Buffy Summers twirled haphazardly around her room, the beautiful pearly red creases of the dress straightening and fluttering in waves around her. Spike watched her with amusement clear on his face, as he lay sprawled across the downy comforter of her bed, beer firmly in hand.

"So, whatcha think?" she asked, her face rosy from her crazy spins.

He smiled. "It’s gorgeous. He'll love it," he said honestly, looking at the strapless crimson gown that hugged the graceful curves of his best friend until her hip, where it dropped smoothly into a draped and full skirt.

"Yeah, he will, won't he?" she whispered with happiness as she eyed the back of her dress from over her shoulder in the mirror. Her left hand kept running over the shimmering material, while the right held her soft blond curls atop her head, some escaping and cascading around her face and down her neck. He smirked again when he noticed the huge frumpy woolen socks she wore where tiny princess slippers should be.

"An' you should wear those, too. Because, they complete the outfit, love," he teased lightly, setting his beer down, standing up and moving to her, finger indicating the socks. She blushed, and then picked up her nearby stuffed pig, hurtling it at him with mock annoyance.

"Jerk," she grinned, and then stuck her tongue out at him. "But come on, seriously, Spike, use your imagination. I'll wear my hair up like this, or something, and then have nice strappy heels. And a shawl. Gotta have a shawl. And he is going to get me a white orchid and red rose bouquet, so remember to tell him that," she ordered, jutting her finger into his chest with each word of the reminder. He looked down into her serious eyes, glowing with excitement. She peered up at him, her lips quirking into a smile.

"I'll remember to tell the wanker," he said, putting his hands on her shoulders and turning her so she was facing the full-length mirror.

"Don't call him that, he's your best friend you know," she huffed, her bottom lip jutting out in a little pout. He took her hand from her hair and buried his hands into it instead, holding the silky waves in the same way she was so she could continue her dress-smoothing and preening.

"ONE of my best friends," he corrected, looking at her in the reflection of the mirror. "And just because he is my friend doesn't mean he isn't a wanker. He's not good enough for you anyway."

She sighed exasperatedly. "You scare off all the other guys, therefore only leaving me to date the males in our small-but-close circle of friends. I chose Riley."

"You chose Riley in second grade, pet, but he has only just noticed you since you hit puberty. So, correction, he chose you."

"Well, of course he only just noticed me since I hit puberty. Before I was a scrawny, glasses-wearing freak. Now I'm a woman, with beautiful eyes, and luscious curves..." she jokingly trailed off, running her hands over herself again, and pushing one side of her hip out at a jaunty feminine angle. Spike groaned at her.

"What do you want me to do now? Agree with you?" he asked her with annoyance.

"Ew, no! You saying I had luscious curves or implying in any way, shape, or form that I had a nice body would just be too icky for me. You are Spike. You don't notice anything sexy about me," she said truthfully and firmly, but her eyes looked slightly sad at this statement, Spike noticed with surprise. He didn't know what to do with that. Sad eyes. Serious issue. So he resorted to safety, and once again started the teasing.

"Mm, I don't know, pet, you know I notice the women. You know I'm... experienced," he said in a low, seductive voice, dropping his lips to her bare neck. Her cheeks and ears turned red, but she knew he was joking. His eyes were sparkling in that "I feel like rattling your cage" sort of way.

"Spike, Spike, Spike...cheating on Riley with you is so tempting, but I don't know if I can handle your...experience," she said, saying the final word in a mocking way, the same tone he’d said it in. He barked with laughter, standing up straight again, and pulled his fingers from their place in her locks of golden hair, letting them fall to their place at her shoulders.

"Well, Buff, I gotta go. I'll see ya tonight," he said, running his hands down her bare shoulders to her elbows.

"Bye." She smiled when he pressed a friendly kiss to her temple, and then grabbed his duster from its hook on her door, leaving the apartment with a quiet click.

---   ---   ---   ---   ---   ---   ---

"I can't believe you are working on a Friday night." Cordelia Chase moaned into her cell phone. Spike laughed, his hand playing lightly with the cord of his handless phone as he drove his convertible loudly down Main Street.

"Hey, now, love, 's not so bad. I'm the bloody bartender at the only club worth hanging out at in this town. 'S not like you'd be going anywhere else tonight," he said sweetly to his girlfriend of four months.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. How late do you work?"

"'Til midnight. Buffy works tonight, too, so everyone else will be there," he said, weaving expertly through traffic on the small, but busy highway running through Sunnydale to Los Angeles. Sunlight glinted off his hair, clashing so vibrantly with the sleek black lines of his sportscar. He certainly turned heads.

"Okay, good. And then do you... maybe... want to come back to my place afterwards?" she asked nervously. Spike sighed, turning the wheel at his exit, gliding smoothly from the freeway.

"Cordy...I don't think we're there yet. You know sex is a really big deal for me. Let's hold off until it’s right, okay? ‘S not that I don't want you, god, I do. You are incredible. I jus'....." He trailed off as he pulled up to his apartment, stopping the car and turning off its purring engine.

"I know. I understand. We'll wait," she said quietly, her serious voice mingling with cell phone static. "All right, I'll see you tonight at the Bronze around nine. Bye, babe."

"Bye, love," he said just as quietly.

---   ---   ---   ---   ---   ---   ---

Buffy slammed her tiny hand down onto the slippery counter, leaving a piece of paper on its surface.

"Drinks. Now. Make them," she commanded, blowing sweaty wisps of hair from her bright face. Spike smirked at her.

"What's up your ass, Princess?" he asked, glancing over the orders and moving to make the alcoholic mixes.

"Tired. Sweaty. Headache," she groaned, collapsing on a high stool, head falling onto her arms stretched above her head, hanging limply over the side into Spike's way. He couldn't resist running a piece of ice down her pretty little fingers. She jumped, but didn't rise to the bait.

"Boy, you really are in a shitty mood then. Not amusing me with your fiery self," he mused, placing three of the made drinks next to her. "Table 4 is up."

