A chill ran down her spine as the cold water splashed against her flushed face. She looked up and stared at her reflection in the mirror; her mind swirled. A light knock on the door snapped her out of her thoughts.
“Come in.” she spoke with a sleepy voice
Tara’s head popped out from behind the white door.
“Hey…” she greeted as she stepped in.
“Hey.”
Buffy rubbed the soft fabric of the towel against the wet skin of her face.
“I-I thought you might want this.” Tara outstretched her arms handing her a warm cup of hot chocolate.
“Thanks.” She nodded, taking the warm mug in her small hands and walking into her room, closely followed by the witch.
“C-Can we talk?” Tara stuttered awkwardly as she stepped into the room.
“Sure.” Buffy said with a weak smile, taking a seat on the bed and signalling the tall girl to do the same.
“Thanks.” Tara said as she sat down. “I hope you d-don’t mind but… Willow and I are a bit worried about you. You have been so distant… so-“
“Spike and I broke up.” Buffy suddenly blurted out.
“Oh… I figured.” Tara said showing little surprise.
“I-I mean, I called it all off right after Riley left. I-It was just the right thing to do, you know?” she explained as she set the mug on her nightstand.
“I-If you say so.” Tara spoke with her usual soft and understanding tone which made it so easy for Buffy to open up.
“It was.” The blond girl said without much resolve, but looking up at Tara she added with a little more conviction: “I know it was.”
“Then why are you like this?” the witch hesitated a bit, but was relieved when Buffy didn’t snap. Instead, she simply dropped her gaze to her hands.
She fidgeted nervously with her fingers as she pondered how to say what she wanted to say. Finally, she took a deep breath and, never looking up, she spoke:
“I saw him… at the DoubleMeat Palace… He was with someone… A woman.”
“Well, they could just be friends.” Tara offered.
Buffy suddenly looked up from her hands and stared straight into Tara’s eyes.
“He was grinding her against the back wall of the DoubleMeat.” She set her mouth in a straight line.
“Oh.” Tara quipped figuring Spike might have been fighting the woman but, seeing the look on Buffy’s face, realisation came crashing down on her; “Oh!” she repeated a little more loudly, as the sexual connotation of the verb ‘to grind’ sprang to mind. “Oh!”
“Yeah,’oh!’ ! My reaction was more of a ‘*Thud* now I’m laying unconscious on the floor’ sort of thing.” Buffy tried to seem unaffected by the news but failed as the tears began to swim in her eyes, turning them glassy and bloodshot.
“Oh, Buffy I-I’m sorry!” Tara tried to calm her.
“And tonight I decided to have some fun, you know? Not let the evil creature of the dark get to me? And guess who I find? Spike… With his new skanky ho!” Anger was growing in her and quickly becoming the dominant emotion. “And she was all nice and smiled and… God, I wanted to rip that smug smile off her face!” she hissed between clenched teeth. “And he was staring, gawking at her like she was… You know what? I think she was a man. I mean she has a man’s name. What kind of name is Sam, anyway?”
“Buffy, I-it’s ok to be jealous, you-“
“Jealous? Who’s jealous? I’m not jealous!” The blond said defensively, standing up and beginning to walk in circles as she rambled: “I’m just angry that he had to come to the DoubleMeat and rub it in my face and then act all ‘Oh, what are you angry about? What did I do wrong?’ I’ll tell him what he did wrong. That little weasel.” She practically growled, fisting her hands as she paced around, causing Tara some unease.
“What did he do wrong? B-besides come to your workplace a-and…” she tried to imagine how to word it and instead decided to just skip that part of her reasoning. “And…” she tilted her head and continued: “…Wh-which I can understand would make you angry….”
“Well, isn’t it enough?” Buffy quipped.
“Enough to get you this angry?” Tara wondered. “Are you sure you’re just angry?”
Buffy stared wide eyed at the woman sitting on her bed and finally stated matter-of-factly, crossing her arms over her chest:
“I’m *not* jealous!”
~+~
“She’s jealous!” Spike practically chanted as he hopped onto his sarcophagus.
“Oy, I’m starting to regret ever telling you about that.” Sam mumbled from the armchair as she blindly looked at the black and white images flickering on the TV set. She heard him sighing loudly and turned to see a dreamy look on his face. A couple of images coming from the dazed vampire flashed in her mind and she couldn’t help but cringe. “I think I’m gonna be sick.” She muttered, wondering which was worst - the highly R rated footage from before or the new and improved Mexican soap opera that now passed before her eyes.
Snapping out of his dreamy haze he noticed the disgusted look she was giving him.
“What?” he asked defensively. Her index finger tapped on her temple and he grumbled: “Well, turn that thing off then.”
“I can’t turn if off. It’s kinda like me telling you to not listen when someone’s screaming in your ears.” She made a face and returned her attention to the TV.
Spike hopped off the sarcophagus and slowly approached her. Her eyes remained glued to the television as she tried to ignore the vampire who now kneeled on the floor to her right and stared intensely at her. They stayed that way for a few seconds until she snapped and whipped her head around to look back at him.
“What?” she asked annoyed. When she saw the lost little puppy dog look he was giving her she rolled her eyes and tilted her head, spurring him on to tell her what was going on.
“When are we going out again?” he practically sinsonged the words.
She tried hard not to smile, working hard at keeping her cool exterior.
“And why do you want to go out? I thought you liked staying at home… moping.”
“You cured me.” He quipped.
“Right.” She said with a mocking tone.
“Ah… come on!” he practically begged tilting his head as his lip jutted out for a pout.
“You can put that lip back in place. It’s not working its magic today.” Sam lied.
He frowned and the pout grew.
“You have to understand we can’t overexpose this thing. If you do, the jealousy is just gonna turn into pain or anger, which is bad. You still have to grasp the concept of subtlety and suggestion. You wouldn’t believe what those two things together can do.” She took a french-fry from the bag she was holding in her hands and popped it into her mouth, turning to face the TV.
Spike began to protest, but found it impossible as she quickly stuck a fry in his open mouth and said with a shrewd tone:
“Subtlety and suggestion.”
Spike sulked and resigned to munching on his fry.
~+~
“Buffy! I’m home!” Dawn bellowed closing the door behind her and hoping her way upstairs. Getting no answer, she repeated louder: “Buffy!”
“I heard you the first time.” She grumbled, dragging her feet as she exited the bathroom.
