Chapter 38


“Well, as soon as she IS found, I want to see her” Sweet said

“Yes Daddy…anything else?”

“Um…move Spike’s Monday appointment to nearer lunchtime please…and phone him personally to tell him, as he’s not in the office”

“Right – now, Rack’s funeral – who’s going to arrange it?”

“His wife, I suppose”

“His WHAT – hell, I didn’t know he was married!” Lorne said shocked.

“Very little know fact. I think really it was a ‘marriage of convenience’ – he was very young – only 18 or 19, it was to stop this student being deported – Swedish or Danish she was…her name was Inge. They never got divorced – his mother is still alive too, and he had siblings”

Lorne was surprised.

There was a loud thump from upstairs, and they both looked up at the ceiling.

“Dru’s up with Cecily I presume” Sweet said, and Lorne nodded, then he said,

“She was a little upset about Rack, - they dated briefly”

“How is she coming along – is she being good and taking her medicine?”

“Oh yes”

“And she’s being a ‘GOOD’ girl, by that I mean she’s not indulging in any drug taking – other than that prescribed”

“Well, she’s not had anything from me – she was talking about going on a little holiday”

“Actually, that’s not a bad idea – let me see……………” Sweet perused his desk diary.

“Hmm…okay, look, I’ve got to be away overnight next Thursday – I’ve invited the accountant out to dinner – on the boat, which incidentally I must get you to sort that out, I want it sailed to the Florida keys, I’ll fly out to it, then when I’ve finished my business, you can bring the girls for the weekend”

“Okay…is there anything else?”

“Don’t think so…oh, is my photograph hung yet – the one I had from Spike for my birthday?”

“In you office, behind your desk”

“Good, I’d like for Spike to see it when he sees me on Monday – I did tell you to-”

“Yes, yes. I’ll change the time and tell him personally”

“Okay then…11.10 – coffee time I think Lorne” Lorne stood and said

“Yes, Daddy,” and left the office. Out in the hallway, he met Dru coming down the stairs.

“Hello Shortcake…how’s the invalid?”

“She’s okay, she said something about her medicine?” Dru said

“I’m just making coffee, I’ll bring it up after, okay?”

Dru nodded, she was transfixed by what she’d just read on Lorne’s notebook.

Lorne had written in capitals ‘Daddy away overnight Thursday – get Carlos to sail boat to Florida Keys’

“Dru…Dru – hello, you still there, baby?” Dru had been ‘miles away’ thinking, she’d be able to put her plan into practice on Thursday…………

“Hmm – What – sorry?”

“You want some coffee?”

“Oh, um…no thanks, poor Cecily can’t have any yet, the smell makes her wild so I won’t”

“Well, just you go back up and I’ll bring up her meds when I’ve taken Daddy his latte, okay?”


Dru nodded. Inside she felt excited, with Daddy away on Thursday, she’d be able to put her plan into action………


***********


Having set the temperature just right, Buffy tipped her head back and let the warm water cascade over her breasts. She saw Spike’s shadow and then he opened the door and climbed in the shower with her.

“Hmm…just right………” Buffy shifted so Spike could wet himself, and then she reached for the shower gel, squirted a blob out onto her hand and rubbed them together, then she ran her soapy hands up his chest and over his shoulders. Spike pulled he close and began to kiss her.

“Hmmmm…we’re not going to get very clean………doing…hmmmmmmm…ooohh!” Buffy melted into his tight embrace

“Any objections?” Spike murmured, roving kisses over her neck and breasts

Buffy shook her head and winding her arms around his neck, she wrapped her legs around his waist, pausing only to impale herself on him. Gasping, he took her hard and fast against the shower wall. Buffy swiftly came with a sharp cry, Spike quickly followed, and she felt him flood her with his cool essence and she relaxed her legs. The water had begun to run cool, so they quickly showered themselves clean and wrapped in warm fluffy towelling robes, and then they went back into the bedroom.

“Are you hungry, Kitten?”

“Starving!”

“Well…I know this great little place in the village for brunch…then I thought we could do some shopping, I could get us a couple of nice juicy steaks for dinner – we could have a nice bottle of wine, and stay in – what do you say?”

“I think, for a Saturday night in, it sounds the best plan ever!” Buffy said grinning, then added,

“But, we might want to put the hospital on stand-by, if you’re cooking…”

She looked up from pulling on her little camisole top to see Spike bearing down on her quickly from the other side of the room, he’d got a glint in his eye and he said,

“You wait…” Buffy had been fumbling with a little cardigan, shrieked and threw it at Spike and scrambled over the bed giggling.

“SPIKE! – No, Spike – I’m sorry………oh I didn’t mean it!”

“Come here little girl…do you want to know what I’m going to do when I catch you?” Buffy found herself corned and she grinned and turned to face him

“Big Bad Spike’s coming to get you!”

“Oh yeah? Well…I know Big Bad Spike’s weak spot………” Buffy gave him a sexy look, leaving her tongue in the corner of her mouth.

“Oh yeah?” Spike grabbed her and began to tickle her, reducing her to a squealing, giggling heap, before he scooped her up and threw her on the bed.

They began to kiss and suddenly Spike leaned up and said,

“You’re hungry, I mustn’t start – OOOOHHHHHHHHHH!”

“There…that’s your ‘weak spot’ Big Bad Spike…wanna show me just how Big and Bad he can be, huh?” Buffy had reached down and cupped his manhood, and gave it a gentle squeeze and rub, next she hooked her leg behind him, pulling him down towards her……………and despite having only just made love in the shower, they were both eager again…

“And THAT’S what you get for being cheeky!” Spike said, cuddling her up.

Buffy just stuck her tongue out at him and said,

“Well, put that on account for next time…did you say something about brunch – I could eat a horse!”

“Well, it’ll have to be lunch now………did you want to go out this evening pet?”

“Oh no! I want to do just as you said, and I love your cooking, I was only teasing…and look what it got me – another ravishing!”
She leaned over and kissed his nose.

“You get dressed then baby, I must make a quick phonecall to the office – I want to know the viewing figures for last night”

Buffy dressed and came out of the bathroom.

Spike ended the call he was trying to make.

“Every where’s busy, the switchboard, my office, even Cordy’s private cell phone”

“Well, I suppose they’re all tied up with this Rack dying thing”

“Yeah – OH F- HELL!” Buffy saying ‘tied up’ reminded Spike of what he’d done to Glory, and how he’d forgotten to let anybody know…he had meant to phone the station anonymously, but it had gone clean out of his head………

“What, what is it baby?” Buffy looked worriedly at Spike

“Hmm? – Oh, don’t worry, it’s-“ His cell phone rang and he answered it.

“Hello – oh hi Cordy, I just tried to call you”

“Yeah? Well it’s chaos here – boy did you pick the right time to have a couple of days off!”

“So, is Sweet in?”

“Yeah, he’s sacked Glory – a researcher called Cassie Newton came in and told him all what Glory had planned, how she wanted to ruin Buffy’s career, so he sacked her, he said if she went to the papers or media, he’d have her exposed as a fraud – all the stunts she used to pull, and he also said he’d make sure she’d never get work from here to New York…so she’s gone quietly”

“You saw her then, she seemed ok – I mean apart from being sacked”

“Oh yes, I came up to the office with her in the elevator………she looked like she hadn’t slept any, she was a bit dishevelled but she looked her normal, evil self, why?”

“Oh, no – um, no reason………did she say anything about me – I ruined her show”

“Cassie told me all about it – WHAT a bitch! But Glory didn’t speak to me. Um, was there a fight or anything…did Xander get punched?”

“Xander, no why – he and Harm came back to mine after the show, he was perfectly alright then, why?”

“Oh, well he had this big bruise on his forehead, he said he slipped in the bathroom this morning…must be true then – no matter, oh, did you get the message from Lorne yet?”

“No, what’s that?”

“He said he’d phone you. The meeting with Sweet on Monday, he said to make it 11.30am instead of nine”

Spike grinned at this, and said,

“Great…I always knew Sweet didn’t know that 9am existed – anyway Cordy, must run pet, I’m taking my best girl out to lunch” Buffy smiled at him and Spike ended the call.

“Everything okay baby – I thought it looked like you’d suddenly remembered something before the call”

“Oh, no, everything was okay”

“Good, so what were they, any good?”

“Was what any good, Kitten?”

“The ratings –the viewing figures”

“Hell! I forgot to ask…but, want the good news?”

“Go on”

“Sweet’s sacked Glory – Cassie went in and told him all what she was going to do, and he sacked her, and he also said if she tried to go to the papers or anything, he’d see to it that she never worked in America again!”

“WOW – he’s actually sacked her………”

“Don’t worry about it kitten, she was heading right off the rails anyway, she was getting idea’s above her station – it would have happened sooner or later – now come on pet, else it’ll be afternoon tea we’ll be having instead of lunch, we already missed brunch!”

******


Xander turned over and looked at the clock, it was ten to eight. Thinking it would probably be prudent to get into the office early, especially as Spike was out he carefully got up out of bed so as not to disturb Harmony who was fast asleep still.

He went into the bathroom and got his stuff out for shaving. He needed a new blade, and fumbling with the little plastic tray trying to slot a new blade in, he flipped up the whole thing and they landed in the bin. Reaching to retrieve it, Xander pulled out a small box by mistake. Not realising this until he stood up, he read,

‘Clear Blue’ the quick easy one-step pregnancy test’ he blinked at the box, thinking this isn’t my spare blades, when two words leapt out at him…
Pregnancy Test…he stared at it for a couple of seconds, and then it hit him.

“PREGNACNY TEST – OH FU-………………………”

Knees’ buckling, Xander landed in a heap on the floor, banging his head on the sink.

The loud thump woke Harmony, and she turned over and found herself alone in bed, she got up and went to the door and called out,

“Pookie…POOKIE – is that you…Pookie bear…where are you?”

“Baby………what was that thump - OH MY GOD POOKIE!!”

She knelt down and tried to rouse him.

“Baby! Come on sweetness…are you okay – oh my darling…ooohh…did you slip – oh” Looking in his right hand, Harmony saw the pregnancy test kit box, and she bit her lip.

Xander groaned.

“Baby…come on, let’s sit you up…can you…there…that’s it, lean against the bath…I’ll get a cold wash-cloth…” She got a clean cloth out of the cupboard and after wringing it out in cold water she gently placed it on his forehead.

“Ow – ouch, ooooohhhhh my head!” Xander groaned

“Oh poor, poor Pookie!”

“Harm – Harmony…are you…oh god, I mean are you…”

“No Pookie, I’m not pregnant”

Xander opened his eyes, and reached for her hand.