She raised her head with another whimper and glared at him. His gentle smile lended strength as he ran a cool hand down the side of her face.

"Come back for Table 10 then, and I'll give you some aspirin, and a Coke for a nice jolt."

"Oh, god, you are a lifesaver!" she sighed, grabbing the drinks and dodging skillfully through the crowded club.

She returned moments later, this time with two of their other close friends in tow.

"Looky who I found!" she announced, jumping up onto her stool again and accepting the tall soft drink and the pills Spike had dug from his pocket. Willow Rosenberg and Anya Harris seated themselves next to her.

"Well, if it wasn't the lovely Mrs. Harris and the beautiful, and very available, Miss Rosenberg. What brings you two to the Bronze on a Friday night? Don't have an elsewhere to be?" Spike teased, spreading his muscular arms out with flourish and bowing mockingly.

"Nope! Finished all papers due on Monday. Xand's out of town, so Anya got her stuff done faster," Willow explained, pointing to a beer nozzle and gesturing to Spike.

"I don't know how you do it, An. Being a wife, and a student, AND an assistant manger at Revamp Designs, Incorrporated. It baffles me," Buffy thought aloud, sucking at her straw.

"Speaking of Revamp, how's it doing?" Spike asked, setting a tall foaming beer in front of Willow's delighted face.

"Oh, god, it’s doing outstanding. Making a lot of money, which is always a good thing. Xander is the best interior designer in the world! I'm so lucky to be working with him!" Anya gushed, face glowing with happiness.

"Yeah, and being married to him is probably a good thing too..." Buffy added with amusement.

"Yup. He's the king of orgasms. Giving them, that is. And getting them too, but it’s the giving that is especially nice," she said bluntly, eyes sparkling with naughty insight. Spike laughed and shook his head, while the other two girls just giggled. Everyone was used to Anya’s frankness by now.

"Buffy, you got more tables to serve," a gruff voice came from down the bar. Buffy recognized it as her boss, and slid off the stool quickly.

"Right. That’s my cue. I'll talk to you guys later. Thanks for the Coke and aspirin, Spike." She faded amongst the bodies of people standing and dancing around.

"William Sheffield, give me a good stiff drink." Riley's low but boyish tone penetrated the pulsing music that had knitted a mesmerizing weave around Anya, Willow, and the working Spike. He lowered his large body onto the stool where his girlfriend had just sat and looked expectantly at his friend.

"Not giving you a drink until you address me right, Riley," Spike said stubbornly. Riley rolled his eyes.

"Spike. Please give me a scotch on the rocks," he mumbled. Spike grinned and slid his order across the glossy bar to him. Riley took several long swallows before finally putting it down and greeting his friends. "Willow, Anya. How are you guys this evening?"

"We're both peachy," Willow said enthusiastically, the beer's buzz flooding her mind. "Have a rough day at the mall?"

"You have no idea. Security at a tiny mall like Sunnydale's is a lot harder than it looks."

"And it looks pretty damn hard, considering you have to wear those atrocious and unflattering uniforms that make you look like a big blue lug, rather than a man set before everyone to condone good and beat down little shoplifters," Anya mused, playing with the fruit set along the rim of her margarita.

Riley just glared at her blankly for a second before replying dully, "Thank you, Anya."

"No problem! Just here to serve!" she said perkily.

"Speaking of serve, where's Buffy?" Riley asked, his green eyes scanning the busy place.

"Serving," Willow, Anya, and Spike said in dead unison. Riley rolled his eyes again.

"Ha. Ha. Ha. Thank you so much for this wonderful information you all are providing for me tonight. I just-" but he was cut off by two slinky arms wrapping around his broad neck.

"Hey, honey!" Buffy said sweetly into his ear. Then she looked up at the others. "And I bring another missing lamb!"

Cordelia waved from behind Buffy and Riley, and then jumped eagerly up on a barstool to lean over the bar and kiss her boyfriend passionately. Buffy's eyes turned dark and sad once again before she shook it away, and planted her hand under Riley's chin, tilting it to her, and kissing away the unsettling tinge that pierced her heart.

Buffy grunted under the weight of her drunk boyfriend's arm as she trudged with him down the alley the Bronze's entrance was on. He sighed into her face, the sour alcohol hitting her with nasuating force, making her stumble as she gagged, while struggling to keep him upright.
 

"Come on Riley, stand..up..just...a..little...okay, Hun?" she gasped out, pushing his body up to a standing position. He moaned and slumped against her again, "Damn it, Riley!"
 

"Having difficulties?" a clear, mocking voice rang out in the dankness surrounding Buffy and Riley. She sighed, and looked over her covered shoulder at the person approaching.
 

"Wanna help me, Forrest, or are you just going to stand there and act like the dick that you are?"
 

"You gotta ask nicely, Missy. Just because he's like my brother, doesn't mean I'm going to jump at a chance to help him. Helping him in this circumstance, is, by extension, helping you. And thats something I don't do often." he bit at her, striding arogantly up to her tiny frame stooped over by her massive passed-out boyfriend.
 

"Cute outfit, by the way." he added smugly, referring to her Bronze waitress uniform of a tight scoop-necked tee shirt, and mini skirt. It had to be the sluttiest uniform she ever wore, but it was a job, and she needed the money for school expenses. Forrest just loved to find every fault, though.
 

"Yeah, okay, whatever. I can lug him home by myself." she muttered, taking slow steps forward. Forrest's lips broke in a shining but cruel grin.
 

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, Blondie, you are far too stubborn for a girl of your low intelligence level. But hey, have fun! Only 10 more blocks to go!" he laughed, saluted, and then turned on his heel and disappeared into the Bronze.
 

"Only 10 more blocks to go." she repeated with agony. Just then two headlights blared into the alley, chasing the shadowy nasties away with their intensity. Buffy raised an arm to shield her eyes, hoping desperatly that the driver saw her in the middle of the road and swerved to avoid her. But the car stopped, and she soon heard the driver's side door open.
 

