Chapter 6

“Excuse me sir, I’m sorry to trouble you” the young waitress looked a little sheepish, but Giles put his wine glass down and smiled at the girl.

“Yes Molly, what can I do for you?” There was a crashing sound and a tinkle of glasses, and a roar of laughter went up. Giles threw down his napkin, and said to Anya,

“Excuse me a minute”

“Sure”

“It’s Rack, and his crowd, sir, they’re being a bit rowdy, we’ve already had one complaint from other diners” Molly explained.

Giles said he’d sort it, and went over to their table, and in true professional manner, he sorted things.

The rowdy crowd finished their drinks and left.

“Molly, who was it complaining, are they still here?”

“Couple in the corner, sir”
Giles went over to them

“I’m very sorry that you’ve had your meal interrupted, and I’d like to offer you either a bottle of Champagne or a meal for two with our compliments as by way of recompense”

The couple thanked him and said they’d have the meal for two, and Giles said he’d give them some tickets.

“Molly, give those two free meal tickets, and charge Rack’s bill another $100” the waitress nodded.
When Giles got back to the table, Anya had her wrap on and was ready to leave.

“Going already?”

“Sorry, but I’ve got an early start in the morning, I’m going to ‘Daddy’s’ Swiss hide-away for a few days”

“Lucky old you…come on, I’ll walk you to the door” As they neared the front of the restaurant, they could see two police cars arrive, sirens blaring, blue lights flashing.

“Oh god, what now? – Stay there An, I’ll go see what the trouble is” Giles went outside. Two minutes later, he came back.

“Seems Rack punched a paparazzi – started a brawl!”

“Good for him! I’ll go out the back way then, if you don’t mind, I don’t want to be associated with that. I’ll phone Jenny for you, just casually, I know, I promised – I’ll be subtle”

Giles nodded and kissed Anya, and she left.

*******

“And this is one of the recording suites, we have a dozen here, and another ten in our studios in Burbank.”

“When will I be doing my song?” Buffy asked as they left the room and carried on down the corridor.

“Tonight with any luck, you’ll begin rehearsals after lunch. Excited?” Spike asked

“Nervous!”

“Silly thing, you’ll be fine. In fact…want to know a bit of juicy info?”
Spike had a gleam in his eye that made Buffy’s stomach flip-flop, and she nodded.

“Well, ABC Studios, where you did the show has been totally inundated with phone calls wanting to know where and when they can get your single…oh, thankyou”

Spike took a piece of paper handed to him by a messenger, read it.

“And – listen to this, we have Darla Delaney from ‘Teen’ magazine here right now, she’s keen to do an interview with you”

“With me?” Buffy had a deer-caught-in-the-headlights look

“Yes with you! Look, don’t worry. Tell you what, want me to be there with you? – We could do it all informally – over lunch if you like”

“Please” Buffy felt very grateful. Spike reached for her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.

“Just be yourself, act natural, and you’ll be fine, ok?” he gave her hand another little squeeze. Buffy nodded, smiled and squeezed right back…


********

“Well, Daddy wants to know, any news?” Lorne asked

“Is he there, can I speak to him?” Cordelia asked

“Sorry, Sweetness, he’s got the doctor with him at the moment, drops for his dry eyes, you know they wont close properly!”
Cordelia shuddered

“Don’t! He gives me the creeps enough!”

“Now Sugar-plum, remember who pays the wages!” Lorne gently admonished her.
“I know. Anyway, relax. Good news, signed, sealed delivered, she’s ours!”

“Thankyou Blossom, speak later” Lorne put the phone down and went to prepare his lord and master’s smoothie, to give him along with the good news that Buffy had signed to Aphrodite.

********


“It’s ok, you don’t have to whisper, the booths are sound-proofed. They can only hear you down there if you hold down this button and speak into the microphone” Spike explained to Buffy.

The booth was tiny, so Buffy had to stand very close to Spike.

Down in the studio, Harmony was gyrating in front of a ‘bluescreen’, singing her song. Above her behind the screen standing on stepladders were two guys gently shaking fake snow down on her.

‘Santa’s on his way,
Sitting on his sleigh…
Children all around the world,
Waiting for Christmas Day!’

The bouncy pop tune had more than a passing resemblance to ‘Jingle Bells’ complete with tinkling sleigh-bells and a soundtrack of children laughing and playing.

Suddenly for real in the studio ten children ran on set, dressed in fleeces, with scarves, hats and gloves began to play ‘snowballs’ and then they knelt around in front of Harmony and joined in with the chorus, heads swaying from side to side, bright smiles on their faces.

One of the guys shaking the snow down suddenly sneezed, sending down the complete boxful of ‘snow’, knocking Harmony’s hat askew, and putting her off singing.

The recording engineer immediately leaned forward, and irritably pressed the button

“Cut! Cut! For gods sake…am I surrounded by fucking idiots?”

“Hey, no swearing in front of the children!” Harmony glared towards the blacked-out booth put her hands over the nearest child’s ears.
The engineer looked at Spike and said,

“Two hours…two hours, that’s all, and I’m already sick to fucking death of that song!”
Spike grinned, and nodded.

“Come on, let’s go up to the café on the sixth floor and meet Darla, eh?” Buffy nodded and followed him out.

“Um Spike, I need the er, rest room?”

“Oh right, come on then, just down this corridor, on the left, door marked ‘private’ through there”

Buffy pushed opened the door marked private, and then saw two doors, she went into the ladies. It was clean and bright. She went into the first cubicle and closed the door, she was just about to undo her jeans when she heard a distinctly male groan. Shocked, Buffy held her breath.

“Oh, baby…yeah…oh yeah…suck harder…”

Buffy’s eyes bugged and she silently bent down and looked under the side of the cubicle, she could see a pair of scruffy boots, with pants sagged around them, standing by the toilet, and a girl’s knees and feet!

Buffy stood up – what was she going to do – they’d hear her if she used the toilet…they obviously were too engrossed in what they were doing to have heard her come in, but…

“Fuck, mind the teeth girl! Oh yes, just like that…harder…oh fuck yes!”

Buffy grinned – this was rock and roll! She had to bite the back of her hand to stop from giggling…then she thought, damn it!

She was bursting to go, so she flushed the loo first! She flushed again, and she could hear the man obviously climaxing…

“Yeah, oh fuck, don’t stop babe, harder, yeah, yeah, yeah, YES, ugh, ugh, ugh, ugh, ooooohhhhh, ooohh! Oh babe!”

Buffy biting her bottom lip, opened the door and went over to the sinks, looking at the end cubicle in the mirror.

To her shock and amazement, the door opened, and out came a girl with long blonde hair and guy whom she recognised as Rack, lead singer of the heavy metal band, Noiz.

The girl didn’t even acknowledge Buffy’s presence, and walked straight passed her, but Rack looked in the mirror at her and winked, grinned and said,

“All right, darlin’?” And followed the girl out! Buffy dried her hands and also left.

Spike was on his cell phone when she came out, so she hung back to give him some privacy.

Spike saw her and beckoned her over.

“Here she is, you tell her, Buffy, it’s Cordelia” Buffy took the phone off Spike

“Hello”

“Buffy, we’ve just had a very special request, nothing like this has ever happened before, apparently the combined American Forces Radio have been swamped with requests for your song, seems like it’s struck a chord with families away from their loved ones!”

“Really, wow!”

“We’ve got an advanced order for half a million copies!” Buffy was open-mouthed with surprise! Spike took his phone.

“It’s ok Cordy, I think she’s a little dumb-struck!…Yes, ok, will do, bye!

Well babe, that’s brilliant news, isn’t it – you’ve already guaranteed yourself at least a gold disc, and you haven’t even recorded the song yet! Come on, this way, I think you’d better come and sit down!”

Buffy followed Spike to the lifts, and they went down to meet Darla Delaney.


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


“When will you be back in LA then?” Anya asked Jenny

“Friday, all being well, I’ll be back for the Radio Awards, will you be there?”

“Yes and no. I’ve done my acceptance speech and thankyou to camera, but I’ll be in Switzerland until Sunday”

“You’ve won then?”

“Yes, Best female singer, but don’t, you know, let it out, not yet”

“I won’t, but thanks for the info, means I can get copy done in advance … anymore?”

“For a price!”

“Anya!”

“Hold on, you don’t know what the price is yet!”

“Go on!”

“Go on a date with Rupert”

“Rupert Giles?”

“How many other Ruperts do you know?”

“None…I’m not sure he likes me”

“Not sure, well I am! I’m not kidding you, I had dinner with him the other night, and all he talked about was you!”

“You had dinner with him?”

“We’re old friends…he was good to me when I broke up with Sven.

He’s been crazy about you for ages, tell you what, you can stay at my place while I’m away, I’ll leave the keys with him for you to collect, take it from there”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive”

“Ok, great”

“So, what’s the gossip in New York, New York, huh?……………………”

“You were going to tell me other winners…”

*********

“So, what inspired you to write the song?”

Darla asked, as she de-constructed her grilled chicken wrap.

Buffy sipped her water, and played with the spoon that came with her low-fat yoghurt.

“I was dating a solider at the time, and he’d been away on manoeuvres for a few months…did a lot of time sitting in my room, writing letters, keeping a diary, generally just waiting to hear from him”

“It was a friend that put you up for the show, is that right?”

“Yes, Willow. We’ve been friends since junior high, when we moved to Sunnydale! I could have killed her at first. I never believed I would win………”

Every so often, Buffy glanced at Spike, and he’d nod or smile in encouragement.

They chatted for a good hour, Darla asking the standard, what’s your favourite colour/band/food/pass-time etc, then she left, saying that she’d send a copy for Buffy to look at.

Suddenly the quiet café was filled with loud and raucous laughter. It was Rack and his band, clattering around with trays and generally acting up.

Spike asked her,

“Do you know who that is?” Buffy grinned, and told him of her experience earlier. Spike smiled and shook his head.

“Guy’s an animal! Does it anywhere, doesn’t care if anyone can see.

A couple of months ago, Cordelia was waiting for the lift, and when the doors opened, there for all the world to see was Rack’s bare arse bobbing back and forth, his girl screaming with her legs wrapped around his waist.

To Cordy’s credit, she didn’t turn a hair, she just got in and pressed for the ground floor!

So pet, are you sure you’ve had enough lunch?” Buffy put her hand on her stomach.

“Yes thanks, I’ve got butterflies the size of elephants!”