“Are you okay babe?”

“Me – it’s you that’s got the bang on the head, I’m fine…what happened?”

“I dropped my blades in the bin by mistake, and found this”

“I’m sorry…I didn’t mean for you to-“

“Hey, it was a shock, that’s all”

“Can you stand up…come on, let’s get you back into bed”

“No, I’ll be okay…Spike’s out, and with Rack dead, the place will be swamped with reporters and that, I’ve got to go in” Xander shakily got to his feet. He held onto the sink for balance. Harmony looked worried.

“Are you sure you should babe, that’s a nasty bruise you’ve got coming up”

“I’ll be okay, I’ve got some Advil in the cabinet”

“Okay, look, I’ll get some coffee on, and I’ll drive you in”

“You sure, you could just go back to bed”

“I wouldn’t dream of it” Harmony said, already out in the hall and halfway to the kitchen.

“There you go baby…” Harmony placed a glass of water and two headache tablets in front of Xander, then a mug of black coffee.

“Thanks babe…um, Baby”

“Yes?”

Xander leaned forward and took her hand.

“Have you been worrying over being, well thinking that you were pregnant?”

Harmony looked into her coffee mug, and then up at Xander.

“No, well not, not really. I just thought that, well, I’ve been feeling sick a lot lately, and my jeans have got tight, I mean really tight, I had to use a coat hanger to do my favourite pair up the other week…my monthlies have always been, well erratic…it was just an idea I got…”

“You don’t eat that much – perhaps it’s an allergy – wheat or dairy”

“Could be. I’m sorry Pookie, I didn’t mean for you to see it”

“Promise me something” Xander said, still holding her hand

Harmony nodded, and Xander gently pulled her to come across and sit on his lap.

She softly stroked the hair from his forehead and placed the softest kiss on his bruise.

“Never be worried to tell me things, will you?”

“Things?”

“Well, anything that you’re worried about. We’re a couple, and well, we’re in this together, aren’t we? – What I’m trying to say is…………I love you baby”

Harmony let out a squeal and threw her arms around his neck

“Oh Pookie – I love you too!”

“Um…ow?”

“Oh god, sorry, sorry baby!” Harmony had forgotten about his big bruise

Xander cuddled her up.

“I should have said sooner”

“It’s okay – it’s brilliant………I’m so happy!” They both sat there for a while just basking, when the phone rang.

“That’ll be the office, I bet”

“I’ll just go and get dressed” Xander said, leaving Harmony to take the call.

“I’ll tell them we’re on our way” Harmony said.

“Hello………oh hi Cordy…………will he, yes, I know he’s out, we’re just on our way…okay, bye”

“She said Sweet will be in at ten, and could you go in as Spike’s out, I told her were on our way”

*********


Glory looked through the spy-hole in her front door, and saw I was one of the doormen from one of the clubs she used to frequent that she’d hired to find and beat up Willy for her.

“What do you want?”

“I want you to open this door”

“Look…I’m not in the mood for this, have you found him yet?”

“That’s what we want to talk about”

“We, who’s this ‘we’?”

“Me”

“And me”

“Me too” Glory heard three different voices, and she swallowed

“Just a minute………I’m not dressed – I won’t be long!”

Thinking fast, Glory half wondered whether to try and jump out of the window and leg it………but she need her stuff, so she went into her bedroom, bundled the case off bed and stuck it in the wardrobe out of sight.

She answered the door, letting the four huge guys in.

She gave them a bright false smile.

“Now, gentlemen…what is there to discuss?”

“Our fees for a start………so far, it’s us that’s done all the work, for no recompense”

Glory tried to keep her anger in check

“Look, guys… I ask you to do one simple, tiny little thing, to find a simple barman, to rough him up a little, and bring him to me. Have you done this?” She looked at them expectantly. The four guys shuffled a little uncomfortably, glancing at each other, and then they either said no, or shook their heads.

“No. So exactly what am I PAYING YOU FOR?” her anger suddenly got the better of her and she screamed the last few words at them.

“I work nights, instead of sleeping, I’ve been out looking for him, we’ve put feelers out, asked questions” The guy whinged.

“And you expect me to pay you, when you have no proof of this?”

“But I HAVE!” The guy said indignantly, to which Glory said angrily,

“Well, you’ve been looking and asking in all the wrong bloody places! God! Okay, look, forget it – just forget I ever asked you to find him!”

“Fine, but we still want half of what you said you’d give us, it’s only fair” Another guy said.

The other three guys looked at him annoyed, but he reasoned that they hadn’t actually done the job, and half was better than nothing. The guy that Glory spoke to first spoke again.

“Okay, that’s fair, half”

“You’ll have to come – tomorrow – I’ve no cash on me”

“Tonight, I don’t trust you”

“Well, tough. Tomorrow, or nothing”

“Don’t renege on us, Miss Benson”

She didn’t let the guy threaten her she just said,

“You know where the door is, you can see yourself out”

The four men left and after lighting a cigarette, Glory ordered herself a cab and went into the bedroom and began to finish packing……...huh, if those stupid lugs thought that she was going to pay them for doing fuck all, well, they were more stupid than she thought in the first place……………

*********


Harmony lay in bed thinking. Would it have been so terrible if she had of been pregnant? – She was 25, 26 in a few months…time was marching on – so many singers she knew ‘put off’ having families and relationships for their careers…

Anya for one – Carly, that Australian singer – she might look like a moppet, but she was kicking 40 now, and leaving it a little late for having kids…Kids. Children. Offspring. Progeny – they drove her mad when she’d done the Christmas video…but it would be a baby first...a tiny sweet little baby that okay, would grow up – but your own are different, aren’t they?

Xander rolled over and cuddled her up

“Pookie………baby…hey Xander…are you awake?”

“Hmm – wha – what’s up?”

“I was thinking” Harmony said, matter of factly. Xander snuggled up, without even opening his eyes.

“What’s that poppet…………”

“Let’s get married”

“Okay…anything you – WHAT?” Xander sat up – suddenly wide-awake.

“But Ithoughtyounsaidthatyouweren’t!” Xander garbled, scrabbling for the lamp, he switched it on.

Harmony also sat up, adjusted her pillows and looked at him.

“What?”

“You know, preggers!” he squinted at her in the light.

“I know, and I’m not – I just thought well, I love you, and you love me…and well, we’d get engaged first, obviously………but it would give me – US some stability”

“Yes…but well…what’s the urgency?”

“There isn’t…I mean eventually” Harmony said, smiling

Xander yawned and scratched his head………he glanced at the clock, and saw it was 3.10am.

“I thought that we could move in together – I mean, we practically do anyway, but make it official, see how we get on while I do my tour, then next summer get engaged”

“Live together first? – I could go for that…so we’d be sure…before we took any…big steps” Xander said. He was going to say ‘drastic’ at first, but he didn’t want her to think he didn’t love or care for her, it was just, well…a bit soon? Harmony smiled and nodded.

“Okay…(he turned off the lamp, lay down and cuddled her up) what’s up pet, can’t you sleep?”

“No, I wasn’t tired…but I am now”

Soon Harmony was softly snoring, leaving Xander fully awake…Marriage. Getting hitched…the old ‘Ball and Chain’…he hadn’t had a very good example set him with his parents…Suddenly he was struck by an awful thought **OH GOD – MY PARENTS – SHE’LL WANT TO MEET THEM!** Xander didn’t get much more sleep that night………………

**********


Monday Morning.

Spike and Buffy spent an idyllic weekend, mostly making love, only stopping to eat when they were hungry – listening to music, talking and really just enjoying each other’s company. Buffy had also written to her father, and suggested a meeting on ‘neutral’ territory.

All too soon Monday morning came around.

“What time’s your meeting with Sweet?”

“It was changed to 11.30, Lorne phoned me Saturday morning and told me – I think you might have been in the shower”

“Well, he isn’t going to sack you, that’s for sure – not after what you did on Friday with that tribute show!”

Spike just grinned and winked.

“Six and a half million – with another two million after the first commercial break – what did they say, the highest viewing figure EVER for a single show on that cable network?” Buffy said brushing her hair.

Spike pulled up his jeans, and did the belt up, he was grinning.

“Something like that, yeah. Are you going to record today?”

“Uh huh…that song ‘Wishes’”

“I’ll try and get to see you, but well, you know how it is, I don’t know how long this meeting is going to be with his holiness!”

“That’s okay, I think Ford is busy first thing anyway – I’ll just hang around the office with Cordy, catch up on all the gossip!”

“Okay pet…ready?” Buffy nodded and they left the house.

**********


“HEY! Here they are! And here’s the hero of the hour! – No wonder you need sunglasses…I bet you two haven’t seen daylight all weekend!” Cordelia teased. Buffy blushed and Spike grinned, taking off his glasses and hooking them down his shirtfront.

“So, is the Lord and Master in, is he?”

“For the last twenty minutes, would you believe, and you can go straight up if you like – he said”

“Right – so – how was the date – did this 007 of yours have any ‘special gadgets’ to show you?” Spike asked Cordy, who blushed beet red, and grinning she swatted him on the arm.

“Shut up! Im not telling YOU!”

“Don’t worry baby, she’ll spill to me – come on Cordy – coffee time, help me catch up on all the gossip!”

“Buffy – Mr Carl –I mean Spike - hello!”


“Hi Cass – no problems fitting in I see!” Buffy said smiling

“Oh, hi Cassie – how are you liking the new job?” Spike grinned at her too

“It’s fantastic – the girls upstairs are SO envious of me!”

“Will you be okay if I………” Cordelia pointed upwards, meaning she wanted to go to the café.

“Sure, don’t rush back – you can leave things to me. Want me to start cataloguing those photo-files?” Cassie asked, and Cordelia grinned

“Would you – that would be great!” She left the office and said to Buffy,

“Spike is a genius – Cassie cataloguing photo files – a job I HATE! – She is a little god-send!” The two girls grinned at each other as they made their way for coffee.

 

Chapter 39

Spike knocked on Sweet’s door, and waited for the ‘come in’.

“Yes, come”

Spike took a deep breath, and entered. The first thing he noticed – you couldn’t fail to miss it, was the blown-up photograph he’d sent Sweet for his birthday hanging on the wall. Spike then glanced at the man himself, who was looking quite cheerful, in his leery kind of smile way.

“Morning Spike – come in, sit down, coffee?”

“Please”

Sweet pressed the intercom, and Lorne entered with a trolley, and served them

When he’d left the room, Sweet looked at Spike.

