Reality Bites
Pairings: Buffy/Spike; Willow/Oz; Cordelia/Angel; Xander/Anya; Harmony/Parker; Dawn/Connor
Summary: AU Everyone is Human. This is the sequel to 'Is this the end?'. The gang is in their final year of college. Now comes the tough decisions of where to go once they've finished school. Willow and Oz are together, they have their baby. Buffy and Spike didn't get married, but they're still together. Cordy and Angel couldn't make it up to New York, so they stayed in Sunnydale with Xander and Anya. Dawn joined Buffy in New York, much to Connor's dismay.
Warning: Like reality, our heroes are going to have their share of tough times. Everyone might not end up together…I'm not sure yet.
Rating: This is strictly PG-13 guys.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything, I do not claim to own anything, and this is strictly for entertainment purposes.
Chapter One
Buffy was late to her class, and it was all because of Spike. They'd argued the night before, and they'd forgotten to set the alarm. When he'd left for his class, he hadn't woke her up like he usually did. She had a big presentation that she was supposed to do, and she was running fifteen minutes late. The only reason she'd gotten up in the first place, was she'd missed breakfast with Dawn and Willow. Her sister had proceeded to call her cell and Buffy freaked. Now, she was running across the campus so that she'd only miss the first five minutes of the dreaded class. The professor liked to pick on Buffy. History was her worst subject…always had been, and she had to a presentation on her interpretation for the cause of the depression. She had to pick a side and then tell the whole class why. When she entered the class, Buffy's partner, Faith, made a gesture at her.
"Geeze, B, where the hell have you been? I've been dying over here when he's asking where you are." Buffy groaned.
"So he noticed I was missing?" Faith stifled her laugh.
"Buffy, you should know that you're the first person he looks for when he walks into the class." Sure enough, she'd gotten her statement out, when the dreaded Professor Wood, walked over.
"Ah…I see that you finally decided to join us today, Ms. Summers. Would you and Ms. Evans please take the floor? We're hanging your every word." Faith grumbled as she followed Buffy to the front of the small classroom. They exchanged a glance and went head long into it. When it was over, they both left with a sense of accomplishment. Faith was still going to find a way to complain about him, it was what she did.
"I still can't believe he didn't give us an A. For me to even show up at all to his stupid class should have merited one." Buffy giggled.
"Hey, I'm not going to knock a B. He tends to give me a C or worse, so I'll definitely take the B." Faith nodded.
"I completely know what you mean. So…are we hitting Liquid tonight, or what?" Buffy sighed.
"I honestly don't know if we'll be going, Faith. Spike and I got into it really bad last night…which is why I was late today." Faith shook her head.
"Why are you even with him, Buffy?" Buffy gave her friend a shocked look.
"What are you talking about? He's my fiancé, Faith, you know that." Faith scoffed and waved a hand.
"That doesn't answer the question, B., and you know it. You two argue more than you have sex…that shit ain't natural. Granted, I know that make-up sex is supposed to be the best kind, but you guys aren't doing it. He treats you like you're four, and you nag him like his mother." Buffy's mouth dropped open, hurt.
"Faith, what's gotten into you? I do not nag him and he doesn't treat me bad." Faith shook her head once more.
"If you say so. Look, I like Spike, you know I do, but I just don't think that the two of you are going to wind up married. I could be wrong, but I just don't think so. You two are high school sweethearts and it should have ended there instead of following each other out to the big City. He spends all of his time locked up in that studio with Cecily, practicing or what not, and you don't flutter an eye lash." Buffy couldn't quite meet Faith's eyes and faith slapped her thigh.
"See, I knew that you suspected something, you just weren't saying anything." Buffy shrugged.
"I have to trust him, Faith. We've been together for seven years now, and it's silly for us not to trust each other." Faith practically cackled.
"Yeah…and he trusts you out with Forrest and Parker on the weekends." Buffy sighed and sped up her pace.
"Faith, I enjoy hanging out with you, but do you have to say everything that pops into your head? You remind me so much of Anya, that it's not funny anymore." Faith mocked a hurt expression.
"The four of us are constantly going to clubs and dancing, which is cool, cause you're an awesome dancer, but he never shows with you. I know you've asked him, hell, I've asked him. He 'doesn't dance', he says…what the hell is he doing up there with her?" Buffy threw Faith a nasty look.
"Faith, he's in a band with her. He plays the guitar, Oz plays bass, and she's their singer. That's all it is…end of story." Faith sighed.
"Look, you know I'm just giving you a hard time, I'm sorry. You and I both know that I'm not an expert when it comes to these romance things, so I hope it works out for you. I've gotta book though, please say you'll show up tonight. We have to show up those wannabe flash dance chicks tonight…they were asking for an old school rumble last week." Buffy laughed and shook her head.
"I do love to blow off steam with dancing…I'll see what I can do. I'll see you later, Faith." On her way back to her apartment, she decided to stop off and see Willow since she didn't get to that morning. When she got there, Spike's car was in the driveway, so was Cecily's. It was a common fact that Buffy and Cecily didn't get along, but she tried to play nice seeing as she was in their band. Buffy knocked on the door, and Willow answered it with a smile.
"Buffy! I'm really glad that you stopped by, come on in." Buffy smiled and followed her best friend into her apartment. Willow led Buffy into the bedroom so they wouldn't disrupt the rehearsal that was going on. When Willow shut the door, Buffy attacked her best friend with a hug. Willow hugged her back, but looked at her with sympathy when she let go.
"Oh, did you have a rough morning?" Buffy sighed and let out a nervous giggle.
"It was definitely interesting, that's for sure." Willow pouted to show sympathy.
