference started to rush back with a vengeance as his head continued to pound.

Angel sighed and slowly got up, carefully making his way to the bathroom, As he stepped into the shower and turned the water to cold, he slumped against the side of the wall. How had he gotten to this point? He felt like death, his closest friends since seventh grade weren’t even speaking to him and he’d never felt more alone.

As the cold water slowly began to increase his alertness, he tried to shake it off. He finished the shower, threw a towel around his waist and was headed into the main room when he was startled by a knock at the door. Had Darla come back? Or shown up to check up on him?

He swung open the door to reveal a blonde, but not the one he’d been expecting. "Spike? What the hell are you doing here?"

Spike pushed past him and sauntered into the room, pulling out the small chair that matched the desk and swinging it around to straddle it. "Come to have a chat, Angel. I figure you and I have a few things to work out."

Angel shut the door and sat on the bed, staring at Spike. Could the morning get weirder? "Okay, so talk. Hope you don’t mind if I get dressed."

Spike shrugged. "Go ahead."

Angel grabbed a pair of pants and some boxers, sliding them on and towel drying his hair as he listened.

"Angel, we go way back. You know that. You and Xan beat me up and made me right at home when I moved here. Broke me in good. There was a time when we were almost like brothers, more than just this fraternity crap. But you’ve changed, man. You got full of yourself. And you thought you could take whatever you wanted."

Angel looked up, knowing this was the heart of the visit.

"Angel, I’ve loved Buffy for longer than I remember, but I was willing to give you a shot You asked and I agreed to back off. But you lost Angel. Buffy’s my girl now. She made her choice and it’s me. I’m not here to gloat, but I am here to warn you, you mess with her again, in any way, and you will seriously regret it."

"So you’re here to tell me you didn’t do anything at all to persuade her Spike? She just up and ran to you and decided you were the guy for her?"

Spike looked away for a minute, then regained his focus. "Angel, I can honestly say I don’t regret what I did. You knew we hung out, you knew I was tutoring her. I tried to be neutral. And yeah, you’re not wrong. Stuff happened before she told you it was over. But it was after she found out you were running around with Cordy and Darla and who knows who else. So don’t try to take the moral high ground."

Angel grabbed his shirt and yanked it on. "I get it Spike. Stay away from your girl, I had my chance. I got it. I won’t come near your precious Buffy."

Spike stood up and crossed the room, stopping Angel with a hand on his shoulder. "No, you really don’t. Angel, this isn’t just about Buffy. Xander and I, we’re worried about you. You guys pulled me back from a bad place after Dru. I might not have made it without you. You’re going at it pretty hard lately. We know you’re drinking more, and a couple of the other players on the team have mentioned that you might be taking stuff. Angel, you’re gonna fuck up any chance at a career you might have if you go down that road. You know they’ll catch you sooner or later and you’ll be off the team."

Angel pulled away. "Who told you?"

Spike shook his head. "Not saying. Just a rumor, really, but that’s how things get started. Is it true?"

Angel walked over to the window. "Once, just once, a few weeks ago, bad game. But it helped, I did better in practice that week."

"You really want to win that way?"

"Hell, no. But it was a tough game and I guess I’ve been distracted."

"You gonna do it again?"

"Probably not."

"I’d say you should change that to a never. Like I said, there’s rumors, and you’ve got rivals. I wouldn’t be surprised if you didn’t get a surprise drug test next time." Spike got up. "You done here? I’ll take you to your car."

Angel stared at him for a long minute, then reached for his bag. "Spike, I don’t get it. Why are you even here? I thought you’d be furious and trying to kick my ass after last night."

Spike grinned. "Oh, I wanted to. Still kinda do. But Buffy and I had a long talk and she made me realize some things. If she’s willing to let bygones be bygones, so am I."

They exited the hotel and Angel slid into the car as Spike started the engine. "So what happened to Darla?"

"I don’t know. She left and I couldn’t find her. She was ticked off, I guess she went home. I should call her."