“Okay Spike, I’ve got a few things on various subjects I’d like to say – so we’ll crack on. First – I think an apology is in order”

Spike looked at his boss impassively, but said nothing – Sweet continued.

“Well, I’m sorry – I’m sorry I listened to Glory, I should have realised that she had some ulterior agenda going on. I’ve since learned that she was trying to ruin Betty’s – sorry, I mean Buffy’s career – although how she thought that loosing us millions in revenue would make me think she was some sort of managerial material I do not know”

Spike sat there still – he was a little surprised that Sweet even knew the word sorry existed – when he said an apology was in order, Spike immediately thought that Sweet wanted him to apologise………but well! You lived and learned, didn’t you…

Sweet continued,

“And as for you storming out of meetings – I do wish you wouldn’t – you might miss something vital, but that’s about to change too, I’ll tell you more in a minute. Now, the tribute show – inspired – and I’ll never know how you got Glory to give up the slot”

“Glory? – Oh, let’s just say, she got a little tied up………Basically – the guests she had lined up for the show left - there was trouble before I got there, some old rivalry between some of the guests – then they learned what Glory had in mind, they went. I had a phonecall from Xander telling me Rack was dead, the news was over-running – we had just under an hour to go before broadcast, and the network asked if I could fill 38 minutes – I did – I was at the right place at the right time – plus, I’d been doing my job, properly.

I’d got an idea for doing some ‘tribute’ shows anyway – profiling band members, using footage of concerts interviews and comments from the band members themselves – I’ve got several in mind actually – and what with the anniversary of Noiz being in the business for 25 years coming up, and a possible ‘best of’ album being released, I thought it prudent to do them first…like I say, I was doing my job – which of late you don’t give me credit for – THAT’S why I storm out of meetings”

Sweet looked at Spike – and as Spike was on a roll, Sweet let him continue.

“To be told how to do my job, to do the basics, to go out talent spotting – to sign new bands isn’t only annoying, it’s insulting, especially in front of the other managers – it shows lack of respect for me as a manager, so, the only way I know to show you my disapproval is to walk out”

Sweet nodded and said ruefully

“Yes, yes…I DO understand, I should have had more faith in you”

“Yes, you should have” Spike was quick to reply

“I think we both have had other things on our minds too, huh?” Sweet ventured, looking closely at Spike’s reaction.

“Other things?” Spike was genuinely puzzled.

“Dru?” Sweet said, still looking hard at him

“Dru? – What about her?”

“What are your…intentions – shall we say?”

“Intentions? – I intend to stay as far away from the mad – woman as I can – that’s MY intention – I only hope and pray hers is the same from now on!”

Spike didn’t take his eyes of Sweet for a second while he said that. He nearly swore, he nearly said ‘mad bitch’, but didn’t think it entirely appropriate.

Sweet nodded and said,

“I rather gather from Lorne that she has…how shall I say…”

“Been making a bloody nuisance of herself as far as I’m concerned?” Spike thought it only fair to put all his cards on the table about how he felt about Dru now, so he continued,

“If Lorne hadn’t been at your birthday party the other night, I hate to think what would have happened – I’ve not given her ANY encouragement, quite the opposite in fact, I’ve been quiet, disinterested, and practically downright rude to her – I want to make it clear to her that not even friendship is possible – because with Dru, it has to be all or nothing, and believe me – I TOTALLY want nothing, she bled me dry emotionally and there is NO WAY I’m ever going through that again”

Sweet nodded, he was glad to hear it and leaned back in his executive chair.

“We’re going away for a little holiday next weekend. When we come back, well I shall sort something out – I shan’t expect you at any function where she might be for a while, until she settles down” Sweet said

Spike thought **settles down…when hell freezes mate** but voiced nothing.

“You like the picture then” Spike asked smiling

Sweet turned to look at it and then he turned back to Spike.

“Ahh, yes…Carrisbrooke, 1979…I was thinking…I rather wish I’d kept my Roman nose now – rather regal looking, don’t you think?”

Spike stopped himself rolling his eyes, vain sod Sweet was!

“It was your first solo arrangement, wasn’t it?”

Sweet turned to Spike and leered a grin,

“First SUCCESSFUL gig I did solo…remember that disaster-ridden tour of
Alpha, Beta, Gamma the year before – where the tour bus blew up in the end…that was my first!” Spike didn’t know this and he grinned – well, well, well, who’d have thought it – Sweet admitting to failure.

“Well…not actually no, I was only a year old at the time – but I did read about it…didn’t know it was you though!”

“I’d like to keep it quiet, if you don’t mind!” Sweet said, but he was still sort of smiling.

“We all learn by our mistakes, well, hopefully we do” Spike said, shrugging, wondering where this little meeting was headed now………Sweet piped up,

“I’ve decided that you don’t have to come to any more monthly meetings, Spike, it’ll save us both in the long run, I won’t tell you how to do your job, and you won’t have to keep on storming out – saves face all round – any information you need I’ll either email you or get Cordelia to pass it on to you.

And I think a pay rise is due to you too, plus a bonus for every band you sign that has top ten success – what do you say to that?”

Spike nodded thoughtfully, then added,

“What about the idea for the tribute shows – I’ve got The Applejacks, Stormy Weather, The Pete Quellar Band and The Gentlemen as suggested shows”

Sweet held his hands out and said,

“Sounds excellent to me – I’ll leave it entirely in your hands – use who and what you want, and when it’s ready you bring me a copy and I‘ll book you a slot on the network. Right then, is there anything else?” Sweet asked

Spike more than pleased with the outcome of this meeting, put down his coffee cup and stood up.

“I don’t think so – as long as you keep Dru away from us, then I shall stay”

This shocked Sweet – so Spike had been contemplating leaving………

“Us?” Sweet asked

“Sorry? - Us what?” Spike asked puzzled

“You said keep Dru away from ‘us’”

“That’s right, Buffy and myself, we’re in a relationship together, and it’s going really well”

“Oh good, yes, well right, um – I’ll see that you get the minutes of any meetings and um, I’ll back date your rise from August – well, bye then Spike, and don’t forget – as soon as you have a copy of the new show format, send it to me”

“Will do – bye” the men shook hands and Spike left…all in all, not a bad meeting………not a bad meeting at all!!! He made his way up to the café.

It was Xander who saw Spike first, and warned the others.

“Spike – how’d it go, my friend?” Xander looked a little apprehensive

“Oh, he said he was sorry about Glory”

“Did he – WOW!”

“I got a pay rise – back-dated too”

“Really - You lucky devil!”

“Had the idea for my own TV show approved – just got to send him a copy”

Everybody was grinning by now…

“YOUR OWN TV SHOW! Bloody hell Spike, anything else?

“Um…let me think – oh yes he promised not to tell me how to do my job again”

Xander’s eyes were nearly popping, and Cordy’s and Buffy’s grins were wider than ever!

“Good god, and we were worried that he might fire you!” Xander gasped in incredulity,

“Oh yeah, and I don’t have to go to any more of those damned infernal monthly meetings – so I don’t have to keep storming out!” Buffy put her arms around him and cuddled him up.

“Wow Spike – you got all that – you are so clever!”

“Not really kitten…I’d got my resignation all written up ready, just in case, I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of sacking me!”

“Well – I suppose I’d better get back to see how Cassie’s doing”

“Actually Cordy – when she’s done the cataloguing, I need her to do some research for me, okay?” Spike said, and Cordelia nodded and left with Xander.

Buffy and Spike were still holding each other

“I was worried! – Well a little” Buffy said

“Don’t worry kitten, I got another concession out of him too, but it wasn’t for general consumption – although we can tell Harmony and Xander, he’s promised to keep Dru well away from us – and we won’t be expected at any function while she’s there – isn’t that great!”

“Wow – you DID get everything covered!”

“Um, Buffy – are you ready to do your recording?” they both looked up and saw Ford leaning around the door.

“Just coming – come down with me?” Spike nodded and they left the café holding hands.

“Um, so Kitten, did you find out how Xander get that bruise on his forehead?”

“Oh, you’ll never guess!”…………………………


***********


“Are you going to the restaurant today?” Anya asked

“This evening, yes – I thought we could have a light lunch here, I’ve poached some salmon – we can have fine green beans and new potatoes with it – I’ve made a lite lemon hollandaise sauce too,” Giles said

“Sounds lovely – right, well, I’m going to take my coffee out on the terrace and read the papers – are you going to join me?”

“Soon, there are a few letters I want to catch up on, give me half an hour”

Anya got herself settled on one of the loungers, and began to read. She was pleased, Giles had calmed down a little now, he wasn’t so ‘up-tight’ as he had been of late.

Idly flicking through the pages, Anya read the book reviews, looked at the fashion pages, and was heading for the crossword, when a familiar face caught her eye…page 25, there was a photograph of Jenny Callender, with the headline:
‘Betrayed, by my lover and my best friend’ Anya sat up spluttering with indignance

“Of all the cheap, nasty, low-down, double-crossing………”

“You okay Anya?”

Anya quickly shut up, put a big false grin and hid the newspaper behind her back.

“YES!” Anya said too brightly.

“What is it now?”

“Nothing – Oh…here …you might know who…look” She showed him the article.

“Well…considering I knew YOU first…she never paid for a meal in the restaurant or got herself a hotel while she was in LA, I think she’s got a damnable cheek!” Giles said, handing Anya back the paper.

“Well, so do I – You’re right – she was always staying at my place – I’ve a good mind to-“

“Now Anya, relax…let it wash over you – it’s only words” Giles said serenely.

“Huh? Oh um, yeah…okay…”

Anya was amazed what this new yoga instructor must be doing for Giles … perhaps she ought to try it too!

***********


“Hello, Willy – is that you?”

Resisting the temptation to be sarcastic, Willy just said,

“Yeah...is that you Jon?”

“The heats off, you can come back to work”

“What?”

“I said, the-“

“I heard what you said, how do you know the heats off me?”

“Coz one of those big guys that came in here looking for you before – he told me she ran out on them without paying – so you’re safe”

Willy sat up - his mind began to race………

“Okay Jon…is somebody making you say this, just to lull me into a false sense of security – is this a trap?”

“No, I wouldn’t do that, look I’ve spoken to the boss, he said you can have your old job back, and I want my old job back – I must be $40 a week down at least…”

“Okay – but if this is a trap, just remember, I know where you live, and where you keep your comic books!”

“I’m not trying to trick you! – I just want you to come back so I can get back to being a bus-boy”

“M’kay…I’ll be in for the shift tonight”

“Good, I’ll tell the boss, he’ll be pleased – bye”

“Bye Jon”

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


Buffy slipped the cans off her head and fluffed her hair.

