Rating: PG-13…that’s right, I see you 12 year olds trying to sneak a peek…

Disclaimer: The act of stealing someone else’s copyrighted characters is not only frowned upon, it’s illegal. But, when you type out the handy word: Disclaimer; and mention the fact that all of the characters in this story do not belong to you, but to a man named Joss Whedon or the Whedonmister as I like to call him, it makes this whole thing a little less illegal and maybe, just maybe can keep a baby-faced 18 year old girl from getting sued. *keep your fingers crossed*

Author’s Note: The last chapter was too short you say?? The Banana Song was completely and utterly wrong you say??? Okay, no one really said that about the Banana Song, and I just want to thank you guys for not being Nazis about that…but chapter length…yeah okay it was really short, but I didn’t want to make it overly long *that’s code for ran out of ideas..* I’ll try to lengthen the chappy’s as best I can. SpiKez: I would love to see this fan art if possible, if ya got it…just send it my way ;D.

********************************************

"So…you never did tell me how you became a twenty-three year old CEO…" Spike smiled, shaking his head, man this girl never gave up.

"You never give up, do you?"

"Uh-huh." Buffy smiled, taking a sip of champagne.

"Dad wanted to retire and keep the business in the family, Angel didn’t want the responsibility, so I took over.

"But you were fresh out of college."

"No bother." He shrugged. "Had to do what I had to do."

"Isn’t there anything else you’d rather be doing?" Buffy asked, leaning against the boats railing. She had to admit this wasn’t so bad. There was a comfort factor with Spike, she could just relax and not be so nervous, plus when they weren’t fighting, he actually wasn’t half-bad to talk to.

"At one time I fancied myself a bit of a writer." Spike chuckled, shaking his head. "I’ve got years worth of bad poetry hiding out at my dad’s house."

"Maybe I could…read it sometime." Buffy said, taking another sip of champagne. She focused her attention on the horizon, the setting sun gave a soft reddish glow to the surface of the ocean, it was all amazingly beautiful and romantic…romantic? No, now she’s starting to sound like poor high as a kite Angel. It’s definitely not romantic…Spike and romantic two words that don’t belong anywhere near each other…and why is he looking at her like that?

"What?" She asked, the word sounding a lot breathier than she had intended.

"Are we bonding, luv?" He grinned.

"You said we should make an attempt to get along…this is me making an attempt."

"Right." Buffy turned to face him, a smile creeping over her face, her fingers lightly tracing the glass in her hand. "So, Mr. Giles am I ever going to get to read some of your literary efforts?"

Spike could feel his heart slamming rather painfully against his chest; he could never figure this girl out. One minute he felt like strangling her and the next…

"Guess what…" He drawled, leaning in closer to her.

"What?"

"In five seconds I’m going to kiss you. You don’t have to kiss me back…I just thought I’d give you a heads up."

Buffy’s eyes went wide and before she could open her mouth to protest, his lips were on hers. As much as she wanted to fight, desperate to fight, her lips responded to his. The kiss was demanding, passionate, not at all like the soft peck Angel had given her…Angel! Buffy’s brain quickly checked back in, and she pulled away from him, panting a bit.

She sniffed, bringing a relatively shaky hand to her lips. "It’s, it’s getting kinda late don’t you think?"

Spike cleared his throat loudly, shaking his head. "Yeah. I guess we should head back."

*****************************************

"I’m in love with her."

Giles stared at his son, mouth agape, in utter disbelief, oh good lord…

"Oh good lord." He sighed heavily, sitting down across from his son. "Angel you can’t be serious…"

"I am! I’m dead serious. I am in love with Buffy Summers!" Angel cried happily, slowly lifting up from the couch. He steadied himself on his cane, his look of happiness replaced with a wince of pain…he should have never tried sitting on the couch…

"Bloody hell…" Giles murmured, putting his face in his hands.

"Spike!" Angel smiled. "Hey little brother, can you help me get into the hammock?"

"Sure." He nodded solemnly, noting his father’s look of desperation as he made his way towards the hammock. "What’s wrong with dad?"