“You’ll be fine, so, rehearsals, ok? The guy who’ll be recording you is a nice bloke, looks like a school-kid, but he’s actually in his late twenties. Billy Fordham, everyone knows him as ‘Ford’. Shall we go?”

Buffy nodded and stood up, and they made their way to the recording suites

Chapter 7


Cecily let herself in, dropped her purse and keys on the hall table, kicked off her shoes and called out for her friend.

“Dru………Dru, where are you?……………Dru…Dr- oh, there you are. Gosh, are all right?” Dru came wandering out from the lounge and she looked awful, very pale and wan.

“I’m ok…tired”

“That’ll be the jet-lag. Want a drink?”

“I made some tea, but you’ve not got any milk, I like my tea with milk”

“Sod tea, I mean a drink, drink. A proper drink!” Cecily went to the kitchen with Dru following her.

Cecily opened the fridge and surveyed the meagre contents. She grabbed a carton of leftover Chinese food, sniffed it, wrinkled her nose, and put it on the counter. The she took out orange juice, and lifted the lid of the pizza box to find one slice, which she put in her mouth and held there, while she threw away the box. Biting off a portion of the pizza and chewing, she then pulled a face and spat it out into the bin.

“I’m always giving myself food poisoning…” Cecily opened the freezer and took out a bottle of vodka, got two glasses out of the cupboard.

“No, not for me!” Dru put her hand over the glass.

“Don’t be silly!”

“Anyway, it’s too early!”

“It’s 3.40pm. Livener, pick-me-up, whatever, and it’s NEVER too early! – Besides which, I’ve been up since 8.30am!” Cecily poured the glass half full with the ice-cold vodka, and topped it up with the orange juice. She drank it down and poured another, holding the bottle poised over the other glass, she asked

“Sure I can’t tempt you?”

Dru had her head leant on her hand, she just shook it. Returning the juice and vodka to the fridge and freezer, Cecily saw the red light winking on the Ansaphone.

She pressed the ‘play’ button. The machine beeped, and a metallic voice stated that she had three messages, the first being from a man

“Hi baby, look, we’re all behind with the recording, so I won’t see you tonight. Hope you’ve got a nice film to show me …see ya”

“Who was that?”

“Hold on, let me find out who these other two messages are from, then I’ll tell you…”
Another male voice said,

“Cec, it’s me, Tucker, I forgot to tell you, you’re due your med test, so could you go to Dr Frost’s office before you come in tomorrow – thanks, later”

The final message was somebody trying to sell her insurance, which she cut off and ran the tape back.

“Was that your boyfriend?” Dru asked

“Rack, he’s lead singer with the band Noiz – gods, he’s hung like a donkey, and absolute animal in bed!”
Dru sat up, remembering what the message said

“He knows what you do?”
Dru asked incredulously. Cecily gave her friend a puzzled look.

“Yes, of course he does! In fact, it was he seeing one of my films made him call up the studio!”

“He doesn’t mind – you, you know, doing it with other men?”

“Why should he? He knows it’s just a job, me fucking other people, its just sex.

Besides, he has his groupies! Anyway, before I do anything else, I must book to see Dr. Frost…”
Cecily picked up the phone, and pressed speed-dial 4, and it rang

“Dr Frost’s office please…………Hello, can I have an appointment for tomorrow morning please………Cecily Adams…HIV test, yes, CS International………10am, right, thankyou, bye”

“CECILY!” Dru looked panic-stricken

“What?” Cecily asked, as calm as you like

“Are you? – I mean, do you think you’ve got, well, are you ill?”

“Ill, no why – oh, the test? Don’t worry; we have to have a test done every 6-8 weeks. Some studios say three months, others six, it’s just a precaution, gives everybody peace of mind”

“You don’t use condoms?”

“Ew, no, like bathing with your clothes on! – That’s why we have the tests, anyway. Look, as my nearest and dearest has seen fit to let me down tonight, fancy going out? Paint the town red – huh – show everybody old Dru’s back in town!”

“I don’t know Cec…”

“Come on…where’s your Joie de vivre? You used to be worse than me at one time!”
Then Cecily thought that it was perhaps the medication she was on making her friend dopey and slightly morose.

“Look, let’s fill up the hot-tub, send for some take-out Chinese, and decide later, yes?” Dru nodded
“Cec”

“Hmm?”

“Do you ever see Spike now?”

“Spike – no…I know he’s still at Aphrodite, he’s Rack’s manager, but I haven’t seen him since you were last here, why?”
Dru shrugged and said quietly,

“Just wondered, that’s all. It all ended so badly.”

*********

“Ok pet? – I’ll leave you to it then for a while, I’ll be back at, let me see………it’s one-thirty now…half past three, we’ll go for coffee, ‘kay?”

Buffy nodded and she then began talking with Ford, before going into rehearse.

Spike left the recording suite to go up to his office.

Who should be walking towards him, but the sexy duo, Vixen.

They were wearing skin-tight leather all-in-ones and spiky heeled boots; both showing a lot of cleavage.
They practically ran to him and curled themselves around him, almost purring, hands everywhere, caressing his chest, back, thighs, with Faith slipping her hand around and squeezing his buttock.

“Hmm…buns of steel!” Faith drawled, in her sexy rough voice.

“Now, now ladies!” Spike took Faith’s hand from his butt, and she slipped in around his waist instead.

“You two are naughty girls, aren’t you, huh?” They all giggled, and he still had his arm around each of them.

“And? What are you going to do about it, BIG boy?” Lilah slid her hand down his chest and abs; again Spike stopped her short of doing something indecent in a public place!

“I’m not that kind of bloke, I’ll have you know!” Spike said, grinning

“Shame…we could have had SO much fun together, just the three of us, don’t you think Fay?”

Faith was nuzzling Spike’s neck, and he could feel himself getting aroused, his neck was highly sensitive…trying to shrug away from her nibbling Spike wriggled

“Oh SO much!” Faith huskily agreed. Spike quickly extricated himself from the duo’s grasp.

“You’ll be the death of me you two will, now go on! Get that new video made!”

Normally, he would have slapped their bottoms playfully, but he decided it wouldn’t seem right now, somehow………the two girls laughed and went on their way.
Rolling his eyes and blowing out his cheeks, was a slightly discomfited Spike that went up to his office!

“Seriously, I’m sure he thinks we’re joking…what I wouldn’t do for that guy…!” Lilah said to Faith wistfully.

“Tell me about it! The guy’s a walking sex-bomb – I could eat him all up … starting in the middle!”

Faith agreed and they both giggled.

**********

When he got to his office, Spike set about getting Buffy an ‘advance’ cheque written, he also got Cordelia to phone Ethan Raine to book Buffy a spot on his show.

“Not Glory then first?” Cordelia asked

“Good god no, it would be like throwing Bambi to the lioness” Cordelia smiled at Spike’s analogy

“Hmm, suppose you’re right, but you know he hates these last minute bookings”

“Just remind him who pays his wages, he’ll do it – besides which, once it goes out tonight that it’s Buffy on tomorrow, his ratings will sky-rocket”

“There is that, yes, ok, I’ll do my best”

Cordelia hugged her clip-board to her chest, smiled and left

At twenty passed three, Spike went down to the recording suite, and watched

Buffy from the booth. She had headphones on, and was singing into a microphone suspended from the ceiling.

“Hey, Ford…isn’t that a too high up, she seems like she’s having to stretch a little”

“No, it’s fine, helps the breathing – makes the voice stronger”
Ford explained.

“So, how did she do?”

“For a first-timer? Brilliant she’s a natural – like a duck to water, this is the second track she’s doing. She had the sense to bring in a tape of other stuff she’s done at home, and we picked this one out of a possible four, we’ll use this and another one she’s already done for the album. We could be all done and dusted within a couple of weeks, I’m sure”

The music stopped and Buffy stood waiting for the green light to come on indicating that the recording had stopped.
The green light came on, and the buzzer rang.

“Was that ok? – I was a bit wobbly in the middle”

“Don’t worry, we can fix that, let’s have a break now”

Buffy nodded and took off the headphones and shook out her hair, fluffing it with her hand.
Spike opened the door.

“Oh you’ve really impressed Ford, he tells me you’re a natural, he’s really impressed!”

Buffy blushed and then Spike said,

“Come on – lets go grab a coffee or something – I’ve got something to tell you”

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


Dru followed Cecily out of the taxi outside ‘Cobra’ one of the hottest clubs in town.

“Cec, where are you going? Queue’s this way”

Dru said, watching her friend making her way to the entrance passed the huge waiting crowds. Waving a dismissive hand Cecily said,

“Queuing-schmooing! I don’t queue anywhere – come on, follow me!”
And to Dru’s utter amazement, Cecily said something to the doorman, who’d already recognised her and had the entrance door half way open for her.

“Sorry miss, you’ll have to-“

“It’s ok, she’s with me!” Cecily smiled, and the doorman apologised and pulled the door open a little wider to allow Dru through.

“See! Easy-peasy!” the two girls giggled and made their way to the ladies rest room.
******

Up in the 6th floor café, Spike was handed a sheet of paper by one of the messengers.

“Ah right then…tomorrow morning at eleven o’clock, you’ll be taken to the TV studios in Burbank, you’re going to be on Ethan Raine’s show, it’s recorded, and you’ll do your song, and just a little chat, just be natural, be yourself, and you’ll be fine, ok?”

“Oh god!”

“What – you’ll be fine you’ve already sang in front of a far bigger studio audience than he has, there’s ninety seats in his studio, you sang in front of eight hundred at ABC – you’ll be fine, I promise you”
Buffy nodded, then a sudden thought hit her.

“Ok…oh, what will I wear?”

“Don’t worry, there’s wardrobe and makeup there, in fact, have you heard of Andrew and Larry?”

“Oh yes, god, I LOVE those two! I love the way they bitch about each other, then bitch and pull to bits the outfits of the stars they haven’t dressed!”

“That’s them, well, they’ll put you right don’t worry. Now…I’ve got two things for you…first, I know how things are fixed at home, with the phone and that, so here you go, a cell phone for you, it’s pretty straight forward”

“Great, thanks! I was thinking I needed one”

“And here…you might think it’s a lot, but I promise you, you’ve earned it, it’s an advance”
Spike handed over a folded in half cheque. Buffy opened it, and her eyes bugged –

“Wow…oh my god!”
Tears sprang to her eyes, she covered her mouth
The figures and letters of $150,000 swam before her eyes, and she was overwhelmed, all her house problems were over now. She fumbled for a tissue,

“Sorry, I’m sorry, it’s…wow”
Spike wanted to gather her up in his arms.