“Are you ready?” the young teenager asked with a huge grin.
“Do I have a choice?”
“Boy, you’re in a lousy mood today for a change…” Dawn noted sarcastically.
Buffy mumbled something unintelligible under her breath as she walked into her room and got her bag.
In a few minutes, the two sisters were out the door and heading for the mall. Dawn practically hopped the whole way there.
“So, what do you think we should get her?” she asked a little too enthusiastic.
“What are you so happy about? It’s just a bachelor party and it’s next Saturday, I don’t know why we have to buy a present right now.” Buffy continued oozing her ‘good mood’ as she entered the large department store.
“Because you’re working tomorrow and the rest of the week and I have classes. Our schedules clash.” Dawn explained matter-of-factly as she stared at a shop’s window.
“Right…”
“How about that?” The younger girl asked pointing at a strangely shaped mug.
Buffy cringed shaking her head in disapproval.
“Well, what about this?” Dawn pointed at another option and got the same reaction from her sister.
This went on for a while until the teenager had enough and decided to protest:
“Come on, Buffy. You’re suppose to choose with me, not simply moan and groan and be ‘negativity queen’.”
“I’m not ‘negativity queen’?” Buffy complained.
“Yeah, cause you’re so enthusiastic about this whole wedding thing.”
“Since when did you become so cynical?”
“Right about the same time you became an anger ball.”
“Anger ball?” Buffy cocked up an eyebrow.
“I’m going through a Ryan Philippe phase.” Dawn admitted a bit embarrassed.
“You’ve seen that movie one too many times.”
“Oh, but he looks sooooo cute and cuddly and…” Dawn noticed the disgusted looked her sister was giving her and cut her drooling short. “Fine, let’s just find something for Anya.”
~+~
The vampire turned on his sarcophagus as he tried desperately to ignore the sound of longs nails tapping on wood, but the more he tried to block it out the louder it seemed to get.
“WILL YOU QUIT DOING THAT? I’m trying to sleep here.” He finally snapped, sitting up straight and staring at the woman who sat on the armchair.
“Sorry.” She said with a small voice.
“Thank you.” He grumbled laying back down to sleep.
A few minutes went by and the vampire actually believed he was going to get some shut-eye when a strange blipping sound filled the crypt, after a few seconds he recognized the series of off key rings as notes of Beethoven’s 5th.
“What the bloody fu-“ He stopped in mid sentence as he saw Sam standing up and begin to speak apparently to no one in particular as she brought her hand to her ear; the annoying sound disappearing.
He waited a few seconds and soon Sam dropped her hand. She pressed a button on the object she held and another single screeching sound was heard. She looked up and gave him a wicked smile.
“You have a cell phone? Since when do you have a cell phone?” he asked confused.
“Since my shopping spree. I always wanted to have one.” She quickly explained, the impious grin never leaving her lips.
“What?” he questioned. The way she was smiling gave him the feeling that he really didn’t want to know the answer to his question.
“You should drop to your knees right now and kiss the floor I’m walking on.” She nodded as she spoke.
“And that would be because…?”
“I’m going to a party.” She announced matter-of-factly.
“We are?” he asked, not sure if it was good or bad news.
“Not ‘we’, *I* am!” She corrected.
“And that would affect me because…?” During the few days he had known her, he had realised that the best way to get things out of her quickly was by making incomplete sentences in the form of a question that she would have to complete.
“Because said party is at your true love’s house.” The grin on her face grew while Spike’s face seemed to crunch up, every muscle contracting and pulling in separate directions as he began to choke.
“Wh-“ cough. “Wh-“ cough, cough.
“I’m assuming the question is ‘what’. Am I right? Nod if it is.” She said.
He nodded fanatically.
“Ok. Well, Anya just called me…”
“You…” cough. “You…” cough.”
“I thought vampire’s couldn’t choke?” she asked annoyed as his coughing fit was ruining her moment of triumph.
After few seconds, Spike calmed down and asked, ignoring her question:
“You know Anya?”
“And Alexander, and Willow, and Tara. Tara was nice, shy, but nice. Got very pretty pictures from her head. She’s sweet, she really likes Wil-“
“How?” The vampire interrupted.
“I met them at the Bronze. Willow and Tara, I mean. I met Anya at her shop, along with Xander, but he didn’t remember me.” She pouted for a second but then added: “But after last night… I’m sure he’ll remember.” The wicked grin returned to her lips.
“You and Xander?” The vampire was totally confused now as well as a little disgusted.
“Oh, God no!!” Sam denied vehemently shaking her head. “Just the…” she tapped on her temple. “I got when he saw me. Believe me, that man’s totally smitten with Anya. Anyway, I went into a shop yesterday to buy some candles and incense sticks to get the horrible stench out of this crypt…”
“I liked that stench. It was my stench, now all my clothes smell like jasmine.” Spike used the opportunity to protest.
“Well, I like jasmine, so get used to it. Moving on… I started talking to Anya and realised she was a friend of Buffy’s.” she tapped her finger on her temple once more.
“And this information just slipped your mind, right? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because you were too busy grilling me about the fact that I now have a pulse, remember?” Sam complained, before continuing: “So, at the Bronze, I bumped into her when I went to the ladies room. We chatted about her engagement and the fact that it was taking forever. Xander is really… Actually, no! All of you are. All men are just-“
“Can we skip the ‘men have the emotional skills of an amoeba and are the most insensitive creatures on the face of the planet’ speech?” Spike interrupted a bit annoyed at her babbling.
“This is why you and *her* aren’t together. You people don’t talk. You have a problem, you do one of two things: ignore it and boink each other till one of you drops senseless or ignore it and beat each other up till one of you drops senseless.” Sam finished her speech to find a very annoyed Spike looking back at her. “Ok, fine. Geez… We talked, I gave her my phone number, she told me to come meet her friends, I met her friends, I saw you and little blondie on the dance floor and interrupted. That about sums it up. Oh, wait, no. Anya just called me, inviting me to go to her bachelor party next Saturday. She reminded me to buy her something expensive.” Sam took a long breath as she finished.
“You’re going to Buffy’s house next Saturday?” Spike finally asked.
“And I’m going to make your girlfriend green with envy while being extra nice to her, which will make her nuts, since I’m not giving her any excuse to hate me, besides the fact that she thinks I’m boinking you.” Sam summed up her plan as she dropped onto the armchair. “Oh, that reminds me. I have to buy something to wear.”