Spike opened the door to the recording room and smiled.

“That was lovely babe – and I’ve had an idea to do a dance re-mix of it too – so ready for a drink?”

“Yup – dance re-mix eh…sounds interesting!”

“Buffy – before you go…” Ford’s voice came over the intercom

The booth door opened and Ford came out holding what looked like two tickets.

“Could you use these? – Two tickets for the Premiere of ‘The Rowan Tree,’ I did the soundtrack – but well, Premiere’s aren’t my thing”

“Oh – that would be great, yeah, thanks Ford…when is it?”

“Thursday – 7pm enjoy have fun!”

“We will, thanks…um, we can go, can’t we Baby?” Buffy asked turning to face Spike

“Sure – looks a good film too – really scary”

“I know…I’ll have to take a cushion to hide behind!”

“No you won’t, you can cuddle up to me!” Both grinning, Buffy put the tickets in her pocket.

“So, you didn’t finish telling me about Glory” Spike said

“Oh yes, well, Cordelia said that Cassie came in first thing on the Saturday morning, she went to her, and told her what you’d said about working in the office and then word has it that Sweet’s arrived, he knew he’d have lots to do as Rack had died.”

“So then Cassie went and told Sweet what Glory had planned…good girl!” Spike said

Buffy nodded and then continued,

“So then Rack orders Glory’s desks to be emptied, and she was to be sent to him as soon as she came into the building – security escorted her up – Cordy was just on her way up to Sweet’s office to take him the viewing figures for the programme you did – and got in the elevator with them. She said Glory looked tired, like she hadn’t slept much, and a little dishevelled – but most of all she looked angry”

“I’ll bet! I bet she was going to go into Sweet’s office, shouting about what I’d done to ruin her show…!”

“And instead she gets fired – Sweet’s got things over her so she couldn’t do anything else but go quietly – if she tries anything, like going to the papers or the like, he’ll sue the pants off her and promised her she’d never work in this country again”

“And I get the slot for my show idea!”

“Yes, clever man – when did you come up with that?” Spike pulled the door to the café open and allowed Buffy to go in first.

“Well actually, it was that Birthday of Sweet’s triggered something in my mind – I knew that it was coming up to 25 years of Noiz being in the business, and then I saw one of the ‘Applejacks’ at Sweet’s party – he must be pushing sixty now, and I thought it would be an idea to do tribute stuff before it all got too late – shouldn’t have to wait until somebody’s dead to say something nice about them!”

“Baby…would you really have resigned?” Spike stopped reaching for a tray and said honestly,

“Well, if I thought for one second he was going to sack me, I’d have thrown it on the desk, sure – I wouldn’t have given him the satisfaction. But right from the off – he was ‘nice’ – if that’s a word I can use to describe Sweet!

“Not one used everyday – you can be sure of that!”

“First thing he said was, ‘I think an apology is in order’ and I thought, oh yeah, well I will, if you will – I was just about to say that too, when bloody hell, he say’s it – ‘I’m sorry for what Glory did’ – you could have knocked me down with a feather! And it just got better from there…pay rise, I don’t have to go to monthly meetings…I thought to myself – go on Spikey old boy – pitch your idea for the show, I did - and bingo…what do you want to drink pet?”

“Tall freshly squeezed anything………will you front the show yourself?”

“Possibly…or I might find some pretty little blonde to do it for me…” Buffy said nothing, she didn’t catch on to what he meant.

“Would you fancy it?” Spike asked, putting their drinks down on one of the low coffee tables.

“ME?”

“Yes you, who did you think I meant?” Spike asked her with a grin.

“I – I don’t – I didn’t think – I mean…I don’t think I could do it!”

“Course you could – I winged it Friday – just came off the top of my head – I’d properly script it for you”

“Yeah but you’ve got it all up here, haven’t you? (Buffy touched her temple) Dates, facts and figures”

“Well, we’ll see, I won’t force you – I’ve got to complete your tour dates yet, haven’t I?”

“Yeah – oh is that me?” Buffy had heard a little ‘beep’ noise.

Spike took out his cell phone out of his pocket

“Must be pet, it’s not me”

“Oh, it’s Willow – oh god, I’ve been neglecting her…”

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


“……….Take off when ever you choose, without so much as a bye-your-leave – because I won’t stand it, do you hear me Willy – you are very, VERY lucky to have a job here at all – disappear again, and so will this job, for GOOD next time – do you understand?”

“Yes Boss…I’ve been ill”

“So you say…there’s been a few dodgy characters around here looking for you, so security have informed me”

“Oh, um really?” Willy feigned innocence, but didn’t look his boss in the face.

“Get back to where you belong behind that bar…and I don’t know what he’s been doing behind that bar, but although the figures are okay – we’ve been getting through copious amounts of Scotch and Vodka, for some reason…”

“I will boss”

“And Willy”

“Boss?”

“Mix me a decent vodka martini, would you? – It’s been ages” Willy smiled and said,

“Yes, boss!”

Seemed that Jon hadn’t caught onto using the schnapps to make the cocktails, and had been using the real stuff, proper vodka and scotch – that’s why he’d been getting through it…well – he was back - Willy was back in business!

********



Thursday

“Part-timers!” Cordelia said grinning, as Buffy and Spike prepared to leave the office.

“Don’t be cheeky you, anyway, we’re going to the Premiere tonight we want to get home and get ready in plenty of time, don’t we babe!”


“Yup!” Buffy said with a grin.


“Just kidding, I’ll be off myself soon – I tell you Spike, this Cassie is a little god-send – I’m getting home at a decent time, and I don’t feel half so tired now!”

“I know – she’s amazing, all the research she’s done for those programmes I’m going to do!”

“Well, have fun – and Buffy – take a cushion – I hear it’s REALLY scary!”

“I said that, about the cushion! – I went with my friend to see Nightmare on Elm Street years ago – I don’t think I slept for a month afterwards!”

“Well, this is both gory and psychologically scary – so be warned!”

“Thanks, bye!”


As Buffy and Spike walked out of the Aphrodite building the humid oppressive heat hit them.

“Looks like we are going to have a storm – would you look at that sky – it’s black!”

“I hope it holds off until we are inside at the Premiere!” Buffy said. In the distance they could hear the low rumble of thunder.

“They usually put up a covered walkway if things look dodgy weather-wise”

Spike unlocked the car and they drove to his place.

Two hours later they were ready to go, Buffy slipping on her new Manolo’s she’d bought back in New York – this was the first opportunity she’d had to wear them.

“Will I do?”

“You look gorgeous…hmm, what’s that perfume you’re wearing?”

“Yves St Laurent, I thought I’d continue the theme as I’m wearing one of his dresses”

There was a loud rumble of thunder, and they both looked outside.

“Winds getting up – come on then Kitten – let’s get there before this storm starts”


They made it to the venue, and Buffy stepped out of the car, it had just started to spit with rain.

The camera bulbs flashed and she smiled and waved to various people who called her name. She made sure she held Spike’s hand and they went inside.

***

When they came out, there was a tropical monsoon pouring! Spike’s car was bought round, and Buffy stepped off the covered walkway straight into the car.
Spike drove home carefully – the roads were practically flooded – the drains barely coping with such torrents of water.

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


Dru was like a cat on hot bricks. She knew where Daddy kept his stash; she needed a little coke for tonight – to give her a little confidence and to numb any pain…

She closed the door silently and crept across the hallway, having got enough ‘stuff’ for her needs.

She could hear Cecily and Lorne talking in the bedroom opposite, Lorne’s voice getting louder as he came closer to the door.

“……………He’ll be here at 3.30pm, so make sure you’re ready – I’ve put your favourite pyjama’s in the overnight bag, along with a few toiletries – they said they’d ring me in the morning to fetch you – and don’t worry, he said the camera is a lot smaller this time, it shouldn’t hurt your throat – well I must go kitten – Daddy’s gone to Florida and I’ve got a million things to do – I’ll see you later baby – remember – NOTHING to eat at all, okay?”

“’Kay Lorne, I promise…is Dru around?”

Dru quickly dashed to the stairs like she’d just come up them, and Lorne opened the bedroom door fully.

“Oh, here she is, you okay sweetie-cakes?”

“Yes, is Ceccy awake then now?” Dru asked, pretending she didn’t know

“Awake and asking for you – I’ll leave you to it”

Dru went into the bedroom. Cecily was propped up in bed.

“Hello…how are you feeling?” Dru asked sitting on the bed.

“Fine, a lot better – I’ll be better still this time tomorrow when I’m back home here…you do remember I’ve got to go back to the clinic this afternoon, stay overnight”

“Yes, you said”

“The camera will be smaller this time, thank god – boy was my throat sore the last time” Cecily continued, and Dru just nodded.

“You okay pet? - You seem a little…far away. Have you taken your medicine?”

Dru nodded and said ‘yes’.

She was trying not to be too excited about tonight – she’d be able to put her plan into action………

Several times in the week, Dru had nearly cracked and shown Cecily her photo of Buffy from the paper, the photo of Buffy and her REAL boyfriend coming out of Scandals nightclub…but, well, Cecily had become like Lorne and Daddy, if she spoke about Spike, well they ALL seemed to get cross with her – telling her lies, telling her to forget him…so this time she said nothing. She’d be able to tell them ‘told you so’ when Spike was back in his rightful place, with her, by her side………

Cecily left for the clinic.

After a light supper, (Dru had told Lorne she didn’t want dinner) they sat down to watch TV. Having had a busy day, Dru was hoping that Lorne would do as he usually did, and that was fall asleep. She’d turned the volume down a little, and chose a documentary to watch rather than a comedy; sometimes she noticed the canned laughter woke him up.

She tried not to show she was nervous…but she was just itching to get out, and kept a beady eye on the time.

By 8.40pm Lorne’s chin was on his chest, and he’d begun to snore softly. Very slowly and carefully, Dru got up off the sofa and went upstairs to get ready.
After carefully arranging pillows and one of Cecily’s wigs in her bed to make it look like she was asleep, Dru crept downstairs and after checking the alarms weren’t set, she selected a set of car keys, and left quickly and quietly via the front door.

Making her way quickly to the garages, she got into the battered old Mini that was used by the staff in the grounds of the house, and she drove carefully down to the gates. The Automatic sensor activated and the gates opened, and she drove out – she was free!

Pulling up in one of the more ‘rattier’ ends of town, she got out and walked down an alleyway…………

She had to be careful; she didn’t want too many hobos around…perfect, one on his own. She saw one with a bottle wrapped in a brown paper bag, swigging.

“Give me that” Dru said, snatching the bottle off him.
Hardly in a fit state, the vagrant staggered to his feet.