“You ok pet?”
Buffy nodded as she blew her nose.

“I’m sorry!”

“Silly thing, you’ve no need to be sorry – after all the work you’ll do the next few months, you’ll be saying you’re worth ten times that!”

Buffy gave him a watery smile.
Another messenger gave Spike another sheet of paper, but this wasn’t anything to do with Buffy.

“Um, you know tomorrow, will you be with me?” Buffy asked hopefully

“I um, I hadn’t planned on…doing…anything else BUT to be with you!”
Spike changed what he was originally going to say. Buffy smiled and finished her juice and muffin.

“Good!” Spike smiled too…

“We must drop into Cordelia’s office on the way down, you need to sign for that cheque I gave you” Buffy nodded

“Right then, that’s us all done here, why don’t wait outside for me, I won’t be a sec”
Spike said to Buffy, and she nodded and went out of Cordelia’s office

“Is Xander around?”

“He’s getting that release contract form signed by Angel O’Connor as we speak”

“Oh, ok, doesn’t matter, I’ll see him later.”

“Shall I tell him you want him?”

“Nah, don’t worry, see you in bit”

“I’ll be here”

Cordelia said, without looking away from the monitor screen.
Spike went out into the corridor, and the sight that met his eyes gave him a jolt like an electric shock. There by the lift, was Buffy, just being let go from a big hug by Angel O’Connor, they were both grinning their heads off.

“Oh Spike!”
Cordelia came dashing out of her office, stood in front of him.

“You forgot this, can’t get in without it!”

She offered him the security pass so he could drive into the Burbank studio’s, but Spike shifted slightly to look over her shoulder, he was more intent on watching Buffy and Angel.

“How the fuck does he know her?” Spike said with quiet anger

Cordelia arched a brow, and looked over her shoulder. She turned back to face Spike. With the corners of her mouth turned down, she shrugged,

“I dunno”
Spike could hear snatches of their conversation;

“………Actually went back there and worked as a councillor! After I said I’d never set foot in the place ever again ………”

“Spike………Spike!” Cordelia said frowning
Spike dragged his eyes off the duo at the lift and looked at Cordy, but then soon refocused on the couple.

“What?”

“……………Signed to Midnight Music now, better deal…………I had artistic differences with the other band members………”
Spike gasped incredulously,

“Can you hear him? - ‘Artistic differences’ my arse, they learned that he couldn’t sing, couldn’t dance, and couldn’t even fucking lip-sync to his own words! – My god, you can smell it from here!”
Spike said disgustedly

“Smell what?” Cordelia asked

“The bullshit!”

“Whatever, do you want this security pass or what – coz I’ve got things to do” Spike took it off her, and she went back to her office, shaking her head.

“Buffy” Spike called.

“…………Great to see you, keep in touch, won’t you?”

“BUFFY!” Spike said, letting his annoyance show through. Buffy began to walk backwards away from Angel

“Gotta go Angel, good luck, bye - (She turned and came up to Spike) Sorry Spike, old friend, well old boyfriend, actually!”

Buffy said grinning, but then she saw Spike didn’t look best pleased, and the smile fell from her face.

“Really? Well come on, doesn’t do to keep people waiting, gives a bad impression”
Spike pushed open the fire doors with gusto so they banged back against the wall. He was walking very fast, and Buffy had to trot to keep up with him.
She could tell he was annoyed. Without looking at her Spike said,

“Despite what he just told you, Angel O’Connor was sacked by Aphrodite records, he’s now signed to a rival company, so, I know what you do in private is your own affair, but don’t get too involved with him, Sweet wouldn’t like it, and he has just given you a generous advance of $150.000. Most only get $30,000 so don’t do anything to annoy him, count yourself lucky”

“Yes Spike! – I’m sorry – I didn’t think - ” Buffy felt awful that Spike was annoyed with her.
He in turn, felt like nine kinds of shit lying to her and being angry, he had no right, other than he fancied her like mad…


Xander put his head around Cordelia’s office door.

“Hi, seen Spike?”

“Just left to go back down to the recording suite with Buffy, why?”

“Here you go, the release form. I need a favour from him”

“Huh, I wouldn’t, if I were you” Cordelia warned

“What? – Why not?”

“He’s in a foul mood…that and the green-eyed monster” She muttered the last bit under her breath.

“Sorry what?”

“Nothing, can I help?”

“Do you know anything about this date he’s supposed to be getting me?”

“Date? No, what for?”

“Doesn’t matter, I’ll take my chances, see him later, bye”

********


“Just a little toot, it won’t hurt you, do you better than that shit the doc’s given you, I mean Dru, where’s you’re spark? You used to be the life and soul!” Cecily held the silver tube out to Dru

“But what if I…”

“What? What if you what? Started enjoying life again? Ooh, heaven forbid!” Dru took the tube off Cecily, and bent down and snorted half a line of coke. She sniffed and pinched her nose, sniffed again, wiped it on the back of her finger, sniffing again, and felt the immediate hit of euphoria.

“There…wasn’t so bad, was it…come on, seen some hot guys out there! Oh, hold on…” Cecily bent and snorted the half line left, sniffing deeply and pinching her nose, throwing her head back and laughing as they left the rest room.

Chapter 8


Spike opened the door to the recording suite, and he turned to face a worried looking Buffy.

“Spike, I’m sorry”

She didn’t really know what she was apologising for, except for the fact he was annoyed about something.
Immediately Spike felt the stab of guilt, and his shoulders dropped and he shook his head.

“No love, I’M sorry. There’s something about that bloke that just riles me. I shouldn’t have taken it out on you.”
Buffy could see that Spike was genuine in what he said, and she felt the coil of worry in the pit of her stomach relax, felt relief he wasn’t angry with her.

He smiled and said,
“You go have a good rehearsal, um, are you in a rush to get home?”

“To an empty house – No! Did you want me to stay late?”

“Well, I was thinking, after your rehearsals, we could go and have a chat with the photographer, sort out what you’ll be wearing for the cover of your single, and then perhaps, well, we could go get something to eat.”

“Great!” Buffy said with enthusiasm

“Yeah? – Good! Um…do you like Italian food?”

“Love it – although, I’m not dressed for a restaurant”

“Don’t worry, this little place, it’s always full of sound recordists, engineers, lighting directors, always in jeans – but the food is terrific”

“Sounds great” She grinned

“You’ll be in here for what…let me think…two hours now, so I’ll come and get you at around…6, is that ok? – We can leave around 7 o’clock, and that will get you home nicely so you can have a nice relaxing bath and a good nights sleep, don’t want any dark circles around those pretty green eyes of yours now do we?”

Buffy blushed a little and smiled.

“See you in a while then, pet” Buffy nodded and went into the recording suite.

*********

Spike went to the video editing room and smiled. Good, she was there.

“Harm, got a minute, pet?”

She stopped the tape of her Christmas song and stood up.

“Blondie-B-oh, uh, I mean, um…hello Spike” Harmony looked downcast.

“Want to go to the Indie Radio Awards still?” Spike wheedled

Harmony tried for her ‘hurt, little voice’, and shook her head,

“No…you said I hadn’t won, so what’s the point?” She looked at Spike with big puppy-dog eyes.

Spike went over to the couch and patted it for her to sit next to him.

“Look, I’ve been thinking, this will be good practice for you, for when you start winning awards”

“What?” her face broke into a huge grin, and she squealed,

“I’ve won an-“ Spike winced and held up his hand.

“Hold on, calm down.”

“Yes Spike. Sorry Spike. Carry on … I’m going to win something!”
She bobbed her knees up and down very fast, until Spike gave her a ‘warning’ look.

“Sorry – you’ve got my undivided attention now – go on………what award is it?”

“HARMONY! Ok, this was a mistake! (Spike stood up and looked down at her) I thought you could do it, but obviously I was wrong”

He made to move for the door, but she caught his arm.

“What, I’m sorry, I’ll do it, whatever it is, I won’t screw up, I promise!”

Spike looked at her for a few seconds, nodded, and then sat back down.

“Ok, now LISTEN, and NO interrupting, ok?”

Harmony just looked big-eyed, and nodded her head.

Because Anyanka is out of the country, I want YOU to go and accept the Best Singer award on her behalf – (Harmony opened her mouth to speak, but Spike put his hand up in the recognised ‘Halt’ sign) – Let me finish (she nodded) Right, Anya’s already done her piece to camera, I just want you to go up and collect the award, and say thankyou. But, and this is important bit here, I don’t want you to do it as ‘Harmony, Teeny-bop Pop-Star’, I want you in a long evening gown, hair up, make-up immaculate, I want everyone to see that you are the height of sophistication, elegance and poise, ok – you are nearly 25 now, and it’s perhaps about time we moved on with your image, maybe even do something a little…I don’t know…raunchier – for your next song after Christmas?

Still, that’s something you can discuss with your new manager, Xander, in fact, it was he whom you have to thank for this idea – I wasn’t sure whether you could pull it off, quite frankly”

“Um, can I speak now?”

Spike nodded

“Sure – go ahead”

“I can do it! I can look sophisticated and that!”

”But can you tone down the enthusiasm a little pet, when it involves kids, bounding around like an eager puppy is fine, what we want here, is cool, calm and sophisticated.
You can talk to Xander about your change of image over dinner at the Four Seasons, have a couple of cocktails in the ‘Winds’ bar upstairs first, and we’ll throw in a limo to take you, ok?”

Harmony nodded eagerly.

“Will he agree, do you think? – I’d really like to alter my image…those kids today drove me nuts…”

Spike smiled

“I’m sure you’ll find a way to get him to agree…pretty girl like you could sweet-talk him…and I know you love to talk, and the fortunate thing is, Xander does like to listen………make a good impression on him – and well………who knows?”

“Spike…am I up for any award this year, do you know?”

“Actually – I think you’re front runner for Teen Magazine favourite female pop singer, best single AND favourite outfit”

Drumming her fists lightly on her knees, Harmony grinned.

“OOOHHH, YES!”

“Remember, the key-word here, ‘sophisticated’, don’t want any ‘Gwennie’ crying crap, just keep it simple and cool, ‘kay?” He stood up.

“Course, yes, sure!”

“Ok then, I’ve got to go – you get back to your video”

Harmony leaned back on the couch, dreaming daydreams of accepting awards with the utmost grace.

