Summary: This is an AU. Buffy has an older sister named Stacy. When Spike moves to town, Stacy sees him as her knight in shining armor. But when he falls for the younger Buffy, there's going to be hell in the Summers' home. Stacy hatches a plan to win Spike back and get rid of her sister...for good.

Disclaimer: I don't any of the characters. Well except Stacy. She's all mine, the rest belong to Joss Whedon who is a god.

Rating: PG-13

Pairing: Buffy/Spike

Buffy Summers walked through the halls of Sunnydale High on her first day. It looked like her old school back in Los Angeles.

Buffy, her two sisters, Stacy and Dawn, and their mother had just moved to Sunnydale a few weeks earlier. Stacy was furious with the move. She loved the busy sidewalks and endless stores. Dawn was excited. She hated living in L.A. because she could never go outside and play. Buffy didn't care either way. She didn't have many friends back home, and the ones she did have, she wouldn't miss much. Their parents had recently divorced, leaving Joyce summers to raise the three girls by herself. So why out of any city in California did they choose Sunnydale? Well the answer was simple. Joyce had been offered a job to run a local art museum. Thus they picked up and moved.

Kids rushed past her on their way to classes; locker doors slammed shut adding to the ruckus around her. Buffy looked down at the folded piece of paper with her schedule printed on it. 'Third period.hmm.algebra.' Buffy thought to herself as she refolded the paper and stuffed it in her pocket. "This should be fu-" Buffy was unable to finish her sentence as her books were knocked out of her hands by a group of older boys. They looked back and laughed as they made their way to the end of the hall and rounded the corner. "Jerks." Buffy groaned as she bent down to gather her belongings.

"You can say that again." A girl's voice sounded just above Buffy's head.

Buffy looked up to see a girl about her age, with long red hair and the greenest eyes she had ever seen. She was wearing a long blue skirt with a fuzzy pink sweater.

"I take it you're Buffy." The girl said handing Buffy her notebook. "I'm Willow Rosenberg. I'm supposed to show you around for a while. You know until you get settled in."

"Thanks." Buffy said straightening. "Maybe you can help me get my locker open then."

"Sure. Which one is it?"

Buffy led the other girl down the hall a ways and stopped at her locker. With a few quick turns of the dial, Willow pulled the door open.

"You're a life saver." Buffy sighed as she stuffed her un-needed books into her locker.

"No problem, but we better get going or we're going to be late."

The girls hurried down the hall and into their classroom.



Stacy Summers showed up for her first day at Sunnydale High like she owned the place. She wore the tiniest outfit she could find that wouldn't get her into too much trouble. She fully intended to catch the eye of every senior guy and make every girl in the school jealous. She had already made a few friends and was immediately accepted as one of the populars.

'Maybe moving here wasn't as bad as I thought." Stacy thought to herself while pretending to pay attention in one of her classes. 'And the best part is that I haven't even seen my bratty kids sister Buffy all day.'

The bell sounded and the students rushed out of the classroom. Stacy gathered her books and made her way to the door.

"Hey," Cordelia Chase yelled after her. "Stacy where's your next class?"

Cordelia was on of the first people that Stacy had met. She was by far the most popular girl in school, and thus she was ok in Stacy's book. "World History.sounds like fun." She groaned. Stacy handed her schedule to Cordelia who promptly looked it over.

"Ow.you've got some pretty awful classes going on here. Way worse than my schedule." Cordy said making a face. She handed the piece of paper back to Stacy, turned on her heel and walked out of the classroom.

"Of course," Stacy mumbled to herself. "It's back to life as usual."

Buffy Summers sat at her desk, working on some of her homework while her younger sister Dawn laid on her bed and watched TV. She had settled in nicely in Sunnydale, already making some really good friends. Among them was Willow Rosenberg, the girl who had helped her on her first day, and Xander Harris, Willow's best friend. Buffy slowly rose from her pile of books and left the room.

"Hey where ya going?" Dawn yelled after her, but Buffy didn't answer.

She made her way down the hall to her other sister's room. She quietly knocked on the door and pushed it open. "Stacy?"

"What do you want?" the eldest Summers asked. She peered out from behind a fashion magazine, an annoyed look on her face.

"I was just wondering if I could borrow your calculator. Mine broke and."

"Spare me the sob-story. It's on the desk." Stacy snapped.

Buffy walked quickly across the room, grabbed the calculator off the desk and walked back out the door. "Thank you." She called in.

"Whatever."

Buffy closed the door behind her. "Bitch." She said just loud enough for her to hear.

It was clear to everyone that Buffy and Stacy didn't get along. They didn't try to hide their sibling rivalry, or disguise it. Joyce constantly tried to get them together and get along, but there was just no hope. As long as neither had to be seen with the other, they were content to live their lives.