“You want it back…come and get it…” Dru waggled the bottle enticingly. The evening was humid and the air thick, in the distance she heard a rumble of thunder…

Trying to resist the stench, when the filthy man got close enough she said

“Hit me”

“Wha – gimme back my bottle – I’ll fuckin’ kill ya”

“If you want this back…I said, hit me!” Dru poured a drop of his precious booze on the ground, and the hobo went for her, punching her in the face. Her head snapped back and she laughed.

“Again!” He sideswiped with a right hook, and again she laughed! The vagrant tried to get his bottle back, but this crazy woman wanted him to hit her…so he did, hard this time – and Dru staggered, still grinning maniacally, she tasted the coppery saltiness of blood in her mouth, dropped the bottle and ran back to her car. It had started to spit with rain.


She locked herself in, and with shaky fingers, she angled the driving mirror to check her face. She had a black eye starting, a bloody nose and a split lip…fumbling; she took out the snort of coke, and took it. The pain of her injuries swiftly melted away, and she felt a confidence surge through her. Smiling to herself, she started the car engine - now for the main plan…………

**********
 

Chapter 40


So Poppet, what do you want to do – shall we ask Spike and Buffy over for a pizza and a DVD tonight?” Xander asked, spreading marmalade on his breakfast toast.

“They’re going out tonight, to the Premiere of that film…I forget what it’s called, the scary one…a couple move into a house, and dig up an old tree to make way for a swimming pool or something – anyway, then their problems start – Ford did the soundtrack for it – he offered me tickets too – but I said no, I’d have nightmares!”

“Oh…The Rowan Tree, well how about we order pizza and-“

“Nuh-uh, not pizza – I think you’re right about a wheat or dairy allergy for me – we could order in a Chinese and then have an early night…”

Harmony had been keeping Xander at ‘arms length’ as regards sex, because of the pregnancy test scare – and to be fair, he hadn’t moaned because, well – she’d not totally neglected him…so tonight she thought it was about time he got his ‘reward’ for being a kind and patient boyfriend………

Xander’s brow shot up and he grinned,

“Yeah? – Oh, great!”

**********



Spike slowly pulled up outside his house, the windshield wipers going double speed to try and clear the torrents of rain. Buffy looked out of the window and frowned at the great expanse of sidewalk, and path she had to run down.

“Oh god!”

“What’s the matter, kitten?”

“My Manolo’s, they’ll be ruined” Buffy frowned

“No they won’t…” Spike got out of the car, ran round, opened the door her side and scooped her up, fire-fighter style. Buffy squealed and giggled as Spike ran with her over the sidewalk and down the path, the rain still coming down in absolute torrents!

In the covered porch, Buffy slid down from his shoulder and Spike felt in his pants pocket for his house keys. Buffy was still giggling and they began to kiss.

“Hmm…lets…get inside and………hmm mmm…out of this rain!”

Finding his keys, Spike opened up and they went inside

“Phew! WHAT a night – that wasn’t any old rainstorm, that was a tropical monsoon……… oh…god were soaked”

“My back is soaking – and you too…”

“I’ll go get us some towels, you need to get out of those wet things babe, you mustn’t catch a chill, you need your voice to be strong”

Buffy nodded and was just going to ask Spike to undo her dress when there was a loud thump from upstairs.

Buffy and Spike looked up at the ceiling, and then at each other, Spike frowned

“What was that?”

“Cat maybe?” Buffy suggested

“What? - No. Zachary died yeas ago, here – take my mobile…get ready to call 911”

Spike went over to his award cabinet, opened the one door and selected a trophy, tested it’s weight against his left hand, and then put it back, selecting a bigger one with a heavy marble base, he wielded it, satisfied it would have the desired affect of knocking whoever out in case there was a burglar upstairs.

“Baby, be careful – let me come up with you” Buffy said

“You stay well away Kitten, I don’t want anything happening to you…” Spike then went to the stairs, keeping his back close to the wall creeping up slowly, holding the award like a club.

He could see a strange light coming form his bedroom, low down on the floor. He got to the top of the stairs and heard Buffy whisper,

“Be careful, babe” she had started to creep up too.

Spike swallowed and nodded, he’d got to the landing and pushed his bedroom door open with his foot. He could see the bedside lamp was on, lying on the floor on its side.

Frowning, Spike quickly dashed into the room, putting on the main light, raising the trophy above his head and shouted menacingly,

“ALRIGHT YOU BASTARD, WHAT DO YOU THINK…Oh my god…!”

“Spike…Spike, what is it, are you okay? Spike, shall I call the police?” Buffy called, quickly trotting up the rest of the stairs.

“Um, no…no erm…there’s…………oh god!” Buffy stood in the doorway

Lying on the bed, face down was a girl in a long burgundy and black velvet coat.

“Oh f’fucks sake! I KNEW it was too bloody good to be true! Not even one week – not ONE fucking solitary week of not being bothered by you and your fucking mad antics! What the HELL are YOU doing here?” Spike demanded going over and pulling the girl up roughly by the shoulder. He put the award down on the nightstand.

His eyes went wide with shock as the girl turned her bloodied and bruised face to him. She had a black eye, a split lip and a bloody nose. Mascara had run down her cheeks to add to the horror.

“Daddy…Daddy g-got a…got…h-h-he…g-got a l-l-l-little r-rough with m-m-m-me!” Dru turned her head away back into the pillows and began to sob.


Buffy folded her arms and leant against the doorjamb.

“How the HELL did you get in?” Spike asked he turned away from her and ran a hand through his hair, sighing in desperation. Buffy walked to the side of the bed and picked up Dru’s open purse, and a key that was also on the floor.

“With this, I reckon”

“Bloody hell…I didn’t think to change the locks…you kept a key after all this time?”

“Does she need an ambulance, do you think?”

Spike scoffed.

“I’m not having an ambulance come HERE and taking HER away in that state, not from here, no way – I’m NO WAY taking the blame for, for this!”

Buffy sat on the bed and touched Dru’s shoulder. Dru turned her head and when she saw it was Buffy, she shied away huddled down into the pillows even more.

“Come on, let me look at your injuries, I won’t hurt you!” Buffy said kindly

Spike took his mobile from Buffy and pressed a number

“No, leave me alone!” Buffy could just make out what Dru mumbled into the pillows

“Don’t be silly, I only want to-“ Buffy put her hand gently on Dru’s shoulder, but she reared up and yelled,

“DON’T TOUCH ME, DON’T YOU DARE TOUCH ME! – YOU SHOULDN’T BE HERE!”

Buffy stood up

“Geez…I only wanted to help!”

“Damn…bloody Ansa-phone………oh, I know” Spike ended the one call and pressed another number, Buffy heard it ring, and then somebody answered.

“Xand – it’s me, look mate, I’m sorry to ask, but it’s an emergency…” Spike walked out of the bedroom and continued the conversation in the hall.

“Why did you come here?”

Buffy asked Dru, who was now lying on her back, staring at the ceiling, unblinking. It gave Buffy the Wiggins just looking at her.

Dru didn’t answer. Buffy heaved a sigh, and went over to the bed and said,

“Look, I’m sorry that you’ve been beaten up and all that, but you’ve got to realise that Spike is nothing to do with you anymore, you finished a long time ago. He’s with me now, and the sooner you – okay, ow…let go…OW!”

Spike came dashing back into the bedroom to see Dru holding Buffy by a fistful of hair, Buffy was holding Dru’s wrists to try and stop her pulling it out by the roots. He immediately came over and holding onto Dru’s wrist tightly, he said

“LET GO.” Buffy then said,

“I won’t hit you because you’ve been beaten up enough already, but you better let go now – DRU, I SAID NOW!” Buffy tried to prise Dru’s fingers from her hair.

“Let go…DRU, I SAID, LET – there, you okay kitten?”

Spike cuddled up Buffy, who quickly shoved Spike aside, diving out of the way herself as Dru angrily grabbed up the statuette, and bought it down slicing through the air where they had been just standing.

She looked totally mad, her eyes wild and staring, she was screaming.

“HE’S NOT YOURS - You can’t have him, he’s MINE! MINE! Spike belongs to me!”

Spike quickly grabbed Buffy by the arm, and pulled her out of the bedroom and slamming the door shut, holding onto the handle tightly so Dru couldn’t turn it from the other side.

“She’s a TOTAL LUNATIC! She could have got in and murdered us both in bed!” Buffy shouted angrily.

“I know, babe, what can I say…I’m so sorry, I just never – shit! Sweet PROMISED me that he’d keep her away from us…” Dru had managed to open the door slightly, until Spike renewed his efforts and pulled it shut again.

“I just never gave it a thought, about changing the locks…I never thought for one minute she’d kept a key – or that she would ever come here again” Spike looked worried and sad, and Buffy went up and cuddled his head to her.

“Shush…I know love…I’m not blaming you…but you MUST get the locks changed now”


“I – I will – Jesus! For someone so skinny she’s bloody strong!” Dru was going mental the other side of the door, screaming how Spike belonged to her, and Buffy wasn’t his girlfriend she’s also begun to hit it the door with the statuette that Spike had taken up to threaten the ‘intruder’ originally.

“On second thoughts…dial 911” Spike said

“Are you sure?” Buffy took his phone and Spike held onto the door handle with both hands.

“Yeah, if they know about this, well it’ll help – I’ve got to take desperate measures to make her understand that she can’t – oh!”

The mobile had started to ring, Buffy handed it back to Spike, who answered

“Lorne, thank god it’s you…bloody hell – WILL YOU BE QUIET DRU!”

Spike yelled, and Dru’s lunatic screaming and banging stopped for a few moments, Spike continued,

“Yes, you did hear right, Dru’s very much here, at my house, she’s gone berserk. She broke in…well, no, that’s not strictly true, she used a key and was waiting upstairs on my bed … Lorne …she’s been beaten up…she said Daddy got a bit rough with her………it looks quite bad, yes……………well, a black eye, split lip, bloody nose………………no, I haven’t called them yet, I was just about to though…………………Xander’s coming over…………you don’t want me call the…no? - But why not?………(he heaved a sigh, and looked at Buffy) okay, but, well…I’ve GOT to do something to make her see that she no longer has anything to do with me…yeah, I will” he ended the call.

“Well?” Buffy asked

“He asked me not to call the police…the bad publicity, you know” Buffy rolled her eyes and turned away from him angrily, and then she turned and faced him, waving her arm in the air towards the bedroom door.

“So Little Miss Looney-Tunes gets away with it – terrific! – Spike, she could have killed us both, or at least killed me!”