**********

“Tickets to the awards, a couple of cocktails in the Winds bar first, then dinner downstairs at the Four Seasons, and a limo to take you, she wants to discuss a change of image, to one of, well, more grown up I suppose you could say. After all, she isn’t a teenager. And all this, the whole idea, her picking up the award, being sophisticated and the possible change of image, it came from YOU, understand?” Spike said

Xander looked shocked.

“From ME?”

“Uh huh.”

“But, well, what shall I say?”

Spike rolled his eyes.

“Have I got to do EVERYTHING for you goddam it?
Look…do what you do best; LISTEN! God knows she loves to talk! Tell her you’ll think about her ideas, but, want to mull it over…that you’ll have to discuss things with Sweet, then go along with what she wants – eventually that is, let her stew a while before you agree…you might find she’ll be willing to, well, you know ‘help’ you come to a decision in her favour, ‘help’ you to persuade the Big Boss…”

“You mean … you mean she might sleep with me?”

Xander, who’d been leaning back in his computer chair with his hands clasped behind his head, suddenly sat up straight, grinning.

Spike sighed and rolled his eyes, a myriad of sarcastic remarks ran through his head, but in the end he just nodded and said – ‘yes’

Xander leaned back again, hands on top of his head this time, grinning. Then a thought hit him, and he turned towards Spike, his smile gone.

“But what if Sweet says no, and he doesn’t want her to change?”

Spike muttered ‘give me strength’ under his breath

“Then just give it to him straight! She’s 25 years old, needs to re-invent herself, and waiting in the wings on Junior Talent Time or Poppet Pop-Stars are dozens of little Harmony wannabe’s just waiting to be snapped up – he’ll agree, trust me”

Xander thought…then he slowly nodded.

“Yeah…yeah, I think you might be right!”

“Pardon?”

“I mean, yes, you ARE right!”

“That’s better. Now, just remember, all this was your idea, ok – I didn’t think she could handle it, but you persuaded me?” (Xander nodded) Spike stood up and went over to the door.

“If you want to start the ball rolling, she’s in the video editing room – see ya later, bye”

Xander looked down at his shirt, straightened his collar, and brushed imaginary bits off his trousers, he cupped his hands over his mouth and nose, exhaled and sniffed, his breath was ok…he could stop off in the Gents rest room and check his hair…

“Right then, here we go…”

He opened the door to the video editing room, and almost immediately, his arms were full of grateful, over-eager blonde, hugging and thanking him profusely for having faith in her…

“Hi, Harmony, I thought that- ooh! Oh, um…

“………And I promise, I won’t let you down, and oh thankyou! – I’ll look all sophisty- whattsit and be good, and ooohh thankyou, THANKYOU!” Harmony hugged Xander hard, kissing his cheek, and hugging him for all she was worth.

“Oh, um, erm, yeah, well um, huh, great…you’re…ooh, welcome, I’m sure!”

Xander slipped his arms around her and hugged her, grinning over her shoulder, Maybe Spike was right!

**********

Dru was twirling around, arms outstretched, laughing. Everything was floating past, a sea of colours one merging into the other, the pulse of the trance music flowed through her and became her pulse, the throbbing beat her own heartbeat, she felt alive, living, set free, she was running, flying – free at last she had her wings back, faces swam into focus and out again, laughing, drinking, living the moment, she was the music, she was the life, it flowed from her pretty fingers…and she bestowed it on all that surrounded her………

“Whose that Cec?”

“Hmm…oh, that’s Dru…she’s back!”

“Well, she’s certainly enjoying herself!”

“Yeah…wanna meet her…Dru…Dru, come here, and meet some friends!”

Cecily swayed up to her friend and stopped her spinning around.

“Come and meet my friends!”

“I’m dancing…I’m…… whoops!”

Giddy from all the twirling, they staggered to the table, Dru almost falling over, which started them both giggling.

“This is Kendra…and this is her boyfriend, Forrest”

Dru tried to focus on the couple.

“Forrest? Like, like a tree – wheeee a tree, I’m a tree…I like tree’s”

“She alright?” Forrest asked Cecily, he was frown/smiling.

“Yeah…she’s just not, you know, well, she’s been off the scene too long…”

“Well whatever’s making her happy…I want some. Got any?”

“Sure…come with me…”

The trio went off to the toilets to get themselves ‘sorted’, and was soon flying high………

Warren Meers, or rather Warren Walsh as he preferred to be known as these days because of an outstanding warrant, surveyed his kingdom from the upstairs balcony of the club. He sipped his vodka Martini, made for him by the weasely little barman, Willy.

“Hey, Willy…come here”

“Yes boss?”

“That girl down there, thin, long dark hair, the one totally off her face spinning like a top…recognise her?”

Willy came from around the bar and looked over the balcony. He looked for a few seconds, and then turned to his boss.

“Isn’t she that mad bint, the one that caused that big hoo-har when she threatened to jump off the roof of Aphrodite Records a while back – used to be in here a lot at one time…she’s with Candy Hunt, I know they used to be friends, both Brits”

“That’s what I thought…wonder where she’s come from…haven’t seen her for a good while…ok Willy, back to your station”

“Yes, boss”

*********

“Good rehearsal then!” Spike smiled as Buffy left the recording suite.

“Great”

“Um, I popped down to see the photographer, but he wanted to get off home, so I thought we could do that first thing after the show tomorrow, ok – shall we go eat now?”

“Great, coz I’m starving!”

“Well then, to Luigi’s, pronto!” Spike held the door open for her; they trotted down the stairs, signed out and left the building.


“Hmm…oh gods, this is heaven!”

“What did I tell you? I know the red-check tablecloths are a bit naff, as are the candles in wine-bottles, but you won’t find a better Lasagne al forno anywhere…here…try my cannelloni”

Spike held out a forkful, and Buffy ate.

“Hmm…and this dressing on the salad…oh gods, what’s that?” Buffy eyes followed a waiter carrying a creamy chocolate confection to another table.

“Ah, that is their famous Tiramisu. It literally means ‘pick-me-up’ It’s little Ratafia biscuits soaked in Marsala wine and coffee liqueur, with whipped cream and chocolate…I swear it’s to die for. Means another hour in the gym mind, but it’s worth it – we could share one, if you like!

Buffy smiled and said,

“Hmm, me likey!” Making Spike grin too…

**********


“UH!”

“That’s it babe, give it to her good!” Kendra encouraged, as Forrest pumped hard and fast in and out of Cecily.

“Oh fuck, oh yeah…yeah, ugh, so good, ooooohhhhh………don’t stop, don’t you DARE fuckin’ stop…ohh!” Cecily babbled.

Forrest found another gear and thrust at her with renewed vigour after taking a huge sniff of Amyl Nitrite. Kendra wafted the bottle of the fruity-smelling amber liquid under Cecily’s nose, before taking a sniff herself; then she began to suck and pull at Cec’s pale brown nipples.

Cecily’s head whipped from side to side, she was panting hard, she felt so good…

Forrest threw his head back, gasping, and Kendra knew her man was past the point of no return, so she reached down to where they were joined, and she pinched and rolled Cecily’s slippery protruding clit making the girl shriek and buck through a deep, hard orgasm. The tight squeezing of her inner muscles bought Forrest off and he came in one long hard burst shooting deep inside her.

The blonde guy lent over the girl collapsed on the bathroom floor.

“Hey…um, sorry, forget your name…you ok…huh? You alright?”

Dru stirred,

“Huh…Spike?”

“What? – You ok?”

Dru sat up, the whole room swayed; she felt her mouth saliva up. She tried to focus on the blonde guy talking to her.

“I’d come back to bed if I were you”

“You’re not………who are you?”
Dru tried to stand up, then she suddenly realised that the guy was using the toilet, and she felt slightly shocked, and shrieked.

“What are you doing?!”

“What’s it look like, I’m having a piss…so……… we gonna go again or what?”

“Oh god…I feel…I’m going to be…”
She put her hand over her mouth as she started to heave, and just about made it to the shower cubicle. Dru switched on the shower, and shuddered as cold water sprayed over her hand as she washed the vomit down the plughole.

She felt awful, her head was pounding, and her stomach felt sore. Setting about cleaning her teeth, she rinsed and spat, when a male voice from the bedroom said,

“Use the mouthwash, else I’m not kissing you again”

Frozen mid brush, Dru wandered into the bedroom, to see the blonde guy naked lying on the bed, watching a porn movie on TV, sound off. She took the brush out of her mouth.

“Who are you? – Where did you come from?”


Trying to get more coherent thoughts together, Dru knew that basically, there was something wrong here…she’d ‘come to’ on the bathroom floor, with a total stranger standing over her, and they’d apparently already shared an intimate experience that she couldn’t remember………

“Parker…sorry, forgot your name, we met at Cobra”

Just then, a giggling, and stark naked Cecily came into their bedroom, and went to a closet and opened it.

“Don’t mind me…won’t be a sec…” She took out some sort strappy leather thing and went to leave, when Dru snagged her arm and pulled her into the en-suite bathroom.

“Who the hell is HE?” Dru hissed

Cecily looked at her friend impassively, and shrugged.

“I dunno. Just somebody you latched onto in the club. What’s up, don’t you like him anymore?”

“LIKE HIM?” Dru screeched, then she dropped her voice,

“Like him? I don’t even know who the fuck he is!”

“I told you, you latched onto him in the club…I think he reminded you of Spike. You kept calling him that, anyway”

“Get rid of him!” Dru hissed

Cecily frowned

“Don’t be like that…he seemed…nice enough”

Dru’s head pounded, and she held it.

“I can’t…I can’t deal with this, I can’t stand-“

Not wanting her friend to throw a wobbly, Cecily quickly grabbed one of Dru’s hands.

“Alright, alright, calm down, calm down…... I’ll get rid of him for you…now you go back to bed and get some sleep, ok”

“Just get rid-“

“Ok, I’m doing it now…” Cecily left the bathroom.

“Um, hi…sorry about this, but my friend, she’s not feeling too well, and um-“

“Hey, you’re her! You’re that girl in the movie!” Parker grinned and pointed to the screen.

“Yeah…that’s right…so, um…tell you what…come with me, eh? Give Dru a chance to rest”

Parker didn’t need asking twice, and he bounded off the bed and followed Cecily to the other room, where Kendra and Forrest were.

Dru opened the door slightly, and checked that he’d gone. All sorts of thoughts ran through her head, as she slowly slid down the wall and started to cry.