Stacy was sitting in World History, pretending to pay attention, when suddenly the door swung open and the most gorgeous boy she had ever seen walked in. His hair was bleached so blonde it was almost white, his eyes bluer than the ocean. He wasn't hugely built, but he had a body to die for. He walked up to the teacher's desk and handed him a note.

"Ah, yes. Class this is William, he will be joining our class from.London, England."

A small gasp went up from the class. Maybe it was just the fact that the farthest any person from Sunnydale had ever traveled was maybe to Los Angeles, if they were lucky San Francisco. So someone from a whole different country really shook their worlds.

William walked to the back of the room and took a seat diagonal from Stacy. She turned around to get a better look at him, without trying to look suspicious.

"Hi I'm Stacy." She said in her sweet and innocent voice. "I just moved here too, a couple of weeks ago. From L.A."

"Name's Will," he said casually in his sexy British accent. "But my friends call me Spike."

'God his voice is great. Not to mention the rest of his body.' Stacy thought to herself. "Well if you need anyone to show you around, I'm pretty well acquainted with the school now."

"Any idea where the library is?" Spike asked.

"Umm" Stacy faltered. 'Library, library.. crap.' "Actually no. Why would you want to go to the library? Why not the Bronze or the movies?" She was hinting to him to ask her out, but he didn't pick up.

"Well you see, luv, my Uncle Rups works in the library and I'm supposed to check in with him before lunch. That's all right. I'll find it."

Stacy was about to suggest they look together when the bell rang. Spike was out of his seat and through the door faster than a jackrabbit.

"Who's that?" Cordy asked as she passed Stacy in the doorway. She followed Stacy's eyes only to see a whitish-blonde head poking out above all the others.

"The new kid," Stacy said dreamily. "My new kid."

Part 3:

"Ok, so X equals?" Willow looked towards Buffy.

"Umm?" Buffy had her face buried in a book while she scribbled on a blank piece of paper. "Seven?"

"Yes." Willow said excitedly.

"Yes? I actually got it right?" Buffy asked. "Yes!" she yelled.

"Shhh." The librarian shushed them. He was a middle-aged man, dressed in a brown Tweed suit. His glasses sat low on the bridge of his nose and he always had that nose in one book or another.

The girls had been in the library during their free period studying for their Algebra test. Both girls were pretty good at the subject, but they could always use a little extra practice.

Suddenly the library doors swung open and in walked a tall boy with white hair.

"Uncle Rups?" he yelled, totally ignoring the scowls he was getting from everyone in the library.

"William? How many times do I have to tell you that this is a quiet place?" the librarian said hurrying through the stacks to greet his visitor.

"Yea well when do I ever listen to you?" the boy answered leaning on the counter.

The librarian lead the boy into a back office, where their conversation was out of hearing range of Buffy.

"Who's that?" she asked Willow looking back to where the two had disappeared.

"Oh that's another new kid. I think his name is William Giles. It's the librarian's nephew. Came all the way from London." Willow replied all in one breathe.

"Wow," Buffy replied still staring back towards the doors.

"Yea, I heard that he got kicked out of his school because he was in a gang, and his grandmother couldn't control him anymore so she sent him to live with his uncle, which I guess would be Mr. Giles, the librarian." Willow looked at the watch, strapped to her wrist, and began putting her books into her book bag. "Bell's gonna ring soon. You might want to clean up."

"Yea I guess so." Buffy said finally turning back around and stuffing her books into her book bag. The bell sounded through the library and all the kids got up and made there way to the door. Buffy and Willow followed making it almost to the door before Buffy realized that she forgot her notebook. She looked back; glad to see that it was still sitting on the table. She ran back, grabbed her notebook, and turned quickly, slamming right into Spike. Buffy fell to the ground, her books went everywhere.

"Sorry," Spike said offering his hand to the girl laying on the floor in front of him.

Buffy looked up at the boy, and slowly grabbed his hand. He pulled her up, until she was standing on her own two feet.

"Sorry," Spike repeated himself. "I'm in a bit of a rush. Guess I wasn't looking where I was going." He bent down and grabbed her books.

"Thanks." She said, taking them from him.

"I'm Spike." He offered out his hand again. 'She's beautiful.' He thought 'Maybe a bit young though.'

"Buffy," Buffy replied taking his hand and shaking it. "I better get going. Class." She began to walk away when he grabbed her elbow. She turned to look at him. 'God his eyes are beautiful. And that body.'

"Would you like to show me around town? Tonight maybe?" Spike asked going out on a limb. "I heard something about this club called 'The Bronze'? Any good?"

"Yea. It's about the only place in town that's worth going to." Buffy said. 'I can't believe this kid.this senior is asking me out!' "Around 7?"

"Sounds great. Where do you live?"

