Chapter 18

“I know it’s a lot of work babe, but I promise you can have Saturday and Sunday off.
Except, I want to take you out Saturday, somewhere special” Spike added with a grin.

He cuddled her to him. Buffy wriggled closer to him sitting on his lap, and leant her head against his.

“Really, where?”

“Where would you like to go?”

“Um…anywhere?”

“Anywhere your little heart desires, kitten” Buffy began to think…

“Ooh, I know! Oh…you probably couldn’t get a table at such short notice…we tried once, as a treat for mom, but they said they were booked up for three months in advance………”

“Where was that then pet?”

“The Four Seasons”

“Really? You want to go there – okay then, just leave it to me – and afterwards, I shall take you to a quiet little club I know, very small, very exclusive, how about that?”

“Great! You can get a table, just like that? – Colour me impressed – but then you’re so clever, I should have known you’d know what to do! I can’t wait! – I shall wear my Prada and Manolo’s!” Spike grinned and he gave her a light kiss.

Buffy reached for her itinerary and began to study it. From the Tuesday, she’d got an intensive four-day tour of interviews and appearances in mostly, Northern California. San Francisco, Oakland and Sacramento, and a stop off in Bakersfield on the way home.

“Golly, SIX interviews on Tuesday! – That’s a busy day!”

“Two are for radio pet, you can actually do the one in the car while you’re been driven to San Francisco, and the other you can do at the hotel. I know it’s a lot baby, I did warn you – oh and another thing, the hotel in Sacramento on Thursday, they will ask you to sign things for what you’ve had, and they’ll give you receipts, which is quite alright, you can have whatever you want, we just need them to claim back expenses”

Buffy nodded and put the list down and resumed cuddling him.

“I know, I don’t mind the work, I’ll hate it that you’re not with me though!”

“Me too babe, but I’ve got so much to do here. I can assure you, I’d MUCH rather be with you too!”

“I won’t know anybody there, will I?”

“Um, actually, Cordelia will travel with you there and back, she’s going to see her sister, and um…yeah, that big show, Entertainment USA – Andy and Larry will be there”

“Oh, I like them they’re so funny – they bicker like an old married couple!” Spike frown/smiled

“Yes…well, I suppose they are harmless enough!”

“But we’ll have a nice weekend to look forward to!”

“That we will pet, that we will!”

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


“Hello?”

“Hello”

“Is that… Oh er, hold on, is that um Mr Brad Fin? I wonder if you could help me, have you got a son called Riley, in the- hello, hello?”

“Sorry, I don’t have children, goodbye”

Undeterred, Glory pressed the cut-off digits and got the dialling tone again, and dialled the umpteenth time, she had 27 other phone numbers left to do spelt Fin, 76 spelt Finn, and 35 spelt Fynn to get through yet. It was going to be a l-o-n-g day………

*********

“Well, the doctor said these should be an improvement. I told him the last lot made her seem like a zombie,” Lorne said to Cecily, as he put Dru’s medication away in the cabinet.

“Where is she now?”

“In the garden, she loves it out there, that and the Gazebo, she said, ‘she feels at one with nature’”

“Really? Oh well, whatever floats her boat – I was getting very worried about her, she definitely isn’t the old Dru we used to know and love. Has she had this new stuff yet?”

“Yes, she had her first dose while the doctor was here, and she has to take another before bedtime”

“You know, you should have warned me that you were bringing her back her to be with you and Daddy, I got worried when I got home and found she’d gone”

“Didn’t think you’d notice darling, I thought you’d be either off your face, or fucking the living daylights out of somebody”

Cecily gave Lorne a ‘look’, but she didn’t say anything, as he was right. But, she HAD noticed Dru had gone after her guests had left.

“Lorne…Lorney………come play with me in the gar- CECILY!”

Cecily went over to a bright, wide-eyed grinning Dru, and gave her a hug, then smoothed back her loose flowing hair from her face.

“Hello love, you look better”

“Come with me, come and look at this!” Like a child, Dru grabbed Cecily’s hand and began to pull her through the patio doors. Cecily turned to face Lorne, and said,

“Oh, erm okay, I, oh – tell Daddy I’m here please – okay Dru, I’m coming, no need to pull my arm off!”

“Look, LOOK!” Dru pointed excitedly into a dense bush. Cecily wasn’t sure she wanted to look; hoping whatever it was, wasn’t yucky.

“What am I supposed to be-”?

“There, look, but shush, else you’ll frighten them!”

Cecily peered into the bush again, and saw for the first time a nest, with two birds in it. Her shoulders relaxed and she let out the breath she’d been holding, and smiled.

“Yes, but we mustn’t disturb them, they’re asleep” Cecily let the bush gently spring back into shape, and then turned to see Dru taking off her shoes and begin to run around the garden with her arms outstretched, laughing and happy.

“Free! I’m free as a bird!” She ran past the sprinkler that suddenly sprang to life and began to do its job, making Dru shriek and laugh, and dance in the spray. Cecily looked up to the house to see Daddy watching them from his office, and she waved. He waved back, and Cecily called to Dru that she was going back indoors. Not that Dru took any notice, she was too busy stripping off and having fun, dancing around in the spray.

“She looks a lot brighter, what did he give her?” Cecily asked Daddy.

“Some new stuff, don’t know what it’s called – she seems more like her old self”

“That all, she hasn’t, you know, had anything else?”

“Not to my knowledge”

“Must be good stuff, I might try some myself!”

“Want a ‘livener’, baby?” Daddy asked

“Could do with something – what have-“

“Here, don’t ask, just take, not too much though, this is virgin pure”

“WOW! What is it?”

“Just inhale, go on…there, what do you think?”

Cecily’s eyes glazed over and she felt lost to the euphoria. Daddy’s leering face swam in and out of focus, and Cecily felt higher than she’d ever felt in a long time………

**********

“So, p-l-e-a-s-e tell me Pookie, I can’t wait any longer!” Harmony skipped along next to Xander as he walked down the corridor.

“Wait until we get into the office!” Xander laughed

“Ok, NOW tell me!” Harmony stood with her back to the door she’d just slammed shut, and Xander went and sat down behind his desk.

“Ready for this?” he asked, grinning

“Yes! Come ON, tell me!”

“Australia!” Xander said with a grin

Harmony’s face fell, as she repeated his one word.

“Australia?”

“Uh huh, did you know, per capita, they buy more records of yours than anywhere else in the world? Outside great Britain, that is” Harmony went over to Xander’s desk and pulled up a chair.

“But, well, Australia! I thought you were going to say London – or, or Paris, or Rome!” She didn’t even bother to hide her disappointment.

“It’s a fantastic country, Harm – so beautiful!”

“I know, but…” she sighed, and looked down at her knees and said in a little voice,

“It’s so far away”

“You’ll be there for two weeks, starting off in South West Australia, Perth to be exact, then you follow the Southern coast around to Adelaide, the Melbourne, then up towards the Eastern coast to Sydney, then finally Brisbane”

“Two weeks to do five dates! No way!”

“Ok then, we could probably cut it down to ten days, but you’ll be very tired, it’s not like the venue’s are close, Oz is a vast country”

“I know, I have been there before, on holiday, but I was in the Northern Territories. Just do it, make it ten days, I’ll cope. When do I go?”

“Oh, not until after Christmas, well, end of January really”

Harmony brightened a little, it was still months away.

“But I wanted a change of image before that!”

“But Poppet, think about it, we already have your Christmas single done, and if we change your image now, and then you revert back to the ‘teeny bop’ you for Christmas, then nobody will take your transformation seriously”

Harmony looked at him. It DID make sense what he was saying, and she did SO want to be taken seriously with this total re-invention of herself………

“Besides which, Xander continued, Anya and Buffy are doing European tours after Christmas, and all being well, if we are, you know, still…well, perhaps I might just come with you” Harmony really did brighten at this news.

“Really? Oh Pookie! That would be fantastic!” she jumped up and ran around the desk and sat on his lap and began to kiss his face all over.

Cordelia walked into the office, rolled her eyes, and just stopped short of making an ‘ugh’ face.

“Oh, um, I er, I was just getting something out of my Pookie’s, I-I-I m-mean his e-e-eye, his eye, yes!” Harmony had jumped up off Xander’s lap like a scalded cat, having gone beet red, she flashed Xander a worried look. Cordelia breezed past her and handed Xander several envelopes.

“I see, I’ll have to remember that one, you kiss all over the face do you? – Personally, I find the corner of a clean hankie works better myself! Harmony, don’t worry, your secret is safe with me, besides which, you two are already the talk of the typing pool” Cordelia said with a grin

“Are we? – I mean, we are - why?”

“Do you think I listen to gossip; anyway, there are some important tour date confirmations for Caleb in there Xander, and an invitation. See you”

“Invitation eh…hmm, wonder what too?”

“Surprise Party for Sweet eh? Great, want to come with me Poppet?”

“I should think I’ve already be invited, but yes, we can go together – where is it – at his house? – I’ve never been to his house!”

“No, it’s got to be a surprise remember………oh, very swanky, it’s at that floating gin-palace moored off Long beach, The Ship-Ashore”

“Oh. Will I get sea-sick?” They both frowned

“I hope not…I’m not too good on the water either…”

**********

Buffy had her front door opened as soon as Spike had pulled up on the drive. He got out of the car and was straight in her arms, kissing her. Without breaking the kiss, Buffy closed the front door behind them and Spike pressed her against it, kisses getting more urgent.

“Hmm, god, I missed you SO much today!” Spike whispered, kissing her neck and making her shiver with delight.

“Me too, oh…hmm” Suddenly a thought hit Spike

“Um where’s er, Willow?”

Buffy pulled him towards her again, and Spike just caught her mumbling the word ‘out’.