"Buffy! Here! Let me help you!" came the voice of Adam Finn, as he jogged over to the two. He quickly wound his arms around his baby brother, and carried him to the car quickly, depositing his body in the back seat. Then he was at Buffy's side in a flash, "Here, come with me to get him home and settled, then I can drop you off at your place, okay?"
 

"Um, okay, Adam. Thanks." she muttered, somewhat unsure about his enthusiasm as he opened the passenger side car door for her chivalrously.
 

"Spike called me on my cell about 10 minutes ago. He said your shift was over before his, and that Riley had come to the bar after a hard day and got completely, "shnockered", I believe was the word Spike used. Anyway, he said you had just left helping Riley by yourself, and that he was worried so he wanted me to come give you a hand. Buffy, you really should have called me yourself. He's my brother, so I gotta look after him too. And of course I worry about you..." Adam explained in an excruciating long blur of words as he drove slowly to Riley's apartment.
 

"Whats to worry about?" she asked stand-offishly, playing with one of her sweat-tinged curls as she stared out the window, trying to avoid his caring eyes that made her uneasy.
 

"You, alone at night, and carrying his enormous and heavy body. He could break your back, darling!"
 

"Adam, I take street-fighting and self-defense PE as my minor, which involves lots of weight training. You don't have to worry about me alone, or me and his heavy body." she said strongly, but her eyes still carefully avoided him.
 

"Aw, I know you are a big girl. I'm just fond of you, is all." he replied, putting his sweaty hand ontop of hers that lay on her knee. She quickly pulled it from under his grasp, but his hand stayed on her bare skin, thumb caressing lightly, moving closer and closer to her inner thigh...
 

Riley's apartment building never looked so good in her entire life when it appeared in the street lights a split second later. As soon as the car came to a stop she was out in a flash, pulling Riley from the backseat with all of her might. Adam got out and tried to assist her, but was rebuked by her stubborness, and told he could go ahead and leave, and that she would walk home. He reluctantly agreed, sending her a look of puppy-dog eyes full of concern, before slipping into his sedan and driving away. Buffy let out a relieved sigh, and pulled her inebriated lover up the concrete steps to his home.
 

---   ---   ---   ---   ---   ---   ---   ---

Across town Spike was having similar troubles. His shift had just ended, several minutes before the stroke of midnight, and a drunk, extremely horny Cordy was eagerly wandering his body with her hands as she sucked on his earlobe while he drove.
 

"Cordelia, please, stop. We can snog as much as you want when I drop you off at your house, but until then, hands off."
 

"Mm..coming to my house, eh? Coming AT my house...yum..." she whispered in his ear, her hand creeping into the waistband of his low-riding jeans.
 

"Dropping. You. Off. Not staying." he said firmly, but put his hand up her skirt and  between her thighs sensuously to reassure her that he wasn't angry with her, just set in his decision. She groaned when she felt his warm hand caressing her bare inner thighs and began to writhe against it, now preoccupied with her own pleasure rather than his. Her hands made a shakey retreat, and now clutched the sides of the passenger side seat as her breathing picked up when his fingers began their invasion. It was a strange angle to be fingering a girl, but at least she was happy, and he wasn't TOO distracted from driving.
 

She came the minute the car stopped in front of her beautiful home, body quivering and then stretching languously with pleasure. Spike watched her, his eyes hooded with arousal, but still tainted with mature consciousness. She licked her lips happily and turned her head to gaze at him, hair falling in beautiful brown waves around her sweat-kissed neck.
 

"That was amazing. Thank you, baby." she murmered, curling her fingers around his collar, and pulling him in for a forceful kiss while her other hand slipped into his pants and grasped his hardening manhood. He filled her mouth with a groan of ecstasy as she began to stroke and squeeze him to release. Spike's hands wound into her hair and held her head harshly so he could deepen the kiss, his tongue probing hers and invading her throat. Their desperate gasps for air in between the passionate liplock filled the air with Spike's moans of pleasure and the squeaky sound of him moving his hips and up and down eagerly on the leather seat. Finally, he rippped away from his girlfriend's mouth, throwing back his head and sighing as he came. She watched with pride, petting his shaft with one hand, and his sweaty cheekbone with the other.
 

"Like that?" she whispered gently, leaning forward and brushing feather kisses on his neck.
 

"Mm-hm. You're the best." he whispered back, nuzzling her hair, "We're both gonna sleep well tonight." he mused with content.
 

"Hell, yeah.." she laughed softly before pulling away, "I had better go now. I feel sticky, and that inevitable headache is going to start any minute now that my happy joy buzz is wearing off."
 

He nodded, eyes smiling as he placed a chaste kiss on her sweet lips, "Goodnight, My Sweet."
 

" 'Night." she smiled back, opening the car door and stumbling slightly as she closed it. Spike watched her walk slowly to her house, and then pulled smoothly away.
 

---   ---   ---   ---   ---   ---   ---   ---
 

"Wake up, you fuckin' ponce!" Spike shouted, ripping the sheets off the snoring form of Riley, who grunted and reached blindly for the blankets again.
 

"What the hell are you doing, Spike?" he grumbled, squeezing his eyes shut tighter, and burying his pounding head under a plush pillow.
 

"You have exactly 3 hours get your arse into gear. So I suggest you get up, and get that arse into the kitchen and drink the super strong coffee I jus' made for you." Spike explained opening the blinds and pulling Riley's crisp tuxedo from the closet, hanging it on the door.
 

"Three hours to what?" Riley asked pathetically, sitting up and rubbing his sore eyes.
 

"UCSunnydale's senior formal banquet and charity auction. You are taking Buffy. This is your tuxedo. You are picking her up in THREE. HOURS." Spike explained as he would to a child, grabbing on to his friends hand, and urging him from the bed, "Go take a piss, and then come to the kitchen. Understand?"
 