"He’s about to have a heart attack because I told him I’m not marrying Cordelia."

Spike smiled, shaking his head. "We went through this the other day, Angel. The pressure and jittery feelings will all go away once you’re standing at that sodding alter…"

"No, I’m not marrying Cordelia because I’m in love with Buffy." Angel stated matter-of-factly. "Could you hold that steady for me, please."

Spike paled at his older brother’s admission, he couldn’t be bloody serious. "You can’t be bloody serious…"

"I am." He smiled. "You know, I realized it yesterday when she came in to see me. After she was gone, I missed her so much, I didn’t even know that I had been really looking forward to seeing her all day until I thought about it…"

"But Angel…" Spike began, chuckling nervously.

"I knew you and dad were gonna be against this. Look, I’m sorry you guys won’t get your Chase/Giles merger…and don’t think for a second I didn’t know about that, but I just can’t marry Cordy knowing how I feel about Buffy. By the way, Spike, did I tell you how glad I am you’re keeping an eye on her for me…?"

"No…" Spike sighed wearily.

Angel let go of his cane, and slowly began to lower his self into the hammock. "I intend on showing Buffy just how much I love her once I’m able to at least sit on my ass again…" He said smiling.

It was his leering tone that made Spike’s blood run cold, yeah that was it. It was just the fact that he knew the brand of love Angel was in very well and he didn’t want him to use another girl that way, didn’t matter if that it was Buffy, had absolutely nothing to do with it…

He scowled at Peaches, and tipped the hammock back, effectively sending Angel barreling onto the floor.

Angel cried out in pain as Spike bent down to help him, the most insincere apologies imaginable falling from his lips.

********************************************

Buffy stopped suddenly as she headed up the Giles’ walkway. She should just turn around and go back home…he could be here after all. No, no she came to see Angel, not Spike and if Spike just so happened to be here then she would deal. It was just one kiss, one meaningless empty kiss…

"Hello, luv."

She shivered once she heard his accented drawl and quickly scolded herself for doing so. Just say hello and move on…came here to see Angel, not him…

"Hi." Buffy said in clipped voice, blushing furiously as she tried to hurry past him. Spike’s hand shot out, grabbing her back.

"What’s the big hurry, oh I see…" He smirked. "I make you nervous now."

She could feel herself suddenly becoming extremely annoyed with him, that smug grin on his face having everything to do with it. Arrogant Bastard. "What, because of one little kiss? You wish. I came here to see Angel." She glared.

"Then why run past me like I had the sodding plague if I didn’t make you nervous."

"Because…" She could feel her face growing red hot. "I came to see Angel…not you."

"Oh, someone’s blushing." Spike smiled. "Well, goldielocks, if I don’t make you nervous, then have dinner with me tonight."

"Have you been in Angel’s meds." Buffy snickered.

He shook his head. "Does eight o’clock sound good to you?"

Buffy paused for a brief second, pursing her lips. "Eight o’clock sounds just fine." She said, snatching her arm out of his, and heading up the rest of the walkway.

Spike smiled as he watched her go into the house, but it quickly faded once he realized that he was going to have to go through the daunting task of finding something to wear…

TBC…

Rating: PG-13…really, I’m not pulling your leg…

Disclaimer: Here is the list of things I do own: A computer, a copy of Lolita, a Dashboard Confessional pin, Moulin Rouge box set, Seasons 1 and 2 of Buffy *the DVD box sets*, a TV, a bass guitar, and Joss Whedon’s sexy, sexy body. Here’s the list of things I don’t own: Air Force One, the map to Black Beard’s treasure, James Marsters *but I will…mwhahahahahaha*, and the characters in this story.

Author’s Note: Glorious, glorious feedback…it is my mistress! Oh, how I love you guys, thank you so much for the great response to this fic. You make a poor girl so happy, yes really ;D. You’ve got her head filled with such hopes and dreams, that she’s actually attempting to write a novel…*how ambitious of me, huh ;D*. Okay, one more thing…I FINALLY got up Ch.12 of ‘Lonestar’ so if you’ve been waiting for that update…it’s here, go run over and read it!

