Here's a quick chappy to tide you over for awhile. Thanks for hanging in with me, I told you this was going to be a long one. Someone mentioned in a review that the story can't end when they finally get together. Please remember, that I do have a sequel planned, so don't ever guess what I have in store for you guys. As for dragging things out - yep, I am going to do that (just probably not in the ways you think). Oh, and there will be more talks between Buffy and Spike, confronting all their other insecurities.

Anyway, keep reading and reviewing - it fuels my soul. I can't tell you just how much your kind words mean to me - you're the best!

"Summer Nights" was runner-up for Week 8 at Spuffy Archives and is up for Fic of the Week AGAIN. So, show some love and head over to www.spuffyarchives.com. THAT MEANS YOU!!

Enjoy! (34 should be up Monday evening or Tuesday morning)

Thanks again to Flames and Lady Anne.

Ok, now you can read.

33. Friends, Lovers & Leather Pants

DAY 15

Buffy woke up the next morning feeling refreshed and ready to face the world. Her talk' with Spike the night before had helped make things clear. She now knew that he wanted her, and only her - that Drusilla meant nothing. Not to mention, that she'd finally gotten it through to Spike that she didn't have romantic feelings for Angel. They had decided to be friends,' or at least pretend to be until they could really be together without hurting each other - and Buffy was ok with that.

Buffy scanned the cafeteria, Let's see if it works,' and plopped down next to Spike, who was resting his head on the table. Morning sleepy-head, she said, ruffling his hair.

Spike shot up and looked at the culprit; shocked when he realized it was Buffy. Remembering what they had talked about, he tried to recover quickly. Hey, princess, I was just trying to get some beauty sleep. He examined her eyes, and smirked at her. Looks like I'm not the one who needs it.

This coming from the man who takes fashion advice from an 80's has-been? She rolled her eyes, and quickly shot a hand out to twist his nipple.

Spike yelped, covering his chest. Those are my man nipples you're messing with.

'Oh, my man nipples,' she mocked. It's only fair trade, she raised an eyebrow at him, Oh well, I guess not everyone enjoys a little rough play. She stood up from her chair and looked around the cafeteria. I guess I should try to find some new hottie to harass; perhaps someone who enjoys my bad girl side.

Spike chuckled as he watched her flounce off towards the line. Ok, so maybe it won't be that bad. . .This flirtatious banter's kind of fun.'

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Buffy instructed the group of girls on the stage in front of her, who were singing and dancing to A Bushel and a Peck, from Guys & Dolls. That's great! And . . .He loves me?' Buffy struck pose, which the girls mimicked. "He loves me not?" They hit a new pose. "He loves me?" Buffy hit a pose again, but this time the girls didn't quite keep up, and began giggling. He loves me. . .Hey! What is going on here? she asked the laughing teenagers. They couldn't talk through their giggling, so she turned around to see Spike mocking the poses behind her. That is so not funny! she said, trying desperately to be serious. But he continued to pose with one hand on his hip and the other across his forehead, while puckering his lips and bouncing up and down. She couldn't contain her laughter and pushing him out of the pose. she exclaimed, pointing to the back of the theater.

Spike shook is head. No can do, pet. Oz sent me over to work out the lighting with you for this show. He looked to the girls on the stage. Plus, I kinda thought you would fit me in this number. I bet I'd look really cute in red and white checks. What do you think, sweet bits? The girls giggled again and started begging Buffy to let Spike be in the show.

I don't think so, she responded, shaking her head. She walked over to the piano and instructed the accompanist to continue running the number and to follow Dawn's instructions. Drusilla was teaching Fun & Games this period, so the teenager was her only assistant.

Spike followed Buffy over to the lighting booth, and watched her jump to grab onto the ledge. She stuck her foot into the corner of the riser, and began pulling herself up. Spike gazed happily at her backside and at one point, even gave her a little boost - when she tensed up, he couldn't help himself, and squeezed her right ass cheek. He quickly pulled himself up and stood up beside Buffy in the booth. She gave him simple instructions on how to work the system then pulled out an extra script for him to take notes in the margins. Soon they were just watching the girls on the stage. Did you choreograph that, luv?