Riley nodded wearily and trudged to the bathroom while Spike went back to the kitchen to pour him a giant mug of black coffee, humming cheerfully as he did so. Riley emerged a few minutes later, his face rosey from water he had splashed on it, and looking more awake. He instantly grabbed the mug, and drained it in a matter of seconds under the watchful gaze of Spike.
 

"Why are you staring at me like that?" Riley groaned, rubbing the back of his neck pitifully.
 

"You would 'ave slept through tonight if it weren't for me. You know how much that would 'ave hurt Buffy?" Spike asked, taking careful sips of his own cuppa. Riley had the decency to hang his head in shame.
 

"Yeah, I know. And I'm grateful. Just have one hell of a hangover, is all." he said quietly, sitting himself down on a stool along the counter's bar.
 

"Speaking of which, I had to call Adam to come help Buffy drag you home last night." Spike tilted his coffee mug towards him accusingly. Riley's head rolled back up.
 

"Adam helped Buffy? You called Adam?" he asked with slight concern.
 

"Yeh, mate, why?" Spike asked, eyes squinting with confusion as his dark eyebrows drew together seriously.
 

"Nothing, I'm just surprised is all. Buffy says that Adam makes her feel uncomfortable or something. Some girl-thing like that, I don't know. I don't ask. She just doesn't like him.  I'm just surprised she never told you that."
 

"Girl-thing, eh? Buffy's isn't really a "Girl-Thing" type o' girl. I'll 'ave to ask her about that." Spike mused, setting his empty mug in the sink.
 

"Don't worry about it. I don't. She's okay." Riley added, sliding from his perch on the stool and setting his mug next to Spike's.
 

"Well, I gotta go. Promised Willow I'd give her a ride to the airport to pick up her brother. Have a good time tonight." Spike said, slipping on his duster and picking his keys off of the nearby table.
 

"Wait, Spike, what are those?" Riley asked suddenly as he indicated the giant bouquet of red roses dotted with delicate, snow-white orchids. Spike answered without looking back,
 

"The bouquet Buffy wanted. I called you yesterday and told you to get it for her, but figured you forgot, so I got them. Don't forget to give them to her now, wanker."
 

And he pulled the door shut behind him to sternly punctuate his warning.

Spike laughed heartily as he did his best to keep up with the red-headed spitfire dodging through the airport hallways in front of him. He had been five minutes late picking her up, and she had a field day chewing him out on punctuality and how important it was to be on time for her wonderful big brother's arrival. And so now they ran through the crowds of people at the small Sunnydale airport, hoping they were on time for his plane from San Francisco.
 

Willow finally skidded to a stop, causing Spike to run into her abruptly. She sent him an annoyed look over her shoulder,
 

"Geez! You can't be on time and now you can't watch where you're going! Not impressed, Spike!" she whined, correcting her clothes and fixing her hair in the reflection of the terminal's wide window.
 

"His plane just got here, pet, see? It isn't as bad as you thought. And he probably rode first class, so he'll be out any- aha, see, there he is." Spike said smugly, pointing at the large dark-haired man emerging from the gate as he leaned against a pillar. Willow stuck her tongue out at him briefly before bounding forward to envelope her older brother, Angel Rosenberg, in a gigantic hug.
 

"Angel!! Hey bro!! How was you flight? God, I think you've gotten taller since the last time I saw you!" she shrieked as he spun her in a circle, his smile lighting up the room.
 

"And I think you've gotten smaller? How did that happen!?" Angel laughed, setting his tiny sister back onto the floor. Her pixie-features squinted in a little sister's expression of indignation before softening to just pure joy again. She grabbed his hand and pulled him towards Spike.
 

"You remember our bleach-boy Spike, right?" she asked, tossing her short-cropped red hair in mock superiority. Angel grinned and stretched out his large hand. Spike took it and shook it hard.
 

"Of course I remember Spike. How could I forget Spike? Why are you still going by that school-age nickname anyway?" Angel asked curiously as he released his hand. Spike simply shrugged.
 

"It caught on with the college buds, then it bled over to the bartending job. I like it too, so I don't mind." he replied, "I don't know if you can really say anything about it, ANGEL an'  WILLOW. Your parents must have been high or something."
 

Willow laughed goodnaturedly, "Yeah, with 6 years between us, you'd think I'd at least get a better name. Oh well. I'm not complaining. So Angel, lets get your bags so we can get back to the apartment so you can see everyone else and we can get ready for the banquet."
 

---   ---   ---   ---   ---   ---   ---   ---   ---
 

"Faaaaaith!" Buffy whined, looking at her reflection, "You made me too red!"
 

"Look, B, you asked me to help, so I'm helpin'.  The dress is red, and your face is red. You match!" Faith defended her make-up job with pride. Buffy crossed her arms over her tanktop covered chest with a pout.
 

"Just because you are my cousin, doesn't mean I can't kick your ass. Now make it better!" she commanded, handing a pale powder compact to Faith. She rolled her eyes and accepted the compact, going back to work on Buffy's crimson cheeks.
 

Just then the apartment door swung open and Willow's cheerful announcement came flooding into the bathroom.
 

"Buffy! We're here!! Come say hi to Angel!"
 

Faiths giant brown eyes got even bigger, "Angel? Angel Rosenberg is here? Oh god, its been forever since I've seen that hunk! How do I look?"
 

Buffy wrinkled her nose, "Hunk? Don't ever call him a hunk again, that term is so passe! You look fine. You always look fine. NOW FIX THE RED!" she squealed, pounding her fist on the side of the porcelin sink. Willow popped her head in the door.
 

"Hey Buff, oh! Hiya, Faith. You guys gonna come out here and say hello?"
 

Faith didn't need a second invitation, she leapt out the door before Buffy could protest and jumped eagerly into Angel's arms in a bear hug. Willow dodged into the bathroom and shut the door.
 

"What the hell is Faith doing in our apartment?" she demanded, hands planted firmly on her hips as she stared at her best friend through the mirror.
 