************************************************

Ow! Spike grabbed at his eyes with both hands, using the palms to soothe them. This could not be happening…not now, not tonight! They burned like fire, and the culprits sat idly on the bathroom sink in their saline.

"Damn contacts." He muttered. Without them, he was virtually blind, and the alternative was too unbearable….

He was really going to have to stop wearing those disposable, he had used up the whole box and the last pair was too old, extremely old as he had found out once he put them in. Had he done something wrong? Was he being punished for some past action, some grievance he wasn’t aware of? He sighed loudly, walking away from the sink.

There was no way he was going to wear his glasses, not on a date…wait a minute, this isn’t a date. He caught himself, shaking his head to clear away the thought. It’s just Buffy, just annoying, irritating, stress inducing, beautiful, witty…and okay now he was losing his mind! Spike brought a heavy hand up to rub his sore eyes again. He could do this just fine without his contacts or glasses, yeah, he didn’t need either one, his eye sight wasn’t that bad…

Spike cried out in vain as his nose met head on with the wall. On second thought, maybe he’d just bring his glasses along incase he really needed them…

***********************************************

"So, you’re making time with the little brother."

Buffy rolled her eyes as she juggled the phone, while trying to shave her leg. "I’m not ‘making time’ with Spike. Angel’s hurt, and there’s only so much of my dad I can take…"

"Uh-huh. You little tramp, you." Willow giggled.

"Wills, you’re lucky this conversation’s taking place over the phone, or else you’d have to remove my stylish yet affordable heels from your ass." Buffy said, ever so sweetly. The sound of the doorbell ringing, caused her to jump, effectively nicking her knee.

"Shit!" Buffy called out, clutching the cut, while still trying to hold the phone up to her ear.

"Something wrong?"

"Not only did I just take off the entire top-layer of skin on my knee cap…"

"Well, that’s a hard area to shave." Willow quipped.

"But he’s here! I’m not even dressed yet!"

"It’s fine, Buffy, take a deep breath…call me later." Buffy hung up in a fevered desperation, the phone, slipping from her hands and into the sink. She quickly washed off the blood and shaving gel and rushed out of the bathroom, her bedroom door slamming loudly in her wake.

**************************************************

Spike tucked the glasses in his pocket as the door flew open. He smiled at Buffy as she walked out, squinting a bit to get a good look at her. He couldn’t exactly see, but he was sure she looked amazing…

"You look great." He said, might as well take his chances. Buffy smiled in response, at least he thought it was a smile…

"How do you feel about driving?" Spike asked, giving her a rakish grin.

"That depends on how you feel about that shiny paint job on your car."

"You can’t drive?" He asked, stopping dead in his tracks. Oh please let this chit know how to drive…

"Well, I took the class, I watched the filmstrips with the blood and the death till I wanted to puke." Buffy smiled, shaking her head. "Buffy and cars are like…oil and water, or maybe some combustible elements that shouldn’t be put together…"

Spike sighed heavily, running his hands through his hair. "Bloody great!" He mumbled.

"What’s wrong? You know, I heard driving is kinda like riding a bike, once you learn you never really forget."

"It’s not that." He sighed. "Dammit!" Spike growled in frustration as he reluctantly yanked the glasses out of his pocket, slipping them on. Here it comes…he was sure she had some glasses joke left over from childhood just itching to get out.

A smile slowly crept across Buffy’s face at the sight of him. He seemed so flustered, so embarrassed that it was actually…adorable. The small frames fit his face perfectly and if possible, made him even more handsome…okay, she’ll mentally kick herself for thinking that later but for now…

"I like the glasses." She smiled, opening the passenger door.

*******************************************************

"Angel, I want you to rethink this…"

"What’s there to rethink, dad? I love Buffy." Angel smiled. "I’ve never felt this way before in my life."

Giles massaged his temples, sighing loudly. He was beginning to wish that he’d gotten his tubes tied the moment his ex-wife said she wanted to have children. "Liam, Buffy’s only been here for a few days and already you ‘love’ her?!"

