Chapter 16
Loft Apartment
"Willow have you seen my text book for American Politics anywhere?" Tara asked as she made her way through the different books that were scattered around the dinning room table.
Willow looked up from her laptop. "I think Anya was reading it. Something about learning about the people she would one day be taking money from."
"She does know that most of the people in that particular book are dead by now doesn't she?"
"I tried to explain that to her but she was having none of it."
"I guess I could work on my government instead…Do you know where that book might be?"
"Anya took them both."
"Alright. American History it is. Do you mind if I join you."
"Of course not. The more brains the merrier."
*****
"Buffy what are your plans for tonight?" Cordelia asked as she ran her hands over the clothing in Buffy's walk-in closet.
"I have major plans that consist of studying for my Economics' test that I have tomorrow. Why?"
"I was just wondering."
"Cordelia you don't ask questions dealing with plans unless you already have them. So spill."
"I was kinda thinking we could go hang over at Angel's tonight."
"Why does it have to be 'we'? Why can't it just be 'you'?"
"Because Riley will be there. And no fun can be had with Angel if Riley is in the next bed."
"So. Just have Angel come over here then. You have your own room, with a door that locks and everything. Anya has Xander over here almost every night."
"That's Anya, and Xander is friends with both Willow and Tara. I don't want them to feel weird with Angel around."
"Since when do you care about people feeling weird about anything?" Buffy asked with a smile
"I don't." Cordelia smiled back.
"Then why are we having this conversation?"
"Can we just change the subject now."
"No. I want to know why you don't want Angel to come over here?"
"So, what were you saying about your sister earlier?" Cordelia asked trying to change the subject.
"Cordelia."
"Please just drop it Buffy."
"Fine. Dawn and I had a fight about why our parents moved to Sunnydale. She started talking about how it was my fault that she had to move and leave behind all her friends. Then she went into how our parents would react if they found out about what happened over the summer, and how disgusted Mother would be and the way Father would react to everything. Then she went in about my ex-boyfriend Parker."
"The one that…"
"That same one."
"What happened after that."
"She just kept talking about it, and how our Father had reacted after finding out how far Parker's and my relationship had gone."
"He knows about it all?"
"He doesn't know how offend certain things happened but he knows that they happened."
"Wow. My Father would probably ship me off somewhere while he hired people to take out the guy who did those things to me."
"Parker comes from an equally powerful family as me. If we had gone public with any of it Parker would have come out as the victim do to the fact that his Father is a Judge in the courts in L.A."
"Its times like that you wish you'd dated someone with less money. But only times like that. What else happened with you and your sister?"
"She kept talking, and I'd finally had enough. I…I slapped her."
"Buffy…" Cordelia whispered with sadness in her eyes as she looked at one of her closest friends.
"She still won't talk to me. It's been four days. Maria says that she doesn't talk to any of them, and the only time she leaves her room is to go to school or to get something to eat."
"Doesn't she have a dance coming up next week?"
"Yeah?" Buffy asked not sure where Cordelia was going with her question.
"I think I have a plan to get you and your sister talking again."
The two girls shared a smile.
Chapter 17
Dress Shopping
"Buffy, what color should do you think Dawn's dress should be?" Cordelia asked as she ran her hand over the different colors and styles of the semi-formula dresses as Dawn tried on the first five she had picked out.
"Huh?"
"Buffy, I asked you what color your sister's dress should be."
"I'm sorry Cordy. I really appreciate you getting Dawn to talk to me again, but I'm not much for shopping right now. I've got a lot on my mind."
"Faith?"
"Did you see the way she was looking at me in class on Wednesday? I have no idea what she has planned."
"Buffy don't worry about it now. There's nothing you can do about it right now."
Buffy sighed. "I guess you're right. God, how could I have been so stupid? It's bad enough I kissed my English Professor, but not as bad as the fact that he's married."
"Buffy you're not stupid. I would have never made out with my Professor in school with the door cracked open for anyone who stopped in front of it to see. But that's not the point. You have some unresolved feelings, both of you do. Now, if you don't start helping me pick out your sister's dress I'll never speak to you again."
Buffy let a small smile play across her face. "I wouldn't want that, now would I?"
"Hey!"
"Dawn lets get this fashion show on the road." Buffy yelled out to her sister.
*****
Two Hours Later
"What do you think about this one?" Dawn asked as she walked out of the dressing room.
"That's the one." Cordelia stated as she saw her friend's sister standing in front of her.