“You’re buying something to wear? What about the pile of clothes downstairs?” Spike asked in disbelief.
“I need green envy causing material!” Sam announced turning on the TV.
Part VII – Bachelor Party (Part I)
Spike tapped his fingers over the small bench he was sitting on while he stared at the closed curtains in front of him.
“Are you done yet?” he asked for the 4th time in five minutes.
“If I was, I wouldn’t be cooped up in here, now would I?” Sam’s voice hovered over the curtains to reach his ears.
“Will you just get on with it?” He grumbled as he felt his empty stomach turn. He dropped his head on his hands and sighed heavily, staring at the tiled floor.
“What do you think?”
He looked up to see her. She wore a short summer dress, which hovered just above her knees. He observed her for a few seconds, taking in the contrast between the random patterns of light brown and yellow flowers stamped over the light fabric and the milky white emanating from her exposed legs. Suddenly, she moved to disappear behind the heavy curtains.
“Hey, I-“
“I don’t like it. Too ‘I’m an innocent little church girl’.” She interrupted matter-of-factly.
“It wasn’t bad.” He whinged as he was growing increasingly frustrated.
She had walked through the store taking practically all the clothes she’d found along the way and walked straight into the changing room. That had been over an hour ago and she had only shown him four outfits so far. He was pretty sure there were still about ten to go.
He sighed and resigned to waiting, standing up and pacing back and forth in circles. Ten minutes later, she was standing in front of him – tight leather pants clung to her thighs and a slivery tank top hung over her chest by two thin straps.
He swallowed noticeably, but before he could say anything she was back inside.
“What?” He asked exasperated.
“Too ‘ravage me now’.” She explained simply.
“It’s not too ‘ravage me now’.” He lied.
“Spike, I got a flash from you. I know the first thing that ran through your head.” She responded, her nose wrinkling up as the images refused to abandon her mind.
“Sorry…” the vampire apologized a bit embarrassed as he walked back and took his seat.
Four complete outfits later, she walked out of the changing room, this time with a long worn out dark blue denim skirt, which hung low on her waist, and a simple red linen sweater. The edges of its sleeves opened up slightly, just like bellbottom pants, and geometrical Arabic shapes were sewn into them with a white thread. The same intricate pattern bordered the ‘v’ neckline that exposed her sharp collarbones and the ashen colour of her neck.
As she had done previously, she prepared to turn around but stopped as she felt a strong cold hand gripping her arm.
“It’s fine!” Spike practically hissed frustratingly. “It’s not angelic, it’s not smutty, it’s not stuck up, it’s not simple, not complicated and it doesn’t make you itch. It’s fine. Now let’s go!” he ordered.
As she was about to make some remark he gave her a deadly look and she pouted, frowning.
“Party pooper.” She whined as she walked behind the curtain to change back into her normal jean and sweater outfit.
~+~
“Anya, will you just stop for a second… You’re making me dizzy…” Xander begged as he practically ran after his fiancée. She was like the energizer bunny… “Better not get bunnies into the mix…” the young man thought to himself as he finally caught up with her.
“I can’t stop! There is just so much stuff to do till the wedding…” she mumbled as she made a mental list of what was needed. “I have to pick up the invitations and mail them out today, then there is the florist; have to make sure the woman gets the right flowers, then there’s…”
Xander zoned off and simply nodded; giving her the impression he was actually listening when, suddenly, he saw her – the woman from the Bronze. Anya’s friend.
“Hey, isn’t that Samantha?” He asked.
“What? Where?” the ex-demon looked around, failing to spot the redhead.
“There, standing in front of that shoe store, next to… Spike?”
“Oh!” Anya was off, running towards Sam, arms waving around, the shopping bags she was carrying flying in every direction as she literarily ran over the people who were standing in her way. Xander remained perfectly still, not moving an inch as his brain still tried to digest the information his eyes were providing him.
~+~
“Sam! Sam!”
The young redhead turned around to see where all the shouting was coming from and couldn’t help smiling as she saw the ex-demon coming her way.
“Hey!” she greeted when Anya was finally standing in front of her.
“Hey! Hey, Spike!” she dispensed him a second of her attention, but quickly returned her gaze to the redhead in front of her. “What are you doing here?”
“Shopping.” Sam answered pointing towards the bags piled up in Spike’s hands.
“Did you buy something for me?” Anya asked without any embarrassment.
Sam smiled at the woman standing in front of her. It was amazing. She was probably the only human being that said exactly what was on her mind. Before the images had a chance to flash in Sam’s mind, Anya was already blabbing everything out. It was really uncanny, but that was exactly what she liked about this hyperactive woman.
Sam was snagged out of her thoughts when she saw Xander approaching.
“Samantha… Spike.” The young man gave each an acknowledging nod.
“Hey!” Sam greeted with a grin.
“Harris. Out with the Mrs?” the vampire asked.
“Last minute wedding arrangements.” Xander explained.
“So about this store you told me…” Anya started and soon the two women were in a world of their own, talking about clothing, shoes, flowers… basically, extremely boring things that left the two men awkwardly staring at each other in a painful silence. Realising the conversation between the two women was going to take sometime, Xander decided to risk it:
“So… You know Samantha?”
“Sam? Yeah.” Spike said simply, not willing to disclose anymore information about it.
“From where?”
“We met at the Bronze.” The vampire smiled inwardly realising that the young man in front of him was dying to know more about it.
“Really? So what are you doing with her now?” Xander tried to make it sound like he was just making conversation but failed miserably at it.
“Not much… Holding her bags, basically.” Spike stated, holding up the pile of bags.
“I didn’t mean that.”
“Well, you asked me what I was doing with her *now*.” Spike gave him one of his trademark smirks.
Sam choked back a laugh When she suddenly got an image of Xander wringing Spike’s neck.
“Very funny… ha-ha.”
“You wanna know something? Ask. Don’t expect me to dish out, I’m not one to kiss and tell.” Spike said, his scared eyebrow now high on his forehead.
“Arg…” Sam groaned, covering her mouth when she got a highly xxx image from Xander.
“Are you ok?” Spike asked, the smirk never leaving his lips figuring the reason for Sam’s sudden sickness.
“I don’t think I feel so good.” Sam admitted shooting Spike an angry look. “We better go home, Spike.”