There would have been no prizes for guessing where they went, as a trail of discarded clothes led upstairs………

They hit the bed naked, kissing and fondling, they had both been on edge all day, waiting for this moment, the sheer anticipation was foreplay enough and Buffy felt bold enough to roll them over so she was on top. Leaning on her one knee, she rose up and put him at her opening, she sank down, her breath escaping in little gasps. Spike groaned, catching hold of her hips, easing her down on him gently. Leaning forward, she held the top of the wrought iron bed head with her one hand, and using it for leverage she began to raise and lower herself on him. Her head rolled back – oh god it felt good, good, and SO good………

She felt Spike’s hands leave her hips, skim up her body and then he began to massage her bouncing breasts, thumbing her already hard nipples. She ground down hard, making them both groan with pure pleasure. Spike sat up, and Buffy shifted her legs around tighten around his back. In this position Spike was able to nuzzle her breasts, suck her nipples and kiss her sensuous mouth.
She tore her mouth away to cry out her orgasm, her tight wet clench of her vaginal muscles had Spike frantic for his own release, Buffy let her head drop to his shoulder, and she began to bite/suck a hickey on the side of his neck. Spike cried out and bucked up hard, pulling her down on him at the same time, she felt him swell and he hosed what seemed like a gallon of his essence into her, causing Buffy to climax again. Slowly, he lay back down, bringing Buffy with him, both breathing hard.
Buffy carefully disengaged herself from him, cleaned up with some tissues and then snuggled up with his arm around her. She kissed him softly.

“Been thinking of you all day” She drew patterns on his chest with her finger.

“Well, that’s good, because I couldn’t stop thinking about you either…I nearly dropped by lunchtime” he kissed her forehead.

“I fell asleep in the chair! Willow woke me up when she came home at one” Spike yawned

“Sorry pet”

“It’s ok, I can’t keep awake either, and poor baby, you’ve been to work all day! Was there lots to do this morning?”

“Wasn’t too bad, Cordelia’s very good”

“Was she happy with the sunglasses you bought her?”

“Uh huh”

“Good. Are you hungry?”

“Starving” Buffy made to get up, But Spike held her.

“Don’t go, warm, comfy, soft, you smell delicious and I don’t want you to move – I love these cuddles!” Spike said. He had his eyes closed and was smiling. Buffy giggled and snuggled up even more.

“Hmm, my pleasure…” She gave him a soft kiss, and settled back into his arms, her head on his shoulder, she slipped her arm around him. They both fell asleep.

Willow came in an hour and a half later. The first thing she saw when she opened the front door was the trail of discarded clothes leading up the stairs, and she grinned. She couldn’t hear anything, so she thought that exhaustion must have set in! She debated what to do, whether to pick up the clothes, or to just leave them. She was thirsty, so she went into the kitchen to make herself some tea. The kettle was just coming to the boil, when Buffy padded into the kitchen wearing a silky robe.

Hi, I’m making some tea, do you want some?”

“Not for me thanks”

“What about Spike?”

“How did you…” Buffy went red, but she was smiling.

“Um…the clothes trail…” Willow said with a grin.

Buffy was just relieved that Willow hadn’t heard them. As if reading her thoughts, Willow said

“Don’t mind me, I’ve got some revising to do, with my headphones on, so you can make as much noise as- um” It was Willow’s turn to go red, and they both giggled. She said goodnight to her friend and went to go upstairs. In the lounge, she saw Spike, he had his jeans on, and was just about to put his shirt on. Willow clocked the firm pecs, the well-defined biceps, the six-pack abs…and she thought what a LUCKY girl Buffy was!

“Hello and goodbye Spike, please excuse me, I’ve got an exam and I need to revise, ‘night!”

“Oh, Hi Willow – I see, well, um, you know, good luck!”

Buffy came into the lounge, and handed Spike a glass of juice.

“I need to go shopping – I’ve no food in the house!”

“You do? Well, come on then, lets go, we can pick up something to eat too”

“Sure you don’t mind?”

“No, you go get dressed – I could do with one or two bits and pieces too” Buffy finished her juice and went to get dressed.

Chapter 19

“Anya, you made it!” Giles stood from the barstool, kissed her cheek and took her coat and went and put it behind the bar. Anya drew up a stool and studied the cocktail list.

Giles came back.

“What can I get you – this is a rather good Chardonnay, or would you prefer a cocktail?”

“I want…something long, cool, fruity, yet strong!” She helped herself to some peanuts.

“Right, Anton…Get the lady something long, cool, fruity and strong, please”

The barman smiled and nodded, grabbed a cold frosted glass and began to pour in shots of Bacardi, golden and dark rums, and tropical juices of passion fruit, mango and lime, he shook it altogether over a tower of ice-cubes, and garnished the glass with slices of fruit, cherries, a paper umbrella and a couple of straws. He placed the drink on a mat in front the beautiful blonde lady.

“There you go madam, a Winds’ Barman’s Special, enjoy” Anya leant forward and caught the straws in her mouth and sucked. Giles watched her, smiling

“Any good?”

“Oh! That is gorgeous!” Again she took another long suck at the straws, so the drink was now half empty!

Giles re-filled his glass with the cold white wine.

“Sir…Sir…” Giles turned to the waitress.

“Polly, what can I do for you?”

“A Miss Jenny Calendar wants to come in, here, upstairs”

“Tell her I’m not here”

“I did sir”

“Okay…Anya, bring your drink, and come with me. Let Miss Calendar in when someone leaves”

“Yes sir”

“Um, can I get another one of these before we go?” Anya held up her now practically empty glass.

“Sure, Anton please –“ Giles pointed to Anya, and the barman nodded and set about mixing another special.

“This is cosy…and you can see out over the restaurant!” Giles led Anya into a small room come office, with a computer on a desk, a safe, a portable TV screen and a sofa and coffee table

“They can’t see me though, special glass”

There was a knock at the door, and a waitress handed Giles another drink for Anya.

“Jenny’s not going to give up, is she?”

“She will by Thursday, well, Wednesday night really, she goes to London to cover the European Book Review Awards” Anya said, accepting the drink off Giles. She kicked off her shoes and drew up her legs, getting comfy.

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

After what seemed like a million phone calls, Glory dialled the next number. She’d actually reached the name spelt with the double ‘N’ as opposed to one. She was on the ‘Z. Finn’s now.

“Hello, Zebadiah Finn?”

“Speaking, who is this, please?”

“You wouldn’t now me, and I need your help. Do you know a guy called Riley Finn? – He’d be 23, and in the army?”

“As a matter of fact, yes. Yes I do, he’s my grandson” Glory’s eyes brightened

“Really? – Um, he went to school in Sunnydale, California – dated a girl called Buffy Summers?”

“Well, I know he went to school in Sunnydale, but the young lady - I don’t know anything about that, but I have a grandson called Riley who is in the Army. Would you please tell me who you are?”

“Me? Oh, um…my name is um, Susan. Susan, er, S-S-Smith. Riley wouldn’t remember me, but I um, I used to be in the same frat house – my brother I mean, was in the same frat house as him in Sunnydale, and I’m arranging a surprise party – and he’s ALWAYS talking about Riley. Riley this, Riley that, and I’d just LOVE to invite him to this party.”

“I see, well I could give you a contact number for him”

“You could? Oh that would be wonderful, thankyou!”

“Okay then dear have you got a pen?”

“Course I’ve got a blo-um, yes, I’m ready………I see, right, thankyou! Oh, could you tell me where he is at the moment, he’s not posted abroad, is he?”

“He’s just finished a tour of duty, helping the Peace Corps, I’m sure he’s home for another month at least”

“Great, well thanks, goodbye now!”

Glory put the phone down grinning to herself………

***********

Buffy divided a bag of washed salad leaves between two plates, and added cherry tomatoes, slices of cucumber and some green onions. Spike roughly pulled apart the still warm, roasted seasoned chicken they’d bought at the supermarket and piled up the portions in a dish. He washed his hands again and cut and buttered bread rolls.
Buffy opened a bottle of cold white wine and poured two glassfuls, they opted to sit at the breakfast bar to eat.

“Hmm, this is good, all I’ve had all day is a banana at about 11 o’clock this morning!
They chatted easily, Spike telling her all the office gossip.

“………So sweet’s given Glory the go-ahead, and she can do her show ‘live’ rather than recording it, she thinks it will give it more of an ‘edge’.”

“She’s a total bitch that woman, I can’t wait to go on her show…I am due to go on it, aren’t I?” Buffy asked, before biting into a chicken drumstick.

“Really? - Yes, well, I suppose so. Be careful though pet, she’s a tricky one; never know what she’s up to, and I wouldn’t put anything passed her, she’s treacherous” Spike warned, then he smiled and said,

“Xander drove Cordy to distraction the night after that going to the line-dancing thing with Caleb, so she tells me!”

“Really? – I can imagine…still, you can’t say he lacks any enthusiasm for his job!”

Spike’s phone beeped, and he looked at the text.

“Oh brilliant! This trip of yours, the man I wanted to take you, he’s just confirmed, chap called Clem will be your minder/driver. He’s a really lovely bloke, very quiet, and genuine. He had some problems with his face when he was a kid, a disfigurement, but he had to have loads of operations, but he’s fine now, just a couple of scars – but he’s happy-go-lucky, and I’d trust him with my life, so that’s why I wanted him for you – I know he’ll look after you for me”
Buffy gave Spike a sexy smile, her eyes flashing; she’d thank him properly later.

“Ah, thanks, baby.”

“Oh, and another thing, here’s yours, but I thought we could go together if you like” Spike slid an envelope across the counter to her. She opened it and read,

“Invitation to a surprise 50th birthday party for Sweet…where is, oh – the Ship-Ashore – I’ve read about that place! Fifty eh?” She slipped the card back inside the envelope.

“I know, I think it’ll be a surprise even to him, being fifty, he’s pushing fifty-six at the very least!” Spike yawned, and apologised.

“Sorry nothing, baby! I keep falling asleep if I stop long enough, and you’ve been to work all day!”

They finished up their food and took the rest of the wine into the lounge and sat cuddled up on the sofa.

“Sure you don’t mind me staying baby?”

“Course I don’t mind! – It’ll be lovely to wake up with you” Spike leaned down and nibbled her ear, making Buffy hunch up her shoulder, giggling.

“Shall I put this in the fridge, and we go on up?” Buffy held the half bottle of wine.

“Great idea!”

***

“I don’t feel so tired now!” Spike said, having dashed upstairs, got undressed and got into bed, with Buffy close on his heels.

“Me neither!”

“So………you would have no objections, if I were to do this…………”

“Ooooohhhhh – no, no ob-jections – oh god, no, none at all – again!” Spike roved between her breasts, kissing and sucking her nipples, nibbling her neck, whispering sexy things in her ear, getting Buffy hot and needy. He teased her with little pecking open-mouthed kisses, until she held the back of his head to her and plundered his mouth with her tongue. Fluttering her fingers down his back, lightly raking her nails against his firm corded muscles, she then slipped her hand around the front of him and began to cup and fondle his balls in their heavy sac, making Spike buck towards her hand catching a breath. Slowly sliding her hand up and down his solid shaft, she shifted her leg so Spike could slip between them easily.