Angel took out his cell phone and after a few mistries finally got her number right. He listened as the phone rang repeatedly but got no answer. "She’s not home and her machine isn’t picking up."

He dialed his voice mail code and waited for the messages to start. Spike glanced over and noticed how pale he’d become. "What’s wrong?" he asked as he pulled the car into the casino lot beside Angel’s car.

Angel didn’t respond, just jerked the car door open and vomited the remains of the previous night’s binge on the ground. He sat back up and closed his eyes, then handed Spike the phone after hitting the button to replay the message.

Spike listened to Darla’s tearful voice relay the news of her test results and that she had decided to go home to Virginia for the rest of the semester. She left the relevant contact information for him to get in touch with Dr. Walsh and wished him well.

Spike hung up the phone. "Close the door. We’ll come back for your car later." And with that they started for the campus and the emergency weekend clinic.

__________________________________________

Buffy settled in the seat beside Spike, sliding over against him. "Sweetheart, much as I love the fact you can’t seem to get enough of me, you do know there’s that whole seatbelt thing?"

She made a face and slid back to her side of the car. "Spoilsport. What’s the fun in having a big old car with a bench seat if I can’t cuddle you?"

He sighed and gave in as she wiggled over next to him again, starting towards the frat house to pick up the formal pictures that had come in that day.

"You think they’re going to be surprised?"

Spike smiled down at her. "I think so. Course you can’t put much past Jenny. She’s probably already figured it all out. I never could get much by her, and neither could you."

Buffy laughed. "That’s true. I hope we got some good pictures."

She was silent for a moment, then as they neared the house, she asked quietly, "How’s Angel?"

Spike sighed. "Pretty bad. He’s supposed to get the test results back today or tomorrow. He says he always used condoms with her except for one time, so he’s hoping he’s going to lucky. Course Dr. Walsh called the Coach and told him, so Angel got bawled out at practice. Coach has told him he better not think about hooking up again before the end of the season."

"Can they do that? I thought your student health records were confidential?"

Spike laughed. "Well, normally they are, luv. But the coaches, they have ways. They want to keep up on their players and most of the docs will call them if something comes up. It’s just the way it works."

They pulled in and mounted the front stairs to the common room where the pictures where spread out for pick-up. They found a couple of good shots of them and Spike paid. Buffy tugged on his arm as he browsed through the others. "Spike, I’m just going to go up and see if he’s okay."

Spike nodded. His heart still did a little uneven skip when he thought about her in contact with Angel, but he knew it was just Buffy being Buffy.

She climbed the steps, nodding to a couple of guys as she passed that she’d come to know over the last few months. She knocked on Angel’s door, remembering the drama of the last time she was here. Was it only last week?

He opened the door, his face a study in depression.

"Angel, can I come in?"

He started at her, then opened the door.

"I guess you want an apology?"

She looked around, surprised. "Well, no. I mean it’d be nice, but that’s not what I came for. I just wanted to see if you were alright, and if you’d heard."

He nodded and sat down at his desk. "I just got the call. I’m okay. They’ll retest me in a few months, just to be sure, but it looks like I dodged the bullet."

"Angel, that’s great. I’m happy for you." She paused. "Aren’t you happy for you?"

He shrugged. "Yeah. I mean I’m glad the test was negative. Doesn’t change much. I’m still on probation with Coach, over this and some other stuff."

"Oh." Buffy sat, not sure what to say. She’d expected him to be so happy and here he just seemed, well, broody. They sat in silence until finally he spoke.

"I don’t get you two, you know that? I don’t get why you and Spike are trying to be nice to me. Is this some sick way to rub my face in you picking him or something?"

Buffy stood up, surprised by the outburst. "Angel, no. No, it’s not like that at all. I guess . . . I guess we both just want to move on. You were our friend, Angel. You screwed up. I don’t know if you would really have hurt me or not. I’d like to think your conscience would have kicked in. But we’ve been friends for a long time and I hope we can all get past this."