At that Xander’s eyes widened. ‘Go home? She’s staying with him? How…? When…?’, but before he had the chance to ask, Sam and Anya had already said their goodbyes and the redhead was walking away, with Spike alongside her.
“Don’t forget about Saturday.” Anya shouted after the couple.
“Don’t worry! Wouldn’t miss it for the world.” Sam bellowed back. When she was sure she was out of their sight she slapped Spike across the arm.
“Hey! What was that for?”
“I’m not one to kiss and tell.” She said with a mocking tone, imitating perfectly his British accent as she made a face.
“Wha’? It’s true.” the vampire complained with an innocent look on his face.
“Do you know the flash I got from that man? I think I’m gonna throw up!” she sighed, walking a bit faster.
The vampire smiled as he increased his pace to fall into stride with her.
“Where are we going?”
“To get Anya’s present. I know exactly what she wants.” Sam said never looking at the man walking next to her.
“She told you?”
“No, I got a flash.” Sam explained as she entered a lingerie store.
~+~
Willow and Tara sat on the mattress as they watched Buffy punch half-heartedly into the punching bag Xander was holding for her while she trained.
“So, do you know who Anya and I met yesterday at the mall?” Xander asked the tree girls. “Samantha!”
“Who’s Samantha?” Buffy questioned as she administered another blow.
“She’s that girl we saw at the Bronze on Saturday. Remember? I told you about her. Anya’s friend?” Willow answered.
“Oh, yeah.” Buffy nodded as her foot came high to kick the upper edge of the bag.
“How is she? Is she still coming to Anya’s party? Maybe you can meet her, Buffy.”
The Slayer shrugged and continued throwing her meek punches.
“Sure.”
“Oh, I think you’re gonna wanna meet her, alright.” Xander said with a heavy ‘I know something you don’t know’ tone.
Buffy gave him a frown and he continued his report of the day’s events:
“She was at the mall, guess who was with her…” he started and then added with emphases: “…carrying her bags!” When he got no answer from the three, he finally added with wide eyes: “Spike!”
Buffy stopped punching the bag for a second, sending Tara a look, as the pieces in her mind clicked into place: Spike with a hottie at the Bronze the same night as the guys met another girl, apparently of stunning beauty. Spike’s girl was called Sam, which was short for… Samantha!
“You saw Spike with a girl?” Willow asked as she shifted on the mattress while Tara remained frozen at her side; her wide eyes now glued on the Slayer.
Buffy tried to mask her surprise by returning to her punching exercises.
“He was carrying her shopping bags! That’s major commitment sign! It’s just like in high school, when you ask a girl if you can carry her books. If she says yes, you automatically know you’re in. It’s the unspoken code of dating.” Xander explained. He held onto the punching bag as Buffy’s punches seemed to grow in intensity.
“Well, did you ask Spike about it?” Willow questioned with a gaping mouth, totally immersed in the news her friend was giving her. So immersed, that she completely ignored Tara’s altered behaviour. She held her breath as she closely watched the Slayer’s reaction to every word that was said.
“Yeah! And he was all monosyllabic about it. Like he didn’t want me to know about it.” Xander stumbled a bit as Buffy seemed to suddenly be putting all of her strength into the training session. The more he spoke, the stronger her punches were. “When I tried to know a bit more, he was all like: ‘I’m not one to kiss and tell.’… Ouch!” Xander groaned as one of Buffy’s blows seemed to punch through the padded material and hit him, causing him to stumble back. “Careful there, buffster.”
Buffy didn’t say a thing, merely continued her exercises as Xander took his place again, behind the punching bag.
“And what else?” Willow asked oozing curiosity, completely oblivious to Buffy’s altered behaviour.
“Willow, maybe we shouldn’t…” Tara said in a low voice, but was interrupted by Xander.
“And then she suddenly started feeling queasy and he was all worried, you know? All, ‘Are you ok, luv?’ and ‘Is there anything I can do’?” Xander said, deciding it was best to embellish the truth, make his story a bit more interesting. As a result he felt another strong punch go through the bag, but this time he was able to stand his ground, even though his stomach was starting to get sore. “And then… And this is the REAL news, she said :’We better go home.’!”
Xander didn’t know what hit him as he was now laying belly up on the floor, staring at the ceiling, a throbbing pain at the side of his head. Willow was kneeling next to him, a worried look on her face.
“Are you ok, Xander?” the redhead asked.
“What happened?” The young man asked as he blinked wildly, trying to focus his gaze on his best friend’s face.
“Buffy accidentally missed the bag and kicked you in the head. You were out of a couple of minutes.”
“Oh! My head!” Xander said as he brought his hand to cover his ear.
“I’m sorry, Xander!” Buffy said with little sympathy in her voice. “It was an accident.”
“It’s ok. Don’t worry.”
Buffy felt someone tug at her shirt. She turned to see a concerned Tara looking back at her.
“We need to talk.” The witch said, pulling her towards the back door.
When they were in the alley, out of the training room and away from Willow and Xander, Buffy asked:
“What did you want to talk to me about?” Pretending nothing was happening.
“You have to talk to him. If this is bothering you, you have to.” For the first time since she had met the witch, Buffy heard nothing but determination and certainty in Tara’s tone, not a hint of doubt or her usual shyness.
“I already apologized. He’ll be fine.” Buffy said with a fake smile, that begged Tara not to push the issue, but she didn’t oblige:
“You know what I’m talking about, Buffy. You need to talk to Spike about this.”
“About what?” Buffy continued to avoid the subject.
“If you don’t tell him the truth, you’ll lose him.” were Tara’s last words as she opened the door and walked back into the training room, leaving a stunned Buffy behind.
~+~
The week went by in a flash and then, there it was – Saturday night, staring her in the face. All the girls were gathered downstairs, all except… her, the redhead. Buffy’s stomach turned and she let out a deep grunt, taking off the shirt she was wearing and throwing it in the rapidly growing pile on her bed.
“Nothing looks good, damn it!” she protested as she walked towards her closet and opened it to examine it. “They’re all old.”
A knock on the door, brought her back to reality.
“Buffy! Hurry up! It’s the bachelor party, not the actual wedding.” Dawn’s voice bellowed from the other side of the door.
“I’m… coming!” Buffy answered as she took a white tank top and put it on.
“You said that half an hour ago. I want to give Anya our present.”