"Are you sure?" Dawn questioned as she looked at her reflection in every possible angle.
"Yes! It's prefect."
"It doesn't make me look fat does it?"
"No!"
"But…"
"Dawn you weigh less then your sister over here, if that's possible."
"Okay, okay. I'll get this one."
"Great. Cordelia and I will be by the cashier when you're ready."
"Okay. Then we get food, right?"
"Food is a defendant must after hours of you trying on almost every dress in the shop."
"You're just as bad when it comes to your own dress shopping."
"Go now, or you pay for it with your own money."
"I'm gone." Dawn said as she walked back into the dressing room.
"Cordy thanks for doing this for us. It was really nice of you."
"I have my moments. But you are so going to owe me in the future."
*****
Food Court
Riley and Angel sat at a table with their drinks, relieving the past game, while they waited for Angel's younger brother it get his food.
"Did you see how I made that last touchdown? It was amazing!"
"I swear Angel, the way you talk people are going to think football is the only thing you're good at." Cordelia said with a grin on her face as she and Buffy took seats next to their dates for Homecoming.
Angel pulled Cordelia down onto his lap. "I'll have you know I'm good at many things." Cordelia took her own seat next to Angel as Buffy took one next to Riley.
"Um. Lets keep this PG. My little sister is with us." Buffy said motioning towards Dawn who was walking back to the table with Connor.
"Sorry kido." Riley replied as he made room for the younger teens to sit.
"So, what brings you lovely ladies to the mall this afternoon?" Angel asked as he placed his hand on Cordelia's uncovered knee.
"We're helping Buffy's little sister pick out her dress for her first middle school dance next weekend."
"Oh, Connor you're going to that right?"
"Yeah." Connor looked at his brother with a worried look in his eyes. 'Please don't do what you're about to do. Please. Please. Please.'
"Why don't you take Buffy's lil sis as your date?" Angel asked knowing just how much Connor would hate him for it.
Dawn just sat there as all the older teens turned to face the younger couple.
"That is if Dawn doesn't already have a date."
"No." Dawn answered as her face reddened.
"No you don't have a date, or no you don't want Connor here to ask you?" Angel asked with a grin.
Buffy punched his arm. "Angel stop teasing her."
"Alright then. Connor why don't you ask Dawn to the dance."
Connor shot glares at his older brother before turning towards Dawn. "Um…Would you…Would you like to go with me?"
"Sure."
"Really?"
"Pick me up at 7:30?"
"Okay."
"Isn't young love so adorable?" Angel asked in a mocking tone.
"Dawn here's some money, why don't you and Connor go walk around the mall and I'll have Harry pick you up in the front and drive you both home around seven." Buffy said as she put her wallet back into her purse.
"What about my dress?"
"I'll drop it off at the house when I tell Harry what time to get you and before I head back to campus."
"Okay."
Once the younger teens were out of sight the older one returned to talking about their lives.
Chapter 18
10:43am-Professor Winthrop's Lecture Hall
"That concludes class for today. Don't forget that your papers are do next week, and I will not except anything late."
The lecture hall was filled with the noises of student shuffling papers and pick up their belongings, and the sound of their shoes going down the steps and out into the hallway.
"Ms. Summers I'd like to speak with you for a moment alone."
"Sure. Cordelia why don't you go ahead and I'll meet you in the front quad."
"Are you sure?"
Buffy nodded. "Yeah, go ahead."
"Alright. Don't forget to close the door this time."
"Goodbye Ms. Chase." Spike said as he closed and locked the door behind her.
"So, what would you like to speak with me about?" Buffy asked as Spike walked back over to his desk where she was standing.
"The final project for this class." Spike said as he pulled out a set of paper from his briefcase.
"What about it?"
"I think it might be harder for you then it will be for the rest of the class."
"Why is that?"
Spike handed Buffy the papers he was holding. "This is a outline I made for the final project."
Buffy read over the paper before looking back up towards Spike. "You want us to write about life changing events that happened to us to make us who we are?"
"Yes. I feel as a teacher that people write with more feeling when the assignment is based on their real lives."
"Let me get this right. You as the teacher feel that your students write with 'more feeling' when they have to most likely relive extremely painful moments, all for a grade."
"Buffy I knew that this project would be hard for you, that's why I decided to tell you about this months before its actually due."
"How sweet of you to be thinking of others in such a way." Buffy replied in a sarcastic tone.