She stood up and walked over to him. "I love Spike. He makes me happy, makes me feel like no one else ever has. I did have a big crush on you Angel, once upon a time. But I know now that’s all it was, just a crush. So if I gave you the wrong idea, I’m sorry."

Angel looked down at the small slip of a girl and realized just what he’d lost, though he’d already figured out she’d never really been his to lose. "Buffy, for what it’s worth, I didn’t really want to hurt you. That wasn’t what I was after, okay?"

She nodded. "I know."

Just then a brief knock sounded on the door and Spike strode into the room. "Everything okay in here?"

"Everything’s good, honey." Buffy immediately crossed to him and wrapped her arms around him in a reassuring hug. "Got the pictures?"

"Yeah. How are you Angel?"

"I’m good. Got the results, negative."

"Good for you. Well, Buffy and I have a meet the parents dinner to get to, so we’re off."

Angel nodded his good-bye and watched as they walked out the door.

__________________________________________

"So he apologized?"

"After a fashion. I guess we just let it go."

"Probably best, assuming he doesn’t pull anymore crap."

"Agreed. Now, how do we do this? Do we make a big announcement, show them the pictures . . . what?"

Spike laughed and pecked the top of her head with a small kiss. "Calm down, Goldy. Wanting to make a big production out of this aren’t you?"

"It’s a big deal Spike. You’re the first boy I’ve brought home."

He rolled his eyes. "Um, Buffy, you realize it’s about to become my home as well, when Jenny officially moves in."

"Mmhhmm. Guess you’ll just have to share my bedroom now, won’t you?"

More giggling and a slightly distracted Spike finally succeeded in pulling the car fairly accurately into the drive.

__________________________________________

The couple entered the kitchen with a safe distance between them. Buffy crossed to her usual perch beside the kitchen island. Spike lounged against the kitchen door, laughing as Buffy got her hand slapped for trying to sneak a brownie out of the still cooling pan in front of her.

"Get used to it Goldilocks. Jenny doesn’t let you get away with that stuff in the kitchen when you’re family, you’re losing your guest privileges."

Buffy pouted. "Jenny, I always used to get brownies when Spike didn’t!"

"William’s right, no more coddling for you. Now, you two, I want to hear about the formal. Buffy was all tight-lipped at work, no details. How was it? Did you bring me pictures?"

Spike retreated to the hallway where he’d left the shots laying,. "Where’s Giles? We want him to look at them too."

Jenny crinkled her brow. "Study, I think. He had some papers to look over. He can look at them later."

She made a grab and Spike held them over her head out of reach. "Nope. You need to see them together."

"And why is that?" Jenny asked.

Buffy slid off her stool and headed down the hall. "I’ll go get him."

As soon as she was out of earshot, Jenny smirked at her nephew. "So you two finally got together, huh?"

Spike tried to look innocent for a minute and failed completely as a wide grin split his face. "Yeah, how’d you guess?"

Jenny laughed. "You think Rupert and I are the only obvious ones? You’ve been making moon-eyes at Buffy for years, sweetie and she just lights up when we talk about you at the gallery." She circled the island and gave him a hug. "I’m happy for you William. You two will be good for each other."

Giles and Buffy entered the room. "Jenny? Is something wrong?"

Jenny gave Spike a final squeeze . "Not at all. Spike, show him the pictures."

Spike handed Giles the shots as Buffy crossed to him and whispered in his ear, "I thought we were gonna tell them together?"

He threw his arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer so he could whisper back, "She figured it out."

"Oh."

Giles and Jenny looked over the various candid shots of Buffy and Spike dancing and chatting with friends. Giles looked at the shots, then at the snuggled pair in front of him, then at Jenny.

"Oh."

"Exactly, am I good or what?" Jenny said.

Giles looked at the couple. "So you two are an item?"

"Well, we’re not something you can buy at the grocery store, but yeah, you could say that. We’re an item." Buffy watched his face closely and let out a little sigh as Giles smiled.