“I’m done!” Buffy said as she exited the room to find her sister standing in front of her, looking at her from head to toe. “What?”
Buffy wore tight black leather pants and an equally tight white tank top that showed off her perfectly shaped breasts. Long spaghetti earrings dropped from her ears and caressed her neck, which was exposed as she had her hair pinned up in a bundle on the back of her head. Raven leather boots finished the ensemble.
“Buffy, it’s a bachelor party. Why are you ‘dress to kill’?” Dawn enquired with a frown.
“I feel dressy today.”
“Whatever. Do you have Anya’s present?”
Buffy held up the small box in her hands and the two sisters hopped down the stairs.
“Buffy!” Willow quipped when she saw her best friend coming down the stairs. Suddenly, she felt very underdressed for the occasion. “Why are you dressed up?”
“I’m not dressed up.” Buffy said matter-of-factly.
“If you say so.”
The three walked into the living room to find Tara and Anya sitting on the sofa.
“A-Are we going out? I-I thought we had decided not to go to the male s-striptease show.” Tara asked a bit confused when she noticed Buffy’s outfit.
“We’re not.” Willow reassured her, giving her a ‘don’t ask’ look.
A ringing sound filled the living room and Anya immediately jumped up to attention.
“It’s her. Finally! I get to open my presents.”
“I’ll get it.” Dawn said, walking towards the door. As she opened it she was greeted by a smiling redhead and someone standing next to her who’s identity was concealed by the large box in his hands.
“Hey, you must be Dawn! I’m Sam!” the woman outstretched her hand and Dawn gladly took it, shaking it.
“Come in! We were waiting for you. Anya is dying to open her presents. Don’t tell Xander, but I think she’s only marrying him for the gifts.” Dawn said with a smile as she let the young woman in, followed by the man. “Hey, Spike!” the younger Summer’s girl greeted.
“Hey, nibblet. Care to tell me where I can leave this stuff?” The vampire asked.
“In the living room.” Dawn pointed.
“Hey, Samantha!” Willow greeted standing up and shaking her hand.
“Call me, Sam!” the woman smiled before turning her attention to Anya. “Hey, Anya! Congratulations!”
“Is that my present?” the ex-demon asked walking up to Spike and Sam.
“Yep, that’s it.”
“OH, it’s big!” she noted with huge grin
“Yeah, and heavy! Where do I put it?” Spike grumbled.
“Here.” Dawn offered pointing at the floor.
“Finally!” The vampire let out an unneeded gulp of air, but he soon caught his breath as his eyes found the Slayer’s. She looked amazing and his body immediately reacted to the tight leather pants and white tank top. Suddenly, there was very little room left in his denims and the zipper painfully bit into his tender skin. He shook his head and decided to ignore her as his gaze shot across the room, looking at everything except the hot little Slayer on the other side of the couch.
In the meantime, Sam pushed back the pictures that flashed in her eyes and tried not to make a disgusted face as she turned to greet Tara.
“Hey! Tara… right?”
“Y-yes.” The witch confirmed shyly.
“And Buffy… Hey!”
“Hey!” The Slayer greeted dryly.
“You know each other?” Willow asked.
“Yeah, we met at the Bronze the same night I met you guys.” Sam explained.
Willow’s eyes widened and she shot Buffy a ‘we have to talk’ look.
“So… Can I open my presents now?” Anya asked with the anxiety of a ten year old kid on Christmas day.
“Not yet.” Dawn noted tilting her head towards the only male person in the room. “No men allowed, Spike. Sorry!”
“Just came to drop off Sam. Don’t think I could take a night of watching sappy girlie movies, while dyeing my hair and doing my nails with you lot.” He answered as he passed the threshold of the house, Sam and Dawn holding the door open for him while Buffy and Anya stood behind them.
“Pick me up at…” Sam looked back at Anya, who was excitedly holding up a hand wide open. “…five?”
“Will do, luv. Be careful.” Spike said with a smile as he saw the look on Buffy’s face from the corner of his eyes before turning around to leave.
Dawn closed the door behind him and both she and Sam turned to face Buffy and Anya. The redhead’s eyes widened as she got a painful image from the Slayer.
“Let the fun begin!” Dawn announced completely oblivious to the deadly look Buffy was sending Sam.
Part VIII – Bachelor Party (Part II)
With wide eyes, Anya took the small box and hastily tore the wrapper off. Her huge grin crumbled a bit when she saw its content…
“A box?” Anya asked confused.
“It’s a music box.” Dawn stepped in with a huge grin, not reading the disappointment in the ex-demon’s eyes.
“Oh… Good. I like it.”
For the first time, Sam saw Anya repressing her real thoughts.
“Thanks.”
Tara shyly elbowed Willow, pointing toward the back of the couch.
“Oh… Yes.” The witch exclaimed standing up, reaching for a beautifully wrapped box and handing it to Anya. “This is from me and… Tara.”
A slight shade of red took over the pale complexion of both girls as Buffy and Dawn gave them a look.
“You bought the present together?” Dawn asked with a huge grin on her face.
Willow nodded and Dawn was about start a thorough interrogation session, when a light pinch from her sister told her it was best not to force the issue.
In the meantime, Anya was so wrapped up in opening her present she hadn’t even rationalized what buying a gift together meant in the Wiccas’ relationship. The ex-demon entertained herself as she furiously attacked the piece of paper that stood between her and her present. Finally, she managed to destroy the package, leaving only its content.
She tilted her head as she was faced with another rectangular box.
“You bought me a music box too?” The disappointment evident in her voice as she opened the wooden casing. She found it was divided into various little square compartments, each holding an assortment of aromatic herbs. On the edge of the wood that separated each compartment there was a bronze bar with the name of the herb delicately carved into it. “What’s this?”
“Those are powerful herbs that are said to be very helpful in…” Willow blushed a bit as she tried to explain. “You know…”
“This is natural grass?” Anya blurted out.
“W-Well if you put it that way… I-It’s actually more than that. It’s said that they serve various functions besides… that one.” Willow uttered.
“I like it!” The demon quipped truthfully, before adding: ”Even though Xander doesn’t need it. You know this one time he asked me to strap him-“
Sam cringed at the flash she got and sighed in relief when Buffy intervened as she covered Dawn’s ears:
“I don’t think we need to know about that.”
“Ok, one more to go!” Anya cried over excitedly as she stood up and strode towards the large box at the edge of the room.