“Not being too much for you, am I baby?” Spike breathed in her ear. Buffy arched her back and held him to her, her hips rocking, desperately wanting him inside her.

“Gods no, I want you so much, please baby, plea----ooooohhhhh!”

Needing no further encouragement, Spike pushed up gently inside her – tight, wet, glorious, he’d never tire of this, he knew. It was like she was made for him. Slow languid movements soon gave way to a more frantic coupling, and the sensations built to a terrific climax for them both, gasping and crying out their joy. They made love until exhaustion eventually set in, and then they slept peacefully.

**********


“Oh gods…I’m so sorry Anya…this has, well, it’s never happened to me before! I was fine with J…”

He just stopped himself short of saying Jenny. He didn’t need to make Anya feel worse than he did already.

“God! I’m so embarrassed!” Giles was sitting on the side of the bed, his head in his hands. Anya lay in bed, naked, disappointed and frustrated.

“Well, don’t worry, I understand…it happens to all men sometimes – or so I’ve read”
**Not to men with me though** Anya thought bitterly. And to be fair, she’d tried everything, kisses, massaging, fondling, sucking…all to no avail. She wanted to suggest that there was a myriad of things he could do to her, and it might get him in the mood, but he seemed resigned to be in the ‘total failure’ mode, an nothing was going to alter that. Where was the Viagra when you needed it?

She ran her hand down his back, in what she hoped was a re-assuring manner, and said,

“Maybe you’re just tired, or it could be too much wine –or - ”
Giles stood up, took his robe from the back of the door and slipped it on, and stood briefly in the doorway,

“Sorry – I………sorry” he left the room.

He couldn’t bear to be touched, or even looked at, at the moment. Anya shifted onto her back and stared at the ceiling and sighed.
**So much for Jenny’s rampant stud**

She could hear the shower begin to run in the bathroom, and she frowned. Maybe she was wrong, but it felt like he was trying to wash away the memory of what had, or rather had not happened, like it was dirty or something. There was nothing else for it, she flung back the bedclothes, got dressed as quickly as she could, and left. Giles heard her car pull away just as he’d switched the shower off, and he leaned against the bathroom wall, dripping, thankful she’d gone and he didn’t have to face her or her anger or pity at his impotence………

**********

Dru practically pounced on Sweet’s desk, she’d been ‘playing’ in the garden, she was naked and still slightly wet from the lawn sprinklers
“Can we go out, Daddy? I want to go out! Can we huh - please?” Dru asked, wild eyed and grinning.

“Well! You’ve certainly changed your tune young lady - I will say that!” Sweet looked up from reading investment documents.

“Course we can go out, and where would my little princess like to go, hmm?”
Dru held out her arms and began to sway and waltz around the room.

“Dancing! I want to go dancing! And play! I want to play games and have fun!”

“Sounds good to me!” Cecily said entering the office, sipping from a very large vodka and tonic, with ice and lemon. Dru took it off her, waltzing around, spilling a little, before she stopped and downed the lot, handing a grinning Cecily back the now empty glass.

“So, where do you want to go?”

“The Hacienda!” Dru said

“Um, you’ll have a job pet, it burned down two years ago. How about the Basement…or George’s Number 8?”

“Okay!” Dru agreed, without having ever been to either club.

“Actually…I was thinking of buying the old Hacienda site, and rebuilding it…” Sweet said

“And I could work there!” Dru said, suddenly looking more lucid and alert than ever. Everyone smiled

“If you want, Princess, but why do you want to work?” Sweet asked, as if indulging a little child

“For money!”

“My Princess, you can have whatever you want, Daddy will buy it for you, you know that!” Dru smiled and went and hugged him.

“Thankyou Daddy!”

“That’s alright my Princess…tell you what, how about my two best girls go out and buy something pretty to wear for tonight, hmm?” Dru clapped her hands with excitement.

“Great! Come on then Dru, um, but first pet, we better get you something to put on, you can’t go like that, all naked can you!” Cecily said smiling.

Dru followed her out of the office and they went upstairs to see what they could find for her to put on.

*********

“Hey, sleepyhead, wake up!” Spike bent over and kissed her lightly.

“Hmm? Oh – I – morning baby!” Buffy yawned and stretched, and noticed Spike was up, dressed, washed and all minty fresh.

“Cup of tea for you Kitten, I must shoot off, there is some stuff I need from home before I go into the studios, and I want to change too, no need to set the gossip-mongers tongues wagging, is there? – I can be back by 8.45 to pick you up, if you like?”
Buffy sat up.

“Would you? That would be great…hmm, (she sipped her tea) this is just how I like it, not too strong, not too milky, no sugar, perfect!”

“Good, okay then pet, see you in an hour” He kissed her again and left. Buffy cupped the tea-mug in her hands and smiled to herself. She heard the front door shut, and his car drive off. There was a soft knock on her door, and she called for Willow to ‘come-in’.

Willow was also up, washed and dressed.

“Hi!”

“Hi, listen, tonight, I was going to ask Oz round, would that be alright, I don’t want to cramp your style if you and Spike were, well, you know, planned on staying in or anything?”

“No, course not! Ask him over”

“You sure?”

“Positive, There’s a ‘thing’ tonight, rehearsing for a charity Christmas record, doubt if we’ll be home this side of midnight” Buffy sipped her tea.

Willow smiled and said,

“Great. So…he makes nice tea!”

“He make you some too?” Buffy asked grinning

“I was half asleep when I padded into the kitchen in my PJ’s and robe, then I see him making tea and he asked if I wanted some!”

“We um…we didn’t, well did we make a – did we disturb you, at all?” Buffy felt a little embarrassed asking, but she’d rather know.

“No! Told you, I always fall asleep with my headphones on now, it is supposed to help you learn while you sleep!”

“Learn what? – Song words?”

“No, uses and comparisons of High Level computer languages, for example, Algol, Cobol, Fortran – and their uses in efficient object programming to debug – sorry! Don’t want to bore you!“ Willow stopped as she could see Buffy’s eyes start to glaze over.

“Was any of that in English – coz I didn’t understand a word of what you just said!” Buffy smiled at her friend.

**********

“Pookie!”

“Hmm?”

“You know this party”

“What party, Poppet?” Xander looked up from reading an info sheet on Caleb’s first concert venue.

“Sweet’s surprise birthday one”

“Oh that, yeah, um, shush baby, you never know who’s listening…come and sit on my lap and whisper” Grinning, Xander patted his thighs.

“Ok………Right, I -!” Harmony began, until Xander stayed her with a hand on her thighs.

“Oooh, don’t wriggle Poppet…it um, well that’s better...go on, what about this part-oh! Excuse me! Don’t you EVER knock?” Xander glared at the blonde.

Glory had barged into the office without the customary politeness, again.

“Oh DO get over yourselves, like I’D be interested in a no-hoper like you, and his animated Barbie doll. Where’s Cordelia?”

“How the hell should I know, have you tried looking in her office – and how dare you call - Glory – come back here………I said, Come – “

“Leave it Pookie, she isn’t worth it” Harmony said, placating him. She hadn’t moved off his lap this time.

“She’s an ignorant bitch – I HATE that woman. I wish somebody would bring her down a peg or two!”

“Her time will come, I’m sure”

“How dare she call you-“ Harmony put a finger over his lips, and then leant forward and kissed him.

“Don’t let it bother you Pookie, she’ll do it all the more”

Xander looked at Harmony and smiled

“Yeah, you’re right. So Poppet, what were you going to say about the party?”…………………………

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

“Can I leave you to get that Buffy, I’m out the door - bye!” Willow shouted, and she heard Buffy call back ‘Yes’, and then she answered the phone.

“Hello………hello, hello – is there anybody there? Hello – oh-“

“Buffy! Don’t hang up, please” Buffy’s eyes widened with shock, and she caught a swift little breath, and then swallowed.

“What do you want?” She hissed through gritted teeth.

“Come on love, don’t be like that to your old dad”

“What? Like what – what the bloody hell do you expect me to do, huh, jump for joy?”

“I’m sorry love”

“Oh. I see. You’re sorry. Well that makes everything alright then, doesn’t it?”

“Buffy, please love. Let me explain”

“Well go ahead! I’m waiting, explain”

“Not here, not now love, not over the phone. I could come to the house”

“Oh no you couldn’t! Mom didn’t want you here when she was alive, so I certainly don’t want you here now she’s dead. That’s dead, dad. Dead as in gone, not here anymore – not that that bothered you at all!”

“Buffy! It was over love, end of, your mother and I, we were finished. I left so we could stop hurting each other, hurting you with the arguments!”

“So you think you can just swan…” Buffy swallowed rapidly, then bit her bottom lip, the tears threatening to fall, and she didn’t want him to hear her cry.

“Just let us meet somewhere. Let me try and explain”

“NO!”

“Please Buffy! I swear if you’ll just meet me once, let me explain, and if you don’t want to know after that, then, well fair enough. At least we can say we tried”

“No………I don’t know…I………I can’t deal with this, not now!”

“When then? I’m still at Westwood’s, you can contact me there. Please love. When you’re ready, just give me a chance”

“I’ll see – gotta go” Buffy slammed the phone down and stared at it, the tears began to fall unchecked.

Spike pulled up, got out of the car and trotted up to the front door, and opened it, calling out cheerily.

“Hi baby, I came back early – hope you don’t…Buffy – Oh baby, what on earth’s the matter Kitten?” Spike took the stairs two at a time, to where she was sitting at the top. Buffy stood and she felt safe wrapped in his arms. She snuggled up and sniffed.

“My dad phoned…caught me by surprise”

“Oh love………come on kitten, don’t upset yourself. Do you want me get your number changed, hmm?” His lips brushed her forehead and he gave her a little squeeze.

“No…no it’s okay…”

“Did he say something mean to you, baby?”

“No, not really…he just, well, he wants a chance to explain things”

“Don’t let him force you into doing something you don’t want to do, kitten”

“I won’t. I’m just being silly. It just surprised me, hearing him after all this time, that’s all” Spike held her face gently, wiping her tears away.

“You feel up to coming into the studios?”

“Course! I’ll just go wash my face.”

“We’ve got time for breakfast if you want pet”

“Yeah? - Great”

“I’ll go down and start”

“‘Kay”

Spike snatched a quick kiss and Buffy went into the bathroom, while he headed on down to the kitchen.