Buffy scribbled down her number and address on a piece of paper and gave it to Spike. "I'm gonna be late."

"Oh don't worry." Spike said coolly. "Uncle Rups?" he called out, his voice echoeing through the empty library.

"William, that's Mr. Giles while we are in school. Like it or not you will have to show me some respect." Mr. Giles said as he made his way out of the back office.

"Sorry," Spike said with a roll of his eyes. "Can the girl get a late pass? I kept her with my questions."

"Uh, sure." Mr. Giles quickly wrote Buffy a pass.

"Thanks." She said taking the piece of paper. "I'll see you tonight, Spike."

"Tonight, luv."

Part 4:
Buffy, Willow, and Dawn were hauled up in Buffy and Dawn's room; almost the entire contents of their closet spread around the room; shirts hung from lampshades, jeans covered the bed, skirts were draped over the bedposts.

"I still say you go with the leopard print dress. It says sexy, fun and ready to party." Willow explained holding the dress against her own body and swaying to the music only she could hear.

"I like the red one." Dawn chimed in from her position on the bed amongst the clothes.

"I don't know." Buffy said. "Ugh, why am I even worrying about this? I mean he's just a boy right? An older, senior boy, with great eyes, and a body to die for. Ugh." Buffy yelled in exasperation.

"Why don't you try the black leather pants with the gold lace-up halter again?" Willow suggested trying to help her friend.

"Okay." Buffy grabbed the clothes off the bed and went across the hall to change. She came back a moment later wearing the outfit. "I don't know." She said examining her reflection in the full-length mirror on the back of her closet door.

"I like it." Willow said stepping up behind Buffy.

"Maybe the black skirt? Would that look right?"

Willow hurriedly rummaged through the clothes on the floor until she found the short black skirt in question. "Won't know until you try it on." She handed Buffy the skirt.

"What would I do without you, Will?" the girl asked her best friend. With a quick hug, she grabbed the skirt and returned to the bathroom. Moments after she stood before her friend and her sister, clothed in a short, black, leather skirt and a bright sparkly gold halter-top.

"And we have a winner." Willow said excitedly. "And I have the perfect shoes to go with it." Willow ran over to the closet and grabbed a pair of knee high black boots.

"Don't you think that's a little bit of an overkill?" Buffy asked taking the shoes. "I mean I can't even remember why I ever bought these things. They make me look like a hooker."

"But it will go with the outfit." Willow said, immediately realizing how it sounded. "Not that that outfit makes you look like a hooker, but.um.ok let's start over. You want this guy, Spike, to notice you right?"

"Well technically he asked me out so he's already noticed me." Buffy said. She sat down carefully on the side of the bed and began tugging the boots on. She got the first one on and zipped it up.

"Okay, true." Willow complied. "I'm just gonna say that, if you want to Spike to really lose it tonight, you'll wear that outfit."

Buffy zipped up the second boot and climbed to her feet. She moved in front of the mirror again and examined herself. She was showing of a little more leg than she would have liked, but it was all in the name of love, or should she say lust.

"You look really pretty Buffy." Dawn said with her wide, innocent eyes shining up at her sister.

"Thanks Dawnie." Buffy said, bending down and giving her little sister a hug. "You know you're my favorite sister."

"Well of course dummy." Dawn said with a giggle.

It took Buffy and Willow all of 30 minutes to top the outfit off with the perfect hair, and some great make-up. They were hanging up the remainder of the clothes and tidying up the room when the doorbell rang.

"That's him!" Buffy jumped up and ran to the door, and out into the hallway. She took maybe five or six steps before she realized she forgot her purse. She turned on her heel and went back to her room, but Willow met her in the doorway, her purse in hand.

"Thanks Will." Buffy said with a quick hug. "And thanks again for babysitting Dawn for me. Mom's at her gallery opening and Stacy's out with one of her new 'friends'" Buffy made sarcastic quote marks with her fingers.

"No big." Willow said. "Have fun."



Spike pulled up in front of a quaint looking, suburban house. He looked at the piece of paper that Buffy had given him in the library. '1630 Revello Drive.' He thought to himself. 'This is it.' He got out of the car, adjusting the long, black, coat that hung from his shoulders. He made his way around his car, a 1950 Chevy Desoto, his pride and joy. He walked up the porch steps and took a deep breathe before ringing the doorbell. He stood for a moment before he heard the footsteps falling on the steps. The door swung open and Buffy stood before him looking like a goddess.

'Cor, she's beautiful.' He thought. "Hello, luv."

"Hey," Buffy said cheerfully. "You ready to go?"

Spike took in her attire. She looked much older than she was wearing those clothes. "Sure. To the Bronze?" He held out his arm for her to take.

"To the Bronze." Buffy said stepping out of the house and taking his arm.