"Whoa, Will, relax. She IS my cousin, you know. She's welcome here. Besides, she's giving me a hand with my make up for tonight."
 

"Yeah, which happens to be the same "tonight" that my BROTHER, will be coming here. You know how she practically stalks him." Willow argued
 

"Look, Angel has never minded her. In fact, I think he LIKES the attention. We all grew up together, and Faith was part of the gang, despite her obsession with Angel, so please don't act like a bitch about this." Buffy pleaded impatiently, putting a final touch on her make up job and turning to glare at her friend. Willow nodded sarcastically, and gave her a final look before turning and leaving the bathroom. Buffy glanced at herself in the mirror briefly, stuck on a happy face, and bounded out the door.
 

"Angel! Hey you! Wow, you look incredible!" she gushed, finding him leaning nonchalantly against the counter, Faith leaning against the other side, fixated on whatever he was blabbering about. He straightened when he heard Buffy and opened his arms for yet another inevitable hug.
 

"Buffy! Speaking of incredible!" he complimented, crushing her tiny body against his chest. Faith pouted at the warm hug, and tossed her hair defiantly to get his attention again. Spike smirked from his perch on the opposite counter.
 

"Someone's getting jealous." he whispered to Faith in a sing-song voice. She shot him a dirty look.
 

"Yeah, YOU. Angel gets more action than you do." she said smartly, turning her attention back to the man of her dreams as he released her cousin from the bone-crunching hug, "So, Angel, how's San Fran?" she purred.
 

Willow rolled her eyes with annoyance and grabbed a six pack of beers from the fridge, pushing herself up on the counter next to Spike as she opened them. He reached for one. She smacked his hand. He reached for one again. She pinched him. He yelped in pain. Buffy gave them both a look that screamed "Stop being immature!!" Willow frowned at this. Spike just smirked and reached for a beer again. Willow slapped him again. Buffy rolled her eyes and pulled a beer from Willow's six pack and handed it to Spike, who beamed at her and popped the cap off happily. Willow turned tense with her annoyance.  All the while Faith remained oblivious, too wrapped up in what Angel was chatting about, and Angel trying to sound intelligent to impress the Beauty that Buffy had become.
 

"Hey! We only have another hour, we had better get ready!" Buffy exclaimed eagerly after listening to Angel's boorishly long description of life in San Francisco, "Faith, ready to do my hair?"
 

"Mmm, nope! I think I'll just stay here and talk to Angel.." Faith mumbled distractedly, leaning more langurously across the counter towards Angel, her breasts swelling attractively under her clingling black shirt. Willow hopped off the counter and glared at Faith coldly.
 

"Faith, hunny? Your boobs are hanging out of your tank top." she said in a mockingly sweet voice. Angel looked at his little sister smugly, with a look of fake innocence, clearly pleased with the show of cleavage. She backhanded his shoulder and frowned disprovingly at him.  Sucking in a breath, he stood up straighter, trying to make amends with his annoyed sister.
 

"Soo, Spike, you going to the banquet thingy tonight?" he said, trying a clean slate. Spike shook his head,
 

"Nadda, mate. I'm 25,and I'm not dating, or related to any seniors who are going."
 

"Spike's dating Cordelia Chase from highschool, remember her?" Willow explained, handing a beer to her brother. Angel nodded.
 

"Yeah, but wasn't she dating Xander Harris, our next door neighbor?"
 

"They dated in highschool a little bit, yeah. Xander met a cute gal named Anya at school though. She's still a senior, like us, but they got married a couple of months ago. I do believe you were sent an invitation but never responded?" Willow said, giving her brother a pointed look. He rubbed the back of his neck hesitantly
 

"Yeah...well, Xander and I were never that close. But if it would have been any of your guys' weddings, I would be there, you know that. And if it were Buffy's wedding I'd come down to try to break it up." he smiled at the tiny blonde standing in the door way. She blushed at his flirting and glanced away.
 

"Yeah, well, no marriage for me anytime soon. I haven't found the guy I want to marry yet." she said softly, her eyes flitting up to Spike briefly before falling to the floor again. Spike noticed the emotional look and frowned briefly before ignoring it to continue the conversation.
 

"But she is dating someone. None other than Riley 'Whitebread' Finn. One of your old buds, Angel." Spike laughed, hopping off the counter as he took the final swig of the stolen beer. Angel's eyes bugged out in astonishment.
 

"You're dating RILEY? Boy I'll tell ya. Summers women never cease to amaze me." he laughed, eyes sparkling at Buffy and then Faith. Faith stretched like a sexual cat under his look, while Buffy squirmed uncomfortablly.
 

"Speaking of the Captain Cardboard- he'll be here in 45 minutes, so I suggest you ladies do your girly thing so that our Princess Buffy is ready to go." Spike said warmly, moving towards Buffy and putting his hands on her tiny shoulders, steering her to the bathroom, "Faith come on, girl, you gotta do her magesty's hair so she looks dashing for tonights event." he urged, grabbing Faith's hand that was starting to wander towards Angel's. He pulled both girls away, depositing them in the bathroom to finish their thing and then waved to Angel and Willow as he left, smiling at their sibling bickering as they got ready for the formal party.

Angel pulled the door open with flourish when the bell rang exactly 45 minutes later.
 

"Riley! Hey man, how are you?" he greeted his old friend, clapping him on the suited back while shaking his hand. Riley smiled wide.
 

"Hey! Will told me you'd be in town for the formal. I gotta say- I find it rather sad that I have to find out about your visits through your little sister, instead of you picking up the phone and letting me know yourself!" Riley scolded, punching him teasingly in the arm.
 

"Yeah well, sorry about that, Ry. Busy career and all that." Angel shook his head with mock shame, the smile still happily in place.
 

"So, what brings you down here to attend a little senior's charity banquet with a bunch of college kids?" Riley asked, moving towards the kitchen and putting the flowers down on the counter with little fanfare.
 