***********

“Oh my god, what’s going on?” Buffy had directed Spike to where she lived from the restaurant. Outside her house was a police car, and a few clusters of mainly kids dotted about on the drive, pavement and lawn. Spike quickly pulled up, and Buffy got out of the car, panicking.

“S’cuse me what’s going on?” She asked the nearest officer

“It’s Buffy, she’s here!” She heard a voice say.

“It’s ok madam. Your neighbours phoned us, seems there have been small gangs of youths hanging around your house, they said they wanted your autograph”

Buffy still serious faced looked at her house. It seemed fine, except the lawn seemed a little churned up. She relaxed.

“Everything ok?” Spike came over to her.

The officer smiled and said,

“Just a few kids wanting autographs, that’s all”

Spike smiled, and said in a loud voice,

“Look kids…Buffy will be having some official photo’s done tomorrow, we’ll see you all get an autographed copy, ok?”

“Who are you?” A tall kid asked Spike

“I’m her manager, I promise we’ll bring you some photo’s and that, but you must go now and leave these people in peace, ok, is that all right officer?”

The cop nodded and the kids left.

“Sorry about that – I didn’t think!” Buffy said, still amazed at her now celebrity.

“Well, nothing you could have done really. Say! You’re that girl that won Search For a Star, right?” The cop said, grinning

Buffy couldn’t help it, and she smiled.

“Um, yeah.”

“I voted for you, my Mrs said the boy-band would win, but I know quality when I hear it!” Buffy blushed when Spike said,

“So do I! Is that it then, can she go in now?”

“Sure…do you just want to have a little check around inside, your neighbour told us you live alone. We have checked, there is no sign of a break in”

“Um, no. I’ll be fine, Spike will, I mean my manager will come in for a moment” she looked at Spike hopefully and he nodded.

“Ok then ma’am, we’ll bid you goodnight – oh hey, when does that song of yours come out?”

“Saturday, it will be released on Saturday”

“Great, goodnight, ma’am, sir” the cops got into the squad car and left

“Night, and thanks” Buffy turned to Spike.

“Tea?”

“Love some”

Chapter 9

Spike sat with his body turned towards her, and Buffy drew her legs up underneath her, they were on the sofa, both nursing a mug of tea.

“………Willow was my best friend, and she was with Oz, he was in a band, they were good too. Angel always wanted fame, so he used to hang around, always asking Oz questions. I used to like it, not because he was a great conversationalist or anything, it just made me feel less of a gooseberry. Then the prom came up, and he asked me to go with him, and then we started dating. To the movies, the Bronze…I didn’t want anything ‘heavy’, I just wanted to keep it light, but well…he could be very………intense sometimes. Then my mom became ill, and I used to spend most of my free time with her at the hospital… Or if she was allowed home, I didn’t want anybody around…he’d started auditioning for bands, and we just drifted apart. Quite frankly, I was surprised when he got into the ‘Sharks’, he couldn’t sing a note! If somebody used to put a song on the jukebox, and he started to sing, we used to tell him to shut up. Seeing him today, I don’t know what I ever saw in him!”

Spike smiled and they sipped their tea. He was thinking the same…


“So, what about you…broken loads of girls hearts, I bet!”

Buffy teased, and she was intrigued to see Spike suddenly look a little…sad? Whatever it was, it made her want to just hold him…he had a little boy lost look only for a second or two, but it made him look vulnerable, she could tell he’d been hurt.

“………So, we were always together. Our families lived on grand estates next door to one another, my father had received a knighthood for his services in the Army, while Dru’s father was born into nobility. We always played together as children, went to the same schools, university, it was inevitable I suppose, everybody thought, well, took it for granted really, that we’d end up together. Her mother had always had mental health problems, and it seemed that unfortunately, Dru followed suit. She was always highly strung. Then she got in with the ‘wrong crowd’ didn’t need me anymore…and we broke up. It hadn’t been much of a relationship the last eighteen months really…more me taking care of her, when she’d let me, that is, which seemed less and less. She’d get herself into some serious shit, drugs or protesting, vandalising property, her and her friends antics more and more dangerous, and well, it would all come crashing down around her ears, and then she’d come running back to me to pick up the pieces”


“She thought of you as her safety net?” Buffy said, and Spike nodded.

“Yes. I always did my best in the past, but well, I spoke to Charles, that’s her father, Lord Netherbourne, and he said that perhaps it was about time for some tough love, making her see sense, making her take some responsibility for her own actions might just give her the wake-up call she needed to get her life back on track. So, on his advice, I didn’t respond when she called the last time. Eventually, she threw the mother of all tantrums, and she actually got onto the roof at the studios, threatened to throw herself off. She said god and her mother had told her to do it…her mother had been dead for six years”

“Oh god, that must have been so hard for you!” Buffy felt such a wave of sympathy for Spike, she got that feeling of just wanting to hold him, again…

“It was, but I realised that I couldn’t help her anymore, and by even trying, I’d end up doing more harm than good. So I let go. She was diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic, just like her mother.
The authorities talked her down off the roof, and she was taken to hospital. When she was well enough, she went back to England. That was nearly two years ago now. In the middle of it all, that old boyfriend of yours, Angel O’Connor, he used her to get to Aphrodite Records, got her to get Sweetly to sign up his band…bunch of useless prats…sorry, but that’s why I never liked him – that and the fact that they were a talentless bunch of wankers!”

Both smiled at this, then Spike looked up.

“I’m rambling – hell, would you look at the time! And here I was, getting you home so you could have a good night’s rest!” Buffy glanced at the wall clock, and was surprised to see it had gone midnight. They’d been talking of their past relationships, previous jobs, and how things suddenly change. Spike put the mug on the coffee table and stood up.

“Will you be ok?” Buffy smiled and nodded, and asked

“Fine, will a car pick me up in the morning?”

“Oh hell, I forgot to book one. Look, as I’m coming with you, I’ll pick you up.. I’ve got the security pass to drive straight in at Burbank – so I’ll be here for you at…ten, it’ll take roughly half an hour to get there…ten, yes, ten o’clock, will that be all right with you?”

Buffy nodded

“Will these jeans be okay to wear?”

“Fine, as I say, Andrew and Larry will dress you when you get there. Well pet, I’ll be off. Sorry for keeping you up – I forget I can ramble sometimes”

“Don’t be silly, I enjoyed our talk. Oh, and thankyou for the meal”

Spike moved towards the front door, bent and picked up another note that had been pushed through the mailbox, and put it with the pile already on the hall table.

“Missed one, there you go. Goodnight then, pet, see you in the morning” he briefly wondered whether to kiss her cheek or forehead, he wanted to kiss her for real, but didn’t want to frighten her off…

Buffy came to the front door and smiled.

“See you in the morning then…um, drive carefully, won’t you” She reached and squeezed his hand, and Spike grinned, and squeezed gently back.

“Always do, pet…night-night” Buffy opened the door for him, and Spike went to go through, but turned back suddenly to face her, and it invaded her ‘personal space’, they were practically nose-to-nose, but she didn’t shift, she looked at his mouth.

“Um… I, erm…you might want to think about what you’d like to call your album” he looked at her lips, which she moistened.

“’Kay…I will.” She said barely above a whisper. Neither of them moved, then Spike took the plunge, and kissed her cheek.

“Night, love” Buffy smiled, she’d held her breath, hoping he was going to kiss her properly…she was glad she was holding the door, she was shaking slightly.

When Spike reached the bottom of the path, he turned, waved once, and then got into his car and drove off. Buffy closed and locked the door, leaning with her back to it, smiling…

**********

“………Sorry, I forgot to tell you – and her!” Anya said, laughing.

“Thanks a lot! I woke up being prodded by the end of a sweeping brush, by this old Hispanic woman saying menacingly to me, (Jenny faked a bad Spanish accent)

“Who har you, heh? What har you do-ink in Miss Anya’s bed, tell me, I call poliss now- see, I ham phonings the 911!”

If Jenny was looking for sympathy, she wasn’t getting any from her friend.

“Consuela, she is my little treasure!” Anya explained

“She’s got a vicious prod, I know that, thank god Rupert knew her and explained he’d given me your key!”

“So, never mind about all that, how did the date go?” Anya asked, Jenny could tell Anya was grinning.

“Date? – We haven’t been on it yet, it’s tonight”

“So, you didn’t have dinner with him?”

“I was in no fit state, I’d flown from Boston to Chicago, then I got the Red-eye to LA…I don’t know what bloody planet I’m on yet…”

“So, dinner tonight. I recommend the-“

“No!”

“What do you mean, no – you said the date was tonight” Anya was frowning now, confused.

“’Tis, but we aren’t going to dinner, I’ve got to work, I’m writing a piece for Men and Motor’s, about Big Truck racing, so that’s where we’re going”

“You’re taking Rupert Giles to…”

“The Big Truck race, yes”

“Oh. That’ll be fun” Anya said flatly. It was no wonder Jenny hardly got any second dates…

***********



Xander was mesmerised by the sight of Harmony’s cleavage, which sort of kept bouncing before his eyes…She was sitting very close to him talking animatedly.

“So, how about if we went and got something to eat, and discuss my career? –
Xander…hello?”

“Huh?” He managed to drag his eyes away from the golden twin mounds of her chest long enough to realise that he should be giving her some sort of answer.

“Sorry?”

“Eat? Discuss my career?”

“Now? – Um yeah! Yeah, great, why not?”

“Good. Your place?” She smiled, her brows raised high.

“Yeah, oh NO! (He made her jump shouting) Um, no, sorry…my mother, wouldn’t um, be in a……… very, good……… mood” He said, stiltedly, trying to make up an excuse, he gave her a little inane grin.

Harmony frowned,

“Your mother? You still live with your mother?”

“WHAT? NO! Ha-ha! Silly! The very idea!”
Inside, Xander was panicking.

“Then why wouldn’t she be in a very-“ Harmony began,

And desperately trying to think of a good lie to cover the truth, Xander spied one of Harmony’s vanity bags, covered in travel tickets.

“She um, she’s just staying at my place for a few days…she erm, she………f-f-flew in from, Dallas! - And she’d be tired. Don’t want to wake her, you know, jet-lag, and all that”

“Jet lag, from Dallas?” Harmony looked at him, still puzzled.

“Anyway, come on…shall we go to yours – good, what do you fancy, Chinese? Pizza? My treat of course” Xander had stood and hauled her up, it was all she could do to grab her purse and trot after him to keep up.