“I don’t think-“ Spike began

“Look, Spike, she wants you back, pure and simple, and as far as she’s concerned, the only fly in the ointment as regards that, is me – and she isn’t about to listen to reason………a…a-a-a-a – ATISHOO! – Shit! NOW I’ve caught a chill!”

“Baby, get out of those wet things and-“

“No Spike…I’m going home…I’ll………I’ll see you tomorrow………maybe.”

“Buffy! BUFFY! Please, come back! I daren’t let go of this handle, else she’ll be out and – Buffy…please love…BUFFY!”

Buffy ran downstairs, opened the front door to see Xander running down the path with his jacket over his head. The rain had slowed a little, but not much, it was still bucketing it down.

“Buffy! Everything okay?”

“No. Just after he rang you, well…Lorne phoned him back. Spike had phoned Sweet’s mansion before he phoned you, but got the Ansa-phone…Dru’s been beaten up by Sweet apparently, or so she says, when we came in, she was upstairs on his bed waiting for him. What she hadn’t reckoned on though, was me”


“BUFFY…PLEASE BABE! I’M, I’m begging you, please don’t go” Spike shouted

Buffy sighed and closed the front door, throwing her purse on the chair. Xander had run up the stairs three at a time.

“Oh thank god you’re here Xand…she’s flipped this time, ‘cept now I’ve got her trapped in my bedroom, but don’t go in there for Christ’s sake, she’s got a deadly weapon” Spike said in a pained voice, and then he continued,

“Be a mate, and keep a tight hold on this handle for me please, I MUST go see Buffy”

“Deadly weapon? What sort of – Great Merciful Zeus…………what have I got myself into now…hurry back Spike…”

Xander nodded and took hold of the handle, Spike raced down the stairs, and to his relief he saw Buffy sitting on the sofa wrapped up in his towelling robe.
He quickly went over to her and sat next to her and pulled her close.

“Kitten…I’m so sorry! – Please tell me you forgive me” Buffy looked at the puppy-dog eyes and she instantly forgot her annoyance.

“Come here…of course, I’m sorry too, there’s nothing to forgive. I know none of this is your fault…” Buffy held him close for a moment, then leaned out of the embrace to look at Spike while he said,

“Only, well, you see, the other night, at Sweet’s party, well Lorne bailed me out a couple of times at least to my knowledge dragging her away from me and that, and he asked me as a special favour not to call the police. But I’ll say that if there’s one more thing she does, then bang – that’s it, I’m calling 911, sod the publicity – I’ll have her done for stalking me – Sweet promised me he’s keep her away from us………”

“Spike…Spike…she seems quiet enough now…can I come down – what’s this weapon she’s got?” Xander called. Spike looked back at Buffy and asked,

“Will you be okay babe, I won’t go into the room, I PROMISE, Lorne should be here any minute now” Spike said to Buffy, who smiled

“I trust YOU babe, it’s HER I don’t trust!” Buffy cupped his cheek, leaned forward and kissed him softly.

“Spike…SPIKE - can I come down now –“ Xander called again, Spike interrupted him and said,

“’S’ok Xand, I’m coming up, just don’t let go until I – oh, hang on”

The doorbell rang, and Spike veered off from walking to the stairs to answer it.

“Quick Lorne, come in…filthy night!”

Lorne came inside, delicately closed his umbrella and said,

“I’m SO sorry about this Spike…I didn’t know she was out -.” Spike lead the tall guy up the stairs, to where Xander was leaning back holding the door handle with both hands as Dru had started to try and pull it open again, screaming her head off.

“Good, is it safe for me to let go now? – And what was this bloody dangerous deadly weapon she’s got?” Xander asked, with more than a touch of anxiety.

Even Lorne quirked an eyebrow at Spike, who said

“My TMM. Top Music Manager, 2001. It’s got a heavy marble base see, and I thought that, well, it might have been a deterrent you know, before we found out who it was…

“Well, she SEEMS quiet enough, maybe I won’t HAVE to use this now”
Lorne went to re-pocket the syringe full of Valium. But Spike said,

“Actually Lorne, I’d give it to her anyway, she’s quiet now, but when she learns that I want nothing whatsoever to do with her, she might freak out again on you – you might be driving, she’s totally unstable, if you ask me, she needs locking up – for her own safety, let alone anybody else’s”

Lorne thought about what Spike had said, and agreed. She HAD pulled a stunt like that on him a few years back, suddenly pulling on the steering wheel, trying to force them to crash into a bridge support.


Xander slowly pushed the door open; all three men stood back, and then peered in to see Dru lying on the bed again.

“Okay, shall we see if…oh look, she’s asleep – thank god!” Xander breathed a sigh of relief and opened the door fully. Lorne strode in and leaned over her saying,

“Come on honey…let’s get you home, hmm?” Pushing the coat sleeve up her thin arm, Lorne located the vein and inserted the needle, depressing the plunger slowly.

“Hmm, Sp-Spike!” Dru threw her other arm around Lorne’s neck.

“No Dru, it’s not Spike, it’s me. I’ve come to take you back home” He removed the needle, rubbed her arm and pulled down the coat sleeve.

“Um, is that wise, do you think – don’t you think that Sweet might be even more angry with her now…what are you going to say to him, about her whereabouts” Xander asked

Well, there’s one thing I can tell you for sure.” Lorne said

“What’s that?” Xander asked

“Daddy didn’t do this to her” Lorne stated, indicating Dru’s facial injuries

“No? Are you sure, I know he can be a sick bas-“

“Definitely sure, he’s having dinner with his accountant – on his boat. He flew out to the Florida Keys this morning. He hasn’t seen Dru since breakfast. These wounds are a couple of hours old at most – and I haven’t a clue how she got them – or even who did it to her – she was with me watching TV, I must have fallen asleep”

“So she’s a lying little bitch on top of everything else too…” Spike said. Dru stirred in Lorne’s arms, and she mumbled

“You promised…promised you wouldn’t leave me”

Spike felt nothing. He’d been through this sort of scenario with her dozens of times before. One time, a long time ago, those words were like twisting a knife in his gut, but now he had had every last trace of remorse and sympathy wrung from him years ago.

Of course, last time it culminated in Dru threatening to throw herself off the roof if he didn’t promise to take her back, until trained negotiators talked her down. But this time……… this time it was different, he was with somebody, he had Buffy to think about as well.

“Get her sorted out Lorne. I mean it, she needs to be taken a long, LONG way from here, because if she pulls a stunt like this or anything like it to try and get me back – or if she goes anywhere near Buffy – well, put it this way, I won’t be held responsible for my actions – I’m letting her off this time as a favour to you – but if anything happens again, I mean ANYTHING, a silent phone call, a note on my windshield – I’ll have her done for stalking – I MEAN IT”

Lorne nodded, thanked him and left, Dru lolled groggily in Lorne’s arms as he carried her down the path in the pouring rain to his car.

“Thanks for coming Xander…I didn’t want to call an ambulance from here, I thought that Lorne was out as I got the Ansa-phone. I didn’t interrupt anything, well you know, between you and Harmony, did I?”

“It’s okay mate, Harm understood. When I told her what you said, she said to get over here quick…”

“Xander…Xander” Buffy called

“Yes Buffy?”

“It’s Harmony on the phone, she wants to know how long you’ll be?”

“Tell her I’m on my way back now, will you please – well Spike, I better be off”

“Yeah, and thanks again my friend, I appreciate you coming over so quickly” The two friends exchanged a back-slapping hug

“You know, you’re REALLY going to have to sort something out, it’s getting beyond a joke”

“Yes, I know, I’ve got some long hard thinking to do – Night Xand”

“Night Spike – Night Buffy!” Buffy waved from the sofa, still talking on the phone to Harmony.

“………Yes, he’s just left…okay then, I better go, I want a nice hot bath before I go to bed…really – oh sorry…well yes. Good night then Harmony see you tomorrow”

Spike came over to Buffy after locking up.

“You okay Kitten?”

Buffy nodded and said,

“I’d love a nice hot soak…with you?” Buffy looked wide-eyed at him and he smiled

“Sounds like a plan…come on then kitten, lets go up, we’re all locked in safe and secure, and first thing in the morning, I’m onto the locksmiths – and I want the whole place burglar alarmed too” Spike turned off the lamp and followed Buffy upstairs.

**********

“There, there………ooh…is that an ouchie cup-cake…how did you do this anyway?” Lorne winced himself as he gently sponged Dru’s face with warm soapy water with a touch of antiseptic in it. He carefully patted her battered face dry while Dru sat there impassively, staring dead-eyed into space.

“What were you doing over at Spike’s place anyway, hmm? – Honey, this thing you’ve got about him…it’s REALLY got to stop. He’s got somebody else now, we keep telling you” The Valium had kicked in, along with her medication, plus the coke she’d done earlier, making Dru totally Zombified, but the tears fell unchecked down her face.

“Oh sweet-cheeks…don’t cry…come on honey…there, there, don’t cry my sweet, I’m here, I’ll look after you” Dru allowed herself to be gently pulled into Lorne’s arms, and she lay against him feeling totally numb.

**********


“I’m sorry Daddy, I don’t know how she got out. We had a light supper, watched TV – I must have fallen asleep – next thing I know, it’s 10.45, and I wake to the sound of the Ansa-phone – a garbled message from Spike, saying Dru’s at his house and has gone berserk………………………of course I went and fetched her – the thing is……………well, I don’t know why or how but she told Spike that it was YOU that had beaten her up………………………………split lip, black eye, bloody nose, she’d taken quite a beating……………no, not a chance of it being Spike, because he and Buffy had been out together they got back and found Dru waiting in his bedroom…………no he didn’t contact them, as a favour to me, but I know he won’t stand anymore…………yes, Daddy………………yes, Daddy ………due home any time now………okay then, yes, we’ll see you later then, bye”

Lorne put the phone down, and turned to see Dru looking daggers at him.

“And what’s that look for – I might tell you Dru – Daddy’s very cross with you – he said that – Dru………what………what’s that you’re hiding – Dru, WHAT have you got behind your back?”

Lorne felt suddenly nervous, there was a totally evil look in her eyes that he’d never seen before -

Dru said nothing, but suddenly just flew at Lorne, who saw the glint of the knife as the blade swished through the air and came down hard, jarring against bone the swiftness of the attack surprised him as he sank to his knees, a tremendous pain wracked through his body – he tried to draw breath, but he just made a slight gargling rasp, his mouth filled with blood and everything went black……………………………
The last thing he saw was the crazy look she had in her eyes – the Dru he knew and loved wasn’t there. She stood back, watching him slump to the floor, then she turned and ran out of the house.