***

Buffy dusted her fingers of crumbs over her plate and she wiped her mouth on a napkin.

“That was delicious!”

“I used to live on ‘eggy bread’ when I was a student. So babe, are you ready – you’ll meet the rest of Sweet’s ‘stable’ today. Ilyria, Caleb, Anyanka and a few ‘free-lancers’. It should be good”

“Stable – it sounds like we’re race-horses!”

“Just a phrase baby! – Golly, look at the time – we better scoot”

“Well, I’m ready – come on then!”

Chapter 20


The night out at George’s Number 8 had been a great success. If you didn’t know of Dru’s mental illness, you wouldn’t have thought anything was wrong with her at all. She even danced with a few different guys. Sweet kept an eye on her, and she didn’t take any ‘recreational’ drugs, she didn’t feel the need but she had a few drinks, and was fine. Cecily got rip-roaring drunk, and had also taken two snorts of coke. She was doing more and more drugs lately, finding she needed more just to feel ‘normal’, let alone get a ‘buzz’.

When they got home to Cecily’s house, Dru said she’d stay with her to look after her. Cecily managed to stagger upstairs, and just take off her top and one shoe before collapsing on the bed. Dru finished undressing her, and covered her over. She’d dropped a clip-on earring, and knelt on the floor to look for it under the bed, where she found several long boxes.

Dru pulled one out and began to sort through the contents of letters, bills, concert programmes, tickets and photographs. They were mostly of Cecily from work, ‘glamour’ shots, but there was some from a beach party they’d had about four years ago, and Dru took a swift intake of breath when she pulled out a picture of herself holding hands with Spike, they were both windswept and laughing, dancing on the beach at twilight, with a huge bonfire behind them. Spike had been doing the music and had set up some huge speakers either side of a basic turntable.
Dru remembered this; it all suddenly came flooding back to her like it was yesterday. She even remembered what they’d been dancing to at the time. Spike had put on ‘On the Beach’ by Cliff Richard as a joke.

She stared at the picture for a long time, before quickly sorting through the box to see if she could find any more. She found three, and some others from parties and functions in another box under the bed. Dru sat on the floor looking at them. She hardly recognised herself. She picked out one particularly good black and white ‘arty’ shot of Spike, moody looking, like some Matinee Idol, all square firm jawed and angled cheekbones, it had been taken by a friend of theirs who was training to be a photographer. She couldn’t remember the girl’s name now, and she turned the picture over, hoping there would be something written on the back, but all there was, was a date, 1998. She felt her stomach lurch and she swallowed the lump in her throat. Dru turned the photo back over, and stroked the face, she whispered,
“Spike………what happened to us, we were so happy…”

Cecily coughed, bringing Dru out of her reverie, and she looked at her friend. Then she coughed again, more violently this time, and raised her head and began to wretch.
Dru quickly scrabbled everything up off the floor and moved out of the way before Cecily threw up over the carpet.

“Oh Cec, are you alright?”
On receiving no answer, and as Cecily didn’t move or make to get up, Dru frowned. Putting the photographs carefully on the nightstand, she went and fetched a bowl and cleaning materials and began to clean up.

**********

“Alright, ALRIGHT! I’m coming, jeez, what’s so bloody important!” Quickly securing her robe around her, a tousle-haired Anyanka yanked open her front door.

“Flowers for Miss Anyanka Petersen” The deliveryman pushed an absolutely huge bouquet of cut mixed blooms into her hands and Anya was suddenly blinking and wide-awake. She mumbled thanks and shut the door with her hip, while she searched for the card inside. Placing the bouquet on the side, she fished out the card and opened the sealed envelope and read,

“Dearest Anya, I’m so sorry for my behaviour last night, PLEASE forgive me, don’t let this ruin out friendship, you mean so much to me, love Rupert, XXXXX PTO. Anya turned over the card and read, Dinner, my place tonight, 9.00pm? Please say yes, Let me know.
She smiled, and picked up the bouquet.

“Hmm, cream roses, tiger-lilies in orange and pale pink, blue iris and white peonies…all my favourites…must have cost a fortune…Okie-dokie Rupes, I’ll give you another chance”
After putting the flowers in water, she rang his mobile. When she got the message facility, she realised he’d be rehearsing his show, and she just said,
“Thankyou for the flowers, they’re beautiful, I’ll see you tonight – bye”
As soon as she put the phone down, it rang, making her jump. She smiled, thinking it was Rupert eager and pleased that she’d forgiven him, she picked up and said,

“You know I couldn’t stay mad at you, especially when-“

“Anya?”

“JENNY!”

“Well, Ow…that’s a burst eardrum”

“SORRY! S-sorry, I um…I, well, I thought that you were R-er, I-I mean, um, somebody…somebody else, sorry!”

“Okay, were on the other ear now, don’t shout down this one, please! Listen love, this is my last night in town before I go to Paris, can we meet for supper?”

“Supper, um well, er, no. No, not really – I’m um, well, we’re doing this charity record thingy today you see, and I said I’d go and play the piano, no idea what time we’ll finish” Anya said, crossing her fingers behind her back!

“Oh………no chance of seeing you until I get back then”

“When will that be?”

“Anya, are you okay? You sound…strange – have you got a guy there or something?”

“A guy? No, no! No guy, ha-ha!”

Jenny frowned, then shrugged.

“Thing is, I’ve left my spare contacts in your bathroom, I’ve got one pair, but I’m having to clean them overnight and put them straight back in the morning and the cleaning fluid makes them sting, I really need my other pair. So can you take them with you, and I’ll drop by the studios and pick them up?”

“NO, um, l-look, I tell you what, I’ll have them sent over to you now, just in case things get delayed – you don’t want to be late for your flight, do you?”

“Well no, I do have enough to do – can you bring them over yourself now – we could have coffee”

“Um, sorry I’m…having my hair done, then I’m straight to the studios”

“Hair done? For rehearsals?”

“No, cut and streaked again!”

“But I thought…oh well, never mind, it’ll keep until I get back, I suppose”

“What? What will keep?”

“I tried to see Rupert last night. I went to the Winds bar”

“I know”

“Sorry – how do you know?”

Anya screwed her eyes up and bit her bottom lip at her mistake.

“I d-drove p-passed. Saw you outside”

“Why didn’t you stop?”

“I, I couldn’t, I um, I was a passenger, in a car with s-some agents from Steinbeck’s. I’d been doing a commercial for them all afternoon, we were going for a meal at the Albany, I could hardly shout, Stop, there’s my friend, could I?”

“Okay. Did me no good though. I didn’t see him, he wasn’t there”

“Who?”

“Giles, silly. Although I swear I could smell his Hugo Boss aftershave lingering on the air, I must have just missed him”

“Oh. Oh, um, yeah, you m-must have”

“Have you seen him?”

“Seen him?”

“Seen Rupert Giles, god, what is the matter with you Anya, it’s like pulling teeth trying to get a straight answer out of you today, you’re acting awfully strange!”

“Sorry! Sorry, I just got up. I had a bad night, so I took a pill, I’m still groggy” Anya lied.

“Oh. Well look, don’t forget to send me my contact lenses over will you, and I’ll see you in three weeks time, unless I get a better offer in London”

“Right, yes, I won’t forget. Well good luck, keep in touch won’t you, bye!” Anya practically threw down the phone like it was hot. She hated lying to her friend, but she knew she wouldn’t be able to stop herself blurting out what had, or had not happened between herself and Rupert, wanting forgiveness for jeopardising their friendship for going with Rupert behind Jenny’s back. Except she didn’t, well, she tried, but!

One thing she DID know was, she knew she couldn’t face Jenny right now and see just how upset she’d get if she learned what had really happened…
Anya got her driver to take the contact lenses over to Jenny’s flat. At least she knew that with Jenny out of the country, she’d have three weeks minimum grace to sort this thing out with herself and Rupert either way…

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

Harmony’s words washed straight over Xander’s head as she led him into her bedroom. Her idea was to show him her party outfits, but she didn’t quite know what to wear. Thing was, all she had on at the moment was a push-up bra and tiny briefs…making all rational thought nigh-on impossible for Xander
He glanced at the bed and had certain ‘painful’ memories come flooding back.

“Sit…okay, I can’t decide whether to wear long or short, or wear trousers…oh god, what if I fall in the water…I better not wear long, it could get caught up I propellers or something, what do you think?”

“Yes!” Xander said, automatically.

“You don’t think I’ll fall in, do you?”

“Hmm? Course!”

“YOU DO – That’s it! I’m not going!”

“What? Why not?”

“Because you just said you thought I’d fall in!”

“No! Don’t be silly! Sorry…Harm, baby, you’re driving me wild!”

“But you said-“
Xander stood up, and went over to her and slipped his arms around her waist, pulling her towards him.

“I won’t let you fall in Poppet!” He towered over her, ready to ‘pounce’ any second. She beamed up at him

“You’ll hold onto me really tight?”

“Real tight, like this” Xander slipped his arms a little tighter around her, and his head dropped to her neck………

“Oh Pookie……………”

**********

“How’s it going, have you contacted him yet?” Glory asked her researcher.

“Not yet, we’ve left two messages on his telephone answering machine, but so far he hasn’t got back to me yet”

“Damn. What sort of message has you left?”

“What sort? What do you mean, what sort? – I told him my name is Cassie Newton, I work for Glory Benson’s cable show, and would he be interested in coming on the show, if so to contact us, and I left a number”

“Well no wonder he hasn’t phoned back! Tell him we’re doing a reunion show, and we want to surprise Buffy – bit like ‘This is Your Life’”

“But they finished, he might not want to know-“

“Oh come on! She wrote a love-song for him, won a competition with it goddamn it! She was pining for him. Still is!”

“You don’t know that! She could have moved on – he could have, or worse, just say SHE has, but HE hasn’t – that would be horrible for-“

“I tell you what might be horrible, my researcher having to look for another job, this side of Christmas! Just DO IT!” Glory hissed. Cassie sighed

“Yes, Glory”

“Good. Promise him anything, I want that guy here. Now, what about her parents?”

“Who, Buffy’s?” Cassie asked

Cassie rolled her eyes and hissed,

“No, bloody Britney Spears! Course Buffy!”

“Her mother is dead, and she said something derogatory about her father in an interview – I don’t think she’s seen him in years”

“Really…where did you read this?” Glory gave a wicked smile.