"Spike, as a person I respect once told me, took you long enough. Just treat her right and we won’t have any problems, all right?"

Spike nodded.

"Well, I say we eat."

Spike dropped a kiss on Buffy’s cheek as they all grabbed a dish and headed for the dining room.

__________________________________________

The car pulled up outside Stevenson Hall and Buffy prepared to get out, happy that the evening with the folks had gone so well. She and Jenny had plans to nail down her bridesmaid dress in the next week and the other arrangements were coming along smoothly. The wedding was going to be a great end to her first semester back and she was beyond happy to see Giles and Jenny so enraptured with each other.

Spike stopped her as she reached for the door handle. "Sure you don’t want to come back with me tonight?"

"Spike, we talked about this. One night during the week, no more. I can’t just move in with you."

He quirked an eyebrow as if to argue against the point but let it go. "I know kitten, I just like it when you’re there. Are we still on for Saturday?"

Buffy nodded. "It’s a date. Where are we going?"

He winked at her. "Nope, gonna be a surprise."

"Well, what should I wear?"

"Whatever you would’ve worn on a date in high school. Oh and I’ll pick you up at Giles’ house, okay?"

Buffy rolled her eyes. Maybe he was taking this a little to far.

"Alright. What time?"

"Let’s say 7:00."

__________________________________________

The rest of the week flew by with school and the charity fundraiser she’d signed up to work on for the sorority keeping her occupied. Not seeing Spike was almost painful at times, but she couldn’t suppress the nagging fears of being consumed by their relationship. The boundaries she’d insisted on seemed silly even to her at times. She wanted to be with him, he wanted to be with her, she loved him, he loved her. But then so had her parents, as least in the beginning.

In the short time they had been together, it was as if her world had begun to revolve around a Spike-centered axis, exactly as she has suspected it might. So the limitations had to stay for now, but she was very glad Saturday had finally arrived and she could see him tonight. Four days of Spike missage had almost done her in.

As she finished up with the new display she was setting up for Jenny, she heard her soon-to-be-aunt emerge from the back office.

"Oh Buffy, that looks great, you really have a good eye."

"Thanks," Buffy said as she stepped back and viewed her work critically. "It’s not bad, is it?" She turned to the dark-haired woman. "Oh, I just wanted to let you know I need to get ready at the house tonight, just for an hour or so, then I’ll be out of your hair."

"No problem Buffy, you know you’re always welcome."

"I know, but, well, you and Giles have a private life and there are some things I’m better off not interrupting."

Jenny laughed at Buffy’s pained expression. "Not easy thinking about your uncle knocking boots with someone? You two are like peas in a pod. He’s got some hang-ups about you in the same regard."

Buffy blushed slightly. "I don’t know what you’re talking about Jenny," she said primly before she burst out laughing.

"Come on, ride back with me." Jenny locked up the gallery and they started for her car. "So is something going on at the dorm?"

Buffy shook her head. "No, I’ve got a date with Spike. We were talking and I was telling him that I never got to do the dating thing in high school, so that’s what we’re doing tonight. He’s going to pick me up, make small talk with Giles while I make him wait, etc., the whole sixteen, first date kind of thing. Very sweet, but he won’t give me any details where we’re going."

Jenny laughed at Buffy’s dreamy look. "He really is a romantic at heart, isn’t he? At least, he is with you. I’m so glad you worked things out."

Buffy settled back for the short drive. "Me, too."

__________________________________________

Spike pulled into the driveway, oddly nervous, as though he were seventeen again. He checked his hair, good, still slicked back in the way that always provoked Buffy to play with it and loosen the curls. He’d never admit it aloud, but he loved it when she ran her fingers through his hair and messed it up. He could sit there for hours, almost enthralled, while she played with his locks, tisking about the gel that straightened his curls.

He strode up the walk and took the porch steps two at a time, then formally knocked on the door. It swung open to reveal Giles.

"’lo old man, I’ve come to ravish you daughter."