"I think I’ve felt this way since we were kids dad, it just took years of time and separation to make me realize it." Angel paused, a dreamy look coming over his face. "Meant to be since childhood…kinda poetic, don’t you think."

"Yes, very." Giles sighed, disinterested. "I just think that maybe you should give this whole thing a little more time."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean…don’t be so quick to call off your wedding to Cordelia."

"But, I love Buffy."

"Yes, and while that’s bloody good, I’m saying son, why not bide your time between both women. Just in case things don’t go well with, um Buffy, you’ll still have Cordelia. You know, wait maybe a month or two and then make your decision."

Angel looked over at his father, for the first time actually having paid attention to what he said. Maybe he should give this idea serious consideration….

******************************************************

"Do you…wanna come up?" Buffy smiled as she nervously clutched the doggie bag, the butterflies that had been fluttering around in her stomach all night, suddenly turned into bats. ‘Come up?’ what the hell was she thinking…stupid, stupid, stupid…

"Sure."

The words rolled so casually off of Spike’s lips, and he breathed in deeply, wondering how he managed to pull that off. He followed Buffy inside and up the stairs, obviously Hank and Tammy were missing in action, and he couldn’t help but feel like a teenager who was sneaking up to his girlfriend’s bedroom while her father was out.

"We could watch a movie or something." Buffy said as she opened her bedroom door.

The room had definitely changed since he was eleven years old, for one the ALF posters were missing. He had only been in the room once when he was a kid and that was during some very stealthy breaking and entering. He had snuck away from the gabbing adults downstairs and made it up to little Buffy’s room, with the hopes of either nicking or dripping snot on a few of her toys. Once Spike had gotten there, though, he found himself completely fascinated with the room of his mortal adversary, and for a time had developed somewhat of a crush on her. Of course, that went away for good the day she sneezed on him…

"Just make yourself comfortable." She smiled nervously. God, proving to Spike that he didn’t make her nervous was really…making her nervous. "Do you want?" Buffy asked, gesturing to the box of left over fettuccine Alfredo.

"Um, yeah, sure."

Spike sat on the edge of the bed and kicked his shoes and socks off, trying to make himself as comfortable as possible once Buffy disappeared out of the room. He used to be really smooth and calm when it came to stuff like this, maybe his dad was right and the four years he had spent in that awful relationship with Dru had left his dating skills less than sharp.

He sighed loudly as he grabbed the remote, turning on the TV. Dru had not only managed to suck out his soul but his dating skills right along with it.

*****************************************************

"Oi! Cut that out woman!" Spike laughed, jerking his foot away from her and the evil nail polish. "You trying to make me a total poof?!"

Buffy rolled her eyes, grabbing for his foot again. "Oh come on, it’s black, a very manly color." She smiled.

He shook his head, smiling, he must be completely insane. "I must be completely insane." He sighed. "Black only. If I see anything remotely pink, I’m ringing your pretty little neck."

Buffy looked up from her ‘work’, giving him a big grin. "Hold still, you’ll make me smear it."

"Do you miss home?" Spike asked, taking his eyes off of the TV, focusing them on her.

"What, Ithaca? I do actually." She chuckled softly. "I miss my mom and my friends…god, I even miss school right now."

"My company’s that horrible, eh?" He teased.

"Well, yeah at first."

"Gee, thanks a lot."

"Now, you’re not so bad." Buffy smiled. "Gimme your other foot."

"Yeah, now that I’m letting you play bleeding makeover with me." Spike said, rolling his eyes. "So, what’s it like up there. I’ve never been upstate."

"All those times you’ve gone to New York on business and you never took the time to go upstate?"

He shrugged. "Never really thought about it, never had a reason to go."

"It’s beautiful, especially in the fall, and it’s nothing like the city." Buffy smiled. "For one there’s lots of cows and Amish."

"That so." Spike laughed. "Maybe you could…show me around some time, give me the grand tour."

"Maybe." Buffy said simply, screwing the top back on the nail polish, and crawled up the bed settling down next to him. "Quick question."

"Ask away, luv."