“WHAT THE – BLOODY HELL FIRE!” The Chauffer just managed to swerve to the right, as the erratically driven Mini slewed across the lawns and careered on down towards the gates.

“What is it, who, what was that?” Cecily sat up straight on the back seat of the car, twisting around to see the Mini narrowly miss crashing into the slowly opening automated gates.

“Some crazy idiot – who’d be driving like that in the grounds…look at the state of the lawn – unless………oh goodness, can you ear that – the alarms are going – I wonder if it was a burglar?”

“Quick – lets go see!”

The driver pulled up and Cecily got out quickly – she was just about to enter the house, she was ¾ of the way up to the steps, when she heard a loud scream, and saw the old cook dashing out of the sitting room.

“Mrs Gould…what is it?” The poor old dear, near to passing out with shock leant against the wall, she couldn’t speak, she just pointed with a very shaky hand into the room. There, lying face down in a pool of blood, was Lorne, he had a knife sticking out of his back.

“LORNE – OH MY GOD – “

“What, what is OH GOOD GOD!” The driver skidded to a halt in the doorway, not seeing Lorne until Cecily stood up

“PHONE AN AMBULANCE, QUICK!” Cecily screamed to the driver, who trying his best not to fumble, dialled 911.

“Lorne…OH GOD…LORNE…WHO DID THIS?” Cecily let out a sob………

********
 

Chapter 41



Ten minutes, but what seemed a lifetime later………………


“Will he be okay?” Cecily was shaking like a leaf

“We’ll do our best Miss, it was lucky he fell forward, he would have choked, else”

The two para-medics worked on Lorne, controlling the bleeding, checking his heart and then giving him oxygen.

It was only then Cecily remembered Dru.

The police drew up and several officers came running in.

With the police running all over the house looking for Dru, the ambulance left taking Lorne, who was just about hanging onto life.

“Er, miss…would you come upstairs for a minute please?”

Cecily’s blood ran cold, and she said shakily

“Oh god….oh no, please don’t tell me she’s…”

“We haven’t found her miss, we just need you to explain something to us, if you can”

Shakily, Cecily went upstairs, and the detective moved out of the doorway. Dru’s dressing table had been turned into a ‘shrine’ to Spike.

Photos all over, an old baseball cap, tapes, notes, concert tickets, and Dru had written his and her name on pieces of paper, and covered them with love-hearts and arrows, ‘true love’ and ‘together always’. Most chilling of all, was a photo of Buffy, torn out of a magazine, Dru had drawn blood-dripping daggers and the word ‘death’ all over it. Cecily swayed, she felt sick and dizzy

“Do you know who these people are – this lady especially?” The cop indicated Buffy’s picture.

“Y-Yes, yes I do, that’s Spike, Spike Carling, and that’s his girlfriend, the singer Buffy – I don’t know her last name…Spike used to be with Dru, but it ended years ago…oh god, I thought she was getting better!”

“Better?”

“She’s had, has problems, mental problems, but she doesn’t always take her medicine…” Two detectives spoke, and the one left,

“Have you any idea where these people live, or how we can contact them?”

Cecily’s head swam…

“Erm, Aphrodite…the music studios – they’ll tell you – “

Cecily was led out of the room, when the sudden truth hit her like a ton of bricks…

“Do you…oh god, no…do you think it was Dru who stabbed………oh god………no, please no……NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” Cecily collapsed on the floor, sobbing.

The call came through to Cordelia, who’s eyes nearly popped when the police told her what had happened.

**********


Buffy turned over and faced Spike, who was lying on his back, still asleep.

Smiling, she got a tendril of her hair, and tickled his nose with it. Spike’s nose twitched, and he shifted his head. She did it again, and this time Spike rubbed his nose with the back of his hand.

After a few seconds, she did it again and without warning, Spike quickly grabbed her shouting, ‘GOTCHA!’ - Making Buffy jump and squeal, then collapse into a fit of giggles.

“Little minx! Come here you!” Spike began to tickle her, until Buffy croaked a surrender, exhausted and breathless.

“Your throat sore, Kitten?”

“A bit”

“Poor baby…still, we don’t have to get up yet, we can – oh…shut up and go away – I’m not answering you!” Spike said to his mobile phone, switching off the incessant ringing.

“That might have been important!” Buffy croaked

“What’s so important that can’t wait a couple of hours?”

The landline phone began to ring, and Spike rolled his eyes.

“Aren’t you going to answer that either?”

“The ansaphone will pick it up”

“If you remember to rewind and set it again, that is!”

Still ignoring the ringing phone, Spike leant over Buffy.

“I’ve got FAR MORE important things to do”

Buffy giggled and they began to kiss. Without breaking the embrace, Spike lay down beside her and went to cup her breast, instead he turned angrily and snatched up the phone and barked,

“This BETTER be bloody good! – Now, WHAT the HELL is SO important?”

Buffy watched Spike’s face go from one of anger to pale and wide-eyed shock.

“Wha-what? – She’s WHAT – oh my god, when was – “ suddenly, outside their bedroom window, they heard a revved engine, and a squeal of brakes then the house practically shook and the sound of breaking glass as something smashed into the glass louver doors that led from the lounge to the patio.

Buffy sat up in shock, and Spike said

“WHAT THE HELL WAS…OH MY GOD!”

“Oh Christ – it sounds as if she’s just got here – Quick, Buffy, lock the door!”

“What, Spike what is it, what was that?”

“LOCK THE DOOR!”

“OKAY, okay, I’m locking it, there – what’s going on?” In the distance, wailing sirens could be heard.

“This is the police, (Spike pointed to the phone) Dru’s stabbed Lorne and they think she’s on her way over here…they’ve found a shrine to me in her bedroom…
they think…well, from the look of things, they think she was on her way to harm you”
Spike picked up the phone again and said,

“Yes, I’m here………well there’s a mini sticking out of my lounge, it’s smashed through the glass doors…yes okay thanks” he threw the phone down, and went over to the wardrobe

“Help me babe, just in case!” Together they shifted the piece of furniture and slid it across the doorway

Spike then went and opened the window and looked out onto the scene of carnage below.

Buffy still hadn’t said a word, she sat numb with shock on the bed. The police sirens got louder and louder, Spike could see two squad cars at the back, and could hear more around the front.

He saw two officers get out of each car and run towards the house, drawing their guns as they did so. Spike ducked back inside and turned to look at Buffy.

“Hey…come on pet, police are here now” He put his arm around her and she rested her head against his neck, tears streaming down her face.


Meanwhile, downstairs Dru was slumped over the steering wheel, having banged her head against it knocking herself out.

There was lots of smoke and dust, pieces of glass, plaster and window frame falling about. The four cops, all with their guns trained on her advanced slowly towards the car.

“Okay ma’am…put your hands where we can see them” the one cop said

“I think she’s out cold, Lipinski…let me try the door………it’s no good…it’s buckled in the crash – it won’t open” Another cop went to the drivers door and yanked it open, Dru’s body slowly sagged out sideways – it was only then they saw the knives she had on the passenger seat.

There was much shouting and consternation as to what to do, one cop wanted to leave her there, another two wanted her dragged out – with sirens blaring and then they heard a helicopter overhead . Spike could hear a rapid beeping, then realised it was the phone, and put it back on the hook.
It immediately rang, and the detective told them that they must leave the bedroom, as the house could be in danger of collapsing, as the structure under the bedroom window had been broken.

“Come on Kitten, let’s go” hastily pulling on jeans and tee shirts, They pushed the wardrobe out of the way, and went downstairs. A paramedic immediately put a blanket around Buffy’s shoulders.

“I’m okay…really…what’s happening, Spike – do you know?”

“Would you both like to come with us please” They followed the paramedic out just in time to see Dru being loaded into another ambulance. Neighbours had come out to look, and then Spike saw Xander driving up the road.

He parked up and Harmony flew out of the car to her friend – Buffy covered her mouth and started to sob uncontrollably, a paramedic and Harmony led her to the ambulance – the shock had suddenly hit her.

“Spike – my god, what happened?” Xander came bounding over to his friend

“You tell me…one minute we’re asleep, then the next – all hell’s breaking loose – where’d Buffy go?”

They both walked over to the ambulance.

Buffy declined to go to hospital, she said she just wanted to be with her friends and Spike, of course.

“Mr Carling?”

“Yes?”

“I’m detective Alvarez, I take it you know this woman who crashed into your house?”

Spike sighed and said,

“Yes, it’s a long story………”

**********


Six Hours later


Sweet hated hospitals. He hated the smell and everything else about them – they scared him to death. Cecily was shaking so much she couldn’t walk, she said she’d wait for him in reception.

“Can I see him – please”

“And you are?”

“Cornelius Sweetly – I’m his next of kin”

The duty nurse spoke on the phone for a few seconds, then ended the call.

“I’ve informed Dr Wright that you are here, you can see him for a few minutes”

Sweet, who was all choked up nodded

“Ah, Mr Sweetly, come this way, please” Sweet was led down a corridor by a doctor wearing a white coat, he stopped outside the Intensive Care Unit and gave him a mask to put on, saying that because Lorne had a lung injury, the last thing he needed was an infection.

Sweet swallowed hard and looked at Lorne all hooked up to various machines and monitors, he had an oxygen tube and mask taped to his mouth, a drip in his arm, and heart monitor pads on his chest.

“We managed to arrest the bleeding, and re-inflate the lung, but it was a very close call, he’s a very lucky man to be alive, literally a minute or so longer and he could have bled to death – that and the fact that he slumped forward – if he’d fallen backwards – well, no doubt. He’d have choked”

Sweet nodded dumbly and the doctor left saying he’d give them a few moments alone.

Sweet shuffled up to Lorne and hesitantly reached for his hand. His own fingers cold, but Lorne felt warm. The monitor gave off a regular little beep, and the ventilator made a ‘huffing’ sound as it collapsed and then re-inflated helping Lorne to breathe.

“Oh god Lorne…please don’t leave me” Silent tears dripped unchecked down Sweet’s face…and he wondered what on earth had possessed such a once sweet girl like Dru to do such a thing as to hurt Lorne, his lovely gentle giant.

Dru had been taken to the same hospital, but Sweet didn’t want to see her – When he got back to reception, Cecily wasn’t there.

“She won’t be long, she said she just wanted to see somebody” The nurse informed him, so nodding, Sweetly sat down and waited.

When Cecily went to the private room, there was a policeman outside, and a nurse took her in.

Dru was lying in bed, she had black eyes and stitches in her forehead.