“Can I get back to you on that? – I need to look it up” Cassie said

“See that you do………we could be having ourselves a nice little reunion party”

Cassie glanced at Glory, but Glory was off on one of her ‘Power Ego Trips’ and
imagining how Buffy would act, knowing it was a ‘live’ show, so she couldn’t flounce out, it would put her in a dreadful light with the general public, and could ruin her career – so she’d have to grin and bear it………that would teach the prissy little madam to keep her smart mouth shut of sarcastic comments, wouldn’t it?”

Cassie began to look up the info Glory wanted via her computer. She knew she didn’t like Glory’s methods, morals or scruples, not one little bit. Unfortunately, Cassie also knew it would be practically impossible for her to find another job with this serious heart complaint she had, and she wouldn’t have a hope in covering it up during a medical if she tried for another job, so it looked like Glory had her over a barrel, and she’d have to comply with her female bosses wishes, but she didn’t have to like it, did she?

**********

Spike sat in the sound booth with Xander, Ford was down with all the artistes in the biggest recording room, number 4.

“Okay people…break over…come on please, lets get on (he clapped his hands to get their attention) now, I want to take it from the top, Ilyria, I want you to sing the lines, ‘free from pain, free from fear, enjoy all that we hold dear, and then Buffy you come in with ‘Gift of freedom. Gift of life, free from pain and free from strife’…”

Everybody stood, putting down paper cups of drink and picking up their song-sheets.
“Okay everyone, ready? Who writes these bloody lyrics, anyway!” Ford got ready to start the music

“Er, that would be you, mate!” One of Gunn’s backing singers said, grinning.

“Alright, don’t rub it in, ready, and a one, two, a one, two three, four…”

Ilyria took up the haunting refrain in less aggressive manner than she usually sang in. Buffy sang out loud and clear, and Ford looked up towards the sound booth

“How was that, Spike?”

Spike pressed the ‘talk’ button, and said,

“Sounded fine to me” although she couldn’t see him Buffy smiled towards the
sound booth.

“Right then, the chorus, we want a Gospel choir thing going on, think………think Madonna’s ‘Like a Prayer’, feel free to do ‘oh yeahs’ and all that, and keep a strict tempo, a one and (clap) and two and (clap) and three (clap) etc, okay, probably be easier if you did clap – we can add it after…so, I’ll get Anya to just play you the basic tune…when you’re ready love”

Anya played it simply, note by note, with Ford singing as an example.

“ Stop the hunger, stop the war, living in fear, will be no more… … …”

“Okay now please people…your turn”

They worked on the song all afternoon and into the early evening, and then people wanted to get off home.

Buffy went up to the sound booth with Harmony.

“So, what did you think?” Buffy asked brightly

“Well, a cheesier song you won’t find, but if it raises a few thousand for the cause then, hey, go cheese!” Spike said and everyone grinned.

“Want to come to Luigi’s for a quick bite – we won’t stay late, there’s something I want to do when I get home, so I don’t want to be back late” Xander said with a smile

Buffy shrugged and looked to Spike for an answer.

“Yeah ok, great” he said nodding

“What’s that then, Pookie?” Harmony asked

“You’ll soon find out!” Xander said with a wink. Spike and Buffy grinned and followed the couple out and down the corridor. Spike whispered,

“I think he means someone, NOT something!” Buffy snorted a giggle and they all got into the lift.

**********

Cassie Newton eased her car off the parking lot after watching Xander and Harmony, Spike and Buffy leave the studios.


She’d seen the manger, Spike say something to Buffy and they both laughed, he’d put his arm around her shoulder and hugged her towards him, kissing her forehead.

Now Cassie wasn’t big on relationships, fact was, she was 22 and had never had one herself, she was too scared to get involved, bearing in mind her medical condition. But one thing she did know, was that it definitely didn’t look like the young blonde singer Buffy was ‘pining’ for her old soldier boyfriend anymore, in fact her body-language alone told the tale that that relationship was long dead, coz Buffy had got herself a new beau in the shape of her manager.

As Cassie eased her car into the busy evening traffic, she wondered again if she should do her bosses’ bidding, and lure this Riley Finn chap to the studios under any sort of false hopes………

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

Chapter 21A


“Can you stay with me tonight?” Buffy asked as they pulled up on her driveway.

“Sure, but I’ll need to go early in the morning and then come back for you, ok?”
Buffy smiled and they got out of the car.

“There’s a light on, do you think Willow’s in?”

“Um, let me think…no, probably not, she teaches an evening class tonight, but she comes home first, leaves the light on for the burglars!”

Buffy opened up and they went in.

“Willow…Will, are you home?” Buffy called. On receiving no reply, they took their coats off and hung them up.

“Want a drink or anything?”

“Uh-uh, come here you gorgeous little girl!” Buffy grinned and went straight to him.

“’Kay, now I’m here, what are you going to do, huh?”

“This!” Spike went to home in for a kiss, but Buffy leaned out of his grasp grinning, and suddenly lightly pushed him away, and made for the stairs

“You’ll have to catch me first!” And ran up the stairs. Giggling and in hot pursuit, Spike ran after her, easily catching before she even reached the top step.

“Gotcha! Now young lady…I’m going to show you what I do to naughty little girls!”

Buffy’s eyes flashed and she said sexily,

“What EVERY naughty little girl?” Spike grinned and gently pulled her into the bedroom, closing the door and leaning in close he whispered,

“Oh no, just THIS naughty girl!”

“Can’t wait………………………”


**********

When Anya got to the restaurant at 9.10, Rupert was already waiting for her; he’d been hovering around the booking desk.

“Anya! You made it…come on through…let me take your coat…hungry?”

“Starving, I missed lunch”

He felt like a schoolboy on a first date. Nervous and fumbling, her slight lateness adding to his anxiety, he almost dropped her jacket.

“Drink?” He did the gentlemanly thing and pulled out the chair for her

“Great. I’ll have a vodka Martini” He went to the bar and ordered her drink, bringing back two menus, and gave her one, putting her drink down by the side-plate.

“There you are…so, good day – you had me worried, being a bit late…I thought, well…” Anya took the menu, and placed it on the table, taking a sip of her drink.
Rupert cleaned his glasses nervously.

“Giles, please. Look, lets just put last night behind us, and start again, shall we? Pretend it never happened”

He put his glasses back on and stared at her owlishly.

“This……… all this nervousness, there no need, honestly. Last night was just a silly glitch, okay?”

“I AM truly sorry Anya, really – “

“Giles, it’s all forgotten, just like a bad dream. Now………let me see, I’m starving – what’s good today?” Giles knew it was the end of the matter, and felt his shoulders drop and he began to relax at last. She opened the menu and perused the contents. Maybe he hadn’t blown it after all.

“Ooh! Look at that. The duck breast with foie gras mousseline and truffle oil sounds good for starters………then I think I’ll have………the calves liver. Oh, no I won’t, I’ll have the roast lamb shank with juniper and rosemary jus, crushed new potatoes and the braised red cabbage with sherry vinegar and raisins, thankyou. What are you going to have?” Anya folded the menu shut and handed it back to the waitress

“Well, the crab’s fresh in from Chesapeake Bay, I’ll have the baked crab claws with the foaming lemon cream sauce, and then I think…hmm, I can’t decide between the venison casserole with red wine and redcurrant gravy, spring onion and parsley dumplings, or-“ Anya sat up, looking surprised

“Where’s that? I didn’t see that! – No, no, it’s ok. I’ll stick to what I ordered. After all, I can always try yours can’t I love?” The waitress smiled and retracted the menu.

“I don’t know whether to try the pheasant. Hmm…then there’s the wild boar.”

“Have the venison, I want to try that!” Anya said cheekily. Giles smiled and closed the menu and handed it to the waitress.
“Okay then, the crab claws and the venison, thankyou Polly – oh, and a bottle of the um………yes, the 87 Red Burgundy – that okay with you Anya, as we both have red meat?”

“Fine”

“Yeah, make sure it’s the 87”

“Sir”

“So…I nearly dropped us in it this morning” Anya said, sipping her drink

“Oh?”

“Jenny phoned me, she wanted to come over or me to go over to her hotel, she’d left her spare contact lenses at mine, and she told me she came here to see you last night”

“Oh god, what did you say?” Giles put his glass down

“Well, when she said ‘I went to the Winds bar last night, I said, I know…………”

**********


Lying snuggled up together Buffy had her head on Spike’s shoulder.
“I’m going to miss you the next four days”

Spike turned his head and kissed her forehead.

“I’ll miss you too, kitten”

“Really?” Spike moved more onto his side to face her, so her face now rested against his bicep. With his other hand he stroked her hair from her face.

“Course really! Buffy…I don’t want you to feel rushed, or feel like I’m pressurising you, but you’re in my thoughts 24/7. I’ve really fallen for you – but I don’t want to rush and spoi-hmm…mmmmmmm” Buffy had begun to kiss him, her passion mounting. She broke the kiss, and leaned over him, looking him straight in the eyes

“You’re not rushing or pressurising me, it’s what I want, YOU, are what I want”

Spike raised his head and began kissing her, gently pushing her backwards and he manoeuvred himself to lie between her legs.
Slipping between her satiny soft golden thighs, he nuzzled and ‘scented’ his cheeks on her dark curls, before licking the length of her hot sex. Buffy felt electrified, parting her femininity with his probing tongue, he found his prize, and swiped his tongue up and down and back and forth very fast over her clit. Buffy cried out in pure pleasure, her heels rammed into the mattress as his relentless talented tongue worked it’s magic on her. He worked his tongue lower to mop up her flowing nectar, her hips bounced as she experienced a series of little orgasmic flutterings.
“Please baby, want you, I want you so much”

Her small fingers closed around his rock hard thick length, she began to pump slowly ………

“Oh Gods, yes, yes, I want you”. He could feel she was ready, he knelt, lined himself up, thrust forward, slowly, oh so slowly, he began to slide inside her, tight, moist heat. He withdrew and then thrust forward again, giving her time to adjust to his incredible size. Buffy arched her back and her neck, mouth open, eyes closed, she groaned so erotically as he thrust up deep inside the core of her need.
“Oh, God Buffy!” Spike moaned, God she felt SO good, tight, wet, glorious. Moving her hips in time with his thrusts twenty minutes of this, Buffy thought she’d explode with exquisite pleasure.
“Ooohh – Gods Spike. So big-so good, oh yeah, hard, harder OOH GODS!”