"That kiss last night, was that…also courtesy of Angel?" Spike could feel his breathe catch in his chest, suddenly he was painfully aware of how close she was. His mouth had gone completely dry and he struggled to find his voice, all the while appearing cool and calm on the outside.

"Yes, well you know…all in the family." He smiled, stumbling over the words a bit. Buffy brought a hand to his face, slowly stroking his cheek as she leaned in, planting a soft kiss on his lips.

Buffy cleared her throat softly, smiling, her hand still resting on his cheek. "My thanks to Angel."

TBC…...

******************************************************

"No, no, I don’t like this pattern. It’s too…busy or something." Cordelia mused, taping her foot. "Angel, honey what do you think?"

Angel stared off in space as the many brides to be who surrounded him swarmed around the China patterns like cats in heat. He was bored to death and if possible even more frightened, engaged shrews always did that to him. Cordy had ambushed him early this morning dragging his still rather sore ass out of bed to help her out with tedious wedding stuff. He had to get out of here, he had made a breakfast date with Buffy and there was no way in the world he was going to miss that…

"Angel? Hello?"

Cordelia’s annoyed and impatient voice cut through his thoughts of Buffy, he shook them away for now, remembering that he had to play the part of the doting fiancée. "Yes, did you say something Cordy?"

"I asked you what you thought of this pattern…" She said, giving him a look. "I’m starting to worry about you, is that hair gel finally seeping down and clouding your ears?" Cordelia smiled, hitting him playfully.

Angel laughed. "No, this is just…not my thing, baby you know that."

"I know, but Rosalita and I need your help, don’t we Rosalita?" Cordelia smiled, turning to the petite wedding planner at her side, giving her a pleading look.

"Of course we do, Ms. Chase. It’s always nice to have input from the groom."

"See, you’re wanted. Now, what do you think?"

Angel shrugged his shoulders, hesitating a bit. He didn’t know what the hell to think, they all looked alike to him, stupid wedding crap… "It’s nice, baby."

Cordelia nodded, slipping an arm around his waist. Angel once again let his mind wander to other things, mainly Buffy as the two women talked…

God, Buffy…he couldn’t wait to see her.

******************************************************

Spike, where the hell was that boy?

Rupert Giles paced around his son’s office, nervously, actually having bummed one of Spike’s emergency fags he keeps in the top drawer of his desk. Giles hadn’t smoked in years but the nerves in his body were so raw he had to have something…

It wasn’t like Will to be late to the office, hell there was a time when he couldn’t get him out of it. He had become quite the workaholic after his painful split with Drusilla. Giles cringed at the thought of her, he had never liked that girl and couldn’t understand what Will saw in her…

Now, one full month with Buffy Summers and it was as if he’d become a completely different man. He was out all the time, occasionally late to work or opting to not show up at all and let Hank take over for the day. It wasn’t at all like William, especially with an impending merger they were still working very hard to keep afloat.

And for some reason, Will had also abandoned his precious contacts and began wearing his glasses nearly full time.

Giles shook his head, willing his feet to stop their pacing long enough to have a seat on the couch.

Angel’s maybe wedding was fast approaching and he still very much had Buffy on the brain and from what he could tell, the feeling was still very mutual. As much as he adored the girl, Buffy Summers is a liability, and they can’t afford to have her around much longer…

They’ve got to find some way to send her back to New York.

********************************************************

Buffy grumbled as she reluctantly awoke from a very blissful sleep, the telephone bleating in her ear…damn thing…

"Hello?"

"What are you wearing?" The voice said in a raspy whisper. Buffy rolled her eyes, sighing loudly.

"So not funny Xander." She smiled a little as her friend’s laughter filled her ears, that smile quickly disappeared once she caught a glimpse of the clock. 7:15….she’s going to kill him once she gets back home.

"Morning Buff. How goes the vacation?"

"Do you have any idea what time it is?" She yawned, sitting up in bed.

"Should be about seven your time…" He said and Buffy swore she could feel him smiling. "I wanted to make sure I caught you, I’ve been trying to get a hold of you for a month, and every time I call you’re out with something called ‘Spike’."

