AN: Woo-hoo, another chapter all ready and posted for you guys. I'm on a roll! Guess I'm chock full of literary inspiration, but don't think I can keep this up with a new chapter nearly every day. I'll try though ; )

Chapter 12: Things Suddenly Get a Whole Lot More Confusing

Before any of the confused observers could inquire as to what was going on, Spike whooped loudly, threw down his duffel bag and lunged towards the girl, lifting her up in his arms and showering her with kisses and other profuse signs of affection. Well, thought Buffy, startled. Certainly wasn't expecting that. She immediately found the scene distasteful and above all, mystifying. Spike? Associated with signs of affection? This must have been defying all fates of the cosmos. She frowned along with Giles when watching this confounding display.

The girl was squealing with pleasure, her arms thrown around Spike's neck, legs dangling in mid-air as she returned his kisses with equal fervor. He swung her around the room, both of them chuckling with ebullient laughter. Spike gazed at her, still in amazement. "Drusilla, baby, I can't believe you're here," he breathed in a soft voice Buffy had never heard him use before. For some reason, it bothered her just as much, if not more, as his regularly caustic tone. Spike had let Drusilla down and looked to her partner with equal excitement. "And Munitz! You bloody, wonderful bastard, how the hell are you?! W-what are you doing here?!" He attacked the man in a crushing, manly hug that involved a number of grunts and much backslapping. The man grinned intensely as they both parted.

"What do you think, mate? I'm here to visit you! I finally managed to wrench out of that old baggage you call a grandmum details on where you bloody were. And since me and the missus were wantin' a release from the London fog, a visit to the States, and some fun in the sun, we figured, hell, we might was well go to the place that had it all, not to mention our favorite rabble-rouser." He scruffled Spike's hair messily in a brotherly embrace.

Spike was still overcome with elation, babbling jubilantly. "But y-you . . . I mean, how d-did you---h-how's everyone? S-Smithy, Peterson, Benny, Rob, Arab, Blade, Tom--"

"William!" Giles stepped forward, interrupting the joyous reunion as he eyed the two newcomers suspiciously. Both certainly looked well acquainted with the street life of London. Munitz was dressed in old leather and black, a sort of taller version of Spike without the bleached blonde hair and reminded Giles of some of his old mates during his "Ripper" days. He immediately distrusted him. "Umm, w-why don't you introduce us to your, um, friends?"

"Huh? Oh." Spike was brought back down from his euphoria momentarily. He sighed carelessly towards his father and breezed through introductions. "Umm, allow me to introduce Munitz and his sister, Drusilla. Munitz, Drusilla, that's Rupert."

"His father," Giles corrected and leaned forward for a courteous shake. Munitz nearly ripped off his arm and shortly turned back to Spike.

"Your dad?" Whistling, he eyed him up and down. "He's rather stiff and upper, in't he? Looks like he's got a good bit a'treacle behind the ears. Wouldn't imagine you came from that."

"Ehhemm." Giles frowned maddeningly, interrupting. "Uhh…Munitz is it? How is it that you're acquainted with my son?"

"Oh we go way back. We're both in the . . ." Suddenly, with some forethought he paused. "Umm . . . in the same band," he finished with a shrug of the shoulders. Giles saw right through it.

"Aha. I see."

Spike abruptly slapped Munitz on the back before Giles, in all seriousness, brought down the mood completely. "Yup, we were in the same band. This bloke plays a killer lead guitar. Rips it up, he does. Taught me the tricks a' the trade. And this lovely goddess---" he turned now to Drusilla and put an adoring hand to her pale face. "Would show up to all our gigs, our most loyal fan. She'd come firstly as support for her brother, but later as I'd come to know her better, she and I---" he blushed as he lay down the history of his and Drusilla's relationship. "Well, let's just say, by that time I had my own personal groupie." He winked to no one in particular and snaked one arm around Drusilla as she sighed with contentment.

"I missed you so much luv," she said, simpering and saccharine-like. Spike pulled closer to her.

"If it's as half as much as I missed you, baby . . ." Spike purred, spooning into Drusilla's arms. Buffy nearly gagged at the sight. Annoying, hostile, perverse Spike was bad enough; sweet, puppy-loving Spike was repulsive.