She thrust up hard in time with his thrusts, nothing had ever, ever felt this good. She locked her ankles tightly around his waist; she could feel he was fully seated inside her. Spike thrust harder and moved his hips from side to side, sending delicious tremors all through them both. They both let out cries of pure lust, and suddenly her orgasm was upon her, she was mindless, her head thrashing from side to side, Spike cried out,
“Buffy, ah, Kitten, I’m not …… going to last oh, Buffy, Buffy – Oh god Buffy, I- I love you!”
His head dropped to her neck, as his tender words washed over her he felt her nails dig into his shoulders, and the first tight clench of her orgasm, she cried out
“Spike! Oh god - I love you, you too………ooooohhhhh…………”
Her climax had tripped him over to his own, and he pumped spurt after spurt of thick semen inside her, crying out her name. Both panting hard, Spike kissed her gently, looked into her eyes.

“I do Buffy, really, I mean it, I love you”

Buffy’s stomach back-flipped and she felt as if she could burst with happiness. She pulled him towards her.

“Good, because I really mean it too, I love you” They lay like that, still joined for ages. Just basking in the afterglow together.

They eventually fell asleep, but both woke later, making love again.


*********

Buffy, singing her head off along with the radio tried to close her case again, to no avail. Opening it with a sigh, (but even that didn’t shift the big smile she had on her face) she re-arranged certain items, and decided against taking her boots, and hairdryer and took them out.
She closed the case again, and it shut with a satisfying click, and hauled it off the bed.

“Buffy…when will you be back?” Willow stood cleaning her teeth in Buffy’s bedroom doorway. She’d stood there watching her friend looking so happy for a full minute before speaking.

“Friday evening – I’ve left you some cash to cover any eventualities, and don’t forget the new washing machine comes on Wednesday I’ve paid for them to plumb it in properly, but – DON’T whatever you do let them take the old one, it goes in the garage” She was still grinning

“Right, anything else?”

“Don’t think so. You can always phone my mobile. Is Oz going to stay here?”

“He’s busy with his band, but I think he said something about Wednesday. What if…well, what if your dad phones again, what shall I tell him?”

“Tell him the truth, I’m away at the moment, and I haven’t decided what to do yet. He’s waited ten years to contact me, he wait another few weeks” Willow nodded.

“So…are you going to be on anything I can watch?” Willow asked, grinning.

“Um, not sure, the ‘live’ things I’m doing are mostly kids programmes, one is a link between programmes…oh, I’m on the Alan Wavecrest show, but I think they record it, so it might be on at a later date, I’ll ring you”

“Can we get that on cable?”

“Yeah, station 35.”

“Right. And now, are you going to tell me what’s given you that silly big grin that hasn’t shifted, even when you were talking about your dad?”

“Grin? I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Buffy said, beaming even more. Willow smiled and shook her head.

They both heard a car draw up on the driveway.

“That’ll be Spike!” Buffy grinned and ran downstairs and opened the front door.

“Hi baby, all done finished packing?” Spike pulled her close and gave her a smacking kiss on the lips, his arm around her shoulders.

“Yeah, I haven’t taken much, just the one case, and an overnight bag” Spike looked amazed

“Wow, I’m impressed! Just show Anya and Harmony how to do it please, they always take so much, they need a truck for their clothes alone!”

“Well, I figured that if I wear the same jeans and stuff, nobody is going to see on the radio, are they?”

“Exactly! Anyway pet, time’s getting on, shall I go get the luggage and I’ll take you to the studios”

“Okay, it’s in my bedroom, I’ll just go say goodbye to Willow – oh – oh thanks Will, Spike was going to do that!”

Willow appeared at the front door, and put Buffy’s suitcase and overnight bag down.

“There you go! – Hi Spike!”

“Hi Willow, I’ll just go put these in the boot – trunk you know what I mean!” Spike grabbed the luggage and Buffy went and got her coat and purse.

“Well, see you Friday evening. Just ring me if there are any problems, okay” Buffy hugged her friend.

“You can always ring me too Will, just in case, here this is my mobile number” Spike handed Willow one of his business cards.

“Right, thanks – well go have a great time Buffy!”

Buffy grinned as she got into the car and waved to her friend, and Spike drove them to the studios to go and meet Clem.

**********
 

Chapter 21B

“Hello?”

“Hello? Cecily – Where the fuck are you – don’t tell me you’ve forgot-“

“No, um, no, I’m not Cecily, I’m her friend, Dru”

“Is she there?”

“Um, she’s not well, she had a real bad night I think she’s got a bug or something. Who is this please?”

“It’s Tucker, I’m at the studios – she was due to start shooting a new series today, Candy’s World Trip. Can I speak to her?”

“Er, um, well she’s asleep…can I get her to phone you?”

“Asleep? Oh fuck…Sweet’s just gonna LOVE this…I’ve got the worlds biggest male porn star sitting here waiting, and she’s still a fuckin’ ‘SLEEP!”

“Oh, she was with Daddy last night, he’ll be cool about things, don’t worry, she really wasn’t well”

“Well, I hope you’re right, and tell her to get her arse in here pronto, we can fix her up. Despite what you say, Sweet ain’t gonna be too happy paying the Master $10,000 a day just to sit around”

“Okay, will do, bye” Dru put the phone down and went upstairs. She opened the curtains and window in Cecily’s room. Cecily was curled up into a ball with the covers tightly round her.

Dru sat on the bed and pulled back the comforter.

“Cec…Cecily…Come on Cec…wake up!”

“Go way!”

“I’ve had this guy called Tucker on the phone for you”

“Uh…oh…wha’s –the-time?”

“It’s twenty past ten”

“Come back lunchtime”

“He said you were to go to the studios, he’ll fix you up. Something about Daddy having to pay the Master to sit around” Cecily suddenly sat up with a jolt, and wished she hadn’t. Her head swam and she felt nauseous, there was a faint smell of disinfectant in the air that added to her discomfort.

“Oh fuck, oh god…I forgot all about the movie”

“Want some coffee?” Dru stood up from the bed.

Cecily threw back the bedcovers. Each movement felt like torture to her whole body. She swung around and put her feet on the floor, reaching for her purse she took out a packet of Marlboro cigarettes and a lighter.

“Ew! This floor is wet…why is the floor wet Dru?” Cecily shakily lit a cigarette, it wasn’t easy, she had the shakes so much the flame wouldn’t connect with the tip at first.

“You were sick, I cleaned it up”

“Oh, right, thanks…fuck, my head…where did we end up, where did we go last night?”

“Daddy took us dancing! We went to…The Basement, and then onto George’s No. 8, don’t you remember?” Dru had picked up the photos she’d left on the nightstand and began to look through them.

“Huh? Oh, um, yeah, yeah, that’s right” Cecily wouldn’t have remembered if she’d gone to the moon and back last night, she’d done so much coke.

The phone rang again; its piercing tone had Cecily wincing.

“Get that for me would you love, if it’s Tucker, tell him I’m in the shower and I’ll be there by lunchtime, ‘kay?” Cecily stubbed out her cigarette, and then made a concerted effort and got up out of bed, lurching to the bathroom.

“Okay!” Dru said brightly. It wasn’t Tucker, but Sweet.

“Daddy!”

“Hello princess. Where’s Cecily?”

“She’s in the shower”

“Tucker, a man at the film studios tells me she hasn’t gone to work”

“Oh she was sick in the night, but she’s okay now, she’ll be going there by lunchtime”

“Did she say that?”

“Yes Daddy, honestly”

“Okay princess, I’ll see you later”

“Bye Daddy!”

“CECILY!” Dru called. Cecily stood up from the sink unit, pinching her nose, wiping it on the back of her finger, waiting for the rush of euphoria.

“Yeah?”

“That was Daddy”

“Is he mad at me?”

“No, I told him you were sick, but you’d be at the film studios lunchtime”

Cecily relaxed a little

“’Kay. Did you say something about coffee?”

“Sure…want breakfast?”

“Just coffee, love”

“Kay”

Cecily looked into the mirror at her reflection. Her eyes were a little bloodshot, she knew she was doing way too much coke and other stuff than was good for her, that and the late nights, the alcohol and lack of food was doing her no good at all, she would have to slow down. She’d get this series of six movies out of the way, and then go on a little holiday. Her head clearing, she squirted paste onto her toothbrush and began to clean her teeth. Dru appeared in the doorway, holding what looked like a photograph.

“Coffee’s on. Cec…does Spike still work at Aphrodite?” Cecily rinsed and spat, and ran the tap to clear the sink.

“Spike, um, well yeah, I think so, he’s Noiz’ manager. Why? What have you got there?” She turned to look at her friend after wiping her mouth on the towel.

“Oh…just some pictures I found”

“Let me see…oh god! I remember that beach party! Ooh! V-e-r-y arty…I don’t know why I’ve got that one” Cecily was looking at the Matinee Idol Spike photo.

“It was from when I lived here before. Has he…have you seen him, you know…recently?”

“Who, Spike? Um, oh god…let me see…not since, hold on, when did Noiz do Dallas? Let me think…oh, Easter, yeah, Easter weekend. Why – Oh Dru, don’t tell me…you don’t…”

“Don’t what?”

“You don’t still love him, do you?” Cecily looked at Dru, who just turned away and said quietly,

“Coffee’s ready”

**********


“Oh, er, hi. I wonder if you could help me? I’ve been left several messages on my Ansa phone, I’ve been away for a few days, and these messages, well, I’m not sure if you’ve got the right person”

“What’s your name?”

“Riley Finn”

“Oh, um, right, erm, did you used to live in Sunnydale and go out with a girl called Buffy Summers?”

“Er, well, yes, yes I did, but what has that got to do with coming to some TV Studios-“

“Hold on, stay there, I won’t be a minute” Cassie put the receiver down by the phone and raced out into the corridor.

“Glory!”

Glory turned her head and angrily hissed,

“Can’t you see I’m talking!”

“Riley Finn’s on the phone, he’s the right one, I –“

“Why didn’t you say!” Glory left the guy she was chatting to standing and barged passed Cassie into the office.

“………Checked. Um, Sorry about that, but she’s been waiting ages for this call” Cassie said by way of an explanation to the guy. He shrugged and walked away.

Cassie went back into her office to find Glory leaning against her desk, being so sickly sweet and nice to this Riley Finn on the phone.