Stacy was sitting at a crowded back table of the Bronze, surrounded with "Friends". Mostly girls who hung around her so they would be considered "popular". But there were a few people of which Stacy did actually like. Cordelia for one, she was funny, not the brightest person around, but she did have a car; Harmony was another. Stacy wasn't exactly sure why she was drawn to Harmony. Maybe it was the fact that she was a favorite among the male population of Sunnydale High.

The music was loud and the people were packed together like sardines in this place, but that was exactly how Stacy liked it. She came from L.A. where you couldn't walk three feet without bumping into someone. There was a small counter in the back right corner of the club where you could get drink and snacks. Near the front was a stage where the local bands would perform, and dance floor was positioned right in front of it. Tables were set up on every other available space. Even the upstairs was crowded with tables.

"So Stacy what do you think of our humble Bronze?" Cordy asked sipping on her soda.

"Not bad," Stacy admitted, half to herself. "It kind of reminds me of this place back in L.A. My friends and I used to go there like every night. It was the only place to be seen."

"It must have been so great to live in a big city like Los Angeles." Harmony mused, almost drooling over the thought. "I mean there are stores everywhere right? And clubs, and even more stores."

"Yeah, I miss L.A." Stacy went off into stories of some of the things she and her friends had done in the past. "There was this one time my friend Jenna and I snuck into this movie theatre and say like four movies without paying. The one usher finally caught us and called the cops, but thankfully my Dad is in good with the LAPD. He got us out a some major trouble."

"I don't think I've met your dad yet." Cordy announced, her little mind working to remember anything about Stacy's family. "Just your brat sisters. Is your dad here?"

Stacy's heart sank at the question. She was hoping to keep from telling these people about her parents. "No," she said glumly. "My parents split about a year ago. My dad's back in L.A. living with his secretary."

Everyone at the table could see that she really didn't want to talk about the particular subject.

"Oh I love this song," Cordelia exclaimed when the band started playing one of their more popular tunes. "You guys wanna dance?"

"Sure." Harmony said. She looked over at Stacy who still looked a little grim. "Come on. Maybe you can teach some of these townies a little something about dancing." Harmony grabbed her hand and Cordelia grabbed the other. They pulled her out on the dance floor. Once she was out there and felt the beat of the music, she loosened up and began to sway.

'Maybe this night won't be a total waste.' Stacy thought, trying to mentally perk herself up.



Spike walked Buffy to his car and opened the door for her. She sat in the front passenger seat and closed the door. He hurried around and climbed into the driver's seat. He inserted the key and started the car; she purred like a kitten. They slowly pulled away from the Summers' home. They rode for a few blocks in silence before Spike broke the tension.

"So why's you move here?" he asked not taking his eyes off the road.

"Oh well," Buffy snapped out of her trance, "my parents divorced last year, and my mom got a job here at the art gallery, so she moved me and my two sisters here."

"Oh," Spike said quietly dropping the subject.

"What about you? Why are you here in Sunnydale when you could be back in London?"

"Well the thing is luv," Spike said, his eyes still glued to the road in front of him. "It wasn't exactly my choice to leave. You see, I was living with me grand mum, but she said I was out of control. So she sent me with to live with Uncle Rups. Thought maybe he could control me." His voice was angrier than it was sad, but there was still that hint that Buffy could pick up on.

"So you're one of those bad boys aren't you? One of those can't control them, can't contain them, and can't tell them what to do?" Buffy asked.

"Yea that's me." Spike said with a chuckle. "This the place?"

The car pulled up outside a run down looking warehouse. There were a few windows in the front, and a huge steel door with a dirty sign hung over it that read: Bronze.

"This would be it." Buffy said happily. "It doesn't look like much on the outside, but they've remodeled inside and it's really nice."

As the car pulled to a halt on the opposite side of the street, Buffy opened her door and climbed out. She stood there for a moment before Spike joined her.

"Shall we?" he asked looking from her to the building, and then back.

"Sure." Buffy said. "Let's go."



Stacy was actually enjoying herself for the first time since she moved to Sunnydale. She was in a semi-cool place surrounded by her new friends, and having a blast. The song ended and the group moved back to their table for drinks. Stacy was back in her seat when she happened to look over at the bar and see a familiar blonde head.

"Spike!" Stacy exclaimed catching Cordelia's attention.

"What?" Cordy asked. "Where?"

"Right there." Stacy said pointing towards the bar. She watched him as a blonde haired girl joined him. "Oh great. He picked up some floozy and brought her here. I mean, what's so great about her? What does she have that I don't?" Stacy was rambling.

"Who is she?" Cordy asked standing up to get a better look.

"Beats me. Probably just some." Stacy's eyes almost tripled in size when Spike and the girl started coming towards them. She recognized the girl immediately. "Oh no she didn't." Stacy jumped up from the table and made her way through the crowd towards Spike and Buffy.