"Very funny, come in Spike. Buffy should be ready shortly, she mentioned something about making you wait so I could grill you about your intentions."

"Entirely honorable, of course. Is Jenny here?"

"Yes, she’s in the study."

At that moment, Jenny emerged from the hallway and gave her nephew a hug. "Hey stranger. You know you have a tux fitting next Saturday with Rupert."

She smirked at the identical expressions of distaste that appeared on both their faces. "Now, now boys, you both promised to play nice and not complain."

"But I just had to wear one, Can’t I just go with the same thing again?"

Jenny shook her head. "Nope. But Buffy did tell me that she thinks you look very hot in a tux."

Spike’s pout changed to a smirk. "Does she now? Well, I suppose I can stand it, special day and all."

Jenny moved to Giles and pecked him on the cheek. "I think you look very hot in a tux and …" She leaned in to whisper in his ear. Giles laughed and pulled her in for a passionate kiss as Spike made less than subtle gagging noises. Buffy laughed as she came down the stairs. "PDAs, people, PDAs, you’re going to corrupt our innocent eyes."

Giles broke off for a moment. "Spike, you and Buffy have a nice night now, see you later," before returning to Jenny.

Spike held out his hand and led Buffy out to the car. "I can tell when we’re not wanted. You look smashing tonight, luv."

"Thank you." Buffy had ended up wearing a short faded denim skirt with a soft, fuzzy, pink V-neck sweater she’d found packed away in her closet. For some reason she had worn an inordinate amount of pink in high school, so it seemed to fit the mood. Spike was looking more bad boyish than she remembered back then, closer to his punk phase in college. Black T-shirt, black jeans, very yummy, she thought.

"So what are we up to tonight?"

"Well, I thought we’d start by going to the Harvest for dinner."

"Really?" Buffy gave a little skip as they reached the car. "I haven’t been there since I’ve been back. I love that place. Do you still order by phone?"

He held the door as she slid in, then opened his own door. "I believe so. Haven’t been there in a while myself. But it seemed like a good place to start our date, I know you like it there."

"This’ll be fun. Then what are we going to do?"

"Well, there’s a couple of options. How ‘bout we’ll play it by ear?"

__________________________________________

Buffy slurped the last of her milkshake. "Wow, I’d forgotten how good these were." They had been sitting in the 50s style diner for nearly two hours as they ate and talked. Buffy was amazed yet again as how easy everything was with him. No stress or strain in coming up with things to talk about, just a natural flow of conversation about everything under the sun.

Jenny had mentioned in passing the research project he’d been working on for over a year now under Professor’s Link’s direction and she realized she’d never asked him about it before. His explanation had been clear and easy to follow and she’d grasped the basics of what she’d quickly realized was some very complicated and ground-breaking stuff.

No wonder he was applying to all the top-notch schools he’d mentioned. She wouldn’t be at all surprised if every one accepted him, she mused as she waited while he signaled for and paid the check. Where that left them, she wasn’t sure, especially if he picked one of the East Coast schools. She was almost positive it wouldn’t be UC-Sunnydale.

The sudden feeling of panic his leaving caused almost caught her by surprise as she watched him across the restaurant. It was strange that he’d become so important so fast, but then again, maybe it wasn’t. He’d always been important to her, she’d just never seen him in this way before. And letting go was going to be so much harder than the first time they’d been apart. She pushed the thought away as he finished settling the check and gave the waitress a warm smile before turning back to her. Tonight was for fun, not fretting. She knew there’d be some hard decisions coming up, but she wasn’t going to let that ruin their date. She’d think about it later.

__________________________________________

"So what’s next?"

"Well, I thought we might could do a little star-gazing."

Buffy gave him a slightly puzzled glance. She hadn’t realized he was into astronomy too. "Great, that sounds cool."

Spike navigated the car until they reached a small road that headed into the hills that surrounded the town and turned onto a gravel road. She looked around at the increasingly dense forest as the road wound around until they reached a small clearing that looked out over Sunnydale. Spike parked the car so that they were looking out over the town, then turned to her.