He’d started to sweat a little, and he just hoped she hadn’t noticed. As they waited for the lift Xander made a mental note to self, ‘get a place of your own!’

**********

With very shaky fingers, Dru tried to ‘pop’ her medication from its blister-pack. She had twelve tablets left, that was all, less than a weeks supply.

She’d have to find herself a doctor, get registered…the thought filled her with dread.

Strangers, asking questions, questions, why couldn’t they all just leave her alone…wanting answers she didn’t know, always wanting, needing, taking from her, like leeches sucking her blood…Dru began to claw and scratch at her arms, she was cold…she felt sick, and panicky, the walls were closing in on her, panting now, she’d dropped her tablets on the floor, and was now on her knees, scrabbling around for them, she could hear crying, somebody was crying, and when the tears dripped on the floor, she realised it was her………

**********

“Is he awake? Can I go through?” Cecily asked Lorne, walking through Sweet’s lounge without stopping, heading straight for her lord and masters bedroom.

“Hold on Sweet-cheeks, I’ll check if you if-“ Lorne began

Cecily got to the door, smiled and said,

“No need…I’ll soon find out!” And she slipped into Sweet’s bedroom, and closed the door behind her.

The room was dark, the curtains were closed, and the air was warm. Propped up against pillows so he could breath properly, Sweet was snoring soundly. The bedroom door opened silently, and Lorne came in carrying an iced tea, and put it on the night-stand. He said nothing, and left.

Cecily bounce-sat on the bed, and like a cheeky child, lifted the sleep-mask to his forehead.

“Daddy! Wakey-wakey…I’ve come to see you!”

A few grunts, a couple of mumbled words and a loud fart, which had Cecily frowning, she gently shook sweet by the shoulders.

“Daddy………DADDY! Wake up!”

“Huh – what, who’s tha-“

“S’me Daddy! Your little Ceccy!”
Sweet focused on the girl and smiled, made a playful grab at her and roared, Cecily shrieked with laughter as he ‘wrestled’ her to the bed. She leaned up and kissed his leering mouth lightly, and he allowed her to sit up.

“Got something for you, Daddy…hot off the press!” She took out two DVD cases from her purse and put them on the night-stand next to his tea.

“Got something for you, two!” he whipped back the bedclothes to reveal a semi-hard on.

“Ooh, Daddy! You are naughty, what shall I do with that, eh?” She closed her fingers around it, and began to pump him, firmly but slowly, hoping he could keep his erection.

“Uh…oh…yeah”

“That good Daddy?”

He didn’t reply, just pulled her head down to his lap. Taking the hint, Cecily began to lick and suck him off. Five minutes was all it took, and his whole body stiffened as he came, his watery emission flooded her mouth, and she swallowed.

“There!” she made a play of wiping her mouth on the back of her hand and Sweet sat up.

“My little girl come for her treats, has she?”

“Oh, yes please, Daddy…and I’ve got some news for you too, good news!”

“Oh?”

“Guess who’s back in town…she used to be your favourite! Well, after me of course!”

“Dru? Drusilla’s back? – When? And why hasn’t she come to see me?”

“She only flew in day before yesterday, very late, she’s still sleeping off the jet-lag…she’ll come and see you real soon, I promise!”

“Bring her to the party on Friday”

“Ooh, Daddy! We’re having a party – what’s the celebration?”

“Scooped the awards at the Indie Radio Awards…after-show party…. it’ll be just like old times…” Sweet grinned and fondled her breast, and Cecily clapped her hands and grinned, as would an excited child.

*********

“Want some of this?” Xander held out the container on stir-fried beef with straw mushrooms to Harmony

“Ooh, no thanks, it’s meat!”

“Oh, right. Hold on though, isn’t that chicken with ginger and green onion you’re eating?”

“Uh huh”

“But that’s meat!”

“Yes, but its not real meat, not like Kentucky Fried chicken meat” Harmony reasoned, crunching on a prawn cracker.

Xander frowned; he couldn’t work that one out, so he decided to let it go…

Making themselves comfy on the sofa, Harmony had put one of her pop compilation DVD’s into the player.

“Right. Now, I want you to watch this, then compare it to the other ones I’m going to show you, ok?”

“Ok!” Xander said, happily enough………

Two hours later, one glassy eyed Xander was listening to a still-perky-as-a-six-year-old-on-a-sugar-high Harmony………

“………And if you remember how short my skirt was in the ‘Rag Doll’ video, I got slammed for that in the press, but it was very popular, sold more copies than
‘The Sunshine Song.’ The video was popular for that though, I think my skirt blew up when I was on the swing…did I show you that? – Anyway, forget that, if you see the next video, when I wear the Daisy Dukes, and I bend over…but well, when I do the shows, the dads always say they like that bit”.

“Harmony!” Xander said desperately

“Yes, Pookie?”

“Can we not watch any mo – Pookie?” Xander asked, looking her in the eye.

Harmony grinned, and ran her fingers through his hair.

“Yes! You’re my little Pookie-Bear! So, do you want to see the Christm- hmm mmm………hmm……… oh!”

In a desperate attempt to shut her up, Xander kissed her. He leaned over her, broke the kiss and looked at her.
Well, she hadn’t slapped his face; that was good…

“Shall we leave the videos off now love?”

“Kay. Um…Pookie”

“Yes?”

“Will you talk to Mr Sweetly for me?”

Xander frowned, he was hoping the kiss would have had an ‘effect’ on her, but he sat up, and Harmony did so too.

“Well…I suppose I could” he said rather flatly

“I want a change of image…I’d be ever so grateful”

Xander turned to face her, thinking it was time for a bit of bullshit………

“Well, it won’t be easy of course…”

“But I’d be ever so, ever so grateful…” she shifted a little closer, and Xander spied the boobs again, and it put him off his thoughts.

“Um, I, I’d erm, well um…see, the er, um…”

“Ever so………” She was kissing him now, and Xander just felt his spine turn to jelly. She knelt up, pushed him right back on the sofa, and then lay on top of him, and Xander had every last thought leave his head………

**********

Sweetly got up off the bed, and went to a wall cabinet and opened it, selecting a case, he took it out and handed it to Cecily.

“Um, Daddy…I need a little extra…I’ve got a guest now, remember?”

“You can have more treats, when she comes to see me”

“Okay Daddy…well, this little birdie must fly…I’ll see you on Friday. I take it we’re at the usual place, the Cobra?”

Sweetly picked up the DVD’s Cecily had bought for him.

“Of course…the back room, naturally” he put one into the player

“Bye then Daddy, have fun………oh, you’ll REALLY like this one, it’s a three way, I’ve got one underneath me, one behind me, and one in my mouth…bye-ee!”

She put the DVD case Sweetly had given her into her purse, and kissing him on the cheek, she left.

“Bye Lorne. See you Friday. Hey, guess who’s back in town?”

“Whose that cup-cake?”

“Dru!”

“Really? – She all shiny new and better?”

“Well…getting there. Must run, see ya, bye!

**********

Buffy raised one leg out of the fragrant bubbly water, soaped it lavishly with a lather filled sponge, and then did the other leg. Smiling to herself, she lay back, day-dreaming about the almost kiss she’d had…

“ULP – (cough) ugh…oh (cough, cough) oh god…oh…THAT’LL teach me to fall asleep in the bath!” Buffy sat up with a start, sluiced water and bubbles from her face and coughed again. She stood and pulled the plug, she quickly dried off and went to bed, after setting the clock for 8.30am.

***

“Morning Willow, sorry I didn’t call last night, but I got in too late! – anyway, I’ve got a cell phone now, so if you need me, this is the number………and um, you may want to check out the guest on tonight’s Ethan Raine show, you might just know her, bye!”
Buffy put the phone down after leaving her friend the message and she began to check through the mail, still smiling.

Spike came dead on time to pick her up, and she was all smiles when he did! They drove to the studios in Burbank, chatting, Buffy showed no trace of nerves.

“So, kitten, you all excited, you’re first proper interview?”

Buffy’s tummy flipped when Spike called her ‘kitten’ and she beamed

“I can’t believe it’s me – it’s happening to me, I’m going to be on TV! Oh, and I had a bill this morning, well, I should say another bill, and instead of wanting to rip it up or hide it, I actually smiled at it! Now I don’t have to worry about money - That reminds me, I MUST deposit that cheque in my account there’s a branch downtown, I need some cash too”

“Ok pet, after the show, meanwhile, if you need anything, just ask, that’s what I’m here for” Spike glanced at her for a second, but then he concentrated on the road again.

“Great, I will!” She settled back in her seat, really looking forward to the day.

NOTE: We’d just like to take this opportunity to thankyou for all the lovely feedback we’re getting, we’re blown away that you are enjoying it as much as we are writing it! – Oh, and thanks also to the lovely Jen and Patty for putting up with us! - Kings of Mercia –

PS the symbols ** ** with words between indicate thoughts.


Chapter 10

Buffy was taken straight to make-up when she got into the studios, Spike began to explain what was going to happen.

“Ok love, the director will start the countdown ‘til were ‘on air’ he say five, four, but do the rest of the count just with his fingers, then point to Ethan, you’ll hear the signature tune, the audience will be clapping, and then he’ll introduce the guests. He’s got a chef in the studio today, so Ethan will introduce you, chat, then it will cut to the chef to do his bit, commercials, come back, taste what the chef has cooked then you’ll sing the song – all right? – Any questions?”

“Um when he introduces me, will I come out from behind a screen or something, or from back stage?”

“Actually no, as you are the only guest, apart from the chef, you’ll be sitting on the sofa already, he’ll introduce you, the camera will pan across and you can wave if you like, say hello” Buffy nodded, then she heard the commotion, and Spike grinned and said,

“I’ll leave you in the capable hands of um…these two. I’ll be in the green room watching ok? – Remember, just be yourself, be natural, they’ll love you!” Buffy smiled and nodded, Spike winked at her.

“What have we here then, Buffy what kind of a name is – ooohh! Woo hoo! Hello Tiger!” Andrew flounced in, looking at Buffy through the mirror, then he’d spied Spike, and pouted and flashed his eyes at him, giving him a little wave.

“Tart!” Was Larry’s comment at Andrew, and Buffy began to giggle. Spike had gone red and made a swift exit.

“Only coz I saw him first! … So, you’re Buffy?” Buffy grinned and nodded

“I’m Andrew, and he is Larry, the one with NO finesse, NO sense, and NO – OW!”

