Authors note: Sorry its been so long. But it's hard to go to school full time and work 40 hours a week. Hope it was worth the wait though! Please review!

As soon as Buffy and Spike entered the Bronze, Buffy started looking for Suzanne. She finally spotted her on the dance floor with Jason. She was practically in his lap. While she seemed to be having a great time, Jason looked a tad uncomfortable.

"Well, that's Suzanne and Jason."

Buffy said to Spike as she nodded her head in their direction.

As if she had heard her name Suzanne turned suddenly and smiled over at Buffy. Buffy then watched as her gaze traveled over to Spike. Suzanne's eyes widened for a brief second but returned to normal just as quickly. She then leaned up to Jason, whispered something in his ear and started over to Buffy, Jason trailing behind.

As they got closer Buffy felt Spike's arm wrap possessively around her waist.

"Buffy! I'm so glad you made it!" Suzanne greeted. Her expression changed abruptly and she added, "You, of course, remember Jason?"

Buffy looked over at Jason. He hadn't changed at all. Still the same dark brown hair, tanned face, and deep green eyes. He looked every bit as handsome as he had in highschool.

"Hello Buff" he smiled warmly. His eyes seemed to devour her and she felt Spike's grip around her waist tighten.

"Hi Jas," she replied. They both stood there, staring at each other til Buffy heard Spike clear his throat. Instantly she remembered her reason for being here.

"Oh, Suzanne and Jason I"d like to you meet my fiancé....Spike."

"Spike?" Jason asked disbelievingly.

"Ya mate, that's right. Spike. You got a bloody problem with that?" Spike returned.

"Hey," Buffy interrupted, "why don't we go sit down and get something to eat?"

"Sounds good to me," Suzanne agreed, "Roger and Janie are saving us a table."

Suzanne then proceeded to lead them across the Bronze to a quaint little table where Janie and Roger were patently waiting.

Buffy had expected to be greeted with the same spiteful attitude Suzanne had shown her the other day, instead, they looked genuinely glad to see her. After exchanging the usual "hello" and "nice to see you again", the three couples all settled in at the table.

Suzanne was the first to speak. "Buffy I was just about to telling Janie about your new wonderful career."

Buffy wanted to crawl into a corner and hide.

"Really, I thought I"d die laughing when I saw that hat! Of course you understand, it was just such a surprise, and I mean it did have that cow chicken thing on it!" She let out another little giggle that made Buffy want to snap her head clean off.

Spike sensed her discomfort and decided to shut Suzanne up, at least for now, "Yes," Spike agreed, "that hat is utterly ridiculous."

Suzanne's smile widened until he added...

"Which only makes me love her more. I mean, to give up everything so she can go to work everyday in that hell hole. To give up everything so she can have enough money to take care of her little sis, well, there are few people in this world that I know who would make such a sacrifice."

Buffy's smile beamed at him.

"Take care of her sister?" Suzanne snapped. "Why on earth would she have to do that."

Spike turned to her then, his eyes as cold as ice, "Because," he said softly, "Buffy's mum passed away last year."

Everyone at the table grew quiet. Suzanne even had the grace to look away.

"Oh Buffy I'm so sorry," Janie cried. "If Suzanne had known she would never had said anything, isn't that right Suzanne?"

Suzanne nodded but continued to look away.

Buffy appreciated Janie's apology for her friend, even if Suzanne didn't seem so willing to give it.

"Why don't you tell us how you in Spike met?" Janie continued, in an attempt to change the subject.

"Oh, let me tell this one Buffy." Spike begged. "You see," Spike began as he casually tossed his arm around Buffy, "I had just gotten out of a pretty bad relationship with this really demented girl..."

"Come on," Janie insisted, "she wasn't really that bad was she?"

"Believe me when I say, YEAH." Buffy countered.

Spike shot her a look, "Anyway, I was at this very spot drowning my misery with a bottle of Jack Daniels, when this cute spunky blonde approached me and asked me to dance. I blew her off, but she was just so damn persistent I finally gave in.

If Spike could have seen the look Buffy gave him just then he might have decided to revise his story.

"Well, I hadn't realized how much I had drank and lets just say I didn't make it out to the dance floor. Buffy took it upon herself to make sure I got home ok. When I woke up the next morning there was a note on my desk telling me she hoped I was feeling better and she had written her number on the bottom. What can I say...she fancied me, didn't you pet?"

Buffy smiled at him but her eyes were burning with anger.

"I waited a couple days, you know, keeping her in suspense, before I called her. I expected I'd take her out a couple times, play the hurt sensitive victim and get a little rebound action."

Buffy was enraged now. She was about to put Spike in his place when she heard...

"What I hadn't expected was to fall madly in love with the most beautiful, amazing, and intriguing woman I had ever met. One date and I was hooked.

Spike looked at Buffy with such love in his eyes she forgot all her anger.

"I'm a better man because of her, when you find that, you don't just let it go. I proposed 2 months later."

They both looked at each other then, forgetting where they were. Spike, not being able to take it anymore, leaned in and brushed his lips against hers.

When the kiss ended, Spike turned and continued in conversation with

Janie and Roger.

Buffy sat there in silence thinking about what had just happened. The kiss had left her shaken. She had to keep reminding herself that this was just an act. Spike was evil, none of this was real. Get ahold of yourself Buffy! You ended everything. One made up story and brief kiss can't change that. She forced herself to focus on what was being said at the table.

Suzanne had just finished commenting on how much she loved the band and was asking Spike to dance.

He gave Buffy a questioning look to which she replied she didn't care. Suzanne jumped out of her seat, smiling briefly at Buffy and whispered, "don't worry Buffy, I'll take good care of him, I promise." She gave Spike a wink and dragged him out onto the dance floor. Buffy muttered under her breath as she watched Suzanne throw herself into Spikes arms and sway her hips to the music.

"Jas, lets dance."

Jason readily agreed. "Two can play at this game," Buffy said to herself, "and I"m going to win."