Buffy blushed and nodded, afraid of what he might say.

It's quite good. How'd you get 30 teenage girls to do that?

Buffy smiled brightly and shrugged her shoulders. I try to make it fun for them, I guess. The more challenging it is, the more they'll want to work on it. She leaned towards him and whispered conspiratorially. Plus, it doesn't hurt to make it a little sexy. Or at least make them think it is.

Spike laughed and poked her in the side. Trying to corrupt the little girls already, are you?

Buffy yelped as he began tickling her sides. She finally managed to fend him off, only to find herself staring deeply into his eyes. Breaking the eye contact, she moved her attentions back to her own script. "You know, there is one place in the show we may need you. . ." she said quietly.

Spike cleared his throat and began paging through his copy of Guys and Dolls. "Really?" he asked with a little too much interest. "Where's that?" He tried covering for his previous excitement, but Buffy was already gaping at him.

She giggled and told him to turn to the opening of the second act. "There's this part in the show where the crap game gets broken up by the police and all the gamblers run across the stage in a panic. We usually try to pull in a few staff members to liven it up."

"I guess I can do that," he shrugged, trying to hide his smile.

Buffy suppressed her own smile and went back to the script. "We could probably use you close to the end of the first act too - in the bar scene at Havana." When he quirked an eyebrow at her she continued explaining the scene. "Basically, everyone gets drunk and a big fight ensues. You'll be able to pretend to bash a few heads in," she said, smiling, knowing he would enjoy that. "Plus, I think Angel might be doing it."

"I'm in," he said, without a second thought. He had been waiting to unleash it on the poof; nothing but fists and . . .well, fists.

"Great!" Buffy exclaimed, before pulling him into a hug.

Spike was taken aback by the action, and found himself holding onto her a little longer than necessary.

Buffy slowly pulled away and gazed at him briefly before picking up a notepad from beside the light board. She jotted down a note and gave him the piece of paper. "Just bring that down to the costume shop."

Spike smiled and moved aside to allow her to exit the light booth. As she passed by she accidentally grazed against him, causing a small sigh to escape both their lips. She slid down the side of the booth and hopped to the floor. Before he followed, he glanced down at the piece of paper she'd handed him. 'Bloody hell!' He jumped over the side and jogged over to Buffy. "What exactly does this mean by 'Havana Dancer'?"

Buffy chuckled. "You said you wanted to be in the show, so . . . "

Spike raised his eyebrows at her, and shoved the note in her face. "But when it says and leather pants you don't actually mean . . ."

"I'll see you tomorrow morning for rehearsal, my little Latin lover," she winked at him and ran back to the stage.

Spike groaned, shoved the note into his pocket, and walked from the theater; not noticing the fuming brunette lurking in the corner.

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Buffy and Willow walked out of the cafeteria, giggling happily about their campers' misfortunes.

"Can I talk to you for a second?"

Buffy eyed the blonde in front of her curiously. "Sure Darla, what's up?"

Darla shot an eye to the redhead. "I actually meant, in private - one on one."

Buffy shrugged and looked over to her friend. "Sure," Willow nodded and ran off to catch up with Oz. "What did you want to talk about?"

Darla waved her hand, indicating for Buffy to join her on the secluded bench around the corner. Buffy looked at her oddly and took a seat. "Is everything ok, Darla? Something wrong with your kids?"

The taller blonde stood in front of her with her arms crossed. "Who do you think you are?"

"Excuse me?" Buffy asked, taken aback by Darla's sudden coldness.

"I know you're the owner's daughter, and you think you're hot shit, but does that give you the right to run around like a little slut, playing every guy on campus?" the angry woman spat.

Buffy stood, up and attempted to walk past Darla. "I don't need to take this!"

Darla grabbed Buffy by the shoulders and pushed her back to the bench. "Oh, I think you do."