"Buffy…" Spike whispered in a low voice as he reached his hand out towards her.
"I have to go, I'm suppose to be having lunch with my friends right now."
Spike stood in silence as Buffy stumbled around gathering her books and bag.
"I'll see you in class next week?"
Buffy just nodded her head and walked out the door.
*****
Loft Apartment
"At least he told you about it." Cordelia stated as the two girls sat on Buffy's bed and talked about what had happened earlier.
"Cordelia I don't think I will be able to do this."
"Why not?"
"I slapped my sister all because she was talking about it."
"I see your point."
"He knew I would react this way."
"Maybe if you talk with him, he can give you a different assignment for the final project."
"No. I'll do the paper. I'm tried of running from my past."
"You're not really running from it if it's right in front of you."
*Author's Note {these brackets mean it is a dream.}
Chapter 19
Buffy's Bedroom
{The bedroom was lit with dozens of candles, and rose petals covered both the pathway to the bed and the bed itself.
"Is all this for me?" Buffy asked as her eyes began to tear up from the beauty of the room.
"Of course Luv. Whom else would it be for?" Spike asked as he wrapped his arms around Buffy's small waist.
"It's beautiful." Buffy said as she turned to face Spike, still wrapped in his arms. "What's the reason behind it?"
"Don't always need a reason." He said as he led her further into the room. "But since you asked I'll tell you, after you open your gift."
"I get a gift?" Buffy asked with a large smile on her face.
Spike nodded. "More than one, Pet. That is, of course if you're a very good girl."
"What if I don't want to be a good girl?" Buffy teased with a pout on her face.
Spike grinned at Buffy's pout before leaning down and nipping at her lower lip. "You'll want to be."
They both locked eyes for a moment. Both seeing how much the other loved and wanted them.
"You'd better sit down or we'll miss the whole purpose of this evening."
Buffy took a seat in a chair in the corner of the room. "You mean this night isn't just `bout sex?" She asked with a grin on her face.
"No, this night is about much more than just sex." Spike answered in a rather serious tone as he pulled out a small ring box and kneeled in front of Buffy.
Buffy's eyes widened as she watched Spike's movements.
"In this box is a symbol of my love for you." Spike opened the box to reveal a large emerald cut ruby set on a platinum band. "The jeweler at the shop said it was the deepest red ruby he had ever seen, and as it came from a man who has been doing this for the past 45 years, you tend to believe him."
Buffy raised a shacking hand to the ring. "Spike, its beautiful."
"The color represents how deeply my love for you goes." Spike pulled the ring out of the box. "I wanted you to have something that every time you saw it you would think of me, and know how much I truly love you." Spike then placed the ruby on Buffy's ring finger.
"I'll never take it off. I…"}
"…love you…"Buffy muttered while she turned her head in her sleep.
Willow closed the door of her sleeping roommate's room and went back to the phone that was waiting down stairs.
"I'm sorry she'll still asleep at the moment. Can I take a message?"
"…"
"I'll be sure she gets the message."
"Who was that?" Tara asked as she walked over to where Willow was standing.
"An old friend of Buffy's from L.A. He said his name was Parker." Willow answered as she wrote down the message for Buffy.
"Oh. I was planning on making pancakes. Do you want?"
"With funny shapes?" Willow asked as a large grin formed on her face, jumping up and down slightly.
"Of Course."
"Lets go." Willow interlocked her arm with Tara's never noticing the message fall behind the cabinet the phone rested on.
Chapter 20
Summers' Mansion
It was a little after six and Buffy and Cordelia were trying their best to get Dawn to calm down so they could finish getting her ready for her first middle school dance.
"My hair is all wrong, and this dress really does make me look fat. Connor's going to be here soon and nothing is going right." Dawn yelled at the older teens as she paced her room.
Cordelia was just about to say to hell with the whole thing and leave Buffy to deal with her annoying sister all by herself. "Buffy I can't take it anymore. Your sister is driving me crazy. I could be out parting right now with Angel, but instead I'm here to help you get your sister to forgive you for slapping her when after thinking about it I think you were in the right with the whole thing."
"Cordelia I know, and I'm really sorry. I will make this up to you, I promise."
"Yeah well you'd better make it up to me. Thank god Mother and Father stopped have children after me."
"Hello. This is my night and the two of you aren't helping."
Cordelia was heading towards Dawn when Buffy stopped her. "Why don't you go get some air and I'll finish up here?"
"Fine."