"So ever been here before?"

Buffy looked around. "No, but the view is gorgeous. I didn’t even know this was here."

Spike nodded as he stretched his arms. "Mhmm. Beautiful." He laid his arm along the back of the seat, letting his hand just barely graze her shoulder. Buffy looked over at him, a slow smile forming on her face.

"Spike, is this by any chance the Lover’s Lane I heard so much about in high school?"

He grinned. "Might be."

She fluttered her eyelashes at him. "Now William, you know I’m a nice girl. I’m not sure we should be here."

He slid a little closer as he made small circles on her arm with his finger. "Why Buffy, of course I respect you. We won’t do anything you don’t want. I just thought it’d be nice to have some time to talk alone, in private."

Buffy bit her lip to keep from laughing. She wondered if Spike had ever brought someone here in high school and if he’d used the same lame lines on them. She edged a fraction closer. "Well. I don’t suppose there’s anything wrong with that."

Spike glanced out the windshield, then leaned closer as he peered into the distance. His fingers continued to play patterns on her arm that were causing her heart to beat in an erratic way as his little brushes sent off a firestorm of sparks along her skin.

He turned to her, watching the moonlight play over her face as she gazed raptly out into the night, enjoying the view of the town spread out before them as she feigned indifference to his touch. His heart constricted as he tried to memorize her features, imprint them in his memory for the future.

He’d gotten the letter today. The one he’d been hoping and praying for, the acceptance letter from Duke, where he could study under one of the most gifted surgeons and researchers in the country. And it meant moving thousands of miles away from this golden girl who’d captured his heart so long ago. It was strange that dreams he’d had for years were suddenly all beginning to become realities, and yet in doing so they were causing more heartache then he’d imagined.

Could he really leave her, so soon after this thing between them had begun? He’d gotten accepted at UC-Sunnydale almost immediately, and he could stay here with her. But the opportunities, the chances to do what he wanted to do, to maybe make a difference and save the life of someone like his mom, they’d be fewer if he stayed here. She’d been so understanding as they discussed his research tonight, so interested and enthused about what he was doing.

But would she wait for him until he could finish the long years of med school and came back to her? Would some Angel-type come along and woo her away in the loneliness caused by the distance between them? She had at least two more years to finish her degree here; he could hardly ask her to even consider coming with him. And given the barriers she’d thrown up between them, trying to keep their relationship at some safe, happy level in her mind, he knew that even if he asked, even though he believed her when she said he loved him, she wouldn’t come.

He closed his eyes for a moment, knowing this wasn’t the time to discuss it. He’d brought her here to have fun. He focused again and planned his next move. Cheesy high school seduction was kinda fun, given that he hadn’t been doing all that much seducing back then.

"Look at that, isn’t Ursa Minor beautiful tonight?" He pointed, then casually dropped his hand to her knee, his other hand now playing a similar pattern on the soft skin just below where her skirt ended.

"Ursa Minor, huh?" She slid closer as she looked through the window, not having a clue what she was looking for. "Yeah, that’s beautiful."

She turned to look at him and as green eyes met blue, Buffy gave up on whatever pretense and game they’d been playing as she felt his lips descend on hers. She closed her eyes and let herself go as the kiss deepened and when she finally surfaced, she found herself grabbing a few breaths of much needed air before seeking his lips again. There was something hungry and needy in his kisses tonight and it seemed to ignite something similar in her that almost frightened her with its intensity.

"Love you so much, sweetheart, don’t ever want to let you go," he murmured against her lips as she shifted, seeking more contact, managing somehow to straddle his lap in the close confines of the front seat.

"Love you too Spike." Their lips met again and she tried to pull him even closer, wanting to meld with him, to soothe this desperation and desire that was arcing back and forth between them. He responded and held her closer, the smoldering passion between them evident in every move, every touch as the kisses slowed, growing more languorous and sensual, each savoring the moment and each other.