“Andrew is the one wearing his bollocks as earrings, if he carries on, what size are you chick…6?” Larry said without looking at her, and Buffy couldn’t stop giggling.

“We’ve got a giggler…right, ooh, you won that show…ahh, that nice song waiting for your solider boy was it? So pet…any ideas as to what you want to wear?”

“I trust you!”

“Don’t trust her pet!” Larry motioned with his head towards Andrew

“Didn’t you see what he did to Cindy-Lou McGraw at the Grammy’s? – She –“

“Shut it…she looked perfectly fine in that pink Vera Wang when she was blonde, then she dyes her hair black, and looks like Morticia from the Addams family!” Andrew was studying Buffy from all angles, turning her around, and squinting at her.

“Excuses, excuses…” Larry had been holding various colour cards against Buffy’s cheek

“Well…what about you, YOU put Wes Price in Ugg boots! – I mean…I ask you”
Andrew looked up at Buffy, and batted his eyes at her.

“It was winter, it was New York, it was snowing and he was wearing a fur coat…what SHOULD I have put him in, Manolo’s?”

Buffy was still smiling when the two disappeared into a huge walk-in wardrobe, still bickering.


“Take no notice of those two…close your eyes” the make-up girl said to Buffy, and she whisked a large brush with translucent face powder over her face.

“They’re funny!”

“Yes, they are, right, when you’re dressed, I’ll do your lipstick, I want to see what colour they’ve put you in, just come back in here” Buffy nodded

“Buffy!”

“Coming!” Buffy went through to the next room

“I think I should be worried…!” Larry said, but they were both smiling

“Why?” Buffy asked seriously

“Coz I totally agree with her!…Colour, style and dress – oh god! There goes my career!”
Larry raised his arm and rested his head on his forearm in a mock-tragic gesture, making Buffy giggle.

They helped her on with the dress, and she looked stunning. A simple Catherine Hamnett coatdress in a mid green, and shoes to match. Buffy looked in the mirror and thought that she’d suddenly grown six inches taller, and gasped.

“Wow! I look so much taller!”

“You like it pet?” Larry asked

Grinning and turning from side to side, Buffy said,

“No, I LOVE it!”

“Could have been made for you, treasure!” Andrew said. Buffy looked at the two of them, standing there. There was a loud wolf-whistle, and Spike leant against the doorjamb. Andrew got all flustered, Larry rolled his eyes and Buffy’s heart skipped a beat.

“You like?” She did a twirl.

“Very nice, kitten – stunning in fact! Here, I thought that you might want to look at the questions Ethan has lined up for you”

“Well sweetness, we’ll be off…see you soon!” Andrew and Larry collected their books and colour charts and made to leave.

“Oh, bye, and um thankyou!”

Andrew smouldered a look at Spike as he passed, but Spike only had eyes for the beautiful blonde girl in front of him.

“Make-up want to do my lipstick…what time are we recording?”

Spike looked at his watch and said,

“We’ve got about three-quarters of an hour yet, want to go through these?” he waved the clip-board.

“Would you mind? – I think I’d feel better knowing what’s going to be asked”

*

“Gods, I swear, if he called ME kitten, he’d hear me purr!” Andrew said to Larry as they walked down the corridor.

“As if!” Larry rolled his eyes

“A ‘girl’ can dream, can’t she?” Andrew pouted and sighed

*********

Jenny wanted to see Rupert’s reaction to the thing she was about to give him to eat.

She knew, obviously he was a man of refined tastes, he didn’t own one of the best restaurants in California for nothing. He’s passed her first ‘test’ by not wearing tweed or cavalry twill to their unusual first date, which is what she thought might be his idea of ‘casual’, and instead he’d come in jeans and a sweatshirt, topped off with a leather jacket.

All perfectly acceptable. Now, if he looked at this like it was dog-shit in a bun, then he’s ‘failed’.

“Here you go, one chilli-dog, I put everything on it” She handed him the napkin wrapped snack.

Without a qualm, Rupert bit into it, and chewed thoughtfully, then he said,

“Didn’t know you could get anything as unhealthy as this in Cali! – Mind you, not as good as the ones I’ve had in New York!” Jenny burst out laughing, he’d passed with flying colours, and she bit into her own.

***********

It was just as Spike described it to her, and the sound man and director stood by the right hand camera man. The audience were whispering, and Buffy sat waiting on the couch.
“Ok people, silence!” The audience hushed, the ‘On Air’ red light came up, and the sound man got ready with the board saying ‘APPLAUD’ .

The director got his cue from production, and crouched by the camera.
“Sound…check…VT rolling…and ready, in……… FIVE, FOUR,”
He hand gestured the three, two, one, and pointed to Ethan, the signature tune started, and the sound man held up the board telling the audience to clap. They dutifully did, giving a few cheers too. The tune faded away, and Ethan did his opening piece to camera.

“Hello, hello…(he waited for the applause to die down) thankyou, today we have delights for all your senses – In the kitchen we have Hot Chef Anton Blanc cooking up a storm for us – one of his ten-minute recipes from his new book ‘Meals in Moments’ - smells wonderful Anton!”
the audience clapped when the chef just waved from the ‘kitchen’ area they had set up in the studio, Ethan continued,

“And hot-foot straight from the recording studios, we have the run-away winner of Search For a Star – Buffy ladies and gentleman!” the camera panned to her and she waved, the audience went wild!

Ethan went and sat behind his desk, and they began to chat, they showed a little clip of her reaction to winning the show, and Ethan asked her about the song, what was the inspiration, how her life was changing, and Buffy was just natural, no trace of nerves. They came to the commercial break, and Buffy noticed Spike at the side of the stage, he grinned and gave her a double thumbs up, and she grinned back.

After the break, Buffy and Ethan stood by the kitchen, tasting the dish Anton had demonstrated and cooked, both proclaiming it delicious.

“Do you cook, Buffy?” Anton asked

“Um, well, soup! And as long as the toaster doesn’t play up and stick, toast – hmm, this is delicious…try this everyone, it’s great!” The audience laughed,

After plugging the chef’s new book, Ethan introduced Buffy again and she sang her song.
Over the closing credits, Ethan told the audience that the song would be available on the Saturday, and they whistled and cheered, Buffy and Anton waved.

“Closing credits…off air…in five…four, three, two, ON AIR sign off… one, VT end rolling…and Cut – that’s a wrap everybody – thankyou!”

Spike came on set and Buffy turned to him, he was absolutely beaming at her. He gathered up in his arms and hugged her saying,

“You’re a complete natural! I’d have thought you’d been doing that for years!” Buffy gave him a big hug back, and Spike, quick on the uptake, kissed her cheek as well, giving her a squeeze. He didn’t remove his arm from around her shoulders, and she didn’t from around his waist, when Ethan came over to them. He too was smiling.

“Well! I must congratulate you, Buffy, I’m always nervous about ‘first-timers’ – but you were terrific!”

“Wasn’t she!” Spike said, pulling her close and hugging her again, and STILL neither of them had moved their arms…it felt good, and, well, right!

“Thanks…whoops…I think they want us to um...move!” Buffy said, and they walked off, as the stagehands were dismantling the set to get it ready for the next show.

Buffy and Spike left the studio’s, and he took her down town to the bank so that she could deposit her cheque, and get some cash.

“Right, you have a date with a photographer now…” Spike said, as he pulled out into the traffic.

“Oh, my um, my clothes, I’ve left-“

“Relax, kitten, I have them in a bag for you”

“Oh, thanks. Do I send these back? – Actually, I really love it – the shoes pinch a bit, but hey – suffer for a bit of fashion, eh?”

“You can keep it love, you look sensational” Buffy felt herself blushing, but she felt very pleased.

“Gods, that Andrew and Larry, they are a scream…!”

**********

Xander didn’t know what to do. Well, no, that was a lie, he did know, he just was wondering if he did it, would he get his face slapped…

Tentatively, he put his hand on Harmony’s shoulder, and pushed a little, she stopped kissing him and said

“What?”

“Um…sorry, but, well, my back. It’s killing me on here”

“Oh, sorry!” She sat up, and Xander sat up too.

“Will you talk to Sweetly for me?” She used a wheedling tone and had these puppy-dog eyes, and Xander knew that there was something he was supposed to do.

“Sure!” Then it hit him – shit – that wasn’t it! He was supposed to be playing hard-to-get!

“Great!” Harmony beamed

“Well, sure, I mean, I’ll um, try, I’m not promising to er, well what I mean is, I don’t know if there’s anything I can say to, erm…you know, make him…see sense”

“See! You know it makes sense – and you convinced Blondie Bear!”

“Blondie – who?”

“My Spike! ‘Cept well, he’s not now…”

“Oh, er, right, yeah…yeah I did, didn’t I…yup, clever old me…convincing Spike”

“Uh huh. Anyway, I better be going to bed now”

“Right.” Xander could still feel himself rock hard, a fact that would be evident if he stood up.

“Um…Harmony”

“Pookie?”

“Could I – I mean, I don’t suppose I could…(suddenly, a good idea hit him) ah! Oh! Ow! Ouch, ooh, the pain!”

“Pookie, oh what is it?”

“Oh, it’s my back…ah, the sofa must have, ooh…I’ll be ok in a minute, I hope ooh, ahh…”

“What can I do? – Shall I call an ambulance?”

“NO! I mean, no babe…no fuss…it’ll be ok soon, it comes and goes, you know…I just hope I’m not crippled in the morning…having to sleep on the sofa at home”

“You sleep on a sofa at home?” Harmony asked, surprised

“Well, no, not usually – ouch – but my mother…”

“Oh right, your mother’s staying – well, you can stay here in my bed!”



“Oh, no, I couldn’t! – Where would you sleep?”

“In my bed! I know I’d be safe, after all, if you’ve got a bad back, you wouldn’t be able to get up to anything well…naughty now, would you?”

**Shit. Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit! By the steaming great po full!**

“Um, no…I don’t suppose I would. Unless you were to go-“ Xander just stopped himself from blurting out the words ‘on top’ and replaced them with,

“…And get me a couple of aspirin, I think I can make it home”

“Are you sure Pookie- my big brave boy!”

“Huh…right. Yeah…that’s me”

**Big, fucking stupid brainless me…**

“Um... all I’ve got is indigestion tablets………oh Pookie!” Harmony, in a sudden rush of sympathy clutched Xander’s head to her chest, running her fingers through his hair, and his once receding hard on was suddenly back with a vengeance…

He’d just about been ready to stand up, but he couldn’t.