Buffy screamed as someone grabbed her arm and pulled her aside. "What the."

"Listen to me baby sister," Stacy used the term with a fake endearment. "What are you doing here with him? He is mine, not yours. I staked a claim on him, and everyone knows that."

"Obviously I didn't and neither did he." Buffy retorted. "He asked me out, not the other way around."

"I don't care what happened. This date is over." Stacy stormed off into the crowd.

"Oh no.It hasn't even begun."

Stacy stormed through the crowd plowing over anyone who stood in her path. She was a girl with a mission; that mission: break up this date between Spike and her sister. But first she needed some reinforcements. She made her way back to the table where Cordelia and Harmony were sipping at their sodas and talking about one mindless topic or another.

"We so have a problem." Stacy announced as she reached the table. Harmony and Cordy both looked up at her. "Spike's here.. with my sister! I can't believe she would do this. She's such a spoiled brat, always getting whatever she wants."

"Spike?" Harmony asked in disbelief. "You mean Spike the new senior? What's he doing with a freshmen?!"

"I know. We can't let this happen. I staked a claim on him and now she's got her grubby little hands all over him." Stacy was getting so mad she was shouting, but you couldn't really tell because of the volume of the music.

"What did you have in mind?" Cordelia asked, a devilish grin sliding onto her face.

"I'm not sure. All I know is that this date needs to end now!"



Buffy pushed through the crowd looking for Spike. She had lost him when Stacy had pulled her aside. 'Stacy! Ugh why can't she ever let me be happy?! God I hate her!' Suddenly someone grabbed her arm. Buffy immedialty thought it was Stacy again. "You know what!" she started without looking to see who she was talking to.

"No tell me what." Spike said.

"Spike. Oh sorry I thought you were someone else." Buffy apologized.

"Where'd you disappear to? I turned around and you weren't there." Spike grabbed her hand and pulled her to a nearby table.

"Oh.umm.someone I knew saw me walking and pulled me aside to talk to me. They didn't know I was here with you. Sorry." She took a seat at the table and Spike sat across from her.

"It's quite alright, luv." Spike said getting back up again. "Would you fancy a drink? Coffee, Cappuccino, Bloody Mary?"

"I'll take a root beer float. They make the best here." Buffy said bright smile lighting up her face.

"One root beer float coming up." Spike said as he walked away from the table.

'He's so sweet.and cute.and hot.' Buffy thought happily. 'It just sucks that my sister's probably going to kill me late. God I am so dead.'

"What's the what, Buff?" Xander asked as he approached Buffy's table.

"Xander? What are you doing here?" Buffy's head shot up.

"Well I was sitting home alone, like every other night of the week, and I just decided to come and see what my bestest friend Buffy was up to." Xander pulled out the seat across from Buffy and sat down.

"You are such a bad liar." Buffy said with amusement.

"Yea well do I still get an A for effort?"

"You know I'm on a date right?" Buffy asked. "I mean Spike will freak if he comes back and finds me here with another guy."

"Spike? You're here with that guy?" Xander was clearly jealous and Buffy couldn't help but feel a little honored that Xander would get jealous about her.

Suddenly an idea popped into Buffy mind. "Actually you might be able to help me. Here's the deal."



Spike had been standing at the counter for almost 10 minutes. "What's it take to get some bloody service around here?" It seemed to him that every waitress in this place was elsewhere whenever he needed her.

"Well, well, well. Look what I found!"

Spike turned around to see the girl from his history class behind him. She was dressed very seductively. So much that it made Spike wonder how her mother let her out of the house. "Hello again." He said trying to sound as pleasant as possible.

"Hi. Strange meeting you here. I mean I thought you weren't gonna show." Stacy moved with cat-like grace towards Spike.

"Yea well I changed my mind. Now if I could just get some service around here." He turned back to the counter and searched for a waitress.

"Allow me." Stacy walked up to the counter and leaned over it. "Amber!" she shouted. Within seconds a bouncy, raven hair, young girl made her way over to them.

"Hey Stacy. What can I get you?" the girl asked.

"Two root beer floats, and step on it." Spike demanded. The girl bounced away to get Spike' order.

"So what brings you to the Bronze?" Stacy asked leaning against the bar, and staring Spike down.

"Oh well I got bored and decided this place sounded like as good a time as any."

"Are you here alone? That's so sad, no one should have to come to the Bronze by themselves. C'mon let's dance." Stacy grabbed Spike's hand and attempted to pull him away from the counter.

"Actually," Spike said pulling his hand back and reaching for the drinks that Amber had delivered. "I am here with someone. And she's waiting for this," he held up one glass, "so if you'll just excuse me." Spike made his way around her walking in the opposite direction.