She laughed. "Spike is a friend, am I not allowed to go out with friends?"

"Oh no, by all means. As long as it’s not Angel…I’m happy."

"He’s Angel’s little brother…"

Xander sighed audibly into the phone. "What the hell is it with you and the men in that family? Should Mrs. Giles watch her back?"

"No." Buffy laughed. "There is no Mrs. Giles, he’s divorced."

"That’s great…" He deadpanned.

"So, how’s George?"

"George is still George. He’s become quite the little ladies man ever since I put that mermaid in his bowl."

"That’s good." She yawned. "At least he’s still alive…"

"Ye of little faith."

"Hey Xand, I gotta go, okay. I promised Angel I’d have breakfast with him…"

"All the more reason for me to keep you on the phone longer."

"Ha ha." Buffy rolled her eyes. "Give everyone my love and I’ll talk to you soon. Bye." She yawned once more as she reached over her very much asleep companion to hang up the phone. Buffy caught herself watching him, the way his chest softly rose and fell, the way his bleached curls had matted themselves on his forehead giving him a boyish appearance…he really was a beautiful man…

The evidence of their ‘movie night’ was all around, a scattered pile of videotapes, a huge bowl of popcorn seeds with a few stray kernels…when had they fallen asleep? Probably somewhere between ‘My Fair Lady’ and ‘Phantasm’, he really had strange taste in movies.

Spike stirred lightly beside her, opening one eye.

"Hey." She smiled.

"Hey." He said, shutting his eyes again, he slowly opened them both when he felt they were ready to take the damn sunlight that was flooding into the bedroom. "What time is it?"

"Twenty after seven. When did we fall asleep?"

"Somewhere between ‘My Fair Lady’ and ‘Phantasm’ I think…" Spike grumbled sleepily.

"Very interesting choices for movie-night, did I tell you that?" She smiled

"Mmm-hmm."

"I should really move…promised Angel I’d have breakfast with him this morning…" She began, lying back down, resting her head on his chest. "But, this is really comfortable."

Spike smiled forcefully, his jaw clenching a bit. Hearing his brother’s name had shattered any of the illusions waking up in bed beside Buffy had given him. They had spent a solid month together and he had discovered that Peaches name was more than likely to come up at the worst possible of moments. He should expect that, but it still bothered him to no end…

"Yeah, luv. This is ‘of the good’ as you would say." Spike grinned, trying very hard not to notice the way her finger moved along his stomach. "But, I do have to be at the office this morning…"

"Movie night when you had to be at work the next day…" Buffy said, sitting up, giving him a stern motherly look.

"I never planned on spending the night, luv." Buffy rolled her eyes at his leering tone as she slipped out of bed.

"Try to be out of my bed by the time I get out of the shower." She smiled, walking out of the door.

*************************************************

"Honey, is Buffy up yet?" Hank called to his wife as she headed up the stairs.

"I think I hear the shower going. Morning, Spike."

"Morning, Tammy." He smiled, heading towards the door. "Morning, Hank."

"Oh, good morning, Spike." He said absently, rummaging through the newspaper on the coffee table. Once it finally hit him, Hank nearly spit out his coffee. His gaze traveled from upstairs towards the front door, and back again. Did Spike just come from upstairs? He knew Buffy wasn’t exactly a little girl any more, but they were going to have to have a talk…

***************************************************

"Where have you been?!" Giles practically shouted as Spike breezed into the room. The younger Giles shrugged his shoulders, as he headed towards his desk, removing his pack of cigarettes.

"Had a late night."

"You’ve been having a lot of ‘late nights’ lately."

Spike shrugged once more, lighting his cigarette. "What are you doing here anyway? Thought you said this office gave you hives." He snickered.

"I said working in this office gave me hives, standing in it for an hour waiting on you merely grates on my nerves." Giles removed his glasses as he returned to his seat. "Angel’s still very much infatuated with the girl."

"Angel’s very much infatuated with Angel. Your point?" Giles watched Spike’s jaw clench, funny how its been doing that a lot lately, especially at the mention of Buffy and Angel.