"Dawn said that you and Spike had been fighting all night. I don't know what's gotten into him lately, he's been so moody." Buffy nodded.
"I'm glad I'm not the only one who's noticed it. Every single time I try to ask him what the problem is, he tells me I'm nagging, so I've just stopped trying." Willow shrugged.
"I think he's just going through a phase, that's all." They were having to shout because of the loud music coming from Willow's living room. Buffy moved a little closer to her so she could hear her better.
"What's with the live concert in your house, Wils?" Willow shrugged.
"Oz said that the space they were using wasn't available anymore and they needed to practice here for a few days. I can't give the guy a hard time about it; it's the only free time he gets. He didn't go to college because of Bailey and me, and he hardly ever asks for anything. Besides, I like having him close where I can keep an eye on him. I don't trust Cecily any further that I could throw my Jeep." Buffy groaned.
"God, I hate her so much. I think I hate her more than I hated Drusilla and Amy." This got Willow to giggle.
"Speaking of the old gang, Buffy, I talked to Cordelia today." Buffy's face lit up at the mention of her much missed pal.
"Oh, I haven't called her in awhile, I'm a bad friend. Well, how's she hold up in Sunnyhell?" Willow shrugged.
"I guess as good as to be expected. She'd getting a little claustrophobic there. I can't say that I blame her. She gets to see Anya and Harmony every day, but she's really missing our girls' night out. I actually wanted to run something by you, it was Oz's idea." Buffy sat up, intrigued.
"Okay, what is it?" Willow grinned.
"Well, Spring Break is next week, and I was thinking that we should go down to visit her. Oz would stay here with Bailey and you'd have to leave Spike here. I think we all need a break and we definitely need some girly bonding." Buffy smiled really big.
"Gosh, Willow, I think that's a wonderful idea! I'll have to run it by Spike, but I don't think he'll have a problem with it." At this comment, Willow winced.
"I'm really sorry about this, Buffy, but Oz let it slip about our idea. His exact words were, 'well Buffy can't go. We need to do some bonding of our own, plus I don't want her in a different city for that long'." Buffy's mouth dropped open.
"You've got to be kidding me." Willow shook his head.
"Oz said that he wasn't up for the idea at all, but I promised Anya that I'd run the idea past you. Cordy has no idea what we're planning, and you know what that would mean." Buffy slapped her hand on her forehead.
"We'd be there just in time for her birthday! I'll bet Angel has a huge blow out planned, doesn't he?" Willow nodded.
"He's the one who broached Oz about it, and he was all for it. He said that you and I were being mopey lately because we missed our friends so much. Oz misses Xander and Angel, but he's a guy and won't admit it." Buffy was stopped from responding because there was a knock on the door. It was just then that Buffy realized that the music had stopped. Willow stifled a giggle.
"Come in, it's open." Oz opened the door and smiled when he saw Buffy.
"I thought I saw you wander back here. We're done, so you can come out of hiding." Willow cocked her head to the side and gave Oz a weird look, who only grinned.
"She's already gone." Willow smiled and hopped off of her bed.
"You know me so well, sweetie." Oz just took Willow's hand and led her out of the small room. Buffy was left with nothing to do but follow. When she appeared in the living room, Spike looked up, surprised.
"Hey, I didn't know that you were here." Buffy stopped the retort that was on the edge of her tongue and looked over at Willow.
"I'm headed out, I've got homework. I'll call you tonight to discuss that matter you brought up to me." Willow smiled mischievously and waved. Spike stood up as well and walked to the door with Buffy. When they were outside, he walked over to his car and held the passenger side open for her. She still marveled that he did stuff like that for her, but he couldn't look her in the eye anymore. When they were seated in his car and the engine was started, Spike finally spoke to her.
"Look, I know what Willow 'brought up' to you, and the answer is no. I do not want you going back to Sunnydale right now, so you can save the speech you were going to give me." Buffy didn't say a thing to him for the entire ride home. When he pulled into their lot, she opened the door before he could get to it and stalked past him through the door. Spike sighed as he entered and closed the door.
"Do you think that we could just skip this fight, luv? I'm really rather tired, and I believe I heard you tell Red that you've got assignments." Buffy crossed her arms.
"I wasn't going to argue with you, Spike. I wasn't even going to give you a speech like you thought." Spike ran his hand over his face, knowing that there was no avoiding the fight.
"Okay, what were you going to do then?" Buffy smirked.
"Well, seeing the fact that I am an adult capable of making my own decisions, I was going to tell you that I was going to Sunnydale next week. I miss Cordy and Anya, and its Cordy's birthday. So, it'll just make going back extra special for all included." Spike was shaking his head before she even finished her statement.
"Look, Buffy, I know that you want to go, but you can't. We can't afford the plane ticket and the hotel expense. We need the money for food…not to mention rent." Buffy sat down, pretty much ignoring his tirade, and started pulling her textbooks out.
"Like I said, Spike, I wasn't asking for your permission. You're not one of my parents; you have no right to tell me what I can or cannot do with my money." Spike was holding his temper in by a thin thread.
"What happened to it being 'our money' pet?" Buffy slammed her book down, stood up, and faced him.
"I'm talking about the money that I have in savings. I don't buy new clothes, I don't buy CD's, I don't buy the new manolo's that I desperately want to buy, it all gets put into my savings account for a special occasion. This has nothing to do with the money I put towards our day to day expenses; it's my separate money for me." Spike slammed his hand down hard on the kitchen table, causing Buffy to jump.
"Dammit, Buffy, I don't give a shit about the money! You're not going and that's final!" After making this statement, he walked into the bedroom and slammed the door as hard as he could. Buffy collapsed into a fit of tears on the couch.