"Ugh!" Stacy screamed and stomped her foot. "What is wrong with that boy?!"



As Spike walked back to his table he noticed another guy sitting with his date. Anger building, he moved swiftly through the mob and in no time was standing behind Buffy.

"Oh hey," the boy said, noticing him standing there.

Buffy turned around quickly wondering who Xander was talking to. She immediately noticed Spike standing behind her chair with a root beer float in each hand. "Spike you're back! This is my friend Xander. He was just leaving now." She turned back to the boy across from her. "Weren't you Xander?"

"Oh yeah. That was me, Gone Guy." Xander jumped up from his seat. "See you tomorrow Buffy." With that he was off.

Spike moved back to the recently vacated seat and set the root beer floats on the table. "There you go. Had to kill a guy to get them."

Buffy laughed as she sipped the drink through her straw. "Mmm.still the best."

Spike neglected the straw and drank right out of the cup. He set the cup back down and raised his head to reveal a white mustache of ice cream. Buffy started laughing hysterically. "What?" Spike asked, completely unaware. Buffy was laughing too hard to even speak. She just pointed to her own mouth then to his. Spike got the hint and wiped his mouth looking down at his hand, seeing the white cream dripping off his fingers. "Bugger," he growled trying to hold back a laugh, but not succeeding. He broke down, and he and Buffy sat at their table, laughing hysterically.

What seemed like hours later, the root beer was gone, the glasses taken away by the waitress and Buffy and Spike sat at their table in awkward silence.

Buffy looked at her watch surprised to see that it was nearly 10 o'clock. "Oh man, we better get going. I told Willow I'd be home by ten."

"How's about a dance before we leave? You know, end it all on a good note?" Spike looked at her eyes pleading.

"Sure." Buffy complied. "I'd love to."

Spike rose from the table, took Buffy by the hand, and led her out to the makeshift dance floor in front of the stage. The band began playing a slow love ballad. Spike pulled Buffy close and rested his hands on her waist, behind her back. She wrapped her arms around his neck and they gently began to sway to the music.

'This is heaven,' Buffy thought.



Stacy, Cordelia, and Harmony were still sitting at their table plotting when the band started playing a slow song. One of the boys from school came over and asked Cordelia to dance.

"We're kinda busy here." Stacy rudely replied to the boy.

"Well hey if I'm out there dancing I can keep an eye on her." Cordelia announced, completely proud of herself that she had thought of a plan. "You know, make sure she doesn't make a move."

"Okay.yea. You watch her. Harmony and I will make our move.."

Cordelia jumped up from the table and let the boy lead her out to the floor. She moved through the couples until she found a spot that would put her close enough to the action to see, but not close enough to seem suspicious.

"Okay," Stacy said turning back to Harmony after she watched Cordy take her place. "So you said you know where the breaker box is?"

"Yeah, it's backstage." Harmony said with her usual air-headed approach. "But I still don't get the plan."

"That's ok. You don't have to." Stacy got up and left Harmony at the table to ponder that. She made her way gracefully through the tables and chair, smiling as to not draw attention to herself. She worked her way around the outside of the dance floor to the side of the stage. A door there had the label "Backstage Band Only". Stacy scoffed at the sign and pushed the door open and went inside. 'This place really should have more security.' She thought to herself as she searched the dark room for the breaker. "Come on, Come on, where is it?" Suddenly a silver coated box hung on the wall caught her eye. "Bingo." She walked over to it and pulled the door open. There were more buttons than she thought there would be. They all had labels: Stage Lights, Dance Lights, Speakers, ect. She knew flipping the switch wouldn't do much it was easily fixable. So she found the biggest wire she saw and pulled it from its place. Immediately throwing the entire club into darkness. Screams arose from the crowd gathered outside. "Perfect." Stacy congratulated herself, and hurried away form the scene of the crime.



Cordelia wasn't having fun. She was dancing with a guy she didn't like, and she had to baby sit Stacy's sister while she was doing it. 'Why did I volunteer for this job?' Cordy thought to herself. She looked over at the couple in question. They were getting closer and closer to one another. 'If you're gonna do something, do it now!' she thought. Spike and Buffy didn't even notice her. They weren't paying attention to anything or anyone, except each other. 'Oh my God.' Cordelia thought as she watched the two lean into each other. 'They're gonna kiss. Come on Stacy, do it now!' Just as she thought it, every light, speaker, and machine within the Bronze went dead. A few girls screamed startled by the sudden blackness.

"Okay everyone. Can I have your attention." A voice called out above the crowd. After a few more moments, everyone quieted down. "The Bronze will be closing now due to some technical difficulties. Don't worry I'm sure we'll be open again tomorrow."

Everyone started making their ways towards the door, grabbing coats and purses along the way.