"My point, it’s been a month already, I don’t know how much longer we can stall him from calling off the wedding. Does Buffy still…"

"Peaches comes up from time to time."

"The longer she’s here, the longer that knucklehead will continue to think he’s ‘in love’ with her…"

"I know this dad, we’ve been through this song and dance with Angel before what’s your…"

"I think you should find some way to get Buffy to go back to New York."

For a brief moment Spike swore he could feel all of the air go out of the room. His face fixed in a steely glare, he pulled out the pack of Marlboros again, quickly putting out the fag he already had, lighting up another.

"I’ll see what I can do."

TBC…

Rating: PG-13…will be NC17 eventually…yay for porn!

Disclaimer: The music flowed out of La Luna Loca as I breezed through the doors, and into the club, my dress flowing in the slight wind. Our eyes met instantly, and he swept me up into his arms and onto the dance floor, pulling me dangerously close as we tangoed. "Joss." His name fell from my lips in a heady whisper, as I hooked my right leg around him. He smiled as he slowly ran a hand up my exposed thigh. "I know my love." Was all he said. Usually I have to be so vocal about not owning the characters this story, he loves the fact that they all belong to him. "A quick question, Jossie-bear." I said. "Yes, my love" He mumbled as his lips trailed kisses down my neck. "Why in the hell would you get the boring guy from 2 Guys a Girl and a Pizza Place to star in Firefly?! What the hell were you thinking?!"

Author’s Note: Ah, can’t you hear it people?! I sure can, I hear Shameless-Self Promotion right on the horizon! Remember how I said that I don’t have my own website and blah, blah, blah…well guess what?! I still don’t have my ‘own’ website, but my good pal Gilly was cool enough to give me my own page for my fiction on her site. So…there my friends, you will find all of my current stories *including updates for Lonestar* and a new pet project of mine *30 Stories from the Hellmouth*. You can also read Gilly’s wonderful fiction, as well as submit your own. Enough of my rambles: here’s the addy in case you want to check it out sometime *when I update that is…*

www.members.tripod.com/gilly_bean2/

P.S-Amber, so sorry I made you spit soda on your monitor, lol. Actually, I’m kinda proud of that…but, now I think you should let your closest friends know not to say anything remotely funny around you when you’ve got a beverage in hand ;D.

*****************************************************

Eyes began to brim with tears as the organ player began the first few bars of the wedding march. The few people present in the church rose to their feet in anticipation…

"That rat bastard!"

Cordelia stalked purposely down the isle, glaring at the elderly organ player, a motion for her to stop the song immediately. Mrs. Chase dabbed away the few tears at her eyes, it’s just the rehearsal dinner and she was already crying, and quickly came to the aid of her daughter.

"Where is he?!" Cordelia roared. "How could Angel be late for the rehearsal?! This is his wedding too!" Mrs. Chase pulled her sobbing daughter into her arms, running a soothing hand up and down her back.

"It’s okay, sweetheart. He’ll be here, you know how men are with these sorts of things. Shhh…"

"I’m starting to think he doesn’t want to get married." She cried into her mother’s shoulder.

"Of course he wants to get married, Cordy don’t be ridiculous!" Now, go back and take your place, and we’ll run through this okay. Rosalita, can you get back in the groom’s place please!"

*********************************************************

Angel darted around the room lighting every last candle, smiling to himself. This was going to be perfect, romantic atmosphere, chilled champagne, soft, sappy music from the part of his CD collection he liked to keep hidden, and best of all no Cordelia.

After spending the entire morning with her, missing his breakfast with Buffy, he had managed to dodge her with lame excuses of being in pain. He had to promise that he wouldn’t be late to somewhere or other, he wasn’t paying attention, but it got her out of his hair and bought him enough time to set up everything before Buffy arrived.

He stood back, admiring his handy work. "Perfect."

********************************************************

"You want me to what?" Buffy raised an eyebrow at Spike as she bit into her soggy Big Mac, cursing silently as a mountain of lettuce tumbled out of the back of it.