As the kiss finally ended, Spike avoided her eyes, afraid of how much he might reveal and began to nuzzle the ready access to her neck as she arched against him. He rubbed his cheek against the softness of her sweater as she ran her fingers through his hair.

"Your sweater, ‘s fuzzy.’

"Mhmmm."

"Like it."

"Mhmmm."

"Can I take it off?"

"Mhmmm."

She gasped as he slid the sweater over her head and immediately drew one lace-covered nipple into his mouth and clutched him harder to her, wanting more. The slow, affirming kisses of a moment before were replaced by something wilder, more frantic as he pushed her short skirt further up and urged her closer. She rocked her hips against him as he gave her other breast equal attention and threw her head back, eyes closed as the sensations washed over her that he seemed to instinctively know how to create.

She let her hand drift caressingly down his torso, and began to slide the buttons of his fly, eager to return the favor when a tap, tap, tap echoed through the car. Eyes closed, Buffy reached the last button and trailed her finger inside to stroke the hardness she had felt straining against her when suddenly a bright light shone through the windows.

Buffy gave a little yelp as Spike suddenly stopped what he’d been doing and rather unceremoniously deposited her on the seat, frantically searching for her sweater while attempting to refasten his fly at the same time.

"Spike?"

"Police."

"Police?" Buffy gave another small eep as she glanced at the window, not quite able to make out the officer’s face in the dark as the tap sounded again. She scrambled for the sweater which had ended up in the floorboard and settled for draping it over her revealing lace bra just as Spike rolled the window down.

"Good evening Officer."

"William?"

Buffy thought Spike was turning a rather peculiar shade of red she hadn’t seen before.

"Larry, how are you man? I heard you’d joined the force."

"Yep." Larry pushed his hat back and resettled it proudly. " Finished the police academy four months ago."

"Well, that’s great. Listen, Larry . . ."

Larry peered past Spike and interrupted him. "Buffy? Buffy Summers? I though you’d move to another country or something."

Buffy laughed nervously. "Uh-huh. I did, just moved back a few months ago." She squirmed under the light, hoping she’d covered herself enough.

Larry turned the flashlight back to Spike. "You sly devil. She barely gets back in town and you bag the hottest JV cheerleader on the squad. You should give the rest of us a chance, bro." He straightened up. "Well, seeing how I know you both and you’re not kids, I’ll let you go with a warning this time. Call me sometime Will, we should go have a beer or something." He tipped his hat. "Looking good, Buffy. See you folks later."

They breathed a sigh of relief as he walked away and they called their thanks. Spike rolled up the window and they sank against each other, laughing as the nervous tension dissipated. Buffy struggled into her sweater as Spike started the car.

"I can’t believe we just got busted for necking."

"I can’t believe Larry’s on the force."

"Well, at least he didn’t haul us down to the station."

Spike snickered, "I think he may have been a little distracted by your, um, assets, sweetheart."

Buffy blushed and swatted his arm, "Nu-uh."

Spike laughed as he reversed the car and pulled out of the clearing, which had gained a few other residents who were now being similarly surprised by Officer Larry.

"Uh-huh. Larry always thought you were something else in high school, had to warn him off a time or two myself."

Buffy shuddered, "So not my type. Is this really what high school dates are like?"

"Something like that. The police at the end of the evening is always a nice touch."

She slid across the seat as he turned into the main road. "I’m glad we’re not really in high school. Why don’t you take me back to your place now? You so are my type and I think we have some unfinished business."

"Yes, ma’am."

He pulled her closer as she snuggled against him, the electricity of only moments before settling to a pleasant buzz at the comfortable contact between them. Spike concentrated on his driving and Buffy remained silent as the car wound it’s way back to the edge of campus. He glanced at her from time to time, wondering if he should bring up the letter and talk through things with her. No, he decided, that could wait ‘til later. Tonight he’d just try to show her without words how much she meant to him.

CONTINUED...