"Guess our dance was cut short." The boy Cordelia was dancing with said.

"Yeah," she replied with fake sympathy. "This date is over."

Everything was perfect. Buffy thought nothing could go wrong. Suddenly the entire club was plunged into blackness. A few girls screamed, and there was endless chatter arising from the teenagers of Sunnydale. Instinctively, Buffy reached for Spike, who was already wrapping his arms around her.

"It's alright luv." He said in a calming voice. "It's probably just a power shortage. Nothing to get upset about."

"Yea." Buffy said calming down a bit. "We should probably leave. I mean everyone else is."

"Yea I better get you home." Spike led Buffy through the crowd and out the door. They walked towards Spike's car in silence, neither daring to look at the other. Spike opened the passenger door for Buffy when they got to his car. She muttered a 'thank you' and slid in. He walked to the driver's side and slipped in.

"So does stuff this exciting always happen around here?" Spike asked as they pulled away from the club.

"Actually no." Buffy said with a small laugh. "I mean the Bronze isn't the classiest place in town, but I've never been there when something like that went down."

"Probably heard I was there." Spike laughed.

"Yeah." Buffy answered. 'Someone knew you were there. Knew you were there with me.'

Moments later their car pulled up outside the Summers' home. Spike killed the engine.

"Thanks for tonight." Buffy said turning toward Spike. "I had a really great time."

"Night's not over, pet." Spike said opening his car door and jumping out.

"Huh?" Buffy said with surprise as he raced around to her side of the car and popped her door open. He reached inside and grabbed her hand, pulling her out of the car. "What are you doing?"

"Well what kind of a date would I be if I didn't walk the girl to her door?"

Buffy laughed as she and Spike ran up to her porch.

"Well here we are." Spike said. "I had a blast tonight. We should make this a regular thing." Spike took both of her hands in his.

"Are you a-asking me out?" Buffy stuttered as she said this. 'No way is this happening. How could Willow let me fall asleep before my date. This isn't real.'

"Well, yeah." Spike said. "I mean if you want to."

"Actually I'd-" Buffy's answer was cut off as the porch lights came on and Dawn came rushing out.

"Buffy, Buffy!" she shouted running up to her older sister.

"Hey Dawnie." Buffy said as Dawn rounded behind her. "Spike, meet my sister."

"Dawn's the name." The little girl announced proudly. She shoved her hand out in front of her to Spike, but his hands were currently busy.

He dropped Buffy's hands and took the youngest Summers' hand. "You're so small. Just a little Niblet."

"Niblet. I like that. Niblet, Niblet, Niblet." Dawn sang as she danced around the porch.

"Sure is a hyper little thing, isn't she?" Spike said watching the little girl.

"Never short on energy." Buffy said with a fake smile. "Dawnie why don't you go back inside and tell Willow I'm home."

"Okay," Dawn agreed and bounded back in through the door she left open.

"Sorry about that." Buffy said turning back to Spike once her sister was gone. "Back to what I was about to say."

"Yea?" Spike asked again.

"I'd love to go out with you."

"Great." Spike said raising her hands up. He kissed one hand and then the other. "Till another time." He walked off the porch backwards, watching her the whole time. He was on the last step when he got caught up and fell flat on his butt.

"Omigosh..Spike are you okay?" Buffy asked rushing to him.

"Bruised my ego quite a bit." He said climbing back to his feet. "Damn and I was so hoping that would go off well too. It would have been really romantic the whole watching you as I walked away, but oh well."

Buffy couldn't help but giggle. "It was romantic." She said stepping towards him. She laid her lips softly on his cheek and kissed him. "Very romantic."

Spike looked at her for a moment. Then he nodded his head and walked back to his car.

Buffy stood there and watched as he drove off. She smiled brightly to herself then went back up the porch steps and inside the house.



Cordelia had offered to drive Stacy home, but she declined. She needed time to think of another plan.

As she neared her house a cold breeze whipped through the air, sending chills up her spine. Although it was only mid-September, the air in Southern California was chilly. Stacy pulled her jacket around her body a little more tightly.

'I can't believe he was there with Buffy! I mean come on! I could find third graders that are built better than her. And that outfit! She looked like such a slut.'

As Stacy walked past the row of trees that lined her neighbor's front yard she looked at her house and noticed two figures standing on the lawn. She stopped mid-step and crouched behind the tall Oak tree.

'Oh my God. I can't believe he even brought her home. And walked her to the door!' Stacy was fuming and that was before she saw Buffy lean in and kiss Spike. She watched closely as Spike walked back to his car and Buffy went inside. Once the car was gone she stepped out from behind the tree.

"You better be ready little sis. Cause this is war. And I'm bringing out the big guns."

Buffy walked in the house and shut the door behind her, taking a minute to digest what had just happened. 'Is this what love feels like?' she thought.