It wasn’t wrapped in a fancy bright paper as the previous two presents had been. It was a simple card box. After some struggle she managed to open it and found a large trunk inside.
“Yey… a trunk…” Anya quipped truly disappointed.
Not realising it, Buffy smiled as she grasped that hers wasn’t the worst present.
“Open it.” Sam suggested with a smile.
Reluctantly, the ex-demon kneeled in front of the chest and opened it using the key that was stuck in the lock. She gasped as she pulled the heavy wooden lid and saw a black leather corset staring back at her. Next to it were two knee high leather boots.
“Oh, my God! This is exactly what I wanted!!” Anya cried out as she picked up the first item and pressed it against her chest. “How did you know?”
“I guessed.” Sam lied smiling as she shrugged.
“Oh my God! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!” The ex-demon threw herself into Sam’s unprepared arms nearly causing her to fall to the floor due to the force of impact.
“You’re… welcome.” Sam managed to say as she was released from the deadly grip. “There are a couple of other things in there…”
Before the redhead could finish her sentence, Anya was kneeling on the floor, going through the trunk.
“Oh, a whip… and handcuffs and…
“…but I think you should go through them later. It’s kinda kinky.” Sam finished her sentence when she saw the deadly look Buffy was giving her.
“And…” Anya continued oblivious to the situation.
“Anya!” Buffy called out as she slammed the chest’s lid down.
“What?”
Buffy tilted her head toward Dawn, who was already feeling very fed up with the usual routine that cut her off from all the fun.
~+~
“I want some more…”
Kirsten Dunst’s frail voice filled the room as the girls sat in front of the TV, three large bowls of popcorn distributed between them. Suddenly, a ringing sound filled the room. Awkwardly, Sam stood up, taking her cell-phone and heading towards the hall.
“Hello?” Sam whispered into the small device.
“It’s me.”
“You who?” Sam decided to annoy the vampire on the other side of the line.
“Spike.” The vampire practically groaned.
“Oh… Spike. What do you want?” the redhead asked in a low voice as she peeked into the living room to see Buffy giving her a look.
“Nothing.” The vampire lied,
“Nothing?” Sam cocked up an eyebrow.
“Well, just wanted to know how you’re doing?”
“How *I’m* doing, or how a certain blond is doing?” Sam went straight to the point.
“Well…”
“Oh, you’re pathetic.” Sam sighed.
“Hey!” Spike protested on the other side of the line.
“It’s true. You’re probably at home trying to figure out exactly what is going on here.”
“I am not!” The vampire tried to sound convincing but failed. After a few second of silence he asked: “Is she… jealous, yet?”
“Right now she’s craning her neck to hear who I’m talking to, plus I’ve been getting some extremely painful images from her! All ‘n’ all I’d say the plan’s going great – she hates my guts!”
“Good.” The satisfaction was obvious in his voice.
“Can I go now?” Sam groaned as she realised she had just missed another yummy Brad Pitt scene.
“Yes. Don’t-“
Before the vampire could finish Sam pressed the off button of the cell phone disconnecting him. Quietly she made her way back.
Ten minutes later…
“Ring, ring, ring….”
Sam was up and in the hall once more.
“What?!” she asked exasperated. “You’re making me miss brooding Brad Pitt.”
“Huh…?”
“What do you want?” she exhaled loudly.
“Just to know what’s going on.”
“Nothing, in the past ten minutes.”
Buffy sat in her spot on the armchair with Dawn sitting at her feet. Her eyes were focussed on the screen but that was about all the attention she was dispensing the TV; all her senses were directed at the redhead whispering in the hall. She strained to hear, but it was impossible, even with her Slayer powers, especially since the torrential rain had started outside.
“I guess we are going to have a storm, huh?” She asked but got no answer as the four women were completely engulfed in the plot, even though they had seen it about a dozen times. She could understand Dawn and Anya’s interest – Brad Pit and Tom Cruise were a very good reason to watch it - but what about Willow and Tara?
As she looked from the corner of her eyes she got her answer. When the movie had started they sat on opposite sides of the couch, with Dawn sitting between them. Eventually, she had decided it was more comfortable to watch the movie on the floor with Sam, closer to the screen and now Willow was sitting on the edge of the sofa and Tara sat next to her - her head leaning on the redhead’s shoulder, their hands carefully intertwined.
Buffy couldn’t help but smile, it was good to see the two girls had solved their problems. Her trail of thought was interrupted as Sam walked into the room and took her place on the floor, leaning on the couch. The Slayer’s stomach suddenly turned as she noticed the smile on the redhead’s face. What was she smiling about? Was Spike responsible for it? Had he said something funny? The questions whirled in her mind and the pain in her gut grew. She was snapped out of her maddening suppositions when Dawn’s arms stretched out in front of her.
“Ah…” She yawned. “I never get sick of watching that movie.”
Buffy looked towards the TV screen to see the titles rolling; behind it a bird’s eye view of the San Francisco Bridge.
“If only vampires actually looked like that…” Willow sighed causing Tara to immediately sit up straight and shoot her a deadly look. However, it didn’t last long as Sam’s next remark gripped her attention:
“Well Spike is sort of like that. I mean, he’s not Brad Pitt or Tom Cruise, but he’s got something going for him.” Sam said absentmindedly.
A sudden silence was felt as the room looked like a living picture. Everyone stood perfectly still, staring at the redhead, including Dawn who held a piece of popcorn half an inch from her mouth. The only exception was Anya, as she remained unaltered looking for something:
“Who has the popcorn?” she asked the frozen audience.
“You-you know Spike’s a-a vampire?” Willow broke the silence.
“Well… Yeah!” Sam admitted, not understanding the group’s reaction.
“A-and you’re living with him?” It was Tara’s turn to speak.
“Yep.” The redhead answered automatically, as she stood up and took a hand full of popcorn out of the bowl Dawn was holding in her lap.
“Oh, there it is!” Anya exclaimed taking the basin from the brunette.
Buffy seemed to finally snap out of her gawking daze:
“You’re living with a vampire and you’re not worried about it?”
“He can’t hurt me.” Sam explained pointing to the back of her head and adding: “Chip and all.”
“But he’s a vampire!” Buffy insisted.
“And the problem would be?” Sam asked.