Cassie didn’t want to hear it, so she picked up her purse and went for coffee.

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

Xander thought he’d be diplomatic, and stay out of the office so that Spike and Buffy could say their goodbyes in peace.

“I’ve forgotten my sunglasses, they are in my drawer. And what are you skulking around out here for, hmm?” Cordelia asked him with a grin.

She went to go into the office.

“Cordy, don’t go in th-oh, too late” Xander frowned and turned away, rubbing the back of his head.

Cordelia went in, and came out twenty seconds later, grinning.

“They never even noticed me! Didn’t look like they were coming up for air anytime soon either! Tell Buffy I’ll wait in the car. Is Clem already down there?”

“Yes, he just took Buffy’s luggage down”

“Oh gods, will there be enough room?”

“She only had one case and an overnighter”

“Wow! I admire her restraint. Okay now listen here you, just you behave while
I’m away, d’you hear me Harris!” She grinned at him, and he grinned back.

“Spoilsport! I will. And don’t you get up to any mischief, either!”

“Moi – mischief – as if! – See you!” The lift door slid open and she left with a little wave.

The office door opened and Buffy and Spike came out.

“Ready for the ‘off’ then, well, good luck. Not that you’ll need it, but, you know” Xander said smiling.

“Thanks Xander – oh, I suggested to Spike that you and Harmony come with us to that Sweet’s party – I thought that as none of us is too keen, we can at least have a little fun together”

“Great, I’ll tell Harm later, bye then, see you Friday”

“Bye Xander. Now, I wonder where Cordelia got to?”

“She’s waiting down there in the car for you”

“Right then, are you coming down with me Spike?”

“Of course Kitten, won’t be long Xander. Don’t run off, I want you to come out with me later, to listen to some bands, okay?”

“Right” The lift doors closed taking Buffy and Spike down to the ground floor.

Spike stopped the lift between the first and second floors, and kissed Buffy.

“Going to miss you, ring me when you get there, ‘kay?”

“I will. Can I have another kiss?” Spike obliged, giving her a cuddle and whispering

“Love you”

Buffy closed her eyes and smiled, hugging him tighter, she whispered,

“Love you too. I’ll miss you” They then heard a loud banging sound and somebody shouting.

“HEY…WHAT’S WRONG WITH THE LIFT….ANYBODY STUCK IN THERE, HELLO - HELLO!” Grinning guiltily, Spike pressed a button and the lift started again, and opened on the ground floor, to a little huddle of people around it.
Spike and Buffy stepped out, looked straight ahead, saying nothing. When they passed everyone, they both let out snorting giggles by the exit doors. Spike caught her hand.

“I won’t come out to the car, Kitten, now, get as much rest as you can okay, and don’t forget to ring me – bye babe”

“I will, I promise, bye – miss you”

“Miss you” she left, and turned back and waved, Spike mouthed

‘Love you’ Buffy grinned and mouthed ‘love you too’. Smiling, he took the stairs back up to the office.

Buffy had met Clem earlier on, and thought he was very nice. He had a slight facial deformity, but he had a lovely nature, and had promised Spike to look after Buffy for him.

“All belted in? Okay ladies, Sacramento, here we come, with a slight detour to pick up the radio interviewer in Burbank!” Buffy and Cordelia laughed as they drove off the carpark.

**********


Cassie came back from coffee, and sat behind her desk.

“Oh Cass, there you are. Now, any luck finding anything about Buffy’s father?”

“Er, erm , n-no. No, sorry. The er, the art-article just said ‘father’, d-didn’t give a name”

“Oh. Oh well, never mind, least you tried!” Glory smiled. Cassie’s brow rose in surprise. She wondered briefly what alien had beamed down and taken the REAL nasty, snarky sarcastic Glory and had put this ‘nice’ one in her place.

Chapter 22


When Clem dropped the reporter at a hotel after interviewing Buffy in the car, Cordelia said,

“Either I’m getting old, or these reporters are getting so much younger these days! He barely looked 16!”

“He wasn’t, it’s for a youth programme”

“Oh. So, what’s next on the agenda?”

“Um…hold on…tonight…” Buffy read off her schedule.

“I’m on a chat show, ‘In Conversation With’”

“Oh, I’ve seen that, Wes was on it week before last”

“Wes?” Buffy asked, and Cordelia blushed. Buffy smiled

“Come on, spill!”

“Okay, but you must…you know, we’re trying to keep it hush-hush”

Buffy smiled and nodded, then gave a sideways glance to Clem.

“Oh, don’t worry about Clem, his middle name is discretion! It’s Wes Price” Buffy’s eyes flashed big and she grinned

“Ow wow Cordelia! How did you meet him then?”

“At a party. I was there with Sweet, and Wes’ Personal Assistant came over and asked me some details. You see Sweet wants to break out into mainstream films, rather than just the porn stuff, and he wondered if Wesley would be interested in the lead role for a screenplay he’s got”

“And is he?”

“Well, he could be, it all depends if this Bond thing works out”

“Oh gods, yes! I read about that, while I was on the plane going to NY! Wow, Spike’s secretary dating James Bond! – Hey, if he gets the role, we’ll have to start calling you Miss Moneypenny!”

“Don’t you dare! – Want to know the best thing?”

“Go on!”

“Well, at this party, Glory was there, you know, Glory Benson – she made no bones about wanting him, and he didn’t want to know, you should have seen her face when we left together!”

Both girls giggled and Clem smiled

“I hate that Glory – she’s a real bitch!” Buffy said, and Cordelia frowned

“You haven’t been on her show yet, have you? – I know she kept phoning me about you”

“Did she? I met her at the after-show party at the Indie Radio Awards. She came over to where we were sitting. She kept getting my name wrong, calling me ‘Betty’, and then when Spike introduced us, he said how she’s got two shows on cable, and she made some bitchy comment how I wouldn’t know that coz I’d be out clogging the arteries of the general public” Cordelia frowned again and said,

“What did she mean by that?”

“She was referring to the fact that I used to work at a burger bar, before I got the school councillors’ job”

“Cow. She really is, I haven’t met one person yet that likes her!”

“Got my own back though…I grabbed Harmony and said, ‘Oh look, there’s somebody famous over there I’d like to speak to!” Cordelia went round eyed and shrieked with laughter.

“You didn’t – oh my god, I wished I could have seen her face!”

“Yeah well, in my book, if you can’t take it, you shouldn’t dish it!” Buffy said

“Very true. Well, this is my stop coming up…Clem, can you drop me off on the Starbucks parking lot…I hope my cousin isn’t late meeting me” Cordelia unclipped her seatbelt and picked up her purse.

“Will do” Clem checked his mirror and drew up onto the lot. Cordelia got out and took two bags out of the trunk, and then waved them off.

“You ok there Buffy?” Clem asked

“Fine thanks Clem, um, how long is it until we are there?”

“Oh…in this traffic, I’d say just under an hour”

“Great, I’ll have time for a shower before my first interview”

**********

“Hello, could I speak to Miss Glory Benson, please?”

“I’m afraid she’s out, she’s at the recording studios doing her chart rundown show, can I help, I’m her researcher, Cassie Newton”

“Oh, perhaps you can, it’s Riley Finn here”

“Right! Hello, how can I help you?”

“Well you see, I’ve just been contacted by my wife, and she’s got leave and is coming home in four days time, she’s with the Peace Corps, and we didn’t think she’d be home until nearer Christmas you see, but well, as Glory told me if I came on the reunion show I could have luxury hotel accommodation for a few days, and have anything I liked, well, I know this sounds a bit cheeky but, well, could I bring my wife – would that be allowed do you think?”

Cassie couldn’t stop smiling. Wife – he had a wife!

“Your wife you say, right, um, hold on…um………” Cassie held the receiver to her chest thinking quickly, then she said,

“Um tell me Mr Finn, is Glory aware that you are married?”

“No, no it didn’t come up in conversation, why is there a problem?”

“Oh, no, no problem at all. Yes! Um, yes, that will be fine, I’ll make arrangements for another flight for you…did she say the Excelsior or the Holiday Inn do you know?”

“The Holiday Inn. Oh wow, I can’t wait, Sam will love this!”

“Sam?”

“My wife. She deserves a treat…and I wanted her to meet Buffy”

“Right…um, would you do me a favour Mr Finn, and not mention this to Glory”

“Oh, um right. Will there be a problem then – because if it-“

“NO! No, don’t worry…it’s just that she forgets what she promises sometimes, you know, luxury this, and no expense spared that, then she starts to fret about the budget, the less she knows, the um, the less she can worry about – you know how it is. Oh, that’s great – I see it won’t cost us anymore as I see we’d booked you a suite at the hotel anyway, so it’s only the cost of a flight, that’ll be absolutely no problem!” Cassie was crossing her fingers, hoping she sounded convincing.

“Really – great, so what about the flight tickets, will you -?”

“Don’t you worry Mr Finn, I’ll arrange it all, send you the flight tickets. I haven’t got to inform the hotel as you’ve got a suite already booked.”

“Well thankyou, Miss…Miss?”

“Newton, Cassie Newton. I’ll get right onto the travel people right now, and I’ll send you the airplane tickets as soon as they come through, okay?”

“Sure there won’t be a problem – because I don’t want to build my wife’s hopes up only to-“

“I assure you, Mr Finn, no problem, honestly, consider it done, goodbye”

“Thankyou, bye Miss Newton”

Cassie ended the call, and she was grinning. Glory only had herself to blame for this………after all, she did say that Riley could have anything he wanted if he came to LA for the show…and the man wanted to bring his WIFE – that wasn’t unreasonable now, was it!

Something Glory hadn’t even thought about, Cassie mused.

Immediately Cassie went on-line and arranged another flight from Iowa to LA.
“I bet she didn’t even think to ask Riley if he was even in a relationship now!” Cassie said to herself, and smiled when the ‘Flight confirmed’ noticed flashed on the monitor and she booked another ticket.

She couldn’t wait to see Glory’s face when this nasty little scheme of hers came crashing down around her ears…on LIVE TV too!

**********


“Tell me honestly, do my eyes look like piss-holes in the snow?”
Cecily stood still while Dru looked her in the eyes.

“Um, well they are a little reddish, but they’ll soon clear, open the car window and get some fresh air”

“Yeah, ok. So, you gonna come with me?”

“What, to work with you! – No way!”

“Oh come on. You won’t be asked to DO anything!”