"Ohmigosh, tell me everything that happened." Willow said running up to her. "In details. Spill girl!"

"It was nice." Buffy replied, a smile spreading across her face. "It was really nice. He was such a gentleman the whole time."

"Niblet!" Dawn yelled as she ran through the hall and into the kitchen.

"She's been doing that ever since you got home." Willow said looking over her shoulder at the sugared up little girl. "What's with 'Niblet'?"

"Oh," Buffy said with a small chuckle. "Spike.he said that Dawn was just a Niblet, and I guess she sort of adopted it as her new nickname."

"It sounds like you had a perfect time." Willow said as she and Buffy walked up to her room, Dawn in tail.

"Almost." Buffy said as she shut her bedroom door behind her. Willow and Dawn were situated on the bed when she turned around, all ears on her.

"What do you mean almost?" Willow asked. "Buffy what happened?"

"Stacy.she saw me there with Spike."

"So? What's the big?" Willow asked.

"See that's what I don't get. She said that she had staked a claim on Spike and that I better not try anything tonight. She was acting so Blair Witch like."

"She staked a claim on him? Since when can we claim guys? Was there a memo that I missed?" Willow asked sarcastically.

"The problem is," Buffy suddenly realized that her younger sister was still in the room, and didn't want her to hear this. "Umm.Dawn would you please get me a drink?"

"Why?" Dawn asked jumping up and down on the bed.

"Because my throat tickles," Buffy said faking a cough.

"I wanna stay here with you!" Dawn shouted.

"Please, Dawnie?" Buffy pleaded, again faking a cough.

"I'm not Dawnie anymore." The little girl laughed.

"Sorry." Buffy said with a giggle. "Niblet will you please get me a drink." The youngest Summers bounded out the door laughing and shouting the whole way. Buffy shut the door behind her. "Geez, how much sugar did you give her?"

"What were you saying about Stacy?" Willow asked intrigued.

Buffy shut the door to make sure that Dawn couldn't hear her. "She cornered me in the Bronze. She told me to stay away from Spike, that he was hers. I seriously.I think she would actually try to hurt me."

"What?" Willow asked again in disbelief.

"I know it sounds weird, but I think she might try to hurt me Willow. You don't know my sister." Buffy was wringing her hands. It was amazing how quickly she had gone from excited to nervous/scared.

"But it's not like she's ever hurt you before?" Willow looked at Buffy who gave her a nervous look back. "I mean not seriously? Right?" Buffy continued to give Willow a look. "Oh my God, Buffy what happened?"

"It was years ago." Buffy said walking over to the window and looking out longingly. "I mean I could have only been around 4 or 5. Dawn wasn't even born yet. Stacy was about 10, and I guess my parents thought she was responsible enough to take care of me."

"What happened?"

"Well my parents went out for the night. Stacy and I were home alone, and she decided to make dinner. I guess she thought she knew how to cook." Buffy walked away from the window and sat herself down on the bed. "She walked away from the stove for a minute and something, I'm not sure what, caught on fire. It spread fast and soon the entire kitchen was on fire. Stacy freaked, and started yelling. For some reason I was thinking clearly and dialed 911. They got there and put out the fire."

"Oh my God. Buffy that's horrible. But why would that make Stacy hate you? I mean you saved both your lives." Willow said.

"Well see once they called my parents and they got home, the firefighters told them that it was me who called. My parents decided that Stacy wasn't mature enough to be left alone anymore. They grounded her for 3 months and she wasn't allowed to stay home alone until she was 17." Buffy looked up at Willow. The redhead was staring at her with disbelief in her eyes. "She said I ruined her life. That I was mom and dad's favorite."

"It all seems pretty childish to me." Willow said trying to back up her best friend. "You didn't ruin her life. So, okay, maybe you dismantled it a little, but ruined?"

Buffy suppressed a laugh. "Thanks Will. And thanks for watching Dawnie tonight."

"It's no big." Willow said gathering the few books she had brought and stuffed them back into her book bag. "She's a really good kid, and it gave me some time to do my homework."

"We are talking about the same Dawn right?" Buffy asked. As if on cue the wild little girl in question came bounding into the room with a can of soda.

"Here Buffy." She said thrusting the can at her sister.

"Thanks.Niblet." Buffy said taking the can and setting it on her nightstand.

"Well I'll talk to you tomorrow," Willow said throwing the book bag over her shoulder. "Bye Daw.Niblet." She said waving to Dawn.

Buffy walked Willow downstairs and to the door. Willow reached for the door handle when the door shot opened and almost hit her. In charged Buffy's older sister, Stacy. She charged up the steps and slammed her door at the top.

"Good luck," Willow said as she stepped out the door.

"I'm gonna need it." Buffy said more to herself than to anyone else.

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