“Um…Harm…love”

“Hmm?”

“You’d better stop!”

“Oh, am I hurting you? – Oh Pookie!” She clutched him to her with renewed fervour, making Xander’s eyes roll.

*********


“………The bluescreen is used, so whatever image we want can be super-imposed on after” Spike explained to Buffy. She was wearing a long floaty dress, her hair down, and she was standing in front of a large blue screen.

“Ok, wind machine on…” The photographer called, and his assistant turned it on low. Buffy’s dress and hair gently billowed out behind her, and after checking his light meter, the photographer took several shots.

“Can you look down now love…that’s it” He took several more shots, and then he said,

“Ok, run your fingers of one hand through your hair………arm nearest me………that’s it, that’s it, hold that…lovely – right I think that’s it” The wind machine was turned off.

“Be ready in an hour, ok?” Spike nodded to the photographer, and he and Buffy took the opportunity to go for a coffee on the 6th floor.



“So pet, have you thought any on what you might want to call your album?” Spike asked as he put her coffee down in front of her.

“Hmm…I don’t know…one of the song titles, perhaps?”

“Good, that’s a good idea…any particular one? - Oh, thankyou” Spike had been handed several sheets of paper by a messenger.

He leafed through them, glancing briefly, then he smiled up at her.

“I thought that you’d um, well could help me choose?” Buffy played with the froth on the top of her cappuccino with her spoon.

“I’d love to. Meanwhile…there’s a party you’ve been invited to, company thing, hard to say no to, in fact, Sweet wants to meet you so…it’s Friday”

“Are you going?”

“Like I say babe, you don’t say no really…so, how about we go together huh?” Buffy beamed

“Great!”

“Once you’ve met Sweet, and we’ve stayed an hour, we could…well, if you like, we could go on somewhere – if you wanted to that is…these parties sometimes get pretty rowdy see. Rack and his crowd…then there’s Gunn, and his entourage…arguments about the type of music to be played…Gunn’s lot hates death metal, Rack’s lot hates rap and hip-hop. NOBODY wants Harmony’s bouncy bubble-gum pop, and in the end we were all brain-dead from trance!”

Buffy smiled and said

“I’d like that”

“Great” Spike smiled, and looked back at the sheets he’d been given.

“Ok then, after this, we’ll go check over the photo’s, see it’s suitable and hot-foot it over to the factory and pick up the first copies of your song!”

“Wow! – Oh…erm…” A messenger handed her four A4 size photographs, and said,

“Which one do you like?”

Buffy and Spike immediately chose the same one! Against the bluescreen, the photographer had super-imposed a beach at sunset, with waves gently lapping on the shore, and a silhouette of Buffy, her hand running through her slightly billowing hair, looking out to sea.

“That one…it’s perfect, like you’re looking out for someone across the sea…” Spike said

“Yes!” Buffy readily agreed.

“Tell him number 2” Spike handed the photos back and the messenger nodded and left.

“Wow, it’s amazing what they can do! It looked like I’d been really there!”

Spike smiled and started scribbling something down on the back of one of the sheets of paper in front of him.

*********

Dru felt wretched. She looked at the line of coke prepared for her by Cecily, and tried to think things ‘rationally’.

“Look, no-ones forcing you, but that shit the doc’s got you on – it’s turned you into a zombie! You’re obviously having no fun. And I’m not saying go back to the amount you used to do, just a little toot now and again, just to keep the um…well, situation form becoming unbearable.”

“Does he know I’m back?”

“Does who know?”

“Daddy?”

“Yes, he wants to see you, he’s having a party on Friday”

Dru looked up big-eyed at Cecily.

“He wants to see me? – Even after…well, you know, what happened – do you think he’s forgiven me?”

“Darling, you were his favourite, right along with me. Anyway, he sent you flowers in hospital didn’t he?” Cecily then bit her lip, she’d forgotten that Dru had been in such a state that she probably didn’t know if it was haircut, harvest or Christmas time, the doctors had her so doped up at the beginning, Dru didn’t even know her own name…

“But…”

“Choice is yours. I’m going shopping, want to come?” Cecily busied herself about getting her purse and her shoes on. She came over to Dru.

“I’ll look after you, you can always stay here” She glanced at the island counter top, and noticed the little line had gone, and Dru was sniffing and pinching her nose, then she grinned.

“That’s better, come on, I’ll treat you” And the two girls went off to town giggling like a couple of teenagers.

**********

At the security door, Spike punched in a six-digit number, and the door buzzed then popped open, he pulled it wide and let Buffy go in first.

“Hey pet, listen, can you hear what’s playing?” Spike asked, grinning at her.

Buffy went big-eyed!

“My song! Oh my god! It’s my song!”

“Sure is, come on, this way!” Spike pushed open a fire door, and then he opened a door marked ‘Production’. Her song now echoed all over the huge factory floor.

“Stay within the yellow lines pet, coz the stacker trucks whiz along here piled high with crates to load the trucks” Spike pointed to the floor, and Buffy nodded. They were heading for a small office on the factory floor.

“Hi!” Spike said and a woman with long dark hair and glasses wearing a white lab coat looked up from examining a picture.

“Spike! How are you – I’ve just been faxed over the photo for the cover of the CD”

“Great! I’m fine thanks Fred; I’ve bought Buffy to see her single being produced! - Let me introduce you, Fred, this is Buffy, Buffy, this is Fred, Chief Production manager” the two shook hands, and Fred said,

“I love your song!” Buffy beamed and said ‘thankyou’

“So, you want to see the process?” Fred asked Buffy

“Oh yes!”

“Well, I tell you what, I’ll stay here and make a few phone calls, I’ll leave you two ladies to it, ok?” Spike sat behind Fred’s desk

“Come on…not much to see really, but…” the two left and Fred showed Buffy this huge machine that could produce 10,000 CD’s an hour.

“It’s amazing how quiet it is in here, apart from the stacker-trucks” Buffy said, and watched as CD’s flopped into open cases, and were then flipped to shut them before being placed into boxes of two dozen.

A red light came on and a buzzer sounded.

“We’re just in time, that’s the last of that one. Now it’s your CD next, come on follow me…” Buffy dutifully followed Fred to a glass fronted room.

“We won’t go in there, the fumes from the inks can get a little over-powering… but see, that’s the photo of you we were faxed, what, forty minutes ago? – It’s been laser-printed onto those huge sheets – with all the necessary details printed on the back too…see what that guy’s doing?”

Buffy craned her neck to see a guy setting a huge thick block of the printed photos and details onto a table, where he punched in some numbers, and the block was cut up into a pieces the size of the open CD case.

“When it’s cut to size, each piece is then laid into an open CD or ‘jewel’ case as they are know, then the open cases travel on down to the CD processing machine………”

They walked further down to where they started.

“There you go, Buffy…your CD!” Fred walked over to where the first boxes were being packed up, and she took out two, and handed them to her.
Buffy was slightly overwhelmed and smiled, and whispered ‘thankyou’.

“I want one of those!” both ladies turned to see Spike walking towards them, grinning.

“Hey, cheapskate, buy one!” Buffy said playfully elbowing Spike gently!

“I need to get back to the office, so, ready kitten?”
Buffy nodded and turned to Fred and said,

“Thankyou for showing me the process, it’s amazing, and um, thanks for these! Buffy held up the two CD’s. Spike had ‘helped himself’ to a copy and then after saying goodbye, they left to go back over to the studios.

“Want that autographed?” Buffy asked cheekily

“Of course…want to get the maximum when I sell it on Ebay!”

“Bloody cheek!” They giggled and teased each other all the way back to the office. Each absolutely loving the easy banter they had.

“Actually babe, I need a copy of your signature, we can get stamp made up, for the autographing of photo’s and that”

**********

“Whoops – you ok?” Harmony asked as Xander plonked down on her bed.

“F-fine…um, fine…” She bent and pulled his shoes off, and Xander began to unbutton his shirt.

“Can you do your pants?”

“Y-yes…um, Harm…I um, I go Commando”

“Huh?”

“I d-don’t, you know…wear underwear”

“That’s alright Pookie, I don’t wear anything in bed eit-oh…um…I’ll find a tee shirt or something…”
She left the room, and Xander quickly took his jeans off and slipped under the covers. He was willing his cock to go down, but when Harmony came back in wearing the skimpiest of tops and a thong, he groaned and squeezed his eyes shut. Harmony got into bed, turned her back to him and turned off the light.

“Night Pookie…try and sleep little lamb”

**Yes, right…here I am…in bed, naked, with Harmony…who’s as good as naked - fuck - shut up…ok…think…**
Xander tried to think of all the things that would make his hard-on disappear………
Sweetly grinning at him…not reaching the monthly targets………Rack thinking I called him a talentless git…oh thank god! Xander’s erection began to subside, and he tried to relax. Harmony began to emit a little soft snore, and she shifted slightly, her bare warm thigh and buttock was now touching his leg…and it was ‘HELLO’ Mr. Stiffy again…Xander grimaced and screwed his eyes up, and slowly, SLOWY he moved his hand towards it. If he could give it a little squeeze…
It was then Harmony turned over and flung her arm around his middle, her elbow not an inch away from his straining cock.
He let out a whine, and in her sleep Harmony patted his tummy, mumbling

“Poor Pookie”

**Poor Pookie…! Fuck, I’m DYING HERE!** thus was how Xander spent his night, with a rampant hard-on, paralysed in fear that she’d find out and kick him out, so he could do nothing else than lie on his back, else he’d be exposed as a fraud, every time he went to touch his dick, Harmony stopped snoring and he feared she was awake…

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

Cecily and Dru were giggling like teenagers again after trying on all their purchases in Cecily’s lounge. They were swigging alternately out of a bottle of brandy, and a bottle of wine.

“Wha’ d’ya think…f’ Friday?” Dru held up her foot with a sparkly sandal on. All she was wearing, was a tiny thong and a feather boa.

“S’great…but won’t ya be a bit cold!” They shrieked with laughter

“No, no…the shoe, silly!” Dru waggled her foot

“Jus’ the one?” They collapsed again, and then Cecily suddenly remembered the DVD case Sweet had given her.

“Ooh…Dru…look what I got…goodies from Daddy!” She carefully opened the case, and found a 5gm bag of Coke, a phial of Amyl Nitrite, a dozen ecstasy tablets, six tabs of LSD, strong sleeping tablets and some Columbian red to smoke.

“Lets have a smoke!”

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