"I wanted you to come with me and Miss Edith to a tea party in the park," Drusilla was mumbling in a lilting, singsong voice as she drew circles on Spike's chest. "But you weren't there to hear the music in m'head as the horsies went off to play down Kingsbury Row." Spike responded to her Dada-esque remarks by merely nuzzling her forehead. Buffy and Willow exchanged utterly confused looks.

"Miss Edith?" Buffy interjected puzzledly.

"Her doll," Spike supplied, still nuzzling.

"Huh . . . not exactly the most linear girl on the block, is she?" Willow whispered to Buffy, who nodded in agreement.

"Where are you stayin' pet? Spike still retained his hushed voice as he smiled towards Drusilla.

"The Sunnydale Motor Inn," Munitz cut in.

"That pile a'piss?" Spike was incensed. "No bloody way, you're stayin' here."

"Ahhh, William, perhaps---" Giles was up and started, dismayed at this new prospect.

Spike gave an incredulous look to his father. "You're not gonna let my best mate and my girl stay in that squalid hellhole, are you?"

Giles pursed his lips. "I thought you were preparing for a departure yourself."

Spike shrugged his shoulders restlessly. "Was gonna, but now, not so much. Didn't have any money anyway. Wasn't a good plan besides, didn't think it through." He turned back to Munitz and Drusilla. "So it's settled! You and Munitz are welcome houseguests here!"

"Wonderful!" Munitz was fast catching on. "I'll just take the master suite, and I'll be set." Giles cleared his throat meaningfully and Munitz grinned puckishly. "Just joshin' you, mate." Before Giles could brighten, he continued. "I can take the couch. It's closer to the bar anyway. Glad to see you keep it well stocked. Hope the larder is too, cause oi, am I ravenous. You don't happen to have Weetabix here in the States, do you?"

Giles rubbed his forehead again and tried to put it as politely as he could. "I-I really d-don't think it would be a good idea t-to---"

"You could sleep in my room with me," Spike was saying softly to Drusilla with a smile. Giles straightened.

"I bloody well think not! Drusilla may have your room, but you're bunking down here with Munitz!"

Spike gave him a sour face, but happily grinned at both the new houseguests. Giles suddenly realized what he inadvertedly agreed to and inwardly groaned. Willow and Buffy both had the epiphany that they were in over their heads.

"Ummm, well, we'll just leave you all to getting settled . . ." Buffy said uncomfortably, backing away towards the exit with Willow. Munitz perked up when he became aware of her presence.

"'Ello, ello," he piped up, giving Buffy an appreciative look up and down. "Who's Miss Hollywood?"

Buffy recoiled and cringed. "Okay, umm, eww," she quipped, unsuccessfully disguising her repulsion.

Spike, still tangled in Drusilla's arms turned to Buffy, and resorted back to his scathing attitude when referring to her. "Oh her. Never mind her, she's just a dumb blonde."

"Hey!" Buffy made a jump towards Spike, her fist instinctively flying up in regular Slayer stance. Willow tugged on it and eased her away from the scene.

"Ummm, i-it was nice meeting you all," Willow was saying with her usual generic politeness as she dragged Buffy out the door. "I-I hope you have a good stay in Sunnydale." With that, she and Buffy nearly ran out the door, which Spike slammed after them with relish. Out on the doorstep, Willow sighed with relief before glancing over at Buffy. "Is it just me, or did things suddenly just get a whole lot more confusing?"

Buffy alternated her gaze from her best friend to the door behind which the recent dysfunctional scene had taken place. She raised her eyebrows. "Oh yeah," she affirmed as they both walked away.

Another Author's Note: Okay, okay, before you guys go up in arms, flame me, or worse yet, stop reading the fic altogether, let me clarify one thing: this is NOT a S/D fic. I only threw in Drusilla to muck things up and she does indeed have a purpose in the plot (as you will see later), so please stomach the S/D mushiness for a little while longer. And both Spuffers and Bangels (is that the right term? lol): let me just say that I am not done with EITHER ONE of these ships. I know I've barely even touched B/S (which should give you a clue that I'm gonna), and as for B/A, I'm nowhere NEAR done with all of that. Looks like this could be a wild card, folks. Still trying to make you sweat and guess how this one is gonna turn out. So stay tuned and hold on tight, 'cause it's gonna be a bumpy ride ; )