“Well… He can… He…” The Slayer struggled to come up with a reason. “He…”
“There is nothing he can do.” Sam paused and saw her chance. With a very suggestive tone she added with a wicked grin: “Well… at least nothing bad.”
Buffy’s jaw fell to her chest as a flush brushed over Tara and Willow’s pale complexions. The Slayer was about to say something when Anya, who was still out of the loop, interrupted:
“Well, what’s next?”
~+~
The sound of violent raindrops hitting the shutters served as background as the girls sat around watching TV. Buffy looked around for the strange redhead. She was probably still in the kitchen with Willow and Dawn. Sighing, she stood from the couch to go check it out. Loud giggling was heard as she approached.
“Spike let you do that?” Dawn asked amazed.
Sam nodded looking at the other redhead in the room who was almost coughing her lungs out.
“God… I nearly…” cough. “Choked…”.
“Are you ok?” Sam asked a bit concerned as she patted the witch’s back.
“I’m fine. Just…. Have to remember laughing and drinking at the same time is not a good combo.”
“It never is.” Sam smiled, looking up and finally noticing the Slayer standing on the threshold. “Hey!”
“Hey…” Buffy greeted walking into the kitchen. “What were you guys talking about?”
“Sam made Spike…” Dawn started but realising the story was just too long to tell she shook her head. “Nothing… you wouldn’t get it.”
The brunette jumped off the counter where she was sitting.
“Why wouldn’t I?” A hint of hurt evident in the blonde’s voice.
“It’s just a long story…” Sam said yawning as she walked after Dawn into the living room, leaving Willow and Buffy alone in the kitchen.
“So… You knew Sam and you didn’t tell us?” Willow asked as the two girls were out of sight.
“I didn’t realise she was the same person you had met. I thought she was just one of Spike’s… things.” Buffy tried to sound nonchalant.
“Well, she is definitely not a… thing.”
“What do you mean?” Buffy eyes widened for a second.
“She’s living with him, so I doubt it’s just a thing.” Willow explained as she popped the last bit of popcorn into her mouth before heading for the sink.
“It doesn’t mean anything.”
“He bought her a bed, Buffy!” The witch argued as she washed the dirty bowl.
The blonde’s heart suddenly leaped out of her chest. “He bought her a bed?”
“Yep. King-sized.” Willow widened her eyes to emphasize what she was saying and didn’t even notice the hurt look on her friend’s face as she continued to speak: “I’m happy for him. Finally finding someone, I mean. I guess he’s finally over his obsession with you, huh?”
Buffy felt her heart shrivel up in her chest at the redhead’s words, her eyes became glassy with tears, but as soon as Willow turned around to face her the mask was back on and she spoke with a plastic smile on her face:
“Thank God!”
~+~
Buffy drifted around the living room, picking up scattered glasses and cups.
“Why can’t I dye my hair?” Dawn pouted as she walked after her sister.
“Because you’re too young…” Buffy sighed as she answered the question for the third time that night.
Everyone was already half asleep, Tara and Willow had gone up to bed a few minutes before, leaving a sleeping Sam on the couch and a dazed Anya flipping channels while she cleaned up.
“You were dyeing your hair when you were her age.” Anya noted from her spot on the armchair.
“Yeah, see!” Dawn said triumphantly pointing towards the ex-demon.
“Shh… You’ll wake up Sam.” The Slayer scolded before turning to Anya, widening her eyes and making an angry face.
Dawn’s lower lip jutted out as her sister faced her again.
“Fine… Well talk about it tomorrow. Now it’s time to go to bed.”
A huge smile lit up Dawn’s face as she hopped her way into the kitchen after Buffy.
“Thanks, Buffy!”
“Go up to bed.” The blond ordered softly as she put the cups in the sink.
“What about Sam, is she going to sleep on the couch?” Dawn asked.
“Well, Spike said he’d pick her up.” Buffy looked up at the watch hanging on the wall. It read 6.15. Her eyes drifted toward the tempest outside and added: “I guess with the storm out there he’s not coming.”
“Oh, can she sleep in my room?” Dawn asked giddily.
“I thought you were sleeping with Anya?”
“I’d rather share the bed with Sam. Don’t wanna risk a night of Xander sex stories.” Dawn explained as she swallowed hard at the painful idea.
“I guess you’re right. I’ll sleep with Anya.” Buffy cringed at the thought as she walked into the living room.
Anya was idly flipping through the channels while Sam slept peacefully on the sofa.
“Anya…” Buffy whispered signalling her.
The ex-demon stood up and dropped the remote on the armchair, walking towards Buffy and Dawn.
“What?” Anya whispered back.
“Change of sleeping arrangements. Spike’s not coming so, Sam will probably stay here. You’ll be bunking with me, and she’ll sleep with Dawn.”
“Not fair, I want to bunk with Sam.” Anya pouted as Dawn’s tongue shot out for a second in a mocking way, before climbing up the stairs; the ex-demon following her close behind. Buffy sighed as she looked at the woman on the couch:
“Why does everyone want to sleep with her? What’s so special about her?”
She was about to walk into the room and wake up Sam, when a sharp, persistent knock was heard on the door. As she opened it a soaked bleached vampire greeted her.
“Are you gonna let me in or am I supposed to stand here till the sun comes up?” Spike asked with an annoyed tone.
Shaking her head as if she had just woken up she moved away from the door, letting him in.
He stood soaking wet in front of her and she couldn’t help but stare. He looked so yummy when he was wet. “Not yummy, never yummy!” Buffy mentally scolded herself. He ran his hand through his drenched platinum hair as he took off his duster.
“What are you doing here?” Buffy finally managed to ask.
“I came to pick up Sam. Where is she?” He looked around as he spoke. Eventually, his eyes landed on the woman curled up on the couch.
“She fell a sleep.” Buffy stated the obvious as she watched him squat next to the redhead.
“Luv, wake up.” His voice was smooth as his hand came to brush away a rebel strand that fell over her pale face.
Buffy felt as if someone had just punched her in the stomach, an acid taste in the back of her mouth, as something seemed to crawl up her oesophagus. She shook the pain away and spoke quickly as she walked out of the room:
“I-I’ll get you a towel to dry up.”
~+~
With shaky hands she dug into the drawer taking out the first thing that her fingers touched. She silently came down the stairs into the living room. Her heart seemed to freeze when she saw Spike, sitting on the floor, his head resting on the couch facing Sam’s as his hands traced idle patterns on her back. She could hear him whispering something soft to her.