"Is that disdain I hear dripping from your voice? Too old to be attending a college kid's formal? I wouldn't be complaining, Riley. I've seen your date and I'd kill to be the one to take her." Angel sighed, slumping down on a stool next to him and looking at his old friend with serious eyes. Riley pulled his head back with astonishment.
 

"You got eyes for my girl, Angel Rosenberg? Too bad you didn't notice her when we were growing up- can't have her now."
 

"Hey, you didn't notice her when we were growing up either. She was just my little sister's best friend. Now she's...Buffy Summers, complete hottie and sweetheart." Angel defended vainly. "Spike and Xander always noticed her though, even though they were our age and our friends."
 

"Spike and her are best friends now. Completely inseparable...I'd be a jealous boyfriend if it weren't for his disinterest in her and his own hottie of a girlfriend. And, of course, her....eager..affections are towards me." Riley blushed slightly, giving Angel a smug look.
 

"Oooh, got her in the sack, eh? Bet she's good. Almost as good as her cousin would be!" Angel laughed, slapping his knee with amusement. Faith slid out of the bathroom at the noise and approached predatorily.
 

"Did I hear something about good cousins?" she purred, sliding close to Angel. He looked down at her with hooded eyes full of lust,
 

"Yeah, baby, you any good?" he murmured down at her, teasing, his warm breath tickling her face seductively.
 

"You better believe it." she grinned evilly, her hips starting to swivel temptingly against his leg, fingers dancing up his arms, "I could ride you like you've never been ridden before. Squeeze you, grind you, fuck you into oblivion…You've never had it as good as I am." her voice dropped even lower than normal, the sultry tones making Angel groan.
 

"Faith!!" Buffy's shout interrupted the erotic haze. Buffy stood in the doorway of the bathroom watching her temptress of a cousin, her dress glowing around her body and her hair in a mass of shimmering curls. Willow stood behind her, fuming at the scene, "Down girl!" Buffy scolded her cousin.
 

Faith's full lips quirked in a familiar pout as she backed away from Angel, tossing her hair defiantly once again and grabbing a beer. Riley jumped up in awe at the vision of his girlfriend swathed in crimson chiffon.
 

"Oh god, Buffy, you look...wow, you look...great." he gushed, rushing forward to brush a gentle kiss over her shimmering lips. She beamed back at him.
 

"I must concur. You look breathtaking," Angel added, eyes full of sincerity. Faith scoffed, and Willow "*ahem*ed" to get his attention, "And Willow Rosenberg, gosh darn it, you shame the family name with your intense beauty!" he amended, taking in the sight of his sister wrapped in form-fitting pine green silk, "In fact, I don't think I shall let any other men look at you the entire evening!"
 

Willow laughed and slapped him on his arm, before pulling on his tuxedo collar to urge him to mouth level, "Your corsage for me is in the fridge. I bought myself one. Go get it for me, bro." she whispered in his ear. He smiled at her and strode quickly to the kitchen, pulling out a beautiful white rose corsage with sprigs of pine. Willow winked at him, as he pulled it out of the box and wrapped it gently around her tiny wrist.
 

"That reminds me! Flowers for you, Sweetie!" Riley said dramatically, grabbing the huge bouquet of flawless orchids and roses and presenting them to Buffy. She squealed and clapped her hands.
 

"Oh you remembered! Spike told me he'd tell you, and you remembered! You are the sweetest boyfriend of all time!" she purred sweetly, pulling him down to kiss him. Riley didn't try to correct her. Who was he to destroy her affections, even if he wasn't really the sweetest boyfriend of all time?
 

---   ---   ---   ---   ---   ---   ---
 

Spike was just about to stick his key in the lock of his apartment when sound of unhappy sniffing reached his attentive ears.  It was definitely female, coming from the staircase that spiraled up through the posh apartment building. He sighed deeply, cursing himself for being both curious and caring, and crept quietly to the stairway to peer down through the metal grate steps.
 

She was hunched in a ball on the floor below him, her head buried in her knees, delicate arms covering her head, while fingers moved absently in grief. Spike would recognize those fluttering fingers and silky ash brown hair anywhere.

"Tara...." he began, moving briskly down the steps to sit next to her, his eyes wide with concern, "God, what's wrong?"
 

She raised her head in surprise, which quickly melted back into sorrow again when she recognized her neighbor and friend. Her high cheekbones glistened with tears, wide hazel eyes bloodshot under long lashes.
 

"He br-broke up with me. Just n-now. Right before the banquet t-t-tonight. I was l-looking so forwa-ard to g-g-going," she stuttered, wiping at her rosy cheeks and taking great sniffs again, "The b-bastard."
 

Spike nodded in understanding and sympathy, playing absently with his key ring as he listened to her, his eyes still trained seriously on her quivering form.
 

"Which boyfriend was this?" he asked. He had helped Tara with a few of her classes, since she took what he had when he was in college. Every now and then she had filled him in on her personal life during their tutoring sessions, but those times were few and far between. She glared at him when his quiet question sunk in.
 

"Spike, I've only had t-two boyfriends EVER. S-s-so don't "which boyfriend was this?" m-me." her eyes shot fire at him. He raised his hands in surrender.
 

"Sorry love, just curious. This would be...Ford, right?" he asked, trying desperately to remember, so as to not lose any of his parts when she got angry at him for not remembering. The crystal tears that spilled down her porcelain skin at his name confirmed it.
 

"Yeah...Ford." she whispered. Spike watched her for a moment before slapping his legs with decision and standing up, offering her his hands so she could do the same. She took them hesitantly, looking at him suspiciously.
 

"I’ll take you to the sodding banquet, if you want. I have an emergency tux for situations like this, when I 'ave to rescue the damsel in distress." he sighed with a smile, releasing her hands. She arched an eyebrow at him.
 

"Why are you being so nice?"
 