“When’s Lorne coming to bring me home?” Dru asked innocently, and Cecily saw red -

“Wha-what – Dru – DON’T YOU KNOW WHAT THE FUCK YOU’VE DONE?” Cecily shouted angrily – The nurse said,

“I’m sorry miss, you must leave – I” the cop looked in and opened the door

“This way please miss, the patient mustn’t be agitated in any way”

“Ceccy – tell Daddy to get Lorne!” Dru called

Cecily broke away from the nurse and dived back into the room

“Fucking mad BITCH – you tried to kill him – you nearly KILL- GET OFF ME –he could be dead because of what- put me DOWN! – “ picking up the struggling girl around the middle, the cop put her down in the corridor.

“I’m sorry Miss, but you’ll have to leave – neither of you are in a fit state for visiting”

“Cecily?” Dru looked totally bewildered at her friend’s actions and behaviour, and went to the door, and turned the handle, but it was locked – suddenly Dru began to panic, she HATED being locked in, and began to cry and pull at the door.

Still struggling Cecily was practically dragged down the corridor shouting how she hoped Dru would rot in hell and she never wanted to see her again………
Dru’s world began to spin, and she put her hands over her ears and began to scream, and scream………………………………

“I’m sorry miss, but you are barred from this hospital, we cannot and will not have that sort of behaviour”

“Don’t care I don’t EVER want to see her again…” She turned with as much dignity as she could muster and flung open the double-doors to reception. Sweet stood as soon as he saw her, having heard the debacle.

“Daddy – how’s Lorney?”

Sweet nodded and reached for her hand, and said a little above a whisper,

“You saved him” gasping and choking back tears, they both left the hospital.

Two rather big male nurses entered Dru’s room and descended on her, one with a straight jacket, the other with a loaded hypodermic needle, and it was suddenly all nice and quiet again………

*****






Eight weeks later

The girls, Buffy, Harmony, Cordelia and Cassie were all wearing Santa hats, decorated with sprigs of holly and mistletoe, and wearing long thick strings of tinsel like feather boa’s around their necks. No work had been done at all, they’d sat around drinking egg-nog and opening presents from each other.

“Well, at least if Noiz are number one, they’re from Aphrodite…” Harmony said philosophically.

“That’s very magnanimous of you! Who’d have thought it, the great American public buying a song called ‘I hate f*cking Christmas!’” Cordelia said, but she was smiling.

“Can we go home yet?” Xander asked. It was Christmas Eve, 2.30pm.

“Not until we’ve seen his lord and master – he wants to give us our presents in person this year – eh up, speak of the devil…oh look who’s with him!” Spike said, seeing their shadows coming along the corridor.

Sweet entered the office with Cecily and Lorne.

“Lorne! – How are you?”

“Oh, you know…I’m okay, I get tired quickly, but hey – still alive!” Buffy and Cordelia led him to the sofa and sat down, and Cecily handed the girls their presents. Sweet took Spike to one side.

“Well Spike…I know you weren’t at the meeting last night, and I kept this information back…here – your Christmas present” He handed Spike an envelope, and he was just about to slip it into his pocket, but Sweet stopped him.

“Open it, you don’t have to give me an answer or anything now, I’ll speak to you in the New Year sometime, only I’ll be in Bermuda or the South of France”

Spike opened up the envelope and his eyes nearly popped

“Oh my god – are you serious?” Spike looked over the share certificate, giving him a 33% share of Aphrodite Music.

“Quite – like I say, you don’t have to give me your answer now, but I figure that well…I owe you at least that – I want you to take over the reins head the Music side for me – I’m retiring, well semi-retiring…this business………well, what’s happened these last few months, made me realise something, and I’ve woken up and smelt the coffee – I’ve got to prioritise what’s important in my life now – having nearly lost it all (he looked across to Lorne and Cecily, then back to Spike) it’ll be down to you, you sign the bands, you sign the cheques…of course, if the profits start to fall, I’ll come and kick your butt from here back to Blighty, but ………” they both smiled at this, then Sweet went serious.

“Her father contacted me you know, Lord Netherbourne. He said to leave her where she is – the Hall Institute will look after her – security there is second to none, she’ll never be let out and, well, if she did ever become well enough, which I doubt, but – she’d be charged with attempted murder – and strangely enough, I don’t think that’s what Lorne would have wanted…”


“Have you seen her?” Spike, like Sweet couldn’t even bring himself to say Dru’s name. Sweet shook his head once

“No, I – I couldn’t bring myself to – Cecily saw her the night of the incident – she didn’t even realise what she’d done, wanted to know when Lorne was coming to take her home – I won’t go see her – ever” Spike nodded and looked across to the girls giving Lorne Christmas kisses, and he smiled

“Well Spike, think on about the offer won’t you”

“There’s no need to think about it – I accept!” They shook hands on the deal, and Sweet said,

“Well, we better cut along – Lorne gets tired, and we still have presents to give out…Merry Christmas everybody!” Everybody wished him Merry Christmas back.

“So babe, what have you got?”

“Well, all us girls got a cute teddy-bear holding a voucher for a $1000 for that swanky new Mall – it can be spent in any of the shops, jewellery or cosmetics – lingerie…”

“Oh yes – I think I should buy you shares in Victoria’s Secret the amount you spend!”

“For your benefit!” Buffy playfully pushed his arm

“Merry Christmas everybody!” everybody looked up to see Anya waving a bottle of champagne in the air, with a grinning Giles by her side.

“…………No Pookie! You are definitely NOT buying cowboy boots with your voucher!” Everyone heard Harmony say, and Cordelia and Buffy collapsed in giggles.

“Honestly – where did I get him from?” Harmony rolled her eyes, and plonked herself down on Xander’s lap.

“So baby…what did Mr Santa bring you?” Buffy slipped her arms around Spike’s neck

“Well…I must have been a very good boy this year, that’s all I can say………”

“Oh yes? – Why?”

“You’re now looking at the head of Aphrodite Music – he’s given me a third share in the company” Buffy arms slipped for a second and she looked at him wide-eyed

“You’re kidding!”

“Nope…he gave me the New Year to think about it, but hell, there’s no need – I’ve already accepted”

“Oh baby! – That’s brilliant!” Buffy hugged him up tightly.

“Oi, Spike, put her down, come and look at this!”

“Oi Spike, Oi Spike? – Is that any way to address your new boss?” Buffy asked smiling

“What?” Xander and Harmony looked up at Spike, as did Cordelia.

“I’m head of Music -!” They all came over and congratulated Spike saying how much he deserved it.

At three o’clock, they left – Buffy and Spike, and Cordelia and Wesley all having been invited over to Harmony and Xander’s place on Christmas evening.

*********


“Mr Alphonse Smith…Alphonse – “

“Er, s-sorry, th-that’s me”

“Mr Smith, I have your HIV status test results” The nurse held a folded piece of paper.

“Um, uh huh…” He wanted to turn and run – he was shaking like a leaf, and neither the nurse’s body language nor facial expression gave anything away.

“I um…I don’t know whether to…er”

The nurse took pity on him, and smiled

“Relax, honey – things are never quite as bad as they seem” She gave him a wink, and put the slip of paper on the table in front of him. Slowly at first Al reached for the slip, yanked it open and the word NEGATIVE in big black capital letters jumped out at him – he could have wept in relief!

*******

“Auditions for the toilet tissue commercial, would you please come this way”

Glory B was wearing dark glasses and a scarf, even though she was in London.

“NEXT”

Glory stood in front of the table. The guy sitting looked up disinterestedly at her.

“Read these words on the card clearly and distinctly as possible please” he handed her a card.

“André’s toilet tissue, soft, strong and –“


“Are you American?” the guy asked, and Glory took off her dark glasses and said,

“Yes, I’m Glory Benson, Glory B – I used to have the biggest show on the cable network in-“

“Don’t care luv, we don’t want an American accent – NEXT”

“But you can’t just – ow – hey! Now you listen here Mr – who do you think you’re talking to?”

“Don’t know luv, don’t care, I’VE NEVER heard of you – NEXT!”

Glory threw the card down in disgust and snatched up her purse and left – it was time people started to show her some respect! – The tragedy of it – Glory B reduced to being turned down to do a voice over for toilet roll commercial…………

****


“You, hello, you, yes you!” Dru called out

“My name, is Nurse Dobson, see, it says so on my name button”

“Yes, yes, whatever – look, tell cook Miss Edith can’t have any cake for tea – she’s been naughty again, she’s been whispering lies to me – saying my Spike doesn’t love me. What time are my friends coming?”

“What for?” the nurse asked patiently

“For tea! Daddy, and Ceccy, Lorne and Spike”

“I’m not sure – why don’t you sit by the window and wait for them”

“Okay…come along Miss Edith” Dru went over to one of the window seats

“Is she still talking to the doll?” Dr Williams asked the nurse.

“Yes, although she insists it’s called Miss Edith – she won’t have it called anything else”

“Does she talk about the incident at all?”

“No doctor – she thinks that they are her friends still – she’s waiting for them now”

“And she doesn’t have visitors?”

“No doctor, none at all”

“I see, well, keep me up to speed if she does say anything, will you Nurse Dobson”

“I will, doctor”






Epilogue


When Buffy woke up on Christmas morning, she saw Spike standing at the window.

The house had been repaired and completely altered so there would be no bad memories. They never spoke about Dru – once they knew she was in a secure place and would never be let out the subject never came up again.

“Hey…merry Christmas…everything okay?” Buffy sat up in bed

Spike smiled and said,

“Merry Christmas, Kitten. Sure…one thing I know, though!”

“What’s that babe?”

“The sky is so blue and it’s far too hot for Christmas!”

Buffy turned her head and saw a huge pile of presents and squealed with delight and jumped up out of bed.

“Just a minute young lady…put that down!” She’d picked up a present, and gave it a curious shake as it rattled. She pouted and stomped towards the bed.

“Buffy…I love you” She smiled instantly and went and cuddled him up.

“And I love you!”

“I mean, I really, REALLY love you”

“I know babe, I feel the same, I really, REALLY love you too”

“Enough to…Buffy – “ To her surprise – Spike was suddenly out of her arms, and kneeling on the floor.

“Spike?”

“Buffy…would you marry me?” Spike held up the most beautiful diamond ring Buffy had ever seen.

She was SO shocked at first, then her eyes flooded with tears and she flung her arms around his neck

“YES! OH GOD, yes – yes please!”

Spike took the ring out of the box and slipped it onto her finger – she couldn’t stop staring at it between kissing and hugging him.

“This is the BEST Christmas I’ve ever had!”

“I think I agree with you! – C’mere you…those pressies can wait another hour to be opened……………

THE END