“Sure? Coz I don’t want to get there, and then this Tucker guy thinks he can use me as a flufferer or whatever it’s called, coz he can think again!”

“A what – oh, you mean a fluffer! We don’t use ‘em – no need in this day and age, not with Viagra, the um, ‘interest’ doesn’t flag anymore, these men don’t have trouble getting and keeping ‘wood’ now, they just pop a pill before hand, and then make like the Energiser bunny all day – come on then if you’re coming, I said lunchtime, Tucker will have a fit if he has to wait any longer”

Dru followed Cecily out, to be truthful, she was more than a little curious…

**********

“Hi baby”

Buffy tingled all over when Spike’s deep sexy voice almost purred down the phone to her.

“Hi, we’ve just got here, I’m checked in and I’m going to have a shower”

“You made good time then. How was the radio interview in the car?”

“Fine, golly he was young – couldn’t have been more than 16”

“Really? – Oh yes, it was for the youth radio thing. It’s a project for kids with an interest in broadcasting. So, you’ve just got the one tonight, haven’t you pet?”

“Yes, the ‘In Conversation With’. Tomorrow’s the biggie with four!”

“Well make sure you get enough rest, won’t you kitten”

“I will, oh, someone’s at the door, I better go”

“’Kay, baby have fun”

“Can I phone you later?”

“Course you can, if I’m unavailable, leave a voice message, or a text, and I’ll get back to you if I’m not too late. Xander and me are going out doing a bit of band talent spotting tonight. I’ll let you go then kitten, bye now”

“Bye baby”

“Bye kitten”

Buffy opened the door and there stood a bellhop.

“For miss Buffy Summers” He handed her a single red rose all done up in pretty cellophane with red trailing ribbons. Buffy looked surprised, and took the flower, thanking and tipping the lad as she closed the door. She flipped the card open and read,

‘Will miss you tonight and the next three, good luck, lots of love, Spike XXX’

Buffy beamed and sniffed the heady perfume. She felt all warm and happy inside. She’d miss him too, not just the great, well, fantastic sex, she’d miss the closeness, him holding her and her waking up in his arms, her favourite thing (well, almost favourite!)

**********

“Better make it quick, the boss is already on my back this morning, so what is it this time?” Willy asked Glory. She was dressed as last time, baseball cap pulled well down over her eyes.

“I want this journalist mate of your to see if he can trace Buffy’s father”

“Shouldn’t be too difficult, what’s his name?”

“Well, if I knew that, Einstein, I wouldn’t need the help of this friend of yours now would I?”

“I thought you’d got researchers for this sort of thing!” Willy said, glaring up at her. This little bitch ought to start treating him with a bit more respect!

“I don’t want them knowing too much…stuff gets out, and I want this to be a TOTAL surprise, okay?” Glory toed the cracks in the ground with her booted foot, not looking at Willy. He knew she was a devious bitch, he didn’t know what she was planning, but it seemed really important to her, so, now was the time to put a price on the info she wanted.

“Okay…say I get him to trace daddy dearest for you. What’s in it for me?”

“Your Journalist mate will get the exclusive, honestly – it’ll be a big scoop, I promise” Willy smirked, and shook his head saying,

“No, no, no, no, no, no, no. You didn’t hear me. I said, what’s in it for ME?”

Glory stopped making patterns in the dirt and looked at him.

“You don’t think I’m doing this just for a ‘drink’ do you?” Willy smirked again, folded his arms and leant against the fire-exit door.

Glory rolled her eyes.

“How much?” she snapped. Willy pretended to look hurt.

“Oh now, don’t be like that…I thought that perhaps we could, you know…(he ran a grubby finger down her cheek) get better acquainted”

“WHAT! Why you weasely little – GET OFF ME!” She pushed him and Willy went flying backwards straight through the fire doors.

“HELLO…WILLY, IS THAT YOU DOWN THERE…WILLY…WILLY!” Warren called out over the stairwell railings. Daylight flooded in through the exit doors and Warren wondered just what his errant barman was up to this time.

Willy stood up and dusted himself down, and squinted after the quickly retreating figure of Glory running down the alleyway.

“You can run, bitch…but you won’t do that to me twice…” Willy muttered to himself

“What the fuck are you doing now?” Warren asked irritably, standing in the doorway.

“Thought I heard something boss…just some punks messing about, that’s all” Willy came back inside, slamming the doors shut and making sure that the release bars were set properly.
Warren didn’t believe him for a second, he’d heard a female voice he was sure, but couldn’t be bothered to question him about it. Willy took the stairs two at a time. He’d get the info Glory wanted, but the price for it had just gone up, two-fold.

********

The show went like clockwork for Buffy and after having a quick soda and chat with the other two guests in the green room, she left for the hotel. She said goodnight to Clem who was in the room next door, and went in her own room.

She threw off her lace shawl and kicked off her shoes and sat on the bed. She took out her cell-phone and called Spike. She got his message desk, and realised that he either must be either still out band spotting with Xander, or driving. She left him a little goodnight message and said she’d contact him sometime tomorrow between interviews.

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

Xander slapped his thigh laughing, Spike was driving.

“Oh god, did you SEE that guy! What an IDIOT – ‘What did you think of my impersonation of Slash’ he said – I don’t know how I didn’t laugh in his face!” Xander said, giggling. Spike grinned too,

“Well, you get them like that, they stand in front of the wardrobe mirror at home, playing ‘air guitar’ to Jon Bon Jovi or what have you, and they think they can be super-stars.

“But I mean, he only knew three chords!”

“Well, that never stopped Status Quo…it was the beer-belly over the hipster jeans that made me laugh – he actually told me he read somewhere the girls say they love it – I had to break it to him, that it was a six-pack the girls love, not to look like he DRANK a six-pack every night!”

This set them of laughing again.

Spike’s mobile phone beeped and he smiled as he shifted gear.

“Ah, good…I bet that’s my baby all safely tucked up in bed now, well I hope it is!” Xander smiled

“She’s a lovely girl, Spike”

“I know mate!” Spike flashed him a grin and turned off the highway to take Xander home.

“So, how’s things going with you and Harm – you ‘fessed up about still living at home with your parents yet?”

“Things are great – really well actually. But the other thing? - Well, no, I’ve not exactly come clean. I told her I’m having the place re-decorated all through, so I need to find somewhere quick, and get it decorated. Where are we, anyway?”

“Merryvale, right by Sweet’s porno film studios” Spike said. Xander ducked his head and squinted out of the window across to the low building.

“Oh yeah”

Spike slowed the car as they came to some traffic lights, and then stopped as they were on red. From off the studio parking lot a taxi cab slid into the traffic, coming along side Spike’s car. Xander casually looked out of the passenger window, and got a shock. He blinked, looked straight ahead, and then back through the side window into the taxicab. He grabbed Spike’s leg, just as the cab turned left as the lights changed, and Spike had indicated to turn right.

“Ow! Xander, what the fuck - bloody hell! Why did you do – ow – what was THAT for!”?
Spike glared angrily at his passenger, steered the car one-handed and rubbed his thigh with the other. Xander looked well shocked.

“Oh my god. Oh my GOD, you’ll NEVER guess who I’ve just seen?” Spike frowned, shifted gears and accelerated.

“Don’t tell me, Burt Reynolds. Well, it isn’t him, it’s just a guy that works there that has this big moustache and -“

“No! Spike no, listen to me!”

“ - Besides which, Burt Reynolds is too old now to-“

“Will you shut the fuck up about Burt bloody Reynolds! I SWEAR to god, I just saw ………I saw, Drusilla”

“What – don’t be a dick. Of course you didn’t!”

Spike frowned, and turned right into Park Lane.

“I swear, she looks thinner in the face, but I’d know those eyes anywhere!” Xander wasn’t smiling now, he looked deadly serious. Spike shook his head and dismissed what Xander said.

“No. Trick of the light – you saw the girl in that cab for what, a couple of seconds, max? Dru’s in England, has been for the last two years, since she, well, you know, that roof business”

“Hello, there are such things as planes you know! They fly regularly back and forth over the Atlantic!”

Spike pulled up outside Xander’s house. Every light blazed and there was a bedroom window wide open, with several items of clothing lying on the grass, there was still a shirt dangling from the sill. Even in the car, he could hear the argument that was raging inside the house. Xander’s shoulders fell, he closed his eyes and rubbed his face.

“Oh fuck. I forgot, Welfare benefit day, they’ll both be pissed out of their skulls” He turned to look at Spike, who winced in sympathy.

“Well how are you supposed to sleep through that?”

“I put the headphones on, and turn up whatever I’m listening to really loud. It drowns out everything. I didn’t even know the police had arrived last time, until the officer came into my room and took them off my head, told me they were taking my dad down to the cells to cool off”

“The police – fuckin’ hell Xand, how can you live like this?” Xander shrugged

“You get used to it”

“Come on, get back in”

“What, why?”

“You can’t go in there, it sounds and looks like a bloody war-zone!” Spike’s statement of truth was verified as a suddenly there was a loud bang and the sound of broken glass as one of the front windows smashed. Whatever had been thrown through rolled over the lawn, and the shouting could be heard even louder now.

“Get in, come on – hell, listen” Spike pushed the passenger door open from the inside, and Xander got in. They could hear the police car siren getting louder as Spike pulled away.

“But where are we going?”

“You can stay at mine tonight – and then priority tomorrow, you are going flat hunting”

When they got to Spike’s place, he got out a spare quilt from the airing cupboard and pulled out the sofa into a bed.

Nothing more was said about Xander’s ‘sighting’ of Dru, but when Spike got into bed, and after he’d listened to Buffy’s message and text’ her back, he lay down and started thinking. He hadn’t thought about Dru in a long time, and definitely not since he’d clapped eyes on Buffy.

No, Xander must have been mistaken. Trick of the light, or rather lack of it would be more accurate. Spike closed his eyes and settled down. He went to turn over onto his side, and suddenly a thought struck him, and he remembered something Sweet had said to him at the last monthly meeting, when he’d been ticking him off just before he left...

**“I know how things are, it must be a little hard for you at the moment, it came as a shock to me when I saw her,” ** Sweet had said…now, at the time, Spike thought Sweet had finally flipped, the drugs too much for his addled brain… “Oh fuck, what if he WAS talking about Dru – shit! Well, she just better stay well away from me” Spike mumbled to himself. He turned over pulling up the covers.

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