"Love, I'm offended!  'M always nice." he pouted in mock hurt. She gave him another skeptical eyebrow lift. He crumbled, "Yeah, okay, I'm just feeling friendly today. An' don't tell anyone this, but…I kinda wanted to go anyway. Jus' didn't have a senior to take. So your misfortune happens to be your luck, because you get to go with the best looking man in Sunnydale!"
 

She couldn't prevent the rippling chime of a giggle that rose from her chest. "Alright, Spike, I'll g-go with you. I'll be ready in 10 minutes. Can you d-do that well?" she teased.
 

"Yup, I'll be ready in 9." he laughed, jumping up the steps to his floor.
 

"Spike," she called up to him. He stopped and leaned over the railing to look at her, "Thanks s-so much. This really means....it really means a lot." she said sincerely. He smiled and nodded at her, and leapt up the stairs to his room, to put himself into the blasted penguin suit.
 

11 minutes later, they were out the door, laughing it up like old friends. Spike's immature and secret eagerness to go to the banquet made Tara joyous, sweeping the clouds of her sudden breakup away.
 

---   ---   ---   ---   ---   ---   ---
 

"This is Spike. I'm not answering my soddin' phone right now, prob'bly because I looked at the Caller ID and saw it was you. Leave one. Ciao."

*beep*

"Spike? It’s Cordy. Um, it’s almost 7:30, and you said you were gonna be at my place by 7. I called your cell phone, but my guess is you forgot it on your dresser. Again. So…call me babe. We had plans tonight. *sigh* Bye."

The lobby of Founder's Hall was decked out in the finest of decorations, a clear reflection on the beautifully dressed seniors and their dates who filled it. Willow, Angel, Riley, and Buffy were seated at a small table under the sweeping staircase that seemed to run majestically to the heavens. Angel cordially pulled a chair out for his younger sister who flashed him an impressed smile as she sat, and then he cleared his throat pointedly when he saw Buffy eying Riley with expectation. Riley jumped and quickly pulled the elegant chair out for his blonde girlfriend, casting on her a sweet grin that made her glow once again.
 

"Oh, wow, does everything look nice." Willow commented, her green eyes gazing at the great golden dome of a ceiling, watching the reflection of candlelight on the fountain water dance across its arches.
 

"All of this in the name of charity!" Angel whistled, playing with his crystal goblet and silver spoon. Willow smacked his hand.
 

"Behave! You’re used to the finer things in life, I don't expect you to embarrass me!" she scolded her mischievous older brother. Buffy smiled at the two.
 

"And it isn't just about charity, it’s about the goddamn awesome-ness that is us seniors!" she stated, nodding her head in undeniable truth. Angel's lips curled in a warm grin. Damn, she was cute.
 

"Hear, hear!" Willow heartily agreed, picking up her water glass and holding it to the center, where Buffy met it soundly with her own, the loud clink making both girls giggle.
 

"Two more places, " Riley said softly, pointing to the two empty place settings along the curve of the small table, "Buffy, pick up the cards and see who's supposed to be sitting with us."

Buffy leaned over, and plucked the gold-leafed paper from the porcelain plates, and twisted it in her fingers to read the beautiful script. Her face turned ash grey as she dropped the card abruptly back onto the setting. Just then, the two other missing table members showed up.
 

“Buffy! What a pleasant surprise! We get to sit with Buffy Summers!" Parker Abram's sickeningly fake polite voice answered Willow and Riley's question of whose name was on the card. Angel looked between their hostile faces and Buffy's ashen one with confusion.
 

"You all know my girlfriend, Harmony Kendall. I believe she grew up here in Sunnydale, and went to school with all of you?" Parker continued, sitting down next to Buffy and patting the chair next to him for Harmony to sit. She plopped down with little grace.
 

"Hey Willow! Hi, Buffy. What’s with the dead look? You really should see someone about that." she squeaked, her nasal voice grating on everyone's nerves already.
 

"Oh, Buff? Don't worry about her. She’s just excited to be spending the evening with me." Parker laughed smugly, knowing full-well that Buffy was in complete agony that he was sitting next to her, most likely reliving the emotional trauma she’d gone through after their one night of sex and her mistaken impression it had meant something. Served her right for having sex in the first week of college…He smiled at the memory of her lonely face and slung an arm over the back of her chair, "Isn't that right, Beautiful?"
 

Riley and Angel both growled at the same time, Riley's arm coming up to push Parker's chair, and Angel beginning to stand.
 

"Well, well, well, looks like quite the confrontation is happening here. Don' know if we should interrupt or not. Wha' do you think, Tara?" the familiar English accent floated into the tension. Parker quickly pulled his hand back, and turned to face the tuxedo-decked Spike.
 

"What the hell are you doing here, Sheffield?" Parker asked, his dark eyebrows squinting in annoyance. Spike laughed and pointed sophisticatedly to the girl on his arm. Tara smiled gently, though fire was in her eyes. She knew exactly who, and what Parker Abrams was, and was thrilled with herself that she’d never been one of the freshmen that had fallen into his seductive trap.
 

"Brought the Lady, she lost her date last minute. And um, we're sittin' here." Spike answered, his eyes darting briefly to Buffy, the question lurking in the blue depths, asking if she was okay. She nodded, letting out a sigh of sheer relief. Spike's eyes turned cold as they turned back to Parker, now gaping like a fish.
 

"I think not! Our names are on these cards. We’re supposed to sit here. Go find another table." Parker commanded.
 

"Oh! No. Bloody. Way. You mean our names aren't here!?" Spike put his hand over his chest in mock horror. Then his sarcastically astonished expression turned cruel again as he leaned over, pulled a pen from his suitcoat, and scribbled out the names, replacing them with Tara Maclay and William 'I always get what I want' Sheffield, "Now I don't see a problem." he smirked, putting the pen back in his pocket.
 

"You…you...Jerk! We don't have to do what you say!" Harmony stood up, her balloon breasts jutting out from her slender body as she stuck her hands on her hips. Spike merely raised an eyebrow at her as Tara stifled a laugh.
 