Buffy's mouth dropped open wide when she saw the look of fury flash over Darla's features - she looked almost demonic.

"Do you know how long I've been with Angel? Do you?!" Buffy began to speak, but was only interrupted by Darla. "To me, it's been like generations!" Buffy nodded, not wanting to incur any further wrath. "There was a time when we shared everything. He had the chance to come home with me, to be with me forever, but he threw that away because of you. YOU!! A little bimbo with no brains, no style, and no class!" Darla eyes flashed gold at the girl in front of her, before she had to look away.

"Darla, I don't know what you're thinking, but I'm NOT . . ."

Darla raised her tear-filled eyes to Buffy's large green ones. "I know we've never really been friends, but how could you do this to me?" Her voice broke with a loud sob.

Buffy couldn't believe it. She had never seen Darla express any kind of emotion, let alone cry. She always seemed so . . .together. "Darla, it's NOT . . ." Buffy stood up and reached for the girl in front of her.

Darla pulled away from Buffy's touch. "I know what you and your little friends think of me. 'There goes Darla, the ice queen.' But, you know what?" Darla put one hand over her heart and finally allowed the tears roll down her cheeks freely. "I may come off like a cold bitch, but that's not me. Sometimes, I have to do that to . . ." She took a deep breath before continuing again. "There's a real person inside of me that feels too; just like everyone else. I may not show it very often - but she's there." Darla sniffled, and wiped her hand across her face, to clear the wetness from her eyes.

Buffy looked down at the ground, ashamed of herself. "I'm sorry."

"For what?" Darla huffed. "For being a stuck-up bitch or manipulating Spike and Angel like a little cock tease."

"Now that's enough!" Buffy yelled, pointing in the other woman's face. She took a moment to compose herself, so she wouldn't tear Darla's pretty blonde hair out. "Listen to me very carefully," she said slowly and evenly. "Something happened with Angel in LA, and I'm sorry about that; but NOTHING since then. My interests lie elsewhere," she gave the blonde a pointed look before continuing. "If there is anything going on, it is completely one-sided. So maybe you should go take out some of your pent up aggression on the real source of the problem - namely, Angel." Buffy crossed her arms over her chest and sat back down on the bench.

Darla took about a minute to let Buffy's words sink in. Realizing that it probably wasn't really Buffy's fault, she sunk to the bench and really let her pain consume her. Buffy sat in silence while Darla released everything she had been holding inside. After a few minutes, Darla took a few deep breaths and whispered so quietly that Buffy had to strain to hear her. "I think I love him."

Buffy nodded, and placed a tentative hand to the girl's back. "Have you told him how you feel?"

Darla sat up straight and rubbed her eyes, before looking at Buffy like she was a complete idiot. "Come on, it's been over three years! I'd think he'd know by now!"

Buffy laughed, and looked up to the sky, shaking her head. She finally lowered her gaze back to Darla. "If I've learned one thing so far this summer, it's that you can't always assume that people know what you want or need."

Darla tilted her head to the side. "You too, huh?"

Buffy smiled. "Yah, me too."

"Why do guys have to be so confusing? One second they're . . ."

"All kissy and lovey-dovey and the next they're cuddling with someone else?" Buffy finished. When Darla nodded, she continued. "They're idiots!" The two girls laughed together at the stupidity of the male species. "But at the same time, we don't always give them much to go on."

Darla gave Buffy a weak smile. "No . . .I guess not."

"So, maybe you should . . ." Buffy began, gesturing with her hands.

"Go talk to him," Darla stated. When Buffy nodded, Darla gave her a real smile. "You know, you're not the spoiled brat that I thought you were."

"And you're not the ice queen - with the rod the size of Alaska shoved up her ass - that I thought you were."

Darla shot Buffy a dirty look, but soon they were laughing, and swapping stories of misbegotten camp romances.

"This doesn't mean that we're friends or anything," Darla said, interrupting Buffy's story of Spike's Bronze serenade.

Buffy smiled, and shook her head. "Of course not."