~+~
“Can I get up now?” Spike whispered, a hint of annoyance in his voice.
“Shhh… she’s watching.” Sam shushed him.
“How do you know?” he asked, as a spark flashed in his eyes.
Sam felt a gut-wrenching pain in her stomach as the images in Buffy’s mind filtered into her own and brought with them all the pain the Slayer was feeling.
“Maybe this isn’t such a good idea…” she whispered.
~+~
Buffy swallowed hard at the seemingly intimate moment she was witnessing, forcing the pain down. She concentrated all of her strength into controlling her emotions as she spoke, but even so her voice came out weak and hoarse:
“I-I’ve got the towel.”
At her words Spike turned around, pretending he hadn’t noticed her presence in the room. He stood up and walked towards her.
“Thanks.”
He took the towel from her hands and brushed it over his hair. On the couch, Sam turned; a sleepy look on her face.
“Are we going home?” She asked with a husky slumber voice as she spread her arms out.
The word ‘home’ seemed to be dipped in poison as it stung in Buffy’s chest.
Before Spike could answer a loud thunder roared into the room.
“I don’t think you guys should go out in the storm. Maybe you should stay here.” Buffy swallowed hard as she forced the offer out of her mouth.
Spike and Sam exchanged a look.
“Sam, Dawn is waiting for you up in her room.” Buffy said as the redhead stood up and walked over to the stairs. “You know the way, right?”
“Yeah, Dawn showed me earlier.” Sam gave her a weak smile as she shuffled her feet up the stairs.
An uncomfortable silence settled between the two blonds as they remained unmoving in the hall. Spike was the one to break it:
“Well, I’ll be off then. I’ll pick her up tonight.” The vampire said as he handed her the wet towel and headed towards the door. He stopped when he heard her weakly voice out:
“Dawn’s almost here…” her fingers fidgeted nervously with the towel.
He turned around to face her; a frown over his eyebrows.
“The sun… it’ll be up soon. You don’t have time to reach the crypt.” She noted.
“Right… I’ll take the sewers then.” He was on the move again and she spoke:
“They’re probably flooded.” It was almost a whisper.
“Probably.” He agreed, staring at her with a piercing look.
“You could stay…” as she saw his eyes widening she quickly added nervously: “On the couch!” Taking a second she repeated with a calmer tone: “On the couch… you can sleep on the couch.” She awkwardly pointed towards the living room.
A smirk fell over his lips as he detected her racing heartbeat.
“If you think its ok.” He said nonchalantly as he shrugged.
~+~
She patted the sheets spreading them over the couch, making an improvised bed.
“You didn’t have to go through all that trouble, Slayer. Normally, I sleep on a sarcophagus, the couch is actually an improvement.” The vampire spoke with his usual witty tone.
“I thought you bought a bed.” She uttered with a hint of venom in her voice.
“How’d you know?” Spike’s eyebrows came together to form a frown.
“Sam told me.” Buffy lied, as she tried to seem unaltered by the topic of conversation.
“Yeah. The woman’s insane. It took us three hours to pick a bloody bed and she had to choose the biggest one in the whole place.” The vampire commented as he remembered that afternoon.
“So it’s true. You bought her a bed.” She almost spat accusingly.
“I guess you can say that.” He answered, oblivious to the Slayer’s growing anger as he sat on the couch.
“Well, I’m sorry you can’t sleep with her tonight.” Buffy lamented sarcastically. “But I’m sure you guys can find a comfortable wall to hump against tomorrow.” She spat out as she prepared to walk out of the room triumphantly.
Spike frowned, confused.
“What are you talking about, Slayer?”
“Don’t play dumb with me. You know what I’m talking about.”
“Actually… no, not really.”
Buffy sighed loudly before speaking:
“I saw you two, ok?”
“Saw us?” Spike continued to draw a complete blank.
“Yes!” Buffy was growing exasperated.
Spike stared at her as he waited for her to elaborate and she did:
“I saw you at the DoubleMeat, going at it like dogs in heat!” she almost shouted.
The vampire’s eyes widened, his jaw fell to the floor as he was completely flabbergasted.
“Excuse me… going at it?” He swallowed dryly.
Buffy groaned as her face cringed up in disgust.
“You’re really something, you know?” she said before she stormed out of the living room.
He was standing in front of her, baring her way up the stairs before she could blink.
“What are you talking about?” He asked with all the calm he could muster.
“I saw you when you were out back… doing… *it* with... her.” She pointed skywards toward Dawn’s room with a disgusted look on her face.
“I never-“
“You’re such a… You’re…” she struggled with the words as the anger short-circuited her trail of thought.
“I’m telling you, Buffy. I haven’t been near that place since we…” His index finger travelled the small space between them alternating between pointing at her and him.
She stared up at him. His words just sounded so… truthful.
“Right… I’m supposed to believe that?” She snapped.
“Buffy…” the sound of her name on his lips sent shivers down her spine.
“What?” She asked annoyed as she tried to walk past him but he successfully blocked her passage.
“I haven’t been with her…” His voice was a mere whisper.
A sense of relief washed over her, but she kept her cold mask on.
“Look, what you do or don’t do is your business, alright?” As she finished her sentence she managed to outsmart him and pass by him. She was halfway up the stairs when she heard his comeback:
“Right… Cause you’re not jealous or anything.”
She stopped dead in her tracks, whirled around and was standing in front of him, her index finger pointing at him accusingly:
“I. Am. Not. Jealous! I don’t’ care what you do. I really don’t. You can do it in the middle of Town Square for all I care. You can buy her a boat, a house, whatever. I. Don’t. Care.”
“Then why are you going all Radio Rental?” he asked; the smug grin that took over his lips serving to fuel her anger.
“I’m not going… Radio Rental!” she bellowed.
“You’re telling me that the thought of me touching her like I *used* to touch you doesn’t make your stomach twist and turn?”
Yes… her mind admitted but her mouth spat out: “No!”
“Right! So that means it wouldn’t bother you if I went up these stairs right now and f-“
He stopped in mid sentence as a very pissed Slayer stood blocking his passage.
“You touch her again and I’ll cut something off-“
It was Buffy's turn to be interrupted as all of a sudden everything around them literarily disappeared, being replaced by debris, rubble and burnt out wood. The two blonds looked around flabbergasted.
“What the bloody fuck?”