Buffy turned to Dawn once Cordelia left the room. "Alright. Your hair looks great. The dress does not make you look fat. And Connor won't be here for another hour. You need to calm down. Cordelia went through a lot of trouble to help you out tonight and I think it's best if you thank her for it before you leave."
"But…"
"I also think that if you're smart you'll sit your little ass down before you really do ruin all the work Cordy and I have gone through over the past two hours."
"I…"
"Do it."
"Your worse than Maria." Dawn said as she sat down in the chair in front of her vanity.
"I'll take that as a complement. Now, I'm going to go find Cordy and I'll come get you when Connor shows up."
Buffy was opening the door when she heard her name called.
"Yeah?"
"Thank you."
"What are big sis's for? I'll be back soon."
*****
The Bronze
"It was a complete nightmare." Cordelia said from her seat next to Angel.
"It wasn't that bad." Buffy added.
"Buffy please, we did your sister's hair and makeup like a thousand times."
"Okay, your right. It was a nightmare. But it was wroth it. Did you see her face light up when she saw Connor at the foot of the stairs? It was so sweet."
"I take it my little brother might get lucky tonight?"
"Um. Hello her older sister is sitting right in front of you. If any part of your brother even come close to getting lucky tonight, lets just say he won't be much of a man when I'm done with him."
"Can we change the subject now? I really don't want to spend the rest of my night talking about thirteen and fourteen years olds when I could be dancing with a certain football player."
"I guess you could dance with Riley. I've been wanting to take Buffy for a spin. Ow! I was just joking."
"Keep it up mister and you'll be going home alone." Cordelia said as she took Angel's offered hand and headed to the dance floor.
*****
An Hour Later
"Tell me again why I had to come with the two of you?" Spike asked as he entered The Bronze.
"You came with us because Dru is helping her father at the shop again, and we need you here in order to get chicks." Deacon stated as he surveyed the club for his next conquest.
"And you need me here for that because?"
"It simple. More girls come around us when you're here. Your married so the girls who wanted you turn to us in their time of need."
"So, let me get this straight. The girls want me. But upon my not being available they turn to you."
"Right."
"You need some serious help Deacon. And what about you Carter?"
"I'm just along for the ride like you are."
"Ah."
"Besides, I'm more of a long term kinda guy. Unlike Deacon, who's trying to get over the love of his adult life by making it all about his next lay." `I'd actually like a girl like Buffy.' Carter thought to himself, knowing how Spike would react if he ever learned about his feelings for the girl Spike was ready to leave his wife for. Carter had been there for Buffy when she had found out about Drusilla. Carter knew how much pain she was in, and in that moment he knew he never wanted to see her hurt that way again. Carter knew that Buffy was aware of his feelings for her, and he knew that she would never feel the same way. Clearing his head of all thoughts he joined the others in looking around the club.
Spike was looking around the club; it was different being on the floor instead of on the stage. When he was on the stage he got a rush. He knew everyone was there to see the band, and he always felt good about being able to get audiences full attention with the sound of his voice. As he looked further through the club his eyes came to rest on a petite blonde who was dancing dangerously close to a much taller man.
"Spike, whose Buffy's new man?" Deacon asked as he watched the way Buffy was moving her hips.
Spike turn to face Deacon. "What?"
Deacon pointed out onto the dance floor. "Over there."
Spike looked back on the dance floor, only this time he could see Buffy's face just before Riley leaned down and captured her lips.
"How come you didn't tell us she could move like that?" Deacon asked still in shock by how much he was being turned on by just watching Buffy move her hips.
Carter punched Deacon in the arm.
"OW! What was that for?"
Carter nodded his head towards Spike was now looking at the opposite side of the club.
"Oh…"
Spike never knew anything could hurt more than the day Buffy found out the truth. But now, seeing Buffy making-out with another man he felt like his world was falling apart all over again. He knew he had no right to feel this way. Buffy was free to be with anyone she wanted. But he still couldn't help but feel a touch of jealousy.
*****
On the dance floor Buffy was having a hard time keeping up this act. She liked Riley, and at any other time in her life she would have been head over heels for him. But right now her mind was screaming for Spike, to have Spike' hands and lips running all over her body. To have him whispering loving words into her ear after hours of making love, to just be with him. After a few moments Buffy pulled away from Riley and took his hand. "Let's get out of here."
Riley nodded his head and retrieved their belonging and took Buffy's offered hand once more.
Buffy cast one last look towards Spike before she headed home, with Riley.