"Oh please, Harmony, go yap at someone else." Spike groaned, rolling his eyes. Harmony's heavily made up face turned bright red.
 

"Fine! Parker, lets go...." she whined, grabbing her boyfriends hand and leading him away. Spike grabbed his collar as he passed and pulled him dangerously near his face.
 

"I. Always. Get. What. I. Want. Don't forget it again, pillock." he ground out, pushing Parker away from him in disgust. Parker brushed himself off nervously and followed his airhead date into the crowd of the dance floor. Spike turned back to the table, a proud smile blooming on his face. "Tha'll teach him, eh?"
 

"Spike, you never change, do you?" Angel mused, letting out a laugh and shaking his head in disbelief, "Always the bully in shining armor."
 

"Damn straight. So, Will and Buffy, you guys know Tara, right? Tara, this is Buffy's boyfriend, Riley Finn, and Willow's brother Angel Rosenberg, who now does some financial job in San Francisco. We all grew up together 'ere in Sunnydale, though. Best friends forever, and all that rot, right guys?" Spike made the introductions as he pulled out a chair for Tara. She smiled at each person as she sat down elegantly.
 

"Right, since black-wearing, bleach-hugging, punk-singing British bartenders are our kind of people, and native Californians." Willow teased sarcastically, referring to the clean-cut lines of her and the rest of her Californian-born friends.
 

"'Ey now! One, black is an ARTISTIC color t'be wearing. Two, my hair looks GOOD like this. Three, I sing EVERYTHING, not just punk. And four, I was raised in England, came here at 12, kept the accent because the birds liked it. Oh yes, five, bartenders are hot!" Spike defended himself as he sat, counting off on his fingers, a mock-serious scowl on his face. Everyone at the table roared with laughter, causing the chilliness of Parker's presence to flee their minds.
 

The three couples at the table never ceased the warm laughter, even as the evening wore on. Dinner was served and eagerly consumed, and the DJ soon began spinning the modern tunes to get the dance floor full again. Riley pulled Buffy to the floor, his face twisted in an adorably shy expression that made her heart melt. Angel was dragged out by his fiery little sister who was quickly whisked away by another guy while he wandered to the charity table to see how much money was going into this affair. Spike politely danced with Tara, her face aglow with contentment as they swayed to a slow song. Buffy caught his eye as they danced, the dim light radiating from her dress and skin.
 

He was so proud of her. A strange kind of pride... A kind that was fatherly, but brotherly; friendly, but distant. It was as if he could see her as every kind of person, and he respected every part he saw. Her encounter with Parker tonight boiled his blood. He remembered back when she had burst into his apartment, her eyes puffy with tears, her face flushed from too much drinking. She had collapsed on his bed next to him, sobbing about how she had spent the night with Parker and it turned out to be "just for fun" for him. Spike had carefully pulled her drunk and regretful body into his lap and rocked her to a sob-shuddered sleep, smoothing her hair and whispering words of comfort as he lay her down, and tucked his sheets around her. She woke later that night, the tears trailing down her cheeks again as she retold the sordid seduction story, beginning to end, as he listened with a heavy heart. She thought Spike would have been ashamed of her, but he reassured her of his respect, and drove her home, sharing in her sadness that she had given away her virginity so vainly. Then he’d driven to the campus, found Parker, and proceeded to give him the fist-fight of his life.
 

Now there she was, dancing with her boyfriend, Parker only a few feet away with his own dumb girlfriend and yet Buffy was shining with happiness. She’d struggled for a few minutes when Spike had first arrived, but she had strength now. God, was she incredible…
 

"Spike?" Tara's soft, melodious voice broke through his thoughts. He noticed she had stopped dancing with him, and only held him loosely. Then he noticed the shy-looking young man standing next to her, "Jonathon asked to cut in. Is that alright?"
 

"Sure, pet…'ave fun." he smiled, letting the short man timidly take her hands and pull her into a gentle dance-embrace. He fixed his eyes on his best friend again, dodging quietly through the swaying people towards her and tapping Riley on his broad shoulder. "May I cut in, Whitebread? I'd like to dance with the Lady."
 

Riley looked at him with annoyance for a moment before nodding his head, and removed his huge body from Buffy's. Buffy looked at Spike with anticipation as he smiled at her and slid his arm around her waist.
 

"You look like a goddess tonight, Buffy." he whispered, pressing a kiss to her temple. She slid her tiny hand into his Michelangelo one, and gazed up at him.
 

"Thanks. You look sharp too." she grinned. Then her eyes turned serious, "Thank you so much for showing up when you did. I don't know how it was possible, but you were there when I needed you, once again."
 

"You would 'ave been alright, Love. Angel was just about to strut his poofy stuff, and Riley wouldn't 'ave let it go on...You 'ad your mates."
 

"They aren't you though." she whispered, looking away from his bottomless blue eyes as she laid her head on his shoulder. He stopped dancing and pulled away from her slightly to look into her face.
 

"Wha'do you mean by that?" he asked quietly, his fingers curling around her chin to urge her to look at him. Her hazel doe eyes slid to his again.
 

"I just mean that they don't know...how badly Parker hurt me. They know I was upset, but not that...it was a life-changing moment that was destroyed forever, and that not a day goes by that I don't feel it. And about how it’s amplified 100 times whenever I’m near him." she whispered, her eyes turning watery, but far from spilling over.
 

"You're near 'im now and you're alright." Spike pointed out softly.
 

"Only 'cause I'm with you." she said in the faintest, weakest whisper. He took a deep breath that caught in his throat, and pulled her back into his arms, wrapping her in a fierce hold. She closed her eyes and savored the feeling of being encompassed by his body, her cheek pressed against his crisp suited shoulder, her arms banded around his narrow waist. It felt right. Like chick-flick right. Shakespeare right. Fairy-tale right.
 

No. Not romance right. Best-Friend-Forever right. Right?