"I want you to come to New York with me." Spike said, reaching across the table to grab a few or her fries, dodging Buffy’s swatting hand.

"I don’t think I’d be very good for business…"

"’S not business." He said, stuffing his mouth. "I want to go to Ithaca, spend some time with the cows and the Amish." He smiled, reaching for another fry. "I need someone to show me the sights and sounds. What? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"What brought on this sudden need to pack up your bags?"

Spike shrugged. "Will you go?"

"Sure." She smiled. "As long as you keep your paws off my fries."

Spike flashed her his trademark grin as his sticky fingers made another grab at her food, Buffy’s hand quickly shot out to swat them away.

Her smile suddenly faded, great, she had completely forgot. "Oh crap!"

"What?"

"I’m supposed to have dinner with Angel tonight."

Spike had to fight to keep his eyes from rolling up into the top of his head. "What happened to breakfast?"

"He had to cancel."

"You made a dinner date with Peaches, and yet you had me drive your oh-so-starving self to McDonalds for a nutritious meal?"

Buffy shrugged, smiling sheepishly. "I forgot. Be a sweetheart and give me a lift to your dad’s, come on Spikey, I’ll love you forever."

Spike rolled his eyes at her, shaking his head. Sometimes he wondered why he put up with this girl. "Get your skinny arse up and lets go, and don’t call me Spikey."

***************************************************

"And do you Liam, take Cordelia to be your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health, for as long as you both shall live?"

Soulful brown eyes locked with her own as the strong hands tightened their grip.

"I do." Rosalita smiled, sniffing back tears. Cordelia sighed heavily, rolling her eyes. "Oh, for God sake…" She mumbled bitterly.

Rosalita slid the ring on Cordy’s finger, then turned to face the Priest.

"By the power vested in me by the state of California, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

Cordelia’s eyes once again rolled at the startlingly loving look Rosalita was giving her. Slightly panicking, she thrust her hand into the other woman’s giving her a good hearty handshake.

Angel is a dead man walking…

*************************************************

There was something wrong, horribly wrong.

Here she was in the most romantic setting with the man she’s dreamed about since she was a child, candles and champagne, and now dancing, unbelievably slow dancing, so why wasn’t she absolutely giddy over this?!

Angel smiled lovingly at her, dipping his head to capture her lips. Buffy always expected fire works the day Angel would kiss her like this, hell fireworks went off all over the place the day he kissed her by the oak tree, but now…

She parted her lips, allowing his tongue to slip inside, maybe this would make it better…

Nope, nothing.

What the hell is wrong with her?! This is Angel Giles, man of her bloody dreams here…

Bloody? She smiled into the kiss as she thought about her inner usage of Spike’s favorite word. Leave it to him to influence her vocabulary…

Buffy broke the kiss suddenly as the realization hit her full on like a Mac truck. Angel looked like a deer in headlights, what had gone wrong, why did she stop? Why the hell did she stop?!

"Something wrong?" He asked. Buffy drew her lips in, stepping away from him.

"I’ve gotta go."

"Okay." Angel nodded solemnly. "I’ll walk you home…"

"No, no, it’s fine." She smiled. "I had a good time tonight." Buffy said making her way to the door. God, she really hoped Tammy was still home, she needed a ride across town and she wasn’t heartless enough to ask Angel to take her to Spike’s apartment…

*********************************************

Spike hung up the phone, sighing loudly as he opened the top drawer of his desk, fishing out his cigarettes, trying his best to ignore the look he was getting from Giles.

"What dad?"

"Do you really think now is the best time to take a vacation, Will? I mean, you do have important business here to take care of…"

"The plane ticket isn’t for me dad." He sighed heavily, lighting his cigarette. "It’s for Buffy."

"Buffy?"

"Yeah, you know, your liability?" Spike snickered bitterly. "I got her to agree to go to back to New York…"

"That’s good, Will, but you can’t go with her, you’ve got a job to do…"

"Bloody hell." Spike grumbled, this was hard enough and Giles was only making it worse. "I’m not going with her, dad. She only thinks I am."

TBC….